Don't Want to Be Ordinary Even Though I'm an Extra Character-Chapter 124: [123] Next action

When Everyone Thinks Everything Is Fine,the truth is far from it—for a select few. Right now, certain figures lurking behind the scenes of this continent are preparing for something that could shake the very balance of power.

Inside his study, illuminated by the warm glow of an oil lamp, Arkan sat calmly before a thick book. His hand moved swiftly, penning down journal entries, recording every significant event since the day he transmigrated into this world.

Many things had happened beyond his expectations—some had nearly cost him his life, while others had brought him closer to the pinnacle of power. He had come to realize that this world couldn’t simply be treated as a novel’s storyline; every action he took carried real consequences.

But it wasn’t just the past he needed to consider—the future had now become even more complex than he had imagined. With the empire on the verge of turmoil, cults moving in the shadows, and clashing interests from various factions, he knew a new game was about to begin. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

In the dimly lit room, Arkan closed his book and exhaled slowly. His hand, still holding the pen, trembled slightly—not from exhaustion, but from the ceaseless workings of his mind.

A soft knock echoed through the room before Florence entered, carrying a tray with a steaming cup of tea. "Master, you’ve been working all night again," she remarked in her usual flat tone.

Arkan smirked slightly, reaching for the cup. "You know, Florence, humans are strange creatures," he said, blowing on the surface of the tea. "They always desire more, never content with what they already have."

Florence raised an eyebrow slightly—a sign that she was listening, though her expression remained as cold as ever. "What do you mean, Master?"

Arkan stirred his tea slowly, gazing at his reflection in the dark liquid. "Take a farmer, for example. If he owns one hectare of land, he’ll wonder how to acquire two. If he has two, he’ll want five. If he has five, he’ll start contemplating how to become a noble so he won’t have to toil in the fields himself." He looked up at Florence with a faint smirk. "And we’re no different, Florence. We’re not exempt from this."

Florence remained silent for a moment before finally speaking, her voice steady. "So, do you believe this insatiable desire is humanity’s weakness?"

Arkan smiled, but there was a sharp glint in his eyes. "On the contrary. It is humanity’s greatest strength," he said, setting his cup down on the table. "Dissatisfaction fuels progress. If humans were content, they would never create anything new, never strive for more, never seek a greater purpose in life."

Florence studied him briefly before replying, "But excessive desire can also lead to destruction."

Arkan chuckled softly. "Of course. That’s the paradox, Florence. Humanity constantly treads between two extremes—ambition and ruin, hope and despair. And therein lies the art of survival... choosing the right steps between those two abysses."

Florence lowered her head slightly, a gesture of understanding. "You do have a unique way of thinking, Master."

Arkan leaned back in his chair, his gaze drifting toward the window, where the reflection of the oil lamp’s flame flickered. "I’m just someone trying to understand how this world truly works."

For a moment, silence filled the room, broken only by the soft flickering of the oil lamp’s flame. Its dim light danced along the walls, casting shifting shadows in its glow.

"By the way, how’s the harvest this season?" Arkan finally broke the silence, his tone calm yet purposeful.

Florence remained standing, her posture straight as she regarded her master with an impassive gaze. "You’re asking the wrong person, Master," she replied without hesitation, her voice as steady as always.

Arkan gave a faint smile, resting his elbow on the table and propping his chin against his palm. "Hmm, you’re right... But what do you think?" he asked, genuine curiosity flickering in his eyes.

Florence remained silent for a moment, as if considering her response. "Judging by the weather and soil conditions, the harvest should be better than last year. However, other factors must be taken into account—such as distribution stability and potential external threats," she replied with an analytical tone.

Arkan tapped his fingers against the table, processing the information she had just provided. His gaze remained locked onto Florence, as if searching for something beyond just a simple report.

"Hmm, but that’s not what I wanted to hear, Florence," he finally said, his tone slightly more relaxed yet still meaningful.

Florence furrowed her brows slightly, her expression remaining neutral but with a hint of confusion in her eyes. "Apologies, Master, I don’t understand..." she replied, her voice as calm as ever.

