The vendor blushed, embarrassed for staring.

"Sorry for the look, it was rude of me, and thank you for your purchase!"

Dull nodded and continued walking, watching the baby chicken closely. It was still small, and he was worried that it might not look the same anymore once it grew up. He didn't want that, he wanted the chicken to remain cute, fluffy, and yellow, that's why he decided he had to take action and planned to do so when he had time.

In the future, Dull intends to get more baby chickens to create a small army at home.

'I'm glad I brought some supplies with me.'

The supplies he mentioned were still in his inventory. He could use them to change the chicken's biology later, ensuring it wouldn't grow up and would become much more intelligent.

Squawk! Squawk! Squawk!

Dull frowned when the baby chick got too loud.

"I'll play with you later, so be quiet."

As soon as he said this, the baby chicken fell asleep. Unnoticed, the box in his hand suddenly appeared as Dull walked away, slipping both hands into his pockets. Even with the large crowd, nobody saw the box vanish from Dull's hand.

His habit of buying things keeps him busy for a while, and his inventory likely already has many items from this world.

Of course, Dull only brought things that were new to him, like various plants and flowers, another bucket filled with different kinds of candies, and colorful stones sold in buckets.

Why did he pick up stones? Well, here's the story...

"These stones are very special and real. They are called wishing stones because people say they can make your wishes come true!"

A street vendor grabbed his hand and started talking about the stones, even though he hadn't shown any interest before. The vendor seemed eager to sell, making assumptions to push a sale.

"...Aren't they just regular stones?"

It was clear they were just rocks with no real value, yet they were priced ridiculously high.

"How can ordinary stones look this beautiful!? It can't be true!"

Even though he knew they were just regular stones, Dull found the bucket of colorful stones appealing. It was oddly satisfying.

"I'll take one then."

The vendor smiled brightly as Dull paid for the stone. And just like that, he added stones to his collection.

Aside from nonsense things he collected, Dull was also interested in fish, frogs, and snakes. He even picked up some insects after finding a shop full of them in the corner. He didn't get everything he wanted since he spent more time watching others than searching for things to take home, but he was happy with what he had for now.

Dull stood in front of a fountain after checking out or buying whatever he wanted. The sun glinted off the water, creating a shimmering spectacle that drew the eyes of passersby.

There were many people around, and even though he seemed almost human, he was still aware of his surroundings.

"Excuse me."

He turned to see a woman with straight brown hair and bangs, her features delicate and doll-like, framed by the soft light of the afternoon. She had a pretty face, the kind that could easily attract attention in a bustling market.

"Can I help you?"

He asked, his voice steady but curious. He noticed her gaze lingered on him, and he recalled the way she had been trailing him since he bought the baby chicken earlier. He doubted she saw him making purchases and disappearing, so she might have a different reason for approaching him.

"I saw you visiting the vendors. You seem like a tourist, so I wanted to warn you that they might be scamming you."

She said, her tone earnest, as if she were imparting a vital piece of wisdom.

Dull raised an eyebrow, already aware of the undercurrents of deception that often flowed through such markets.

"If you knew that, why didn’t you stop me sooner? It’s been three hours, and you only came to me now."

The woman looked surprised. She probably thought he would thank her for the warning, but instead, he pointed out that she took too long to intervene.

"I—"

She stammered, caught off guard.

"I... didn't know how to speak with you."

"Alright."

"I mean..."

"Do you have anything more to say?"

"...I'm sorry, please excuse me."

Noticing that he wasn't convinced and his face showed no interest, the woman decided to back out. She quickly walked away after that encounter, and Dull saw her heading toward a group of people hiding behind a building.

'Another scam.'

While he was reading about Jedi, he learned that many scams happen where people pretend to help you find your way around the city. They charge you for this help and take you to places they work with. If you eat there or pay for any service, these "tour guides" also earn money from it.

To make the scam work better, they often use good-looking people and focus on tourists who appear wealthy. They judge a tourist's wealth by their clothing and shoe brands.

'I don't mind being tricked if I'm buying things I like, but not this.'

It's quite annoying to have a tour guide as he prefers to explore at his own pace.

As night approached, the city was filled with people coming home from work and school. Many gathered in restaurants and night markets, creating a vibrant atmosphere. Although the crowds could be intense, Dull recognized the need to adjust to this new way of life, a choice he had made for himself.

'I would have really liked to explore, but right now, my main focus is finding an apartment.'

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

He has no place to sleep tonight and wants to avoid staying in parks at all costs. Although he could skip sleep because he doesn't actually need sleep at all, he knows it wouldn't help his situation. He realizes he needs to adjust to this new reality to fit in better.

The best way to get through this was to talk to the locals, who were kind enough to share details about the closest available apartments. Sadly, all the options they mentioned were quite pricey. When he inquired about cheaper places, they told him those were mostly on the city's outskirts. Since Dull preferred to live in the city center, he hurried to the nearest apartment building.

Belen City is large and has over a hundred apartments, making it easy for him to find one that matches his preferences. He chose the Legerdemain Exclusives, a luxury apartment complex that is likely the priciest in the area which stood tall at fifty stories.

'Wow. That's quite a height.'

He thought as he looked up at the structure. It made him think about how the ground below remains stable, even with so many people and so much weight above.

The building was huge and looked like a hotel, making him think it would be expensive. He was on vacation to unwind, so why would he settle for a tiny room? Since it was a vacation and he had enough money to be picky, he might as well pick the most comfortable option.

'Alright. I'll choose this one.'

Dull decided firmly as he entered the building. When he got to the entrance, the security guard raised an eyebrow and inquired about his reason for being there.

