2 Guess fourth time's the charm (chapter 2)
Chapter 2
The process of imbuing items with options wasn't as straightforward as one might imagine. Oliver's method involved a meticulous ritual. He needed to relax first, then eliminate all distractions, steady his breathing, and attune himself to his own heartbeat. If you tried it yourself, you will see that it's not so easy, especially in urban cities, this routine had become familiar to him over the past three days, albeit with a fair share of attempts. After achieving a tranquil state, he opened his eyes, their azure hue shining brightly, and lifted the chosen item—the worn cooking pan. Placing it against his forehead, Oliver initiated the process.
The pan emitted a radiant glow for precisely one minute. Every passing second caused Oliver to tremble as if enduring an intense cold. Giving items options wasn't a walk in the park even after its initiating process; it required not only relaxation and focus but also the endurance of excruciating sensations akin to thousands of needles pricking his soul, body, and mind. The sixty-second duration felt like a torturous ordeal.
As the minute elapsed, Oliver's mana points were depleted, but he had endured—a feat he had failed to achieve in his previous attempts. On the first try, he lasted merely four seconds, which was mostly due to the fact that he was surprised about the pain, which Goldie didn't mention; the second attempt marked a significant improvement at thirty seconds, which was of course due to that fact that he had prepared himself for the pain, and the third trial saw him endure for fifty-six seconds. Now, on his fourth attempt, he reached the full sixty seconds, draining every ounce of will, stamina, and mental energy he possessed.
"Guess fourth time's the charm," he quipped, collapsing onto the mattress, causing dust to dance in the air. With hopeful anticipation, he gazed at the floating screen displaying the results.
[Name: Worn-Cooking-Pan]
[Grade: White]
[Description: An old cooking pan with peeling paint, reminiscent of countless meals prepared over the years.]
[Option: +10% enhancement to the flavour and fulfilment of cooked food (Rank: F) (passive)]
[Durability: 47%]
"Not bad, I guess," Oliver pondered, pleased with the description of the option he bestowed upon the pan. "And it's a passive option, which is good since active options require MP to use." A smile played on his lips, grateful for the favourable outcome.
[Name: Oliver]
[MP: 0.01/1.01 (1 MP lasts for 1 minute, 1 MP can be recovered every minute)]
[Skills:
Option: You can grant one item a single option, and depending on the item's history, production method, use, or significance, it would receive a different option. But it can only receive 1 option, with a 70% chance of failure. Current grade: F, level: 1 (4/1,000) cooldown: 24 hours.]
Observing his own status panel, Oliver sighed, contemplating the daunting prospect of repeating the process 996 more times. "I can't believe that I need to do this 996 more times," he muttered, a sense of dread washing over him. However, a moment of relief followed as he acknowledged, "Well, at least it doesn't have to be successful for it to count." This realisation provided a semblance of solace, sparing him from an indefinite stagnation.
"Now I have 23 more hours to go," he declared, setting the frying pan down, its subtle white hue noticeable only to him. "Good thing I am the only one who can notice this hue." He shifted his attention to a new task, standing up and picking up the large, worn-out cloth. "Hmm, right, I wanted to make a cloak from that fabric," he mused, turning and inspecting the fabric from various angles, even attempting to drape it over himself for size, as he took measurements—or at least attempted to do so.
However, that's when inspiration struck. "Might as well try it," Oliver decided. He took the frying pan, diligently cleaned it, and ignited a flame on his makeshift stove—the bottom of the barrel. "Let's see what the effect of that 10% enhancement to the flavour and fulfilment of cooked food is," he mused while pouring coals into the barrel. Patiently, he waited for it to heat up before placing the pan inside. "Since it's a passive option, it doesn't require me to activate it, so this should be easy," he noted once the frying pan reached the desired temperature.
Opening a can of beans, he poured them into the sizzling pan. "I really need to do something about my living conditions," he sighed, expressing dissatisfaction with his current situation. "Well, there's no use in being unhappy about my situation. I just need to change," he resolved while ensuring the beans didn't burn, salvaging his somewhat makeshift meal. After heating up the beans, he indulged directly from the pan, prompting a surprising thought: "It's actually not that bad—definitely not the best, but not the worst," he smiled, finding a semblance of contentment in his resourceful culinary experiment.
[ the next day ]
In the more favourable part of Hell's Kitchen, Oliver donned the same large piece of cloth, now fashioned into a cloak with a small robe serving as the hood. "I should probably focus on enchanting pistols or modern weapons for my safety," he mused, surveying his surroundings. His eyes roved over the gangsters and thugs leaning against the walls, seemingly oblivious to his presence due to his shabby attire. "Guess there's an upside to wearing dirty clothes," he remarked, his gaze sweeping the scene.
Of course, he wasn't there for sightseeing. Navigating through the streets, he reached a building—luxurious compared to the decaying surroundings. Armed with a small, old notebook and a short pencil, he made meticulous notes while observing the structure. Pondering the situation, he reflected, "Although this isn't a target the previous Oliver would go for, considering it's a bigger fish, he didn't have the option system." He continued, "Plus, I am only beginning this operation once I gather enough information and equipment, especially an item that can hide my presence, only then would I even attempt it" casting a thoughtful glance at the cloak he wore.
"Hopefully, this cloak gives me that option," he wished, harbouring ambitions of striking big by targeting a formidable opponent. However, he wasn't diving headfirst into the operation without preparation and extensive information. "It's quite big, with quite the number of guards," he noted from what he could see. "This might actually be harder than I thought," he groaned, acknowledging the challenge ahead.
As several figures emerged from the mansion, a woman caught Oliver's attention. Clad in luxurious attire with long blonde hair and a pearly white dress that was revealing, she exuded beauty and authority., she momentarily quickened Oliver's heartbeat. "Damn, she is pretty," he mused, captivated by her presence amidst the hustle and bustle of the surroundings.
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A/N when I said that he was going to start from the bottom, I meant it. i want the progression of this story to be neat and detailed, I want it to visible yet slow, and I want to do the same for the system/power progression.
PS: Guess the woman, she is actually one of the 9 girl-friends in his life, and she is going to be important. and would help him by teaching him about business and wealth.
