Early morning...
The sun's early-morning rays struck Frizz's eyes, waking him. He yawned while scratching his back and headed downstairs to freshen up. He entered the bathroom, washed his face, and gargled mouthwash. He turned on the shower, testing the warm sprinkle. "Lukewarm, tsk. I thought I was first."
"This is one good day," Frizz said, using his telekinesis to make a bar of soap float. "Later, I want to see how far I can go..." He said, grinning.
[System]
Initiating daily objectives.
Daily objectives: Answer five questions to earn free experience points.
The pop-up startled him, but he quickly recovered. "Ah, sweet, daily tasks. It's like an MMORPG." He added, smile beaming.
Displaying the first question:
« What's 0.0143 written in scientific notation? »
Mouth ajar, brows intensely furrowing. "I have no idea what scientific notation is."
Displaying the second question:
« Convert 0.2 into a fraction. »
"What?"
Displaying the third question:
« Sally is 54 years old, and her mother is 80. How many years ago was Sally's mother twice her age? »
He takes a moment to think but gives up. "I seriously don't know."
Displaying the fourth question:
« There is a three-digit number. The second digit is four times the third digit, and the first digit is three less than the second digit. What is the number? »
"No clue." He blankly stated, giving up. He expected easy, trivial questions, not brain teasers.
Fifth question: Halted.
« The user is unlikely to provide the correct answers. »
Result: 0/5 questions answered.
Daily objectives failed: Try again tomorrow.
"The fuck is this shit? Way to sour my mood, and it's still morning." Frizz grumbled, dismissing the system window. The wall clock in the bathroom displayed 7:04 am, a good time for a shower.
Six minutes later...
The shower was quick albeit satisfying since he had other priorities. He put on his long-sleeved white shirt and grabbed his father's spare balaclava. His stomach grumbled, but he paid it no mind, he had some cold beers in his electric scooter's compartment anyway.
That counted as a breakfast.
Without wasting time, Frizz headed outside, hopped on his electric scooter, and drove away. Today wasn't about work; he had other plans.
Arriving at the convenience store, he hastily greeted a coworker tending the counter. It was a woman with scorn, a look of disdain, and piercing eyes.
"Good morning, Mina. Could you give this letter to Mr. Sim? I'm taking the day off." Frizz handed over a letter, ignoring the glare.
His coworker, Mina, clicked her tongue and reached for the letter. "Today? And a letter? Why didn't you text him? You should've requested leave weeks ago," Mina questioned, her tone unfriendly.
"It's an emergency. I've explained it in the letter. Just pass it along, okay? Thanks." Frizz brushed off her concern and headed out. Mina's frown deepened; the disdain turned into angry frustration. She never liked him, not one bit.
⟐
"Fucking asshole... always doing whatever he wants because Mr. Sim has a soft spot for him," Mina muttered, seething and gritting her teeth.
Mina tossed the letter aside, not caring one bit about it. "Only four more months of this, and I'm out."
"I'm not some goddamned messenger." She cursed, slamming both hands on the counter, and the faulty cash register reacted. *Ding!*
⟐
Frizz mounted his electric scooter again and pulled out his phone, pretending to be on a call. "System, show me my status."
[System]
Name: New Name.
Level: 4
Experience: [Hidden]
HP: 24/24 (+2)
MN: 24/24 (+2)
Fatigue: 10/100 (peak)
Class: None.
Perks: [In Good Faith], [Daily Life], [Gluttonous Approach], [Improved Telekinesis].
Talents: None.
Frizz glanced at the status bar while driving, smile equipped. "For some reason, I can't see my experience points, but whatever. So long as I level up, it's not an issue."
Twenty minutes later...
Frizz arrived at the location, the bad part of the town or district. This area was abandoned and neglected by the local government, no matter how much money they poured into it. The economic situation wouldn't improve. Infrastructure kept breaking down, and crime was rampant.
Most of the population would avoid this area, seeing it as the district's black sheep. This area was controlled by drug gangs, a fact that the local government unofficially recognized.
Frizz parked his electric scooter near a small building and opened the bike's compartment, revealing a single pack of beer. He smiled, looking at the dew-covered cans. He brought this from the convenience store yesterday while at work. He was planning to spend the weekend drunk.
The small building was an internet cafe, a place that Frizz used to frequent when he was younger and still in college. He made many memories here. He knocked on the door, and it cautiously opened, revealing a tall, skinny person with unkempt hair and very long bangs.
"Frizz? It's been a year. How are you doing? Come on in, we just opened."
"Thank you, and I am fine, Shane. It's been a while." Frizz answered, showcasing the beer he brought.
