Chapter 14: Tasks...
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"Welcome to the Market." Kazuhiro's voice echoed.
Asahi's face lit up with excitement. "That's, so cool!"
"I want to check over my stats, but it's too early to do that. Where can we find the changing rooms?" Akemi sighed as she then inquired.
Kazuhiro pointed towards a nearby path. "I'm not sure if changing rooms are present within this domain. However, there are restrooms available a few steps away from where we stand." He explained, his voice calm and helpful.
Toru hearing this started walking in the direction Kazuhiro had indicated, with Asahi and Akemi following him. As they walked away, the twins couldn't help but glance around, their eyes widened in awe of the seemingly endless rows of unique items that lined the shelves of the Market.
Meanwhile, Kazuhiro watched them go as he then turned his attention to his own task, he pulled out his device. He began to browse through its contents, a practiced motion of his fingers swiping through the various applications.
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__Homepage__
Main applications:
● Appraise.
● Attribute. [ ! ]
● Class. [ ! ]
● Door.
● Shop.
● Task. [ ! ]
● Track.
● Worker. [ ! ]
• extract | • Wallet | • Inventory [ ! ] | • Skills [ ! ] | ...
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His gaze lingered on the applications indicated by the exclamation mark. He chose to pass time by clicking on the first application that requires his attention.
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__Attribute__
● STR: 107 [ ! ]
● STA: 109 [ ! ]
● CON: 76
● AGI: 107 [ ! ]
● DEX: 55
● INT: 66
Special attributes:
● CHA -Locked-
● AWR. -Locked-
● STH. -Locked-
● SPR. -Locked-
● ACC -Locked-
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'Hm, reaching a hundred triggers an alert.' He carefully examined the numbers, noting the significant changes in his attributes. His strength, stamina, and agility had impressively surpassed the century mark.
Curious about the implications of these milestones, he tapped on the exclamation mark beside the strength attribute. The device's screen momentarily displayed a loading icon before revealing a new page at the center.
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Congratulations for reaching 100 points in STR. (Strength).
Ability received: Ethereal grasp | Activation skill.
Description:
When this ability is active, the user's claw attacks phases through the enemy defenses, ignoring armor or shields.
Stamina cost: 800 (only for activation skills)
Duration: 5 seconds.
Cooldown: 5 minutes.
An 'Ethereal grasp' scroll has been stored in your inventory. (Only activation skills require training.)
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He pondered the strategic potential of 'Ethereal Grasp.' The ability to bypass defenses could be a game changer in certain situations. He tapped on the remaining notifications, ready to discover what other enhancements he had achieved.
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Congratulations for reaching 100 points in STA. (Stamina).
Ability received: Inexhaustible momentum | Passive skill.
Description:
The ability to generate stamina during a conflict, although at a slower rate compared to resting.
Stamina Regeneration: 20 per minute (compared to 40 per minute while resting)
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Congratulations for reaching 100 points in AGI.
(Agility).
Ability received: Glide stride | Passive skill.
Description:
This ability enhances the user's stride length, allowing them to cover more ground with each step, thereby significantly increasing their movement speed.
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Kazuhiro nodded thoughtfully, processing the new information. 'Inexhaustible Momentum' would ensure he could sustain longer durations in conflict, and 'Glide Stride' would enhance his mobility, a crucial factor in navigating the vast worlds or better positioning in combat.
The sound of the beep, pulled Kazuhiro out of his contemplation. He looked ahead, as his attention drawn to the entrance.
There was a moment of quiet tension, an unspoken question hanging between newcomer and Kazuhiro.
Suddenly, the stranger broke the silence, not with a greeting, but with a muttered question to himself. "Did I get drugged in this drink?" His voice carried a mixture of irritation and confusion. He scrutinized the drink in his hands, as if expecting it to reveal some hidden truth about the surreal situation he found himself in.
Kazuhiro took in the stranger's appearance: a teenage boy of average height and build, with medium-short black hair topped with a noticeable ahoge. But what stood out the most were his eyes, lifeless and dull, like those of a fish. The boy wore an ordinary school unfired, it resembled to that of Asahi's.
The teen, seemingly lost in his thoughts, continued to grumble under his breath. "Must have been falsely advertised. Great, I got drugged underage." He muttered, a hint of resignation in his voice.
Seizing the opportunity to engage, Kazuhiro stepped forward, his voice calm and inviting. "Excuse me, do you happen to be an acquaintance of Asahi's by any chance?"
