The next couple days flew by for Ben. When he took over the City Lord’s mansion, he had access to the city’s treasury. He invested most of it in the Shadows, hoping Deke would be able to set up the operation quickly. Lily and the other girls were still unconscious and Cloey had barely left her side. Cathy took care of the other girls, checking on them everyday.

The system had a message system that allowed the City Lord to address the citizens. Ben decided to use it to calm everyone's worries and to lighten the atmosphere.

[Hello Everyone, My name is Bennett Arnott. As most of you know I defeated to previous City Lord and took this title. I am young and will need everyone's help, not only to survive these dark times but to thrive in these dark times. This is humanities darkest moment in history but I believe we have a chance here. A chance to become something better, stronger.]

Sending the message out, Ben took a deep breath. He then summoned his family and Henry.

After they all gathered Ben gave them tasks that needed to be done.

“Henry, I need you to bring the city’s strongest to the mansion.” Ben told Henry.

“What if they refuse my lord?” Henry said a little nervous.

Ben didn't say anything for a couple of seconds, “Then I will personally come visit them.” Though the words were innocent enough, Ben’s voice was cold.

Henry shivered before leaving to finish his task.

“Dad and mom, I want you to bring all the people with tradesto the mansion.” Ben told his parents.

His parents gave him a questionly look.

“Even though there are a lot of stores, the hunters don't seem to buy from them and sell to the system instead. Then in return, the trades people sell their finished products to the system instead of the hunters. There is no cash flow, no economy whatsoever. This needs to change.” Ben wanted humans not to become reliant on the system, it would slow their progress.

Ben’s reasoning opened his parents eyes. Both of them had professions and they knew about this problem. The major problem was that at the beginning the quality of the items produced by any trade was shit. The players didn't buy it because it was poor quality and bought from the system. Seeing this pissed off the trades and they took a loss selling their products to the system.

Ben planned to correct this and make the two parties come to an agreement.

“Grayson you were part of a hunting party right?” Ben asked his younger brother.

“Yes, both Allana and I were.” he replied.

“I need you to bring the leaders of these hunting parties here.” Ben spoke calmly.

With a face full of determination, Grayson nodded and left the mansion.

Ben sat in the room by himself. He wanted to make this city great but he had no idea how challenging it was. He knew that people would resist so the first thing he wanted to do was display his power. Of course strength wouldn't achieve everything but it was a damn good start.

Ben opened up his stats panel.

Bennett- Lvl 50

Class: Beast Warrior

Bloodline: Mekata Eyes

Elements: Lightning Seed & Dark Seed

Vitality (VIT): 100

Strength (STR): 152 (+3)

Dexterity (DEX): 153 (+3)

Agility (AGI): 203 (+4)

Intelligence (INT): 25

Wisdom (WIS): 25

Unassigned Attribute Points: 10

Skills-

Inherited Skill- Nature's Child

Advanced Sword Mastery- Dual (6/10)

Beginner Hand to Hand Combat (5/10)

Soul Beast

Beast Telepathy

Beast Imitation

[Darkness Seed- 98%]

[Lightning Seed- 99%]

Ben leveled up after he killed Jack and hadn't distributed his free points yet. What confused him was that he had an extra 5 points. He couldn't figure out why he had these extra points and decided to forget about it for now.

Placing all his free attribute points into AGI, Ben also noticed how his elements had improved. He was on the cusp of his elements breaking through into Elemental Cores. Cloey had achieved this level and her power rose drastically. After achieving Elemental Cores, the elements would become part of your body. Wielding them would be easier than closing your hand. Ben also remembered that he would unlock the Dragon Bloodline sealed within his eyes. This made Ben excited, Dragons were the pinnacle of beasts and had unmatched power.

While Ben was lost in his thought, Cloey walked into the room. It had been a rough couple of days for Cloey. Finding her friend beaten and raped to the brink of death. She had lots of anger in her but no where to place it. The man who did this was already dead and so was his family.

“Ahem.” Cloey cleared her throat, interrupting Ben’s thoughts.

Startled, Ben looked up and saw her standing there. She was wearing a white sundress with her hair in a ponytail, a perfect picture or beauty and innocence. Ben had to take a deep breath to calm himself.

“Cloey, how are you?” Ben got up and took her hand.

