Grifter:

* A unique starting class centered on deceit and cunning, awarded only to those with prior experience.

* This class has no limits—your success hinges entirely on your wits and how well you use your greatest asset: your brain. Succeed, and the world is yours. Fail, and the consequences are as brutal as they come.

* Stat Bonuses: +1 Appeal, +1 Dex, +1 Con, +1 Str, +2 Perception, +1 Mana, +2 Int, +1 Free Point

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The details are vague, hinting that I can do anything and get whatever I want, but without specifics, it’s all just empty promises. I’m left wondering how to make any of it work.

Do I even want this class? No! I left this profession for a reason. I wanted to stop lying and find something genuine for once.

“Says the guy who’s built his life on lies,” the overseer sneers, catching my eye. “Every fiber of your being is a lie, Colt? Colt, what Colt? There’s no Colt here. It’s all Grey, isn’t it? That’s the name dear mama and papa gave you. Oh, what their sweet boy has become.”

“And what has he become?” I ask, barely containing my annoyance.

The overseer leans in. “A true liar, but too scared to admit it. Why hesitate to embrace your real self, Grey?" His voice is low, almost coaxing. “You lied your way into that bank job, just to start over. Lied to get new customers, to boost your image. Lied for that promotion, to get your name out there. You built the entire existence of Colt on lies. And yet, you dare to chase something real. If that’s not the height of hypocrisy, I don’t know what is. Face it, Grey. You’re a liar through and through. Own it.”

I take a deep breath, trying to steady my fraying nerves. He’s got a point. I’ve lied my way into everything I ever wanted. Colt was supposed to be my way out, a fresh start, but all I did was polish my grifting skills. And yeah, the truth? I’ve always had the option to stop, to go straight, to find something real. But I didn’t. Why? Because lying’s easy. People eat it up, and I’m bloody brilliant at it. Always have been.

This whole quest for something genuine was just a way to ease my conscience. I told myself, “Once I find something real, I’ll stop lying,” knowing full well I’d never actually find it. It was just another lie I fed myself to keep the game going.

Lies. Lies. Lies. That’s who I am. That’s why the system slapped me with the grifter class. Maybe it’s time to lean into it, see how far I can push the envelope before everything comes crashing down. At least it’ll be more interesting than lying in bed, pretending to be someone I’m not.

“Fine,” I say, clenching my fists and sitting up straight. “I accept the class.”

“That’s the spirit!” the overseer props back, clapping his hands in delight. “Glad to see you’ve come around. Now, let’s get this over—”

“On one condition,” I interrupt his self-satisfied chuckle.

“Go on,” he replies, draped in casual arrogance. “I’m not required to listen, but since you’ve piqued my interest, Grey, I’ll indulge you. What’s your condition? What is it that you want to know about this class?”

“This grifter class promises I can have everything I want as long as I try. That’s a bit too vague for my taste. I need concrete details. How do I try? If I try hard enough, what can I actually get? What’s off-limits? What’s the catch here? Tell me everything,” I demand.

He sighs before responding. “Stop making a mountain out of a molehill. It’s a straightforward class. As long as you put in the effort, you can essentially have everything.”

“Everything, as in everything? Skills, stats, points, levels, experience, titles—everything?” I ask, making sure I’ve got it right.

“Yes, everything. How you acquire those things is up to you. As for what’s off-limits? Just one thing—your own system. Don’t mess with it, or you’ll regret it. Leave it be and enjoy the perks it offers.”

“So, I can try my luck with other systems?”

“That’s entirely up to you.”

“Okay, last thing. What’s the catch? Every class has its drawbacks, right?”

“Of course. This one has a minor drawback. It’s nothing to worry about, so don’t stress,” he says, which only makes me more curious.

“What is it?” I press, and he finally reveals.

“It’s your system. It’s pretty useless; think of it as a parasite. That’s all you’ll get from me.”

“Wha—wait, that doesn’t sound right. The system is critical for a player—” I start to protest, but he cuts me off with a dismissive wave.

“Seems you’re finally ready for the tutorial, player. Let’s get you suited up,” he says, standing up. Before I can respond, another screen slams into view, taking away any chance I had to argue.

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[Class: Grifter has been selected. You have obtained the Grifter class.]

As soon as I read those words, a peculiar tingle dances across my mind—neither unpleasant nor comfortable, just odd. At the same time, several items materialize on the table in front of me. Before I can even take a closer look, the screen enlarges, and a new wave of system notifications floods my vision.

Skill Gained: [Eval] — Getting out of sticky situations requires more than just quick thinking and a silver tongue, it demands information. Enter [Eval]. With this skill, you can evaluate almost anything: creatures, objects, people, even souls and gods if you fancy. Though it gives a slight bump to perception and intelligence, be warned, Eval is a real mana guzzler. So, unless you’re aiming to drain yourself dry, use it sparingly.

Skill Gained: [Basic Combat] — A Grifter may be a master of deceit, but even the best need a backup plan. This skill unlocks basic combat and weapon proficiency. It also gives a slight boost to your dexterity and strength while you're fighting. Just enough to hold your own when things go sideways.

