Chapter 77: Entering 'The Bridge' part 2
Kayn genuinely never expected that by choosing the Nobility class, he would be given a chance to pick one of the subclasses of the Adventurer class.
"I wonder what my Status Window would look like after this?" Kayn waves his hand and a translucent window with all of his information written appeared in front of him.
Just like what its name suggests, a Status Bar is where all of an individual's current status would be displayed. It comes in a form of a translucent scroll.
No one would be able to see one's Status Window unless the user grants permission for another party to see them.
[
<<Kayn>>
Race: Human
Noble Rank: Baron
Level: 1
Main Class: Nobility
Temporary Subclass: Knight
Currency: 0
Fame: 0
Available SP: 0
Stats -
Strength: 15
Endurance: 12
Accuracy: 13
Agility: 15
Vitality: 12
Mana Capacity: 10
Power Score: 77
Passive Skills: None
Active Skills: None
]
His Status Window turns out exactly as he expected.
"Not bad for a rookie Hero. You could probably overwhelm the majority of your peers already with your Power Score of 77," Natas muttered.
A Power Score is the total of all stats added together. It's technically the bases of an individual's status as a Hero. If one has a low Power Score, then it would be very difficult for them to live inside the 'Tower'. On the contrary, by having a high Power Score, they would be receiving a lot of privileges and advantages far beyond what one could get from Earth.
"How on Earth can you see my Status Window already?" Kayn felt surprised. He hasn't given Natas access to view his Status Window yet.
"My guess is because I am someone outside of the rules set by the 'Tower'," After all, he is neither a living being nor a non-living being. He doesn't even know what exactly he is right now. All he knows is, he's alive in a form of a spirit. "At least to a certain degree only,"
If he was truly outside the rule of the 'Tower', then he'd be able to do whatever he wants. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to be the case for him.
"Actually, it is still far off from when I first looked at my Status Window," Back then, his Power Score was nearly two hundred.
"Of course, it would be since it took you a very long period of time before you were finally granted access to enter the 'Tower'," Obviously, Kayn's stats kept on improving as he continues to wait for the time he could enter the 'Tower' to come. In such a long wait, he'd certainly clear countless dungeons, probably clearing a dungeon that a Superhuman is expected not to be able to clear. That is why his Power Score was close to two hundred.
Regardless, that doesn't mean that Kayn could just automatically jump levels and defeat veteran Heroes immediately. The likes of World President Nicholas, Admiral Robert, Mercenary King Grey, and Mayor Sebastian would have a Power Score reaching close to a million by now. On the other hand, Captain Victor, Echo, Alex, Alice, Diana, Joshua, and James would have more or less tens of thousands of Power Score.
Honestly, it isn't that hard to raise one's Power Score. All one has to do is continue leveling up, getting better equipment, blessing one's self with buffs, bonus effects, Passive Skills, and others, and last but certainly not least, defeat monsters and the inhabitants of the 'Tower'.
Just like in many games, all one has to do is go on a grind. At least that is what the majority of Heroes would do.
However, in order to become better than them and be one of the few powerful and renowned minorities, the best way is to uncover treasures, and if one is lucky enough, stumble upon a fortuitous encounter.
"Enough about that," Kayn changed the topic. "So, do you have any idea what I have to do now?"
He isn't familiar with the environment in 'The Bridge', so he wants Natas to show him the rope first.
"If I remember correctly, there should be a small village nearby this place we are at right now. I think it was to the north," Natas turned in their north direction.
"Let's go!"
…..
Just like what Natas had mentioned, they soon found a prospering village after walking a few tens of meters to the north.
As soon as Kayn walked close to the entrance of the village, a man that seems to be a soldier blocked his path.
"Are you perhaps someone that just entered 'The Bridge'?"
"Do I look that obvious?" Kayn pretended to act innocent. He doesn't know much about the rules, laws, and how the people stuck in this place go on with their daily lives, so he obviously has to act like he means no harm.
"Not really," The man calmly shook his head. "It's just, this is my first time seeing your face, that's why,"
"Anyways, since you're new to 'The Bridge', I recommend that you go to the Town Hall first to register your name and all. Otherwise, you will have difficulty trying to live in the Green Horn Village,"
"Why is that?"
