Chapter 11: Unlocks
The sun had set low, bathing the illusion city in its evening orange. Jaden had a blank look on his face as he sat at a bench in the flower garden beside the mayor’s mansion. He didn’t know what to feel about this... According to others, he had entered this illusion with them about a year ago.
But he only remembers that he had died in his previous world and later transmigrated into this one; and for some reason, he didn’t remember that. Then, what about his system? His camera and his clothes?
Why did his system awaken after he came here? Why did he have his camera with him if it was useless without the system? And why did he wear the set of clothes from his previous life?
His session of questions with the others only gave him more and more questions... these questions, however, weren’t light or about the world he was in anymore. No, no, they were about his very existence now.
A heavy sigh escaped his lips without him knowing. He raised his hands and rubbed his face.
"Things... just got complicated..."
He collapsed on the bench as he looked at the sun far away with a bittersweet smile.
"All just because of that Non-PG act..."
He chuckled at his own words and thought of what he should do now.
’There are a lot of questions I need answers to... but they can’t answer them and I don’t even know if anyone can.’
His eyes suddenly glinted sharply as he muttered silently.
"Is the shutter summoner going to give up then?"
"Heh... give up? Me?"
He took a deep breath as he called out.
"System."
————[System]————
Host: Jaden Cross
Job: The Shutter Summoner
Level: 1
Experience: 0/100
Skills: [Capture], [Picturebook], [Summon]
Available features: [Profile], [Epiphany Zone]
Slots: 9
————[System]————
’So I unlocked [Epiphany Zone], [Picturebook], [Summon] and Slots...’
’I do have the idea about the other three, but what’s the slots about?"
He thought about it for a moment before shifting his attention.
’Leave it.’
’Profile’
————[Profile]————
Host: Jaden Cross
Age: 18
Job: The Shutter Summoner [SSS]
Job Description: You can capture and summon anything using your camera and grimoire.
Rank: Initiate [1] -> Adept[10]
Enhanced Stats:
Strength: 0
Agility: 0
Intelligence: 5 (5↑)
Spirit: 5 (5↑)
Charisma: 0
————[Profile]————
’Not much of a change within the profile.’
He raised his hand and opened his palm to call out to his grimoire. But nothing happened.
"Huh? What the?"
His heartbeat quickened as he could not call to his grimoire.
"What’s wrong?"
He suddenly remembered something and face-palmed himself as he mumbled.
"Ah... I see."
’Picturebook.’
As soon as he said so, a black night sky-like book with gold arcane embroidery appeared in his palm. He blinked a few times, surprised by how fast it appeared on his palm.
"Where is my cosmetic effect?" he questioned playfully as he opened the first page of the book, and just as he had expected, it was empty.
"So with capture, I can capture ’anything’? And with summon, I can summon them out of the grimoire..."
He took out his camera and aligned its lens at a maid, who stood near the gates. He clicked the shutter button, and a message appeared before him.
[Capturing an E rank human.]
[Capture Requires - 2 slots]
[Confirm | Deny]
Jaden raised an eyebrow at the message and replied.
"Deny."
’So that’s what the slots are for?’
He lowered his camera and questioned the system.
’I hope it answers...’
"What is the conversion of grade rankings to the ones used by humans?" He crossed his fingers as he asked. Soon, a screen popped up before him.
————[System]————
Levels - Rank - Grade
0 - Novice - F
1 - Initiate - E
10 - Adept - D
25 - Expert - C
————[System]————
He wore a thoughtful look while looking at the screen. A few moments later, he spoke.
"Hmm... It only showed me the ranks I know about."
"No spoilers, huh?"
He dismissed the screen as he calculated everything within his mind.
"That maid should be bordering Adept - D rank - that’s why it asked for two slots." He nodded at his own conclusion and positioned the lens of his camera at another maid and clicked the shutter button.
A screen message popped up once again.
[Capturing an E rank human.]
[Capture Requires - 1 slot]
[Confirm | Deny]
He lowered his camera and thought. ’Deny.’
"Just as I thought."
"The higher the rank, the more slots it requires... But what if I use it on those with a rank lower than mine?"
He stood up to check on his theory but stopped in his tracks. The sun was about to set.
"I should do it tomorrow," he said as he turned and stepped towards the mansion’s entrance.
He knew that there were some mysteries tied to his apparent transmigration, but if he wanted to uncover those mysteries, he needed to get stronger... This wasn’t the mindset of Jaden Cross, the photographer, nor was it the mindset of Jaden Cross, the mayor’s son.
No, it was the mindset of both, even though the mayor’s son was an illusion - He was a true noble, and he needed that mindset. He won’t lose the identity given by the grimzone, nor would he drown in it.
He would enhance himself like he had been doing throughout his life.
"Oh, the mysteries... I can’t wait to uncover you all," he added with a wide grin as he walked inside the hall.
As soon as he entered, his eyes fell on the group of five figures descending the stairs. He gave them his signature smile as he added.
"I am sorry for leaving like that."
None of them said anything as they nodded at him; all of them had looks that fit their roles within the illusion city.
Arden and Jamie patted him on the shoulder as they left the mansion.
Navin stopped before him as he added in a low voice.
"We would hold a gathering whenever you are ready."
Jaden gave him a wide smile and hugged him as he spoke.
"I’ll make sure you don’t wait too long."
"Also... you should talk to Selina," Navin added as he stepped forward and left.
Jaden turned towards Selina with a raised eyebrow.
"Miss Selina..."