Max Stats in the Apocalypse

Anyone would think that letting Roger go was the worst decision to make. Not just because he showed promising talent, but also because he was impulsive and someone they could easily control over the years. However, Se Bastian, the person assigned to catch Roger, wasn't fixated on that idea. Instead, he was thinking that letting Roger go was the best move since it would hone him.

"Don't you know that being the weakest at the time where people need you the most pushes your limits?" Se Bastian stated in a calm, profound tone. His face showed no certain expression, but he seemed to be a silent person who didn't talk much.

"How about he becomes someone we can't control? If we were not able to taunt him, he would not be pushed to come with us and follow our orders. Roger was that kind of person who loved his family the most."

Anyone would think that Roger was better off being controlled without letting him experience the world. If they gave him time to think, he would be able to think and prepare to fight them. That case was something common for them, but, still, they made the same mistake.

One strong example was the Anti-Society Supreme Council that rebelled against them. No stupid person would think that they hadn't done anything wrong, or something out of their hands for the group to emerge. It is obviously the Supreme Council's misconduct.

Se Bastian, on the other hand, was certain of his decision. He had watched Roger and observed him. He didn't need to physically fight; he just had to fight with his mind and capture Roger by the time he was weak mentally but strong physically.

"I would say that the event will make him pursue stronger abilities. He will try different methods to strengthen himself, and that is already an advantage for us." Se Bastian said. "Experience is what makes people grow. Let him be; his time will come as long as his family is in our hands."

"Well then, Se Bastian, since you say that, we will let it be. But by the year that you still didn't have Roger Wyles in your hands, we will do what must be done and you will be punished for it."

Se Bastian only smirked and slowly nodded, as if confident of his decision. He was confident in his decision as he had been right in the past because he always had a good reading when it came to people's actions by their attitude.

***

After having a journey to the other city, Roger was silently walking down one road. He was patently using the road without flying to minimize the attention he could possibly get. At the current moment, he was still vigilant of the person that peeked at him. 

Roger looked in every direction from time to time, silently to be ready for any sudden attack. But hours had passed but no attacks happened. Thus, making him conclude that the person that gazed at him was might be a passerby or someone who was hiding his identity just like the ASSC.

"Hey... Roger... Where were we going?"

"Didn't I say that you mustn't bother me? Why are you bothering me?" Roger uttered, clearing his ears and gesturing that he saw Clara as a nuisance.

"I am not bothering you. I am only asking you."

Roger sighed deeply and faked a smile at Clara. "You know, we are not going anywhere. I am only walking, thinking about how the government works, which I basically couldn't understand. And so please, stop bothering me. Just follow me if you want, but just don't talk."

"Why don't you ask us if you want to know the government?" Clara blurted out, making Roger sigh again and grumble in frustration.

"I just said stop talking."

Roger stopped walking and stared at Clara. The reason why he didn't want to ask them was the possible suspicion that could be raised if he asked them. There was nothing much to worry about, but since Roger wanted to gain their trust, he wanted to be formal with them for a moment until he became casual with them so he could ask them any question.

Clara looked innocently at Roger and tilted her head in confusion. Still, with her soft voice, she asked, "Why, Roger? Don't you trust us?"

'It is not a matter of trust but necessity.' Roger couldn't stand being open with them. In fact, he didn't want to be with them, but he was just forced to. That was the reason why he didn't explain his ability to them.

There was also one thing: his stats were different from theirs. The main reason Unique Awakens had a glitch status board was that they should not have one. Normal Awakens could have status, but their potential was limited.

"It is not about trust. I just don't want to talk because you are wasting your time. I need to save my family." Roger bluntly said, without showing any soft emotion on his face.

When Clara saw this, she could only feel a piercing pain, sympathizing with him despite not having any family to think of.

"I am sorry, Roger. I can help you. Do you have any questions about the government?"

Roger was silent for a few seconds as he saw Clara's eyes filled with determination. He could feel that Clara was being sincere. 'Does this mean she wants to help me? But why? I can't understand her. Is she naive?'

Roger was still assessing Clara, but he couldn't see any signs of Clara's possible actions. He felt that she might be acting, trying to be close to him and attached to him. But, things like that were just good to be vigilant about, not overthink about.

He let out a sigh and then nodded. "Okay. Should I start my question now?" Roger sarcastically asked.

"You can ask me anytime if you have any questions in your head."

Roger smiled and then turned his back to Clara. "We will be going to the next city to search for a possible city that has more connections with the District Overdrive. I want to go there." Then he started walking.

Clara caught up to him and asked at the same time. "Why do you want to go to the District Overdrive? Are you looking for your family? You know that it is useless, right?"

Roger scoffed and responded. "I know, that is why I am aiming for the building of the Supreme Council. I want to infiltrate it and search for any information that could help me. It would be long and tiring if I searched the whole country. It would risk my family too since they would discover my location."

Clara silently comprehended Roger's words. And as she understood him, she asked. "Does that mean that you will not cooperate with the group? You know that we can help you."

"I know you can help me, but there was just something that was bothering me. In this way, I can comfortably search for my family without getting caught."

"Getting caught?"

"We might get discovered if we create huge movements. Risking the entire group is not an option for me." Roger calmly answered.

"I see... You are not mean, Roger."

Roger shook his head as he heard it again. 'Why the hell is she thinking that I am mean?" I am not mean.'

"Roger, do you want me to help you? What is your plan? I promise I won't tell the group."

"You better not." Roger bluntly said, and then continued to explain. "I am looking for a city that has a good connection with the District Overdrive. Since I am also looking for a good disguise, I am planning to go to the District Overdrive as I mentioned."

Clara nodded. "I see... I can help you search for a disguise. I know a place."

When Roger heard it, his eyes unconsciously flickered in excitement. "What? Really? Where?"

"I know someone who can create a fake skin. He declined our offer to join the group since he was still not discovered by the Supreme Council, but he is someone I knew."

'You always double your explanation.' Roger awkwardly smiled and then jumped into the topic. 

"Then, can you guide me to that place you are talking about?" Roger asked.

"I can, but there is a problem." Clara reluctantly said.

"What is the problem?"

"He lives inside a dungeon, and I can't go inside a dungeon since my compatibility with mana is weak when it comes to dungeons."

As he heard it, Roger couldn't help but raise an eyebrow in confusion. He pondered for a second and then went back to the conversation. Oddly, he could understand her since she was making sense.

"Then... that is slightly a problem," Roger mumbled. 'It wasn't really. I just don't know what to say.'

"Are you sensitive to the mana in dungeons, Roger? From what I know, most Unique Awakens are sensitive to mana in dungeons."

Roger thought of it and was frozen in one place as he realized something. "Why would they experiment with Unique Awakens?"

Clara already knew what Roger was pertaining to despite being away from the topic of their conversation. "It is for an invasion, as obvious as it is." Clara softly said.

Roger let out a sigh and shook his head.. "Fucking violent world."