The government forces needed three days to tear down the steel plates and did so only after bringing heavy machinery. From there, it got harder for the troopers. Wagner didn’t lie, he’d prepared for this. His plants were the stuff of nightmares.

With nothing to do Keynes focused purely on the training. He managed to improve his aura control technique. It was no longer a lesser version. Once his technique was improved he intrinsically felt how nuanced aura control really was. Controlling aura wasn’t only about hiding it. In fact, that was the worst possible way to use aura.

Unfortunately, many of these techniques needed to be learned one way or another. By improving his current technique Keynes became more adept at manipulating his aura and gained a sense of other paths related to the aura.

The improvement of the technique didn’t give him the same kind of boost levelling up did. That was disappointing but expected, improving this technique didn’t take the same effort as levelling up with maxed out attributes took.

On a different note, Alice remained adamant in her refusal to show him a better technique of maxing out attributes and he was back to the old methods. Wagner didn’t have a proper facility for that and Keynes was stuck with training only Strength and Dexterity.

He considered asking Vivena to train with him but decided against it. That way he could train his Will. Harter came by a few times but being a non-ascender greatly increased the risk of injury. Non-ascenders didn’t heal the same way ascenders did. For example, if a non-ascender lost a limb, the limb would not regrow. Because of that, the lives of non-ascenders were a bit more sheltered.

On the fourth day, Wagner had a video conference with the Ministry of Geneva. Sylv, Keynes and Vivena were also present.

Twenty people spoke with Wagner about the military presence of the World Government and the attack on his estate. He urged them to be patient but they didn’t want to. They displayed a lot of pride and the current situation infuriated them.

“The High Parliament promised to respect our status. A million soldiers in our city is a clear sign of contempt.”

“Since the dissolution of the High Parliament, I wouldn’t count on any of our agreements to be still respected. We should have joined the resistance from the beginning.”

“No. Geneva had been a neutral city before the rise of the World Government. Joining the resistance’s side would put us in the Old Blood’s sphere of influence. None of us wants that.”

“Then what should we do?”

Keynes expected a disagreement and fruitless debate but found a single voice filled with conviction. The World Government must be opposed.

Vivena tried to join the discussion but Sylv slapped her down before she could utter a word.

“Our decision is final then. We ask them to leave. If they refuse, we make them.”

The video conference ended. The atmosphere after the debate was thick in Wagner’s office. Vivena spoke up first.

“Do you understand what this entails? The government will raze Geneva to the ground for this! Wagner, you must stop it.”

“Don’t you currently fight the World Government, Vivena?” Keynes asked, surprised by her pacifistic attitude.

“We do, but this is different. Fighting the government head-on is suicide. They have superior numbers, control the infrastructure and have weapons of mass destruction. If you start an uprising here, they’ll bomb the city to the ground.”

“You’re right,” Wagner agreed with her, which made Keynes scratch his head. They were contrasting themselves. “The government’s firepower is unstoppable. If Windsor Freeman wanted, he’d reduce the world to ash.”

Vivena opened her mouth but Wagner stopped her with a raised hand.

“He will do none of that for two reasons. First, he knows that Geneva is prepared for such an attack. We have always been. Second, because Keynes is here. Freeman will not risk his life. This is our chance to rebuild the Geneva it used to be.”

Vivena disagreed with Wagner’s reasoning but she wasn’t in a position to make demands.

Later that day, they got a word from Tyr. The three men stayed in the central district, being unable to move as the troopers were everywhere. Kaito Ren couldn’t open a portal inside the estate because the lockdown activated some anti-teleport system.

The next day, the troopers entered the first underground floor. One more floor and they’d have to go through another batch of plant traps. The absence of Freeman made Wagner worried. If he used his troopers as a fodder to clear the traps, they’d have a real problem. On the other hand, the Ministry of Geneva officially told the troopers to leave the city if they failed to do so, they’d be removed by force.

Riots started soon after the announcement. The situation was getting out of hand, and then an unexpected call came.

