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"Let's see what this city has to offer," John muttered, his eyes gleaming with anticipation as he moved further into the bustling streets of Orario, ready for whatever came next.
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Chapter 6: Familia?
John moved quietly through the narrow back alleys, the damp smell of the city's underbelly mixing with the faint scent of blood in the air. The streets of Orario were far less forgiving after dark, and he preferred the isolation the alleys provided. His eyes flickered from shadow to shadow, calculating the best routes to stay undetected.
"Nanomachines," he murmured, keeping his voice low, "continue analyzing the surroundings. Let me know if there are any changes."
The soft, mechanical hum of the nanomachines responded almost immediately. "Scanning… No immediate threats detected. The scent of blood remains, but the area appears clear for now."
John's footsteps slowed as he turned a corner, his mind weighing the decision ahead. He had been careful to stay out of sight since the encounter, but he needed to be sure that he was far enough away before he could revert to his true appearance. There was no need to draw unnecessary attention when he could blend in as the unremarkable, rough-looking man he'd been earlier.
"How far are we from the scene?" John asked, his eyes narrowing as he glanced back toward the direction he'd come from.
"Approximately 150 meters from the previous location," the nanomachines responded, their voice calm and precise.
That was enough distance, he thought. He was far enough out of the way to transform without risking being noticed. The moment he made the decision, he let the nanomachines do their work, pushing the mental command forward.
"Activate transformation sequence," John ordered.
His body shuddered slightly as the nanomachines reacted to the command, the subtle energy of his internal reserves pouring into the process. His muscles swelled, and his frame expanded, each fiber of his body adjusting and growing stronger. His clothes, once loose and ill-fitting, began to reshape, the fabric stretching and contouring to accommodate his more muscular form. In moments, John stood tall and solid, his broad shoulders and defined physique a stark contrast to the rough, disheveled appearance he had worn just moments ago.
"Transformation complete. Appearance restored," the nanomachines confirmed.
John flexed his fingers, feeling the rush of power surge through his body, a familiar, comforting sensation.
He took a deep breath, letting the cool air of the alley fill his lungs, clearing his mind.
"What's the status on my energy reserves?" John asked, eyeing the darkened street ahead. He needed to be prepared, no matter what came next.
"Energy reserves at 92 units. Optimal for continued operation," the nanomachines answered promptly.
"Good," John muttered under his breath.
With a confident step, he left the alley and stepped into the quiet, cobbled streets of Orario.
John kept his senses sharp, his enhanced hearing picking up faint conversations and the scuffling of footsteps ahead.
'Nanomachines, activate data collection mode. Scan all conversations, detect sources of information, and map the best route to the Adventurers Guild.'
"Understood. Initiating scan. All verbal communications within a 300-meter radius are being analyzed. Routing information to optimal path."
The nanomachines' soft hum filled his mind, processing countless streams of data. His eyes scanned the busy streets, but he could feel the nanomachines picking up on everything around him. Low whispers, half-heard stories of adventurers and guilds, the discussions of merchants, and the rumors lingering in the corners of the streets all were cataloged with precision.
"Route set," the nanomachines confirmed after a few moments. "Optimal path calculated. Shortest distance to the Adventurers Guild: 214.8 meters."
"Unusual gathering of adventurers ahead. Multiple individuals discussing a large bounty request. Proceed with caution."
'Noted,' John responded quietly. 'But we're sticking to the plan. No distractions.'
"Did you hear? The guild's recruiting mercenaries tonight—something big's going down. Top-tier quest with a massive payout."
John's lips tightened, but he remained outwardly calm. The information was valuable, though it didn't change his course. He would need to keep his head low for now, assess the situation once inside the guild. He didn't need the attention of eager adventurers who were too quick to jump into every risky job that came their way.
"Analyzing… More conversations regarding guild activity," the nanomachines continued, relaying data. "Possible entry point identified. Proceed straight, then left at the next intersection."
His eyes narrowed slightly as he approached the intersection. The Adventurers Guild was within reach.
'Keep the data flowing. Any changes in the vicinity?' he asked the nanomachines, his gaze scanning every corner.
"Nothing significant detected. The area is secure for now," came the reply.
John made his turn, moving swiftly and purposefully as he neared the guild's entrance.
As he stepped into the Guild's interior, a quiet hum of activity filled the air.
A woman behind the counter noticed him approaching, her eyes scanning him quickly before offering a polite smile. "Welcome to the Adventurers Guild," she said. "I assume you're here to register as an adventurer?"
John flashed a friendly smile, his demeanor calm but confident. "That's right, but…" He paused for a moment, allowing the weight of the words to settle. "I'm not in a Familia yet."
The staff member raised an eyebrow, but her expression didn't falter. "Of course. You can't enter the Dungeon without a Familia affiliation, but we can still process your registration in the meantime. However, before you proceed, you'll need to find a Familia."
Expected.
John thought, a slight, controlled smile tugging at the corners of his lips. Outwardly, he maintained his calm, but internally, his mind was already forming solutions, running through contingencies.
"Well, I suppose I'll need to find one soon," he said, his tone casual, almost as if he was considering the next step in a game he already knew the rules to. "Are there any Familia actively looking for new members at the moment?"
The staff member smiled, clearly pleased by his directness. "Yes, we have a list of Familia currently recruiting. I'll give you the details shortly. But first, please fill out this form."
John took the form, scanning it with a practiced eye. Name, age, Familia affiliation—nothing too complicated. Name and age first, everything else irrelevant for now. He filled out those sections, leaving the Familia affiliation blank with a calculated precision. No need to give away unnecessary details. Let them think what they want for now.
He handed the form back with a smooth motion. "Here you go," he said, his tone effortlessly warm.
The staff member accepted the form and then handed him another sheet. "Here's the list of Familia recruiting right now. Take your time to review it."
John took the list, his expression neutral but his mind already working at full speed. Familia are just a means to an end right now. I'll pick one, sure, but I don't need to rely on that for my immediate goal. The Dungeon is the priority.
His eyes flicked down the list, scanning the names but not truly processing them. Join a Familia, get into the Dungeon. But how? There must be a way around it. His thoughts raced, evaluating potential loopholes. The rules are clear, yes, but there's always an angle, a weakness in the system I can exploit.
He folded the list and tucked it into his pocket, his smile remaining effortless and genuine. "Thanks, I'll take a closer look."
The staff member nodded, her smile still present. "Of course. When you've decided, just come back and we'll proceed with the formalities."
John nodded, his eyes meeting hers with a flicker of warmth. "I will. Appreciate your help." He turned to leave, his mind already shifting into its next gear. First, find a Familia. Second, figure out how to bypass the restriction and get into the Dungeon without waiting. I don't have time to waste. He didn't let his smile slip even once, playing the part of the humble newcomer perfectly.
But behind the calm, charismatic exterior, the wheels of his mind were already turning with the cold, calculated precision of someone who would do whatever it took to get what he wanted.
Control.
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(AN)
any ideas on how I can make character interactions more natural?
I plan on having MC meet some plot point characters soon and I think I can nail the characters personality, but I've no clue on if I'll be able to correctly make the interaction between them and the mc actually flow 😅.
but oh well, I'll try my hardest guys and hopefully you've enjoyed.