"Perfect timing," August said. "When do you think he'll be okay to et ? I'm ready whenever he is."
"I'll call him and let you know," Remi replied. Then, with a playful tone, she added, "But only if you promise sothing."
August smirked, already anticipating her antics. "What's the catch?"
"You owe coffee—or dinner—your pick," she said slyly. "I've been helping you out a lot, you know."
"Fine, fine," August voiced while rolling his eyes with a grin. "Coffee it is."
"Good choice," she replied with a smug tone. "Alright, I'll call my cousin and let you know his response. Don't go disappearing on again, okay?"
"Promise," August said. "Thanks, Remi."
"Anyti, August. Talk soon!"
As the call ended, Sophia smirked from the doorway. "Sounds like soone's got a fan."
August shot her a look. "Don't start, Soph. She's just being nice."
Sophia raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced, but decided to let it slide. "Alright, big bro. But you better start clearing that call list before people start banging on the door."
"Working on it," August said, already dialing the agent's number as he sat on the couch. This day was going to be busier than he'd expected.
-
"Hello, this is redith, how can I help you?"
"Hi, redith, this is Aleman. The one inquiring about the space downtown..."
There was a mont of silence before her tone brightened with recognition. "Oh! Aleman! I honestly thought you'd lost interest. I haven't heard from you in weeks."
"Yeah, sorry about that," August chuckled dryly. "Sothing urgent ca up and, well, it ended up taking way more of my ti than I expected."
"I understand," redith said, though her voice held a hint of doubt. "Unfortunately, the space you were interested in has already been rented by soone else."
August let out a small sigh, already anticipating the answer but still feeling a pang of disappointnt. "I figured as much. It was a great spot."
"It really was," redith admitted sympathetically. "But don't worry, we have several other locations available, and I'd be happy to show them to you. We can schedule a tour tomorrow afternoon if you're free."
August considered her offer for a mont. "Alright, let's do that. Send the details, and I'll et you tomorrow."
"Will do," redith said brightly. "I'll text you the address shortly. Looking forward to seeing you, Aleman!"
"Thanks, redith. See you later."
After the call ended, August leaned back with a sigh. "Well, there goes plan A. Guess it's on to plan B."
Just as he was about to set his phone down, his eyes drifted to the unsaved number that had been responsible for the majority of the missed calls. His finger hovered over it before finally pressing the dial.
The line barely rang before the person on the other end answered.
"Aleman! Finally!" a familiar voice shouted with a mix of excitent and exasperation.
"Victor?" August's eyebrows raised in surprise as he instantly recognized the voice. "What's with the sudden barrage of calls? What's going on?"
"Where have you been, man?" Victor's voice was borderline frantic. "I've been trying to reach you for two weeks! I thought you disappeared or sothing."
"I was busy," August said simply, keeping his tone calm. "I told you I don't sell things every day. What's the urgency?"
Victor let out a huff as his voice shifted between excitent and desperation. "Look, I need sothing—anything—you've got right now. A weapon, a relic, a charm, I don't care. I'll pay whatever you ask, just let know what's available."
August frowned. The sheer impatience in Victor's voice set off subtle alarm bells in his head. "Victor, you should already know... When I'm ready to sell, I post the items online like before. You just have to wait."
"I can't wait!" Victor nearly shouted with a tone of desperation. "Aleman, please, I need sothing now."
August's suspicion deepened. He played it cool, trying to fish for more information. "Why the rush? What's going on?"
Victor's tone softened, though he still sounded anxious. "It's my girlfriend's birthday this week, and I promised her sothing special. Sothing no one else can give her. That's where you co in."
August tilted his head, considering his response. "I see. Well, you'll have to wait a bit longer. I still have things to sort out before I can put anything up for sale."
"Aleman, please," Victor begged, his voice almost cracking. "Don't leave hanging. Just one item. I don't care what it is, just na your price."
"Relax," August said firmly, though he couldn't shake the feeling that Victor's desperation wasn't just about impressing a girlfriend. "I'll get back to you later today. Let handle so things first."
Victor let out a sigh of relief. "Fine, but don't take too long. Her birthday's in three days, and I need sothing by then."
"You'll hear from soon," August assured him before ending the call.
He sat there for a mont, staring at his phone with a furrowed brow. Victor's desperation wasn't adding up. "What's really going on with you, Victor?"
...
...
Later that evening, August sat cross-legged on his bed, deep in thought. The mory of the strange system notification he saw when he woke up still gnawed at him.
[System Synchronization Activated]
[Partial Synchronization Complete]
It didn't make sense. Synchronization with what? And why now? The only noticeable change was the surge of energy he felt coursing through his veins, but otherwise, he hadn't observed anything particularly different.
His gaze flickered toward his inventory. The Fruit of Sin. His lips tightened as he recalled the news of the Oni group ruthlessly targeting players and taking their extracted ga items from their bodies after brutally killing them. It was escalating.
"I need more power," he muttered to himself. "If I'm going to deal with players like the Oni, I can't rely on luck or barely escaping. I need to be ready. Guess I'll have to push back on the money aspect..."
With that resolution, he summoned his Player Status Panel...
---
>
Na: Aleman
Class: Assassin/Mage
Title: Sovereign of Anti-Darkness
Level:31
EXP: 220,900/1,350,000
HP: 17,600/17,500
MP: 11,000/11,000
Gold: 25,120
---
Skills:
- Shadow Dance (Assassin)
- Stealth (Assassin)
- Hidden Strike (Assassin)
- Dash (Assassin) [Level 3]
- Lightning Bolt (Mage)
- Arcane Shield (Mage)
- Ethereal Storm (Custom Mage)
- Phantom Splice (Assassin)
- Wind Surge (Mage)
---
Inventory:
- Enhanced Dagger
- Custom Staff
- Cloak of Echoes (Bound)
- Shadow Cloak
- Minor Health Amulet
- Phantom Boots
- Devil Fang Daggers
- Mana Crystals ×5
- Health Potions ×6
- Mana Potions ×7
- Wind-Swept Cloak Fragnt
- Enchanted Mirror
- Fruit of Sin [Extracted]
...(See More)
---
August skimd through the interface. He was ecstatic about the progress he had made. Clearing the Swordking's Dungeon had brought him a wealth of rewards, items he could extract and sell for huge sums of money. Selling wasn't the issue—deciding what to sell was.
But sothing caught his eye this ti. Two of his skills were not greyed out like the others. His heart skipped a beat as he leaned closer to examine them.
[Dash (Assassin) [Level 3]]
[ Lightning Bolt (Mage)]
For as long as he could summon his player interface in reality, every ability and skill had always been inaccessible—greyed out—except for his inventory. But now, these two skills were fully visible. Their colors were vibrant like in the ga.
"Does this an...?" His voice trailed off as excitent bubbled inside him. If his suspicion was correct, this could change everything.
He decided to test it. August focused on Dash and willed it to activate.
---
[Skill Activated: Dash]
---
Suddenly, the world slowed around him.
The faint sound of the ceiling fan above beca elongated and distorted. The clock on his desk seed frozen in ti as August stood to his feet with a look of disbelief plastered across his face.
"Unbelievable..."
Reviews
All reviews (0)