Mister Vii

Chapter 31 – Day 50 (Part 2) - Duel

“Now, onto other business. First, what is happening with the pillar tax?” Carlos went through his captains and checked to make sure everything was running smoothly. There were some pointed questions on the inn, but he confirmed Red Dawn would hold a monopoly on that business for now to recoup its investment.

Then he talked about expanding. Each captain could hire five recruits who would be spread out to the other captains. That way troublesome people could be weeded out and it would...

Chapter 30 – Day 50 – Challenge

I had really pushed myself the last two days, managing to get 355 and 380 crystals, respectively. I really pushed into the wolves as fast as I could. If I had someone picking up crystals, I might not be able to double my speed, but hitting 500 wouldn’t be out of the question.

I made my way back to the plaza, and saw Evaline waiting for me. She quickly spotted me, and came over. “Good morning, Michael.”

“Evaline, how are you today?” I asked.

“Doing alright. Heard ...

Chapter 29 – Day 46 – Connections

I was bad at dice and I lost 30 crystals yesterday afternoon, but I had no complaints. When the first fruit and vegetable platter ran out, I purchased a second one. I spent another 15 crystals to get my shoulder and head worked over by some amazing fingers.

In total, I spent 163 crystals in one afternoon. I had suggested a salon or a place to cut hair as another business. Carlos looked interested in that after seeing how ragged people were getting. I promised I would pay well, if there ...

Chapter 28 – Day 45 – Gambling

“Carl.” He looked tired and stressed. He clearly had not been doing too well.

“Here.” He handed me a pack. I emptied the crystals into mine. I didn’t bother to count.

“Doing alright?” I asked.

“Just…just take care, Michael.” Carl took back his pack and then left. That was disappointing, but he had paid me, so there was nothing more to say to each other. If he wanted to be left to wallow in misery, I wasn’t about to drag him out of it.

Evaline, who...

Chapter 27 – Day 41 – Voluntold

“So, you are coming with me, then?” I looked at Tyrese and his posse.

“I got voluntold by Boss Carlos,” he said.

“Voluntold?” I asked. I was pretty sure I knew what he meant, but I was curious about what he would say.

“When he looks at you and asks for a volunteer.” That sounded about right.

“So, the new person?” I asked.

“That’s Tim.”

“Then Hans, Greg, and Laura with the bow,” I recalled their names.

“You actually reme...

Chapter 26 – Day 40 – Waste of Time

“Being the boss is exhausting. That was a good suggestion about trainers. Any others?” Carlos asked as he took a sip of water.

“Nothing coming to mind. Is there really no one exploring new areas?” I asked. I was doing it, but I didn’t want to do it. These really are powerful people’s problems, I thought as I mentally sighed.

“Not that I have heard.” I let out a real sigh at that. “You need people?”

“I am fine by myself, but more people are always useful...

Chapter 25 – Day 36 – North Gate

I went to the plaza. I tipped the guards with some slime crystals I had from yesterday. The brown slime crystals appeared identical to the blue slime crystals, and I had 24 of them. Still, I wasn’t about to hand over the brown slime crystals before I checked them out.

Each of them was only worth 5 points. That was disappointing. I checked the white slime crystal I had picked up myself. It was slightly bigger than the ones from the other slimes.

That one was worth 50 points. That...

Chapter 24 – Day 35 – Descent Into Darkness

“So how is it?” I asked.

Carl took off his glasses and blinked a couple of times as he grinned. “Everything is so crisp and clear. Also, the pain is gone. You weren’t wrong. That is probably the best thing in the store.”

“Good. Let’s go and see who Tyrese has dug up.”

We left the plaza. I had tipped the guards there again and they were all smiles. We made our way over to Carlos’s building.

Tyrese was waiting there with three other people. Someone else...

Chapter 23 – Day 34 – Preparation

It was the evening of day 34. I had 803 crystals with me, and Carl had 60. We had made our way back towards the plaza, staying in another random building.

“So, first five days. What do you think?” I asked.

“Exhausting.”

“So, you ready for the big leagues?” I asked. He was silent for a while before speaking.

“Not really. Thinking about hunting slimes myself.” I nodded at that. “Not going to tell me off?”

“Like I keep saying, you are free to m...

Chapter 22 – Day 32 – …To Rumble

I charged forward. The crowd tried to back up but was too slow. I swung the sword, careful to angle it properly, and cut a man’s throat. He didn’t even have time to bring up his club. Blood spurted out of his neck as he collapsed, gurgling. There was no hesitation in my attack.

