HC:Pacifist | Ch. 106 - Strategic Thinking

It was the first time Roth was reading a notification about Mario being an alligator and not a cyborg. After he showed Mario a series of vegetables and fruits and he took his pick, Roth studied the trade agreement that he'd been able to secure.

Mario Trade Agreement {Uncommon}

You have earned the right to represent Mario, the alligator, as his broker.

Specialty products:

[Alligator Tears] - 5 per day

[Alligator Scales] - 5 per day

[Alligator Teeth] - 0.5 per day

Procured goods:

[Swamp Corn]

[Elderberries]

[Pond Apples]

[Juicy Pears]

Rate:

You keep 0,5% of all profits generated (1% Cyborg Union; 0% Crocodilians).

Fascinating stuff. There were the alligator tears that Roth had collected earlier from Mario. There were also [Alligator Scales] and [Alligator Teeth], probably used as crafting material. Even though he only offered these three products, Roth hoped it was enough to keep exclusivity with Soros.

The other thing that got Roth's interest was what it said beneath rates. All the items that Mario was offering to trade were things that came from his animal self. The cybernetic part of him didn't have anything to offer. But whenever Roth dealt with Mario, he had always unlocked his reputation with the cyborg union and had never once unlocked anything with the crocodilians.

The trade agreement showed that the rate he was getting was an average between his reputation with both of Mario's factions. He had no reputation with the crocodilians, so he was not suited to represent them as a broker. On the other hand, he was revered by the cyborg union. The game had just averaged his reputation out and come up with a rate in the middle.

"Mario, you are a crocodilian, right?"

"Yes, on my mother's side." Roth wasn't expecting that answer.

"What can you tell me about the crocodilians?"

"I don't remember much about them. Memory wipes are part of the programming protocols for members of the Cyborg Union."

"Memory wipes?"

"Yes, emotions get in the way of the job." Roth’s mind was hit with an idea. Something he had heard Mario cry about earlier.

"Then... Why were you crying about missing your mom earlier?" Mario stood silent for a few moments.

"No matter how often my memory is wiped, I can't forget her."

"What do you remember about her?" tried Roth.

"I remember emerging from my egg and seeing her standing strong above me and my siblings. Her jaws were so mighty but so gentle at the same time. I remember reeds and brackish-blackened water. That's it."

You’ve been offered a quest: [Mario’s Mom].

Mario's Mom (Uncommon)

Even though Mario's memory is regularly wiped, he still remembers and yearns for his mother. All he remembers about her is to have seen her in a swamp.

Quest objectives: Find Mario's mom.

Would you like to accept? [Y/N]

Roth wasn't expecting such a sappy story beneath the emotionless alligator's story. He had always been so... robotic. Hearing about Mario's mom made him think about his mom. How was she doing? He had to write her a letter. He sent a message to Drake asking for news from her. He turned his attention back to the alligator being repaired on the table.

"Does it hurt when they wipe your memory?"

"No. It helps me forget the pain." Maybe the pain of being repeatedly hunted, thought Roth. He looked at the timer in his racial skills and saw it was almost down. It was time to look for new customers.

"Mario, I'll be on my way now. I'll come back later."

"Affirmative." He was back to his cybernetic self. Roth checked the security cameras that afforded a view of what was happening above and chose a free chamber. He ascended, coming back to the sewers. It was time to visit his snake friends.

For the next part of his plan, Roth would need all the stat points he could get. Between learning telepathy and visiting Mario, his racial skills were finally off cooldown. He canceled his badger form.

Human Form!

Congratulations! Your strength has reached 50.

You have gained [Healthy Bones].

Congratulations! Your dexterity has reached 50.

You have gained [Fast Hands].

Your intelligence is now under 50.

[Eidetic Memory] has been downgraded to [Inner Calm].

You have lost [Perfect Timing].

Congratulations! Your wisdom has reached 50.

Congratulations! Your endurance has reached 200.

[Cat's Sprint] has been upgraded to [Horse's Gallop].

[Bark Skin] has been upgraded to [Stone Skin].

Congratulations! Your charisma has reached 50.

You have gained [Well Spoken].

He opened the character page and focused on his stats.

STATS (64 Free Stat Points)

Strength: 54

Dexterity: 53

Intelligence: 64 (+1%)

Wisdom: 67

Endurance: 237

Charisma: 69 (+5%)

Resilience: 17

Insight: 12

He still had 64 free stat points to allocate, and even with the bonuses he’d gotten from his toxicologist set, his wisdom was still sitting at the same level as his other stats. He decided to invest 33 stat points into wisdom.

Congratulations! Your wisdom has reached 100.

You gained [Strategic Thinking].

Strategic Thinking (Stat Bonus)

Bonus description: True wisdom is seen in how you pinpoint your enemy’s weaknesses and exploit them.

Bonus effects: Empowers all active skills very slightly.

There. It was worth it. He checked his active skills.

Active: [Camouflage]; [Miniaturize]; [Peace Decree]; [Peace Treaty]; [Screeching Terror]; [Search]; [Taunting Roar]; [30 Steps]

The fact that all of them were slightly empowered went a great way. He’d check the effects later. With this, he had 31 stat points left. He looked at his charisma. He invested 27 points in his charisma and let his [First of a Kind] title that granted a 5% bonus to charisma get him over the threshold.

Congratulations! Your charisma has reached 100.

You have gained [Charm].

He held on to the last four stats and checked how the stat window looked.