The question seemed to startle the boy, his previously dull eyes narrowing slightly as he looked up. "Who?" his confusion mixed with a lingering irritation from his earlier thoughts.
The soft chime of another beep from the entrance drew both of their attention away from each other. This time, as the newcomer approached, a more peculiar sight greeted them.
What greeted them was a cat. It had a distinctive appearance, with Its yellow eyes providing a sharp contrast against its sleek coat of grey and white fur. The unordinary thing about it was, it walked with an almost human-like poise on its hind legs.
The cat's reaction to seeing Kazuhiro appearance made it slightly shiver, a cartoonish gulp that seemed to exaggerate its surprise and apprehension.
Meanwhile, the teen, still grappling with his own disbelief, sighed heavily. "I should seriously file a complaint after this drug wears off. Just hope I don't wake up in jail." He muttered to himself. In his mind, he rationalized that the effects he was experiencing must be due to the drink.
"Welcome. How may I assist you two? Is there anything specific you're looking to purchase?" Kazuhiro asked, addressing both the bewildered teen and the peculiar cat.
The teen scratched his head in visible frustration, his eyes scanning the vastness of the Market. "Sure, I'll just play along until whatever this is wears off." He said. Shaking his head due to mild rising headache, he wandered off to explore, seemingly deciding to embrace the bizarre experience for the time being.
The cat, meanwhile, appeared to be in a more contemplative state. Its vision oscillated between Kazuhiro and the retreating figure of the teen. After a brief moment, as if struck by a sudden realization, the cat reached into its... pocket?
With surprising dexterity, the cat pulled out a notebook and pen from its pocket and began to sketch diligently. Kazuhiro watched the cat sketch, curious about what it might be drawing and what purpose had led it through the doors.
Once the cat completed its sketch, it turned the notebook around. Kazuhiro leaned in to get a better look and saw a meticulously drawn image of a mouse trap. The details were precise, almost professional, showcasing the cat's unexpected artistic talent.
"A mouse trap?" His thoughts were momentarily halted as the familiar voices drew in.
"Yo, kazu-san. Is that one of granny's weird pets?" Asahi's voice cut through the air.
Turning around, Kazuhiro saw Asahi, accompanied by Toru and Akemi. The three had changed into the unique garments, which fit them remarkably well.
"I'm not entirely sure," Kazuhiro replied, gesturing towards the cat with the sketchbook. "But it does seem to have a specific request."
Asahi leaned in closer to get a better look at the cat, his eyes widening slightly in surprise. "A cat that draws? Now that's something you don't see every day." He remarked, his tone filled with amusement.
Toru, more reserved but no less interested, observed the scene with a thoughtful expression.
Kazuhiro, "We certainly have mouse traps, but something tells me your request might be a bit more specific than that," he mused aloud. "Is there a particular type you're looking for?"
The cat only had to nod.
Asahi chuckled, "Never thought I'd be helping a cat shop for mouse traps." He looked at the cat with a newfound interest, wondering what other surprises this day might bring.
Kazuhiro nodded "Let's see what we can find that matches this description. Akemi, while this isn't an official task, use your device to assist the cat to find the requested item" Kazuhiro suggested, turning his sight towards her.
Asahi, who had been visibly excited about the prospect of an impromptu mission, couldn't hide his disappointment. "Aw, man, I was looking forward to doing that. Oh well, good luck, sis," He said, trying to mask his bummed tone with a playful nudge.
"Thanks," She pulled out her device, her fingers hovering over the icons with a hint of uncertainty. Feeling a bit lost, she turned towards Kazuhiro, seeking guidance. "Umm, how do you use this, Kazuhiro-san?"
Kazuhiro began to explain. "On your main screen, you'll find an application named 'Track'. This is your go-to tool for locating items in the Market," he started, his voice is clear and instructive. "Simply type what you're looking for into the search bar, and it'll guide you right aisle."
He paused to see Akemi nod and that she was following along, he then continued, "Now, if you're looking for something very specific, there's an advanced feature just under the search bar. Here, you can enter detailed descriptions or properties of the item. This way, the app narrows down the search without you having to manually appraise each item to check if it matches your needs."
"That sounds super efficient" she remarked, her fingers deftly navigating to the 'Track' app and exploring its features. "It's like having a personal guide through the place."
Asahi, peering over Akemi's shoulder, whistled softly. "That's pretty cool. It'll save us a ton of time if a customer requested something."
