Online Game: I Started with Max Charisma and Caught the Goddess's Eye

Inside the barrier surrounding the core district of the Imperial Capital, everyone stood tensely as the rapidly dissipating mist continued to thin.

No one knew what the outcome of the battle had been.

All they knew was that—it was over.

At the outermost edge of the barrier stood Logan, the highest-ranking official of Morning Star.

He had just finalized the interior defense plan for the barrier.

If Luca had lost the battle, the three-headed demon serpent would undoubtedly attack the core district next.

And when that time came, every single Morning Star member would be expected to fight to the death.

On either side of Logan stood Drumph and Zovland.

Though the two didn’t get along in the slightest, they both kept themselves in check while in Logan’s presence.

Not far off, the commanders of the Imperial Capital’s Guard Corps also stood rigidly, eyes fixed on the thinning mist.

Like Morning Star, they too were prepared to die defending the capital’s heart.

The fog soon cleared completely—

Revealing only one figure, slowly walking toward them from the battlefield.

The moment they saw Luca’s silhouette, a collective sigh of relief rippled through the crowd.

Logan turned to Drumph and Zovland and issued a calm, decisive order.

“Prepare to sweep the battlefield. There may still be monsters lurking.”

Both men gave a short nod before stepping away to organize their units and draw up an operational plan.

Logan remained in place, quietly watching Luca approach.

He now realized—Luca was someone who deserved far more respect than he had previously given.

He had underestimated him. Severely.

With the three-headed demon serpent confirmed slain, the people of the Imperial Capital could finally breathe easy.

The gravely wounded Fuzzsir was now able to focus on his recovery.

Nova and the personnel she had brought from the Daskhollow base had also successfully completed their mission.

“Commissioner, does this mean we can head back now?”

One of her team members asked hesitantly.

Nova shook her head, her gaze fixed on Luca in the distance.

“It’s too early to leave. Now that the battle’s over, we need to stay and help secure the site. We have to use this opportunity to gather as much intel as possible. Go work with Morning Star’s cleanup teams.”

With her instructions delivered, Nova immediately made her way toward Luca.

She was determined to learn what really happened in the battle.

“Are you alright? The three-headed demon serpent is finally dead. You must have used up everything you had to win, didn’t you?”

Her tone was caring on the surface—but in truth, she was probing for information.

She wasn’t just checking on Luca—she was trying to find out what he wasn’t saying.

Luca responded coolly, his voice flat and calm.

“I’m fine. Even though the three-headed demon serpent has been defeated, we still have a lot of important matters to deal with.”

With that, he turned and began walking toward the barrier surrounding the core district of the Imperial Capital.

Thirty minutes later, Luca and Nova were summoned to a high-level Federation meeting.

The Federation’s top brass were thoroughly impressed with Luca’s performance.

Some among them even suggested that the rank of Major General no longer suited him—proposing instead a promotion to Lieutenant General.

However, Luca politely declined.

In his view, the privileges granted by the rank of Major General were already more than sufficient.

He had no interest in climbing the hierarchy just for the sake of it.

After finishing the perfunctory exchange of pleasantries with the Federation’s upper echelon, Luca was invited directly to the office of Logan, the head of Morning Star.

“Your performance was truly extraordinary,” Logan said in a warm, affable tone.

“I’d heard of your strength before, but seeing it firsthand today was… well, nothing short of astonishing.”

Luca gave a slight nod, his face completely expressionless.

Truthfully, he didn’t enjoy dealing with officials like this.

To him, they were all political animals—and all too eager to use him for their own ends.

The only reason he had cooperated with the Morning Star division in the Northern Territory was because they had once helped him when he needed it.

And they were the only ones he truly trusted.

Seeing Luca’s indifference only deepened Logan’s appreciation of him.

“Excellent,” Logan said with a soft smile.

“Someone so young, yet so composed—clearly, you’re destined for great things.”

“Sir,” Luca replied plainly, “you didn’t bring me here just to flatter me, did you?”

He found the compliments a bit too cloying and wanted to cut through the pretense.

He preferred to get to the point.

Logan nodded, his expression growing more serious.

“You’re right. I wanted to hear your assessment. Why do you think the three-headed demon serpent launched another attack on the Imperial Capital? Was it simply unwilling to accept defeat after the last monster horde failed?”

Luca didn’t hesitate.

“The truth is definitely not that simple.”

Logan nodded again, clearly in agreement.

“Then what’s your theory?”

“I believe the serpent’s master has a deeper, more strategic agenda. I don’t yet know exactly what it is—but I intend to find out. I want to stay here in the Imperial Capital to investigate personally.”

“Absolutely. No objections,” Logan replied without a moment’s hesitation.

“I’ll assign both Melania and Fuzzsir to assist you.”

