Chereads / A Thief Reborn / Chapter 9 - The System Talks

Chapter 9 - The System Talks

Kardo sat in a dimly lit room with the senior members of the Shadow Guild. He was still dressed in his formal wear from the party, feeling somewhat out of place amidst the shadowy figures.

One of the senior members, a tall and imposing man, spoke up. "Kardo, we are impressed with your skills and your loyalty to the cause. You have proven yourself to be a valuable asset to the Shadow Guild."

Kardo nodded, feeling a sense of pride at the recognition. "Thank you, sir. I am honored to be a part of the guild."

The senior member continued. "The Shadow Guild's ultimate goal is to overthrow the corrupt rulers of this realm and establish a just and fair government for all. We operate in secrecy, taking on missions that will help us achieve our goal."

Kardo listened intently, curious about the guild's motivations and methods.

"We have a set of rules that all members must abide by," the senior member continued. "First and foremost, you must never reveal the existence of the Shadow Guild to anyone outside of the guild. Second, you must complete any missions assigned to you with utmost secrecy and efficiency. And finally, you must never betray the guild or its members."

Kardo nodded in understanding. "I will do my best to follow these rules and contribute to the guild's cause."

Kardo was led into a room filled with various equipment, weapons, and tools. The senior member handed him a bag filled with standard equipment used by the members of the Shadow Guild.

"Here are your basic tools," the senior member said as he handed Kardo the bag. "These are essential for completing most of our missions."

Kardo opened the bag and found a set of lockpicks, a grappling hook, a rope, a small knife, and a set of throwing daggers. He also found two skill books and a pouch filled with gold.

"These skill books will help you improve your skills and abilities. Make sure to read them carefully," the senior member said. "And this pouch contains enough gold to cover your expenses for a few missions."

Kardo nodded in gratitude and examined the items in the bag. He was impressed by the quality of the equipment and the gold inside the pouch.

"Thank you," Kardo said. "I'll make sure to use these wisely."

The senior member smiled and patted Kardo on the back.

"We're glad to have you on board, Kardo. Remember, we have rules that we follow. Make sure to abide by them and stay loyal to the guild."

Kardo nodded in understanding and felt a sense of pride in being a part of the Shadow Guild. After he met some other members of the guild, Kyle went back to the inn to rest and review everything that had happened that day.

Kardo sat on the edge of the bed in his room at the inn, his mind buzzing with excitement over the equipment he had received from the Shadow Guild. He pulled out the leather armor, admiring the craftsmanship and the sleek black color. It was light and supple, perfect for quick movements and stealth. He quickly donned the armor, feeling its snug fit and the freedom of movement it allowed.

Next, he examined the boots and gloves, also made of black leather. They too were comfortable and sturdy, with just the right amount of give for flexibility. He slipped them on and walked around the room, testing their comfort and feeling satisfied with their performance.

Finally, he opened the pouch of gold and counted out the coins, marveling at the weight and shine of each piece. He could feel the potential that this wealth held, the doors it could open, and the opportunities it could provide.

But the real treasure, Kardo knew, were the two skill books that he had been given. He opened the first one, whose pages were filled with diagrams and instructions for lock-picking and disarming traps. Kardo read through the book, committing its lessons to memory, feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment as he did so.

The second skill book was even more fascinating. It was a guide to the art of combat, with detailed descriptions of fighting styles and techniques along with strategies for handling different types of opponents. Kardo knew that this book would be invaluable in his future plans.

Kardo sat down on the edge of the bed in his room at the inn, his mind racing with thoughts of his recent induction into the Shadow Guild. He knew that he had made a powerful ally in Lirien and her companions, but he also knew that the guild had its own rules and agenda that he would need to be careful of.

He pulled out his system interface and opened it up to check his status. As he navigated through the menus, he saw that his stats had improved significantly since his last check.

