Lip Service: I Loaded the Game Panel, Chapter 5

Adrian smacked his lips.

In any case, the "opportunity" had finally arrived!

[Chapter 8: Crazy Leveling]

Suppressing his excitement, Adrian said goodbye to Dawson and returned to the dormitory alone.

He had finally waited for a chance to go out on a field assignment. It was time to level up!

He summoned the panel and silently stared at his personal information.

Two years had passed. Adrian had neither increased his character level nor actively leveled up his skills. The long stretch of time had allowed him to accumulate nearly 12 million experience points!

A full 12 million experience points!!

Without hesitation, Adrian first poured a large amount of experience into the Apprentice Swordsman profession and began a frenzied leveling spree.

[Apprentice Swordsman] increased to LV11. Stamina increased slightly. Strength +1, Agility +1. Obtained 2 Free Attribute Points and 1 Skill Point!

[Apprentice Swordsman] increased to LV20 (MAX). Stamina increased slightly. Strength +1, Agility +1. Obtained 2 Free Attribute Points and 1 Skill Point!

His total level reached 20. He also gained Strength +10, Agility +10, 10 Skill Points, and 20 Free Attribute Points.

As mentioned before, character levels had a bottleneck every 20 levels. A specific quest had to be completed before one could continue leveling.

The Apprentice Swordsman profession also had a level cap of 20. Adrian glanced at its advancement quest.

[Level 20 Advancement Quest: Swordsman Trial: Kill a powerful enemy at least 5 levels higher than you. Can be completed as a team. Team members cannot exceed level 20. Current progress: 0/1]

Oh?

Not bad luck!

Killing a powerful enemy across levels was a relatively standard advancement quest. Especially at level 20, a five-level difference was nothing significant.

If necessary, he could even find people to form a party. It was roughly equivalent to forming a group to farm a boss in the wild.

Beasts above level 25 were easy enough to find on the training island. They were everywhere in the Deadly Zone outside the training base, with plenty also scattered throughout the Danger Zone. With good (?) luck, one might even run into them in the Safe Zone.

Without wasting any time, Adrian directly grabbed his blade and left. Less than an hour later, he returned covered in blood. The [Swordsman Trial] quest icon on the panel was glowing faintly, with the pale-golden words "Completed" displayed in its upper-right corner.

He lightly tapped the icon.

[Level 20 advancement quest completed!]

[You obtained the advanced profession [Professional Swordsman LV1] of [Apprentice Swordsman]. Stamina increased slightly. Strength +2, Agility +2. Obtained 3 Free Attribute Points and 1 Skill Point!]

Newfound strength surged endlessly from the depths of his body. Having mastered the fairly high-level [Life Return] skill, Adrian keenly sensed the intense changes taking place within him. The feeling of constantly growing stronger was utterly intoxicating.

Compared to the Apprentice Swordsman stage, each level gained as a [Professional Swordsman] provided greater attribute increases. Correspondingly, the experience required for each level also increased.

At the same time, the panel refreshed with two new skill entries.

[You comprehended the skill [Advanced Swordsmanship Training]!]

[You comprehended the skill [Intermediate Swordsmanship Affinity]!]

Both skills were advanced versions of the Apprentice Swordsman's skills. However, the [Intermediate Swordsmanship Affinity] icon was gray at the moment. It could only be unlocked after [Basic Swordsmanship Affinity] reached its maximum level.

After quickly maxing out [Basic Swordsmanship Affinity] and obtaining 2 Skill Points, Adrian looked at the panel and hesitated briefly.

The experience required to level up the [Professional Swordsman] profession was too high now, making it less cost-effective than leveling up other secondary professions. Besides, he might end up drifting alone across the sea in the future...

After thinking for a moment, he stopped hesitating.

Adrian first spent experience to max out the [Navigator] profession and [Basic Navigation], then leveled up the [Cook] and [Agent] professions to their maximum levels.

[Navigator] profession maxed out. Obtained Intelligence +10, Charisma +10, 20 Free Attribute Points, and 10 Skill Points.

[Cook] profession maxed out. Obtained Strength +10, Stamina +10, 20 Free Attribute Points, and 10 Skill Points.