He agreed to Luca’s request without the slightest resistance.

Only at that moment did Luca truly realize why Logan had summoned him.

The real purpose was to assign him the investigation into why the Imperial Capital had once again come under attack by monsters.

“What a cunning old fox,” Luca thought to himself, his resolve to avoid collaboration with the federal elite growing even stronger.

Outside Logan’s office, Melania and Fuzzsir were already waiting.

As soon as Luca pushed the door open and stepped out, he saw them both standing there.

“We’re ready. We can begin the investigation at any time,” Melania said cheerfully, clearly excited.

She was genuinely eager to work with Luca again—every past collaboration had led to incredible gains.

Luca gave her a nod, but his attention quickly shifted to Fuzzsir.

“Are you absolutely sure you’re fit for this? You were seriously injured. It’s been what—two hours at most? Are you really recovered already?”

Fuzzsir smiled.

“Of course I’m not healed yet. That would be impossible in such a short time. But we’re just here to support your investigation—we’re not fighting anyone.”

His matter-of-fact answer left Luca momentarily speechless.

Still, he understood why Morning Star had assigned these two to accompany him.

Even though the battle was over, cleaning up the aftermath required massive manpower.

Almost the entire Morning Star force was occupied with battlefield recovery.

That left only the wounded, the aging, or the sidelined for support roles—

And both Melania and Fuzzsir had suffered severe injuries.

“Alright then, let’s move out. I want to start in the Southern District of the capital. That’s where the first monster appeared.”

Luca laid out his initial investigation target without hesitation.

Fuzzsir immediately nodded in agreement.

He had, after all, been the first to spot a monster there.

“I know exactly where it showed up. I’ll take you there myself,” he said, patting his chest with confidence.

Without wasting another moment, the three of them left the Morning Star headquarters building.

As they reached the main entrance, Luca spotted a familiar figure up ahead—Nova.

The moment Nova saw Luca, she walked over with a bright smile on her face.

“Why are you still here?” Luca asked, a bit puzzled.

“I thought our collaboration was over. You and your team can return to the Daskhollow base.”

“Oh? Is that what you think?” Nova replied playfully, tossing her hair over her shoulder with casual grace.

“I don’t believe our collaboration is over at all.”

Her smile was radiant.

Behind Luca, Fuzzsir froze on the spot.

He had never in his life seen a woman this stunning.

Melania let out a cold snort.

She had to admit—Nova was stunning. Almost too stunning.

But that didn’t mean she liked her. Not in the slightest.

And as far as she was concerned, someone had to keep a close eye on this potential threat—especially for her dear friend Donlow.

“The monster may have been driven back,” Nova said as she stepped closer—so close now that only a single step separated her from Luca.

“But shouldn’t we at least investigate why it attacked the Imperial Capital in the first place?”

Her voice was soft, almost intimate. Luca could feel her breath against his skin.

“I can help you,” Nova murmured, her lips practically brushing his ear.

“And I can offer far more than the two people behind you ever could.”

Luca shot her a cold glance.

He knew exactly what she was trying to do.

Still, he didn’t reject her outright.

Because the truth was—Nova could be a valuable asset.

Her understanding of monsters was unmatched. In some areas, she even surpassed him.

Even though she’d whispered, both Fuzzsir and Melania heard every word.

Fuzzsir had no visible reaction. He was still lost in Nova’s beauty, utterly spellbound.

Melania, however, wasn’t nearly as composed.

“And just who do you think you are?” she snapped, her voice icy.

“What gives you the right to question the capabilities of Morning Star?”

As she spoke, she clenched the dagger at her side tightly.

Nova gave her a sideways glance—sharp and dismissive.

“Your Morning Star’s capabilities?” she said, her tone thick with mockery.

“If not for Luca and me, Morning Star wouldn’t have been able to hold the capital. One of the Federation’s most important cities—lost to monsters, right under your watch.”

It was a brutal jab—and Nova didn’t care one bit how it landed.

Melania’s eyes flared with fury.

In a flash, she hurled a throwing knife at Nova.

But Nova dodged it effortlessly and, in the same motion, raised her custom-made pistol and aimed it straight at Melania.

“Enough!”

Luca’s voice cut through the tension like a blade.

“This is Morning Star’s headquarters. Are you seriously going to kill one of their own here?”

At his words, Nova’s icy expression instantly softened.

Her dazzling smile returned as if nothing had happened.

“Of course not,” she said sweetly.

“I may not care about Morning Star—but I care deeply about you.”

Luca ignored the flirtation.

“Both of you, stop it. We’re moving out—together. One more person might mean one more advantage.”

That was his final word on the matter.

Nova and Melania exchanged one last death glare.

But in the end, they both fell in line—because Luca had made his decision.

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