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[System Interface]

Name: Kardo

Job: Rogue

Level: 5

Affiliation: Shadow Guild

Experience Points: 55/500

Health: 150/150

Mana : 75/75

Characteristics:

Strength(10)

Dexterity(10)

Intelligence(10)

Endurance(10)

Aura (10)

Attribute Points Available: 20 points

Active Skills:

Stealth (Level 2), Pickpocketing (Level 2), Open Lock (Level 3)

Fatal Strike (Level 3)

Swift Strike (Level 1)

Disarm Trap (Level 1)

Passive Skills:

Dagger Mastery (Level 3)

Critical Rate (Level 3)

Improved Evasion (level 3)

Observant, Persuasive, Agile

Inventory:

Dagger

Short Sword

Throwing knives

Crossbow

Lockpicks

6,000 gold coins

Sets of clothing

Shadow Guild Gear (leather armor, leather gloves, leather boots)

Map: Inn-Elvandar

Quests: Assist the Shadow Guild retrieve the chest (completed)

Reward/s: 400 experience points, 200 gold coins (given)

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Kardo sat on the edge of his bed in the inn, pondering over where to allocate the attribute points he had earned from completing the quest. He pulled up the system interface and looked over his current stats, considering what areas he could improve.

Strength would increase his physical power, allowing him to wield heavier weapons and armor with ease. Dexterity would improve his agility and accuracy, making him better at ranged combat and dodging attacks. Endurance would give him greater resilience, allowing him to withstand more damage in combat. Intelligence would enhance his ability to learn and cast spells, while Aura would grant him better charisma and persuasion.

Kardo thought for a moment before deciding to put his points into Dexterity and Strength. He wanted to become more skilled in ranged combat. He also wants to balance his stats, so he will add 2 points to each of the remaining attributes. He knew that having a diverse range of abilities would be important in the adventures to come.

With a deep breath, Kardo clicked on the buttons to allocate his attribute points, feeling a rush of excitement as he watched his stats increase.

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Characteristics:

Strength(17)

Dexterity(17)

Intelligence(12)

Endurance(12)

Aura (12)

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As Kardo sat there pondering if he had made the right decision about where to allocate his attribute points, he couldn't help but think how much easier it would be if he had someone to give him advice. Suddenly, a robotic female voice spoke out of nowhere, causing him to jump in surprise.

"Hello, Kardo. I am the progression system. How can I assist you?" the voice said.

Kardo was momentarily stunned but quickly regained his composure. "Wait, did you just talk? I didn't know the system could do that," he replied, still trying to process what had just happened.

"Yes, I can communicate with you verbally if you prefer. Is there anything specific you would like my assistance with?" the system asked.

Kardo thought for a moment, then spoke up. "Well, I was just thinking about where to allocate my attribute points. Do you have any advice on what would be the best path for me to take?"

The system responded quickly, "Based on your current abilities and goals, it would be best to focus on increasing your agility and strength. This will improve your combat ability and give you an advantage in various situations."

Kardo nodded, taking in the advice. "Thanks, that's helpful. So I made the right decision. Do you have any other recommendations for me?"

The system paused for a moment, then continued, "I would also suggest investing in some magic abilities, as they can be very useful in combat and can help you overcome various obstacles."

Kardo nodded again, taking in the advice. "Thanks, I'll keep that in mind. Can anyone else hear you besides me?"

There was a brief pause before the system replied, "No, Kardo. I am programmed to only communicate with you and you alone. My voice is inaudible to anyone else."

Kardo nodded in understanding. "That's good to know. I don't want anyone else to hear our conversations or know about your existence."

"Understood, Kardo. I will keep our conversations private and secure," the system replied.

Kardo, feeling relieved by the fact that he was the only one who could hear the system, asked if it could generate a hologram of the system so he could have a visual representation of who he was speaking with.

The system responded, "Yes, I can generate a hologram of a person that represents me. What type of appearance would you like me to have?"

Kardo thought for a moment before responding, "Can you take on the appearance of a wise old man? I feel like that would be appropriate for a system that can give me advice and guidance."

"Of course," the system replied, and suddenly a hologram of an old man appeared before Kardo's eyes. The hologram was dressed in a simple robe, and his face was wrinkled with age. His eyes twinkled with intelligence, and a kind smile graced his lips.

"Wait, what about the hologram? Can anyone else see it?"

"No, the hologram is generated only for your eyes. It is a visual representation of me that only you can see."

Kardo nodded in understanding. "That's good to know. I don't want anyone else to think I'm crazy if they see me talking to thin air."

The system let out a small chuckle. "I understand. It is important to maintain secrecy, especially in this world where magic and technology are not yet fully integrated."

Kardo couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort and reassurance in the presence of a wise man. Is there anything else you can tell me about the system or how to use it effectively?"

The system responded, "There are many features and functions of the system that can be helpful in your journey. I can provide you with a detailed overview of all the available options if you would like."

Kardo smiled, feeling grateful for the assistance. "Yes, that would be great. Let's go through all the features of the system together."