She tapped a few times on the device's screen to locate the specific aisle for mouse traps. After a moment of processing, the device responded. Suddenly, a luminous blue line appeared on the floor, its faint glow creating a path through the Market's aisles.
"Okay, this should lead us right to it." She looked at the cat. "All right, kitty, let's go find that special trap you're after." She said, her tone friendly.
The cat, still visibly puzzled by the unfolding events, nevertheless chose to tag along with Akemi. Its eyes darted around curiously, taking in the myriad wonders of the Market as they ventured through the aisles. The cat seemed to sense that, despite the strangeness of the situation, it was in good hands.
Back where the group had initially gathered, Asahi, Toru, and Kazuhiro stood watching Akemi and the cat make their way. There was a moment of silence as they observed their departure, each lost in their own thoughts about this unusual turn of events.
Asahi's voice broke the momentary silence. He retrieved the device to inspect it. "By the way, Kazu-san, I was checking out my device earlier, and I noticed it only had three apps. I couldn't find—"
Toru, interjected "Top left of the screen, there's a small swirling icon," he said in his characteristic monotone voice. "If you click on that, it shows that it's in the process of installing."
Asahi turned his attention to his device. He located the swirling icon in the corner and tapped on it. True to Toru's word, a status bar appeared, indicating that additional applications were indeed downloading.
"Ah, right, thanks, Toru." Asahi replied scratching the back of his head, followed by a sheepish smile, the fact that he didn't notice it at first was quite embarrassing.
"Don't mention it." Toru responded, his tone as even as ever.
"I'll head to my office to assign your daily tasks. Stay here and assist anyone who comes by." Kazuhiro instructed. With that, he turned and made his way towards his office.
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Upon reaching his office, he was greeted by the familiar sight of his neatly organized workspace. He settled into his chair. Turning on his computer, the screen flickered to life, illuminating the room with a soft glow.
As the computer booted up, his mind was already cataloging the tasks ahead, preparing to distribute them among his team. However, before he could focus on assigning tasks to his team, he decided to review his own duties.
He navigated through the user interface easily, moving the cursor to the task graphical icon on the screen. With a few clicks, he filtered the list to display only his tasks. The screen refreshed, revealing a neatly organized list of duties and objectives specifically assigned to him.
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__Task__
Daily tasks:
● Observe your workers:
Objective(s):
Overlook your staff as they work an hour each, ensuring nothing goes wrong in the process. (0/3)
Use the feature 'Hidden cameras' to observe, or oversee them in person.
Reward(s):
50 SC
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● Worker training:
Objective(s):
Train your staff in the 'training room', either by guiding them on hitting the dummy or practicing with a live target, you as an example. (0/3)
Reward(s):
50 SC
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● assign daily tasks:
Objective(s):
Assign 4 daily tasks on each member of your team. (0/12)
Reward(s):
50 SC
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● hold a brief team meeting:
Objective(s):
Initiate a brief meeting in which you can converse with your team about what you've done and the goals set for tomorrow for each of you.
Reward(s):
50 SC
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Monthly tasks:
● World missions
Objective(s):
Assign two world missions of varying difficulties to each member of your team. (0/6)
Complete atleast two world missions. -complete
Corpse Party -complete
The last lullaby -complete
(2/2)
Disclaimer: You have reached a monthly limit of world missions, you wont gain power ups on the next world mission until it refreshes on the next month; additional missions yield monetary compensation only.
Reward(s):
500 SC
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● Market budget
Objective(s):
Increase the Market's profit/budget by 25,000 SC. A way to help maintain expenses of water, electricity and functionalities of facilities. (0/25,000)
Reward(s):
5000 SC
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After thoroughly reviewing his own set of tasks, he shifted his focus to the assignment of duties for his team. The tasks he chose are everyday chores, such as cleaning, assisting customers, restocking shelves, etc...
With the daily tasks for his team meticulously assigned, he then turned his attention to one of his more significant monthly responsibilities: the world missions. He expertly navigated the interface, applying a filter that brought up a comprehensive list of worlds and their corresponding missions.
The screen was filled with an array of options, each world offering its unique challenges and adventures.
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__World missions__
W1: (AN: PVZ, obviously this won't show up in the interface. And this will be the last time i showcase this, the list would be too long)
● Approaching storm:
Objective(s):
Assist crazy Dave with the planting process.
Difficulty: ☆ | Easy.
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W2: (Undertale)
● Down under:
Objective(s):
Encounter 20 underground monsters. (0/20)
• Bonus: pacifist route, befriend all 20.
• Alternative: Genocide route, Defeat all 20.