"Because the Chief of the Village doesn't welcome and won't accept anyone who has an unknown identity as he is afraid of the uncertainty and variables you will be bringing into his territory,"
"I understand," Kayn nodded his head. "So, where's the Town Hall?"
"Over there,"
The soldier pointed towards the two-story house located right at the center of the village.
"Thank you,"
"No problem!"
After bidding farewell to the soldier, Kayn walks straight in the direction of the Town Hall. The reason though wasn't because of the reminder that the soldier informed him about, but because Natas' told him that it is a must in 'The Bridge' if one wants to stay in Villages and Towns.
Apparently, there are no Cities to be found in 'The Bridge' because no one is worthy enough to become a Mayor. Moreover, people here don't really like to be bound by anything if there's no profit or benefit to be gained. This means, it would require a lot of budgets to establish a City, which no one could afford.
"Don't worry, you can use whatever alias you want because there's no way someone could recognize you here. And even if there is someone, using an alias is not illegal," Natas assured Kayn.
"Do I seriously have to do this in all the Villages and Towns?"
"I am afraid to say, but yes, because their respective Chiefs don't necessarily have a good impression of each other. Most of the time, they are even in conflict with each other,"
"What happens if my name is registered to a Village whose Chief is in conflict with this Village?"
"You'll die, of course,"
"That serious?!" Kayn was shocked.
"As if that's your first time hearing something like that," Such behavior is actually not rare inside the 'Tower'. It's so common that it almost happens all the time. "But don't worry, the Chief of this Village is someone that barely has any enemies. You should be able to understand why from the name of the Village,"
"Green Horn Village… Beginners Village,"
"That's right! Practically everyone who first entered 'The Bridge' would come to this Village, including the Chiefs of the other Villages and Towns,"
From that alone, Kayn could already surmise that the Chief of the Green Horn Village is one of the first pioneers who entered 'The Bridge' in the early years of its discovery.
Since the Village isn't that big, it didn't take Kayn and Natas that long to arrive in front of the Town Hall.
Along the way, most of the houses they passed by were made out of wood and carved stones. And almost all of them have a stall outside that sells a variety of equipment, consumables, and materials, evidently showing that one of the main purposes of Villages and Towns like the Green Horn Village is to trade with other Heroes.
He didn't spot a single food stall or a restaurant though, making him wonder inwardly why that is the case.
Above all else, there are no infrastructures like a Tavern or a Gambling House. There weren't even any dark alleys.
Looking above the Town Hall, Kayn could see an old man looking in his direction from a window.
"Is that the Village Chief?"
"Yeah, his name is George, but everyone prefers to call him Old Chief George, because of how long he has been in 'The Bridge',"
"That name sounds familiar,"
"He is that Hero with the nickname Old Guard George,"
"That's him?!"
Old Guard George. He is one of the most renowned Heroes of the future as he founded the Old Guard Guild based on the Mercenary Nation.
The name Old Guard doesn't actually mean that they are made up of a bunch of old and elderly Heroes. Behind its name is actually a story about a group of veteran Heroes that choose to make the Mercenary Nation their home because no other nation around the globe accepts them for they stand at the boundary between Heroes and Villains. In other words, Vigilantes. Aside from that, they are one of the most loyal forces of Mercenary King Grey and were recognized as one of his guards.
As for Old Guard George, he is one of the five individuals on Earth that Mercenary King Grey trust the most. This trust was later proven when Old Guard George sacrificed himself in order to save Mercenary King Grey from a powerful monster that invaded the Mercenary Nation.
"I didn't expect that I would be meeting such an upright individual in 'The Bridge'," Kayn can't help feeling delighted about his encounter.
From the moment he first entered 'The Bridge', he has been experiencing one unexpected thing after another. And all of them turned out to be beneficial for him.
Because of that, he can't help becoming excited about the things that he would be encountering in the time he stays in this place.
Regardless of whether they are good or bad though, he can't wait to experience them soon.