Darren was flabbergasted by how their words were all said in unison, almost as if they had practised the response, and looking at how the girls were surprisingly looking at each other, Darren was certain this was not planned. As Darren was preparing to ask them what was going on, he heard a [Ding True Heart Acquired: 5%].
Darren was about to ask when the system itself explained. [Ding. Host, although all the women who wear your collar are loyal to you by virtue of the system, their true devotion is still something you need to earn. After all, there are beings on par with the system, therefore true devotion is the best kind one that cannot be tainted or forced.]
"System, then why is it only 5%?"
[Ding. Host, each woman counts as a percentage towards your True Heart Meter. When you earn the devotion of more women and it reaches 100%, there is a grand prize.]
"Fuck, system do I look like a stud to you? How the fuck am I supposed to feel about the other 95%? And what the fuck do you mean grand prize? Who the fuck is strong enough to challenge the system, and how the fuck were they all saying the same thing, almost like they were being controlled?"
[Host can rest assured although what they all said was influenced by the necklace, it was their true intention.]
Darren waited for answers to the other questions he had asked, but the system was playing dead, so he decided to ask again. "So what about the earlier questions?"
[Ding. Host has unlocked the first true hearts of all his maids and wife. Rewarded with a gift pack.]
Although Darren knew it was an excuse to fob him off, he was still happy to see what this gift pack was. "Open gift pack," Darren thought.
[Ding. Host's current maids receive +5 to all attributes and 5% ability awakening before the beginning of the apocalypse.]
Darren was so ecstatic that he broke out in a silly grin that scared the women into thinking he had gone crazy. Calming down his excitement, Darren looked at the girls and explained the current situation to them. Hearing this, they were so excited that they summoned their data panels from their collars to see their upgraded stats.
Name: Willow Potential: 7 Stars Strength: 2 → 7 Speed: 3 → 8 Dexterity: 4 → 9 Mental Strength: 1 → 6 Loyalty: 95 → 100 Illusion: 5% (Awakening)
Name: Rose Potential: 9 Stars Strength: 4 → 9 Speed: 3 → 8 Dexterity: 4 → 9 Mental Strength: 5 → 10 Loyalty: 97 → 100 Rose Fire: 5% (Awakened)
Name: Sofi Potential: 9 Stars Strength: 3 → 8 Speed: 4 → 9 Dexterity: 3 → 8 Mental Strength: 5 → 10 Loyalty: 92 → 100 Ice: 5% (Awakened)
Name: Mary Potential: 8 Stars Strength: 5 → 10 Speed: 6 → 11 Dexterity: 6 → 11 Mental Strength: 6 → 11 Loyalty: 95 → 100 Space Control: 5% (Awakened)
Name: Gina Potential: 7 Stars Strength: 7 → 12 Speed: 5 → 5 Dexterity: 4 → 9 Mental Strength: 5 → 10 Loyalty: 99 → 100 Metal Control: 5% (Awakened)
All the girls were surprised by the changes in their panels, and though Darren was a little surprised by their panels too, what surprised him most was Willow's panel, since he had presumed she would have had a different power. Instead, for someone with very little mental strength to have something akin to illusion was unexpected.
Darren clapped his hands to get everyone's attention and continued, clearing his throat. "Ok, I know all of you are happy about the changes in your bodies, and I am also interested in your bodies, but there is something I must tell you. I am not very certain about this, but I believe whoever sent those guys after us might attempt another attack today, because I kind of provoked them when I brought that man here and killed him. So even if they were not planning to attack, I think they will take this opportunity to come after me, if only as a warning. Although I know your attributes have increased, you are in no position to help me in a direct fight now. So I want all of you to take a weapon and come with me to the surface — you don't need to fight, but I am very unsure of the power disparity between me and them, so all you need to do is hide with your guns and give me assistance. You don't need to worry about your safety — the collar will protect you."
As Darren was talking, a red alert light went off with a shrill alarm that alerted Darren to the arrival of his guests. Looking at his women, who looked like they were heading to the execution block, and although Darren didn't show it, he was also nervous, as this was his first real encounter and he was hoping he would not be buried here with his road severed. Taking a resolute breath, Darren made his way to the elevator.
Outside the weapon warehouse above, six SUVs parked in the sand as twelve men dressed like generic bodyguards got out of the cars, led by George, who was bent down in an obsequious manner towards the last vehicle to usher out a big shot from the organisation. George opened the car door in the deferential manner of a textbook sycophant, making the other twelve men view him with complete and utter contempt. Although George was not blind to the looks the others were giving him, if they had seen what he had seen and heard — owing to his perceived ability to get close to Darren — they would be sycophants too.
As the car door opened, a man dressed as a refined scoundrel stepped out, carefully straightened his cuffs, turned around, bowed like a gentleman, and extended his arm towards the opened car door, waiting for someone to take his hand. But unlike what everyone expected, the person didn't take his hand. Instead, a slim, delicate hand opened the opposite door and the person got out independently, leaving the refined man looking like a clown. Although the situation was quite comical, no one dared laugh.
As this farce was unfolding, the sound of an elevator opening was heard, prompting everyone's attention to turn towards Darren and his maids as they walked out of the underground elevator, fully armed.