Gamer Chapter 6 - Spymaster

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As I blearily woke up and opened my eyes, a new window choose that time to flash into existence.

Update 0.1aUpdate Log

The subskills sprinting, jogging and walking have been combined into the Movement skill
Cooking subskills have been removed as they have been deemed worthless
Blunt Weapons skill has been removed
Subskill Blunt Weapons: Clubs is now the skill Clubs
Physical Exercise skill has been removed
The skills Dodge and Footwork have been removed as AGI will now take effect in that aspect
The skill Memorization has been removed as INT will now take effect in that aspect
The skill Listen has been removed as WIS will now take effect in that aspect
Carpentry subskills have been removed
Carpentry skill is now known as the subskill Crafting: Woodworking
Gardening subskills have been removed

Half asleep, my eyes scanned down the list, I noted that it was removing skills that I had occasionally wondered about. What was the point of having a main skill Blunt Weapons? The other kinds of blunt weapons I could think of was the staff and the pole, perhaps a shield. But those sounded like they could belong as a main skill. The cooking subskills were definitely laughable. Boiling? That's a skill?
I thought a little at who might be behind this message, but was unable to draw a conclusion. One of my theories was that the gaming ability had the potential to update itself, just like a real game being updated.

Closing the update window, I was at a loss when I looked around at the unfamiliar bedroom, then I remembered how I was living here for a month. Fully awake, I got up and stood on the flush carpet, toes sinking in the deep softness of the carpet threads. Stretching with a big yawn, I changed into proper clothes before heading out to the lounge. My aunt wasn't up yet, but looking at the time, I thought that she would be waking up soon.

I went to the kitchen and decided on french toast. Setting a shallow baking pan to the side, I hunted through the cupboards to make sure that she had eggs, milk bread and golden syrup. You can't have it without the golden syrup! Taking out 4 eggs, I quickly broke them with a clean movement and the eggs slid into the pan. Using a fork, I whisked the eggs until it was a identically coloured mess before adding the milk and mixing it in as well. Putting the pan to the side, I hunted around the kitchen until I found a frying pan. Putting the frying pan on the stove, I turned on the element and dropped a spoon of b.u.t.ter into the pan. As it melted, I took the bread from the cupboard and set it next to the eggy pan and fetched a plate for the cooked breakfast.

I took my time making french toast and the aroma filled the air, as if by magic, the second I had finished using the last of the mixture my aunt appeared at the kitchen door wrapped in her dressing gown. Surprised to see me cooking she smiled "That smells delicious". I moved the heavy plate to the table and fetched another two plates to eat with and the golden syrup. Sitting at the table with Alice as we ate the french toast, it was incredibly tasty. Light and flavoursome, the breakfast exceeded anything I could possibly have created before I gained the cooking skill.
That skill really did improve my cooking, I noticed that I spent less time preparing the meal, and yet received better results.

Satisfied with breakfast, I cleared the table off and washed the dishes. She didn't seem to own a dishwasher, not that I minded as there was barely anything to clean up. I walked back to the room and sat on the couch, Alice made herself a cup of tea and sat in a chair, sipping her drink. Eventually she offered to show me around the city today, I gratefully accepted her offer, looking forwards to hanging out with her.

I returned to my room to grab a jacket and grab my shoes, before returning to sit down while I waited for Alice to get ready. Soon, we exited the apartment, Alice took care to lock the door as we left, making a comment on security in the city. Using the lift to get downstairs was slower than walking, but Alice declined and wryly said "I'd rather take the lift than walk the stairs all day". After making it down to the foyer, we exited the building and was soon walking alongside the pavement.

For the most part, things were not as heretic as I feared. There was no jostling and pushing on the sidewalk, you simply stepped out of the way of the incoming traffic. But occasionally someone wasn't looking or even accidentally b.u.mped into me. At those times, I barely noticed it. I could feel it, but my balance wasn't jostled at all and I could keep moving as if they were a feather brushing a boulder. They more often perplexed by who they b.u.mped into, and when they saw me.. No. They couldn't have hit me, I was just a gangly teen.
As I walked, everyone in the city seemed to be in a hurry. They didn't pause for more than a few heartbeats and a confused expression after b.u.mping into me. Eventually, I grew used to the strange ritual of the city goers.

We attended the museum first, it was free to the public so we just walked right in. As I pa.s.sed the donations jar I respectfully placed a $5 note inside as Alice nodded with approval. While I wouldn't receive any money while I was living here, I also didn't plan to buy anything. We wondered the museum, looking at the different displays. I paused at one display of a ancient egg the size of my head. Looking at it I wondered if it was possible to eventually gain a skill or magic to hatch these kinds of eggs. Could I even gain non-normal skills? It didn't appear to be possible yet, but I was still new at this and the possibility always remained.

