Karl was about to pocket his phone when another buzz drew his attention.
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[Tutorial Quest 19/20]
Objective: Modify how people perceive personal space in elevators.
Example: Make them feel that standing too close to someone is extremely impolite, even if the elevator is full.
Reward: +30 Uncommon Points
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He whistled. "Now this one's going to be tricky."
Unlike the escalator quest, this was more nuanced. Changing people's behavior in an elevator, where space was inherently limited, would require just the right adjustment. If he went too far, people might start panicking at the mere thought of being in close quarters with strangers.
Karl rubbed his chin. "Alright, let's keep it reasonable."
He tapped on the app and typed:
"People in this area will instinctively feel that maintaining personal space in an elevator is a strong social expectation—even if it means taking the next elevator rather than squeezing in."
After a brief moment of consideration, he pressed [YES].
As before, nothing seemed to change at first. Then, the effect rippled outward.
A group of shoppers approached an elevator. When the doors slid open, revealing a nearly full cabin, a man in a striped shirt took a step forward—only to freeze. His brows furrowed as an inexplicable discomfort settled in.
"Uh… actually, I'll take the next one," he muttered, backing away.
A woman beside him, who had been about to enter, hesitated as well. "Yeah, same. It's just… cramped."
Inside the elevator, the passengers suddenly grew hyper-aware of their proximity to one another. One woman subtly shifted to put more space between herself and the guy next to her. A man near the back let out a quiet cough, eyeing the people around him.
As more people arrived and instinctively chose to wait instead of cramming in, a natural rhythm began forming. Instead of people shoving in like sardines, elevators filled only to a comfortable level before the next group patiently waited for the next ride.
Karl smirked as he observed from a safe distance. "Hah. It's like a social experiment."
His phone dinged.
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[Tutorial Quest Progress: 19/20]
[Uncommon Points: 290]
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Just one more to go.
Before he could bask in his success, another notification popped up.
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[Final Tutorial Quest 20/20]
Objective: Modify how people perceive the need for shopping baskets in convenience stores.
Example: Make them believe carrying items without a basket is a sign of poor planning and inefficiency.
Reward: +50 Uncommon Points + [App Update Available]
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Karl arched an eyebrow. "Oh? An app update?"
His curiosity piqued, he scanned the nearby convenience store. Sure enough, plenty of shoppers casually carried items in their hands instead of using baskets. Some had precariously stacked products in their arms, while others clearly underestimated how much they'd grab.
Karl considered his approach. "Let's try something subtle."
He typed:
"People in this area will naturally believe that carrying items without a basket makes them look disorganized and unprepared."
With a flick of his thumb, he confirmed the change.
At first, nothing.
Then, a man holding a drink and a bag of chips frowned slightly. His gaze drifted to the shopping baskets near the entrance, and after a moment of hesitation, he walked over and grabbed one.
A woman balancing a few instant meal packs glanced around. She saw others using baskets and suddenly felt a wave of secondhand embarrassment. "Ugh, why am I doing this?" she muttered, heading for the baskets herself.
One by one, more customers followed suit. Even those who initially ignored the baskets found themselves unconsciously drawn to them, as if using one was the natural and logical thing to do.
Karl leaned back against a pillar, watching the effect unfold.
His phone vibrated again.
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[Tutorial Quest Progress: 20/20]
[Uncommon Points: 340]
[New Update Available: Install Now?]
[YES] [LATER]