Sam just finished her nightly routine and preparing to 'sleep' on her capsule when her phone rings.
Without even reading the caller's name, she picked it up.
'Hello?'
'Sisterrrr!!!' Her annoying brother shriek.
'My God! Jim. You want me to be deaf? You're a drama queen!' She said while rolling her eyes. God help me!
'Okay, just kidding,' Jim said. But obviously, he's super happy to successfully annoy her. She could hear his soft laugh at the background, irritating her more.
'Let's proceed to business, sister. Why didn't you contact your handsome brother?...'
30 second passed....
'ahemm. Just kidding!' Jim cleared his throat and cleverly diffuse the situation.
'Good! You know when to stop.' She said sharply after a few seconds.
'Ahemm... Sister, I have texted my user code so that we could contact each other. But, hmmm. could you give me your code and I'll contact you?'
'Nope! I'll PM you if I feel to,' then she suddenly smirk.
If Jim knows how to irritate her, she also know her little brother's buttons.
'Meany Sister! But, whatever! I'm level 30 now, planning to obtain my third skill near your location. What do you think?'
'Hmmm. Promise me not to be overly bothersome.'
'Yes! Yes! I'll promise!'
'Not sincere enough.'
'What do you want?'
'Just peace, okay? You know your sister hates chaos when I am concentrating.'
'Okay, Okay, I understand'
Based on his tone, he's serious now.
'Okay, I'm in the Twin-Mountain Village'
'That's... I dunno? Is that a remote place?' Jim played for about one month and famous places slowly circulates among players. He didn't hear in any conversation he had about this place.
'A little remote, I think. Just check the map,' I said. 'Bye-bye!'
'Oy! Wa....' I smile as I hear his hurried voice before cutting him off and proceed to my capsule.
'My three days quests would be done today' I suddenly thought while walking towards Jorge's farm to help him tend plants. Its 6:30 in the morning.
The Five seeds they gave me were just tiny sprouts now. Most of my morning is just composed of tending different plants, picking fruits, and planting low level seeds. They mostly focuses on fruits, vegetables and herbs as their product. This is one of the reasons I chose them while looking for a alternative employment.
There are crops whose similar on Earth, but there are more which are unknown. I could see at most 20 unknown species on Jorge's 1 acre land.
3 types of Fruit bearing tress occupies almost half of the space. The remaining area were divided by different vegetable and herbs.
'Hi, Miss Rose! Good Morning.' I said while proceeding to get the basket. Even this game were fantasy based, the devs are stingy with items. Like Space Rings, it is available in the market but was overly expensive that even wealthy people would think first before buying.
Fortunately, devs give newbie players space rings with 10 cubic meter space for their usage.
Three hours passed.
'Good, I learned a few' I said softly while walking towards my another grumpy boss' store. While I am doing farmworks, I occasionally asked Rose on the different things, like any magical effects of their crops, how to harvest them correctly, common pests it has.
Surprisingly, I learn that some of their crops has an effect. 1 Fruit bearing tress, and three herbs.
Chilling Yew
Just like Earth, this tree has pointy leaves and has an enclosed, berry-like fruits which are called apir. However, its trees leaves and branches here is silvery white, with bluish fruits. This spirit trees absorbs mana in the environment and convert it into water and Ice element, storing on its fruits.
This fruit were enjoyed by both NPCs and player alike, especially those with water element. It gives them small nourishment on their own element as what stated by the devs.
'I would ask tomorrow about the three herbs' I said.
As I've open and went inside on my boss' store, I saw him leaning towards the wall, looking at me seriously.
Suddenly, goosebumps spread behind my back, my hair near my neck standing proudly. We have a little staring contest for about a minutes and so before he start to walks towards me. Fear from yesterday were fresh inside my head.
Me, whose flustered, back up slowly.
'What did I do wrong?' I thought.
He suddenly grab both of my shoulders. At this time, I don't care if I failed my mission, I would prepared to run.
But suddenly, he smiled sweetly.
My brain freeze a little and I forgot everything. I thought he couldn't give a smile. In my eyes, he is not handsome. Obviously, I did not fall in love. I am just surprised that his grumpy face could give a warm, sunshine smile.
