Ch 27 Out and About
Appearing in his nearly empty apartment felt strange. It had been five months for him since he’d seen his home. But it didn’t feel like home anymore. Especially with out his belongings. Sure he had left the larger furniture, but he had taken his clothes and dishes and all his smaller things. The apartment belt bare for lack of care. It had only been five days but there was a lack of presence. I had the urge to clean the apartment, but didn’t. There was nothing to clean. Nothing had changed except my perspective.
Standing there for a few minutes, I nearly felt lost. I felt changed. There was a dissonance between what is and what was. To them it had been five days. To me it had been five months. Iifelt so alone for a moment. I don’t think I will do that again any time soon. At least not that long. Maybe a month. But not five.
Sighing I went and sat down at the computer chair. I could afford a couch now. Or maybe I should go lay down. That sounds like a better idea. I lay down in my super comfy bed. Just laying there. Relaxing. I can’t even dose off, I slept less than ten hours ago.
“Raven, lets start selling everything off.”
“Confirmed.”
“List the suggested prices of the bags.”
“Suggested prices of attic fanny pack 30 credits, basement messenger 50, basement backpack 70 credits.”
“Ok so ill sell them for, 50 credits, 75 credits and 100 credits.”
“Confirmed.”
“And the clothes?”
Suggested prices follow, pristine only. Knee length skirt, knee length shorts, tshirt, simple buttons shirt, simple pants, all suggested price of 40 credits. Simple bra, plain boxers, plain underwear. Vaulted at 50 credits.”
“Ok for the 40 credits make it 60, for the 50 credits make it 75.”
“Confirmed.”
“And the suggested prices for durability and pristine?”
“Suggested prices as follow, knee length skirt and shorts, simple tshirt, pants, and bra. Plain underwear and boxers. All for 75 credits.”
“Okay. So lets make it 100 credits for all.”
“Confirmed.”
So that’s done. Didn’t think it would be hard. But that was faster than I thought it would be. I guess it doesn’t take much thought when I’m less worried about money. I’m scared of looking at my credit balance. But I want to level up. So maybe a nap wouldn’t be so bad. With that I closed my eyes and hoped for a level up.
***
Opening my eyes, it felt like hours later. I suppose I was stressed enough talking to everyone. I called status.
Name
Level
Exp Gain
Credits
Arthur Turner
3
126%
173988
Holy shit. I knew there would be a lot, but over a hundred thousand? Way beyond my expectations. I wanted to giggle. This was like at the beginning again. Too much overload.
I sighed and just sat there. Just let myself feel for a bit. Five days. Here I was thinking people wouldn't notice. Instead, they barely noticed, and it wasn’t even remarked on. But it was five days, and they just got on with it. I made a hundred thousand dollars in what seemed to be minutes. But I had put the effort in. It was just easier for me now. I never could have imagined it to be so easy to make so much money so fast.
I leaned back in my chair. My life basically took a 180 and I just did a U-turn with it. But now I have to sit and think. The guard doesn't need me. I can run the people from DMC still to keep my promise. When the guild starts picking up, I'll run people there too. But I don't actually need to be there? I have more than enough credits to do whatever I want. And all I really wanted was to make another type of enchantment. I couldn't do that in the dungeon because I was so focused on finishing up the clothes and the kits, that I never stopped to think of doing something new.
But now I can walk around and get ideas. What would be good? The toilet and shower set up might only be a temporary stopgap. The system has full on houses for sale, but no one can afford those yet. There are campers and vans for sale in the system. So why didn't it have a public restroom?
“Raven, set up the shower and toilet to be sold please.”
“Affirmative. Shower module standalone with enchantments will be listed. Suggested price for commercial use is 150 credits. For private use is 500 credits.” wow, that was a lot more than I thought it would be.
“And the toilets? With the pristine tags dispenser?”
Toilet module listed for commercial use is 75 credits, and private use is 250 credits.” still ouch. Ok, I'll buy a few of them myself and set them up commercially in the parking garage. Then people can use them, and I would get paid back in no time.
