Chapter 19: Day 30 (2) – Q&A

Chapter 19: Day 30 (2) – Q&A

I got called in and was offered a seat at a table at the first floor. Someone was busy spending points. “Welcome, bit early.” Carlos looked a bit worn and tired. The lack of showers and baths was telling on people’s appearances. I rubbed a hand over my beard. I really wanted to get it all cut off.

“I like to get up early. No one hunts slimes then. Less headaches.”

“Ah, where are my manners. Eat, eat.” He pushed a copper plate with fruit and vegetables over. The cucumbers were cut and had a dash of salt on them. I let out a sigh of enjoyment. “Good, isn’t it?”

“Yeah. So much fruit, I feel my blood is half orange juice and half apple juice by now.”

“Well with the next upgrade we should have more stuff. So, why did you come to see me?” I was glad to hear he was looking at another upgrade so soon. Thankfully the leap from 1,000 to 10,000 wasn’t that bad. If the next upgrade was 100,000 that would probably take a lot longer.

“There is a dungeon in the slime forest.”

“With prisoners and shit?” My brain hiccupped at that. “Ha! That was a good look on your face.”

“Damn, you got me there.” I laughed at that. It was a good joke and reminded me not to underestimate other people’s game knowledge. “A hole in the ground. Big enough for a car or so. No light down there. Didn’t go deep, didn’t see anything, will need someone with balls of steel to carry a torch.”

Carlos was silent as he munched on a salted cucumber and digested what I had just told him. “That is dangerous. A hole you say?”

“Yes.” He drummed his fingers on the table.

“I don’t have anyone who can do what you are asking.” I nodded at that. I hadn’t been expecting anything, but a man can hope.

“I will be looking to recruit someone from the people arriving today then.”

“Were you at the plaza for the arrivals before?”

“No. I avoided the place to avoid questions and people getting upset,” I replied. “Nice job not turning this place into a blood bath.”

“Heh, yeah. I am in charge now.”

“El Presidente Carlos.”

“A pretty shit nation.”

“It is yours though,” he gave me a small grin.

“It is, isn’t it. Well, if you want to recruit people feel free to. I won’t get in your way. Just let me know if you find anything interesting in your dungeon.”

“There might be a pile of sex toys.” Carlos blinked for a moment and then burst out laughing.

“You got me that time.”

“Well thanks for taking the time to speak with me and the salted cucumber.” I stood up.

“No problem, visit any time, Michael.” I gave Carlos a nod and left the room. I made my way outside. There was a new guard instead of Tyrese. I then walked around the plaza until I found an empty building overlooking it and made my way to the second floor.

I pulled out my sword and began going through possible movements. Thrust, slash, shield, slash, thrust, while minding my footwork. Mind the angle of the blade. Twist to show the flat when I block. It was much simpler to use a club. The reach was about the same as the club, but with how light it felt, I wanted something longer.

There had been a spear, but I couldn’t use a shield with a spear. Also, a spear would be unwieldly inside the dungeon. I switched hands to give my left arm a workout as well. While it wasn’t my dominant hand and I had no chance of fighting with it, just moving it around would help me adjust if I ever needed to fight left-handed.

I looked at my clothes. They were all gray. Hmm. I put my sword away and went out to the plaza. I checked the pillars. Dying clothes or armor added an additional 50% cost. Hmm, might do that for my next set whenever that was.

There was a bundle of wood for 100 points. Ouch, that wasn’t cheap, but I could light a bonfire inside the dungeon. That had possibilities if there was a large chamber instead of a tunnel.

I mentally looked through the weapons. A flail, ball and chain, a short bow, with pointy wood arrows costing 5 points each. I blinked at the bow. I had been so sure there had been no bow before. I thought back. I probably mentally queried hand weapons back then and the Store took that as hand to hand. I would have to be more careful with my mental searches in the future to make sure I found every available item.

The weapons cost 500 points each. I looked for any blade sharpening equipment, but nothing. There was a sewing kit for 100 points.

I looked at that for the thread. A sewing kit had uses, but I held off for now. It wouldn’t do to waste my points right now. I had my spending spree. I looked at the armor options. No helmets, no body armor either. There were the arm guards and greaves, but I already had those. There was nothing else.

