12. Sixth Ticket
A few blinks later, I found myself back at Old Man Gin's store, which I entered without hesitation.
- And here you are. - said the Old Man behind the counter with a smile. Looking at my hand, he frowned and asked: - When did you manage to get a tattoo?
- It's not a tattoo. This is a mark. Never mind, long story. - I waved my hand casually as I approached the counter.
- Since you say so. In any case, I have prepared your reward. Hold on. - said the old man and handed me a small chest, which contained three bars of gold.
- Many thanks. - I said sincerely, taking the chest. If everything was always so simple…
- Zuzuzuzu, you deserve it. So what's your next plan? - asked the old man curiously.
- I'll spend the night here, and tomorrow I'll go further. By the way, can you tell me where the nearest branch of the Marines is? I need to hand over one pirate to them. - I said, remembering Alvida, who had been lying in the Quinjet for the second day.
Fortunately, telepathic sleep is very similar to a coma, and while Alvida is in it, all the functions of her body slow down, so she does not need to drink or eat. At least for a couple more days, she will hold out unattended.
- The 8th branch is located just three hundred kilometers to the north, on a small island. True, a very vile type manages it, be careful with him. - After a moment's thought, the old man said.
- Understood, thanks. - I said, trying to remember if this branch appeared in anime or manga.
- If you want, you can leave this pirate here and we will turn him in with Bluejam. - Gin suggested.
- No, it's not necessary. I need to meet with the Marines anyway, and a pirate would be a good excuse. Besides, you have already done a lot for me. I'm already uncomfortable. I don't want to be even more insolent. - I said honestly.
- As you know. But don't be shy. As I said, I like you, and I'm glad to help such a promising young man, zuzuzuzuzu. - Gin said kindly.
- That's good to hear. - I said with a smile.
Good, after all, this old man.
- You know? Here you are. This is my den den mushi number, call anytime you need help. Although I have retired, my old connections have not gone away. Even on this remote island, I can find out everything that happens in the world. Think, in your profession it will be useful to have a man who can find the latest information at sea. - the old man said with a smile, handing me a piece of paper with a number.
- Thanks, I really need some help considering I'm new to this stuff. Only I don't have den-den mushi. - I said.
- Oh, so it's not a problem. I have many of these cuties. What do you want? - Gin asked burgundy.
- What kinds are there? - first I asked.
- Among those that are suitable for calls, there is a big one, it is landline and suitable for inter-island calls. There are also baby's den-den mushes, they are portable and you can always carry them with you, but their signal is weak and they work within only one island.
There are also black ones, but they are needed to intercept calls from ordinary den-den mushi. I often use it to extract information. Well, and finally, there is an antipode of blacks, white den den muches that encrypt calls so that no one can eavesdrop on a secret conversation. - said Gin, taking out from under the counter, all the aforementioned snails.
- Then I'll take two bigs, three baby's, one black and one white den den mushi, just in case. Might come in handy someday. - Thinking for a bit, I said.
These snails are ordinary animals that simply have the ability to telepathically communicate over long distances via radio waves. And in order to use this feature of theirs, the locals came up with the idea of putting phones and receivers on snails.
Considering this is some kind of technological device, I think I can somehow connect a big den-den mushi to the Quinjet's on-board computer. This will solve the problem of not communicating with the Oracle when the Quinjet is far away, and we can talk to each other, regardless of the distance.
The second big den-den mushi will remain to communicate with Gin, or other inhabitants of this world. I will carry one baby den den mushi with me, and two will remain in reserve.
- No problem. Would you like to decorate them somehow? - the old man asked, pulling out a drawing kit.
- Um… Yes, of course. Color the baby black, and add a blue bird to the shell, like on my chest. Paint the big one grey, with elements of red and a large 'A' on both sides of the shell. The second big den-den mushi can be painted to your liking. - I said, not immediately remembering that personal den den mushi make them look like their owners.
- Easily. - said the old man, and in a couple of minutes he painted the shells of snails. As a result, the second bog den den mushi now boasts a pattern, like on my Hawaiian shirt. Nicely.
- Thank you. - I said. looking at the sleeping snails.
- No problem. Do you need visual snails? I have the Cameko that can be used to take pictures and videos that can then be sent to the Proko, which can be used to project what the Cameko have taken. Also I have a Projector Den Den Mushi is able to view an image with one eye and project said image at a larger scale using its other eye. - the Old Man asked, putting the paints aside.