“Ok let's make the price a bit above the suggested prices, ok? I still want to make money off of them. For commercial use, I get paid still, right?”
“Affirmative. User will be paid 2 credits for every use.”
“Any whoever buys the commercial use one will also get paid, right?”
“Affirmative. Purchaser will be paid 2 credits every use.”
“So what does the system make?”
“System gains 1 credit every use.”
“Ok, so if I purchased and placed the commercial ones, id be making 4 credits from every use?”
“Confirmed.”
I was alrigth with that. Now to the private use ones. Those would be too expensive for most people as they are now. But not for too long so I should raise the prices.
“For the private use toilet make it 400 credits. And the private use shower make it 750 credits. I want to make some money off those in the long term.”
“Confirmed.”
That taken care of. “Go ahead and list them all. Can I purchase and place them with out being there?”
“Negative. Must be near space for placement.”
Well looks like im going to the parking garage. I get up and put my real pants back on. The sturdy denim feels strange wearing only simple cotton shorts for so long. I put on a button down shirt. And my sandals. Then I pristine myself. I had gotten used to the feeling of always being clean. I didnt want to go without it now.
I thought of my star board and hit the button for the dungeon.
*
Appearing on the sidewalk outside the parking garage I realized how late it was. Might have been 10 or 11 pm I couldn't remember the date, but I think it was still June. It had been five days. That still blew my mind. I would have to check my diary. Maybe I should keep writing in it. That might be a good idea. Not like anyone can get to it, in my inventory.
I duck into the first level of the parking garage and regret it. It smelled terrible. The unwashed human stench. I creeped around the marked areas of where people were keeping to themselves. Seems like most everybody kept a 12 cycle. To run twice a day. Some people were asleep, some were awake. I got some odd look from people.
I found the stairwell going up and the open space I was looking for. It would be a tight for for a shower, but I knew it was needed. “Raven, can you make it so that the commercial shower has instructions and directions on it? Also warning label only one can enter at a time?”
“Confirmed.”
“Go ahead and purchase a commercial shower module then and place it here as far back as you can then.”
“Confirmed.”
The shower appeared in front of me, but no longer was it in a tent like structure. Now it was covered in tiles about six feet by six feet and seven feet high. Looking more like a square building. Like what a campground shower would look like. I'm glad I remembered to put a light in. Raven had placed it against the barrier to the outside. Set it neatly next to the stairwell. It was a light blue color, reminiscent of the system, so I guess the system approved of it. The one door faced to the open side towards where the driving lanes were. I wanted to duck in and see what had changed, but I still had things to do.
“Alright, think we can fit two toilets here, Raven? They can be on the side of the shower facing away from the lanes.”
“Affirmative. Space for three toilets has been remodeled.”
“Alright purchase three commercial toilets then.”
“Confirmed”
Three cubicle like squares appeared before me, in a nice neat row. In the same tile as the shower. Also, with instructions and directions thankfully. They seemed to be spacious enough. Certainly, twice as big as a port-a-potty. Maybe three by three and seven feet high? Enough room to maneuver easily.
With these set up, I think I'll go up each level and start setting up more where I can. There are enough people here.
The next level had even more people and less space, so I set up three bathrooms. I went around the ramp a bit to find space for the shower, but I did eventually. Instead of taking the stairs I walked the whole garage looking for space to put another shower or more toilets.
In total I put in 6 showers and 18 toilets. I think that is a good amount. They were scattered so I asked Raven if the system could make signs for people looking for them.
“System will notify those now looking for shower or toilet where closest ones is if they have 5 credits or more.”
I suppose that was good enough. Maybe this will remind people they can purchase pristine tags. If they all have the first clear reward they can buy the tags at any time. Maybe I should have put a selling tag dispenser outside each bathroom stall. Too late now.
“hey Raven, could the system add a tag dispenser selling pristine tags outside each toilet and shower?”
There was no repsonse for a moment.
“Affirmative, system has added a dispenser selling pristine tags outside all commercial shower and toilet modules.”
