The First Store System

Chapter 268: The Golden Key(3)

The army chief felt a chill running down his spine, and the next moment, anger rose in his heart after Aakesh threatened him not to follow him to the house.

He wanted to say something or refuse the order, but he couldn't utter a word or take a step forward in fear of Aakesh. He had also seen the scene of Aakesh killing the Townhead effortlessly, so he didn't want to be in place of the Townhead.

The guard standing at the house also heard Aakesh's threat. The army chief was his superior, so he didn't like the tone, but seeing the army chief's reaction, he didn't speak anything and continued doing his job.

Elsie brought Aakesh to the living room and respectfully gestured to him to sit. Aakesh ignored it and began telling his purpose behind meeting her straight away.

"That day, you'd done a favor on me by giving me the low-level meditation art. I'm here to repay your favor," Aakesh expressionlessly announced.

Elsie's face turned serious, and her entire focus fell on Aakesh so she couldn't miss a word he said.

Aakesh ignored her reaction and took out the golden key from his pouch.

Elsie had no idea about the origin and the details of the key, so she didn't know what Aakesh wanted to do.

After taking out the key, Aakesh bent down and gently put the key down so as not to make any noise.

He then stood up, looked at Elsie, and expressionlessly said, "This is the key that has the ability to make you the Townhead…,"

"...you would become the Townhead."

Aakesh told everything about the golden key to Elsie. He wanted to repay the favor by handing over the golden key to her right away, but the will of the world had created a test for anybody who wanted to become the Townhead, after all the key allowed even a Level 1 to become a Level 50 after gaining the ownership of it.

Aakesh had found out from the system that there were no criteria of level or strength for picking up the key. Anyone, even an ordinary mortal, could pick up the key.

Aakesh only found it so heavy because he had refused to take ownership. But he then, using his physical strength alone, broke the restriction and forcefully picked up the key.

As for what the criteria of the test were, Aakesh didn't know since the system didn't share that information with him.

Elsie, after hearing the details of the golden key, had almost her jaw dropped to the ground. At first, she didn't believe what Aakesh said about the key, but the blue window that appeared soon after right above the key made her believe in Aakesh.

It was one of the effects of the key. The will of the world only wanted those citizens who were willing to become the Townhead since there were disadvantages to the position as well.

One of the major side effects of being the Townhead was that it was a permanent position. Once someone became the Townhead, they couldn't relinquish from that position until they were alive.

The will of the world believed that the Townhead was because of the town, and the town was because of the Townhead, so if the town faced destruction, the Townhead would also automatically die.

The town also had a clear advantage here since a new Townhead could appear after their death, but the Townhead couldn't choose another town to lead after its destruction.

So to make the citizen aware of what they would be facing if they passed the test, the will of the world showed all the benefits and disadvantages of the position to the participant.

After looking at the blue window, Elsie couldn't close her mouth for seconds as it was something unbelievable for her. Aakesh didn't push her to make a decision right away since he was repaying a favor, not claiming the debt.

After several seconds passed, Elsie finally came around and accepted the things in front of her were the truth, not a dream.

"Are you sure?"

Elsie didn't make the decision right away. She instead looked at Aakesh and asked whether he was sure about his decision or not.

She knew the difference between what she had done and what Aakesh was paying back.

Aakesh only nodded in response to her question. If he wasn't sure, why would he come here?

Seeing that Aakesh wasn't joking and was giving her a chance at the top position, a look of uncontrollable excitement emerged on her face.

She could see the disadvantages and advantages of the golden key in the blue window. She only took a glance at the disadvantages.

Right away, she made her decision to try to win the top post in town.

As for disadvantages, she didn't care. In the face of the top position of the town, and a direct increase to Level 50 made her ignore other things.

Aakesh didn't speak anything in response to Elsie's decision and gestured her to attempt to pick up the golden key from the ground.

Elsie nodded and thanked Aakesh for giving her this opportunity before attempting. She then bent down and tried to grab the key.

The system didn't inform him of the criteria at which the will of the world tested participants, but seeing Elsie, Aakesh was confident that she wouldn't be able to even budge it, let alone pick it up.

He believed so, as not even for a moment, she thought of her father or other family members after learning about the golden key. The first characteristic any leader of a territory should have is selflessness.

If the ruler turned out to be selfish, they would never put the territory and citizens above their needs. According to Aakesh, the criteria behind the test must be the qualities of a great ruler.

As Aakesh had expected, even after several seconds passed, Elsie couldn't even budge the key, let alone pick it up.

While her face had turned white from giving it her all, it didn't seem to affect the key in any way.

Since there wasn't a time limit behind the test, Aakesh didn't stop her and let her continue attempting to pick it up.

Even if Elsie failed to pick it up, Aakesh had already repaid the favor by allowing her to pick it up.