Chapter Four
The Art of Deception
He had learned his own lesson.
Always remember to fill the satiety before it hit to zero percent or else you'll die.
He was an honor student, magna cum laude to be precise. But only because he forgotten to fill up his satiety, he died just like that?! It was an outrageous! By recalling that shameful memories made him squirmed. But no one can blame him, right?
“Okay! Time to play!” After stuffing food stock that he bought awhile ago, inside the refrigerator. Wilson went inside his room.
~*~
After he log in, he heard a familiar voice.
“You again!”
Persona arose from the ground, spun to face the bearded man.
“Yes, it is I.” He said while brushing off the dirt on his clothes.
“Damn brat, always pestering me around.” The bearded man muttered.
Persona rolled his eyes, seriously, what's wrong with him? Was this bearded man conceived by his mother from a grumpy old troll? If it does, that's explained how ill manner this person.
Anyway, he should eat first for fear he would die from shameful death again.
“Inventory.” Persona said.
His eyes fixated to the four item he possessed; Wooden Sword, gift box with red wrapper and white ribbon, water sack and 10 pieces of loaf bread. Below the inventory, it showed the amount of money he had. He only got 2 silver and 50 copper!
He pulled out the three pieces of bread from his inventory and eat it all. His satiety was now full so he had nothing to worry except for money. Persona didn't know how big that money he have, but still he have to look for a job to earned money to sustained his daily expenses here since he can't go outside from the city yet.
So what should he do? While thinking about what kind of job he'll apply, Persona caught a glimpse on the bearded man who had just caught 3 meters long lake trout! It was unbelievable how big it was, if Persona can get a lot of fish just like that, then can he sell it from the market in a bigger price?
Since Persona has not yet decided what class he will be taken, he'll just learned a basic from this man who seems to be a professional and superb awesome skills even though he had a trashy personality. But doing so he have to be in this beaded man good side to be able to teach him the fishing skills.
During two days for not playing this game, he had done a little reseached from the internet. Intimacy with the non-player characters' are one of the most important factors to play this game. The bigger intimacy between the player and the npc, they would trust you and there's a possibility give you rare quest!
I think it wouldn't be that hard, all I have to do was to think like a business man who wanted to please his customer. That's it! Haha! This wouldn't be that hard!
But before excecuting his plan, he have something to do first.
“Status Info!”
Ting!
A window appeared and showed all his info.
Status WindowName:PersonaGender:MaleLevel:10Class:-Race:HumanMoney:0G 2S 50C-Attack Power:50Defense:15TitlesTricksterHealth:200/200Mana:100/100Fame:-Infamy:-Faith:-Leadership:--Vitality:10Agility:10Strength:10Intelligence:10Dexterity:10Wisdom:10Charisma:30Luck:10Art:19Stats points:0Sub-Class-Bonus Stats-
He activates his title that he received days ago, to increase his charisma. Wicked smile plastered on his face. Now, for his plans.
“Wow! Mister! That's biiiiggg fishhh you caught!” Persona shone his face like, as if, he was a kid who had just saw a big fish for the first time. He silently glad that he chose this appearance, if not he would look ridiculous.
The bearded man showed a bit reaction, he narrowed his eyes to the platinum haired boy for a sudden changed of attitude.
“You must be soooo strong to be able to catch that fish, Mister! Unlike my grandfather who had only caught a small one but yours? It's twenty times bigger!” Persona continued. Mentally, snickered upon remembering his grandfather who had caught a small catfish.
There was one time that Persona's dad invites his grandparent to go fishing and saw how terrible luck his grandfather not able to get a big fish and compared the bearded man to his grandfather was a bit amusing to Persona, though, he and his grandfather were not close to each other.
“What kind of a fish is it?” Playing dumb
“Lake trout and of course! Only as great as I am can catch this kind of big fish! Ha!” He said, seeing the boy looking at him with admiration was starting to have a soft spot for the platinum haired boy.
