YM778.TV Chapter 104: Time to get back to business
Rick lay on the bed, eyes closed, possibly in slumber. The rabbit, growing impatient, pressed further, "Have you yet discerned the ailment afflicting the elderly woman?"
With a measured calmness, Rick responded without opening his eyes, "I am on the verge of it."
"How?" voiced the rabbit, a mix of curiosity and concern coloring its words. "I haven\'t witnessed you step through this door even once. You glanced at those papers briefly, threw them down with a grumble," it continued, its unease evident. "I want to leave, Master. This place unnerves me. I am confined to this room without even the freedom to roam."
Rick, his patience tested, retorted, "It\'s your incessant prodding that disrupts my focus." His hand gently pressed against the rabbit\'s face, pushing it away as he tried to reclaim a semblance of concentration.
Indeed, four days had elapsed with Rick making little headway. During the initial pair of days, he maintained an air of nonchalance, seemingly unconcerned about the old grandmother\'s ailment. It was a period of relaxation, characterized by stretches, culinary exploits in the kitchen, and an intentional indulgence in Evelina\'s hospitality.
Rick reveled in the luxury of satiating his appetite during these blissful two days.
However, on the third day, a shift in his approach unfolded. The allure of idleness was replaced by a decision to delve into Evelina\'s grandmother\'s medical reports. Yet, as he perused the documents, a revelation struck him with an almost palpable force. The pages were filled with what appeared to be serious medical jargon, laid out in plain English.
While Rick demonstrated an adept understanding of the words themselves, their intricate meanings eluded him, leaving him in a state of puzzlement. The complexity of the information seemed to bounce two inches over his head.
Rick\'s attempt at deciphering the intricate medical details left him feeling increasingly dizzy. Succumbing to the disorienting effects, he impulsively discarded the reports, as if physically casting away the mental strain they imposed. Despite the setback, a subtle assurance pervaded Rick\'s mindset – time was still abundant, with four more days stretching ahead.
There was no urgent rush; saving the old lady did not constitute a final quest in his life. The absence of impending penalties provided a comforting buffer.
Yet, amidst the luxurious backdrop of mouthwatering cuisine experienced over the past two days, Rick also caught a fleeting glimpse of a different realm – a glimpse of hell.
His principled stance against engaging in perverted and predatory practices had inadvertently plunged him into an unprecedented state of speech lockdown—a 24-hour gab sabbatical, where silence enveloped him like an unyielding cloak. It was a period of communication drought, rendering him more taciturn than a mime on vacation.
The challenges of this vocal hiatus became evident in the mundane, day-to-day activities. Attempting to order his morning coffee metamorphosed into a calamity, with the maids staring at him as though he had uttered Parseltongue. Even his rabbit, usually a companion in chatter, regarded him with a suspicious side-eye, thinking he\'s gone mute for a bird-brained reason. And the boy, seventeen.
Let\'s just say he took all the signs the wrong way. He misinterpreted the signs, taking Rick\'s silence as cues that led him down entirely misguided paths. Fortunately for Rick, the FBI had not come knocking on his door.
Yet, that was not the nadir of Rick\'s plight. The consequences of reneging on that seemingly absurd quest manifested in a manner that surpassed all prior predicaments. Ahem! Ahem! The quest, still retaining its status as the most preposterous thing he had ever encountered, had ensnared him in a labyrinth of tribulations.
But for two days, an excruciating 48 hours, Rick found himself wrestling with recurrent thoughts. The notion that, perhaps, just perhaps, he should have reconsidered the quest gnawed at him persistently. Regret danced on the periphery of his consciousness, taunting him with the possibility of alternative choices.
As if to add insult to injury, his crown jewels—those delicate anatomical assets—decided to orchestrate a disappearing act, leaving him with a malfunctioning southern hemisphere. It was as if his little companion had chosen an impromptu vacation, abandoning its post without so much as a courteous farewell.
The subsequent 48 hours unfolded as a disorienting odyssey for Rick, akin to a ship adrift without a captain, traversing the desolate expanse of despair. His attempts to revive the fallen soldier of his southern hemisphere proved as futile as trying to start a car with an empty gas tank. Fear clenched at his insides, each passing moment unleashing a torrent of \'what ifs\' upon his anxious mind.
What if the consequences extended beyond the allotted 48 hours? What if a glitch prolonged this surreal predicament?
In the midst of this existential uncertainty, Rick clung to his faith in the system. The silver lining, a delicious and diverse array of food, served as a welcomed distraction—a form of panic-eating that provided a temporary reprieve. Through sheer determination, he managed to weather the storm, navigating his ship of sanity through the tumultuous waves to a safe harbor.
As Rick\'s thoughts gradually found a semblance of stability, a spark of realization flickered within him. "What if I asked the system for help?" The idea took root in his mind, germinating from the notion that if the system could discern the intricate nuances of the thoughts and desires of the girls, it should, theoretically, possess the capability to diagnose the \'curse\' afflicting the old lady.
\'Hey system. You there?\' Rick called out in his mind.
[Everything has a price... Master.]
\'But I haven\'t even said anything.\' Rick was perplexed by what the system said.
[The system knows everything... Master.]
\'Do you have to take that pause before saying master? Can you stop doing that?\'
[If you want to. Why not.]
\'Did you?\'
[You only asked me to drop it. I only do what you ask me to.]
