Chapter 111: Apples to Apples

  It was a heady feeling, one that made me want to withdraw all of my coin to count them one by one. I managed to refrain, barely, because this was a public shopfront and I really didn't need people to stare; it was already bad enough that time I forgot to lock the door to my office, the poor intern was mortified.

  "Should we exchange Contacts?" I asked instead, eager to get out and about now that I had some proper liquidity to play with.

  "Better not, for the time being," Joe shook his head. "The top brass are going to be jittery for a while, anyone would be, after such a massive security breach. If they have a brain between them, they'll realise that last nigh couldn't have happened with the defences in good order, which means this was an inside job."

  "They'll be out hunting infiltrators?" I replied dutifully.

  Joe was right on the money, though I wasn't about share Pumpkin's insights with a business associate at best.

  "Random inspections at minimum, and some of them can sift truth from lies. Only outright lies though, so if they were to ask whether I made contact with any suspicious individuals today, I could still say no, if they don't specify the form of contact."

  That was rather concerning, and only validated my decision to keep a low profile; hopefully, the powers that be would have better targets to chase than a low level Merchant, even if my goods weren't strictly legal. On that note...

  [50 Apples withdrawn.]

  "How much are you willing to pay for fifty apples, fresh from the orchards of the south."

  [5 Gilt gained.]

  Joe tossed a handful of coins my way; I snatched them out of the air one at a time, marvelling at the increase in my dexterity. Back when I was a thousand Gilt poorer, I probably would have missed one of them, given Joe's careless toss, given the speed and lack of consideration for projectile spread.

  "Get going now," Joe laughed, accepting the olive branch in the spirit it was given; now, if asked about our dealings, he could truthfully say he bought a crate of apples.

  I didn't dally, leaving his shop deep in thought. He wasn't the first 'hidden master' I'd met, and his level wasn't quite as high as Amelia's, but the fact that it had happened twice already spoke volumes. Was it normal for retired, high level adventurers to settle down and take up a sedentary role? On reflection it probably was; Will's old lessons had covered many subjects back at the orphanage, but there had never been any mention of a state pension. The military was different, offering land and gold to those who survived their enlistment, but I had a feeling that survivors would be few and far apart, if what was happening here in Heaven's Reach was being replicated across the Wall. It had been decades since the last major incursion, so it was bound to happen sooner or later; we were simply unlucky to be here at the time.

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  All told, this impromptu diversion had been quite beneficial; I'd expected to have to find and stalk the criminal elements in order to gain access; instead, I was led straight to the prize, and even learned a bit about the state of the city, enough for a credible report back to Harvey. Daylight was burning though, so I circled back to where I was when this all kicked off, and to my delight I found that the temple of the System was now mostly vacant. There were still a few hangers on: a few children running about, their hapless minders chasing after them, and what looked to be a team of caterers packing their cart away. The line was gone though, and that was the important part.

  Taking a small footbridge over the moat, I let myself in without much of a fuss; none of them temples bothered to post guards, operating under the assumption that if you were able to enter, then clearly the divine had a plan for you. Even so, I hadn't even made it to the welcome desk when Pumpkin gasped, leapt off of my shoulder and bolted into a back room marked 'Staff Only'. The receptionist turned a gimlet eye my way, making clear exactly what she thought of the scene.

  [Adel Weiss - Level 5 Cleric]

  "Sorry about that, I don't know what got into him," I could only apologise, something every cat owner had in common.

  "All who unlock the System are welcome in the temple, human or otherwise. Your pet will return unharmed in this instance, though I would advise against bringing the screen-less here, as they tend to burn upon crossing the moat outside."

  "I'll keep that in mind," I promised.

  It was a genuinely useful tidbit, in case I was ever chased by a soulless horde of zombies or something, and needed a hiding spot.

  "Now, what can I do for you?" Adel asked, putting the matter of Pumpkin aside.

  "I was hoping to purchase the ability to send text messages," I cut straight to the chase, as this was something I'd had my eye on for a while now. "Voice communications are all well and good, but on occasion, I have the need for something more discreet."

  "Easily done. That will be one hundred Gilt please."

  [100 Gilt withdrawn.]

  Apparently, easily done didn't equate to cheap, making me doubly glad for my detour, since it was the only reason I could afford the toll at all.

  [Trait added.

  The Silent: Text messages unlocked.

  50 EXP received for buying power with gilt.

  Level up!

  Will Swindell

  Class (True): Level 5 Soldier of Fortune

  Congratulations for reaching Level 5, the first true milestone for your species, and the mark of an adventurous soul.

  More importantly, you get to choose your first Keystone Trait. Keystones are significantly more potent on average than standard Traits, and only occasionally obtainable, so choose wisely.

  You have three options to pick from:

  1) The End of the Cycle: Sometimes, all you need is the wrong man in the right place. Language (All). Immune (Precognition). Immune (Soul Alteration).

  2) King of a Hundred Hearts: We're so very small, in the end. Upon death, return to before the fatal incident. Masquerade loses one identity. If no identities are available, Masquerade is lost.

  3) Cat: I'm not a cat. How do I turn this filter off? You are an honorary Cat in feline eyes. Gain Language (Cat). Access to Cat racial Traits upon level up.