(Captain Kid's POV)
Captain Kid waited in his most formal uniform for Leo Skyshard to show up.
Tucked between his arms was a Grandmaster level manual which was an invaluable treasure, however, the Grandmaster manual was not the only gift he carried today.
Usually, he was not supposed to personally cater to passengers aboard the Arc Ship as his dignity as a Captain was above such benign tasks, however, Leo Skyshard was a special case.
Leo Skyshard was a special case which if handled properly could easily land him the biggest promotion of his career as a universal government worker and hence, Kid placed extra efforts in giving Leo Skyshard the personal touch.
"Mr.Skyshard, what a pleasure to see you today" he said, as Elandor escorted Leo and his family members to the backyard, as he greeted Leo with a big smile.
"Captain–" Leo replied, nodding as he walked ahead to shake the captain's hand.
Captain Kid beamed as he clasped Leo's hands together, the formal demeanor making him appear larger than life.
"I trust the new lodging in the VIP sector is to your liking, Mr. Skyshard. If at any point something displeases you, or if you have any special requests, Elandor will be your point of contact during your stay here," he said, motioning toward Elandor with a nod.
Leo offered a polite smile, his expression calm and composed. "Thank you, Captain. Everything has been beyond expectation so far. I appreciate the attention to detail, and we're more than satisfied with the arrangements."
Captain Kid smiled broadly, clearly pleased with the response. "I'm glad to hear that, Mr. Skyshard." He paused before continuing, his tone taking on a more serious note. "Now, if I may, I'd like to present the gifts we've prepared for you and your companions."
With a formal flourish, he reached into the large bag he had brought with him. The first item he pulled out was a tome that seemed to hum with power, its surface adorned with a shimmering seal. It radiated a sense of immense, untapped potential.
"This," Captain Kid began, holding the tome carefully in his hands, "is a Grandmaster meditation manual, though I cannot tell you exactly what it contains. The seal on it is special—one that prevents anyone from peeking inside until the rightful owner binds with it. Not even I know what's inside." He handed the tome over to Leo, who accepted it with a look of quiet curiosity.
"The manual originates from a powerful clan on planet Terra Nova. Trust me when I say, they're one of the best, but I'm not allowed to tell you their name as of yet.
For now, all you need to know is that it's a gift, but there is a condition attached to it.
The clan giving you this Grandmaster level manual requests that you give them the priority to contact you and present their offer before anyone else does.
They're not asking for your commitment, just that you hear them out first."
Leo's brow furrowed for a moment, considering the offer. Then, with a nod of agreement, he replied, "I understand. I'll hear them out when the time comes."
Captain Kid's eyes briefly flickered with a hint of envy as Leo accepted the tome, understanding all too well the value of such a gift. But he maintained his composure, quickly moving on. "Very well. I'm sure you'll find it to be a valuable asset."
The Captain then turned to Luke, his expression shifting slightly as he looked at him before turning his gaze back to Leo.
"There's another matter that concerns your previous request concerning Mr. Luke." Kid said, his hand reaching back into the gift bag, as he pulled out an unfamiliar looking stone.
"I've received clearance from the higher-ups. It seems they've reviewed Luke's performance in the game and have approved of him using the mind meditation manual.
So, if you could kindly return it to me Mr.Skyshard for a moment, I'll unbind the seal that ties it to you, cleansing it for a reuse" Kid said, as Leo immediately pulled out the mind meditation manual from his luggage bag and handed it over to Kid, who used the weird stone in his hand to undo the bindings.
A faint glow appeared on the manual, and after a moment, the seal on the manual broke, releasing it from Leo's ownership.
With a formal gesture, Captain Kid handed the manual over to Luke, who accepted it, shaking the Captain's hand with a slightly confused look. "Thank you, Captain," he said, though it was clear he didn't yet fully understand what he had just received or the potential it held.
"The mind meditation manual is a rare tool," Captain Kid explained, sensing Luke's uncertainty.
"It will help you enhance your mental focus and increase your mana control. It's a powerful resource, so I trust you'll make good use of it." He said, as Luke's eyes widened with interest listening to his words.
This manual seemed much more powerful than the martial arts manual he was currently practicing and seemed to hold much more potential.
Finally, Captain Kid reached for the last item in the bag— which was a small, delicate bottle containing a flickering blue flame.
He held it up for Amanda to see, the flame within dancing as though it were alive.
"This," he said, handing the bottle to Amanda, "is a spirit flame, though a weak one by universal standards.
In Fact it's one of the weakest flame spirits in existence, but even the weakest spirit flame is no worse than a meditation manual, so this gift is equal in value to what Sir Luke has received.
And like Sir Leo's manual, it is a gift from the same clan that's showing interest in him, and it comes with the same conditions. They ask that you give them priority when considering recruitment offers in the future.
With this flame, your path to becoming an extraordinary blacksmith will be smoother."
Amanda stared at the flame with wide eyes, her hands trembling slightly as she accepted the bottle. "Thank you, Captain," she whispered, clearly awed by the gift, even if it was modest compared to the treasures given to Leo and Luke.
Captain Kid stepped back, his duty complete, though his mind still lingered on the powerful gifts he had just delivered.
"Well then, if there's anything else you need, I'll leave Elandor at your disposal." He said, as he took his leave from the VIP sector, feeling content in having a personal touch with a rising star like Leo Skyshard.
--------
/// A/N - This chapter is sponsored by patron Art6733. Please thank him in the comments for the same. ///