My trip to the market is a success! I got all the noob essentials at a good price and I managed to get something that could help me in the future. I look at the doll in my arms and cradle it lovingly. Although I would love to get to work on fixing it up, there is one crucial detail that I forgot to consider.
+
[Robotics Lv. 1 is unable to analyze the structure of "Victorian Puppet Doll"]
+
Figures. So, I do what every sane human being would do. I blow around $4000 dollars on robot parts so I can increase the [Robotics] skill. Wires, chips, cogs, batteries. I spared no expense. Satisfied with my purchase, I head back to Barry's apartment. I swear the security in these kinds of buildings is so flimsy. I only have to wait until someone opens the front door for me so I can get in without a key card. As for Barry's apartment door, a simple magnet is enough to make the automatic locking system spaz out and open. I learned to do something like this when Mitchel lost his keycard that one time. The landlord would have given us hell though if it didn't fix itself on time.
I open the door and enter the dead silent room. It seems that Barry's not home yet. I look at the clock which hits just shy of 2 PM. I guess whatever emergency he had to deal with at the precinct is keeping him there until later at night. I already ate outside so all that's left is to get to work. I choose the empty room to place all of my stuff and crack my knuckles. Let's do this!
[Barry's POV]
Shit... What a hellish day that was. My head's throbbing and I'm hungry. I look at the time on my Kaleidoscope and it shows 12 AM. Fuck... I'm too tired to even shovel some food into my mouth. I pull my sluggish body across the halls of my building. As I reach my door, I notice that the automatic locking system has been scrambled. Oh come on! I just want to fucking sleep but now I have to deal with an intruder? I pull out my gun from its holster and gingerly enters my apartment.
*Spark* *Spark*
Rhythmic sparks ring in the otherwise silent apartment. I track the source of the noise and pinpoints it at the only room in the house.
"MPD! Raise your hands up in the air and slowly come out of the room!" I yell over the noise.
No response. This thief has the balls to ignore me? I inch closer to the door and with one swift motion, I open it.
"Get down on the ground!"
"Woah woah woah, what the fuck?!" a guy with a welding mask jumps and raises his arms in the air.
The room is filled with electronic parts and in the corner is some beat up creepy doll that stared into my soul. What's worse is that I recognize that voice.
"Fuck, man it's just you Devon," I sigh in annoyance.
Devon pulls up his mask and stares daggers at me. "What the fuck Barry?! Is it your habit to point your gun at anyone?"
"Well, sorry but I saw that my lock's been scrambled so I thought someone broke in! Damn, now I have to ask the landlord to fix that shit."
Devon averts his gaze in embarrassment. "I thought it would fix itself. Sorry."
I sigh. "It's fine, kid. It's my fault for not giving you a copy of my keycard anyway," I say as I light up a cigarette and inhale its sweet smoke.
"Oh my goodness, it's 12 AM? I didn't even notice!" he exclaims as he stands up to stretch. "How was work? What held you so late?"
I head to the couch and plop onto it. "It's none of your business kid," I groan. "You made such a mess in my room. Make sure to clean up after you finish playing with your dolls."
"How rude! They're not dolls and I'm not a kid," he retorts.
I chuckle. "I can be as rude as I want. This is my house you're staying in."
Silence. What, did that shut him up?
"Th-thanks, by the way," he finally says sheepishly. "I don't think I've told you that. You had no reason to help me but you did anyway. Many times."
Geeze, I can't understand this kid. One time, he's absolutely ready to kill someone and now, he's acting like a shy teenager.
"Who says I got no reason to?" I scoff.
"Wha- then why?"
"None. Of. Your. Business." I reply and close my eyes.
[Devon POV]
What's this detective's deal? He's going above and beyond to help a total stranger. Is this what they call "sense of duty"? Nah, he's not the type. Well, whatever it is, I'm still thankful for the help. I'll pay him back in the future. After all, thanks to him, I levelled up [Robotics] enough that I could begin to understand the simple mechanisms of the doll.
+
[Robotics Lv. 3]
Summary: Your understanding of different parts and mechanisms of robots have increased. Continue to observe and analyze more complex parts to develop it further.
Blueprints Stored: "Common Robot: Wind-up Rat", "Common Robot: Simple Insectoid Prototype", "Common Robot: Jumperbot"
+
Nice. But even though I managed to make simple robots that fit on the palm of my hand, they still can't help me with the dungeon tomorrow. What could I possibly do to be useful? I think deeply until a flash of inspiration hit me.
"Hey Barry?" I call out to the exhausted detective on the couch.
"Hmm?" he groans.
"Do you know where I can get virtual gunpowder?"
He sluggishly waves his hand and a bag flies at me.
"Here. Now just let me sleep."