Sweet, didnt see that coming, but I'd make more. And then people wouldn't have to rush to shower as well. They could clean their armor and such much easier too. And their clothes.
I kind of wanted to make signs about what the new rooms were but it was late, and I was done with walking around.
I headed outside the parking garage over to where the guards were. I figured I could give them a private use each too. I wasnt sure how they were handling it, but it couldnt be much better.
Finding the are blocked off by fencing I waved a guard over. He gave me a funny look. I supposed it was fater 1 am on a sunday morning.
“Can I help you sir?” the guardsman asked.
“Yeah, I promised something to sergeant Sorko and wanted to deliver it as soon as I could. No chance he is awake is he?”
“No sir, only sarge awake right now is Wilco. And she isnt the happiest about it.”
“Think she would mind talking to me? My name is Arthur Turner.”
“Oh! Youre the guy they thought dead! Um, I can ask. But its not up to me.”
“Thats all I could ask of you. Just tell her there won’t be a stench problem anymore in the parking garage.”
“Yes, sir. I can ask her.”
He turns away from me and starts a conversation on his radio. There is some back and forth, eventually he turns back to me and asks.
“Uh sir, is this part of the too many people running problem, the not enough armor problem, or the feeding the guard problem?”
I blinked a moment. “Sorry to burst your bubble, but this is me delivering on the bathroom problem. Its solved.”
He paused and repeated back my words intot he radio. After a few more minutes, he moved the gate open and waved me in.
“Just wait here, another guard will come to get you.”
I nodded to him. I stood to the side so there wasn't any issue of me waiting. I just idled there. Maybe 15 minutes. Another guard came up to me, “Turner?” I nodded to him, he waved me to follow him and turned around and started jogging back the way he came.
So, I started jogging to keep up with him. I needed to work out more. I hadn't done much in the way of exercising. And it was showing. The guard noticed and slowed a bit for me, for which I was grateful.
We came to a through up building. I couldn't remember if it was the same one or not, but he led me in. He saluted the woman sitting at a desk further in and left me there.
I waited a moment and approached her. I stayed silent as it seemed she was busy, but I didn't sit down. Just waited.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
She set her papers down and looked at me. “Most men would have taken it for granted they are allowed to sit.” she stated
“Most men aren't intimidated by a women in uniform.” was my reply. I didn't know why. But she had an authority to her. For some reason I didn't think she was just a sergeant.
She huffed a laugh. And waved me to sit. So, I did. “What have you got for me then? You said a solution to our bathroom problem?”
I nodded. “Both commercial and private shower and separate toilet. Commerical someone pays five credits to use and its fairly cheap to place, whoever buys it gets two credits every time it's used. Private. No one has to pay to use it. Commercial I get two credits every time it's used too.” I explained to her. I continued. “I placed 6 showers and 18 toilets in the parking garage. I don't know how many people are there, but it seemed like a lot. I tried to find as many spaces as I could. I think that's enough, but if not, I can place more outside.”
She stared at me. “You placed commercial showers and toilets where people were barely bathing? I should thank you, but it seems like you're making money off it.” I nodded to that. “What can you do for me then? I won't have you charging my men to shit and shower.”
I winced. “i wouldnt. I owe Sorko. I would place private shower and toilets here somewhere you want them. I dont know how many you need though. The private ones are more expensive so I was hoping to do it on loan, and at half cost?”
She gave me a hard look. “so we pay half the cost, and you pay the rest? But we get free bathrooms as many as we want?” I nodded to her.
“Basically yes. The showers are 750 credits and the toilets are 400 credits. But they come with pristine tags in them so you will be perfectly clean no matter what.”
She thought for a moment. Then pulled a sheet of paper and started writing down calculations. I couldnt see what she was writing. It was too far across the desk. But I assumed she was trying to figure out how many she needed of each. So, I sat back.
“This isnt a one time deal. Anytime yall need more its the same offer.” she stopped what she was doing. And looked at me. Then set the paper aside.
