Rain and I are inside the newly unlocked laboratory in my [Master's Magnificent Mansion].

Two walls are covered in storage cabinets with glass doors showcasing the various instruments this laboratory comes stocked with.

One of the walls is blank. I'd imagine it's room for diagrams or a chalkboard. The other wall is also empty, but this wall has a door in it, so I can't really call it that.

There are no windows but vents in the walls and ceilings, so I assume this room is well-ventilated. Where they lead to, I don't know.

Four different workstations slightly differ from one another. One has a scroll rack, another has a built-in magnifying glass and a clamp, the third has something that looks like a Benson burner, and the last has nothing.

There is also a sink. So does this place have indoor plumbing or not?

The middle of the room has a runic circle etched into the ground, but I don't know what it's for.

Rain immediately meanders over to the cabinets and tries to open one. It's locked. She doesn't give up and opens the neighboring one, it opens. Inside is a bunch of mundane-looking chemistry equipment, including various glassware.

She also opens another cabinet with something glowing that looks like a soldering iron, with some other miscellaneous tools. Then she goes over to what seems like a random one and pulls out a welding mask and a welder.

"Damn, Ellis. Your lucky you had me around. Not only am I an accomplished alchemist, but I can also make mechanical shit and do some light enchanting. I tried opening some scroll-making shit, and it wouldn't budge. You basically got a 3-in-1 for free!"

"Free? Won't this cost me 7 gallons of blood?"

"That's for the potion I'm giving to your daddy, not the price of becoming a 'thrall' or whatever."

"If it's not insensitive to ask, what ranks are your production skills?"

"My class doesn't work like that. If I convert it to ranks and compare myself to someone at the same exp level as me, I would be at the same skill level as a B-rank enchanter and A-rank Mechanist - I made that arm, after all.

"What about alchemy?"

Rain grins like I fell for her trap. It's a bit sinister with her fucked up eye. Maybe I should give her the prosthetic I have lying around. At least she can study it if she doesn't need it.

"I'm obviously S-rank! On the high end as well. Put me toe to toe with any self-proclaimed S-rank alchemist, and my potions will be better in all aspects."

"Can you tell me more? How does your class work?"

"I'm not telling you more since I want to break in this equipment asap. Get out and leave the dragon blood for your daddy's potion. I'm not privy to sharing secrets even if I accepted a system prompt naming me a thrall."

I don't push Rain further. If interested, I can learn about her class when the time isn't as sensitive. Also, it's not like I can force her by leveraging my [Thralldom] skill. It doesn't have any direct control over other people's actions.

[Thralldom B (2/?)

A master deserves thralls. They aren't at the level of servants, but they are still the underlings of a master. Thrall has to be subservient to the Master. Thrall has to be willing to follow them.

The Master will be aware of any intentional treachery or thoughts of rebellion by a Thrall.

The Master can locate a thrall at will.

The Master's words will hold more weight.]

Dylan listens to all my commands because he's a little weirdo, but I'd know if he doesn't listen to me or breaks the rules I set for him.

I wonder how well [Master's Hand] resonates with the third ability of [Thralldom]. If my words are more verbose, will my nonverbal commands be affected? And if so, how much more weight will my orders have?

I'm not comfortable experimenting on my two thralls regarding this thought process. If I do it wrong, Rain will no longer be a thrall since she has to be willing to be 'subservient' to me. I'd know if she rebelled, but that's irrelevant.

Before leaving the room and letting Rain go wild or whatever she does, I check the sink for running water. It doesn't work. It's a sink that doesn't output.

I plug and fill the basin with water before finally leaving and returning to my foster father. I quietly open the door, and it seems the exhaustion finally catches up with him since he's sleeping soundly.

I double-check to ensure he isn't dead and slink out of the room. Val has commandeered one of the bedrooms on this floor for herself.

I tell her I only have potatoes for food and no indoor plumbing, but she doesn't care. She tells me she's going to nap and not to bother her.

The last thing I do before leaving the mansion is cut out the massive, green heart of the [Verdant Dragon]. It seemed to absorb most of the remnant mana from the corpse but didn't completely turn into a mana organ. Perhaps I either took too long harvesting the dragon or jumped the gun and did it too soon.

That or I was unlucky.

The heart is massive. It's bigger than me in all dimensions and weighs roughly four hundred pounds. I carry the bloodless heart out of my mansion and depot it at Master Wang's house before quickly leaving and heading to Master Giles'.

This part of the city was hit as hard as anywhere else, but some of these estates seem perfectly intact. I guess this is a way to see who has more money.

That one retired military guy with the pimped-out car is standing in the street looking at his completely destroyed home. His car seems fine, at least.

Master Giles' estate is fine. We land near the gate in his property, and I can't spot any of his tamed beasts except for the blue monkey in an apron.

"Hey, is Master Giles alright?"