Nice! A tired Barry is a generous Barry. I do a little dance and head back to the room. Oh, I can't wait for tomorrow!
[Next Morning]
Fresh clothes: check. Tiny robots: check. Veronica: check. Going to Eleanor's place early to pick up my stuff is the best decision I've done so far. I even got to take a shower! Oh blessed running water how I've missed you. Eleanor already left when I got here so I helped Veronica prepare for the day after she woke up. I dress her in her casual outfit while I don my armor. After counting my potions and making sure we got everything we need for the day, I put Veronica on my shoulders and head to the junkyard.
+
[Equipped: Simple Leather Armor (Def. 5)]
[Equipped: Simple Dagger (Atk. 4 + Dex. or Str.)]
+
This is a good start. The [Archeologist] texted me this morning and gave a detailed plan on how we're going to raid the dungeon. It looks like we have a balanced party of tank, damage, and healer so our chances of dying is low. But if somehow, something manages to hit me, I wouldn't die immediately thanks to my gear.
"Debwon it's stwinky," Veronica complains as we reach the junkyard.
"Just cover your nose like this," I say as I show her how to pinch her nose. She quickly copies me and we head to the dungeon site.
When we arrive, we see people already gathered around a large doorway which reveals some stairs that lead down into the darkness. A quick glance and just from the gear that they are wearing, I can tell that the heavily armored guy is our tank, the guy with the staff and robes is our healer, and the guy with the loud personality and a big-ass sword is our damage dealer.
"Hey, come on sweetheart stop playing hard to get. Just give me your number," he says as he leans in to a lady wearing a full on Ind*ana J*nes outfit.
I don't know any of these guys but the lady seems familiar. I squint my eyes and recognize the black hair and the fair face of the girl who came drinking with us in Central.
"Jessica?" I ask as I approach her.
The guy who clearly has no notion of personal space gives me a sour look as if I kicked his puppy.
"Oh! Devon, Veronica, you're here," she sighs in relief as she uses this opportunity to wrench herself away from the aggressive guy and use me as a barrier between them.
"Hewo big sister!" Veronica greets her while spreading crumbs of fishy crackers on my hair.
"I ... don't know if we're allowed to meet like this," I whisper nervously. "I'm kinda not allowed to meet anyone that Tom knows."
She shifts her gaze away and chuckles dryly. "Well ... at first I wasn't allowed to meet you. But I basically told them to fuck off so here we are."
I instinctively back away slightly. Her voice is sweet and gentle but the words that came out of her mouth is downright venomous. When I first saw her, I pegged her for the shy, introvert type. Boy was I wrong.
"What's with that? We barely know each other so it wouldn't be a problem if you never meet me again right?" I ask curiously.
Her eyes flash with energy as she takes my hand with hers. "Are you kidding me?! I would never miss the opportunity to speak with the University's genius! The very first student to take and pass the antiquated 'entrance exam' after it was deemed unnecessary. I'm your biggest fan!"
I chuckle shyly. "Oh? I thought you were one of Tom's admirers."
Upon hearing that, her face suddenly shows a mixture surprise and disgust. "No way! That was Sophia, not me!"
"S-Sophia?"
"Yeah! The blonde girl I was with when you showed Martin who's boss! She's dating Tom now by the way."
Oh, so Tom's finally dating someone now huh. I hope she's a good one. I must be wearing a sad face because Jessica looks at me empathically.
"I... don't know what happened between you and Tom so I'm not gonna pretend to understand," she says gently. "But I do know what it's like to lose a friend so I'm gonna do my best to make sure this dungeon trip cheers you up."
I smile. "Thanks."
She smiles back. Just when I begin to think that nothing could possibly ruin this day, the loud guy circles back to her and puts his arm over her shoulder.
"Oi, oi, what's this? You blow me off and talk to some newbie loser?" he mocks as he leans his face close to her.
I feel my body instinctively tense up but as I am about to interject myself between them, a fistful of wet fishy crackers hits him square on the face. He recoils and reflexively spits about.
"Scumbag!" Veronica yells over my head. She takes another fistful and throws it at him. "Get away from big sister. Mommy says scumbags aren't allowed to touch girls."
"Hey, hey, it's ok Veronica," I attempt to calm her down and stop the assault of snacks onto the guy.
"What the fuck's wrong with your kid?!" he snarls at me as he wipes his face. He then takes his sword and points it to us. "I'll fucking blind you for that."
As the situation is about to escalate, the tank and the healer position themselves between us.
"Hey now, hey now, let's calm down a bit. She's just a kid," says the heavily armored guy. For someone so big, he speaks so quietly.
The loud guy relents and sheathes his sword. The healer looks at me apologetically and nods his head. Jessica just sighs and rubs her temples. Great! Looks like my first dungeon raid is off to a great start!