“In that case I'll have someone look over how we operate in regards to bathroom use and see what we need on a daily basis. For now I'd like ten showers and twenty toilets. Do I need to show you where to place them?”
I hummed for a moment. “Raven, can I transfer ownership to her?”
“Confirmed.”
“Buy the private ones and give her the ownership so she can place them as she wishes. With directions but without tag dispensers.”
“Confirmed.”
I look back at Wilco. “Or you can check your system window and see that you now have ownership and you can place them where you like. I purchased them in your name.”
She drew in a breath. “i didnt know you could do that.”
“I think its becuase I created them?” I hoped so at least. Otherwise people were going to be coorced into giving credits away.
She nodded to me. “In that case is there anything else I can help you with Turner? I believe we will owe you 5,750 credits as of now. You will be paid it a timely manner I assure you.”
I waved her off. “did yal figure out the whole bank an organization credit bank?”
She blinked at me. “Yes, we did. The guards are getting paid in money and the are using their credits to buy armor for the rest of the guard. They are allowed to keep a third the credits they make. We have been able to outfit the entire unit this way.”
I was glad for that. But what was the guard going to do with so many credits? I shook my head. “I can tell you about some more wands if you like. Sealant is like the most precise bandage, pristine is the best cleaner. There is also force bolt and gravity wands, which I know I showed yall a week ago. You can buy those from the system store. Did anyone buy the first clear reward yet?”
She looked at me confused. “why would we waste 10 thousand credits like that?”
I shrugged. “you get a personal ai, so you dont need a bus stop. And it answers all you questions about the system so. I know I seemed to be talking to air but I was talking to Raven, my personal AI.” I keep forgetting no one else can see or hear Raven.
She blinked at me. “And you didnt mention this to anyone?”
I blinked. “I did, but we were in a bit of a rush at the time.”
She sighed again. “fine, whatever. I can deal with it. Anything else Mr. Turner?” I shrugged.
“I hope you have a better night? Also, the shower doesn’t run out of hot water.” She laughed at me, and I walked out. Clearly, I was dismissed.
I found the same guard waiting outside. He had the same blank face on. He must have heard her laughing then. I wondered what he thought of that.
He led the way to the gate I came in at. So, I walked to it, knowing I could have ported home from there, but I decided I was supposed to be polite to my friends. Once we reached the gate I walked a little ways off, then ported home.
*
Only to realize it was 2am and I was bored. Like I had nothing I wanted to do here. I had been staying active in the dungeon, and I just kept going, and now I had down time outside. But everything was closed and everyone was asleep. I pulled my phone from my pocket to see if there were any stores open nearby. I was in luck.
Two big box stores, a bit further away from me were 24 hours. I would have had to take my car but that wasn't a problem anymore. It was 2am the only traffic I would have to worry about were drunks. And cops. But since I was sober, I should be fine.
Getting into my car was strange. It took me a moment to remember what the hell I was supposed to do. I had forgotten my keys were in my inventory first of all. Then I had forgotten the gas pedal from the brake. It came back to me, like riding a bike. But the first few moments were jerky. It had been five months since I'd driven my car.
Maybe I should invest in a system car? Mine was a junker I bought for cheap. It was supposed to be a fixer, but I never had the money for parts. It literally cost more to fix it than it was worth at this point. Maybe I'll just wait for it to die.
I pulled up the directions from my phone then had a thought. “Raven, can you connect to my phone and direct me to the store I want to go to?”
“Affirmative, would user like system window in view or voice directions?”
“What do you mean by system window?”
“System window will show on road where user just needs to follow road.”
“So, like altered reality? You can do that?”
“Affirmative. Raven can affect what user sees in real time.”
I pause and take a deep measured breath. Ok stop taking another deep breath. Raven just said she can alter what I view in real time. No one else can see or hear Raven. Raven was a system induced hallucination. Fuck. And I had been responding as if Raven were a person. Fuck fuck fuckity fuck. Altered reality. Fuck. I gripped the steering wheel so hard it creaked. It was a good thing I was still parked otherwise I would have crashed. My mind had gone blank. The system was still fucking with my head, and I let it. I welcomed it. Fucking shit.