“Wagner Zimmermann,” said Ronald Rugman. Only Wagner, Sylv and Keynes were present. After the last conversation, they decided to not include Vivena. “I see that Keynes Kid is with you. Good. It will make it easier for us.”

“What do you want?” Wagner asked.

“You may not be aware but I presented an offer to the ministry. Keynes Kid for Geneva’s pre-World Government status.”

The offer sent a chill down Keynes’s spine. Gently, he gauged Wagner’s and Sylv’s expressions. Neither of them looked particularly moved by Ronald Rugman’s words but Keynes couldn’t stop imagining the worst.

And once again, I am at the mercy of high levels. I hate this.

“We are not interested in your promises, Rugman,” Wagner replied. “We were once told that we would stay neutral and here we are. A million soldiers inside the city.”

Ronald Rugman sighed, rolling his eyes.

“Zimmermann, I am trying to save lives here.”

“Then why don’t you take your army and kill the monsters in southern France and clear the rifts in the Alps?”

“I cannot do it.”

“You’re the second most important man in the World Government…”

Ronald Rugman shook his head. Keynes had to admit that he looked different from what he expected. Despite his young look, he had the manners of a tired, old man. Keynes wondered if he was missing something here. Before he’d ascended and become Level 1, those people were just big names from TV and the Web. They were still big names but Keynes wouldn’t let them haggle over his life as if it didn’t belong to him.

He made a decision in a spur-of-the-moment.

“Are you ready for the third outbreak, Mr Rugman?” Keynes asked, earning shocked looks. “Because this is what is going to happen if your boss catches me again and forces me to open a Level 3 rift.”

Rugman’s mask of indifference fell off pretty easily.

“You’d murder billions?”

“Their deaths would be on you. I merely warn you what is going to happen if you try to enslave me again.”

Rugman glanced at Wagner.

“Zimmermann, this is the person you are protecting.”

Wagner smiled in his usual fashion then replied.

“If you want Keynes, tell Freeman to come to get him personally.”

Before Rugman could respond, Wagner turned the screen off. He wilted as if a great amount of air was sucked out of him. He was Level 7 so he couldn’t look tired or old, but he did in a way.

Keynes took his chair and pushed it closer to Wagner’s. The two men didn’t speak for a minute then Keynes asked.

“Will the ministry reject his offer as well?”

“Sylv, dear, please bring us tea. Something calming.”

“We can ask my mother. Her Soothing Talent works miracles.”

Wagner thanked him for the offer but shook his head. He didn’t want Keynes’s mother to see him like this and Keynes understood this. Level 7s were like the highest pillars in the world. To see one of them stressed was like finding cracks on the surface of the pillar or worse. Before Wagner, the only other Level 7 Keynes had met was Esopp Earl. He’d given Keynes an impression of a demi-god. But what if it was an illusion? Ronald Rugman was Level 7 too and he seemed very human in everything he showed today.

“They will reject his offer,” he assured Keynes.

When Sylv returned with tea, Wagner regained some of his composure—

BOOM.

The entire room shook.

Wagner, Keynes and Sylv exchanged glances.

BOOM.

“What the hell?” they muttered at the same time then Wagner told Keynes to go find his family and wait in the safe room. Sylv went to the control room. Most of the estate was underground, if their life-support systems stopped working they’d be in trouble.

As Keynes ran to his family’s rooms, he wondered if he’d perhaps made a judgement error about Ronald Rugman. Maybe the man was faking it after all?

His family was back in their room, they looked terrified.

“Keynes!”

They peppered him with questions but he knew as little as them.

“Let’s go to the safe room.”

He opened the door and heard shots. They came from far away. Most likely the higher floors. He wondered what they were shooting at as Wagner didn’t have any guards up there. He exclusively used plants for defences and Keynes could attest to their effectiveness.

But the numbers the World Government brought here… The plant traps wouldn’t be enough to stop them. I knew his plan was crap!

