Chapter 21 - 21. I'm Going Crazy With The Announcements

I got home early later that day and received the agreed sum of 20 credits from Blake. It was funny, leaving Blake and the apprentices in such a situation that they were truly lost for word. After gaining 5 levels in a single day and had 50 points to allocate, I've decided to head back to shower and have lunch before I start to allocate these points.

"Hi, Pat. I'm back early today. Where's Prius? He would normally be here in the Great Hall." I greeted her as soon as I entered the house. I saw that Pat had an apron on which means she had prepared some lunch in the kitchen.

"Oh, hello there Audemars. Prius had to leave and attend to some matters. You're early today." she mentioned as she wiped her hands on the apron she was wearing.

"I'd be in my room after my shower later. Are you preparing the same gruel? I would be having lunch and I'd be in my way afterwards. Today I'm heading towards the goblin's campgrounds. It's been some time since I've met them and I think they would be sorry once I'm there." I simply remarked as I went ahead to my room and as I passed Patricia, I gave her my flashiest grin.

She smiled back and told me that lunch is ready and she won't mind waiting to have our meals together. "Alright, be down in a short while." I simply replied as I went to my room, stripped down and sat on the bed first.

I took the Level 6 Refined Iron ingot since Blake insisted me having it. Having such high-quality work in his store would only spell trouble. So I've decided to upgrade the dagger that was given to me instead.

I sat cross-legged and went into my meditative state and emerged at the Realm of Mind. I went to the Fusion Chamber, inserted the bronze Cross Pommel Dagger into the slot and placed the iron ingot into another. I pushed the slider to FUSE / WEAPON and closed its door.

I kissed the Fusion Chamber machine (Yes, I did actually kissed the door, in fact) and cranked the handle.

*Ding* Fusion Success. Level 5 Iron Cross Pommel Dagger. Damage +18

I retrieve the dagger and found that the design remained the same but the blade was replaced with iron instead. The bronze part was left for the hilt, handle and pommel. I didn't manage to use the stone grinder at Blake's so I think I'd use mine here.

I walked out and went to the Blacksmith Zone where a stone grinder was sitting at the corner. I sat down and turned the machine on at medium speed. The moment the blade touches the grinding stone, the familiar screeching sound came back and I had to wear safety goggles and ear protection. Sparks flew in a steady arching manner and within 15 minutes, I had performed blade washing and sharpening at the same time.

I then took the 'Victory' and did the same to it and after 45 mins, the blade washing had been completed and both edges were as sharp as a katana. "Wow... This sure brings back old memories!!"

*Ding* Congratulations on Level Up 28/100,000. Blade washing technique attained. Basic Blacksmith 7/10. Progress 16%. Allocated Points +10. Allocate now?

"Double Wow... I didn't know blade washing could also increase my progress and had surpassed another level. Hah Hah Hah... This is great news." I rubbed my hands gleefully as I turned the interface on.

Level: 28/100,000

Progress: 16%

*ATTRIBUTES*

Strength: 55

Dexterity: 57

Intelligence: 56

Vitality: 32

Toughness: 36 (+28)

Damage: 50 (+38)

Recovery: 42

Unallocated points: 0

*STATS*

STR: Damage +55 Armor +55 Weight +275kg

DEX: Damage +57 Dodge +5.7% Stealth +5.7%

INT: Damage +56 Resistance +5.6%

VIT: Health +320

TOUGH: Armour +360 (+280)

DAM: Damage +137.5 (+104.5)

REC: Mana +210

"There... It is done. Its time for me to freshen up and change into fresh clothes. I wanted to open a new Class today and once I had gathered enough funds, I'd love to get new gear as well. I wanted to see how these new blades work out in the field today." I thought to myself as I kept everything back in the respective slots and logged off from my meditative state and return to the real world.

I picked my towel and headed to refresh myself and down to the Great Hall once I had changed to a fresh pair of clothes. I had changed into an all-black outfit, suitable for an Assassin, I hope and took a seat myself at one of the chairs and helped myself to a mug of ice-cold water. "Thank you, guys! I really needed that." I said as I glanced at the offscreen crew and they gave me a thumbs up. Hah Hah Hah.

Lunch was served by Patricia and she made gruel with bits of vegetables and minced meat inside with the usual garnishing of spring onions and chives. It was a simple meal, day in and out but it won't get me complaining since I'm getting free board and lodging on this household.

"You are going out to the forest today, right?" she asked as she took a spoonful of gruel.

"Hmm... Hmm... I wanted to see if there are good spoils from them or not. What kind of beasts would I encounter when I'm there?" I asked in anticipation.

