49 System... GONE!
After the celebration, each one returned to their room. This time, however, the rooms were shared. Floyd, Ivan, and Jonathan were grouped together, while Le Mai Linh took Bianca to another room they would share with a girl named Hoang Mai Phuong.
Floyd glanced around their new space. Even though it was a shared room, it felt spacious—roughly the size of a typical office room. Even if he brought out all his Pokémon, it wouldn't feel crowded. Everyone could still enjoy their personal space.
Kanraku had mentioned that the place used to be a hospital before the beasts appeared. Over the span of five years, it transformed, becoming an abandoned hospital. The nature around it changed too; plants and trees grew rapidly, integrating with the surroundings.
Without delay, Floyd began preparing food for his nine Pokémon. Once done, he quickly entered the bathroom. Inside, he began filling the bathtub with warm water. He then placed Dragonite Mother next to it and started the routine he always followed: massaging and feeding her. Even if it seemed a bit inappropriate to do this here, he felt he had no choice since Ivan and Jonathan were also outside.
After completing the routine, he returned Dragonite Mother to the pokeball and then submerged himself into the warm bath. Mentally, he shouted to the system, 'System, you're such a rip-off!'
[Host, this system doesn't know your intentions and actions. However, I am here to serve. It would be beneficial if you avoided unfairly criticizing the system without a solid reason.]
'I have every reason! You scammed me!'
[What do you mean, host? Please elucidate.]
'Why is it that a Pokéball recipe costs just 5,000 points, but healing Dragonite Mother costs over 50,000? There's a bug here, isn't there? You need to compensate me!" Having understood the potential benefits of identifying system errors, Floyd was always on the lookout for them.
[Host, you might have forgotten that the costs are tied to your proficiency level. If you were at a higher proficiency, the costs would be considerably less. At the Advanced level, for example, the price would be just a little over 5,000 points plus the simulation would cost somewhere 10,000 to more than 20,000, depending on the simulation multiplier. If you reach the Master level, it's only 2,560 points.]
'Then have you forgotten that if I just buy some recipe and then use simulation to make it, it will be cheaper, right?'
[It seemed… you're right]
"Then, why did you suggest I spend over 50,000 points?"
[Host, I never precisely mentioned 50,000 points. You made that assumption.]
This… Floyd stopped a bit and thought about it, and yeah, it seemed right, no… it's not right.
I must extort this system!
After a brief pause, Floyd countered, "System, don't play games. I clearly mentioned 50,000 points earlier, and you never corrected me. It's more cost-effective to buy recipes and use the simulation, isn't it?"
System: "….."
[Then... Host, why didn't you think of that earlier?]
"You... don't shift the blame onto me. This is entirely your fault. You didn't inform me. You need to compensate me; you must compensate me!" Floyd's excitement grew as he felt he had the system cornered.
The system hesitated briefly.
[The advice I provided was based on the fact that the process would not only heal Dragonite Mother but also enable her to break through her limitations and reach the Elite Stage.]
Elite Stage?
"Elite Stage? What's that? Is it some sort of Pokémon ranking?" Floyd's surprise was palpable.
[There are 5 stages of Pokémon, which are:
Rookie: Level 1 – 19,
Pro: Level 20 – 39,
Ace: Level 40 – 59,
Elite: Level 60 – 79,
Champion: Level 80 and above.]
(AN: Gym Leaders are at the level of Ace, and Master also belongs to Champion, so I didn't add it.]
'What? But Dragonite Mother is only level 58,' Floyd expressed his confusion.
However, the System remained silent.
'System, why aren't you responding?'
'You can't just ignore this because you made a mistake. You must give me that method as compensation.'
System: "..."
"System?"
[Host, I will go.]
'What do you mean?' Floyd was confused.
[I made more than two mistakes, which will lead to my elimination.]
'Wha-what? Then what will happen to the system?'
[It will function as a game panel, following your instructions, but you will still need to spend points.]
'And what about you?'
[I will be gone.]
'But you only made two mistakes, right?' Floyd felt guilty for having been so harsh on the system.
[First, I was outsmarted by the Blastoise situation. Second, the Max Revival recipe that can heal the Female Dragonite only costs 5,000 points plus 10,240, which equals 15,240. Although you don't have the materials to create it, I should've informed you of that. Third, the Full Heal you used should've only cost 3,920. I will return the extra points. Fourth, there were errors in my calculations and deductions.]
(AN: 10,240 comes from Master Proficiency, 2,560 x 4 = 10,240. Blamed the system for making fraud)
[Host, don't feel bad, it's written on the contract, and I broke the contract, so I deserved it.]
(AN: Yeah, it's the system's fault. System deserved it]
'I could not ask you anymore if you're gone' Floyd was depressed a bit.
[Host, don't worry after I'm gone, the game panel will update to fix some things. And by the way host, the reason It became expensive is because it's not a normal Max Revival but mixed with Dragon elements, I will give you the recipe now]
[Host, don't feel guilty. It's part of the contract. If I breach the contract, I deserve this consequence.]
(AN: Yes, It's the system's fault. The System deserves this.]
A rush of information flooded Floyd's mind.
Understanding the method, Floyd realized he couldn't replicate it without the simulator's assistance.
[It's been a pleasure assisting you these past 8 months.]
'It's been nice having you around, system,' Floyd admitted somberly.
[Genesis no. 15544854458 – System will be terminated in 10, 9,]
Floyd watched the countdown.
[8,]
[By the way, Floyd.]
He was taken aback by the System addressing his name.
[7,]
[I want to share something important.]
[6,]
[You're like me,]
[5,]
[and you've succeeded.]
[4,]
[3,]
[And I was]
[2,]
[once]
[1]
[a Human]
[0]
[Ding! Game Panel update commencing. Completion in 24 hours...]
Stunned, Floyd tried to process what the System had revealed.
"I was like you...?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"If I'm similar to the System, does that mean I'm also an AI? But that's impossible, I'm human, not a robot... wait."
"The System said it was once human, then it became an AI?"
"So, I'm going to become an AI too? Or did I become an AI before? What? Ahhh, this is too confusing!" Overwhelmed, Floyd placed his hands on his head, trying to calm his racing thoughts.
...
AN: The author noticed that the system made a lot of mistakes, so he decided to eliminate this cancer for the betterment of the plot.