We spent most of the morning walking from display to display, when Alice idly checked her watch. With a expression of dismay she groaned. "Oh!.. I supposed to be somewhere at this time!". She bit her lip and looked at me as she thought, reaching a decision, she reached inside her purse, and grabbed a key. As she handed it to me she quickly rushed "I need to attend a meeting, here's a spare key to the house. You remember the way back right?" Smiling a little at her behaviour, I told her "Yep. I remember every turn. Mallard Street right?". Rea.s.sured, my aunt quickly said "I'll be back around 7" then rushed out of the museum. With a afternoon to kill I spent the rest of the hour looking at the displays.

Eventually bored, I left the building and walked outside. As I watched the rushing traffic, I finally picked a direction and started walking. I'm not sure why I picked that direction really, it was just a feeling. Walking for a bit, I looked at the shops I pa.s.sed. A few of them were clothes stores and even a few electronics stores. I visited the latter and looked at their games sections. I was surprised how low the prices were. This racing game for $20, I would have to pay $35 at our town shop. I placed it back down reluctantly, I didn't feel the need to buy anything yet. Walking out of the shop I looked around at the surrounding buildings. Looking down the street, I spotted a familiar building around a corner. It was that low black building where I had seen that strange man.

Curious as to if the man was still there, I walked around the corner until I could see the place I last saw him. When I looked, not only was he still there, it looked like he hadn't moved from his spot at all. Unsure of how to approach him, I stood there like a idiot in the middle of the traffic as I looked at him. People occasionally b.u.mped into me. But as I said previously, it felt like feathers brushing against a rock. While I watched him, I took in his tattered and dirty clothing, the same baseball cap set before him with the occasional pa.s.serby dropping in a coin. I felt a tingle on the back of my neck just as the man turned his head and looked directly at me, meeting my eyes. His eyes were as startling as before, the blue intensity looking straight through me.

Startled, I met his glance. After eyeing me for a second, the man beckoned me over with a hand. Nervously I approached him and stood roughly two meters away. I could smell him from here, a stale odour of sweat and mould. In a rough voice, he said to me "Hi, I'm Jordan" I frowned and my eyebrows furrowed. Talok's narrowed a little, wondering why I reacted so. I responded to his lie with one of my own "I'm James". Talok smiled, "That's a nice name. James, how would you like to help me? I'm a little hungry at the moment, do you think you can hook me up with some food?"

Warily I watched him, cautious for any move he might make. I couldn't see the harm in it, so I agreed. Hesitantly I spoke "Sure.. I could get you a few sandwiches?" He grinned. His teeth were white and showed no signs of the 'rough life' he had surely been living. He gestured at his hat. "Take the coins in it and buy me something nice". I hesitated. This seemed a little off. Nervously I licked my lips. "Why can't you buy it yourself if you have the money?" I asked of him. "Ack well. You can smell me right?" he grimaced. "None of the stores will let me in" I slowly nodded. "Alright.."

Carefully stooping over, I watched him for any sudden movements as he removed a few coins from his cap and offered them to me. His hands were coa.r.s.e and dry, looking as though he fought with them each day. Stepping forwards, I took the money from his rough palm and quickly stepped back. I stammered out "A-Alright then.. W-Well.. I'll be back in 5 minutes" Talok grinned "Can't wait"

My back felt vulnerable as I turned away from him, and yet, I could only steel myself. Unwilling to give him the satisfaction of showing my discomfort. I moved to a nearby cafe and purchased a couple of sandwiches. Holding the bag, I walked back to Talok. His eyes spotted me the instant I was in view. Feeling as if I should just run, I approached and placed the bag down. Nodding at the sandwiches I told him "Egg sandwiches" as I dropped the change back into the hat. I really didn't want to touch his hand again. It gave me the creeps.

Making no move to touch the bag, Talok looked at me. "So, what are you doing in this city?", I really didn't like the way he asked me that, but I had to reply.. I told him simply "I've moved here for a short time due to family issues". Seeing I wasn't going to continue the conversation, Talok finally reached for the bag "Well, it was nice meeting you kid". With this dismissal, I finally left his presence. I could feel his gaze on my back as I walked away, but I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction and look back. My legs felt like lead at each step away from him.