No chemicals. No storage container besides the bronze flask. I tried to think of other items that I could mentally check for. No pets or eggs. No classes, skills, unique items, powers, magic, abilities, or other upgrades for a person besides the six already listed.

I checked for any other progressive items but there was nothing. I checked for permanent items that wouldn’t disappear if no one was around, but there were just things one would put in a home. Plates, cups, tables, chairs, and blankets. The permanent items were clearly not meant for combat.nôvel binz was the first platform to present this chapter.

“Just the slimes. They melt your flesh if you aren’t careful. If you want to learn more, you need to speak to people who go out to hunt. It is dangerous and I take no responsibility for any of you. You live and die here with points. Kill monsters to get crystals to get points.”

“How many times has the store been upgraded and when are you planning the next upgrade?”

“Just once and the next upgrade will occur when we have the points for it. We need points for food, so we can’t just save up, but that is where the tax is going. So, we are putting it to good use.”

“I saw upgrades in the store, what do they do?”

“That information is classified. You won’t be stopped from purchasing them, but I won’t be sharing our limited knowledge of them either.” There was some murmuring at that.

“Silence!” Captain Roger shouted. “If you interrupt you will be killed, show proper respect.”

“Thank you, Captain. I know many of you aren’t happy with that answer. But that knowledge has value. If you are willing to spend thousands of points to find out an answer, then you are welcome to find out and will be paid for that knowledge if you share it with me. The same goes for other knowledge you might come across. Next.”

“Where are the bathrooms and running water?”

“There are no bathrooms here. Stuff that is left unattended disappears. So, take shit or piss in an empty building and good luck wiping yourself. The only water that we know of is from the pillars and you need a container to get water. I recommend the fruit to start with until you can get points from monsters.”

“Will you help us?”

“Explaining all of this and keeping order is helping you. If you can’t earn points, you will die. If you are found to be stealing or robbing crystals from other people, you will be killed. Healing is very limited, so it is better to hunt monsters than people. Healing can get quite expensive from the pillars. It is called a restoration by the way. Next.”

“How big is the city?”

“Based on our calculations, the wall is circular with a radius of around 3 miles and a circumference of around 19 miles. It takes about an hour to an hour and a half to walk to the wall from the plaza. There are four gates exiting the city. There are no monsters in the city that we know of at this time.”

“Do you have the names of people that were here before?”

“No. There is nothing to write with. Also, what day was it when you were teleported here?” Carlos asked.

“September first.” That was the day I was taken, and other people were taken. That meant one of two things. People were put in stasis or there was a temporal difference. It was a good question and one I hadn’t thought of.

“Same day as the rest of us. Next.”

“Has anything been found in the city?”

“No, just empty buildings. You are welcome to explore. If you find anything you will get paid for that knowledge, but people have searched before you and found nothing. Your time is better spent hunting monsters. Next.”

The questions after that were pointless. I had listened in to double check my knowledge and to know what common knowledge was now. I was impressed with Carlos for thinking of that date question. That was another hint as to the mystery of this place, not like it helped at all.

I had also been looking over the people as Carlos was talking. I had my eye on a couple that might be useful. I left the windowsill and made my way down to the plaza. Once there I walked over to where Carlos was seated. The questions were petering out since there was only so much to tell people.

Another chair was brought over, and I thanked the guard and took a seat. That was quite polite of Carlos to arrange that. I gave him a nod of respect. “See anything interesting?” Carlos asked me.

“Nothing worth mentioning. Nice job with the question on the dates. I hadn’t thought of that.”

“I was curious about a football game. Now...well guess I will never know.”

“For me it was all the books I liked to read. Not much entertainment around here.”

“No, it is pretty bleak. Spot anyone useful?”

“Have to wait and see. Having balls of steel and being able to manage your fear isn’t that easy. Also, can’t be an idiot either and halfway in shape or willing to sweat a lot. Not many people meet all those criteria and want to carry a pack.”

“You want a hand?”

“I am fine, those windowsills are hard on the ass. Why I came down here.”

“I know. I can’t wait until we get cushions. Even the stupid blankets are expensive.”

“Well time to go walk around and see if anyone bites.” I got up.

“Good luck.”