It had begun to drizzle outside. Benjamin crumpled the paper that held the certification to his club inside his shirt. There was no telling what would happen if it got wet, and destroyed. Would the system revoke his rewards? It was better not to find out.He was waiting for JMONEY at the door, something about forgetting his phone upstairs and checking his new statistics.“Open Martial Arts,” he told PAYTON.“Would you like to level up Martial Arts to level 2? It would cost +100 EXP,” asked PAYTON. "Do it,” instructed Benjamin.“Notice: Martial Arts Level 2. Countering Unlocked.”“Is that it?” asked Benjamin. “Martial Arts is currently at the TAEKWENDO LEVEL of Strong Defense and Light Offense. Countering Attacks is a useful addition,” said PAYTON.“I want to beat as many people as possible in one go. I could feel my weakness when Michael’s goons approached me. Not sure, I could’ve dealt with that many of them.” replied Benjamin. “In that case, the next level of Martial Arts involves Ji
"Is it possible to use this in checking if someone might be lying?" asked Benjamin."It might be possible, but not conclusive," said PAYTON."Interesting.""Next is, Inheritance. Inheritance allows you to pass one skill from the system to to your group members." "Holy Shit. Really?" asked Benjamin."There are two conditions. Inheritance can only be used by one person at a time, and it has to be a member whom you share a close bond with."Benjamin flagged a question."I was thinking about this before, but what are the clauses on telling others about the system? For this inheritance to work, the member has to know about the system, correct?" he asked."Not necessarily. A thin veil exists to protect the mind of the member using inheritance," said PAYTON."But that's a yes on telling others about it?" asked Benjamin. PAYTON paused to think it over."That information is classified," it replied. I thought as much, thought Benjamin. "Finally, there are the penalties. Penalties exist for b
"Well?!" barked Joanne Black. Claire's face flushed red."Why the hell are you asking me?!" she yelled back."You - Don't tell me you did something?!" mused Joanne. "If not, Mardo should've proposed by now! We should've been talking about wedding dates!""How the fuck is any of this my fault?" Claire protested again. "I should've known. You were the one that dated that pauper's boy, in the first place." said Joanne."You're fucking unbelievable!" said Claire, marching upstairs."You better pray that man is still interested in you! If not, you're going to find a way to start paying for the bills around here!" called Joanne after her. She left the stairway to pace about the living room again. Simon remained seated on one of the couches, like an obedient sheep."Mom, I'm--" he started. "Quiet, you! I'm trying to think." Joanne paced about some more, before she sat on one of the longer sofas, defeated."I didn't know things were that bad." Simon stated. Joanne grunted."How would you? Te
"The hell? What is the CEO doing?" Claire asked."Beats me" shrugged Simon. "Crap," she replied. "Is that why she's been like that?"Simon nodded."But that means --No, don't tell me-- I'm a guinea pig? She wants Mardo's money!" realized Claire."Are you really telling me this is your first time realizing that?!" asked Simon, quite surprised."I thought- she just wanted a wel-off son-in-law. Reputation and all that." squealed Claire."That is true. That pauper, Benjamin, would have been a disgrace, after all," replied Simon. Claire did not acknowledge the comment."She's putting her cards on me! That's not fair. I'm not some alleviation scheme!" protested Claire. "I mean-" started Simon. "Simon!" she cried."Look, she already told me to get you to come to your senses about him" he explained."How, exactly?! A few more handjobs?? Maybe we should fly all the way to Paris for a fuckfest" she said."Whoa! I don't, really need to know the details. I mean, geez, Claire, don't you even lik
Benjamin Black knocked on JMONEY's door at precisely 07:00 AM. The turmoils of last night were still knotted deeply in Jonathan Morris's body."Jonathan! I know you're in there" said Benjamin as he continued the rap. The door creaked open slowly. "Whaaaaat?" wheezed JMONEY, regretting the day he ever crossed paths with Benjamin. "You're still asleep? When we have such a long day ahead of us?" asked Benjamin."What the hell are you talking about?" replied JMONEY. "Classes don't begin till 10:00 today.""Class??" asked Benjamin, perplexed. "After all that's happened, you're still thinking about class?""It is why I'm here after all.""Allow me to list off the schedule for today. First, we get my Mclaren. Second, we return the copy of the Ivy Leagues. Third, we go downtown." asserted Benjamin. I'm not sure I'm needed for any of these things. Why am I being coerced to go anywhere?, grumbled JMONEY."What's downtown?" asked JMONEY. "You'll see, now get up!" instructed Benjamin. There w
All Benjamin could see were abandoned cars in the small parking lot. Meanwhile, the man had picked up his landline and began dialling a number. JMONEY was having a panic attack. "We should leave now. Regroup later. Anything's better than the cops." he muttered."Hold on" replied Benjamin. "I can't see anything though. Use Appraisal anyways" he instructed PAYTON.Although there were more than 30 cars in the lot, the appraisal skill only highlighted two. A 1999 Toyota Camry and a 2005 Nissan Altima. The HUD displayed their respective mechanical specs. Each time Benjamin wanted to examine other cars, he would be limited to only examining two at a time."Let me guess. Skill issue, right?" he asked PAYTON."Yes. Upgrade of the Appraisal skill will allow you to investigate more targets at a time.""Benjamin" called out JMONEY, dancing on his heels. "Just one minute" replied Benjamin.This time he was looking at a Toyota 4RUNNER: "Mechanical Specs: FRONT WHEEL DRIVE, V8 Engine, SR5, Stock T
The dean's office was by the decorative pool on campus. A two-store-long blocky complex which served the Administrative department on the ground floor.It was usually empty this time of the semester, save for a few students who had a pressing need to change their departments quickly or some nut case who only just arrived in the middle of the semester, and was running around to get several permissions to continue.Benjamin was once that nutcase. Since his earlier earnings had come from working a fast food joint, tuition wasn't always readily available. Even from the support of Mr Black. Whose donations had fizzled out over the years.So more than once, Benjamin had had the pleasure of barely making it into the semester, and having to rely on JMONEY to catch up on course materials."Ah, memories" reminisced Benjamin. "Yeah, don't tell me about it" replied JMONEY.With that said the dean's office remained an urban legend to them. It was better if you didn't even hear about it throughout
"So, I suggest you choose your words very carefully." warned the Skinny man. For a few moments, Michael's body language had suggested he was at a loss for what to do."We're waiting, Mr Duboir" repeated the council head. Michael took a deep breath and looked at Benjamin."I have nothing to say, Sir" he squirmed. "Very good" responded the Council head. There were a few files on his desk that he was combing through. "Benjamin Black," he said. Benjamin turned his head. "Are you Benjamin Black?" asked the council head. "I am" replied Benjamin. "Mr Benjamin, it is the truth that you are one of the complainants to Michael Duboir and his ragtag group?" asked the council."There's no proof he's the leader of that group, Counsellor" interrupted the Dean."Really? I am just repeating what the boy has admitted to. Isn't that right, Mr Duboir?" taunted the counsellor. Michael only shivered in his shoes. "Back to us, Mr Benjamin. You are one of the complainants, yes?" asked the Counsellor. B