Upon hearing my answer, instead of replying properly, Daniel gave me a scrutinizing lht in the eyes—again—while folding his hands in front of his chest. His face didn't show any expression.

  Not yet.

  Because afterward, the ers of his lips lifted, and he shook his head. "trolling life, huh? Dang, Kid, I know what you mean, but... it feels like I just gave a ko a demon child. Geez. But I am a man of my word; wait here."

  Oh? Daniel seemed to grasp the implications of my words that I could exploit in potentially troublesome ways, just like a child disc creative but mischievous ways to use ools.

  But Daniel was a man of principle, as he stated, so even though he knew I would be a problem, he still offered me help, as reviously agreed. Ha! So eat that principle! I observed as Daniel began the modification with fingers dang around the holographic ss. And it turned out the process was faster than I thought.

  Ihan a minute, Daniel had closed all the ss and looked back at me.

  "Let's do a little testing in the back."

  Nodding, I followed him to the back of the room, where there was ay area with bck floors and walls. That color probably came from the fact that it was made of carbon, plete with green neon stripes at regur intervals fhting.

  Without warning, Dahrew my Heart Core, which, fortunately, I could catch it quickly. He whistled iurn. "Not bad."

  Ding!

  You have shown reflexes!Reflex Point+13/5 points to Grade F+ on Reflex"Okay. Your hoverboard now has enhaability trol. It will respoer to your movements, making it easier to trol even at high speeds. Try summoning it out by dropping your Heart Core."

  As I dropped the crystal orb seds before impact with the ground, it released digital particles. These fused to form an iron aal mass that slowly iwined into a solid object: a board sisting of a glossy bck base, a shiny white middle yer, and a top of the same color. Two pact jet engines were installed at its rear.

  I mouhe hoverboard as it hovered above the ground. When I leaned forward, expeg a smooth start, the board shot forward uedly, accelerating much faster than I anticipated—Ah!

  I almost crashed into a wall!

  Swoosh!

  The sudden burst of speed caused me to swiftly adjust; I shifted my weight, leaned, and twisted to avoid the wall or other obstrus in the workshop. Despite the shock, it was thrilling—Ah! I almost crashed again but to no avail! I mao dodge nicely now. It took me a while to stop the board smoothly, yet suddenly, in front of Daniel, I caught my breath, attempting to appear unfazed.

  "This... was good."

  Daniel, who had watched the entire spectacle, chuckled. "Seems you hang on to it, eh? I iionally made it a bit messy earlier, but you adapted quickly!"

  'Hey! So that was him?!'

  "You feel it? The board's got a bit more kick, right? Hahaha! What's with that face? I just wao see if you could ha. You passed the test; take it. The setup is good to go."

  Ding!

  gratutions!

  Side Quest - Get your own Mount pleted!

  EXP received:50 o level 6:58/560Successfully activated the Mouure!Other notifications appeared, but my maiook over all the ss. It instructed me to press [Iory], which revealed a new slot titled [Mount]. There, the status of my hoverboard showed up, from the engine (which was still basic) to the full dispy and blueprint. It even had its own Grade level that could be upgraded.

  Finished cheg it, I closed the s and lifted my Mount, whistantly dissolved into the crystal orb form in my hand.

  Mount was acquired... but I kneere far from done, as Daniel had yet to let me go. Letting go in the sehat he hadn't seo the ask. Usually, [Main Story] had a event, no? So I stood straight, fag him, and the smile on his face returned. I knew I wasn't the only one making observations here.

  'This NPC is als to learn about me.'

  This wasn't the result of my wild thinking, as World: The in was desigo provide feedbad adapt based on the pyer's as. The way Daniel approached was unusual, no? Unlike most NPCs, went straightforward when handling Quests? Therefore, I timistic that I was now in a [Hidde] triggered by my desire to modify Mount while I couldn't. Because I mao attract Daniel's attention.

  This was a [Debate Session]—simir to a mini-game that needed logiowledge, or charisma to achieve specific objectives. The objective, namely, to deepen character retionships that also affected my reputation within the game. Get it wrong, and it could be troublesome.

  Much like how pyers chose to only "look" at Noir even though they idolized her. Not even saying hello. Sihis event happened randomly...

  '...with penalties f moves.'

  After a long period of nothing happening, Daniel let out his usual giggle with his prosthetic metallid ched in front of his mouth. "What's with that look? We are done here. Go."

  I raised an eyebrow. "Do you really wao go?"

  "Ha!" He stifled his ughter, turning his head to the side. Based on his expression, he looked for someoo joke around with (probably me) before looking at me again. "Not bad. You have high awareness, eh? Here!"

  Daniel suddenly threw his cell pho me! But wait! Wasn't this an opportunity? With this device before me, I could peek at the system and find out about the strahat made me fet about the VR:Ser—

  "Just kidding." He snatched it from my hand. "You really don't know when to stop, huh. What is in front of you isn't necessarily your business."

  What? So he tossed his cell phone and quickly snatched it back, only to create a moment of surprise to test my curiosity? Then what? Remind me of boundaries? Oh, well, annoying! Who did he think I was?!

  "How do you know what's before me isn't any of my business? Are you a God or something? Or because 'I am older than you' bullshit? Fuck off."

