[Epic Item: Demon Restraining Cuffs
Traits: Demon Restriction, Power Strip, Ability Strip, Unbreakable]
Just by glancing at the traits, one would understand how extraordinary the unassuming handcuffs were.
Meanwhile, Dio got a taste of their extraordinariness firsthand. The moment the cold metal restrainers braced around his wrists, it was as though a part of his existence was severed.
His ether dissolved!
His stats, which were in their tens, regressed, dipping to mundane levels.
His skills and the knowledge they came with were instantly constrained.
His system went mute, deaf to his desperate mental call. It was as though his status as a hunter had been stripped and revoked.
His expression warped into a deeper level of horror, one that contained reverence, as he gazed at the unassuming cop standing right before him. He felt his world spinning.
What the heck! Wasn't this meant to be a fantasy world? Don't tell me this is a dream? Was the whole Arcana thing a lie? If it wasn't, then who the hell is this guy?
Honestly, as a human of modern Earth who was well acquainted with games and some novels, he couldn't help but feel, this… this trope isn't quite right!
His mind ran full of questions, but his tongue felt too heavy to speak. The image of the cop seemed to grow taller in his eyes.
Meanwhile, Roy himself didn't seem to notice his prisoner's severe change in emotions. He merely beckoned Dio to follow him, as his figure trailed in the distance.
While lost in thought, Dio felt a cold gaze boring into his back. Glancing back, he saw his former prey trailing behind, glaring at him hatefully. If gazes could kill…
His expression remained glossy and resigned of life. He didn't care about anything right now; he just kept praying that this mortal weakness was temporary.
After exiting the dense foliage, an unassuming police outpost came into view.
Gazing at the building, Dio's expression couldn't help but twitch. There was nothing wrong with the building — it looked just like any suburban city police outpost. The glowing sign at the front, "Cosmic Police Outpost," actually stood out, making it simple but beautiful.
But just because nothing was wrong with the building didn't mean nothing was wrong at all. What the hell is a building like this doing in Arcana? Dio's mind was filled with question marks.
He directed his gaze to the back of the silver‑haired cop. He might not have seen other Lords and their territories, but something told him that even among them, this guy was quite… well, unique.
Finally, he was led into the building, and immediately he was hit with an intense nostalgic feeling. The contrast between the outside and inside was jarring. It was like traveling between two worlds — he instantly felt like he was back on Earth again.
But he was sure he was still in the mystical realm called Arcana. Evidence of this was the strange, massive pulsating cocoon sitting at the center of the reception.
"You wait for me, let me sort this guy out," Roy spoke to the lady, showing her a place to sit. Alpha, surprisingly, didn't start barking at the strangers. The little guy just sat and watched the trio.
With that said, Roy led the prisoner deeper into the building. He took a book in order to put down records and statements as per routine, but surprisingly everything about Dio and the victim, Ashley, was already recorded.
His eyes glinted with satisfaction. This was probably one of the perks of being a Cosmic Policeman in contrast to their modern counterparts. He sighed.
The cell rooms were a lot more spacious and refined after the territory upgrade. He opened one of them, motioning for Dio to get in.
After unlocking the cuffs, he took them, slid the bars shut, and left, never once exchanging a word with the new prisoner — except for giving him a weird, expectant gaze.
Meanwhile, Dio still stood before the bars, his arms outstretched, seemingly frozen in shock. His expression alternated from shock to confusion and finally relief.
The moment those cursed cuffs left his wrists, all his powers returned to him in tides. His mind could finally be at peace. He never thought an item like that could exist… well, that's Arcana for you.
Suddenly, a cunning glint flickered from the depths of his eyes. Was that guy stupid? Leaving me inside a cell unwatched? Hehehe, of course I'll escape.
Indeed, no matter where you put it, a pig would forever be a pig. Expecting change was impossible.
Immediately, his figure bulged as he transformed. This time, though, his presence was noticeably weaker than before. But that didn't matter — he had a skill that would guarantee his escape the moment his foot touched the earth.
His mouth widened into a smile, revealing a row of jagged teeth, as he summoned as much strength as he could and swiped, aiming to crush the feeble steel bars of the cell.
And the result—
"Garrrghhh! Fuck!"
He screamed in pain and terror. Instead of the bars shattering, they remained pristine and unharmed. His force had rebounded, disfiguring his arm. In pain, he reverted back to his human form.
Suddenly, the ceiling lights turned red as a blaring alarm rang out, accompanied by a mechanical voice.
[Hostile action detected!] [Escape attempt detected!] [Delivering the appropriate punishment!]
A foreboding sense of dread came over him, as the image of the cop's expectant and amused face popped into his mind. The bastard was hoping I would act out! he realized, but it was too late.
Suddenly, a solid round metal projectile shot out from nowhere, throwing its weight onto a particular part of his body.
Squelch!
A sickening sound rang out as Dio's eyes rolled to the back of his head, both his hands clutching his private region. This… there was no word to describe this pain. All that could be said was there were no screams, no wails — only muffled grunts.
Meanwhile, back at the reception, Roy had met with the lady who identified herself as Ashley Griffith. After asking once more, he confirmed indeed she was willing to become his subordinate.
"Why?" Roy asked. He found it weird. Why would an order holder seek to come under his banner, when they were not actually that inferior to Lords potential‑wise? He had to know.
Ashley fidgeted, her fingers twirling a lock of her bright violet hair. It seemed to be a subconscious nervous habit.
She stuttered an answer, her voice as faint as a flea. "W‑well that's… that's because the stats I gain from leveling up are very scant… to survive till I become strong I need protection." By the time she finished speaking, her expression was one of shame and helplessness.
Roy's brow furrowed. "Can you tell me why?"
When she saw his expression change, she feared the worst. What if he refused her and kicked her out? She quickly bowed as she pleaded. "Lord, please accept me. I‑I promise I'm not useless… it's just my potential needs time to… shine."
Needs time… Roy pondered. Tch, whatever. As the system said, order holders are as rare as they can be. I'll just accept her and see why her condition is so… maybe I can help. He sighed inwardly, gazing at her pitiful frame, and he accepted her request.
[Congratulations! You have Recruited Ashley Griffith (The Order Holder of Double!)]
[(The Order Holder of Double): This is a rare second‑class order, which grants the user the Divine Blessing of Double. All their stats double every day! Their riches double every day! Their items double every day! Their attacks have double impact!… You are before the Hegemony of Double. Before them, you get double of everything.
Note: Due to the effect of Double, stats gained through leveling up will be reduced to 1 for one attribute and 1 allocatable stat point…]
Roy's eyes widened in shock…