In Rothsmith Estate.
Jesse sat on a stool with a doctor, wearing a white lab coat, who was taking his blood pressure. Beside them, Jack and Anna were also in the room, looking at them with a conflicted expression.
It was not a small shock for them after they saw Jesse’s transformation, which was against all known scientific laws.
“Everything should be in order.” The doctor said and looked at Jesse’s piercing purple eyes.
His skin again had goosebumps. He didn’t know why, but when he looked at those beautiful purple eyes, he felt very intimidated, as if he were in the presence of a higher being
.
“Any idea why this happened?” Jack asked curiously. “This is not normal. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.”
“Haha, this is also the first time for me.” The doctor said with a chuckle. “However, I’ve read some similar things happening in the far lands of Daystopia.
“There had been reports of people having abnormal transformations happen overnight. It is pretty much a myth among doctors, but it has not been reported only once or twice.
“It had happened for many centuries already.”
“You think the same thing happened to Jesse?” Anna asked.
She was still very surprised by Jesse’s current form. He somehow turned taller and way more handsome, and everything he did was filled with such convidence and grace.
“Possibly, but he is very healthy.” The doctor said, and glanced at Jack. “If you don’t count his Humanoid Imperfecta, that is.”
Jesse removed the pressure monitor from his arm and scratched the back of his arm. It had been a few days since the fight with Mars, and he had been mostly taking some tests to see whether there was anything wrong with him.
Therefore, he hadn’t had a chance to log back in yet.
However, he wasn’t feeling impatient, as these few days of rest from Martial Online felt actually good. He was able to recharge and rejuvenate his body and mind.
Creak—the door then slightly opened, and Emma peeked inside with a curious look.
“Why are you sneaking?” Anna giggled and opened the door wide to show Emma still wearing her pajamas.
After her hiding spot was removed, she hid behind Anna and peeked towards Jesse, shyness visible in her face.
“Why are you so shy, Emma?” Anna asked curiously from her daughter.
“Is he really Jesse?” Emma asked curiously. “He looks very different…”
“He is indeed your brother.” Anna said with a smile. “Go talk to him; you’ll see.”
Emma shyly nodded and approached Jesse, who was scanning the doctor’s computer, which showed his heart rate and other vital signs.
“J-Jesse?” She spoke timidly.
Jesse turned his head toward Emma and smiled. “What is it?”
“Are you really my brother?” Emma asked curiously, her eyes filled with curiosity.
“You couldn’t recognize me?” Jesse’s lips turned upside down, looking hurt. “I know I have changed, but I never thought you wouldn’t recognize me.”
Emma’s eyes widened in shock, and she started moving her arms erratically, clearly panicking.
“N-n-no, I didn’t mean that!”
“Jesse…” Anna wryly smiled. “Stop playing around.”
Jesse chuckled and patted Emma’s head. “My bad. Emma, do you need proof?”
Emma stood silently, feeling Jesse’s hand on her head, and she timidly shook her head
.
“No… I already got my confirmation.” Her eyes then sparked, and she excitedly asked. “How did you change so much? You are so tall and handsome!”
“Hmm.” Jesse chuckled and rubbed his chin with a smile. He looked at himself through the reflection on the window and agreed that his new appearance was something entirely different.
‘Maybe my wanted poster won’t be a bother anymore. I doubt anyone could recognize me.’ Jesse thought, but then his mood plummeted as he remembered something.
‘Right, that Red Inquisitor saw my new appearance and definitely reported it. Oh well, I wasn’t really thinking about keeping myself hidden back then, nor could I, as that situation would’ve ended in a fight without Bonney’s timely rescue.’
“Jesse, I suppose this is enough. Thank you for taking the tests.” Jack said. “We just needed to be sure, as this was something very unexpected…”
“No problem.” Jesse stood up and patted Emma’s head. “How are things in Amaterasu?”
“Good!” Emma said and asked. “When are you planning to return there?”
“Actually, very soon.” Jesse replied with a smile.
“R-really?” Emma asked in shock, and she suspiciously narrowed her eyes. “Are you lying?”
“Nah, in a day or two, I promise.” Jesse smiled. ‘I’ll take a little longer break. Perhaps visit Arion and go for some horseback riding. It’s been a while since I’ve done that.
‘Perhaps it’s also time to visit Terry and Maria…’
…
Another day passed, and in the world of Martial Online, the players continued to level up and progress in their journey.
But, amidst all that, the new edition of the newspaper had just been released, and it was filled with exciting news and updates.
The newspaper also brought new wanted posters, and one poster specifically caught the attention of the players like a wildfire.
The wanted poster was red-colored with a detailed picture of the wanted man—it was way more detailed than the sketched images of brown wanted posters.
The picture in the poster had a handsome man with a charming smile and piercing purple eyes. The picture was even colored to make it easier for people to recognize him.
The name—Ambrose— was written in bold letters at the bottom of the poster alongside the new bounty, which shook the playerbase to its very core.
This was the highest bounty by a player in the game’s history.
Therefore, the name ‘The Most Wanted Player’ was given to him.
…
In the Kingfisher Retreat, the night had fallen, and Leon was sitting in his room, reading some books on the desk with a window open, showing the vastness of the night sky.
After telling his story, which took several hours, his parents broke into tears and realized what their son had to suffer to return home.
They always knew that there was something suspicious about Leon’s sudden departure and becoming a pirate out of nowhere, but according to one of the Inquisitors who visited them, it was common for evil people to hide their nature from the public.
Therefore, they simply thought Leon was not the person they thought him to be, but in reality, he was simply kidnapped against his wishes and had to suffer for years.
After that day, Silver hired tons of new bodyguards to keep an eye on the estate and on Leon. He never wanted something like that to happen again.
And if anyone planned to come after Leon because of his bounty, Silver planned to fight till the last man.
Creak—the door opened, and a sweet-looking servant walked in with a newspaper in hand.
“Young master, the new edition of the newspaper just came.”
“Ah, thank you.” Leon smiled and accepted the newspaper from the servant, who bowed gracefully and then left the room.
After Leon opened the newspaper, a single red-colored wanted poster slipped out and fell to the desk. The name and the picture of the poster immediately caught his attention.
“Hah…” Leon let out a strained chuckle and tossed the rest of the newspaper away, as this wanted poster was all he needed.
“Quite a big increase. Well, in the eyes of the Inquisitors, he was the person who dealt the final blow to Mars.”
Leon folded the wanted poster and put it safely inside the drawer, planning to keep hold of it.
“You’ll be a very wanted man, Ambrose.” Leon turned back to the book as he was studying to become a man worth following in his father’s footsteps in the wine business.
“He is now at the same level as the legendary Red-Ranked outlaws. To think that only weeks ago, he was just another member of our crew, struggling to grow his strength…
“Red Inquisitors themselves will be after his head from now on. Good luck, Ambrose.”