A moment later, Vivena entered the safe room together with the staff from the labs.

“Keynes, what’s going on?”

“I don’t know. We just finished talking to Ronald Rugman…”

“You talked to Ronald Rugman?!” his family asked at the same time.

“Yeah and the conversation didn’t go as planned.”

“Why didn’t Wagner ask me to join the meeting?” Vivena inquired, looking upset.

“Because if Rugman saw you, he’d know we aligned ourselves with the resistance which is not the case.” Sylv said, appearing behind their backs.

Smooth. That wasn’t the reason… unless it was. Wait, was it?

Vivena accepted Sylv’s explanation without an argument which cut out an unnecessary debate. They didn’t have time to discuss inconsequential things.

“Listen up, everyone,” Sylv raised her voice. “In ten minutes, we will have a portal opened in this room. It will take you to a safe location in Geneva.”

Keynes expected an avalanche of questions but Wagner’s staff was well-trained and knew when to stay silent. Keynes’s family on the other hand assaulted Sylv with dozens of inquiries. Keynes watched them and felt proud. Despite being Level 1s, and non-ascended in Harter’s case, they were growing more confident in the presence of high levels. Their first meeting with the Saels (back then under the fake name of the Foxgloves) had had a strong undernote of fear in the air, today the fear was gone. I mean, a different kind of fear. They were scared as mice.

Keynes used tendrils of his aura to inspect his father and mother’s auras, it was very hard but at least possible since the technique improved, and found strong conviction there.

“Mr Zimmermann wants you two away as well,” Sylv told Keynes and Vivena.

At first, Keynes was tempted to leave with his family but Alice’s words were like metal rods lodged inside his brain. Everything is a challenge. If he wished to be stronger, he needed to push himself harder, much harder than he did so far.

“I am staying.”

“Keynes, you cannot,” Vivena protested. “Your life is too precious.”

Something about her words didn’t sit well with him. They sounded too much like something Windsor Freeman would say.

“My life means nothing if I cannot protect it myself.”

Sylv didn’t argue, perhaps, Wagner had warned her that Keynes would object to this.

His family naturally tried to convince him that he should go with them.

“Don’t play a hero, okay?” Harter said. “Just wait until I ascend, brother, I will protect you then.”

Keynes considered pulling them into a hug but decided it’d send a wrong message.

The portal opened and everyone was ushered to step into it. Keynes watched his family go until Vivena’s time came.

“I will stay too.”

“Vi—” Before he could complain, the portal collapsed. “Never mind.”

Sylv didn’t comment on their decision to stay and because of her indifferent expression, it was hard to know what she thought about this. Not dwelling on it for too long, Keynes and Sylv went straight to where Wagner was waiting, while Vivena went to get her equipment.

What they learned later that day was that Ronald Rugman did the unthinkable. He officially ordered the troopers to leave Geneva and go to southern France and the Alps, kill the monsters at large and clear the rifts.

This decision didn’t sit well with Officer Hellescott who decided to attack Wagner’s estate against Rugman’s order. Hellescott couldn’t return empty-handed. The President had made it clear what kind of fate was waiting for Hellescott if failed the second time.

Appeals to Rugman amounted to nothing. His decision to withdraw forces was final. Keynes Kid didn’t interest him.

It’d be a perfect scenario. Hellescott, even with Dreux's help, was not ready to face a Level 7 and a Level 6. But things didn’t go according to plan, they never did.

During the retreat, the White Masks staged attacks on important officers and a director. There was an attempt on Rugman’s life as well but the Level 7 got through with wounds that didn’t threaten his life.

In an announcement, the leader of the White Masks declared that the Alps monster zone was to be left intact and anyone who attempted to clear the rifts or contain the monsters would be killed. She also called Geneva to arms. And to everyone’s surprise, many people responded to it positively.

On the other end, Hellescott and Dreux were out of troopers before they passed the first layer of traps. Only three squads hadn’t heeded Rugman’s order and had foolishly followed their officer.