- Come on, two copies. Someday they will definitely come in handy. - I said waving my hand. After all, you never really know what you might need in life.
- Good. I will pack now. - said Gin, and taking out a wooden box, he began to carefully put sleeping snails into it.
- What can I feed them? - I asked, watching the old man.
- They are not whimsical and can eat any vegetables and fruits. Although, most of all they prefer cabbage. They sleep almost all the time, and eat after the end of the call. So don't forget to prepare water and food when you're done talking. - said the old man, putting some cabbage into the box.
- It's clear. How much? - I asked.
- Don't take your head. It's a gift, zuzuzuzu. - said Gin, and pushed a box of snails towards me.
- Thanks. - I said once again today, and did not even argue, because I imagine how stubborn this old man is.
- In any case, call if you need information or advice from this old man. I'll help in any way I can, zuzuuzuzuzu. - Gin said with a grin, pointing to the sheet with the number that I had been holding in my hand all this time.
- Necessarily. By the way, I also wanted to ask if you have a copy of the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia? - I asked, putting the paper in my bracer so as not to lose it.
- Looks like it was somewhere. Wait a second… — said the old man, and ran off somewhere to the back room.
While Gin didn't see me, I funded my lottery account with gold. Now I have exactly 5 g.
- I found it. This is an old edition from Ohara, but it should still be in use. - after a couple of minutes, returning with a thick dusty book, said Gin.
- Just what I need. - I said with a smile, taking the book in my hand and flipping through a couple of pages with descriptions of various devil fruits.
- From you 100'000 belly. I like you, but I'm still a businessman, so I should get at least some profit, zuzuzuzuzu… - Gin said, bursting into laughter.
- No problem. - I said calmly, handing over the money. This is a small thing compared to what I received today. It's good that I still left some money, and did not change everything for gold.
- Okay, it's getting late, it's time for an old man like me to sleep, zuzuzuzuzu. Come see me in the morning to say goodbye. - looking at the clock, suddenly said the old man.
- I wanted to talk about a few more things, but I think it can wait until tomorrow. Goodnight. - as I walked towards the exit, I said, deciding not to ask.
- Good night, zuzuzuzuzu… - the old man said with a smirk as I closed the shop door.
After taking one last look at my new friend's shop, I moved to the roof using the blink, and then proceeded to the hotel in the same way.
Putting the box of snails aside so as not to disturb their sleep, I activated the gold lottery for the second time today:
[Your account has received 3 kilograms of gold. Total amount 5 g…
Buying a lottery ticket for 4 g….
Thanks for the payment! Start of the next draw…
…
…
Your prize…
….
< Ally Card: T-1000 >
Thank you for participating!!! On your account left: 1 kg of gold. Cost of the next lottery ticket: 8 g.]
- This is something new…. - I muttered softly as I opened the description of the new prize.
< T-1000 >
< Type: Ally Card >
< Origin: Terminator>
< Kind: Android >
< Description: The T-1000 Advanced Prototype, also known as the 1000 series, is a series of Terminators released by Skynet in 2029. The 1000 Series Terminator is completely self-contained, and is made entirely of liquid metal called «Mimetic Polyfusion», meaning that it can transform into any roughly sized shape it touches, called a «shape changer». >
< Capabilities: The T-1000, as befits a real robot, has great physical strength, allowing him to bend metal with his bare hands. Due to its liquid metal composition, T-100 is not subject to mechanical destruction, its damaged parts are quickly restored, each molecule is programmed to connect with the main mass within a radius of up to 14 km.
Firearms and explosives are useless against him, they are only able to slow down the robot for a short time. When hit, the bullets are subject to ballistic shock - a short-term slowdown in reaction and mobility.
Since the T-1000 was created to hunt and kill targets objectionable to Skynet, it has all the related skills and equipment for this (hand-to-hand combat, stalking, scanners, etc.). In addition to changing his appearance, the T-100 is able to manipulate his liquid body to form cold weapons from his hands, such as swords, axes, hooks, and so on, and use them in close combat.
The molecular brain endows the T-1000 with enhanced reasoning abilities, emotions such as humor, and even self-awareness. It always works in self-learning mode, possesses free will and a full-fledged personality. As a result, the T-1000 can make its own decisions. >
< Weaknesses: Being amorphous in nature, the T-1000 is very sensitive to extreme temperatures: extreme cold, such as immersion in liquid nitrogen, can harden and immobilize it until it will not thaw while the opposite temperature, strong heat, such as immersion in liquid steel, can destroy it. >
< Lottery Note: This prize category provides the user with characters that have a free personality, desires and goals (if originally intended). They are not weak-willed slaves, but at the same time they become your faithful companions who will accompany you until the end of your days, and nothing can change that. Betrayal is absolutely unacceptable, but your relationship is completely dependent on your behavior. >
- Betrayal is unacceptable, right? - I muttered as I finished reading the description.