Just little bit more!
“Really?” He look down, as if, he was disappointed. “Then... I can't catch a fish just like you?”
“Huh?”
“I mean...since you said only as great as you can catch big fish then I can't do it right?”
The bearded man looks at him with astonishment at Persona.
“That's not it, what I mean was, I am already had a lot of experience about fishing. Besides, if you want to be just like me, I can teach you.”
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
Your intimacy with Gustavo Maxwell increased!
You gained 200 fame!
Yes! Yes!
But to his dismayed, it was different from what he expected.
Gustavo Maxwell offered to teach you to become a Great Fisherman.
Once you accept this, you cannot change class.
Will you accept?YesNo
He shook his head.
“Hmm...Your offer is tempting but I only want to learn basic since I am so young...umm...and you know?” He said reluctantly.
“Kuh! Kids can't even say it properly!”
Persona felt a bit the intimacy decreased a bit but there's nothing he could do you know? If he said it awhile ago Gustavo would have refused.
“Umm...sorry.” Still acting.
“Whatever. Fine. Since you really want to learn fishing, I'll just teach you a basic. However, it is not free.”
Persona’s agaped. He knows that there's no such thing free but he thought that since he already increase his intimacy with him, he thought he could get it for free.
“H-how much?”
“That would be 70 silver and 50 copper but since you're a kid I'll just charge you 25 silver.”
“What?! 25 silver?!” He cried. If only this was not a game he wouldn't have a problem but a person who had just started and only have 2 silver and 50 copper that was a bit...expensive!
“Fine. 10 silver.” Gustavo grunted.
Tears shed in Persona's eyes. Now I know what it feels like to be poor.
The two of them were busy on their own and didn't even noticed a two couple walk passed through and only stop when they noticed Persona and Gustavo. It was as if the man was extorting money from a little kid.
“What a jerk! Aren't you a shame of yourself extorting money from a kid?” One of them said in mirthless voice.
Gustavo glared at the two couple, not wanting to misundertand by a second time he shouted. “I do no such an astrocious thing! Now get out of here you faggots!”
The couple got scared by the bearded man so they run away in a speed of light.
Gustavo sighed. Seriously, he's always been misunderstand by people whenever this kid near him. “Geez! You don't even have money yet you're asking a great me to teach you how to do fishing. Stop crying like wuss, fine, I teach you for free.”
It was only a shed a tears but it did help!
Persona's face lit up, next was he had received a notification.
Due to your continues doing the same special action, you had learned a new skill called 'Crocodile Tears' and the 'Art of Deception'.
Crocodile Tears Skill (Passive) Beginner Lv. 1/10: A skill that shows an expression of sorrow that are not sincere. Even the enemy will be there for you when in need.
Duration: 1 Minute and 50 Seconds.
Art of Deception (Passive) Beginner Lv. 01/10: A skill that will let your enemy be trick by decieving them and get what you want. A perfect tandem for 'Crocodile Tears'.
Gained 2 charisma points!
Gained 2 art points!
Gained 2 luck points!
What a bizzare skills!
Persona lowered his head to hide his wicked smile. Yes, indeed. He was still acting when he shed tears until he got the thing he always wanted. The only thing that caught him surprised was the price and felt how a poor person feels like but the rest was an act!
There was no way he let shameful thing happened again. Not in a million years.
“Before we get to started, what's your name, kid?”
“Persona.” He was now grinning from ear to ear.
This was fun! I finally found a breather.
Status WindowName:PersonaGender:MaleLevel:10Class:-Race:HumanMoney:0G 2S 50C-Attack Power:50Defense:15TitlesTrickster ☑Health:200/200Mana:100/100Fame:-Infamy:-Faith:-Leadership:--Vitality:10Agility:10Strength:10Intelligence:10Dexterity:10Wisdom:10Charisma:32Luck:12Art:21Stats points:0Sub-Class-Bonus Stats-