"Game? What game?" The old village chief stared blankly at Daniel.
Daniel hesitated, suddenly realizing he was talking to a mere "system" character and not the old man he'd seen before. Why was he even bothering to explain?
"Forget about it. If there are no divine weapons or mythical beasts, then what do you have?" Daniel asked, his patience waning.
"Nothing at all," replied the chief, shaking his head.
"Nothing at all?!" Daniel jumped, incredulous. "I finished the task you gave me, and there's no reward? Are you just trying to keep it for yourself?"
Under Daniel's suspicious gaze, the chief looked offended. "Keep it for myself? What would I even take? Am I that kind of person?"
Daniel scrutinized the chief thoughtfully and said, "Actually, yes, it kind of seems like it."
The chief's face turned bright red with anger. Trembling, he pulled a small book from his pocket, tossed it to Daniel, and snapped, "Here. Now go!"
"Ah-ha! You were holding out on me!" Daniel said, grinning as he caught the book. "Village chief, you're sneakier than I thought."
"Just get out! Get out now!" The old chief's face twisted with anger, almost as if he might pass out from frustration.
Daniel didn't argue. With the reward in hand, even if it wasn't a divine weapon or mythical beast, it was something. He quickly headed off, satisfied.
Watching him go, the old village chief muttered angrily, "That kid pushed me too far… I can't believe I actually gave him our family heirloom. Oh well, I'll consider it a gift."
Eager to see what he'd earned, Daniel opened the book. Instantly, a burst of golden light flowed into his body, and that familiar mechanical voice sounded again:
"Congratulations on learning the Identification Skill."
Checking his character stats, Daniel found a new skill had appeared on his attribute panel.
Identification Skill: Use on a target to obtain information. The level of detail depends on the difference in strength between you and the target.
"Identification Skill? That's not too bad," he thought. While it wasn't a divine weapon, it was still useful. "Knowing both yourself and your enemy is key," he mused, already thinking of the strategic advantage.
"I wonder if the chief has anything else worth taking. If I get a chance, I'll definitely ask him again…" Daniel schemed. Back at the village, the old chief sneezed, a strange feeling of foreboding settling over him.
Just then, Daniel noticed a group of chickens nearby. Instinctively, he considered them as potential monsters. But before he could attack, he saw a middle-aged woman struggling to catch them. Deciding to be cautious, he tried out his new skill on the chickens.
Rooster: Age: Two years. Owner: Aunt Wang. Fat and plump. Excellent for cooking.
Embarrassed, Daniel was glad he hadn't attacked. They were just livestock—definitely not monsters. He'd have been in trouble if he'd harmed them.
"You there, could you lend a hand and help me catch these chickens?" Aunt Wang called to him.
"Me?" Daniel pointed at himself, then shrugged. "Sure, why not."
With nothing else pressing, he realized this could be a "side quest." And side quests usually meant rewards. But what he thought would be a simple task turned into a challenging endeavor. These chickens were surprisingly agile, darting away just as he approached. It took Daniel and Aunt Wang over an hour to round them up.
"Thank you, young man," Aunt Wang said gratefully.
"No problem." Daniel replied with a polite smile, though his eyes were fixed on her, expectantly awaiting his reward.
"You've helped me a lot. It wouldn't feel right not to thank you properly. Wait here for a moment," Aunt Wang said, disappearing into her house.
Finally! Maybe a weapon, or even a skill? Daniel's mind raced with anticipation.
Aunt Wang soon returned, holding a large bowl. She held it out to him with a smile. "Young man, this is chicken I cooked earlier. Take it, and enjoy!"
Daniel blinked, speechless. "Where's the weapon? The armor? Anything but food!" But Aunt Wang's smile was sincere.
Seeing his hesitation, Aunt Wang's expression darkened a little. "What? Don't you like my cooking?"
"No, no, it's not that!" Daniel stammered. "Forget it, thank you, Aunt Wang."
"Nonsense! This is from my heart," she insisted. "If you don't accept, you're looking down on me."
Seeing her insistence, Daniel sighed and took the bowl with a forced smile, "Thank you."
"Good. If you like it, come by any time to eat," Aunt Wang said cheerfully before heading back to her home.
Daniel lingered for a moment, finally accepting that the chicken really was his reward. But maybe it held some special properties? With hope, he took a bite.
Delicious! The flavor burst in his mouth, richer and more satisfying than any chicken he'd ever tasted. His eyes widened in shock. He had eaten plenty of chicken in his life, but nothing like this. Each bite was savory and perfect, and before he knew it, he was devouring the entire bowl without a second thought.