"Oh, I heard there are some wild chickens and white rabbits. And further, you'd meet those young fawn as well as wild boar. The wild boars I heard gave plentiful of pork and hide which can be sold." she replied based on her hearsay.

"Then what about a merchant that had camped there all this while? Any clues to it?"

"I have no idea since I didn't leave and head to the forest. You might find the answers when you're there."

"Ah, thank you for the meal, Pat. I'd be on my way now. Northern Gate, right?"

"Yes, just turn left and walk straight on until you pass the Tavern and towards the town jail. There's a gate to let you into the Northern District and follow on through and you'd meet the exit. There are some guards there so it would be best to keep your weapon sheathed."

"Thank you so much, Pat. By the way, do you buy your supplies or it's being supplied by the Director here?" I asked since I had been eating their meals for almost 2 days already since I had woken up.

"Of course it's being supplied. At the moment I don't have many recipes but if you'd like to share yours, I won't mind to try them out one day," she replied and was half expecting me to hand over a recipe book that would emerge from thin air. Hah Hah Hah.

"Don't worry, you keep the morning recipe first and the procedures on how to prepare them. I would pass you some more. I am sure you knew more than cooking thick gruel right? It would be nice to have rice or potatoes once in a while." I suggested as I made my way towards the exit.

"Be seeing you soon, Pat. I'd bring back some pork so we can have roast later on." I said to her as I bade her and left and walked towards the direction she had mentioned.

...

"Excuse me, young man, could you do me a favour?" asked a young lady wearing a dark brown long dress with a white blouse within.

"Yes, what can I do to assist you, Ma'am," I replied and saw her name as Rebecca.

"Could you tend to my young son in my house as I go and get some medications for him at the infirmary? He had not been feeling well and I hope you could just watch him for me. I won't be long. It is just a matter of minutes." she implored and I said, "Alright, Ma'am. Lead the way..."

Soon I reached her house en route towards the northern gates and she beckoned me to enter while she moved away towards the infirmary. I knocked and entered and as soon as I entered, it was A TRAP...!!

"Ah... Hehehe. See what that pussy had brought in. It is a stinking, bloody rat...! Let's go get him...! " a hoodlum was beckoning his partner who both were armed with a long sword to come at me.

They were dressed in hooded tunics and their faces were hidden behind a black mask and only their eyes could be seen. Both were wielding glimmering long swords that threaten to slice me up if I made a wrong move.

"Sswwoosshh..." a blade came down and I was totally unprepared but my reflexes soon took over as I sidestepped on the left and the blade missed me by a few inches. I twirled around and face a two-handed chop on the back of the first hoodlum and sent him tumbling forward. The second hoodlum rushed forward and made a thrusting motion with his long sword and I just barely able to evade.

"Damn that vile woman!" I thought as I remembered a few shouts to shake off the foes.

"S H I E L D S. U P"

"F E A R. M E"

"O N. Y O U R. K N E E S."

I shouted but this time nothing happens... Alamak... Bodoh lah...!(slang for oh my gosh, so stupid of me) Those skills were unlearned and can't be utilised right now...!!

"Hahahaha... Fear you and down on our knees? Take this, you bloody rat. It seemed that crafty pussy had found some help and you looked so damn helpless and hopeless now... Taste my blade, fool..." the second one hollered and made a horizontal swipe with his long sword that nearly hit my midsection.

I chose quickslot 1 and my buckler and 'Victory' emerged as I managed to block the oncoming attack from the first hoodlum. The moment he saw my buckler, he laughed uncontrollably as it looked like a nipple. Yeah, yeah... It is a Nipple Buckler and not a Fluted Buckler. Sheesh...

"Hahahahaha... Does that buckler come from a Dino Cow? That cow sure would have nipples as big as those... Hahahahaha." laughed the second hoodlum. My god... This has turned out as a laughing stock instead of a sword fight. I took the opportunity at those laughing hoodlum to strike them down swiftly with 'Victory'.

The hoodlums were taken by surprise and succumbed to their injuries after being sliced almost into half by my newly sharpened blade. They disintegrated and I heard an announcement.

*Ding* Hoodlum x2 defeated. Progress +20%.

I sat down on the sofa and opened up my interface and saw what I needed. SILENCE the announcements and appear in front of me instead of constantly ringing in my head. This would turn me into schizophrenia. Hah Hah Hah.

The interface silenced and appeared before me as just +10 Exp and another +10 Exp and disappeared. Haish... That's much better. It was OK for the first few times but after that, it's becoming a kind of bloody annoyance...!

You wouldn't want to keep reading *Ding* *Ding* *Ding* on every chapter, do you? Hah hah hah...!!