“KILL THEM ALL!” I screamed as loud as I could. I slammed my shield into the older woman standing nearby, shattering her face. She began screaming, gripping her blood-soaked face on the ground. I focused ...

Chapter 21 – Day 31 – Get Ready…

A beep went off, and I quickly woke up. I forced my eyes to snap open. When I woke up, I needed to be instantly in combat mode. No slow, peaceful mornings anymore. That was the thing I was coming to hate the most about this place. That, and the lack of a razor blade and shaving cream.

I used my club to poke Carl. “Wake up.”

He let out a long groan.

“Wake up.” I poked him harder.

“I am up,” he said and pushed the club away.

“When you wake up, you nee...

Chapter 20 – Day 30 (Part 3) – Good Help is Hard to Find

I made my way to the road that led to the slimes and picked a wall to lean against. I pulled out my copper dagger and began carefully trimming my nails with it.

Then I just waited and watched people. I wasn’t discrete in my conversation with Carlos earlier, so people had overheard. I saw several people give me looks and whisper among themselves.

A large man came up to me. “Are you supposed to be the toughest person here?”

“Yes. Do you want to fight to the death?” I...

Chapter 19 – Day 30 (Part 2) – Q&A

I got called in and was offered a seat at a table on 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 appearance. 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. Fewer headaches.”

“Ah, where are my manners? Eat, eat.” He pushed a copper plate with fruit and vegetables over. The cucum...

Chapter 18 – Day 30 – Chat With Tyrese

“Hello Evaline,” I said to the older woman.

“Michael, you sure made waves,” she greeted me this morning. She had been waiting for me predawn at the plaza. I had been 50-50 if she would actually show up, but the desire for easy crystals would appeal to anyone in this place.

“Indeed. Let’s walk to the side and I would like to know what has been happening?” I asked.

“First the price. Ten crystals are too few.” I shook my head at that.

“You hunting slim...

Chapter 17 – Day 28 – Store Upgrade

It was late evening of day 28. Carlos had moved the tax area back to the pillars and his crew numbered around fifteen people at the moment. I was hoping for a more in-depth update from Evaline in two days. Still, there was a reason today was special.

The store had been upgraded today, which had caused people to get motivated to hunt slimes. I always went before dawn, so I hadn’t had issues yet, but with the next group coming in two days it would get crowded.

I nodded at the four...

Chapter 16 – Day 25 (Part 3) – Tears of Blood

It was late evening, and I walked back towards the city. I had managed to get 200 slime crystals despite the slightly later start. It gave me hope the next couple of days would net me much larger hauls.

As I approached the gate, I saw Carlos’s group walk up and face off against a group of eight that included Amber at the front along with her two minions. Someone was busy recruiting all day. I stayed behind a tree and listened in, before making a decision. Information was king and deci...

Chapter 15 – Day 25 (Part 2) – Boss Carlos

I followed the young man back towards the plaza. He stopped in front of a building where a guard was standing outside, and I noted another in the window.

Most people would think that I wouldn’t go in there. The majority of the time they would be right. However, not going in there would mean I was afraid, and fear was a weakness for these types of people, gangsters. At least that was what my movie and book knowledge told me.

I kept a tight grip on my club and made my way forward....

Chapter 14 – Day 25 – Informant

I had 1,037 crystals and I had pushed myself to exceed my goal of 1,000 crystals so I was quite pleased with myself. I made my way into the plaza, predawn while keeping a sharp lookout for other people.

I spotted three people watching from different buildings, but no one came out to bother me which was a small victory. I put my bag on a pedestal and quickly brought my point count up to 5,688. I left 10 crystals unclaimed. There was no shop upgrade yet, unfortunately.

“Michael.�...

Chapter 13 – Day 20 (Part 2) – The True Red Meat

“You have eaten people?” Amber asked. I just smiled at her and grinned. She glanced away. Without fire, I was not about to get some weird blood disease by eating improperly cooked meat. Nothing was off the table, literally and figuratively, but thankfully things hadn’t gotten that bad for me.

“What is this place?” Ryan asked.

“Hell, purgatory, only the Almighty System knows. Praise be to its eternal glory.” I raised my hands straight up in the air and shook them. Tha...

Chapter 12 – Day 20 – Clean Slate

I walked into the plaza before dawn. There was no movement, but also no bodies either. The blood was gone. If there were survivors, they were on their last legs, in a hole waiting to die. Not near here since all the trash had disappeared. I could only shake my head at that. I was disappointed but not surprised at how my fellow humans were reacting.

The pillars were a trap. They gave food, but it wasn’t good or filling food. Just fruit. But people stayed nearby out of fear. Then they g...

