Chapter 4: Sign Me Up
Venture wonder if he needs to go up to the middle-aged man or wait for the man to come to him. However, it seems like Venture didn't have to worry about this any longer. As the man spot Venture and quickly speed walk over to him with a big smile on his face. Something that causes Venture to feel a bit disturbing since he didn't do anything to make the other party smile at him.
Coming up close, Venture can see the middle-aged man has black hair, green eyes, and wearing a casual business outfit.
"Hello! Sorry for disturbing you and I know you must be confused to find a random stranger appearing before you out of the blue. So, I'll say it now to get it out of the way. I'm Firm." Firm introduces himself first, "And I'm from the [Dark Star Faction]." Firm reaches into his pocket and pulls out a business card, to hand it over to Venture, who cautiously accepts the card. "I'm a recruiter, who brings in newcomers into the faction. Now, you must be thinking, 'Hey, why this stranger thinks I'm interested in joining a faction, I have no idea about?' Well, I'll tell you why! It's because the [Dark Star Faction] is a new rising faction that just made and gathering a group of amazing people to rise to the top, where anyone will in the future know the [Dark Star Faction] throughout the entire world! To prove ourselves and this isn't a scam! We also have a member, who is shocking, a [Unique Skill] holder!"
Venture blankly stare at Firm, while trying to ignore the whispers around the area, with people staring at the two. Some of them boldly mocking Firm for lying about someone being a [Unique Skill] holder in this newly created faction. Something that is unbelievable in many people's opinions.
However, from the look on Firm's face. Venture wonder if Firm already got used to being mocked at for many times now or one of those people who can only hear certain keywords while the rest of the words spoken by others just go through one ear and exit the other. Nevertheless, Venture knew that at the very least, by accepting Firm's invitation to join the [Dark Star Faction]. He won't have to worry about a warm place to sleep and food. Especially the foods. Thanks to his latest gamble.
"And what do I get out by joining this [Dark Star Faction]?" Venture had to be sure if joining this faction would include the two things he desires the moment right now.
"You won't have to worry about a place to stay nor be concerned about not having food to eat for the rest of your life. Furthermore, if you join, then all the members will help you out with anything that you can't do on your own. Of course, in return, you have to help the rest of us as well during the time we require help." Firm begins explaining all the benefits Venture will gain upon joining the [Dark Star Faction]. "So, will you join us?!" Firm believes his words got through to Venture and hope for a new comrade to join the [Dark Star Faction].
"I have one question to ask before I give you my answer." Venture response.
"Well, ask away." Firm continues to smile, believing that Venture will accept and this question just happens to be something to help him understand the [Dark Star Faction] more or something related to it.
"Why me?" Venture is curious about the reason why Firm picked him out of everyone else. After all, there are still people nearby who also came out of the library like him. Even if Venture used his [Unique Skill] to make this happen, but he still wants to know why him of all people.
Firm glance around then lean a bit closer to Venture and spoke in a whisper tone, "It's because you stayed at Miss Cope's place before, and more than a few days at that and not to mention, that Miss Cope is also a member of the [Dark Star Faction]. She is the one who informed me of a potential candidate to join the faction."
Venture knew that the landlord wasn't someone normal, even if she has a [Normal Skill] related to managing the apartment all by herself. However, what caught Venture's attention is the part where Firm mentions about how he stayed at Cope's apartment for more than a few days. Making it seem like something special and worth noting. In Venture's opinion, what is more, important is that Firm manages to locate the area he is at or know at least the area, where Venture will most likely appear. For now, Venture just has to put his guards up and if needed, he will use his [Unique Skill] to escape the very moment he figures out the whole thing is a trap and something dangerous will happen to him.
"Do I need to pay a fee or anything to join this [Dark Star Faction]?" Venture asks Firm, because he has no idea if this was the case or not. Plus, this whole faction thing is a new thing to Venture. Since he hasn't found a book about factions yet, but the way people are finding this normal and with Firm recruiting him. It must be among the common things everyone should know by now.
"Nope. You don't have to pay anything to join the [Dark Star Faction]." Firm smile at Venture, as it looks like the [Dark Star Faction] is about to have a new member. "So, your answer on joining the [Dark Star Faction]?"
Venture pondered the question of rather join the [Dark Star Faction] or not. If not, then he wasted such an opportunity after gambling not that long ago.
"Alright, I accept." Venture nods at Firm, causing the recruiter's smile to widen at this answer before letting out a loud laugh, that causes others nearby to glare at Firm for being so loud, even when laughing.
