VIP System

Leo stood attentively as the king began to address the agenda of their meeting. The gravity of the situation was palpable, but Leo felt a calm determination settle over him.

"Leo," the king started, his voice carrying the weight of authority and concern, "what happened yesterday with the Dragon Lord has created quite a stir. With his defeat, his properties should be passed to his family. However, they have approached me and made it clear that they want nothing to do with his legacy. They do not wish to be associated with his deeds."

Leo listened intently, understanding the implications. The king continued, "Because of this, all of the Dragon Lord's properties will now be yours. His mansion, his treasures, his slaves—everything. You deserve it, considering all the trouble he has caused you."

A mix of emotions swirled within Leo. The idea of inheriting the Dragon Lord's assets was overwhelming, but he focused on the king's next words.

"What concerns me most," the king said, "is the Chronos guild, to which the late Dragon Lord belonged. They will undoubtedly demand compensation and will not accept a simple 'no' as an answer. To prevent further escalation, I propose that we split the Dragon Lord's possessions. This should help appease the Chronos guild and maintain peace."

The idea of owning everything the Dragon Lord left behind didn’t sit well with him. Treasures he could deal with, but the slaves? The thought made his stomach churn. He wasn’t sure how to handle that responsibility—yet another burden tied to the Dragon Lord's dark legacy.

But Leo's response was swift and resolute. "Your Majesty, I only need the mansion and the slaves. The rest can go to the guild."

The king blinked in surprise, then broke into a relieved smile. "You are remarkably cooperative, Leo. This solution will ease tensions significantly. I will have everything prepared for you and notify you when you can take possession of the mansion and receive the list of slaves."

Leo nodded, appreciating the king's willingness to handle the logistics. The king leaned back, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "I expected this conversation to be much longer, but you have made it straightforward. However, there is one more thing I need to ask you about—your system."

Leo's curiosity piqued. "What do you want to know, Your Majesty?"

The king explained, "Normally, system users can recognize one another because they can see the system title above each other's names. Like Lady Kurea here, she's known as the Winter Warlock, and I am known as the Sword Master. But with you, it seems different."

The king scrutinized Leo, his eyes narrowing in curiosity. "Since I'm unable to see your system title, Leo, I must ask—are you the holder of the VIP system?"

Leo's confusion was evident, his brow furrowing as he tried to grasp the king's meaning. Lady Kurea stepped forward, her presence commanding and reassuring. "Dost thou knoweth the history and past holders of the VIP system, Leo?"

He shook his head, intrigued yet perplexed. She began to explain, her voice soft but carrying an air of authority. "No one truly knoweth the origins of the systems. The first adventurers, those who were the original inhabitants of our world, possessed innate abilities far superior to the systems we recognize today."

"Had it not been for the Demon God's invasion, the first adventurers would have easily surpassed any system users now."

Leo listened intently, his mind painting a vivid picture of the past. Lady Kurea continued, "But the first adventurers, filled with their own sense of superiority, chose to cast out their kin who bore offspring without innate abilities. These castaways became the progenitors of a new civilization, one devoid of such inherent powers," she stated, her tone laced with a touch of disdain.

The king nodded to her explanation. "Hundreds of years hence, these castaways unearthed the adventurer's tablet, a relic that granted them the ability to 'level up' and grow stronger by vanquishing monsters. This discovery marked the genesis of what we now term the world system," she continued.

Leo's eyes widened with understanding. The king continued, "They began to see the names of other citizens above their heads and gained access to their status. Notifications appeared, urging them to complete specific tasks in exchange for rewards. This marked the dawn of a new era."

As the king and Lady Kurea continued their explanation, Leo felt a growing sense of awe and curiosity.

"During that era, citizens commenced attaining certain levels and receiving job promotion tasks," she declared with a condescending air. "They became self-sufficient, defending their territories sans the aid of the first adventurers. Consequently, the first adventurers chose to seal their lands and extend no assistance to the outside world any longer."

The king nodded, adding, "After a few more hundred years, one of the first adventurers obtained the very first system called the Hero system. His innate power, together with his new system, created jealousy among his people. They decided to cast him out, saying that he was no longer pure and would taint them if he remained among them. His name was Hendrickson."

Leo's eyes widened at the mention of Hendrickson. "The citizens treated him well, and he became the most powerful adventurer of his time," the king continued. "Years later, other systems were bestowed upon the world."

Lady Kurea continued and seemed to be lost in her narrative, her voice filled with passion and reverence for the history she was recounting. "Ehem," the king interjected, trying to get her attention. She kept on, seemingly oblivious. He cleared his throat louder, finally catching her attention. She stopped and looked around, blushing slightly.

"Ah, yes," she said, clearing her throat. "What I wanted to convey is that systems are transferred upon another citizen if the current holder dies. Most of the systems today are like an open book to the world unless the current holder unlocks new potential."

"Wait," Leo interjected, his brow furrowed, "so the systems have been passed down like this for centuries? How does someone inherit a system?"

Lady Kurea paused, her eyes narrowing with the weight of ancient knowledge.

"Indeed, Leo. The inheritance of systems remains one of the most profound enigmas in our world. No one truly knoweth how the systems select their new bearers. It is a process as ancient as the systems themselves, shrouded in mystery and speculation."

Leo nodded, absorbing the information. The king leaned forward, his gaze intent on Leo. "You also might be wondering why I know about your system when we shouldn't be able to see it," he began.

"You see, one of the past holders of your system told his guild mates about it, and it spread like wildfire. To date, the highest VIP level reached by one of your predecessors was Level 3."

"We merely wanted to inform you," Lady Kurea said with her usual authoritative tone. "Other system users perceive the VIP system as weak because its past holders were not on par with the average system users."

"The VIP system… it's an enigma, isn’t it?" the king mused, his fingers tapping lightly on his throne. "Few have held it, and even fewer have unlocked its secrets. If anyone is capable of doing so, I imagine it’s you, Leo."

As the their words settled, Leo couldn’t help but wonder: if no one before him had unlocked the true potential of the VIP system, what would it take for him to do so? The weight of his unique power bore down on him. Can he do differently? What lay ahead on this path?