Chapter 11 – Day 15 (Part 2) – Landmark

I had managed to get 121 slime crystals, which put my point total at 684 points. I had gone to the pillars after dark. There were still people moving around, but I had to risk it. Thankfully, no one stopped me. That was probably due to the angry look I had on my face and how ripe I smelt.

My sense of smell was terrible, so when I could smell myself, I knew it was bad. I needed a good bath and fresh clothes. Also, a shave; I was really hating my facial hair. I should have had it lasered ...

Chapter 10 – Day 15 – Death Match 2

“Was he with you?” I asked, gesturing to the corpse. I steadied my breathing to recover as quickly as possible.

“He was tricky, but useful for sniffing out things. Now, you are an interesting fellow. Got some muscles under that layer of fat, I see,” the man explained. So, he wanted to talk. I wouldn’t complain, since it would give me time to come up with a plan.

“Were you trained in some kind of sport?” I asked. Hoping for any kind of information.

“I was on t...

Chapter 9 – Day 10 – New People

The group I had killed had gathered 20 crystals in total. A pitiful amount. Hunger and thirst must have been wearing them down, and fear kept them from going too far from the city. I left very early in the morning. I wanted a brief window to look through the forest in the dark. There was nothing different, but the slimes stood out more with their slightly glowing blue bodies.

Dawn quickly came as I started grinding away. I left my pack open, not putting the flap over the top, so I could...

Chapter 8 – Day 8 (Part 2) – Self Reflection

I picked a building that was a bit distant from the gate, but close enough to overhear any noise and spot anyone walking around. The position wasn’t the best for observation. That was on purpose since the best building to wait in, was one my pursuers would probably wait in to ambush me.

The restoration from the system store at the pillar removed fatigue, but there was a mental part that wasn’t completely removed. I set the watch to beep every half an hour. I had tested how far the s...

Chapter 7 – Day 8 – Death Match

“I am done with slimes,” Frank muttered. We had finished our fourth day of hunting. We earned 80, 72, 70, and then 68 crystals each over the past four days. The reason for the decrease was just that we moved slower in the forest and took longer breaks. The lack of urgency didn’t help the farming speed either. I couldn’t force the others to go faster, because that was an order they wouldn’t follow long-term.

This meant fewer slimes overall. Still, I wasn’t upset. My body was ...

Chapter 6 – Day 4 – Upgrading Costs

We got to the plaza before dawn. Only one or two people were up keeping watch, but they ignored us since we went to the pillars and not near their groups. I put my pack on the pillar while my teammates stood around me like we had done the first time.

A restoration cost 109 points. I winced at that but spent the points. My body immediately felt better. Next, I bought a Body upgrade. I felt nothing, and I noted that the costs of all upgrades had increased to 105 after the first purchase. ...

Chapter 5 – Day 3 – Viewpoints

Frank

We had walked back before it got dark. I looked at our leader and shook my head. He knew what he was doing, but he was clearly exhausted from his weight. At least he didn’t complain. There was something off about him. Too hyper and then too calm. Maybe some kind of mental disorder? For a fat guy, it was surprising how willing he was to put in physical effort. Or maybe I was exhausted and imagining things.

The other two members of our little group were conc...

Chapter 4 – Day 2 (Part 2) – Grinding As A Team

We took a break at our rest spot from the previous day. There was no garbage from the time before, but a slime had probably consumed the trash. At least that was our conclusion at the moment. Jesus had easily killed the one slime we had come across. They were the perfect starting monster. Almost too perfect in my opinion.

Still, there wasn’t time to check the entire length of the wall around the city. Based on the equation C=(Pi)*2*R, the circumference was twice the radius multiplied ...

Chapter 3 – Day 2 – A Party

Beeping startled me awake, and I remembered that Frank had set the timer on his watch to seven hours. I rubbed my eyes and licked my lips. The fruit sugar had left my mouth dry and there was no toothpaste or even water to rinse out my mouth before I went to sleep. I felt tired and dirty; the grunge was real.

I slowly stretched my body, since it felt stiff, tired, and sore. That wasn’t good. As a fat person, I would wear down more quickly than my teammates. I needed to keep on top of m...

Chapter 2 – Day 1 (Part 2) – First Monster

We reached the edge of the city after an hour and a half of traveling. This was revealed by Frank who was keeping time with his watch. Based on the pace we had set, the distance was probably about three miles or five kilometers from the plaza to the wall. The wall itself was tall, about the height of a four-story building, and completely smooth. That was clearly another minor oddity; I guessed that something had made it with magic or some system skill.

After another fifteen minutes of w...