STATS (4 Free Stat Points)

Strength: 54

Dexterity: 53

Intelligence: 64 (+1%)

Wisdom: 100

Endurance: 237

Charisma: 96 (+5%)

Resilience: 17

Insight: 12

With this, everything was set. Roth came to one of the sewer sections that typically had more snakes. These were tight stretches with pipes coming off the sides, from which the snakes could emerge and quickly attack careless passersby.

He tried calling out to them, even though he knew their sense of hearing was nothing special. Roth had expected that when he became respected by snakes, he’d be able to unlock a [Friend of Snakes title]. When he finished [The Sewer Monsters] quest, he wondered why he hadn't gotten any [Friend of Snakes] title. He then realized that when he threw that grenade, there were oozing snakes among the legions of oozing monsters. He had always read in his titles that if he hurt an animal, the conditions to unlock the [Friend of...] titles steeply increased. Could it be that, even after turning into oozing monsters, that still counted toward getting the title?

From what Roth surmised, snakes were a race that should be in the same tier as boars, and he would have unlocked the title when he reached revered status with them. Because he had hurt them previously, maybe all he could do now was grind for more reputation points and hope he would unlock the title down the road.

After a few minutes of searching, one triangular-shaped head poked out discreetly and carefully from one of the pipes.

"Human, it'sss been a long time since you've been here."

He scanned the snake.

Stephen, the Sewer Snake (Friendly)

Lvl. 16

Description: The high toxicity of the sewers has only made the venom of sewer snakes more powerful. They like to lurk in the shadows and strike at unsuspecting prey, paralyzing them with their potent venom.

HP: 100

Energy: 200

Skills: [Snake Venom]; [Snake Strike]

"Hello, Stephen! How has it been for you?"

"Thanksss for taking care of the darknesss. The alligator ssseemsss lesssss annoying thessse days too."

"Don't mention it."

"Here. My nessst, hasss ssset this assside for you."

Snake Slither (Common)

Skill description: Snakes are capable of silent discreet movement. They impart some of their experience onto you.

Skill effects: Slightly improves stealth skills. Makes your steps slightly quieter.

Great! His first spontaneous gift from the snakes. He loved the skill, but all his slots were filled right now. He would save it for now.

"Thank you. This is a very thoughtful gift."

"What bringsss you here?"

Roth braced himself. It was time to put on a show.

Fox Form!

Congratulations! Your charisma has reached 350.

[Well Spoken] has upgraded to [Gold Tongue].

Gold Tongue (Bonus Stat)

Bonus description: You're so persuasive and so convincing that even kings and queens will pay attention to you.

Bonus effect: It's much easier to gain reputation.

Restrictions: 350+ charisma.

[Charm] has upgraded to [NPC Appeal].

He checked his charisma. It was at 382! There was no way the snakes would resist him. Now that Roth had his charisma at the maximum amount possible, it was time to let loose. He started by giving himself a beat. Even though there have been many distressing situations over the last couple of days, like bumping into every single member of the IronIre squad that was still out to get him, being chased by the Gazpachos, and seeing animals being treated cruelly, he still had had his fair share of blessings.

He saw Soros in his new business establishment and how happy the old man was. He also now had a mask that was powerful enough to fool his former friends from the IronIre squad. He'd gained new titles, finished two big quests, and unlocked his class. He was clad in new gear from head to toe, and all his skill slots were full.

He also had a group of friends he could count on and a plan to free him. All these joys and frustrations had been building up within him, and he channeled them all into his dancing. Stephen became entranced entirely by Roth's fox form's overwhelming charisma.

Your very charismatic moves capture Stephen's undivided attention.

+73 reputation with all snakes.

Oh boy, fox form was working its charm here. Roth smirked. If back when he had 75 charisma, he could unlock the friendly relationship status with snakes, how would he get any less from having it skyrocket to 350+? He kept going, and more snakes started to appear off the pipes.

The snakes like the fantastic twirls and spins you're pulling.

+68 reputation with all snakes.

Roth kept telling himself he was dancing well, encouraged by the string of notifications he got. He danced every single step he knew. Today, he decided not to care that the snakes were only being entranced by his charisma. Today was all about having fun.

Roth lost track of time. It hadn't been easy to have so much pressure on him for so long. Being constantly chased, pushed, and shoved left scratches and wounds that he couldn't find the time to heal. Above all, what bothered him the most right now was the grenade he had thrown into the chamber.

Even though Drake had reassured him it was an accident, he couldn't shake off the sight of a blackened burning chamber with corpses of rats and snakes everywhere. Being surrounded by snakes only made it difficult to keep the sad memory at bay. All those creatures had been dead because of the grenade he threw. Roth tried to fence with his mind. They were all dead already, anyway. You didn't know, he tried to tell himself.

After a solo of samba, some Cha Cha Cha moves, and finally a breakdown solo, Roth got a notification that awoke him from his dancing trance.

You didn't! You pulled out a moonwalk!

+26 reputation with all snakes.

You've achieved adored status with all snakes.

You have unlocked a new title: [Friend of Snakes].

Roth blinked, confused. Adored? Didn't that require a 3000+ reputation? He looked at his character sheet and couldn't believe it. He had achieved adored status. What was this? He looked at the clock. Had he been dancing for 4 hours?

Roth had utterly lost track of time. It almost felt like when he went on his reverse rampage crisis back in the Green Woods, but this time, instead of running around, he had been just dancing. He felt strangely relaxed. It seemed that he just needed to unwind. He missed sleeping. He desperately needed to be able to shut down and heal. Until then, he supposed he could come down here sometimes and dance his worries away with the snakes.

Ch. 105 - Food Subsidy

INDEX

Ch. 107 - Golden Acorn