Not pulling away but a faint blush appeared across her cheeks, “Lily is up. She wants to meet you.”

“Meet me?” Ben was surprised.

Cloey nodded her head shyly before pulling him along. The room Lily was staying in wasn't to far from where they were.

Knocking on the door, “Lily it's me. I brought Bennett.”

“Come in” a light voice came from the otherside.

Pushing open the door, Ben and Cloey walked into the room. The room was huge, it had a large window, which had a beautiful view of a garden. The bed was larger than a king size. On the bed laid a beautiful woman that had the same white hair as Cloey. She still looked skinny and malnourished but much better than when they found her. Her age seemed to be late 20’s or maybe early 30’s but any man would still be enraptured in her mature beauty. Her eyes were a little lighter than Cloeys, but still had that ice blue colour.

“Hello I’m Ben. You wished to see me?” Ben introduced himself.

Lily stared at Ben for a long time. Though Ben thought it was weird, he never evaded her gaze and met it head on.

Cloey was getting a little nervous. Lily was an elder before their race was enslaved. She was thousands of years older than Cloey and her experience and knowledge ran deep.

…

When Lily woke up she saw Cloey and started to cry. The two beautiful girls held each other as they cried together, creating a soul stirring image.

After crying Lily asked what had happened. Cloey explained what had transpired, that the man who did this was dead and that it wouldn't never happen again.

Lily found a little comfort in that man’s death but didn't fully believe in Cloey’s promise. Lily asked what Cloey had been through since she was sent here. Cloey told her how she met Ben and how she had been travelling with him ever since. Though Cloey tried to hide it, Lily was able to tell that she fell for this man.

Lily was unable to hide her anger, “Cloey this is a man! They only want one thing and then they will discard you!”

“You're wrong Lily. Not all men are like that, especially Ben. You will see when you meet him.” Cloey didn't respond in anger. She also thought this before travelling with Ben. She had fallen for him. She knew it awhile ago.

“Fine then. Bring him here and I’ll be judge him.” Lily said crossing her arms.

“Ah w-what?” Cloey stammered.

“Bring him here now. I want to meet him.” Lily said.

“Umm… okay.” Cloey said.

…

Ben was getting annoyed with the silence as he continued to wait for Lily to speak. Just as he was about to say something-

“Have you slept with Cloey?” she blurted out.

“Lily!” Cloey yelled, turning red from embarrassment.

Ben let out a light laugh, the tension in the room disappeared, “No not yet. She tried a couple times but I rejected her advances.” Ben said, wrapping his arm around Cloey as he teased her.

“Th-that's not true!” Cloey stammered, her embarrassment turned to anger as she pinched Ben’s side.

“Okay okay it's not true!” Ben said squealing in pain. “I didn't reject her.” Ben mumbled with a teasing grin.

Cloey sent an icicle at his head in anger.

Watching these to tease and fight made Lily envious. Their relationship was more than friends but hadn't crossed into lovers yet.

“Your eyes… they’re Mekata Eyes right?” Lily had seen his eyes and was shocked. These eyes were legendary throughout the universe and she had only seen them once before.

Ben’s eyes narrowed, “Yes. I won't tell you where I got them or how so don't ask.”

When Lily asked this question, Ben’s first instinct was to kill her. He knew the allure of his eyes and the problems he would have to face because of them and didn't want Lily to bring these problems to him.

For a split second Lily felt killing intent before it disappeared.

“I have to go but if you need anything ask Cloey.” Ben walked towards the door before stopping the doorway, a gentle expression was on his face. “I can't imagine what you went through and I won't try but I will say this. As long as I am here it won't happen again.”

He left the two girls in silence. Lily stared at the empty doorway. ‘What a strange man.’

…

In the main hall people were pouring in. Henry had gathered the 5 strongest people their city had. These people held prestiges positions in the city and didn't place the City Lord in their eyes. There was three men and two women.

Cathy and Joe brought the trades people into the hall. There was over a hundred of them, from blacksmiths to bakers. Next enter were the hunting parties. These people left the safety of the city ever day to bring back food and materials to sell. They were battle hardened people who toed the line of life and death on a regular basis.

Seeing that everyone arrived, Ben gave a small smile. It was time to put on a show.