Eli glanced at the small wall clock above the register,7:15 PM. The last customer's smile still lingered in his mind as he flicked off the "Open" sign and flipped the lock on the door. Evening light slanted through the dusty windows, turning the narrow aisles into long stripes of gold and shadow.
He grabbed his lightweight messenger bag from behind the counter keys, wallet, phone tucked safely inside and ran a hand through his hair. The day's exhaustion tugged at his shoulders, but there was one more thing to do before he could collapse on his couch.
Outside, the streetlamps flickered awake. Delivery scooters hummed past, weaving between parked cars and the glow of neon shop signs. The air tasted faintly of frying oil and cold pavement. Eli pulled his jacket tight and stepped into the dusk, the door clicking softly behind him.
He paused at the corner and froze. Even this late, the SuperMartX entrance still bristled with activity. A line of people snaked down the block, two deep at points, all clutching shopping bags and chatting about tonight's "flash sale" deals. The towering glass façade glowed like a beacon, its LED banners cycling through promises of tomorrow's specials.
Eli swallowed. The store's bright lights illuminated faces young couples, tired shift workers, curious teens drawn here even after dark. Their laughter and chatter spilled into the street, a reminder that the spectacle wasn't over yet.
He sighed, shook his head, and kicked off down the sidewalk toward his scooter. Tomorrow's opening had never really ended it was bleeding into every hour of every day. With one last glance at that relentless queue, Eli set his jaw, swung his leg over the seat, and eased the engine to life. There was work to be done quieter, humbler work ,but work nonetheless. And he would get there in time
His scooter waited where he'd parked it earlier, its seat still warm from the afternoon sun. He hopped on, the engine sputtering to life, and checked his phone for the time
With a twist of the throttle, he threaded through Briggon's narrow streets, weaving past dinner–rush pedestrians and the distant roar of SuperMartX's evening crowd. Each turn carried him closer to one final errand and another chance to make a difference before the day ended.
. His system panel pinged:
New Task: "Unwanted Racket"
Location: Maplewood Senior Complex, Building E, Unit 3F
Time Limit: 6 hours
Reward: 5,000yuan| Punishment: -2,000 yuan
The description was simple enough loud banging and stomping after 10 PM, waking up elderly tenants. No mention of ghosts or monsters, just a mechanical or human nuisance. Perfect: not glory‐seeking, just real help.
Maplewood Senior Complex
By 7:45, Eli had parked his scooter under a flickering hallway light. Maplewood's peeling paint and buzz of broken elevators felt worlds away from Briggon's retail frenzy. He took the stairs up to the fourth floor, noting taped‐up flyers for bingo night and a sign by the elevator warning of "IRREGULAR SCHEDULE."
In front of Unit 3E, Mrs. Zhao, a petite woman with silver hair, waited clutching her robe ."Ah—who are you?" she said in a questioning voice
"Well, my name is Eli"
He nodded. "I'm here about the noise from 3F, so anything you can tell me about it will be greatly appreciated."
"Ha, finally someone is finally doing something about that noise after i have complained for weeks:" she said " i am happy to tell you about them"
She then frowned. "They start around 10:30. I honestly don't know how they sleep in that place."
He made a note. "I'll check 3F first, then speak with neighbors."
Unit 3F
Eli knocked on the door of 3F at exactly 8:00. No answer. The noises wouldn't start for another two hours, but the panel had urged an early survey.
He slipped a loyalty card into the jammed lock, thank you, delivery days and the door popped open. Inside, an empty living room was scattered with yoga mats, a pair of worn dance shoes, and a stack of cardboard boxes. A loose floorboard creaked ominously when he stepped in.
Eli knelt and pressed down on the corner, and sure enough, the subfloor shifted. He peered underneath and spotted a rusted metal bracket barely holding the wood in place.
"Found you," he murmured, already fishing a multi‐tool from his pocket.
Neighbors in 3E and 3G
Next, he visited 3G, Mr. Chen, a retired engineer, sat in a wheelchair by the window. "I can hear every thump," Mr. Chen said, voice weary. "Sometimes it feels like they're dancing in my ceiling."
Eli nodded. "I've discovered a loose floorboard, likely the culprit for the reverberation. Would you mind if I tighten it now?" "Please," Mr. Chen said. "I'll stay right here."
Down the hall, Mrs. Zhao joined them. "Is it a repair issue?"
"Partly," Eli explained. "I'll secure the board. But if there's any actual activity late‐night practice or something we'll talk to the tenant about doing it at quieter hours."
Back in 3F, Eli worked under the dim ceiling light. Thirty minutes later, the floorboard was clamped tight. He stomped lightly, no more echo. He left the door open and knocked again.
This time, a young man answered early twenties, earbuds dangling. He blinked when he saw Eli.
"Hi, I'm Eli. I'm here about the noise. I've fixed a loose board… but can you help me understand your late‐night routine?"
The tenant flushed. "Oh sorry. I've been renovating this place, building a little home studio. Didn't realize it thumped so loud."Eli nodded. "Understandable. Construction after 10 PM isn't ideal for these neighbors. Could you shift work to daytime? Or put down a mat?"He shrugged. "Sure, I can come in around 2 PM instead. And I'll get a rubber underlay."
They shook on it.
Eli returned to Mr. Chen and Mrs. Zhao, who both tested the hallway floor with tentative steps. "Much better," Mrs. Zhao said, smiling.
He tapped "Task Complete" on his panel:
Reward: 1,500 yuan, 20% exp gain
As he left Maplewood, the hallway felt quieter peace restored, no supernatural stakes, just practical goodwill.
That night, back at Blue Fern, Eli sat with Jin over noodles. Jin's eyes were bright."How did your emergency job go?" Jin asked. "Fixed a floorboard, brokered quiet hours. Nothing glamorous, but a lot of people said theycan finally sleep." Eli smiled. "Sometimes, that's enough."
Outside, Briggon's neon lights glowed. Tomorrow, they'd face SuperMartX again. But for now, two districts and two sets of neighbors rested a little easier.