The monkey gives me a thumbs up and mimes to wait a moment. Master Giles appears moments later. He seems relieved that I'm okay before realizing I'm not okay.

"Disciple, your lifeforce?"

"I'll fix it again. Are you alright? Where is everyone?"

"I'm doing better than most. My tamed beasts left to help others in other cities or check on their family."

"Master Giles, I need a favor."

"I do as well."

"Oh? I'm not sure if my thing is time sensitive, but-"

"Mine is. Disciple, I'm not blind to your capabilities. Disaster strikes, and you have the resources to help others. I implore you to utilize them."

"Uhhh. I'm focused on looking for my mother right now, and I'm not too big on the hero thing. Plus, I'm sure people are being rescued by anyone with a decent level."

"I cannot force you to do anything, but I will clarify one thing. Me asking you to help people isn't because someone needs a hero or I'm trying to get you to do something you'll enjoy. I'm asking you because the less fortunate will need your help. I lived through the Collision. Some prospered in the destruction, while others picked people out of the rubble of a collapsed society."

"Like my grandfather."

"No. Not like your grandfather. Your grandfather did something much more honorable and praiseworthy than being a simple hero. I'm not asking you to be like your grandfather."

"Then what are you asking?"

"It is not my place to tell you how to live your life. I can only make suggestions or try to convince you one way or another. But I can see a future where you are not a good person. That would be a waste of human life."

"I'm not a good person right now. More on the neutral spectrum, I reckon."

"You are very deal orientated. You prefer logos (logic) to pathos (emotion) and might even despise ethos (status), so I have a proposition. Something to convince you to be a better person."

"I'm interested."

"You mentioned your mother. I know your parents fostered you from a young age and lack the necessary skills to protect themselves."

"What are you trying to say?" I really hope he isn't going to threaten me.

"As long as you try to be a good person and do a few positive deeds now and again, I'll use every ounce of my ability to protect them. Please don't turn a blind eye to suffering."

"..."

"You may ask questions."

"That deal includes your tamed beasts?"

"Naturally."

"What constitutes a good/positive deed?"

"Anything with a net outcome that the common consensus would deem positively. I understand that 'bad' or 'gray' actions will inevitably be necessary, and I won't hold that against you."

"I don't need to do it selflessly?"

"Have a personal agenda or not. Actions are louder than intent."

"How long will this deal last?"

"As long as I or any of my beasts are alive or when you break the deal on your own accord."

"How protected will my parents be?"

"It's hard to measure exactly, but having multiple or even one powerful creature acting as a 'guardian spirit' is better than nothing."

"Does this extend to my foster sister?"

"Homebodies only. If she decides to retire her bow and live a mundane life, yes. I enjoy protecting the weak and helping the needy, not giving power to those that don't need it."

"I'll help people."

"Where are your parents?"

"My father is resting in a pocket fracture I can summon at any door, and my mother is missing, as I said. The dean of the Auroran Institute should know something since she disappeared with a member of the security detail they had a hand in setting up."

"I'm assuming the institute has its barrier up?"

"Indeed."

"Come back in an hour, and he will be here."

A massive creature with a long scaled body surges from the estate's pond and soars high up in the air. It blends in with the night sky as its inky black body absorbs light.

It's whiskered and lacks wings but flies effortlessly regardless. Master Giles holds his hand up, and the tamed beast flies down close enough to the ground for Master Giles to snatch a whisker.

Next thing I know, there's a rush of wind, and Master Giles is gone. Looking off into the distance, I can see them fly off into the night.

"What was that?"

[A dragon of some sort.]

"Didn't look like any dragon I know. Was that a dragon?"

I asked the monkey, and he gave a "kinda" by repeatedly moving his thumb from the 'up' position to a 'sideways' position.

[So, Master of thisss one, what is the first good deed after accepting such a deal?]

"What does 'kinda' mean?"

The monkey shrugs.

[...]

"We have an hour to burn. Might as well get some good boy points."

[Don't call it that.]

Where would be impacted the hardest, but also close enough? The residential area for the average citizen is slightly too far for just helping out for an hour. Let's go to the nearby market district.

We fly to the nearest market district, and I see many people, mainly looters. With most businesses being closed for Remembrance, this place wouldn't be the most populated, but at least it's close by.

Do I need to stop looters? Nah... That's the job of the enforcers... I'll prioritize people in trouble before becoming a narc. Wait, isn't this near where those shops I bought are? It better not have survived the disaster just to fucking get ransacked.

I spot a pristine building with no indication of what it's selling. It's a beacon among the damaged or destroyed shops. It's located near the edge of the supermassive ravine but won't be in danger of falling in.

I jump off Duchess and head to the front door, passing by the looters. One is even nice enough to give me some advice.

"Hey, that building looks nice, but they got nothing. Don't waste your time."

He leaves before I can 'thank' him.