Shane smiled back and giggled at the pack of beer. "You brought alcohol? You know the rules—head to the back and one should be reserved for me."
Frizz snickered, tossing him a can and heading to the furthest section. "Give me three hours," he said, and Shane nodded, granting him three hours of playtime on the admin computer.
Three hours later...
The hours flew by as Frizz downed beers, browsed memes, and listened to music. He checked his wristwatch, and it was 10:08 am; it was time to go.
He stood up, swaying slightly from the inebriation. A familiar chime played. It was a notification trill from his system.
[System]
New perk acquired: [Alcoholic Advantage] via Achievement.
Achievement: It's high noon somewhere in the world.
[Alcoholism] - While intoxicated, the user gains a significant boost to strength and endurance.
"Well, that's a surprise. At least I'll be more useful drunk." Frizz chuckled, bumping into several occupied chairs on his way out, apologizing to the customers.
"Still here, thank goodness," Frizz said, somewhat expecting his electric scooter to be vandalized.
"Later, Shane," he called out, donning his balaclava and heading toward the rougher part of town. From his stance, he was intoxicated, and he tried to mask it, but he wobbled as he walked. It earned him some stares; people were confused that there was already a drunk man this early.
"Oh, right, I should pray." Frizz made the sign of the cross, muttering a quick prayer.
[System]
[Daily Life] perk is active.
"It's active now," Frizz murmured, then realized something.
"I should've eaten. That glutton perk is inactive - no wait, I am strong enough. I hope no one has a gun, though." He said, walking forward with a slight wobble.
In the distance, four men were drinking and being loud. (They look like basic hostile mobs. A prime target then...)
Frizz grinned behind the balaclava mask and marched forward. "I wonder how much experience I'll get from them." The group of drunks noticed Frizz, and they all snickered, aware that he was drunk and most likely lost.
"Hello," Frizz greeted with a wave of his hand.
"Hello yourself," one of the drunks, a skinny man, replied while barely holding a chuckle.
Frizz thought as hard as he could, trying to remember a name that was prevalent here, a name usually known for dealing and selling drugs to anyone. A friend had once told him about this person.
(What was his name?) Frizz wondered, then suddenly remembered, smiling.
"Baron. I'm looking for Baron," Frizz answered, slightly slurring.
"Baron Morales?" the group all said in unison, slightly unnerved as they all glanced at each other.
"He lives over there," a drunk pointed at a house with a grey gate. The house looked plain except for the fact that past the gate were dozens of potted plants.
Frizz glanced at the house and then back to the drunks, somewhat confused. (Shouldn't these guys be angry? That's how it goes, right? This is the part where they should go hostile?)
(I guess they're not crooks nor Baron's men, just drunks. Ah, whatever.) Frizz walked away, heading toward the house. The drunks stopped their merry celebration, watching Frizz's back as he approached Baron's house.
"I need to see Baron. I've got something for him." There was a gate guard at the entrance—a burly man with a serious expression, dressed in casual clothing.
Frizz was taller than the man, and they made eye contact. The guard's expression soured, as if he was disturbed from a relaxing trance.
"Never heard of him. Move along," the guard grunted, noticing the scent of cheap beer.
"He lives here. I know it." Frizz's voice was uneasy; a part of him wanted to get away, but he needed the experience. The guard then noticed Frizz's inebriation and shooed him away.
"You're drunk. Get out of here." The guard warned, spitting beside him, patience slowly getting thin.
That act of spitting made Frizz's blood boil; he hated being looked down on and underestimated. His confidence after acquiring a system and a quick brush with death was boosted. He wasn't about to let some no-name mob get in his way, again.
"You're looking down on me, aren't you? You think you can beat me, can you? You think an NPC like you can stand up to me? I am fucking leveler."
"Just get out of here, man." The guard's nerves were pricked; he was about to explode, too, but he gave Frizz another chance. He didn't want an escalation.
"I can buy - " Frizz said, but before he was able to complete his sentence. The gate guard stiffened his posture and lifted his shirt, revealing a pistol holstered beneath. The guard then gave Frizz a cold glare, egging him for an encounter.
"You got two choices, you fucking moron. Leave or piss me off."
A numbing chill ran down Frizz's spine as memories of being mugged flashed. He was quiet for a moment while the guard sported a menacing smile. Frizz then smiled back, solid with his resolve.
"Good enough reason," Frizz said with a giggle, punching the guard in the face and hitting the back of his head against the wall behind him, knocking him out. *Thwack!*
[System]
+ 20 experience.
The gate was already unlocked, and Frizz dragged the body inside the property. His breathing was nervous and excited. The drunks at a distance noticed what Frizz had done and then promptly left the area, wanting nothing to do with it.