\'Aghh... You are one incorrigible bastard.\'
[For following your instructions? Then the same app,lies to you as well.]
\'Leave it. Do you think you can find what is wrong with the old lady?\'
[I can\'t]
\'But didn\'t you just say that you know everything?]
[I do. But I can\'t tell you that.]
\'Then what?\'
[Just buy what you want from the shop. It has everything.]
Getting that information from the system, there was no need for Rick to continue getting trolled by it, Rick promptly made his way to the shop.
It was also time for Rick to spend some ero points to buy some permanent skills or weapons. But it was not the priority right now, and also he might want to cross that five hundred - six hundred thousand mark so that he could go for quality.
With this strategic goal in mind, Rick delved into the shop interface, scouring through the available options. As the digital marketplace unfolded before him, a myriad of choices presented themselves.
1. Whispering Insight Card:
This basic-level card grants a sneak peek into the surface thoughts and general vibes of people around.
Time Duration: 1 minute
Cost: 15,000 Ero Points
2. Mind Mirage Card:
Allows one to delve into the thoughts and memories of a chosen individual for a brief moment. Gain insight into their motivations, fears, and embarrassing childhood moments. Use with caution, as too much mind probing may result in a mental overload.
Time Duration: 2 minute
Cost: 135,000 Ero points
3. WhizWit\'s Wisdom Card:
Unleash the basic knowledge genie! Perfect for settling pub debates and trivia nights. Just rub the card and let WhizWit spill the beans on anything from the best pizza toppings to quantum physics. But remember it works only on mortals, and don\'t be surprised if it comes out as a dud for your question. It is either a hit, or a miss.
Usage: 1 time.
Cost: 25,000 Ero Points.
4. Curious Oracle Card:
This mystical card taps into the wisdom of ages, offering profound insights on any mortal you want. The user can pose more complex questions and receive answers to anything you could thing of. But remember, it works only on mortals.
Usage: 1 time
Cost: 40,000 Ero Points.
Rick looked through the options available to him and his choice was pretty clear. The first two options were out of the question. There was nothing that they could provide and the second option was just scary expensive. So he dropped them out of his mind.
The third option was a gamble, he didn\'t want to take.
So he quickly bought the "Curious Oracle" card. In fact, he bought two of them just in case. After that he checked his inventory and there they were, 2 cards occupying a spot in his inventory.
"Time to get to work," Rick quickly sprang from his bed and stood up, ready to leave.
[Not going to thank me?]
But Rick ignored the system and stepped out of the room quickly. He had to test this thing out.
As Rick cautiously peeked out of the room, his gaze fell upon a man clad in a sleek black suit, comfortably perched on the sofa, nonchalantly flipping through a magazine. Startled, the suited figure raised his eyes from the periodical at the sound of the opening door, fixing his gaze on Rick.
"Do you want anything, sir?"
"Aahh..." caught off guard, Rick involuntarily emitted a small cry startled, the unexpected presence and sudden address catching him off balance.
With his heart still racing, Rick turned his attention to the unexpected guard behind him. "Seventeen," the boy, stood vigilant by the door, in stark contrast to the casually seated figure in the neighboring room.
"What are you doing here?" Rick inquired, his curiosity tinged with a touch of apprehension.
"I am waiting on you, sir," the boy responded with a respectful nod. "If you need anything, do let me know. No need to trouble yourself." The sincerity in the boy\'s demeanor hinted at a readiness to cater to Rick\'s needs.
"Have you been standing here like this for the last two days?" Rick queried, a perplexed expression on his face.
"That\'s my duty, sir," the boy responded with unwavering composure.
Rick, incredulous, pressed further, "Then when the fuck do you sleep?"
"I am ashamed to say that, but I do take power naps from time to time. But rest assured, I will try to minimize them," the boy replied with a touch of apology.
Listening to the boy\'s unwavering commitment, Rick found himself momentarily speechless. What kind of training or indoctrination had forged such dedication? The prospect intrigued him, sparking a curiosity that nudged him toward contemplating the possibility of having a group of fiercely loyal individuals at his disposal. The notion lingered in his thoughts, ripe for exploration.
"Do you need something, sir?" Seventeen inquired once more, his focus unwavering.
"No, I need to check up on the old lady," Rick replied, taking a step into the corridor. He turned to the older guard, estimating him to be in his thirties or forties, and queried, "Do you mind opening the door?"
The guard hesitated for a moment, contemplating something, but eventually relented, moving to open the door for Rick.
Upon entering, a nurse sat by the door, dozing on the couch. The scene mirrored the last time Rick had been in the room, with the old woman lying motionless on the bed.
"I want to be alone, take her away," Rick instructed the guard.
"Sir, I can\'t..." the guard began to refuse, but Rick interrupted him, the weight in his tone brooking no argument.
"You wouldn\'t want to go against that young miss of yours. She begged me to come and save this old lady. She wouldn\'t like you interfering with my job. Or would she?" Rick turned slightly towards the guard, a subtle challenge in his gaze.
"I am sorry, sir," the guard mumbled, lowering his head. He promptly woke the half-awake nurse, and the duo left the room, the door closing behind them.
"They are a nice bunch," Rick remarked, nodding approvingly as he made his way towards the old lady.
Approaching her, he leaned in, intending to discern any subtle sounds of breathing. "Let\'s see what you are hiding," he murmured.
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