A new day. It had been two days since Carter took an insane risk, and every second since he had been on edge, keeping tabs on all news outlets to monitor the situation outside. For the past two days, he had spent the night in the store, not eating anything and living only with the water available for customers.
Sienna was worried for him, she quit her frequent teasing and mischievousness, opting instead to assist him in the store. While Carter attended to the customers, she restocked the counters and assisted them urging them to purchase more. She didn't know why Carter was in a rush for profit but she regretted giving him so much money. She could see how afraid he was that he had made a wrong investment.
"You are not fit for business," Callie said sternly after Sienna called her. These days she had been spending the night at the office and didn't know what was going on. Although Sienna didn't tell her everything, she told her that Carter was anxious because he had spent all their savings on an investment.
Carter looked up at his mother feeling confused.
"What are you anxious about? You haven't slept well, there are bags under your eyes. You stopped eating too and you haven't even lost the money yet. Then what would you do if you suffered a loss or say a natural disaster took all this away? Carter, a businessman must be ready to weather storms with a cool head lest he makes foolish decisions in panic. Trust your senses, if you are wrong, stay alert so you can cut your losses on time. Stop fooling around with business and grow up" The usually kind woman had no time to baby him.
With Carter staring blankly from behind the counter and customers giving him weird glances, she sauntered off. A few men gazed at her backside as she walked away, her display of power appealing to their vanity. However, when the doors opened and they saw guards with guns escorting her, they quickly coughed and looked back at their items on the counter. Unfortunately too slow to notice Sienna scan things they hadn't bought.
For a while, Sienna feared that Carter was broken. He continued to stare at where his mother had disappeared, his eyes wide in shock and expression stiff. Partly because of her words but mostly because of the notification he just received.
\
[Quest Complete!]
[Earnings: $1,093,735/$1,000,000]
[Determining Performance]
[Performance Rating SS+]
[System Comment: Although through scamming, the host was cautious enough to not be caught and has not affected the reputation of the shop. However, please refrain from such nefarious dealings. +1 Rank in rating for identifying and exploiting a system bug]
\
Carter could smell the irritation from that note. Sienna had a talent for irritating people like that. He glanced at her with the corner of his eyes as she urged a customer to make an expensive purchase.
"The aliens might attack us here in our homes, you never know. Could be zombies or cyborgs, for zombies, I can't help you but for cyborgs, nothing like an EMP."
"I can make one myself" the customer replied with a frown as he stared at her hands as if wanting to hasten her with his eyes.
Nonchalantly taking her time, Sienna continued scanning his items at an appropriate pace. She was neither too slow nor fast, just enough to not make anyone dissatisfied.
"Sure you can, but if it fails. . . quite risky if you ask me. I have a brother I can't lose and a mother I love too much to take that chance but to each his own" She shrugged as if she didn't care.
A few customers already turned around to go find the EMP she was talking about but some stayed.
"What if it's not cyborgs?" someone else asked.
"Well, it has to be technology somehow right? They didn't fly here on a space beast. As long as they have anything electrical, an EMP will even the scales, let's fight hand to hand, I'm not afraid. I'm only afraid of dying to some robot or electric gun I can just turn off, that would be sad" She shook her head as if pained.
The customers exchanged glances and the impatient man turned around quickly.
"There's only a few left, I'll be right back!" he exclaimed as he hurried off.
The others immediately scrambled after him with Sienna watching them proudly.
Sneakily, she began changing the price codes on some of their items.
smack!
A large hand hit the back of her head.
"A normal rifle don't use electricity and what do you think you are doing?" he asked with a cold stern voice.
"Hey! You are the one going crazy for profit, counting on your fingers every time. I'm only helping out, ingrate!"
She spat and stomped off with a huff.
Carter sat there frozen for a while not knowing how to feel. How long had this been going on for?
Soon the customer returned with the EMP, crudely made, he could tell but well presented. With a sigh, he proceeded to attend to them. There were only three pieces left, all taken by one person. On seeing the price tag on it, his pupils shrank instantly.
$93,000!
He looked up at the buyer who had an uncaring expression.
"Are you sure you want this Sir?" he asked tentatively.
"What will I do with money when the banks close?" the man asked back in a gloomy tone.
Carter immediately shut his mouth and scanned the device, doing his best to ignore the notifications he was getting from the system. After attending to this batch, he changed the sign by the door and sent Sienna home under the guise of needing rest. In a rare moment of concern, she promised to bring him lunch.
With everyone gone, Carter immediately shut the doors, locking himself inside, and opened the system logs.
[Congratulations, the Host's Status has been updated.]
[System has fully integrated with the Host]
[Host Status Window Unlocked]
[Store Status Window Unlocked]
[Shop Unlocked]
[Contracts Unlocked]
[Employee Window Unlocked]
[Upgrade Window Unlocked]
[System Prompt: Please Explore the System's Abilities for yourself]
His face immediately scrunched up at the last message.
"The least you could do is tell me what you can do, no?"
A cold voice replied instantly.
[The system does not condone laziness]
"It's not laziness, what if I miss something?!" he retorted.
[You have many years to explore, if you never find it then I will blame my judgment in choosing Hosts]
Carter blanked at the reply. He decided to end the banter there and concluded that the System was simply too lonely after living so long.
"Open Host Status Window," he said aloud.
[Why don't you shout a little louder?] The familiar cold voice knocked the excitement out of him.