Heading into the hallway again, I stop and listen for any sounds. The only sounds are my own breathing and the steady hum of my apartment complexes air conditioning. I look around and note that there are only 6 apartments on my floor. To the left is a window looking out over the parking lot. The remaining four apartments are to the right and just past them is the elevator and stair access.

I think I can hit all four apartments before anyone gets home from work. No one usually gets back before 6pm. I should try and get done in under 2 hours to be safe.

Moving down the hall I decide to unlock all 4 apartments before anything else. I move to each apartment door, using the Auto-Pick for a few seconds each. Having no issues, I move back to the apartment next to mine.

I should stick with the same strategy. TV, fridge, microwave and any easily acquired valuables.

Maintaining that strategy I start in the kitchen, I move both the refrigerator and the microwave into my inventory. I jog out of the kitchen into the living room. I see a small 28 inch TV on the floor in front of a large pillow. On a whim I take the pillow along with the TV.

“You think I wouldn’t steal your TV out of pity? Muahahaha I take whatever I want!”

Next I move into the bedroom, I look around for anything nice or expensive. I look under the bed and see a long thin box. I pull the box out from under the bed and open it. Inside the box was any Americans dream, a free gun.

“Oohh lucky me, but do you have any ammo?”

I continue searching under the bed and find one box of .308. I take the box into my inventory along with the rifle.

I’ll inspect the gun when I finish.

I leave the apartment, moving across the hall to my next target. I enter the apartment and see that it looks unoccupied.

“This’ll be quick.”

I Move the fridge and microwave into my inventory and leave for the next apartment. I enter the hallway and open the second to last door. At a quick glance, this apartment is also empty. I once again grab the microwave and refrigerator, move them into my inventory and turn to leave.

"I hope the last room has more shit. I need it."

I cross the hall for the last time. I open the door with hope filled eyes. Looking around, the first thing I see is a couch. Fuck yes! I'm going to empty this bitch out. I move to the kitchen first, taking the fridge and microwave. I decide to check the cabinets and look for any other appliances.

After opening the second set of cabinets I see a nice looking blender.

"Yoink" I pull the blender into my inventory.

Next i move from the kitchen to the living room. Hanging on the wall are two items, the TV and a painting of starry night. obviously that's a fake, but I want it anyway. I pull the TV, which is another 60 inch, into my inventory followed by the painting.

I move on to the bedroom and see something new. "Is that a vibrator?"

Sitting on the nightstand next to the bed is a wand vibrator. It would be hilarious to hear this bitch try to explain what items were stolen from her. I take the vibrator into my inventory, touching only the power cord on it.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

Finding nothing else, I leave the last apartment and check my quest progress.

Quest Log: $4972/2500

"Perfect, I'm finished with plenty of time to spare."

I turn towards my apartment and start moving back home. After a few steps there is a bright flash and a young girl starts speaking.

She shouted "Stop there criminal! I know you're the one who killed all those poor refrigerators!"

"I'm sorry, what?" I ask, baffled by her demeanor. The spots start to clear from my vision. I see a blonde girl, looking like a highschooler.

"You unplugged all the refrigerators on this floor except one. I was flying by and felt them die. So I came to save the last!"

"You do realize how retarded that sounds don't you?" The spots completely clear from my vision, I take a moment to look at who I'm talking to. She is 5 foot 4 inches, petite, with the girl next door look. She is wearing a pink glittery one piece swimsuit with a poorly drawn electric plug on the chest.

"DON'T CALL ME RETARDED!!"

"Oh shit!"

She charged straight towards me, dropping her head down and angling her shoulder toward me. I quickly sidestep to the wall and shove my right leg out to trip her. She makes direct contact with my shin and tumbles to the ground.

"Are you even old enough for this? I don't want to hurt a child." I say quietly as I move to pin her arms to the ground.

"I am not a child!! I am 18! I'm an adult!"

"Oh good, I don't have to hold back." I grab the Auto-Pick out of my inventory.

"What is that? She asked as her body suddenly went stiff.

"I just need to pick your brain about something." That was the worst. Gotta work on my quips.

"wai..." she started to talk as I turned on the Auto-Pick and pushed it through her left eye.

"Sorry, you saw my face." As the light leaves her remaining eye I pull both her and the Auto-Pick back into my inventory.

I quickly check the area around our fight for any signs of a struggle. On the floor next to where I finished the hero is a small drop of blood. I kneel down next to it, lick my thumb and wipe up the blood. Once the blood isn't visible anymore I get up and start heading back to my apartment.

I go back home and unload my inventory into the living room. I pull my couch into my inventory, getting it out of the way. I line up the refrigerators against the wall, the microwaves in front of them on the floor with the TVs on top. I put the blender off to the side along with the vibrator. I move to my room and unload the rifle, ammo and painting onto my bed.

Quest Complete! 50xp + 24 bonus xp + 10% Quest System

Hero Slain! 50xp doubled for first kill. 100xp total.

NOTICE, killing a hero will net the least xp and gain the most attention. Capture and ransom heroes for the most xp.

"Noted."

Level up! Mad Scientist lvl 2. XP (80/500)

2 Skill points awarded. Skill points can be spent every 5 levels.

Interesting, I wonder what I will be able to spend my points on. That's a problem for future me. Time to inspect my gains.

The first item i inspect is the rifle. The rifle is all black and made of mostly metal. The rifle has a 6x scope on top, a foregrip, a suppressor and a nice sling to throw it over my shoulder.

Winboxer .308 semi automatic rifle. 10 round magazine.

I whistle as I admire the rifle. "She is beautiful. Definitely going to upgrade her."

Moving on, I grab the ammo box and count 20 rounds. I pull the magazine out of the rifle, it is already loaded. I then check the chamber and see a round already there. "Well, someone didn't know proper firearm safety. I did the community a favor by tactically acquiring that rifle."

Next, I pick up the starry night knock off and grab a thumb tack out of my nightstand. I move to the wall above my bed and haphazardly hang the painting. "Good enough."

I go back to my bed and grab the rifle and ammo. I put them into my inventory and move back into the living room.

I need to do something about the space here. Maybe try to combine the refrigerators? Or use them to make some kind of storage crate? I need to check my design power and see what I can do.