[Agent] profession maxed out. Obtained Strength +10, Agility +10, 20 Free Attribute Points, and 10 Skill Points.

Afterward, Adrian poured all his remaining experience into [Professional Swordsman].

[Professional Swordsman] increased to LV2. Stamina increased slightly. Strength +2, Agility +2. Obtained 3 Free Attribute Points and 1 Skill Point!

[Professional Swordsman] increased to LV9. Stamina increased slightly. Strength +2, Agility +2. Obtained 3 Free Attribute Points and 1 Skill Point!

Two years' worth of accumulated experience had been squandered in less than two hours.

Adrian glanced at the panel, slightly surprised. "Although I've never used my Free Attribute Points, 127? Are there really that many? And 65 Skill Points!"

"Tsk, tsk. My attributes are ridiculously strong now!"

--

Name: Adrian

Race: Human

Template: NPC (Countdown to the opening of the 1.0 public beta: 1 year)

Level: 29

Experience: 0

Main Profession: Apprentice Swordsman LV20 (MAX); Professional Swordsman LV9 (1.5m/2.2m)

Secondary Professions: Navigator LV10 (MAX); Cook LV10 (MAX); Agent LV10 (MAX)

Personal Attributes: Strength 63, Agility 56, Stamina 17, Intelligence 16, Charisma 15, Luck 1

Free Attribute Points: 127

Skill Points: 63

Health: 100%

Physical Strength: 100%

Stamina: 100%

Specialty: None

Skills: [Basic Swordsmanship Training] LV10 (MAX)

[Basic Swordsmanship Affinity] LV10 (MAX)

[Basic Navigation] LV10 (MAX)

[Advanced Swordsmanship Training] LV1 (0/50,000) - Perform swordsmanship training independently to slightly increase swordsmanship proficiency

[Intermediate Swordsmanship Affinity] LV1 (0/100,000) - Increase understanding of swordsmanship and slightly increase swordsmanship power

[Basic Hand-to-Hand Combat] LV5 (3476/5000): Increases unarmed combat ability

[Basic Marksmanship] LV3 (67/800): Increases aiming and shooting ability

[Basic Heat Control] LV6 (5783/10,000): Increases a Cook's control over heat

[Six Powers · Kami-e] LV5 (40536/300,000): Defensive technique. Relaxes the strength throughout the body and uses changes in airflow produced by an opponent's movements to make the body as light and thin as paper. Allows one to control the body freely and evade attacks aimed at oneself by a hair's breadth.

[Six Powers · Soru] LV2 (12987/150,000): Movement technique. Stomps the ground dozens of times at high speed within an instant (0.36 seconds), generating explosive recoil for high-speed movement. From an enemy's perspective, it looks as though the user has vanished.

[Six Powers · Geppo] LV2 (57978/150,000): Uses powerful leg strength to step on the air and generate strong staying power, allowing the user to walk through the air as if climbing stairs, though they cannot remain in the air for too long.

[Six Powers · Iron Body] LV1 (4396/100,000): Defensive technique. Fills a well-trained body with strength, giving it the hardness of iron. Even bullets and blades cannot break through it.

[Six Powers · Finger Pistol] LV1 (4399/100,000): Concentrates the strength of the entire body into the index finger, releasing a strike with a hardened finger in the blink of an eye. It has the destructive power of a bullet and can easily pierce a human body.

[Six Powers · Rankyaku] LV1 (3762/100,000): Leg technique. Uses an ultra-high-speed, powerful kick to whip up a vacuum and launch a slashing attack at the opponent. It can easily cleave a target in two.

[Six Powers · Life Return] LV3 (1024/200,000): Freely controls the body, hair, and internal organs. By channeling consciousness into them, one can freely control any part of the body.

Legendary Status: 0

Equipment: Standard Agent Longsword, Standard Agent Dagger, Standard Agent Fire Pistol

--

Two years of accumulation had propelled him straight to level 29, causing his combat power to soar!

Of his 127 Free Attribute Points, Adrian spent 47 to raise his weakest attribute in direct combat—Stamina—to 64. He stored the remaining 80 points for emergencies that might arise in the future.