First clear reward. Any answer from the system. It was in my head the whole fucking time. I shuddered through a few more breaths. I wanted to cry from frustration. There was nothing I could do about it now. I had the convivence of the system being right next to me. Because it was dicking around in my head. I don't know what it wanted but it was learning from us.
Shit, the bathrooms. It took my tents and turned it into campground bathrooms. Because I said people were camping there. Fuck. Shit. This was too much all of a sudden.
Then I was calm. My skill had kicked in. Now I knew how they worked, the system was in my head. When it got to be too much the system knew I needed the skill. I calmed down. My breathing normalized out. I went about pulling my car into the street and driving to where I needed to go. The blue lines on the street guiding me to the store.
I was calm the entire time. I arrived at the store calmly. I was mentally processing everything just fine in a rational manner. This is what the system needed calm, rational people to run the dungeons and use mana. Not people panicking over what the system is doing and figuring out the system is changing them.
I breathed out and let my emotions go. And with it, the system let me go. I was myself once more. Standing int the middle of the store half a cart filled with random items I thought were somehow important.
For some reason there was a lot of yarn. My head felt too full. So, I went to the shoe section to find someplace to sit down. Finding a chair. I sat. And just breathed. I tried to list things I smelled. Things I heard. It was calming me down. I was alone in this section, which was good. But right then I could have used someone to talk to. And there wasn't anyone.
I wouldn't pour this shit on anyone. I couldn’t tell anyone what the system was doing. It would only hurt them, make them realize what was happening. I would let them have their ignorance. I wish I had kept mine. If I had never taken a mental skill I likely wouldn't have noticed.
I started counting my breathing. Breath in on a four count. Hold for two breath out on four. Made me a little light headed, but it helped. Just let my anxiety fade away.
When I came bake to myself, there was an older man standing not too far away from me. He was staring at me. I waved at him, he nodded to me.
“you're too young to have fought, but you look like you just had a life or death moment son.” I wanted to laugh, but I would have lost it then. I breathed deeply.
“Anxiety, ive been running the dungeon. I have a mental skill. I got overwhelemd and it kicked in. I wasnt expecting it. Sorry to have bothered you.” he looked me over.
“young’uns are doing that then? Dunegon running? Killing monsters? Whats it worth then?”
I looked at him then. He was a proper war vet. One of the true old timers. So, I would tell him the truth. “The future. When the government falls, and the machines we rely on stop working. We will need the new ones we can buy or make from the System. When phones don't work, when cars don't run. When bullets don't kill a man. The System is the future of the human race. This is just the starting point. We need to prepare for what comes next. The System brought us the attention of the universe, and the universe will come to us. It's only a matter of time.”
He looked like he wanted to laugh at me, but I was dead serious. “Tell me then, boy. Tell me of this future from the system?”
“We get credits from the dungeon, we buy from the system using credits. Somethings are comparable to what we have now. Some things are fantastical and won't be available for twenty years from now.” as I say this, I pull my e-reader. “like this. It isn't man made. Its from the system, if humans were able to make it the tech wouldn't be available for twenty to thirty years.” I showed it to him, how the reader looked and felt like a book, but I could scroll, how it held much more than just a library. “we have access to magic and technology that we couldn't have dreamed of, but people don't want to believe it yet. That they things they know and rely on and going to fail. That their children will become superhuman. That they can live without ever going hungry. That there will be power imbalance between men. That the forces we rely on are changing. Hell, I mad something that gives you a perfect clean the first day, can I show you?” I ask him. He looked wary but slowly nodded. I pulled out a pristine tag.
“This is how I started, just a scrap of paper writing a tag, enchanting it with my will. Now would you say your jacket is dirty?” he looked down at the suit jacklet folded over his arms and shook his head.
“What if I said it could be cleaner? It could be pristine? May I?” I held my hand out for the jacket he was reluctant to do so, but held it up. That was good enough, so I set the tag on the jacket and applied a bit of mana. Then shook the jacket a little.