Skill Gained: [Basic Mana Handling] — Mana, the lifeblood of all things magical, is now at your fingertips. Grifters usually don’t stack up against seasoned Casters, but with this skill, you’ve got a fighting chance. Tap into your mana reserves, and you might just unlock your true potential. Also grants a passive boost to your mana stat.

Skimming through the skills, they feel oddly intuitive, like I’ve known them forever. I’m itching to give them a go, but a little voice in my head says they won’t work here. Guess it’s time to bite the bullet and see what this tutorial has in store for me.

Swiping the screen away, I turn my attention to the table of equipment. The first things that catch my eye are a pair of old-school underwear and pants. I don’t waste time asking questions; I give them a quick sniff to ensure they're not pre-loved and slip them on. Next, a shirt and a leather belt to hold it all together. Finally, I grab a pair of boots. Outdated? Sure. But at least they’ll keep me warm and make me look like I belong.

The rest of the gear includes a sword in its scabbard, a black cloak, a dagger, and a small satchel—each with a hook for my belt. Everything has that old-school, medieval vibe. One by one, I check out the gear, giving each piece a once-over.

Sword: It’s a bit hefty with its wooden hilt and steel blade. After a few swings, it feels surprisingly natural. It’s sharp, too—just gave myself a small cut with barely a touch. Definitely good for quick slashes. Not bad at all.

Cloak: It fits well and has a rough texture that reminds me of burlap sacks. But it seems tough enough. At least I won’t have to worry about it falling apart after a tumble.

Dagger: Small, but it’s got some weight to it. Perfect for those sneaky moments when you don’t want to make a scene.

Satchel: Seems sturdy, though it looks like it’s seen a few centuries of action. It’s just big enough to carry a few essentials, and wouldn’t you know it, it’s already packed with some goodies.

Inside, I find a couple of small vials, each sealed with a cork. I’m about to ask the overseer what they are when a screen pops up with the answer:

[Health Potion (Inferior) — Restores health when consumed.]

Ah, a health potion. Looks like I can identify these things on my own—guess that’s some default functionality. Basic info is always good to have.

I sift through the remaining vials and find two more health potions and three mana potions. The mana ones do the same job as the health potions, just for mana instead. Definitely going to need more of these, I can already tell.

I hook the satchel and weapons onto my belt, adjust the cloak over my shoulder one last time, and turn to the shiny man. Before I can even open my mouth, he jumps in with the first word. Typical.

“Looks like you’re ready, Colt?” he says, leaning on my grifter name.

No problem there. That’s the identity I’m sticking with.

“Yep,” I say, cracking my knuckles and giving my body a good stretch. “Let’s do this.”

With a snap of his fingers, reality twists and shatters, spiraling into a vortex that opens up to a battlefield—a nasty skirmish between humans and… goblins? Yep, those green little monsters.

I’m not sure how, but those pint-sized bastards are actually chasing grown men around. And the men? They’re running like their lives depend on it—which, judging by the limp bodies in the distance, they very much do. Goblins are smashing heads with rocks. Seriously? How hard is it to beat these things? I could take down five of them with a single swing of my shiny new sword. Must be the other players—total newbies, scared out of their wits.

With a satisfying schwing, I unsheath my sword, feeling the weight of it in my hand. I’m ready to dive headfirst into this goblin slaughterfest—slash a few of those green bastards and maybe even roll around in their blood for good measure. If they drop some exps, even better. That’ll boost my reputation. Imagine my name soaring among the players—“Colt the Goblin Slayer.” I like the sound of that.

Oh yeah! Goblins, here I come! I take a battle stance, muscles tensing, just waiting for the signal to charge.

“Ready?” the overseer asks, twirling his finger as the portal inches closer, distorting light.

I’m about to leap through when something niggles at my mind. I point my sword at the overseer—or rather, his lower region—and flash a smirk. “One last question before I go,” I say. “Does your buddy down there shine too? And what exactly does it spray? Glitter?”

The overseer pauses, clearly unimpressed but not entirely surprised. “Really? That’s your question?”

I shrug. “Hey, it’s a valid question. Just trying to figure out how deep the glow goes. And, you know, glitter—gotta watch out for that stuff. It gets everywhere. And don’t even get me started on cleaning it. Ugh, it’s a nightmare.”

He chuckles, shaking his head. With a flick of his wrist, the portal pulls me in, the battlefield rushing up to meet me. “I’ll take that as a yes,” I add before vanishing from sight.

The sounds of clashing steel and goblin shrieks grow louder, and the ground beneath me feels gritty and cold as I land.

I immediately scan the scene. Goblins—ugly little buggers, aren’t they?—are running wild, taking down men twice their size. I watch as one goblin leaps onto a man, smashing his knees with what looks like a crude ax. Pathetic, absolutely pathetic.

I roll my shoulders and tighten my grip on the sword. Time to show these rookies how it’s done.

“Alright, you little green freaks,” I mutter under my breath, taking a step forward. Just then, I sense something massive closing in from behind. I turn, duck, and prepare to attack, but when I see two big, greenish feet, my strategy goes right out the window.

The impact hits me like a boulder. Pain spikes through my body, and before I can even react, everything goes dark.