Henderson sat Mathew down the day after returning from the Volkur dungeon. She wanted to talk to him, Mathew saw no reason to deny a small meeting. They were both in her office in the barracks.

“I have a question for you Mathew. Do you truly want to lead, or just rule?”

“What do you mean by that?” Mathew questioned. “I’ve done a decent job of taking care of this place and setting things up in the short time I've been in charge..”

“Not what I asked. Answer the question.”

“I want to lead obviously.”

“Good.” Henderson went to a locker in her room and pulled out a bag and threw it at Mathew’s feet. “You start training today.”

Mathew looked at it, “What’s inside? Also, what training?”

“Your combat training. You want my men and women to support you? You get military training. An extremely water down version, but you are getting it. Every other day you are showing up in my formation at 0530. If you are late, you will be doing laps for the rest of the day till lunch. Mr. Melton convinced me to do only half days with you, but I will use every second to get you ready.”

“I don’t think that’s needed. I’m in the best shape I’ve been in for years. I can run for miles without puking my guts out. I can wrestle a bear. Shit, we all took a lightning bolt to the face and lived. How come I need this training? Last I checked, I didn’t split the group up and almost get people killed.”

“I agree with that. Hence why everyone is getting stronger. Including myself. New rules and group dynamic protocols are being made right now.” Henderson smiled. Mathew did not like that smile. It meant he played into her trap. “Summers, get in here.” She shouted.

A uniformed woman walked in. The new standard uniform for ranged fighters. “Report your strength and dexterity rounded down.”

“Strength 20, Dexterity 120. Ma’m.”

Henderson looked at Mathew. “If you beat her in a fight with nothing but your hands, feet, and body. You won’t have to train. Neither of you will use magic, abilities, or skills. Just raw natural talent.”

Mathew eyed the small woman. She was probably just over five feet tall. It was a trap, he knew it. If he said no, more than likely Mathew would still be forced to show up. If he fought and lost, that would be almost as bad, but the chance of winning was still on the table. His strength was double hers, yet that Dexterity score was higher than his still.

His silence hung in the air too long for Captain Henderson apparently. “Answer now, or I’ll pin you to the ground myself.”

Mathew had been tricked. He hated it, but respected it. “Fine, I’ll show up. On the condition Agnox get’s trained as well.” If he was going to suffer, might as well have a friend. Plus, his new class needs it.

“Done. I want to see how he fights anyways.”

Mathew left the barracks already feeling sore. After thinking it over, he couldn’t see a flaw in the plan. It wasn’t like he was getting a full bootcamp experience. It was to train his body. His mind was solid. He had no hesitation in killing monsters and aliens. Plus, this would be a great way to maybe push his [Knives] skill to the next rank with proper training. Agnox would complain at first, then Mathew would just remind him of his new skills to improve upon.

The next day, Mathew spent six hours of running, doing burpees, and other physical acts. Agnox at first used his wings to cheat. Henderson then tied his wings to his body with rope. That got a laugh out of everyone, which resulted in five more laps of running from everyone

Mathew was also forced to address her as Captain Henderson. A few times he was tempted to just walk away. Yet, that would mean he gave up and lost. He had a small suspicion Henderson was enjoying yelling at him too much. “Sadist…”

It was four days later that Mathew finally was ‘allowed’ to move to actual combat training. Agnox included. The two of them were pitted up against each other more often. It was Agnox’s suggestion.

“My first Master and I did this a lot. Train together. Hence why I wasn’t against the work. I am against tourture, which that woman is obviously all about. Plus, we both use blades. I can use the training against other humans.”

“So you can defend yourself, right?” Mathew less asked, and more ensured that was Agnox’s reason.

The imp just nodded “Yea. That’s my reason.”

The other days, Mathew focused on continuing his Mana Cycling, and testing the limits of his newest Ability.

At first, he had no idea how it worked. He tried casting spells or using the phantom teacher from the [Knives] skill, but nothing happened. It wasn’t until he did a Mana Cycle that he realized what was different.

Before, his mana traveled in clumps. It still flowed like a river, but in sections. That’s what gave him the idea of a dam so his mana could flow much easier. Now it was smoother. His energy flowed slower, but at a consistent rate.

Simply realizing that and doing a full cycle increased the ability all the way to Novice 3. He really wanted to apply it to other things. He started with [Mana Bolt]. He took the casting slow, and the mana flowed to his hand as it always did. In the end, the spell was the same, but cleaner.

The bolt in the past was always rough shaped. Like a vague oval shape. Now it was more streamlined and shaped properly. He swore the spell was faster in the air, but he lacked a proper way to test it out.

The next day that didn’t involve training, he headed toward The Workshop. It was time to boost the last spell to Beginner rank. After a single day of nothing but expanding every person’s bag it jumped all the way to Novice 8.

He was close, but it drastically slowed down in improvement as he only did minimal effort for bags. Going from Novice 7 to 8 required him to constantly include his technique of [Mana Channel] and Mana Cycling. Flowing the mana slowly and precisely. He refused to make any mistakes infront of people.

Near the end of the day, his mana was almost tapped out. He still had the mana from his ring he kept as an emergency reserve. He was walking to his cart when a young woman walked up to him.

