Chapter 4: An ancient jade artifact.
Violet stared at the virtual screen in front of her. She was still in a daze. The system’s ability had been tested, and it was perfect.
She walked towards the bed and sat on it, the wheels in her head spinning. With her head tilted to the side, Violet stroked her jaw.
She didn’t know why she had the system or how it came about, but she couldn’t dwell on that. What was more important was that it was hers, and she would use it to prepare for the apocalypse.
First, I have to understand the system, she thought.
She didn’t know how to summon the system, so she shut her eyes and said, "System," under her breath.
Ding!
The virtual screen returned right in front of her face. Violet twisted her lips to the side and removed her hand from her jaw.
She remembered that she was in the process of exploring the system when Marie’s pounding had interrupted her.
The moment she thought about continuing the exploration, the writing on the screen shifted quickly.
Host, would you like to continue?
The voice said in her head at the same time the writing on the screen changed.
Violet nodded, and clicked on the "yes" option.
She started from the beginning and paused at the stats.
Host: Violet Sullivan.
Status: Alive.
Age: 23 years.
Level: 1
Influence Points: 0
Experience: 0/100
Mind Push: Level 1
Daily Uses: 1/2
Resistance Penetration: 5%
Inventory: Unbound
System Shop: Locked
Current Timeline: Three months before the apocalypse.
Countdown: 89 Days 16 Hours 43 Minutes...
Her eyes moved over it slowly this time, taking each piece of information in. Her gaze lingered on the Inventory. There was a black, almond-shaped jade icon beside it.
"What’s that?" She thought.
The Inventory is the host’s storage space.
"Why is it unbound?"
The host has yet to obtain the jade containing the storage space. Once the host acquires the jade and completes the binding process, the Inventory will automatically link to the Mind Control System. This allows the host to stockpile unlimited supplies.
Violet nodded slightly. Just then, a memory from her past life hit her.
During the end of the world, there was a rumour circulating that some people had enough provisions because they had stockpiled before the apocalypse. But it didn’t make sense to most people, and they dismissed it, because the acid rain had ruined every warehouse. Nothing could have survived that, and if it had, the fire outbreak that followed would have destroyed it completely.
Violet had been one of those people who didn’t believe the rumour.
"System, can anything destroy this storage space?" Violet asked. She needed to be sure.
No. The storage space is non-physical and cannot be seen by others. Only the person it is bound to can access it.
Upon the system’s answer, Violet became certain that the rumour in her past life was true.
"How does that happen?"
Once the host’s blood comes into contact with the jade, it will automatically bind to the host.
After getting all the information she needed on the Inventory, Violet proceeded to check out the other parts of the system.
After reviewing all the system functions, she leaned back into her bed just as the system disappeared.
She had the knowledge of the end of the world and enough time to prepare, but she was broke.
Where do I get money? I don’t even have a job.
She puffed out air from between her lips and pushed one hand over her hair.
She bit her lip, various ideas floating in her mind. Then, the light went off in her head. Her eyes lit up and she sat up straight.
With her mind control system, she could make people give her money. She would deceive them if she had to, and drain every penny from their accounts.
Who said she had to be righteous? When had the world ever been kind to her?
If there was one thing her experience from her past life had taught her, it was to be selfish. Kind people were the first to die. To survive, one needed a strong heart.
As the idea grew in her mind, Violet’s resolve sharpened. She wouldn’t care about the world. She wouldn’t warn anyone. She would survive by ripping people off their money, even if it meant scamming them.
Besides, in three months’ time, money would not be able to save anyone’s life. Most people’s money would turn to nothing because they were not prepared for the apocalypse. Instead of letting their money go to waste, she would help put it to good use.
Violet grabbed her phone from the side of the bed and moved to the table where her laptop was.
First, she would get the jade that held the storage space. That was foremost on her list, because she needed somewhere to stockpile provisions that would last for decades.
She turned on the laptop and opened her browser. Then, she closed her eyes and placed her fingers on her temples. She combed through her memories from her past life, desperately trying to remember where the jade had first been seen.
Nothing came forth.
Violet removed her fingers from her temples, and her eyes snapped open. She flattened her hand on the table. She chewed on her bottom lip.
Domino’s Auction!
The words came to her mind like a whisper. Her heart slammed against her chest, a wave of excitement hitting her.
She remembered.
The rumours included that the warehouse had come from an ancient jade artifact. That was partly why no one believed it, a warehouse inside a jade simply didn’t make sense.
Domino’s private auction was held once every five years.
Her hands danced across the keyboard in front of her. She typed the name of the auction. The result came back immediately.
Domino’s private auction was not an event anyone could attend. You needed to be invited, and only a few wealthy people in the country could get the invitation.
Violet leaned into her chair, pulling the laptop closer. She clicked on a link, and the website of the auction house opened.
The first thing she saw were items displayed on the website, and among them was the almond-shaped jade icon she’d seen on her system.
Violet balled her palm, that was the jade. She needed to get it.
Then, her eyes moved down the page to the date of the next private auction. Her mouth fell open. August 19th, 2109.
The auction was tomorrow.