My eyes opened slowly without the aggravating pulsation from earlier. My mind felt clearer and more fluid than before. This world felt newer than it already was, though I had only been here for three days.
'My ceiling at home.'
Seeing the ceiling told me that Kat probably carried me home. A glance to my left and right with no one nearby also told me that she must've stepped out for a bit. Thankfully, I had registered her on our way before Nightwatch last night, so she could enter and leave the place.
My body moved.
The sound of my feet hitting the floor was strangely satisfying. I couldn't put into words how fluid it felt. I wasn't even aware it could get more natural, but now that I felt the difference, I knew deep down I hadn't been operating correctly.
'So strange.'
With each step, the realization became clearer and clearer that I hadn't been operating normally. A feeling I thought I could never forget.
As soon as I reached the living room, I heard the gentle sound of lo-fi music playing. The faint conversation of two women entered my ears.
"If you can really implement it, then that would make Nightwatch so much easier!" Felicia's familiar voice was the first thing I heard.
"The only thing I lack is money…" Gwen's voice followed soon after.
'Gwen's here?'
I took a light step around the corner.
"Whenever... Hubby!"
Felicia snapped her head over to me even though I hadn't made much of a sound. Gwen was the same, which almost scared me until I realized their enhanced sense caught me. Plus, with how I was staring, it didn't surprise me that I caught on their spidey radar. The gaze of a six-eyes bearer wasn't normal so, of course, it got picked up by them.
"Good morning, sleepyhead."
"Yeah. Sorry for the worry."
Felicia had long since hopped over the couch, rushing to wrap her arms around me.
"Do you know what happened to you?" she asked.
"Yeah, it was because of my powers."
"Is everything okay now?"
"I think so?"
[Yes. You should only experience such problems again when buying higher-level abilities.]
I secretly noted the system's words.
"That's not very promising."
"Don't worry, love." I rubbed her cheek with my thumb, kissing her forehead, not minding the company intriguingly watching us.
"I should worry! What if something goes wrong later?"
"I can assure you that something this severe won't happen again."
"Uh-huh. We'll see, mister!" Felicia's hands moved to mine, dragging me around the couch to the coffee table to sit on the ground in the middle of them with my back leaning on the couch. Her body leaned on mine while Gwen was leisurely resting her chin on her palms.
"So I hear you have a money issue?"
Gwen smiled, "Yeah. I need around a million for my basic implementations."
"That sounds reasonable. A good base would require that minimum from my own understanding."
"You get it! Felicia kept saying how I was wasting money when I explained the floor plan!"
"Hahaha~ you have a floor plan?" I saw a manila folder with a bunch of papers in the center of the table. Reaching forward, I grabbed them, flipping through the pages.
The first page was subtle with proper security procedures. The second page had additional add-ons to act as security back supports. But the third to sixth pages were really out there!
"Really? I can understand the quantum computer, but is a nuclear energy source really necessary? Actually, I guess with the power you would need, that makes sense if you don't want to overload the power grid. Then there's the fact of additional items needing power outside the grid. Never mind, I take it back; your plans are more than reasonable."
"See!"
"Hubby, are you serious? Don't you think it's a little absurd?"
"No. The security measures are where she has the most money poured in. The nuclear reactor isn't necessarily hard to get, especially with a genius like her. Then there is Peter, who isn't a slack either."
"Exactly. Peter and I can definitely have this made!"
Kat just rolled her eyes. "Sure. But I doubt a nuclear generator and a quantum computer are within the initial cost of a million."
"Oh god no! The million is for initial renovations and security. I'll need WAY much more for the other two, and that's not even all of it."
Felciia didn't comment on Gwen's words. She just kissed my cheek while throwing the plans back on the table for me.
I chuckled, holding her slim waist. "Gwen, if you want, I can fork a mil for the basic things. But there's a thing I want you to let me add."
"Of course! You have every right if you're going to use your money."
"My own A.I."
"That's it?"
"You say that, but it's more vital to me than you realize."
"Sure thing. As I said, you have every right to make a request. You're helping me with the hardest part after all."
"Gotcha. Take this." I slid her my card. "Make whatever purchases you need. If you need more than a million, then let me know."
[-10,000 KP]
I had plenty of Karma Points, but I didn't want to waste too many of them on money. I was so close to 100,000 total, and I wanted to buy my first major ability with them. However, having someone else spare me the time by working on a base was a pretty good investment in my opinion.
Gwen stared at the card, blinking slowly.
"Does this make her your side girl?" Felicia chimed in unnecessarily.
"Pfft! Kat, is this really the time?"
"Yeah! She gets full access to your card, and I haven't even gotten the privilege."
"You have me, so I'd say the value exceeds that card." I flicked my adorable girlfriend's forehead, getting a pout out of her. Our attention was quickly pulled away by the fidgeting blonde next to us.
Gwen's face was pink. She just fiddled with the card and a strand of her blonde hair.
"I mean…" she mumbled something, but I couldn't make it out. Though with how Felicia was smirking and the strange eye contact between the two, something definitely happened when I was out.
'What did Felicia say to her...'
My girlfriend wasn't scared to speak her mind. She was weird when she chose to be embarrassed, too. There was never a dull moment with her.