Deg to ighe pyer who came out of the b in a hurry, I moved to meet Cecil inside—

  "Huh, what is it this time? What do you want?!"

  'Twiow!'

  I got bo-ed by surprise before I could even process what happened! A girl had run out earlier when I tried to open the door, and now some brat was yelling at me! And you know what I did? Smiling out of reflex! But inside, uh, how annoying all these! If this whole enter dragged out too long, I might as well abandon the Quest.

  But, for now, I didn't want to get lost in all this randomness; I tried to calm myself down.

  Judging from this "brat's" appearance—a white coat, beige hair, and neon-pink eyes—she seemed to be an NPC as all looked simple. Most likely, Cecil. I didn't want to take the wrong step since she looked aggressive. And with her short body not even reag my chest... for some reason, I imagined she could suddenly leap up, tearing me apart when she g to my back.

  'Oh, me and my wild imagination.'

  I ended up standing by the door, waiting.

  When I gave her some downtime, her initial aggression seemed to soften as she observed me from head to toe. Her eyes still narrowed, showing that although she was calm, she was still cautious.

  "You are here for the task, aren't you?"

  Her gaze aimed at the deviy wrist, likely reizing the standard equipment issued to all pyers. Or rather, this was Helios. Remember why I set up Helios first before entering the game? It was to get it ied into the game like this—as a medium for pyers to check body dition outside, in addition to other personal needs.

  "Yes. I was informed that you needed help fathering materials."

  Hearing that, she rexed a bit more and motioned for me to ehe b. "Right, right. Sorry for the rude wele. Just tired of dealing with inpetent kids. No one else wants to help—"

  "That is why I am here."

  As soon as I said those words (hoping to speed things up), I noticed a ge in Cecil's demeanor.

  Her eyes dropped slightly, a subtle ohat someone who wasn't paying close attention might not have noticed. Because as quickly as it came, it also left. Now she folded her arms and lifted her , even turning her face away slightly from me.

  Vaguely, I could also hear her audible, "Hmpt!"

  Her rea was quite iing as she gave specific body nguage. But I wasn't sure her personality warranted any deep reading on my part; after pleting this Quest, I might not see her again. Even though I khe NP front was Cecil, her status bar didn't appear since she didn't introduce herself, making it even more difficult for me to determihe issue with her—whether she was a key NPC or not.

  'Unless she eventually shows something worth it.'

  So, for now, I decided to just listen.

  "Young people these days show no respect for their seniors! Just go and do the task. You know what to dht? [Ented Water] is sold at various shops in the Dragonic Department. Oh, by the way, if you want to buy medies, we have them in good quality! But check the stock first, as some are limited and only appear oain days."

  'Up she goes, expining a topi the middle of a different topic.'

  Now I wondered... why she hadn't just asked another researcher to buy it? Were the others busy with critical tasks, too? Or did some policy limit who could make purchases? Somehow, it felt typical of hames make their pyers run errands for the NPeeds only for the sake of "plot." Only, ohing was advantageous in this situation.

  I know it was a tradi; I wahis over fast, but Cecil's mention of limited items caught my attention. If I pyed this right, I could finish the task with more than just checked-off Quest objectives.

  "The trickiest part is finding [Solvent Flower]. You search for it in nearby forests, but remember, you must find oh long stems! About this length." Cecil demonstrated by folding her fio leave only her pinky and thumb extended; pared to my fingers, it seemed they weren't that long? "Sear open areas! They thrive in sunlight."

  Ding!

  Side Quest updated! Side Quest - The Essence of Research Progressed! Subtask:Purchase 5 bottles of Ented WaterLocation:23m Subtask:Collect 2 Solvent Flower stemsLocation:23mAlright. The best pyers knew how to switch strategies mid-game. This wasn't about indecision; it was about "seizing opportunity." And I would take that opportunity by saying, "The previous one... what was the limited stock items you mentioned?"

  Cecil raised her eyebrows, seemingly suspeg my question. Or perhaps, w why I was being this engaging when I had previously pressed her to hurry up ao the point. Ah, she might not buy it. But if she did, it could make future iions easier. Worth a shot.

  And gd she did as she answered me. "[Neurosync Dew]. Pretty popur with students; we stock 100 weekly. But this kid will buy them all and resell them at high prices! So long as she doesn't cross the line, what I do?"

  Ah, the infamous practice of "flipping"—pyers buying high-demand items in bulk, then selling them for profit. Clever, though not strictly ethical.

  It seemed the game allowed this sort of tactic without strict rules. Well, that sucked; over time, this game could be dying... but this also seemed to be exaggerating? World: The in was a dying game, I meant.

  Factors like pamepy, server issues, ck of tent, or toxic pyer enviros were often to bme fame dying, while flipping was almost universal, even in real life. I hadn't even noticed any signifit pints about flipping on the forums. Did it only affect specific items, or were there enough alternatives?