"Great! Follow me! I'll show you where everyone else is!" Firm became excited and wanted to introduce Venture to the rest of the members of the faction.
"Alright." Venture hopes that where Firm is taking him has food, because his physical fatigue isn't going down on its own.
-LIABG-
Half an hour later; Venture wonder if this was fate's work or what, because before his eyes. Firm brought Venture to the very same apartment building, where Venture stayed for a few days before going broke after buying the blank book.
"Is this the place?" Venture question Firm, with a hint of doubt in his voice. After all, Venture has spent his first few days here and the only thing he found out of the ordinary in his opinion is the limited amount of rooms available for rent. While there floors above the second one, but these floors are off-limit. As Cope mentions this on the first day, staying here and Venture figure it's just that these floors are Cope's living area or something.
"Yeah, this is the main base, for the [Dark Star Faction]. Don't let the size of the building and appearance fool you, with the help of Miss Cope's [Skill]. This building has the potential to be the strongest and the best base for any factions could ever hope to obtain." Firm said with absolute confidence and with pride.
"Is that why the floors above the second floor are off-limit?" Venture wanted to get this question out of the way.
"Eh, kind of." Firm scratch the back of his head, feeling a bit nervous. "Let's just say, that there is a reason why only the second floor is available for public use."
"I'm guessing it's better for me not to find out?" Venture glance at Firm, who let out a bitter chuckle.
"Yeah, it's better not to learn the reason why, because I wish I never did." Firm shook his head, where his eyes are filled with sorrow for a few seconds before disappearing instantly afterward, "Come on, you need to meet the others before we give you the membership card, then you're a true member of the [Dark Star Faction]."
A quick glance at his status, Venture hoping it's not too bad.
Name: Venture
Title: [Gambler of Fate] - You are fate's gambler and making the impossible possible.
Health: 100/100%
Physical Fatigue: 70/100%
Mental Fatigue: 75/100%
Unique Skill: [Everything Is A Gamble] - The user is able to use anything to gamble with fate. [Price]: The medium used will disappear afterward.
Venture almost trip on his own feet once he noticed he is close to hitting the 100% range, which is very bad for Venture because he has never hit 100% before and going by the books he has read about it. Venture has no idea if everything it says is true or not, but he rather not find out the hard way.
"Oh, careful there. I'm guessing you forgot to eat lunch. Come on, I'll show you where we eat. I'm sure the others won't mind waiting a bit." Firm noticed it right away and figure Venture must have done some heavy research or something in the library while forgetting to bring food to eat, with the way he almost trips on his feet.
"Thanks, and yeah, I kind of forgot about it." Venture gives Firm an awkward smile, not revealing the real reason why he hasn't eaten yet.
Entering the apartment, where Venture doesn't see Cope anywhere, but it seems like Firm wasn't going to wait for her to show up and continue walking up the stairs, which they've passed the second floor and stopping at the fourth floor.
"This is the floor, where everyone eats. As in, this entire floor is where the people with [Cooking Skills] stays and the other members of the [Dark Star Faction] that doesn't have a [Cooking SKills] would come here for the one that does have the [Cooking Skill] to make food for them. But, of course, this would require many to pay for their service for cooking; however, we of the [Dark Star Faction] don't need to pay any service. It's all technically free for us since most of us would be the one to supply the ingredients daily. Right now, there only one of us that has a [Cooking Skill] and another who gathers the ingredients. But, don't look down on these two, because they are the ones alone to keep everyone in this faction from going hungry." Firm explains to Venture, as he walks up to the counter. "Hey, Fare, how things been?" Firm greet the chef, with a smile on his face.
Venture tries not to let it show on his face, but he did not expect to see the chef to a huge muscular man, who is bald and brown eyes, along with a few scars on his face. Wearing a white apron, that barely fits the guy and has the appearance of someone that should be out on the field fighting monster instead of being a chef.
But, Venture figure this Fare must have a history, where he fought on his own to gather ingredients on his own to make his food or something on that line. But, Venture knows for sure, that he should never get on this Fare's bad side.
"Good. What ya want?" Fare grunts out, causing Firm to chuckle a bit.
"We got a new member here, Venture." Firm introduces the newest member of the [Dark Star Faction] to the chef. "He forgot to eat and must have gone passed the 50% range, and I may as well grab something to eat too, while I'm here."
"I see." Fare look at Venture for a few seconds, causing the latter to feel a bit uncomfortable being stared at by a huge muscular man. Then, Fare grunt, "I'll have the meals finishes in 10 minutes."
Watching Fare head into the back, allowing Venture to finally release his breath that he been holding without knowing when.
Firm pat Venture on the back and chuckle, "Don't let Fare's appearance intimidate you. On the outside, he looks scary, but on the inside, he a caring person who looks out for his comrades. If you want to trust your back to someone, then Fare is your guy and also the one to make sure you get something good to eat. Trust me, his food is delicious and among the many reasons why the other members haven't complained about our faction having a small number of people." Firm lead Venture to a table for two, where the other tables are empty.
Most of them are for two people to share a table and rarely some are for four. A grand total of 10 tables, with six tables, are meant for two people and four tables are for four people to share with. Firm picked the table that's closest to the doors, so when they're finished with their meal. They can head to the stairs quickly.
"So, what's my role in this faction? And I know you said back at the library, that the [Dark Star Faction] is a rising faction and aiming to the top. What do you mean by that?" Venture knew he should have asked this earlier, but he was too eager to have a meal to care at the time. Now, that there is food coming his way, Venture can finally ask this, even though Venture may have to slow down on thinking too much or risk his mental fatigue to go up.
"Let's start with the first one. Currently, we have no idea where to put you yet, since Miss Cope only mention how you're someone out of the other ones that stayed for more than a day, even through the night. That's something big in the [Dark Star Faction], but I can't tell you just yet. Don't worry, I'll tell you later." Firm said to Venture, then continue with the next question. "As for what I meant by rising to the top. I mean exactly that. In the City N, we're at the bottom, which means we barely get any resource, but the bare minimum compared to the factions at the top. However, this isn't what the [Dark Star Faction]'s main goals. Just getting to the top for the resource is just part of one of the main goals. Without resources, the [Dark Star Faction] is no better than just a small party of random people that mainly just there for protection against other people from taking advantage of them."
Venture started to wonder if he had amazing luck if what Firm just said is true, because if so, then he should have been robbed or something on the line of being getting hurt by someone. But, then again, with his [Unique Skill] that literally manipulate Venture's luck should be a given why he hasn't met the worse side of this place. Yet.
As for City N, this is the first time Venture heard about it and wonder why it wasn't mentioned yet in any of the books he has read so far. Nevertheless, this is something for Venture to research later. As the smell of food in the air made Venture's mouth water a bit. Venture put down his book on the table and look at the kitchen, where the smell is coming from.
From the kitchen doors, Fare came out, carrying two plates of food and if he wasn't so intimidating. Venture may have rushed over to eat both the two plates without a care of his appearance. That's how hungry Venture is right now and with both of his physical fatigue and mental fatigue passed the 70% range made it even harder on Venture.
Luckily, Venture didn't have to wait any longer as the plate of food is placed in front of him. Not wasting any longer, Venture quickly devours the food, not caring to check if there were some part of the food that was not edible to eat. At this point, Venture didn't mind having a bit of a stomach ache with how hungry he is. It's no wonder in the book when it mentions the physical fatigue, that many would rather have their health close at 1% than allow their physical fatigue at 100%.
Since the health stat will recover back to 100% on its own naturally unlike the other two stats. Weirdly enough. But, this natural recovery will stop if either physical fatigue and/or mental fatigue hit 100%. So, Venture can understand somewhat why many put more importance on both types of fatigue.
-LIABG-
In a matter of minutes; Venture let out a satisfying burp and bring up his status.
Name: Venture
Title: [Gambler of Fate] - You are fate's gambler and making the impossible possible.
Health:100/100%
Physical Fatigue: 0/100%
Mental Fatigue: 0/100%
Unique Skill: [Everything Is A Gamble] - The user is able to use anything to gamble with fate. [Price]: The medium used will disappear afterward.
Venture blink in surprise to see both physical fatigue and mental fatigue are at 0%! Talk about good quality food if a single plate alone can bring down the range of 70% to 0% at the end of the meal.
"Surprise, huh?" Firm grin at Venture's surprised face.
Even Fare smirk at the look of the newcomer's face at eating his cooked meal.
"Just letting you know, but Fare here is someone the [Dark Star Faction] can never replace, in fact, he is one of the main pillars that will keep the [Dark Star Faction] from disbanding just by his cooked food alone." Firm gives a thumb up at Fare, who just grunt, but everyone can see the smirk on Fare's face widen at the praise he is getting.
Fare grabs the finished dirty plates and heads back inside, causing Venture to blink again, due to the fact that Firm also finished eating his plate of food.
"Now, come on, I'm sure you want to meet the others." Firm got up from his seat and head back to the stairs.
Venture grab his book and follow Firm, curious about how many members are there in the [Dark Star Faction] as he only knows three so far.