After turning the corner, I leaned against the wall. My knees were shaking and my limbs felt cold. He was dangerous, I knew it. But just leaving him alone, I couldn't do that. I was dying of curiosity to know just what he was doing here.

I returned to the apartment and took out a pair of binoculars, don't ask me why my aunt had them, I don't know. I noticed them last night on the windowsill, and when I asked, she grinned naughtily as she said "There's a lot of fun things to look at during the night". Going back downstairs, I hunted for a building with a view of Talok. There were a few, but I wanted one that was high and that I could go into. Eventually I had to decide on a hotel. There was a large library with a great view, however the entrance lay directly opposite of him and I couldn't enter without fear of being seen by him.

Approaching the hotel from the side out of his sight, I was relieved that there was another door I could enter through. I talked and managed to get a cheap room to stay overnight that had a great view overlooking him. Of course, I didn't plan to actually stay the night. But strangely I didn't think they rented out the rooms for a few hours at the time. $130 lighter, I took the lift up to the 5th floor, I stepped out and found my room. Unlocking it, I moved inside and closed the door. After locking the door I went straight to the window. Carefully looking out, I was relieved that he didn't seem to notice me. I picked a chair up and moved it over to the window, sitting down I carefully adjusted the binoculars to get them in focus. Then I sat down and watched him.

I spent my afternoon this way, watching him and observing. I made a couple of notes from this. A gang of youths spotted his hat and kicked it. Yet Talok didn't seem to mind as much as he should have. He did get visually mad, but the coins that rolled off, he didn't chase down despite knowing where they were. He stayed in his position.
Another thing I noticed was a few men stopping by to talk to him to exchange a few brief words, not very notable in itself, but their names were weird with 'Alan Diker' and 'Youk Canoae'. Their levels were also high at lv.15 and lv.16.
Their levels were not as high as Talok's however, but the men didn't look like they lived on the streets, one even had the clothes of a rich business man. So just who was he? He knew people with high levels, and he appeared to be at that spot for a reason. He was not a mere b.u.m. Watching him carefully, I heard a *Tring*. Confused I took the binoculars away for a second to focus on the new window.

You have learned the skill Examination.
However because you already know the skill Identify, Examination has been deleted and Identify modifiedAdditional information is now displayed where applicable
Learned how to identify
Learned how to examine

Wait. Additional information? Does this mean stats and numbers? Figures to play with? This is awesome! Could I finally see the numbers in my skills I had been desiring from the day I was reborn?
With bated breath, I opened the skill Identify

SkillIdentifyLevel3 [75%]View information on a selected target
'Identify' has a chance to identify the target if unknown
'Examine' allows you to view additional information of a target

No numbers here, but it looked very promising. I eagerly opened my club skill, silently praying to whoever might be listening.

SkillClubsLevel29 [42%]Mastery over the club weapons, this takes effect when wielding a club

+116% damage when using a club
+29% chance to stun
+58% control over the club
-43% stamina consumed

YES!

Smiling, I sat back on the chair and bathed in the afterglow. Eventually, I turned back towards the window and looked at Talok though the gla.s.ses.
The box that floated over his head had changed.

Talok Blainz lv.27 Outpost Captain

Outpost? Talok was guarding an outpost? His being a captain would explain his level, the people who talked to him for a few seconds must be his subordinates. But he was guarding a outpost? Not a bodyguard, not a security or even a spy. But specifically a 'Outpost Captain'? I decided to try my new examine ability on him. Thinking the word *examine* while looking at him, a window popped up.

Unable to examine. Skill level too low

He was more than a few levels above me, that could be a factor.. Perhaps I'm trying for a target that's too hard. I looked at a woman pa.s.sing by and thought *examine*

NameCindy HemmingsGenderFemaleJobAccountantLevel4Age24Health94/100Stamina62/109VIT9STR10END10AGI9DEX12INT11WIS10LUK10Skills

Cooking lv.3

Looking at the information, I felt somewhat like a creep..
After closing the window, I noticed one of Talok's minions. After he made his ritual greeting with Talok he walked down the street out of sight. The box over his head described him as a Outpost Guard. Keeping a eye out, half a hour pa.s.sed before I saw him approach the building again. This time, he didn't even look at Talok as he walked past and behind the building out of sight. I wasn't able to see what he did, but I had a guess that whatever Talok was guarding and the man had went, was definitely connected to the building.

Curious about what this so-called outpost was, I eventally stretched and got up. I needed to get home.
As I walked back, I had a funny feeling that I'd soon be involved in my first fight. I could only hope there wouldn't be much in the way of blood and gore.