There was a cloud of debry coming from it. It vaporized instantly but the jacket looked brand new all of a suddn. The man looked shocked.
“Like I said, pristine condition. Such as like new. First day I made it. Second enchantment I made was autosize. My guess you carry your jacket becuase it doesnt quite fit well, correct?” he looked at me and nodded. “Please put your jacket on. I put on autosize on and it will be the perfect fit.”
He put the jacket on. It strained a little in the shoulders. Looks like he had put muscles on in his years. I pulled an autosize from my inventory and applied it. The jacket shifted and the mans face was a bit comical. But I made a motion that it was all fine. Then the jacket settled around him.
It suited him well. He cut an imposing figure. He stood at a bit of a lean, but with strength to him. I should have asked him his name. “my name is Arthur by the way, yours?”
“Oscar. Thank you for this, you dont know how much this means to me.”
“Well Oscar your pants should match your jacket, want another prisitne?” he grinned at me.
“If you don't mind.”
Instead of a tag I pulled my pristine wand. And whispered riposte.
“Tags aren't all I do. I made them into wands. But the drawback is one wand to a person. But a person can have multiple wands. So, this is my pristine wand. Better clean than a shower, except your mouth. The dust doesn't vaporize before it hits your taste buds.” I made a grimace at him. He laughed at me.
“You are a good man Arthur, I do have a favor to ask of you. Where would I get the auto size tags? Are the only for sale by credits?”
I looked him over, a bit confused. “Yeah sorry, I didn't make them into wands, not much need. They're pretty much a one and done type thing.”
“Not so much young man. You see there is something you don't know. Something I have to constantly adjust to, especially the size.” As he says this, he pulled up his right pant leg. There was no leg, but a prosthetic. A partially metal one without a fake skin. He was wearing a shoe with a fake foot. But I could tell. His leg was hurting him. So, I pulled out another auto size and held it up.
“Where would the best place for this to be? The actual place that is holding your leg or the overall things? I have plenty more tags to use.” He looked at me dead in the eyes and started to cry. It was silent tears. I just fumbled. What had caused this dignified old man to cry in the middle of the night?
So, I pulled out three more auto sizes. “Just tell me? I might have to re shape the whole thing, but I can. I never made an auto size wand. But now I see the need to.”
His silent tears dried up. “Thank you young man. There are some night the war still gets to me. That I need to see people still exist in their daily lives, just existing. That is why I'm here in the middle of the night. Then I saw you, and I thought. Here is a young man going through the same thing I am. But instead of condolences you offer me solutions. Two things I never thought I would achieve. Freedom from pain. That is worth its weight in gold.”
i was a little stunned. I knew of pyschosamatic pain. But I didnt realise that there was actual trauma involved in getting a prosthetic.
“Have a seat Oscar, let's see what I can do for you. Would you mind taking your leg off? So, I can see how it works? I don't want it to shrink on you.”
As I get up and offer the seat to him, he gratefully sits down. He doesn't bother removing the shoe. But instead pulls the pant leg to just above his knee. Where I see he has a stump. He carefully undoes a series of Velcro's. Revealing the inner working of his prosthetic. It was metal wrapped around foam holding his sock covered knee. I see how it worked now. He had his knee joint still so he could walk almost normally, but he couldn't lean well on his right leg. Thats why he could wear normal shoes.
I started having ideas. Pristine socks for joints. Some kind of cushion enchantment for the foam, an auto size for the foam and metal? The metal wasn't a solid piece going down. There was an ankle joining. Kind of a ball socket. The foot barely rotated, but it was enough that it wasn't flat all the time.
I saw that there were actually layers of foam. I needed more than one auto size for each. I needed a wand. Too bad I didn't have any wood right now. I still had my pristine wand in hand, so I shot everything pristine. Oscar laughed a bit at me. I only grinned.
He massaged his sock covered stump for a few moments. So, I just waited. When he looked ready, I asked. “Ok so it looks like I need to hit each layer of foam and the metal itself. Starting from inside out. You ok with me getting a bit more personal?”
