The gift box icon on the screen faded, revealing a list of items one by one, each accompanied by over-the-top dramatic sound effects that felt straight out of a cheesy game show.
Welcome Package Unlocked!
Basic Recovery Serum (x1)Basic Combat Boost (Temporary)Air Gun (x1)1,000,000 VRC
Frank's eyebrows shot up. He let out a low whistle. "An air gun, huh? Let me guess—it's some futuristic toy that shoots air instead of bullets."
[Bingo.] The system's voice sounded smug. [It shoots highly compressed air bullets. No need for reloading; it pulls air from the surroundings. And since it's non-lethal, it's perfect for neutralizing threats without spilling blood. A cop's ideal weapon.]
Frank smirked. "Uh-huh. Sounds like a dream, but I'm betting there's a catch. What is it? Range issues? Accuracy? Or does it just politely tickle people instead of stopping them?"
[Wow, so skeptical. But yes, the range is limited—effective within 20 meters, maximum of 30 if you're lucky. It's a precision tool, not a sniper rifle.]
"Figures. Still, sounds useful enough," Frank said, eyeing the next item: the Basic Recovery Serum.
He picked up the glowing vial that had materialized in his hand. It shimmered like molten gold. "Alright, let's talk about this. Why 'basic'? Don't you have a deluxe version? This body feels like it got steamrolled, and you're giving me the budget option?"
[Why don't you try it before complaining? You might be pleasantly surprised.]
Frank inspected the glowing vial that, shimmering like liquid gold. "This thing better work. If it's snake oil, I'm sending it back with a complaint to… oh, wait, you are customer service."
[Ha ha. Very funny. Just drink it, drama king.]
Frank sighed, uncorked the vial, and tipped it back. The taste hit him like a punch. "Ugh! This is like licking a rusty pipe coated in cough syrup. Did you design this to punish me?"
[Oh, stop being dramatic. It's medicine, not a cocktail.]
But as he swallowed, a warm sensation began spreading through his body, like a wave of relief washing over every ache and pain. The dull throb in his skull faded, his stiff muscles loosened, and for the first time since waking up, he felt… alive.
"Holy crap," Frank muttered, flexing his fingers. "I feel like I just leveled up. I could run a marathon. Or maybe bench press a car. This stuff's incredible."
[Told you. Now quit admiring yourself—there's still the air gun and the combat boost to check out.]
Frank grabbed the sleek black air gun, examining its compact, futuristic design. It felt lightweight but solid in his hand. Without a word, he aimed at the far wall and pulled the trigger.
Whirrrr.
A compressed blast of air shot out, hitting the wall with a muted thump and leaving a small dent in the concrete.
Frank blinked. He walked up to the wall, running his fingers over the indentation. "System…"
[Yes?]
"You sure this thing is non-lethal? Because that wall might want a second opinion."
[Ah… well, technically, it's non-lethal—most of the time. But if you fire at close range… uh, it might cause serious harm. Maybe.]
"Maybe?!" Frank groaned. "You didn't think that was worth mentioning? I could've accidentally turned someone's chest into a crater!"
[It… slipped my mind. But look at the bright side—it's still safer than bullets! And it's perfect for… uh… intimidation?]
Frank glared at nothing in particular, muttering, "If this is how you handle important details, I'm in for a ride."
[C'mon, don't hold grudges. Why not check your credits next?]
Frank moved on to the final item. "One million VRC… Sounds nice. So, how do I access it? Is it sitting in my inventory, or what?"
[Of course not. All funds are transferred directly to your bank account through perfectly legal channels. No shady dealings, no taxes to worry about. Completely clean.]
Frank raised an eyebrow. "Clean, huh? That's a first for me. Well, at least I won't have to explain suspicious cash piles."
He leaned back, tossing the air gun in his hand and catching it again. "Alright, System. I'll admit it—this welcome package isn't half bad. But if you pull another stunt like the air gun surprise, I'm renaming you to 'Annoyance.'"
[Noted.]
Frank chuckled to himself. "Alright, System, you've delivered on your end of the bargain. Now it's my turn. Tell me—who's the murderer? I'll deal with them before they even get the chance."
[Uh... about that.]
Frank narrowed his eyes. "Don't tell me you don't know."
[Correct. I don't know.]
Frank froze. "Wait. You're telling me you don't know? Aren't you supposed to be my all-knowing guide here? The one with all the answers? How do you not know?"
[I think you misunderstood my functionality. When I said I'd provide details about a person involved in a crime, I meant just that—they'll be involved. They could be the perpetrator, the victim, or even an accidental witness. Their role in the crime isn't exactly part of my data set.]
Frank slapped his forehead. "Fantastic. So not only do I have to stop a crime, but I also have to play Sherlock Holmes to figure out who's doing what. You know, System, you're really outdoing yourself in the 'ways to disappoint me' category."
[Very funny. Look, if I could give everything on a silver platter, I wouldn't need you. Anyone could stop the crime if they had all the answers. But I chose you because of your talent, instincts, and experience. You're the best person for the job.]
Frank exhaled sharply. "Alright, fine. Just give me what you've got. I'll work with it."
[Here you go.]
A translucent window popped up in front of Frank, displaying basic information:
[Name: Talia Quinn
Age: 35
Gender: Female
Occupation: Cardiac Surgeon]
Frank squinted at the screen. "That's it? That's all you've got?"
[That's all you need. The rest is up to you.]
"Great," Frank muttered, shaking his head. "I'm supposed to stop a crime with less information than you'd find on a dating app. This is going to be fun."