Little puppy

Cyril nodded as he sighed, "I understand. The system is just crazy. Anyway, I think it could be good in its own way. You won't get bored playing a single game for the rest of your time in this place. 

"Also, just imagine, if the system selected a sport you have no idea about, what would you do? This should be considered an ideal arrangement for you."

Rian thought of what Cyril said, and his sad eyes turned bright in an instant, "You are right. Why didn't I think of this before?"

When Cyril saw his sudden change in expression, for a second he thought he saw his pet puppy who had just got its treat.

"What if the system selected only Chess and wanted me to earn my points by winning the game? I would die of starvation. This is really good," Rian's happiness was to no bounds just with a little change in perspective.

Cyril could feel Rian's aversion to Chess from a few meters away and shook his head while laughing to himself.

They went back to their respective work after a casual chat.

After a while, Rian looked at Cyril and asked, "Even if I want to play, who should I play with?"

Cyril looked at his innocent face and didn't know how to respond for a while.

He asked, "Maybe there are many inmates who are sportsmen like you?"

Rian blinked his eyes like an innocent puppy, "I have to play sports with those ruthless prisoners? What if I die while playing?"

"..." 'Okay, you have a great imagination. But for some reason, I think your words are valid as well. So, I won't say anything against you.'

Cyril had never once thought in his entire life that he would discuss games with a random puppy-looking guy after getting kidnapped and staying in a prison. He wanted to laugh at his situation.

He placed both his hands over his waist and sighed, "First, play some single-player games. Later, you can slowly search for good partners to play with. I will also think of other ways for you to earn some points. Just don't worry."

"Really? You will help me? You are such a great guy, Cyril. I am really lucky to have met you," Rian's eyes once again shone brightly as he praised Cyril.

Cyril did not reply and went back to his work. He is really not happy to meet any guy inside a prison, alright? He would prefer a better life than this.

"Hey Kid, what is this? What are you selling? Is selling inside the prison even legal?" A man walking by came to Cyril and asked, pointing his finger towards Cyril's makeshift stall and the banners hanging above it.

Since the respective systems are responsible for giving points based on the tasks finished, no one had ever sold to or bought anything from others in the prison. After many years, some regular operations had continued and the new inmates would think that what was happening were the 'rules' of the prison.

Since Cyril had looked through the system more carefully than the others, he had read a set of instructions which were supposed to be 'rules and regulations' for using the system inside the prison, and he got a better understanding than many other inmates there.

So, he understood many loopholes here already, unlike the others. After all, he had to earn points without using the system's assigned tasks. He had no other choice but to look through those loopholes.

He smiled at the man who had asked the question and replied respectfully, "Well, I have got a task to start my own shop. So, it should be legal for me, right? Do you need anything? As long as you need something, you can ask me and I will arrange anything for a rate lower than your system. Also, you can rent anything you need from me. For all the details, please look through this brochure."

He worked on a brochure once he set up his stall. So he gave the prepared brochure to the potential customer with a polite smile.

The man raised both his eyebrows, "Your task is to set up a shop? That's interesting. What is your identity, kid?"

Cyril had already thought of his answers to such questions and answered calmly, "My identity is a shopkeeper."

Only Cyril knows that he has no identity. He wouldn't risk anything by revealing something he shouldn't to the hooligans inside a prison.

What if everyone started bullying him because he had no identity?

He doesn't know what triggers whom. It is always safe to stand on the safer side.

Anyway, he realized that no one could see his stats. So, there is nothing risky in lying right now.

If the situation changes in the future, he can deal with it as it comes.

"Shopkeeper? I never saw anyone with such an identity before. Ha ha. Interesting. I like your prices as well, kid. I will come back to you later. Also, give me a few more brochures, I will pass them to the guys I know." The man smiled happily as he checked the prices on the brochure. 

"How kind of you? Thank you, Brother. I will give you a discount for your help. Please spread the news to as many guys as you can. Thank you very much," Cyril smiled and gave him a number of brochures.

After the man left, Rian came to Cyril and spoke, "How lucky, Cyril. The first customer you got turned out to be such a helpful man."

The smile Cyril had when he faced the man disappeared as soon as the man was not in his sight.

He looked at Rian with a smile that Rian did not understand and spoke, "I am lucky indeed. But I also know that he would help me. That's why I gave him the brochure in the first place. Otherwise, I would have simply told him to look through the prices on that banner."

"Huh?" Rian did not understand what Cyril said for a second. He looked in the direction Cyril pointed at, and found a smaller-sized banner on which the prices of many things were printed neatly.

"I didn't understand. If you have that banner, why did you give him the brochure?" Rian did not understand what Cyril said at all.

Cyril looked at the silly look on his face and smiled. He patted his head as if Rian was a kid and shook his head, "It's nothing. I have a feeling you wouldn't understand even if I told you. So, just let it be."

"Huh?" Rian felt like Cyril had just insulted him in some way, but he wasn't sure how either. He scratched the back of his head in confusion as he looked at Cyril's back, who was busying himself with work.