He laughed. “You man, I think you holding my leg is as personal as we can get right now!” I laughed with him. That was true. We were both dressed in a store at 3am and I was holding his fake leg after inspecting it.
“Time to get started then. Show me how you usually get it on.”
He did so moving slowly. I stopped him every few moments. Holding an auto size to each layer of foam when it was it contact with him, or in contact with the previous layer. It took a while. Because he had to do the straps while I had to have my fingers on the tags holding the auto size to the foam layers.
Eventually we got all the straps done. And he stood and straightened his pant leg. He wobbled for a moment, so I held out my arm.
“Is the metal off center or wrong size now?” I asked quickly, worried that I had messed something up.
He was grinning. “No sir! It hurts so much less! Like there is much less pressure in any one spot!” He laughs long and loud. I blinked, I suppose that was the point. But I didn't understand, hurt less? It wasn't supposed to hurt at all.
“But it still hurts?” I asked him.
“Oh yes lad, but that is because I'm standing on it you see. If Iwasn't it wouldn't hurt. But I can stand on it and not be in throbbing pain! This is wonderful!” Oscar seemed happy with the lessening of his pain, but I was confused. It still hurt, but he was happy?
I had a thought burning in the back of my head, could the healers work on old injuries? Have they tried? Should I pick up a healing skill besides myself?
“Thank you so much Arthur this truly made my day! I can walk much easier now and not grimace every step. Why my wife might even want to go dancing again!”
I blinked at that. “Uh, more power to you then. I'm glad I was able to help. I'll set about making an auto size wand then. Find some prosthetic hospitals and selling them there.” I told Oscar. He came to a stop.
“Selling the wands? You do that?”
“Well yeah? I'm selling pristine and sealant wands to DMC now. Not for credit but currency. As long as currency lasts at least. They would probably know where the auto size wands need to go.”
Oscar was giving me a hard look. “Do you mean Dallas medical center?” I nodded.
“Are you telling me you are selling wands to civilian hospitals?” I nodded again.
“Are you not selling to military hospital's?” I shook my head. Then I defended myself.
“Only because I don't know where any military hospitals would let me. Or where I could just walk in and sell them. They are for sell in the system store and I made sure the guard was aware of them.”
Oscar gave me a hard look. “You young man are honest at least. Would you be willing to sell them to the military for currency as well? The autosize wands included?”
“Sure, if you know who would take them?” I asked him.
He grinned. “why me of course, let me introduce myself properly. Oscar Wilco former Major of the US Marines.” I blinked at him. I couldnt remeber how high up a major was but it was a big deal. Why former?
I wanted to ask but decided it was best not to. “So uh Wilco? Happen to have a daughter in the guard?” was my dumb move.
H elaughed. “Yes my little girl wanted to prove herself. And chose the one branch I hated most. The national guard. The stay at homes. Well she is a sergeant now. So, I suppose she's done something right.”
Oscar was standing there, now in what I recognize as parade rest. Well shit. Im in for it. I suppose I could make a bunch of autosize wands. Just need time and wood. And not go back to the dungeon.
“So, uh. Oscar. Where would I go to sell the pristine and selant wands? Ive been selling them for 500$ each. And ive got a few thousand on me. I dont know how many auto size wands I can make. I was only able to make that many because I was in the dungeon for a few months. You might have heard about that?”
He glanced at me. “I might have. So youre the one that they got into a tizzy over, Turner wasnt it?”
“Yes sir. Thats me the enchanter.”
“hmmm. Lets arrange to meet at a more hosipitable time. Say 10 am? I assume you know where the fort is?”
I nodded. Dallas and Fort Worth were considered the same metropolis.
“Good. There is a coffee shop across the street from the entrance named Majors Stop. Meet me there, 10 am.”
I nodded to him. Looks like I have a set time. “Yes sir.” with that he collected himself and strode off. A far more pwoerful stride than I would have imagined a man with a fake leg.