Difficulty: ☆☆☆ | Hard.
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W3: (Courage the cowardly dog show)
● A bit of troll-ing:
Objective(s):
When both Muriel and Courage left to go visit the store near them, Eustace got captured by underground trolls. Holding him captive until they get what they want. Free old Eustace.
Difficulty: ☆☆ | Normal.
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W4: (Death note)
● A rising name: -puzzle mission-
Objective(s):
The world is no longer safe with this supernatural murderer hiding among the crowd, gather intel about them and assist in putting an end to their mass killings.
Difficulty: ☆☆☆ | Hard.
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W5: (HOTD)
● A survivor's saint:
Objective(s):
Rescue and shelter 50 survivors from this chaotic world.
Difficulty: ☆☆ | Neutral.
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W6: (Oregairu)
● I have no enemies:
Objective(s):
Assist around the city, helping the locals with basic chores. (0/5)
Difficulty: ☆ | Easy.
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W7: (Tom&Jerry)
● Cat gang:
Objective(s):
Butch and his crew are running the neighborhood, getting aggressive towards the residents. Patrols are struggling on catching them, assist in the process and put an end to their aggression.
Difficulty: ☆ | Easy.
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(AN: didn't display the rewards, it's already long as it is)
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Kazuhiro carefully considered the skills and experiences of his team members as he reviewed the missions. He knew the importance of matching the right mission to the right individual.
For Toru, Kazuhiro felt a gentle approach was necessary. Given Toru's recent experiences in a world marked by chaos and loss, a mission with a peaceful backdrop would be more fitting. Kazuhiro thought, assigning the task 'I have no enemies' was ideal for him
Turning his attention to the twins, Asahi and Akemi, Kazuhiro pondered whether to assign them missions together or separately. Their energetic and adventurous spirits were evident, and he knew they thrived on action. After a moment's consideration, he decided, 'I'll have them go together.'
He assigned them the 'A Bit of Troll-ing' mission, confident in their ability to handle the challenges it presented.
'While they're away, I'll stay behind and attend to the customers. Perhaps the 'Hidden cameras' feature allows me to observe from afar?' Kazuhiro speculated.
Turning his attention to both the computer and his handheld device, he noticed that the 'Hidden Cameras' feature was accessible on both. Opting for the larger screen of the computer, he clicked on the feature, which promptly displayed the names of his team members. Curious, he selected Akemi's name, wanting to ensure she was adjusting well to her task.
The screen shifted to a live feed of Akemi, who appeared to be in the midst of a conundrum. Kazuhiro watched intently, analyzing the situation. 'Is she aware that I'm observing her? Probably not.' He pondered. The hidden cameras were designed to be discreet, allowing him to monitor his team's progress without interfering directly.
After observing Akemi for a sufficient period, Kazuhiro felt a compelling need to understand the situation firsthand. The image of her running, lingered in his mind, sparking curiosity.
Standing up from his desk, he decided it was time to step out of his office and assess the situation directly.
As he neared the area where they last stood, his attention was drawn to Toru, who was standing near the cashier counters.
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The sound of barking filled the air. Kazuhiro's gaze shifted just in time to see a chaotic chase unfolding before him. The twins, Asahi and Akemi, were in pursuit of a pink dog, which was in turn aggressively chasing the cat from earlier. Remarkably, the cat was deftly running while holding a small box in its paws, skillfully evading the dog's advances.
With Akemi's urgent shout, "THEY WENT LEFT!" Her voice echoed through the quiet aisles as she and Asahi continued their pursuit. Without hesitation, they veered left, closely following the trail of the dog and the cat.
"I GOT THIS!" Asahi's determined voice rang out as he pushed himself to the limit, his speed increasing with every stride. The gap between him and the pink dog began to close.
In a burst of energy, Asahi made a daring leap forward, aiming to end the chase with a decisive move. However, his calculation was slightly off. Instead of catching the dog, he found himself tumbling forward, sliding across the floor face-first.
The chase didn't pause for a second, with Akemi taking the lead. She darted past Asahi, leaving her brother on the ground, her focus solely on the dog and the cat. Asahi, quickly recovering from his fall, pushed himself back to his feet and resumed the chase.
Kazuhiro approached Toru who observed the scene with a stoic expression, they were now accompanied by Muriel, who looked concerned at the ongoing chase.
"Should we help, kazuhiro-san?" Toru asked, as he commented on the ridiculous scene.
"I think they can handle it on their own."
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Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone