Silent Hunt

After reading what was written on that screen, I was actually glad for a moment, since the mission was literally forcing me to capture the goblins. So, I would do the obvious thing in that situation: I would combine the useful with the pleasant and, if I succeeded, I would even get a PC to upgrade one of my skills.

"Great! I was just going to do that."

I commented to myself, while wearing an indifferent smile on my face.

With the 'Stealth' skill activated, I began to sneak through the shadows, approaching the goblins while concealing my presence.

As I approached the first monster, I realized that there weren't five goblins, as my Skill had identified, but six. The sixth was a little further ahead of me, and in front of it was the fifth.

"Shit, now I'll have to kill this one without attracting the attention of the other four ahead."

I whispered almost imperceptibly to myself as I thought up a strategy. But out of the blue, I remembered something.

"But wait a minute, what if I end up failing the mission? What could happen?"

As I stood there, thinking about what might happen if, by chance, I failed the mission, the system appeared in front of me, as if by magic.

*SFX to something appearing*

[URGENT WARNING:]

[Failure to complete the mission will result in a penalty].

After seeing that, I raised my eyebrows slightly and, without understanding anything, asked.

"What do you mean, penalty?"

[...]

[% ˄%@ $% @ $˄% $% ˄% @ @ $]

[Failure in this mission will cause you to lose the system permanently.]

When I read that, I almost screamed.

"Is it only now that you warn me about this?"

I asked with a little anger in my tone.

After that, the system simply went silent, as usual. I didn't receive any more information, so I decided to carry on without your instructions.

"Thank you for answering my question."

I said in a sarcastic tone.

Without any information, let alone instructions, I decided to move on. That's when I noticed that the goblin ahead, the one I would have to kill, started to move. I decided to take advantage of the chance that had been created.

As soon as the goblin moved away and I saw that I wouldn't run the risk of being caught, I put my plan into action. I walked up to the small, green monster and, without it realizing my presence, placed my hand over its mouth. Before it could react, I took out my sword and pierced its throat.

"Problem solved..."

Before I could finish my sentence, I was taken by surprise when the same goblin I had just killed not only disappeared, as I thought he would, but left behind a purple stone.

"What the fuck is that?"

I asked myself, as I picked up the stone from the ground and waited patiently for an answer from the system.

But as usual, it didn't answer me.

After I realized that he wasn't going to answer me, I decided to try a more polite approach.

"Could you please analyze this for me and give me an explanation of what it's for?"

[ANALYZING...]

[... ...]

[ANALYSIS COMPLETE.]

[You've found the 'Item: Teleport Crystal'. Would you like to buy it?]

[YES]/[NO]

"I asked you to analyze it, not to ask me if I'd like something that I've literally already taken."

I said this, somewhat dissatisfied with my system, because it always answered me with what I already knew.

After I said that, for some reason I sensed a tone of dissatisfaction in her voice. After all, she hadn't answered what I'd said and only continued.

[Item: Teleport crystal]

Rarity: Rare

Type: Usable

Function: By imbuing MP into it, the user will be transported to a nearby safe location.

"Hmm..."

(The usefulness of this item is very practical for extreme situations. I'll save it for a riskier situation).

I thought with an indifferent look on my face as I stared at the item.

"Inventory."

I called up my inventory and then put the stone inside.

"Now..."

I whispered with a serious look on my face as I turned towards the goblins.

"Let's get down to business."

After killing that goblin, which I couldn't identify with my 'Skill', I carefully approached the other five and captured them one by one. To be honest, I really thought it would be an easier task, but I was completely wrong; and I narrowly missed being caught.

"Whew! I'm glad I managed to complete the mission without a glitch."

I commented to myself, as I stared at the unconscious goblins on the ground. Suddenly, the same sound I was used to echoed in my mind once again.

*SFX to something appearing*

[You have completed the 'Secondary Mission: Silent Hunt']

[The rewards for completing this mission have arrived. Would you like to receive them?]

[YES]/[NO]

*SFX for something appearing*

[You will receive the following rewards].

"What do you mean? I thought I'd only get two rewards."

I asked, staring at the screen in front of me with a confused look on my face, not understanding anything.

*SFX to something disappearing and reappearing*

[Mission Rewards]

Statistics point +1 Skill Point +1 Skill: 'Gravitational Touch'

[Would you like to receive all the rewards?]

[YES]/[NO]

"Wait a minute, what do you mean? A new skill wasn't just supposed to come with points."

Because of my new skill, I had even forgotten about the points, which were actually my priority. But that changed when I saw that. After all, it's not every day that I get something this good, and above all: for free.

After pondering for a moment, I decided to accept all the rewards. After all, a stat point, a skill point and a new skill were too tempting an offer to refuse. With a satisfied smile on my face, I confirmed my choice on the golden screen in front of me.

*SFX to something being squeezed*

I couldn't hold my curiosity in any longer.

"Check reward 3."

I ordered the system, a little curious about the skill I had gained.