His three main combat attributes were now Strength 63, Agility 56, and Stamina 64.

The digitized panel meant Adrian did not need to spend time or energy adapting to his explosively improved physical abilities. After swinging his blade a few times, he had already become accustomed to the changes in his body.

"A sea where strength comes first! Here I come!!"

[Chapter 9: Target! West Blue!]

The moon shone brightly amid sparse stars as dawn drove away the darkness.

Adrian stood before the full-length mirror, carefully straightening the collar and cuffs of his shirt.

The outfit—consisting of a white shirt, black tailcoat, half-top hat, and leather boots—had been delivered the previous evening. It was the "work uniform" for this field assignment. After all, even if an Agent did not openly bear the name of the World Government, he could not make the World Government look bad.

The work uniform was not particularly expensive, but it was still the finest clothing Adrian had worn in the past two years.

Adrian lifted a finger to adjust the stiff brim of his top hat. A faint smile appeared on his young face beneath it. Combined with his slightly narrow eyes, he looked rather smug and mischievous.

Perfect!

After taking one last look at the small room where he had lived alone for two years, Adrian picked up the luggage he had prepared in advance and left without the slightest reluctance.

When he reached the base entrance, Dawson was already standing there in a black suit as well, staring listlessly at the jungle outside the base.

"Good morning, Dawson. Nice weather today." Adrian greeted him with a smile.

"Is it?" Dawson looked up at the sky, then lowered his head. "Adrian, you look a little different today."

"Of course I look different." Adrian smiled. "This is the happiest I've felt in two years."

That's not what I meant...

Dawson thought silently. Adrian gave him an inexplicably dangerous feeling today, something he had never sensed from him before.

Dawson trusted his instincts. Although he felt that he was not very clever, his beast-like intuition had always served him well.

"I hope your good mood lasts until the mission is over!"

Just then, Kumadori Yamamba suddenly appeared out of thin air like a ghost, her voice as unpleasant as ever.

"I will, Instructor Kumadori Yamamba." Adrian narrowed his eyes with a smile and casually used detection on the old woman.

[Based on your level and attributes, you obtained the following information.]

[Kumadori Yamamba] (Yellow Name)

[Level: LV45]

[Attributes: Strength 59, Agility 73, Stamina 48, Intelligence 7, Charisma 9, Luck ?]

[Abilities: [Six Powers], [Concealing Presence], [Intermediate Marksmanship], ?]

[Danger Level: Medium]

Unexpectedly... weak!

Adrian's mood improved further. He had learned from Dawson the previous day that Kumadori Yamamba would be accompanying them on this operation. Although he did not know whether she would follow them the entire way, the weaker Kumadori Yamamba was, the less resistance he would face, and the easier it would be to carry out his plan.

Before setting out, Kumadori Yamamba instructed the two of them, "Remember to stay close to me later! And don't try to memorize the safe routes through the jungle. They change constantly!"

At that, her tone took on a warning edge. "Especially you, Adrian!"

"Don't worry, Instructor. I'm not someone who doesn't understand the rules."

Adrian answered calmly on the surface, but inwardly he scoffed. I'm not planning to come back anyway, so why bother memorizing the safe routes... Well, I can't say for certain. I'd better pay more attention later, just in case.

Led by Kumadori Yamamba, Dawson and Adrian passed silently through the Safe Zone, Danger Zone, and Deadly Zone, reaching the outside of the dense forest without obstruction.

As far as the eye could see, the blue sea glittered with golden ripples beneath the morning sunlight. Crying seagulls soared on beating wings, and everything radiated a dazzling, intoxicating allure.

This is... the taste of freedom!

Adrian stopped involuntarily. The heart in his chest began pounding violently, contracting into a tight knot before suddenly swelling outward and making his body tremble faintly.

Dawson beside him looked much the same.

"I knew it. Every brat going out on a field assignment looks like this the first time they see the sea." Kumadori Yamamba spoke as though she had seen it countless times. "All right, you'll have plenty of chances to sail the sea in the future! We're going to board the ship now!"

"Yes, Instructor!" x2