"I'm here to look at an apartment. This place seems to be the best in the city, so I wanted to take a look. Is there an issue?"

"May I see your ID, please?"

He took his ID from his wallet and gave it to the guards.

"Here it is."

They likely see him as someone with limited means who is not able to afford a unit here. If he were human, he might feel insulted. Luckily, he sees this as just a small hassle, not an offense.

If they upset him, it would be the end of everything. Just joking, he’s not that petty. However, Dull has never been offended in his long life so if they somehow offend him, he would actually compliment them, as it would be the first time he had ever felt offended.

"Everything checks out. You can go to the front desk now."

They returned his ID and opened the door for him.

He took out his ID and strolled inside. When he reached the front desk, he was asked if he had a realtor, to which he answered no.

"Please follow me."

The woman led him to a room on the first floor. Once they were settled, she began to ask questions.

"What kind of apartment are you looking for, Mr. Life?"

Dull Life, that's really his name.

"Is it just one bedroom or are there more?"

The woman kept talking, pulling Dull back from distraction.

"I want three rooms."

"Got it."

Usually, with a realtor, he wouldn't have to do everything by himself. But since he came without any plans, he had to take care of all the talks alone.

He needed a unit with three rooms and two bathrooms—one for himself and one for guests. It should be located between the 30th and 50th floors and have a balcony. The style and color don't matter, as long as his two main needs are met.

"Indeed, the price goes up with higher floors."

"That's fine."

The woman acknowledged his response and started searching for available units on the upper floors using the tablet. Dull waited quietly, sipping the water that was already on the table.

"Ah, there's an apartment open on the 42nd floor. The last tenant just moved out and canceled their lease. Would you like to check it out now or later?"

"I'd like to see it now. Actually, I'm hoping to move in today."

"Right away? Do you have any furniture that can be delivered today?"

"Not really. I could just sleep on the floor, so it’s fine."

She looked surprised and a bit concerned, asking if he could give her a moment. She mentioned that if he was moving in today, she wanted to offer him an apartment with second-hand furniture so he would have something to use until he could buy his own.

He didn’t really mind not having anything to sleep on because he could just float but still, he thanked her for her kindness and waited patiently.

After some time, the woman eventually found what apartment where she had been searching for him.

"I believe I spotted one on the 30th floor! Do you want to go see it together now?"

"Sure."

He was able to thoroughly check the apartment with the woman's supportive help. He didn't pay much attention to her comments about the place and didn't inspect it closely. He was happy as long as they provided what he wanted: three rooms and two bathrooms.

"Before we can approve a new tenant, we need to confirm one last detail. What is your occupation?"

This question was to ensure that a potential tenant from outside Belen City could manage the rent payments.

"I haven't found a job since moving here. However, I used to work as a scientist at the Talon Local Research Institution."

He showed his ID while making this claim.

This was a lie, and the ID was fake. Still, his name and profile were on the website. He made sure to be listed among the scientists on the Talon Local Research Institution's public site. Only those actively searching for his name would find his profile, a tactic to avoid detection by the website's moderator.

If they had contacted the institute, they would have discovered his dishonesty. However, he doubted they would take that step as long as he kept up with the rent.

The woman nodded, satisfied, and returned his fake ID. He completed the lease agreement and made a payment covering five months in advance.

***

The apartment was roomy, with both a shower and a bathtub, two separate rooms, and a balcony. The best part was that it was on the 30th floor, offering a breathtaking view. Even though the rent was more than he could afford, he wanted a comfortable place to unwind, steering clear of a shabby apartment filled with pests.

As he lay back on the cozy bed, Dull turned on his "Screen" with a quick swipe of his finger. Several see-through displays popped up, showing various information, such as the status of his test subjects, the heart rates of those in incubators, and the condition of his research facility and tools.

The Screen is part of a System, which is a tool that helps connect and explore the vast Nothingness. Its official name is the "All-Encompassing Information Management System," or AEIM System, but Dull prefers to call it just "Screen" because the full name is too long and the "AEIM System" is too basic.

The AEIM System was created to give easy access to many worlds and universes by collecting and organizing data. Over time, it has changed to not only store information but also to act as a lively platform for social media and communication, allowing users to interact from far away.

While the System contains a lot of valuable information, some files are restricted and need special permission to access, similar to a computer system. Users can only see what the moderator, who created the AEIM System, allows them to view.

The most helpful feature of the AEIM System is the "Cosmic Conversations." It lets everyone in the Nothingness communicate and connect, regardless of their location in the universe or the distance between them. This chatroom is not only practical but also the safest way to share information, keeping your important details away from enemies.

The system is very convenient, but at the moment, Dull is acting like a human, so he turned off many functions of the System. Even though it's just a system, it has a strong presence that even regular people can sense, that's why he needed to do this. At the moment, its performance is no better than a regular computer.

'I’m curious if they will tell me to return and just leave me alone.'

If it were only his boss, he wouldn't have received any message. His boss would have sent someone to bring him back by any means as soon as they read his letter. But it's hard to say for sure now since Dull got some help to escape the headquarters.

"Alright then..."

Dull went ahead and clicked on the message. He felt no fear in opening the message, but he was worried about facing a tougher punishment. When the message finally appears, he reads each word as if his life depended on it.

"... ."

《 Cosmic Conversations (Private Room): Left Hand

[Left Hand]: So, you chosen to flee from your punishment? How delightfully reckless of you.

[Left Hand]: Under normal circumstances, you wouldn’t have made it past the parking lot. The security at the headquarters is more than sufficient to stop you from leaving.

[Left Hand]: That individual helped you, didn’t they? 》

The mention of "that individual" sent a jolt through him.