  Or few dared attempt it? With how some NPCs (like Cecil) viewed things like this as "cheating," it could already bee a punishment, right? Like... difficulty in making friends with them? ive reputation and being frowned upon? Not to mention from other pyers, too.

  Therefore, I called it clever; how did the pyer who did flipping mao escape from its ivity?

  'I became even more curious about what item was being flipped...'

  "Oh, well, then I will never be able to afford it. My money..." And I started ting dramatically with all my fingers stretched before my face.

  Seeing my behavior, Cecil scowled, puffing up her cheeks. "What are you doing?! Get on with your task, I said!"

  Her voice was quite loud as she scolded me, to be ho, so I was left speechless. My gaze wandered somewhere before eventually looking down and rubbing my neck. "Just trying to prepare. It is my first time out of Vaughan..."

  Ah, yes, then I saw that.

  The fieress in her eyes softened for a moment, her posture rexing slightly. But it turned out to be more difficult than I expected as she returo her fierce attitude again. "What's all this now? It is not that hard! And anyway, your task is just outside the academy."

  "I know, I know, but... everyone seems so experienced, and here I am, barely knowing how to navigate the basics. I have read about the academy, the challenges, but experieng it? Different level."

  She raised an eyebrow. "Don't you have any friends to show you around?"

  "Does the wind t?" I let out a short, humorless ugh. "See? I am alone."

  "Look. I may have been a bit harsh; this overwhelm newers. Maybe I —HNNNG!!" All of a sudden, she ched her hand into a fist. Wait. Was she trying to restrain herself? "You were trying to butter me up, weren't you?! Not a ce!"

  "Buttering you up might have been part of the pn. But you bme me? I am out here, trying to make sense of things, and you, Cecil, are my only lead to avoid ending up as dragon fodder."

  She scoffed. "Dragon fodder? Dramatic! I am a researcher, not a guide!"

  "But could you be, just for this? Isn't it noble for the experieo guide the clueless?"

  "y? Ha! I am a researcher, not a knight in shining armor! What is wrong with you?!"

  "Nothing is wrong with me. Just—"

  'This is wasting time!'

  Enough of this; I still had a Quest to plete. If Cecil gave more leads, fine. If not? Time to go. And now was the perfect time to refoy foal.

  But I couldn't just chop it off.

  Thus, I smiled—a weak smile, to be more precise—with both hands csped below my stomach. "Okay. Fine. I worry too much... thinking too much... to the point of being overbearing. Tiring, right? Newers like me be a pain."

  Turning, I quickly left b room 3B without looking back.

  When I ventured further into the main street of the Dragonic Department, my focus wasn't on the road or the sights around me again. Instead, I was deep in thought. But if I had to expin what I was thinking... it would be long and plicated.

  For starters, what I did before was just me trying to seize the opportunity to get my hands on [Neurosync Dew].

  Opportunities require the right person, timing, and pce to succeed. Therefore, I'd act when an opening preseself, even if I o "perform" to get the desired respohat smile of mihat look, the expressions—all of it—of course... was an act.

  On the trary, what I said was true.

  Because to make a lie ving, you require tactics. I used a "trast effect," where my genuineness masks the pretense.

  That bination took Cecil to the Social Obligation, where those in "above" see "below" with a bit of empathy. It was the same as seeing a fragile, meowing kitten and feeling pity. This approach made her more willing to help, not because of guilt but because it was the right thing to do at the right time.

  Of course, even though I sidered my approaot everything would work—Cecil's resistance proved that. As I previously mentioned, opportunities succeeded if only all the variables were met.

  Before I could think more, however, my steps halted, and I raised my head from my thoughts. In front of me was a shop sandwiched between two taller buildings. From the outside, with its front wall made of transparent gss, it resembled a pharmacy, with shelves upon shelves of potions and drugs.

  "Oh, is it here?" Yes, I was surprised at my spoy in stopping precisely at the right pce.

  But instead of b it, I just went inside.

  As soon as I ehe shop was more expansive on the ihan it appeared from the outside; I was greeted by the sound of the doorbell ringing, and the air carried a mixture of sts—herbal, floral, and some I hardly reize—that mixed together to form a strong aroma.

  This store was quiet, though, uhe bustling walkway outside. Or perhaps it was because the shops in this Dragonic Department were numerous and diverse (as Cecil mentioned)? Pyers and NPCs became scattered to buy at whatever store. This gave me the freedom to s every shelf. Thus, I moved to one spot. Then to another. Until I stopped at the leftmost one.

  I picked up otle and put it down again. Taking another, I looked at a small bottle with silver glitter in my hand. Within two seds of fog my eyes on the object, an interface s appeared and dispyed a description.

  Ented Water (on)Enhances magic potency, vital for potion crafting and entments. A Quest itemPrice:150 GoldI smiled, satisfied to have found what I was looking for.