Whatever you say, but in this dangerous world, it is very useful to have a faithful companion who can always cover your back. It is not for nothing that all the mighty of this world have a team consisting of the same monsters as themselves, who are able to support them.
Initially, I thought of traveling alone, but I think the T-1000 is perfect for me as a companion. I can trust him implicitly, which cannot be said about any inhabitant of this world, because there is always a chance that you will be betrayed, even if not by choice.
And there is no doubt about the combat capabilities of this terminator. To be honest, I'll feel better if I have a partner. Especially if it's a fu**ing liquid terminator. Not everything can be done alone, and even I need help sometimes. Especially now, at the beginning of the journey. Plus, the T-1000 can keep an eye on the Quinjet while I'm gone.
Without any further delay, I took out the ally card from my inventory. As soon as she appeared in my hands, she immediately became covered with cracks and fell apart into small pieces.
They spun in the air, after which they gathered again, but in the form of a luminous humanoid body. When the light faded, a faceless man appeared before me, similar to a mannequin, but made of silvery metal.
This was the T-1000 in its empty form. He just stood there and didn't move, which looked pretty creepy.
- You understand me? - I asked cautiously, examining the terminator. The android slowly turned its head in my direction, after which it paused, and then nodded.
- It's good. - I said with a sigh of relief. Still, I have a slight suspicion of this robot. Terminator 2 was too impressive. I would not want my colleague to turn against me...
- Okay. I think that in order for us to have a normal conversation, you must take on a human form. Since no one else is here, you can copy mine. But only for a while. Understood? - I said seriously. Waiting for another nod from the robot, I extended my hand to him, which he touched with his icy hand.
Having collected enough data, in a second a ripple passed through the metal body of the terminator, and soon an exact copy of me was standing next to me, in exactly the same clothes.
- Hmm, that was a bad idea… - I muttered, feeling goosebumps running down my spine as my clone stared at me, his eyes lifeless.
'Okay, it doesn't matter now.' I thought and discarding all negative thoughts, he again turned to the T-1000: - Do you understand your current situation?
- Yes. - the T-1000 answered briefly in a robotic voice, looking at me with its glowing red eyes.
'It looks like he's brand new and is learning right now, absorbing all the information like a child. I must educate him properly.' — I thought, having analyzed the behavior of the terminator.
- Good. In that case, I'm Captain Nemo. Your name will be…let's say Robert. Bobby for short. You do not mind? - I asked, thinking of nothing better than naming the liquid terminator after the actor who played him in the movie.
- I'm Robert, Bobby for short. - Nodding his head, the T-1000 said, in a more human voice.
- Do you have any information about this world? - I asked.
Hearing my question, Bobby froze for a second with a blank look, apparently checking his database, after which he answered: - No.
- Okay, then I'll explain everything to you. - I said and began to introduce my new partner into the realities of this world.
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< Name: Nemo >
< Gender: Male >
< Age: 17 >
< Race: Homo Superior >
< Gold: 1 g >
< Lottery tickets: 0 >
< Next ticket price: 8 g >
< Prizes:
1. (Free) [Character card: Nightwing];
2. (Free) [Vehicle: Avengers Quinjet];
3. (Free) [Character card: Emma Frost]:
4. (1 g) [Weapon: Element Guns];
5. Bonus (Free) [Additional Item: Interdimensional Ring];
6. (2 g) [Special Skill: Outsider's Mark];
7. (4 g) [Ally Card: T-1000]. >
< Assimilated characters: Nightwing (100%); Emma Frost (100%). >
< Special Skills: Outsider's Mark. >
< Superpowers: Telepathy; Organic Diamond Form; Blink; Dark Vision. >
< Skills: Nightwing; Emma Frost (full list below…). >
< Vehicles: Avengers Quinjet; Wingcycle. >
< Weapons: Escrima Sticks; Element Guns. >
< Costumes: Nightwing Suit; Emma Frost dress. >
< Inventory: Nightwing's Equipment. >
< Interspartial Ring: Mera Mera no Mi; Cloth; Provision. >
< Allies: T-1000 (Bobby). >
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