The First Store System



Chapter 1371: Breakthrough and New Beginnings(2)

"Eh!" Laney couldn't help but exclaim in her heart when she opened her eyes.

She found herself in a hospital with a group of people surrounding her. As soon as she opened her eyes, the expressions of all the people around her turned respectful and joyful.

They were sincerely happy for Laney's awakening since she was the new leader of Fring City. Laney ignored those positive expressions and asked, "How long have I been unconscious?"

Her voice was slightly trembling since there was an important meeting waiting for her, and she didn't want to miss that due to being unconscious. As for why she didn't get forced out of Panagea after completing the last quest and passing the trial as a whole, it had to do with the final step, where she would need to cut the pattern at the back of her hand and feed it to the statue. Only after that would she become the city lord and hence pass the trial.

"For seven days, my lord!" It was Rimiru who spoke. His eyes no longer contained the expressions they had when Laney had entered the city several years ago. They also felt respect and sincerity toward her.

Laney breathed a sigh of relief after hearing Rimiru since a heavy weight was lifted off her back. She was still more than two months away from the deadline, considering Panagea's time, so she hadn't lost that opportunity.

Laney then jumped out of bed since her body was filled to the brim with energy. At the same time, the gloom surrounding her over the past few years seemed to have disappeared. The giddy innocence of her childhood took its place.

It shouldn't have been that way since even if she removed the aura of resentment affecting her, she had gone against her usual ideals many times to complete the quests. Laney didn't have to think long for the reason behind her feeling so bubbly.

The memory of when she lost consciousness after bearing through the unbearable wave of pain flashed in her eyes. The light blue ball showed the faces of those she or her recruits had killed.

Everyone in that light blue ball had relieved expressions, and they seemed to empathize with Laney after she went through the pain they all had gone through due to her.

Drip!

Tears formed around her eyes, and soon after, a drop streaked through her cheeks and reached her jaw. Following that, whatever remained of it crashed to the ground, creating a loud sound and breaking the silence in the room.

The sudden outburst of emotion surprised the people around her. They said nothing because they could feel the empathy the dead held for Laney. Others didn't know that there was bound to be a serious reaction after that.

Laney didn't personally witness every battle her recruits went through since it wasn't possible, or it would have taken several decades for her to do the same.

The suffering she endured also included the agony of brutal assault and torture that Laney never ordered. The light blue ball confirmed the situation, as whoever's face she saw also contained their last death memory.

It seemed incredulous to go through the last memories of millions of people, but she did, and it all happened in an instant. The reason she remained unconscious for seven days was due to her body absorbing the memory.

Laney wasn't some innocent being since she had the blood of millions on her hands. It didn't matter whether they forgave her or not. Nothing could take away the deaths of those beings. Some deserved death, but there were many who didn't. It was just that they were in the wrong place and supported the wrong party, so they had to die.

As the faces of those who assaulted the others appeared in her head, she clenched her fist. The others noticed the sudden change in Laney's emotions but kept silent.

It took around an hour for her to find every face that committed the deed and was still alive. She then turned around and looked at the crowd with calm eyes. It was easy for her to return to the chilly version of herself.

Zoric was also there, so she called him closer. Zoric nodded and walked toward Laney.

Laney didn't say anything, but a glow of energy appeared in her hand, and she handed it to her.

Zoric took the energy ball from her, and it immediately melted into him. The next moment, information flowed into his brain like blood flowing through his veins.

All the faces she had caught appeared in Zoric's head, with what they had done. Zoric didn't feel anything wrong with that since the same must have happened with the recruits as well, but when he saw Laney's expression, he didn't say anything.

Zoric simply nodded and then left the room since it was easy for him to know what Laney meant.

It didn't take very long before Zoric returned to the room and informed her of the successful task.

Laney stood up from her bed and walked to the window. She could see a group of people ranging from Level 50 to 150 standing there, unaware of what was going on.

Laney took a simple glance at them and then looked at Zoric. Her eyes had never shown more brutality than at that moment.

Zoric understood and disappeared from the room. The next thing Laney saw, the ground was littered with headless bodies, and blood had stained the grass red.

At that moment, Laney seemed to hear a cracking sound, and soon after, she passed another level, stepping into Level 244.

She noticed that Zoric didn't like what she ordered, but she didn't care. Before she was the city lord, she needed to follow the rules. But things had changed. She was the city lord now, and others would have to follow her ideals.

The smile returned to Laney's face as she looked at Rimiru and asked him to explain the city's wealth to her.

The next moment, the smile froze on her face since Rimiru said that she would need to complete the last step before gaining mastery over the city's assets. Without completing the steps, Laney had the authority of the city lord, but not fully.

Zoric only followed her order because he was loyal to her.