Online Game: Starting With SSS-Ranked Summons - Chapter 164

Chapter 164: James (2)
“So, let’s start with the benefits,” he said, his hands gesturing animatedly. “Being in the military is a heroic action. You are using your power to make sure that your country remains safe. This is one of the most noble things you could do.”

Arthur nodded slightly, though he remained silent, letting James talk.

“Secondly,” James went on, “your talents will be put to good use. As a solo player, you will never be able to maximize your potential. No matter how strong you think you are, without the proper guidance, you will stagnate.”

Arthur’s lips twitched. Stagnate? That was a bold claim.

James didn’t notice and kept talking.

“The military has counselors—experts trained specifically to help people like us. They will analyze your talents, your skills, and your playstyle, and help you grow in ways you never imagined.” He smiled. “It’s honestly incredible. I owe everything to them.”

Arthur stayed quiet, observing James carefully.

He wasn’t just reciting a speech—he truly believed this.

The military had done a number on him.

James continued, “Thirdly, the military gives incredible bonuses and protection. Your family gets priority security, you get financial support, and your medical needs will always be covered.

Arthur exhaled quietly.

That last part almost made him falter.

He thought of Charlotte, lying in a hospital bed, hooked up to machines, fragile and unmoving.

If he were anyone else, this would be tempting. The idea that his sister would receive the best care possible, that she would be safe, untouchable…

But it was a lie.

Arthur already knew the truth. He had been forced into this. Charlotte wasn’t being protected—she was being held hostage.

James, though, had no idea. He kept talking, his voice carrying an almost religious fervor.

“You get status, Arthur. Power. A real place in the world.” His eyes gleamed. “Not to mention the salary is insane. Even the lowest-ranking members make six figures annually, and with talent like yours?” He grinned. “You’ll be earning more money than you know what to do with.”

Arthur’s eyes darkened slightly.

Money. Status. Power.

It was all just chains wrapped up in gold.

He didn’t need any of it, at least not from the military.

Arthur tilted his head slightly. “You make it sound like a dream job.”

James nodded eagerly. “Because it is.”

Arthur let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head.

James took it as a good sign. “I can tell you’re talented,” he added, voice still full of enthusiasm. “To be put in a first-class room, that means you have a high-rank talent. And if the military gave you that placement, then you should definitely take advantage of those perks. My counselor helped me so much.”

Then, as if remembering something, he grinned and puffed out his chest slightly. “Especially since I’m the captain of the only team of beta players.”

Arthur’s eyes widened slightly.

Oh?

So the young man in front of him was the rumored S-class captain.

The strongest ‘known’ beta player.

Of course, that was just on paper. No one knew about Arthur’s SSS-rank talents—nor did he intend to reveal them.

But he still studied James a little closer.

This was the guy the military had chosen. The ‘best’ of their beta recruits.

And from what Arthur could see?

James was completely brainwashed.

He wasn’t a bad person—if anything, he seemed genuinely kind, even likable—but he was completely conditioned to believe the military was the best thing that had ever happened to him.

His faith was almost childlike.

It was a little sad, actually.

Arthur nodded thoughtfully, keeping his tone even. “That’s impressive. I didn’t expect to meet someone like you so soon.”

James laughed, rubbing the back of his head. “Yeah, I guess it’s kinda cool.” Then, his eyes gleamed with something genuine. “But really, man, I mean what I said. This place—it’ll change your life. If you let it.”

Arthur just smiled faintly.

Oh, it had already changed his life.

Just… not in the way James thought.

As they continued walking, James gestured toward a wide, glass-paneled building ahead. Sunlight reflected off its surface, giving it a sleek, modern look—completely at odds with the otherwise militaristic architecture of the base.

“This is the canteen,” James said, his tone light but proud. “This is where soldiers eat every day. And before you ask—yeah, the food here is way better than what you’d expect in the military.”

Arthur raised an eyebrow.

James grinned, as if anticipating the skepticism. “I know, I know. You’re probably thinking of those dry ration packs they show in war documentaries, but that’s not how it works here. Not for us, at least.”

He pushed open the doors, letting Arthur step inside first.

Arthur took a moment to scan the area.

The canteen was huge—rows of tables stretching out in neat lines, filled with soldiers, officers, and even other beta players. The aroma of freshly cooked food lingered in the air, far richer than anything he expected.

James nudged him. “Told you. Michelin restaurant level.”

Arthur’s gaze drifted toward a section off to the side, where the tables were empty.

James followed his line of sight and chuckled. “Ah, I see you’ve noticed the first-class meals. That’s where you’ll be eating.”

Arthur’s brow furrowed slightly. “So, because I’m in the first-class dorm, I get better food?”

“Exactly.” James nodded. “It’s a perk.”

Arthur crossed his arms. “But don’t you think that’s unfair?”

James blinked, as if Arthur had just spoken another language. “What do you mean?”

Arthur gestured toward the other soldiers, the ones eating what looked like standard-issue meals. “Why should I—someone who just got here—get better food than them? They’re the ones actually out there doing the work, right?”

James tilted his head, considering Arthur’s words for a moment before he replied.

“There’s nothing unfair about it,” he said, his voice even. “Everyone is given what they deserve based on their ability and what they can contribute. You will contribute more than most of these soldiers—maybe not now, but soon enough.”

Arthur watched him carefully. James wasn’t upset by the question. In fact, he looked genuinely confused as to why Arthur would even ask.

James continued, “Think of it like a company. A director doesn’t earn the same salary as a regular employee. He carries more responsibility, has more experience, and makes bigger decisions. The same logic applies here. The first-class players? We’re an investment. You, me, and a handful of others—we’re expected to do things no regular soldier could. The better food, the better living quarters, the benefits—it’s all to ensure we’re operating at our best when the time comes.”

Arthur nodded slowly. It wasn’t an answer he hadn’t expected, but he wanted to hear it from someone who truly believed in the system.

James was one of them. He had fully bought into the military structure, believed in its rewards, its fairness. It was all logical, all practical. But Arthur couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something deeper beneath it.

Something almost… indoctrinated.

James had been here longer than him. How much of his thinking was truly his own?

Arthur didn’t press further. He simply nodded. “I see your point.”

James clapped a hand on his shoulder, his smile returning. “Good. You’ll get used to it soon enough.”

Arthur didn’t respond.

Instead, he glanced back at the soldiers, watching them eat their rations with zero complaints.

Then he looked at the first-class section, where plates were filled with gourmet-level meals.

A system built on merit, huh?

Arthur wasn’t so sure.