That night, I sat on my cot, staring at the worn ceiling above me.
The Hudson Bridge Project wasn't just another job—it was an opportunity. If I played my cards right, I wouldn't just rank up; I'd cement myself as someone who mattered.
I activated Strategist (Lv. 2).
Immediately, my thoughts sharpened, sorting through the variables like a well-oiled machine. The biggest obstacle wasn't the work itself—it was Nathan.
He had authority. Him being A-rank made sure of that. Workers listened to him because they had to. But that was also his weakness—he relied on command, not trust.
I had something stronger.
Team Coordination (Lv. 6).
I could read people, adjust to them, and get them working better than before. If I spent this week building that trust, then by the time the project started, I wouldn't need to give orders. People would just follow.
I wouldn't challenge Nathan head-on. That would just turn people against me. Instead, I'd be everywhere. Helping. Supporting. Guiding.
By the time he realized what was happening, it would already be too late.
The next morning, I got to work.
I didn't try to take over. That would have made the workers defensive. Instead, I just inserted myself into the flow of things.
Leo struggled with a heavy load of steel bars. I walked over. "Try shifting your grip lower—your back will thank you later."
He gave me a skeptical look but adjusted his stance. The strain on his face lessened.
"...Huh. That actually helps."
"Glad to hear it." I clapped his shoulder and moved on.
A few feet away, Omar was double-checking scaffolding fastenings. He worked fast, but he was rushing.
"You missed that one," I said casually, pointing at a loose bolt.
He blinked. "Damn. Good catch."
"Better now than when you're up there, right?"
He chuckled. "Yeah. Thanks, man."
I didn't command. I didn't tell them what to do—I suggested, helped, guided.
And little by little, it worked.
People started listening.
They still followed Nathan's orders—no one was stupid enough to outright ignore an A-rank. But whenever there was uncertainty? A problem no one wanted to deal with?
By midday, his glares felt like daggers. At first, he just ignored it, assuming I was just being helpful. But when he saw the hesitation—the way workers glanced at me before following his orders—his patience wore thin.
By the time the sun dipped below the skyline, he confronted me.
"You think you're in charge now?"
I turned, wiping the sweat off my forehead. "Just making things run smoother."
His jaw tightened. "That's my job."
"Then do it," I replied, keeping my voice even. "I'm just helping."
A muscle twitched in his temple. He wanted to say more, but he couldn't.
Because I wasn't challenging him. I wasn't breaking any rules.
And that pissed him off more than anything.
Back home, I checked my System Interface.
Job Title: Jobmaster (Rank SSS)
Endurance Boost (Lv. 2): Reduces fatigue from manual labor
Strategist (Lv. 2): Improves planning and problem-solving abilities
Heavy Lifting (Lv. 2): Boosts physical strength, making it easier to carry heavy objects
Material Efficiency (Lv. 1): Optimizes use of resources, reducing waste and improving precision
Team Coordination (Lv. 6): Enhances team management and leadership
Unskilled Laborer (F) → [Rank-Up Quest Available]
Scan, Absorb, Destroy
Skill Copy (Ready for Use)
I needed more skills.
Nathan and Sienna both had Structural Reinforcement and Precision Engineering.
Both were useful, but I wanted to experiment with who I copy skills from, so I went for Nathan's first.
I activated Skill Copy.
[Skill Copied: Structural Reinforcement (Lv. 1)]
The knowledge flooded in. I could see weaknesses in structures more clearly. Instinctively knew how to reinforce them for maximum stability. It wasn't anywhere near Nathan's level yet, but it would grow.
The next day, I kept at it.
Sienna watched me closely. She wasn't threatened like Nathan was—if anything, she was amused.
"You're making my job easier," she commented, arms crossed.
"Figured it was time I pulled my weight."
She smirked. "Nathan's fuming."
Her gaze flickered with something close to approval. "Keep it up."
Later, I copied her Precision Engineering.
[Skill Copied: Precision Engineering (Lv. 1)]
Everything became sharper. My calculations became instinctive. Measurements, angles, alignment—it all made sense on a level I hadn't experienced before. I also learned that no matter who I copy from, the skill will always be Lv. 1.
The next morning, she gave me a knowing look.
"You're learning fast," she remarked.
"Good teachers," I replied.
She chuckled. "Just don't get ahead of yourself."
By the midpoint of the week, my influence was undeniable.
Nathan still had authority, but I had control.
He tried to undermine me. Dismissing my input. Giving me extra tasks to keep me busy. But none of it stuck.
The workers trusted me.
But they still wouldn't defy him.
When he barked orders, they followed. They glanced at me first, sometimes hesitating—but they still listened to him.
Because Nathan was still A-rank.
Another issue was finding another skill.
I had already copied from Nathan and Sienna. I needed a new target.
The problem? There wasn't a worker with a skill that was different from those two.
I had to be everywhere, moving between groups, watching, listening. I made excuses—"Just checking the plans," "Making sure things run smooth"—and kept my ears open.
An older worker, Luis, was assembling scaffolding way too fast.
[Skill Detected: Fast Assembly (Lv. 2)]
That night, I copied it.
[Skill Copied: Fast Assembly (Lv. 1)]
Suddenly, I understood. My hands itched to move, my brain processed faster ways to construct frames and structures.
This would be useful.
By the final night before the Hudson Bridge Project, my skills had grown.
My Strategist, Endurance Boost, and Heavy Lifting were now Lv. 3.
Team Coordination remained at Lv. 6.
The rest had risen to Lv. 2.
And my Skill Copy was ready.
If other construction teams were involved, they likely had new skills.
I wasn't going to waste my chance.
Tomorrow, I was going to complete the rank-up quest.
Job Title: Jobmaster (Rank SSS)
Endurance Boost (Lv. 3): Reduces fatigue from manual labor
Strategist (Lv. 3): Improves planning and problem-solving abilities
Heavy Lifting (Lv. 3): Boosts physical strength, making it easier to carry heavy objects
Material Efficiency (Lv. 2): Optimizes use of resources, reducing waste and improving precision
Team Coordination (Lv. 6): Enhances team management and leadership
Structural Reinforcement (Lv. 2): Improves the stability and durability of structures
Precision Engineering (Lv. 2): Enhances accuracy in measurements and construction
Fast Assembly (Lv. 2): Increases speed in constructing frameworks and structures
Unskilled Laborer (F) → [Rank-Up Quest Available]
Scan, Absorb, Destroy
Skill Copy (Ready for Use)