Sylv dispatched Dreux with ease when there were no troopers left. Keynes was very frustrated and asked to fight Hellescott. None except Vivena objected. It didn’t make a difference. Wagner was in the room with them, ready to step in if things went south.

“I am disappointed,” Keynes said to the officer. “I was looking for some fighting but once again no luck.”

“You’re insane, boy,” Hellescott said. Once he noticed Vivena, he lost a lot of his confidence. “You’re only Level 2. You can’t defeat me.” He glanced at Wagner and Vivena, then hissed angrily.

“Hopefully, you will get a taste of how I felt when you had me.”

With two shortswords, Keynes’s Dexterity was higher than Hellescott’s by a point or two. Unfortunately, other attributes weren’t and this created an issue. But Keynes wasn’t going to back off from the challenge.

They were in one of the reception rooms where Sylv had knocked Dreux out. The two women weren’t here now.

The troopers were put unconscious with the same toxin that had defeated Keynes and his group. Most of the traps on the higher floors were non-lethal. Only the ones prepared for Freeman and Shaper were deadly, but neither man appeared.

It seemed that something had changed in Freeman’s reasoning. As for Shaper, they had no clue what kind of a man he was.

“Do you expect me to fight without a sword?” Hellescott complained.

“You’re Level 5. You’ll be fine.”

Keynes attacked, shortswords dropped on Hellescott with the speed he didn’t imagine, even as he twisted his body to avoid the blades, he misjudged Keynes. The first shortsword cut at the level of his ribs, invoking a hiss of pain from the officer.

“You little pest,” Hellescott snapped. “If you didn’t hide under their skirts, I would make short work of you.”

Keynes attacked again, indifferent to Hellescott’s comment. This time the officer’s reaction was even slower. As Keynes cut and stabbed him, he started to feel pity for the man. Why was-- Keynes slightly turned his head and noticed Sylv in the room.

So Hellescott’s slower than normal movements were the effect of Sylv’s Talent. In a few short moments, the Level 5 was reduced to a weakling who couldn’t hope to stand against Keynes.

“Keynes, that’s enough,” Vivena said. “He cannot fight anymore.”

Keynes put the shortswords back in his pouch. He was disappointed. He expected a fight but found a pathetic man as soon as their Dexterity and Perception were on a similar level. It once more reminded him about Captain Ventura and his obsessive training regime. The captain believed that the sole reliance on levels was a dangerous mistake. Most people didn’t train because it didn’t benefit them. It was because of the System and the way ascender’s physicality worked.

A non-ascender like Harter would gain visible strength from training at the gym but at the same time his body was fragile, hard to heal and didn’t have other ways to boost it like equipment or even the plants. Wagner had warned Harter to not try anything magical because it wouldn’t work on him and could make him ill.

On the other hand, training at the gym would have no effects on the ascenders until their attribute maxing-out progression reached 80% but even then, the boost would be temporary. Ascenders were locked with the same strength until they levelled up. This was the main paradigm of the System.

But now, with the emergence of techniques, Keynes wasn’t so sure about this. He had asked Kaito Ren about martial art techniques and unfortunately, the red-haired man hadn’t received one. It had to mean that obtaining a martial art-oriented technique required more than repeating a sequence of motions.

“Keynes?” He shook his head when he heard his name. They were looking at him standing above beaten Hellescott. “You okay?”

“I think I learned something.” Am I correct, Alice? About the way the System works.

She appeared out of nowhere and then curiously peered at Hellescott.

Yes. Your understanding of the System is mostly correct but insufficient. The System has other ways of increasing the overall power level.

Like?

They are for you to discover, master. But once you are close, I will be able to help you.

He missed someone’s question during his short conversation with Alice.

“Are you sure you’re alright?” This time, Wagner asked.

“Yes. Hellescott helped me realise something.” Something Alice had already pointed out but Keynes hadn’t made the connection. Everything in the System was a challenge, levelling up was merely a payout.