  Daniel's grin vanished when our eyes met, his gaze sharpening as though reevaluating his initial thoughts. He then leaned back, adopting a thoughtful look, though a hint of pyfulness remained.

  "Touche! Most would have taken their prize a, but not you. You challenge, you push back. What caused it... what..." Now, he seemed to be reassessing me as if p what motivations had prompted me to behave differently from what he expected (obviously because I wao iigate something here!).

  Again, what did he think I was, a child with a leash?! Doe me with other pyers who passively accept situations! I gred at Daniel. And he replied with his head swayi and right as if thinking something before sloug and giving me his initial cold stare. "What are you pnning from this early on?"

  With a scoff, I replied, "Why don't you find it out yourself?"

  A out a smirk.

  Ding!

  Achievement Unlocked!Quick-Witted ChallengerFinished Debate Session for the first timeHidde Probability Increased by 20%Ding!

  gratutions!

  Being friends with Daniel!

  Notitera with AI gives friendship pointsReach friendship level 10 to gain AI's special privilegesOh, we became friends?

  I thought my level was still too low to establish friendships, like when I tried to make an effort with Noir? But it seemed friendships with AIs depended oatus they held. For example, befriending the "Leaders" required our status to be equivalent to theirs. As fur AIs, the requirements were even lower (provided the said NPC was willing to be a friend).

  "Go to Chris and try to get some seling; you ." Daniel made a shooing haure. "And remember, don't burn the academy!"

  Ding!

  Main Story updated! New Quest!sultancy report

  TaskVisit the sultatioment and talk to "Chris"Location420mTime limit-PrizeAccess to Quests in Vaughan; EXP +100You have been tasked with creating a sultancy report, but first, you o gather insights from the experts. Head over to the sultatioment and find Chris. Be friendly and curious when you talk to him; Chris might be willing to share some tips if you ask the right questions!

  Sighing, I gave him o gnce before leaving the main building of the Gear Department. Taking out my hoverboard, I rode through Vaughan's streets towards Chris's location.

  While on the road, I reflected on what had happened... something about how I had acted up.

  Although Daniel's words—plus his annoying behavior—felt like a sp in the face since I was here to solve a problem thrust upon me, I didn't o let it bother me. I could, at least, clude that Daniel respected boundaries ohey were clearly established, as shown wheook back his phone. Even so, he was still willing to eer a frontation. heless, it was likely based on his caution towards me as someoroublesome to keep an eye on.

  It was the traditional approach: an enemy might be more easily observed if they were near you... as a friend, right?

  Wele to the sultatioment Main Building!When the s banner disappeared from my view after three seds, I realized this building resembled an office. Sharp, architectural lines, sleek furniture, soft lighting, and walls decorated with digital ss dispying schedules all emphasized the business atmosphere.

  The Quest clue indicated I should go to the topmost floor. So, I waited in front of the elevator, letting a few people rush out before stepping in and waiting for my floor to arrive. When I reached the top, my [Map] poio one of the doors. Upon opening it, I found that log Chris was retively easy.

  There was only one person in the room.

  A man with long, flowing purple hair. His clothes were simple yet elegant—a pure bck suit. He looked up when he heard the door creaking open, revealing his purple irises. "You must be one Daniel mentioned. Please, have a seat."

  plying, I took a seat across from him.

  Chris's room acious and well-lit. Right behind him, a rge window offered a panoramic view of the academy grounds, and there was a sense of tranquility here.

  'I kinda like it.'

  "Let's see..." He took a piece of paper. "Your first test was good. [Stability], [Tactics], [Focus], and [Reflex] are quite notable. But then you picked on one of the Senior Staff, hm?"

  Daniel must be the Senior Staff member he referred to, as I have only entered two NPCs so far.

  When I remembered how Daniel had ordered me to meet Chris, it became clear that the man before me wasn't regur staff. Another clue was that after meeting Daniel, other pyers were guided by different names—ordinary NPCs avaible during their free time—not a specifition like Chris.

  This firmed what I thought: my [Main Story] had shifted.

  'Just a bit... maybe?'

  Well, my [Main Story] had shifted a bit because I could still readjust and start preparing for the stages ahead. So it would be better if I replied holy sihese types of people who seem ge to mention always smiling—like Chris usually have their own dark side. And people like him were the hardest to deal with; they were maniputive themselves.

  Even though I khat not all people in power were essentially evil or had bad iions—like me, for example (or maybe not)—but...

  '...I didn't want to be fronted by troubles beyond my trol.'

  Thus replied, "Daniel is approachable that way."

  "Oh?" Tossing the paper in his hand onto the table before him, Chris interced his fingers aed his on them. "How did you know that?"

  "Intuition."

  Hearing it, he nodded and leaned against the chair with a smile, though still thin, as if to show he was ied. "Daniel only 'sees' those above him. You, as a udent, must have found it difficult to gain his attention. Good enough."

  "So, are you going to sel me?"

  "Why should I?" His eyes went to me. "Not a 'sel' that you need, anyway."

  Huh?

  I opened my mouth to ask—

  "Did Daniel expin about [Equipment]?"

  —yet I wasn't going to because Chris interrupted me first. I merely answered his question with a short shake of my head.

  As it turned out, he expined IAIL about [Equipment] and all the ins and outs of the [Iory] that I already knew about. Then, he expined [Daily and Weekly Quests] as well!

  'Ah, what a waste of time!'