230 Exchanging Information

[Inspect (Level 1)]

[Effect: Allows the user to see the Stats of the object and people around him.

Skill Points required to upgrade Skill:1]

'That reminds me of the old days,' I thought as I used the skill on the people around here.

[Name: Spencer Inis

Race: Zombified Human

Class: Grappler]

'That's the purple-haired guy,' I observed.

[Name: Martha Aroa

Race: Zombified Human

Class: Grappler]

'Mom is a Zombified Human too, huh?' I sighed.

[Name: Erza Miller

Race: Zombified Human

Class: Strategist]

'Well, doesn't really surprise me,' I sighed again.

[Name: Markus Edenfield

Race: Zombified Human

Class: Spearman]

[Name: Wendy Edenfield

Race: Zombified Human

Class: Swordsmaster]

'Now that we have confirmed that it really is the Cessation Energy, the question comes on to: how did they come in contact with it when the apocalypse is supposed to happen 6 months later?' I thought as I saw mom walking towards me, while Spencer and Erza walked behind her.

"Michael. Can you answer my question honestly?" she spoke with slight hesitation and I nodded as I spoke,"I too have many things to tell and ask mom. Will it be okay if we exchange information?"

Though hesitant, she nodded as she looked at Spencer before she continued,"then it would be better if we discuss this in a place where we can have a long conversation."

"Sure," I spoke as I observed them. Nodding at me, they started walking outside the training room, and I followed behind them as I reached the other side of the area. Walking through the hallway, we reached a big room, which looked like a kind of office used by professionals.

The room was very neat as there was a shelf with books neatly arranged and a couple of sofas for people to eat and relax. The wall in front of us was transparent, showing the wide view of the city behind, making this room all the more majestic.. or filthy rich, to be precise.

'I should ask mom about the design of this room,' I thought as I was really mesmerized by the room. Though a voice brought me back from my daydreaming,

"Michael," mom said as she sat on the sofa, while the others were already sitting. The only space left was on the single sofa where people were waiting for me to sit.

With slight hurried steps, I moved towards the sofa and sat there as I looked at the others, observing me.

"I am not going to be the one who will be starting the conversation," I chuckled as I picked up an apple and, using the knife on the food tray, I began peeling the apple. Meanwhile, mom observed me carefully as she observed my actions before speaking,

"Well.. to be honest, I don't know where to begin. So, I will be telling you my story. Will that be fine?"

I nodded at her with a smile and she continued,"So in brief, when I was reaching for the top in the business society, I was given a card from an organization. It was a secret organization from the Upper Echelon that kind of.. rules this world."

"Rule the world?" I asked with a slight seriousness as I briefly stopped my hands before continuing the peeling of the apple.

"Yeah. They hold the power over a certain type of 'cores', as we may call them, that allows normal people to cultivate energy. With this cultivation, we can grow stronger than a normal person can ever imagine," she spoke with all seriousness as I turned at Marks and Spencer before turning back to mom.

"What's the catch?" I asked. Only a fool would believe in free lunches. historical

"We have to sign a non-disclosure agreement, while a man from the organization will come to us every now and then," Mom explained as she continued, but Spencer stopped her.

"All right, that's enough about us. It's your turn, kid. While I don't feel any energy coming out from you, I am not a fool that can't see that you are a monster too.. a different type of monster unlike us," Spencer got directly to the point.

"Hmmm.. I got an opportunity," I spoke as I looked at them, making them concentrate on me as Spencer questioned,"Opportunity?"

"Yeah. Well, it kind of happened yesterday.. When I fell asleep," I said as I looked at them before continuing,"I was sent to a place.. kind of unknown place where I was called upon as a challenger. There were all kinds of monsters and weapons. I met a couple of people and also picked up a couple of arts, before finally being able to complete the final challenge of the entire area," I explained and their eyes widened as mom muttered,

"A dungeon?"

'So they know about dungeons, too? Interesting,' I smiled on the inside as I made a confused expression on the outside as I asked,"Dungeons?"

Spencer, who seemed to understand my 'confusion', looked at me with a relaxed look,"you are a lucky one, brat. You probably have no idea, but the place where you went was most probably a dungeon. Many times, some or the other people are sent to various locations, some die while others come back. The timeline is also different based on what kind of dungeon it is, and looking at your behavior, I must say that you have spent quite some time in that dungeon, haven't you? Is that why you rushed here to meet your mother?"

I nodded as he took a deep breath,"well that answers all the absurdity you just showed."

Even mom who was skeptical about me, was now looking at me with a motherly gaze as she smiled at me. Erza's eyes were glistening as she observed me. While the two kids were having a look of surprise and jealousy as they observed me.

"So what did the dungeon give you?" Spencer asked with his eyes fully concentrated at me and I kind of made a dumbfounded expression as I looked at him. Inside I was wondering if I should give an ability out to explain the powers or should I...

"Spear Skills. I was given an option to choose only two things to take back, so I decided to choose this skill." I decided to go with it. Spencer looked at me for a brief moment before he asked,

"And.. what are the other things that you chose?"

"Spencer-" Mom was about to interrupt but Spencer cut her off as he spoke,"we are already lacking the power to stand against the other empires. I am not letting this one go. I know he is your son, and that's the only reason I am being polite here and not straight up kidnapping him."

'I would like you to try,' I thought as I sighed before speaking,

"I can gauge the power level of the opponent."

Hearing my answer, they made a surprised expression, but they weren't really dumbfounded. Spencer kind of nodded at my choice before asking,

"What were your other options?"

"Equipments mostly. Though, I thought if it were to be stolen from me in the real world, I would be f*cked, won't I?" I answered with a slightly annoyed look on the outside, making them chuckle as Spencer spoke,"Well. From your point of view, it seems like you made the smartest choice. Anyway, that settles it. Martha, I will be taking your son to-"

Though before he could speak, a staff member knocked outside. Looking at him, Spencer nodded for him to come in as he spoke,"Madam Martha. Your son, Willam Aroa, is here."