Chapter 29: Strange Dream
A blue panel appeared in front of her, displaying the question.
Would Host like to explore the System?
Violet clicked Yes, and immediately another blue panel appeared, a line of various options laid out before her.
[Status] [Mind Control] [Inventory] [Mission] [Con Playbook] [Store]
She clicked the last option, and the screen changed.
[SYSTEM STORE]
A variety of items materialised before her. She recognised a few things. But the majority of the items were things she’d never heard of and didn’t think existed. Her eyes widened slightly as she scanned them.
[Body-Cleansing Water (5 litres) — 4500 IP]
IP was short for Influence Points, the system’s currency.
"Body-cleansing water?" She let out a soft, amused chuckle. "What can this possibly be? How different can it be from regular water?" There was a description option at the side, and she clicked on it. Immediately, text appeared underneath it.
Description: Removes dirt, sweat, unpleasant odours, and internal and external impurities from the body.
From the description, it was clear this wasn’t just any regular water. But then a question dangled in her head. The Persuasion Card could be used without physically touching it, did the same apply to the body-cleansing water?
No. Host can purchase Body-Cleansing Water and use it physically.
At the system’s answer, Violet’s curiosity piqued, and she wanted to know how she would receive it. Would it simply appear before her?
No. Once purchased, the item is stored in the Spatial Inventory, and Host may retrieve it from there.
A mechanical voice answered in her head without the screen changing. Her system was reading her thoughts and providing answers effortlessly.
After getting all her questions answered, she scrolled down.
[Spiritual Skin-Nourishing Fruit — 500 IP]
[Divine Nut — 8000 IP]
[Vitality Fruit — 1000 IP]
Violet furrowed her brows, wondering why she’d need these. She didn’t bother reading the descriptions and just kept scrolling. She was sure they all had their uses and might be needed eventually.
She stopped when a new section came into view.
[MIND CONTROL]
Her eyes lit up. This was what she was interested in. The first item in the section caught her eye.
[Persuasion Card — 500,000 IP]
This was the same card she’d received as a reward for completing the system’s recommendation. She stared at the price.
"Five hundred thousand? And I got it for free?" That thought made her lips curl into a proud smile.
She scrolled further.
[Emotional Amplification Card — 800,000 IP]
Description: Amplifies an emotion already present in the target, making it easier for the Host to influence their actions.
[Resistance Breaker — 650,000 IP]
Description: Temporarily weakens a target’s mental resistance during Mind Push.
[Psychological Insight Card — 198,000 IP]
Description: Provides an enhanced analysis of the target’s desires, fears, weaknesses, and psychological tendencies.
Violet’s eyes brightened, and she thought to herself, ’This one seems really useful.’ Then she sighed, biting her lower lip. ’If only I could get a card that let me see a little into their immediate future and past.’
She decided to see what other impressive items were in this section.
[Memory Blur Card — 1,005,000 IP]
Description: Allows the Host to blur a selected recent memory of the target.
Violet’s expression changed, her face morphing into pure ecstasy. "Yes!!!" This item quickly became the most impressive one, but there was more to come.
[Double Mind Push Card — 30,000,000 IP]
Description: Allows the Host to perform two Mind Pushes within a single activation period.
The next category held items that would help her become a better con artist.
There were things like:
[Disguise Kit — 20,000 IP]
[Forgery Kit — 12,060 IP]
[Identity Package — 390,000 IP]
Violet scrolled until she reached the bottom of the page.
[Search for an item...]
She tapped on it, and a text box appeared, followed quickly by a keyboard. She typed the first thing that came to mind. "Sprint water bottle" and several results appeared.
She cleared the box and typed:
Bunker.
[Search not found. Item does not exist in store.]
Although the store wasn’t limited to the items shown on the main page, it didn’t have everything. If she knew what she wanted, she could search for it directly, or it may be recommended to her by the system. After browsing the earlier items, Violet understood she wasn’t going to find ordinary items in this store.
She looked over the strange items once more, then her gaze shifted to the corner of the screen.
Current IP: 70 IP
Violet frowned at how low it was. She didn’t dwell on it, though, figuring out how to increase it felt more important.
She clicked "Get More" beside the current IP total and received a memo.
Increase IP by using Mind Push. Every successful use of Mind Push grants 5 IP.
When Experience reaches 100, gain 20 IP.
Purchase IP with money. $10 = 5 IP.
Violet stroked her jaw, brows furrowed in deep calculation. If she wanted to use the items in the store, she needed IP, and it didn’t come easily. Even the reward for each mind push was low.
Too low for her liking. She could only hope it would increase as her system level rose. But that didn’t mean she wouldn’t use it daily.
In fact, she resolved to use it even without an immediate reason, just to keep earning IP. Using money to buy IP was also an option worth considering. She just needed to make a lot of money.
Violet closed the store.
Her stomach rumbled, and she rubbed a hand over it before walking out of the room to eat.
**
In another part of the city, a man lay on his bed, sweating profusely. He turned his face from side to side, his eyes shut tightly, a worried expression settled over his features. His lips moved, and a word forced its way out.
"Run!"
The moment he said it, he snapped awake, his eyes flying open with great force.
His heart slammed against his chest as he pushed himself up to sit on the bed, legs stretched out in front of him.
The clock on the nightstand read 04:59 am.
Kai shut his eyes and massaged his temples. When he stopped, he wiped the beads of sweat off his forehead and switched on the bedside lamp.
The same dream. Again!
It was the same woman again. But this time, a different scenario. She’d been asking for his help, begging him to fight off something he couldn’t see.
In one of the previous dream, she’d been running through a forest, chased by something invisible to him, and had asked for help inside the tent he usually camped in. He went camping in the dream.
Once, she’d warned him that the world was going to change and that he needed to prepare.
The dreams were usually detailed, except for one strange constant: he’d never once been able to see her face clearly, it was always blurred.
Well, that had changed in tonight’s dream. He’d seen her face clearly this time. Sharp, striking features, dark hair falling loose around her shoulders, and eyes that held a kind of quiet, calculating intensity even in sleep.
He didn’t recognise her, but something about her felt oddly familiar.
Kai pushed a hand through his hair and slid his feet into his slippers before walking to the bathroom for a shower.
He could never go back to sleep after dreaming about her, besides, it was already morning, and he needed to start his day.