[Page 2: Trusty Iron Wrench - Item

Effect: It’s an iron wrench.

Remark: Plumbers, handymen, and the like negotiate deals up close and in person. So, a wrench, their signature tool, must be a great way to negotiate.

Hint: The stains aren’t rust.]

Micah only had to read it once to understand what the second page of his ability was. But since he didn’t want to believe it, he read it again. But it only made the disappointment on his face grow deeper.

“That’s disappointing.”

Micah couldn’t even refute Baldas. But he didn’t cling to how underwhelming his second page was.

“How do I use it?”

Although the second page wasn’t as good or useful as Micah and Baldas had expected or hoped, it was still a part of his ability. So, it was necessary to learn how to use it or activate it, even if it wasn’t what he had hoped to get.

Micah looked at Baldas as he waited for an answer.

“Why’re you looking at me? It’s your ability.”

Micah wasn’t sure if he should believe that Baldas didn’t know anything. But it wouldn’t do anything to press for an answer, so he looked at the holographic screen with the book in front of him.

He looked at Page Two and, more precisely, the picture of a classic, adjustable iron wrench below the description.

When he first got sent to Hell and interacted with the system screen for the first time, Micah confirmed that his hand just went through it unless he tapped specific things like the rim or the tabs. He didn’t know how it worked, but that wasn’t important.

What was important was the fact that the picture of an iron wrench felt more real than the other parts of the screen. With nothing to lose, Micah reached out toward the picture of the iron wrench and pushed his fingers into the screen.

Micah’s fingers went through the screen. But Micah quickly noticed that they didn’t pass through the screen as if it was a hologram. They entered the screen. That much was enough for Micah to confirm his guess, and he dipped his entire hand into the system window.

Micah smiled as his hand clasped around the nostalgic feeling of cold metal as he grabbed the iron wrench by the handle and pulled it out of the page.

The dark matte grey iron wrench was almost as long as the distance between Micah’s elbow and fingers, and it had the weight and heft to match. Micah thumped it against his other hand to get a feel for it as he admired the solidity of the item.

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The wrench had stains like the description warned about, and they were, unsurprisingly, concentrated around the wrench’s head, so they didn’t bother Micah, despite the ominous hint. If anything, they made sure Micah knew how to use the wrench as part of a negotiation tactic.

Micah swung the wrench around a little more before putting it back inside the holographic book in front of him.

“What are you going to do now?”

Baldas asked Micah as he stood. Since Micah had already accomplished so much and gotten as much pol as he had in only a couple of days, Baldas was curious about what Micah was going to do next.

Micah walked toward the stairs as he threw a glance back at Baldas.

“Why don’t you decide?”

“Me?”

Micah’s suggestion flustered Bladas, and he fluttered his wings a little more than usual as he caught up to Micah and flew next to him. But after considering it, Baldas began seriously thinking about it.

“No. I’m just kidding. We’re going to Pride’s Mansion again.”

Baldas was relieved that he didn’t have to come up with what they were going to do. But at the same time, he was also a little saddened for some strange reason. Baldas quickly picked himself back up and didn’t let his momentary melancholy show on his face.

“How is a wrench supposed to help you get in contact with Pride?”

“Are you underestimating the powers of wrenches now? Right in front of my face?”

Micah almost looked like he was going to take out the wrench and show Baldas what he meant.

“Not at all! Yay! Wrenches for the win!”

“Good.”

Micah nodded with a satisfied expression as Baldas hurried to support wrenches.

“But seriously, though? How is a wrench going to help?”

Micah glanced at Baldas out of the corner of his eye before looking around conspiratorially.

“Do you really want to know?”

“Y-yeah.”

Baldas gulped and followed Micah’s gesture to move closer so that he could whisper what he was going to say. Baldas even folded two of his wings to do something that made it look as if he was standing on Micah’s shoulder.

Baldas waited with bated breath for Micah to begin. The way he had looked around and then invited him next to his ear made it seem as if he was going to share some kind of great secret. Baldas was naturally curious.

“Gfahk!”

However, he was unpleasantly surprised when, instead of explaining anything, Micah blew on him. The cold air hit his eyeball directly, and Baldas fell off Micah’s shoulder while making a weird noise.

“Not gonna tell ya!”

After regaining his balance, Baldas directed a furious glare at Micah, who just grinned and skipped out of the building. Baldas swore bloody vengeance. But for obvious reasons, that would have to happen sometime in the future. At the moment, Baldas was powerless to do anything to Micah.

Baldas flew after Micah from a distance. The two passed through town without disturbing anyone or getting disturbed. After a day, during which the underlings of Wither went around collecting protection fees, and half a night, during which the Cube held its grand opening, it was soon time for a new day to begin.

At that time, Micah would quickly get busy again, and he would probably stay busy. But there was still a little while to go before the new day began, and everyone got more pol according to his estimate, so Micah decided to take a short trip to Pride’s Mansion and begin trying to complete his First Task.