[NOTICE: Primary Quest Completed! Rewards have been issued to your inventory.]
[NOTICE: Livius's hatred increases to 35%.]
[NOTICE: Livius's trust increases to 5%.]
What caught my attention is the meter for Livius's trust and hatred. It seems the glowing blue screen floating thing can measure the villain's emotion against me.
I lean forward while holding my chin. "But only 5% for his trust? Tsk. This will be a long journey," I muttered under my breath.
I also checked what quest I completed earlier, at first I thought it was the quest regarding gaining the villain's trust but it turns out it is a different quest.
[NOTICE: Quest "Have a conversation with Livius" is now completed. Additional information or new quest details may now be available. Check your system interface for updates.]
Therefore, I can still comply with the quest even if I don't open it as long as I meet the criteria to complete it. I remember I had other two quests that I didn't bother to open earlier as I wanted to focus on the current quest I had.
Now that I know the glowing blue screen floating thing might appear anywhere and anytime, I search for a way to hide it from anyone. But it says:
[NOTICE: Chrono Codex System is only visible to the Challenger.]
"Oh, the system has its name… cool!" I commented. "Since it's tiring to call you 'glowing blue screen floating thing,' from now on I will call you… CC!" I proudly said.
"But why you're calling me 'Challenger?' Is it because you're challenging me to survive in here?" I ask out of nowhere.
I slowly turn my head. "No, I don't think that's the reason. This system is not mentioned in the series I've watched, therefore it has a deeper meaning…"
But I don't have time to think about that meaning. I have prior priorities that I must do for now.
"CC can measure the villain's hatred and trust, therefore it is obvious that I need to lower his hatred and make his trust with me higher," I concluded. Although I like that it's reminding me, I can't be happy with that result.
I crossed my arm. "It's safe to assume that quests can help me to achieve what I want. I just need to be extra careful now. I don't want to add more fuel to the fire to avoid my doom."
Now that I learned something again, it's time to see what rewards I got from the previously completed quest.
[NOTICE: Here is the list of Rewards:]
Reward 1: +50 EXP
Reward 2: +10 Influence Points
Reward 3: +1 Skill
I am now level 2, but still, I don't know where will I spend those influence points I currently have. Maybe I can wait a little further for that. Because I am more interested right now in the new skill I obtained.
[NOTICE: You have acquired a new skill: Basic Blueprint.]
A grin flashes on my lips when I read it. "Cool! I now got it!"
I immediately ask the system to show me the description of that skill.
[NOTICE: Blueprint will serve as a visual timeline that hints at critical events. This feature, however, is fogged in parts and can only be revealed by progress. You need to complete quests or certain criteria to unlock the timeline.]
"That explains why when I asked CC to look for Livius, it was denied as it has no data about him yet," I said while nodding.
I looked up while crossing my arms when I remembered something. "I'm now really curious about this critical event. This is the second time CC mentioned it but still don't give me any hint about this critical event. I wonder what is the connection of this thing to the quest…"
Before I lost in thoughts again, I shrugged when I remembered that it was time for me to join Nicomaine on her way to go home. It will be a trouble if one of us goes home alone.
But it will also be a trouble if Nicomaine sees me around this area. Believe me, the scariest creature in the world that is alive is none other than… a woman
I need to go somewhere near a store or any establishment for her to sense that I did something that is connected to our father's will.
It took just a minute for the carriage to arrive. I prepare myself against my sister first before I hop in. But when I saw the smile on her face, I guess there was no need for me to prepare after all.
I'm now wondering if there's any progress between Nicomaine and the crown prince after they have time alone together.
This event never happened in the series, that's why I assume this time maybe Nicolo can consider my sister's feelings for him. If ever that happens, there is a possibility I can use that for my future plans.
"How was your day, my beautiful sister?" I greeted her as soon as I sat on her opposite side.
The smile on her face fades away and turns into a glare. And believe me, if a glare can kill people, it will be my cause of death by now.
While still glaring at me, she crosses her arms. "You may not know what I went through inside the palace…." her voice sounds like she might gonna kill me any moment now, "...but you will know what will happen to you once we get home."
I lean away from her as I excessively swallow. "Sister, can you relax?" my voice is shaky. "You know, I really want to thank you for doing that favor for me," I added as I smiled widely.
She raised her eyebrows and gave me a glassy stare. "Favor?!" her tone was sharp. She sighed heavily before she spoke again, "You call it a favor? Brother? You set me up with the crown prince at a moment that I was not prepared for! I even lost my words the moment he talked to me!" Her neck muscles were tense and sticking out. I know, I should've prepared more for this.
She rubbed her brow as if to ward off a headache. "Believe me, from that moment… I wish the ground could eat me so I can run away from the embarrassment that came to me!"
"Embarrassment? Don't you and the crown prince look good together—"
"Stop! You're stressing me out!" she halted me with her raising voice.
She holds her head sideways using both of her hands. "I told you, you never know what I went through!"
She continues speaking while her hands move quickly. "I don't know how to talk to him, I don't know how to act in front of him, and I don't know how to calm myself every time he smiles in every word I utter. You don't know any of it, brother!"
After she talked, I stared at her for a second. When she lowers her hands, that's my cue to speak.
"Nicomaine, do you want to know what I did while I was away from you?"
Her eyes widened, but she suddenly blinked rapidly. "Oh my…"
"What?"
"Yes, brother!" she's raising her voice again. "I can't wait to know the most stupid thing you did while you threw me at the palace just to escape!" she said while repeatedly running her hands through her hair.
"I found a solution to my problem with father."
She leans forward with a hand on her knee. "You mean, you have a way to become a more responsible future duke of this estate?" Her eyes are wide and rounded, with very few blinks.
Her mood suddenly changes as if my words make her forget her rants a while ago.
To be honest, I'm not planning to reconcile with the duke for the time being as CC seems to not require me to do so, but I need a way to gain Livius's trust. This is the only choice I have.
From Nicodeim's memory, I learned that one of Duke Nicomar's trusted subordinates got hurt in their last expedition and the trusted physician of Thorne Household can't cure his condition.
Now, the duke is searching for a physician even in other estates who can cure that person. And I thought this the perfect opportunity to suggest Livius, a son of one of the best physicians in the estate.
If Livius can cure an important subordinate of a Duke, his influence as a physician in the estate will rise and people will acknowledge him more. From that, I will make him think that if he agrees to every plan I'll say, I can help him raise his reputation more.
Eventually, his trust in me will increase and I can easily keep him from becoming a villain. Not a bad plan, isn't it?
A smirk comes into my lips. "Well, you can assume it that way," I said while looking directly at Nicomaine.
[NOTICE: Secondary Quest "For the Bond of Siblings" is now Completed! Rewards have been issued to your inventory.]