Arkan let out a slow sigh, a faint yet unreadable smile forming on his lips. "Haah, what else can I do... I was asking for your personal opinion, Florence. Compare the current situation with your own experiences," he said, his tone now softer but still firm.

Florence remained still for a moment, then subtly lowered her shoulders as if releasing some tension. "If I compare it to what I’ve experienced... then this is much better," she said, her voice quieter than before.

Arkan raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her response. "Oh? Elaborate."

Florence turned her gaze toward the flame within the oil lamp, her eyes slightly distant. "In the past, before I worked here, I often saw regions fall into famine because their rulers only cared about their own profits. They drained the people’s harvests without considering sustainability. In the end, when the harsh seasons arrived, they had nothing left to survive," she said, her tone now carrying a subtle depth.

Arkan listened intently, not interrupting. Florence continued, "But here, you think far ahead. You don’t just focus on the harvest itself—you consider distribution, stability, and even potential threats from external forces. That is a difference most leaders fail to recognize."

Arkan leaned back in his chair, his lips curving slightly. "So, you think I’m different?" he asked, his tone resembling that of someone testing a theory.

Florence turned to face him, her expression as unreadable as ever. "Yes. But that doesn’t mean you won’t face difficulties. No matter how far ahead you think, there will always be things beyond your control."

Arkan remained silent for a moment before letting out a low chuckle. "True... Humans are inherently weak, but they can become strong when they learn how to adapt. I’m simply ensuring that when the storm comes, I have a ship sturdy enough to sail through it," he said, his eyes gleaming with ambition.

Florence lowered her head slightly in acknowledgment. "And I will ensure that ship keeps moving forward, Master," she replied without hesitation.

This time, Arkan’s smile widened slightly. "Good. In that case, let’s prepare ourselves before the storm truly arrives," he said before taking another sip of his now-cooling tea.

###

The next day, Arkan resumed his usual work, organizing documents and scheduling meetings. However, today was different—the guest he had long been expecting had finally arrived, bringing with him a meeting that might alter the course of his plans.

That afternoon, the ringing of the telephone on his desk broke the silence of his office. The receptionist on the other end informed him that his guest had arrived. Without hesitation, Arkan replied in a calm voice, "Prepare the room. I’ll be there shortly." He then hung up and prepared himself for the crucial meeting ahead.

Arkan walked toward the meeting room with steady steps, formulating various possible conversations in his mind. As he opened the door, the figure he had been waiting for was already seated comfortably in one of the chairs, clad in a priest’s robe—worn and slightly tattered, yet still carrying an undeniable air of authority.

"Pastor Hongward," Arkan greeted with a faint smile as he approached. "It’s been a while since we last met. How was your journey?"

Hongward turned to face him with a warm expression, as if reuniting with an old friend. "Exhausting, I must admit. The road to your territory was not as easy as I had expected," he replied, letting out a light chuckle. "But at the very least, I was welcomed with warm tea and a comfortable room, so I can’t complain too much."

Arkan chuckled as well before taking a seat across from Hongward. "Of course. I’m not the type to treat my guests coldly, especially someone like you, who has done so much for the people." His gaze locked onto the priest, carefully assessing how much had changed since their last meeting.

Hongward leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms with a relaxed expression. "You’ve changed a lot since we last met... Back then, I knew you as a mercenary. And now, you’ve become the lord of a territory." He gave a small smile, his voice filled with sincerity. "I must admit, you’re truly remarkable, Arkan... or should I say, Lord Lawrence?"

Arkan waved a hand dismissively, brushing off the formality that felt out of place to him. "Ah, please, let’s do away with the formalities, Pastor. Just think of me as the same person as before, though now with greater responsibilities."

Hongward nodded slowly, taking a sip of his tea before fixing Arkan with a meaningful gaze. "I see... By the way, there’s one thing I’ve been curious about. I don’t quite understand the reason behind your letter. Why are you suddenly so interested in the current situation of the central church?"