'Sam, let's talk,' he softly said while hurriedly close the store.
Me, who is still bewildered, could not stop my body to twitch a little when I see him closing the store. In most serial killer movies, closing windows were common occurrence.
'Relax, I just want to talk with you,' He said while he gestures me to sit in front of him. The store has a few chairs and tables for the customer to make themselves comfortable.
'O..okay' I said while I slowly diffuse my nervousness.
'Okay, relax... I would not eat you,' He said softly while flashing his another sunny smile.
'Ummm... Boss, can you go back to being mean?' I asked? 'Oppps.... My blabbering mouth.' I suddenly thought while I cover it with my two hands.
'Hahaha! I am very sorry. I really look serious and I AM really serious. Furthermore, I know you are a Summoner, so I felt I need to distance myself to you a little bit. I am sorry.'
'Uhmmm.... but why?' I asked.
'Ahhh. Yes! Yes! You are good!' He excitedly said. 'Ahemmm' He cleared his throat as he realized his last sentence... ' I mean, when I check the plants this morning, I realize two things' He raise his hands and put a 'V' sign in front of my face.
'First, your Moren Seeds grow healthy, which is a normal thing. But its speed of absorption is faster. When I checked the quality of its soil, I realized it has an abundant mana. Most of the time, this would have an adverse effect to it. Plants could not be planted into the soil which it could not handle. However, for whatever reason, it just forces the plant to absorb faster without harming it. I think it is your skill.'
'Oppss! My cover were discovered' I thought.
'Secondly, I have also discovered one of the Node Grass were also affected by your skill. Looking for more traces around, it seems you just used your skill only on that plant. What amazes me is that you could even affect Grade D soil.' He said while looking at me intently
'Gra.Grade D?'
'Yes.' He lean forward, putting his two arms in the table. 'Your level is below level 15, even below level 10. In normal circumstances, your skill could not affect Grade D soil.'
'Ouch.... his frank lips' I thought.
'So. So what!' I need to look brave but sadly I stuttered.
'So, that's it! You have that skill.' He said victoriously.
I want to face palm my own head. 'Stupid Sam!' I scold myself. But in the other hand, I need to shine brightly on this stupid boss. 'Wait, it is happening right now, right?' I suddenly have an epiphany.
'Honestly boss, I really want to check how good my skill is.'
He nodded.
'I am surprised I could affect Grade D soil, but it is not far on what my goal is.' I proudly said.
His brows raise a little.
'I thought of checking Grade C soil, honestly. But I settle to Grade D due to my low level.'
'Hahahaha! I dunno if you are stupid or genius.'
She could not accurately guess now the soil quality, but she believe those with high mana flactuation compare to the Node Grass were higher. So, she created this lie.
'I do like you, you satisfied my requirements. You could work at my shop. And as a reward, I could help you achieving your second skill. However, you must give me time to check what beasts could give you high chance of that effect.' He said seriously.
'Ting! Congratulations! You complete the Mission!'
'Legory is renowned strict but powerful boss. Because you satisfied his condition and create strong impression, he give you a chance to obtain powerful skill.'
'You could obtain favors?'I thought. I am really surprised. 'Experience, money, seeds and now a favor.' I added. Noting this important piece of news.
'Because you are a Summoner, I could not give you contract to be permanent Employee. You must create similar effect on the Node Grass once a week and I am satisfied. As for your wage, rather than money, I could give you similar seeds as compared on what you produce every week. I'll also give you a small space at the back.'
Before I could complain, my boss guided me into the back garden.
'So this garden were just a single portion of my land. Let's go there.' He pointed into a wooden door.
When we went inside, I saw a bare nursery, about 10 square meter.
'You could plant here. For us farmers, a piece of land is more important than money.'
'Land my ass!' I thought angrily.
'Do you think I couldn't read your thoughts?' My boss suddenly said while his back faces towards me. 'This reward is better than any wage you may gain here in this store.' He seriously said. Then, he turned around and extended his hand.
I have no choice but to sealed the deal.