She wasn’t bad looking. Blonde, tanned, broad shouldered, brown eyes. Mathew looked over at her. “Yes?”

“I was going to ask if you could, um. Expand my bag. A friend mentioned you were doing it, but I don’t have any credits I can spare. Food isnt’ cheap these days.”

Mathew kept a neutral face. “That’s fine, I’ll do it for free. I’ve done a few of them like that already.”

“Are you sure? I could pay other ways. My name is Vee by the way. My real name is annoying, so I just have people call me that.”

He held up a hand. “I’m sure.” He glanced around quickly trying to see if anyone was looking. On one hand, he could take up her offer. It has been some time…Yet, he was no fool. It was an obvious grab for one of two things. She was trying to get in good graces with the leader of the town. Ensuring she would be taken care of for the rest of time. Keep his bed warm, and he would keep her safe.

The other was to make him seem like a sleazy leader. Using his position to intimidate women to sleep with him. One he would have zero worries about before The System arrived. Now? He had an image to maintain. Ensuring the public had little to no negative views about him.

“You seem young, are you sure it’s safe to be out this late alone?” He had to be careful.

“I’m level 11. Have a class and everything.” She looked up at him innocently. “However, I wouldn’t mind a ride. I’m rooming with two other people on the other side of the base, err town.”

He felt a wave of desire take over. Mathew held out a hand to take hers. “Sure, let me take you. Wouldn’t want anything bad to happen to you right?.”

He took her to the cart and started to drive in the direction of his own room. “So, what class do you have?”

“Oh nothing important. So, tell me Mr. Mathew. What is it like being in charge?”

“It’s nice, but tedious. Training, paperwork, more training, then sleep. Repeat it over a few days. It’s a little boring with nobody for company.” Why was he saying this? He’s dated over a dozen women in his life, but he sounded like a horrible love story.

“Aww, that sucks. No Mrs. McGonald?”

“Never found the perfect woman. Work for me was all I had back before S-Day. Seeing nearly two dozen divorce cases a week takes the magic out of love.”

She smiled and leaned up against him. “That just means you haven't found the right girl yet. I’m sure she’s out there for you.”

At her touch, Mathew felt the draw to be with her grow. It had been some time, why shouldn’t he? “Because it’s unprofessional.”

“Listen, if you do have two roommates, do you ever get a moment to yourself?” Mathew asked her.

“Ugh, never. No privacy. I kinda miss being home. I came here due to the emergency broadcast. Stuck here ever since. But, I can still be useful.”

Her words started to sing to Mathew. He pulled up and parked infront of his residence. That wasn’t right, he was supposed to drop her off.

“Oh we are here. Care to go inside with me?” She took Mathew’s hand and lead him away from the golf cart. That wasn’t romantic, it should be a limo, or at least his own car. He stopped moving.

Vee’s face had a hint of anger. “I said we should go together. You wouldn’t want to leave me alone by myself right?”

Mathew squeezed his eyes for a moment, a pressure made him uncomfortable. “You have a friend right? You mentioned her earlier. Suggested to meet me for something.”

“Yes, to meet you. Mathew, you are such a chivalrous man. You wouldn’t want to disappoint a lady would you?” Her voice continued to sing.

He wasn’t an asshole, but chivalrous? That wasn’t a term he ever used to describe himself. He was going to take her…where?

The next moment he realized his arms were wrapped around Vee. They were both walking up a set of stairs. He knew these stairs. Where he was living. Why was a girl with him?

His hand was on his door and it opened. Agnox was there to greet him. “Hey boss. Who's your friend?”

“Who?” Mathew looked at Vee. Then back at Agnox. The pressure pushed harder. Mathew grabbed his head and grunted. “Who, who are you?”

Vee glared at Agnox. “Why is your pet out? That’s rude to have your pet attack your guest isn’t it Mathew?”

The singing voice was gone. The pressure built up more, it felt like his head was going to explode. She was doing something to him, but what? Seducing? Not the worst pick up line, but there was something else.

The mental energy he felt only three times washed over his mind. It pushed the pressure back like a strong gust of wind pushing away a poisonous gas. His mind cleared. He was going to take Vee to her dorm. Not his own. He was tricked. He did not like being tricked.

Mathew kept the mental energy there, using his anger to fuel it. Nobody attempts to control his mind. That was the only thing that made sense. Vee tried to manipulate and control him.

“Hey, Mat. If you were going to bring a lady friend, you coulda warned me.” Agnox crossed his arms looking a little disappointed. “Wait, where’s one for me!”

Mathew glared at Agnox, and unsummoned him. No point in letting him get involved. “Vee, you have one chance, or I’ll kill you here and now. It will be easy to cover up, so don’t assume I won’t.”

Vee looked at Mathew. What Mathew didn’t know was what Vee saw in his eyes. They were not the normal brown eyes he normally had. They were glowing grey and red with anger.

“I -uh. Do what sweety? Thank you for taking care of your…imp. You are such a-” Mathew slapped her with the back of his hand, knocking her to the ground.

“You tried to do something to me. Control me. Seduce me. I don’t know what, but I do not like that. I couldn’t care less if you tried to sleep with me, but using magic? That’s a line cross too far, it’s like using drugs. That’s against the law.”

“What laws, you bastard? Why didn’t it work on you? I tested higher levels before!”

“So you admit it then?” Mathew scoffed. “Then this will be simple.” He pulled out a paper from his bag, and his [Writing] skill quickly worked. He held nothing back, the idea coming to him instantly. If she had no guilt for manipulating other people with magic, then why should he have the same courtesy for her?

He then handed the paper and pen to her. “Sign this, or I’ll make you regret not doing so.”

The contract was simple. An admission of guilt and acceptance of a punishment for her crime of attempting what she did.

“What is it?” She asked.

“An admission of guilt. You tried to rape me.”

“Rape?! I just wated to sleep with you! Who cares if-” She stopped talking as another slap hit her.

Mathew knelt down near her face. “Let me ask you something. What would you have done? Stay with me every day? Continue to use your magic, or ability, or whatever you used to keep tricking me? Your plan is half baked. Trust me, I’ve had a few myself. Sign the paper, or else.” He didn’t ask, he demanded.

Tears started to flood down her face. She wasn’t sad because she regretted her choices. It was because she got caught. The fear was real in her eyes, Mathew knew that. Yet, he didn’t care. She signed it, and Mathew stood up taking the paper from her.

“Should have read the terms Vee. Thanks for this. Now, stand.” Vee did so instantly looking confused.

“Jump three times.” Vee did so.

“Slap yourself.” Vee did so, looking more and more shocked and afraid. Yet, he noticed it wasn’t a full powered slap.

Mathew never considered doing this with a contract. If not for Vee using her powers against him, he might never have. “Good, so here is what you are going to do…”

The next morning, Mathew missed training. He had a good reason. It was time to enact the official laws for Blue Oaks.

It wasn’t hard to gather a majority of the people who lived here. He had a new temporary helper. He didn’t get much sleep, but it cleared his head. He had no regrets for what he did, but knew he couldn’t keep her as a puppet slave forever. People wouldn't like that.

He kept her in the living room. Ordered her to not make a sound, and to not leave. He woke up to find her asleep. Her makeup ruined by the tears she silently cried all night.

“Wake up.” He said. Vee’s eyes instantly opened up.

“Please…”

“Don’t speak unless I say so otherwise.” That silenced her.

Mathew didn’t have the stomach for food right now. Instead he got dressed and told Vee to clean up in the bathroom. Once they were both ready, Mathew took her to the office where Mr. Melton would be at.

Henderson can be mad at him all she wanted today. This took priority. First thing was to tell Melton. The only other man he could trust this information to.

Mathew guided Vee as if she was a friend. Giving explicit instructions to ensure she couldn’t ask or beg for help. No telling of his newest secret.

He opened the office door. Melton was at his desk, “Perfect”.

“Mathew! No knocking? Shouldn’t you be training with Captain Henderson?”

“Something more important came up.” Mathew looked at Vee and pointed at a chair. “Sit.” She did so instantly. Mathew closed the door then locked it.

Mr. Melton looked between he two curiously. “Mathew, who is this? What is going on?”

“Vee, stand up, jump four times, spin in a circle, then sit back down.” She did all of those things. Mr. Melton’s face grew worried.

“What did you do to her?” He half demanded.

“Tell Mr. Melton here what you attempted to do last night. The entire truth.”

“I tried to seduce Mathew McGonald with my class ability [Siren’s Call]. It almost worked, but he somehow stopped it. He is the first man that it did not work on. My goal was to sleep with him, become his bed warmer, so I never had to work or pull guard duty again.” Tears started to form up in her eyes again.”

“Thank you Vee, sit quietly while the two adults talk.”

“How.” Was the only word Melton said.

“Contract. Wording gave me full control over her. Not her thoughts, I didn’t write that because I want to ensure her mind is truly hers so when she admitted to her attempts against me.”

He nodded, thinking it over. “Is she the only one you did this too?”

Mathew nodded, “The only one I plan on using it on. I can’t force people into it, but an ultimatum appears to work. That’s how contracts work, they require consent. I told her to sign it, or else. I made it seem like I was going to kill her. If she didn’t sign it, I was just going to strong arm her to some guards and imprison her until something was worked out.”

“This isn’t something I wanted to know that people could do. Mind control? What next…”

“That’s why today we are doing the laws. Gather everyone up. It’s time.”

“I haven't finished the correct wordings though.”

“I dont’ care.” Mathew stared daggers at Mr. Melton. “If she can do this to me, who else can be manipulated? The Laws will work, trust me. I’ll add one that involves control like this. They go up today. I don’t care if you approve or not. It’s my town, and I’ll do it if I damn want to.”

Melton narrowed his eyes. “What’s gotten into you. You’ve never been this cold hearted.”

Mathew looked at Vee. “She is what. She did something I did not like. My job involved people like her. It’s been nearly a month. Today we get Blue Oaks on the path to proper establishment.

Mr. Melton looked at Vee, “Fine. Let’s do it. Before anything worse happens.