Once in his cell, Simon finally got a chance to relax. Without care for the world, he throws himself on the bed. 'Man, I forgot how tiring it is to be social. Well, I should probably prepare for tomorrow. System, show me my stats.'
[Name: Simon Jenkins
System: [The Tuesday Adventure System].
Worlds: [RWBY].
Items: [Blade Of Selves], [Australium].
Templates: None.
Entities: [Fear Of Lost Teeth].
Abilities: [All-Speak], [Mind Barrier], [Soul Protection], [Power-Lock], [Blank], [Prodigy].
Inventory: None.
Points: 9597.]
Points were still gathering at this speed; it should probably reach ten thousand before he sleeps; it seems like he could open [Treasure Chest] tonight after all. It would be optimal if he could draw entities that could help him act outside without being affected by his current situation.
'System, notify me once the points reach 10k.'
[Of course.]
'I also need to figure out which safehouse we should visit. Wish I wasn't in prison, for god's sake, that would have made my life so much easier.' He needed to keep the mundane appearance for now, so he couldn't just pull out a 15 kg unknown alloy brick from his ass and use it to negotiate. So if he wanna pull it out, it should be from somewhere believable, like a safehouse. Speaking about negotiation, this whole thing feels off.
'There are immortals, no denying that fact. The general didn't strike me as someone who is crazy about immortality, so his reaction to it tells me something is going on related to immortality. So, believing in the fictional tropes, whoever this immortal is, probably someone who holds a high position of power. And there is probably some immortal faction conflict going on, some shadow which I probably get involved in without knowing just now.' But also whatever he guessed could be him speaking crazy. Which he hoped he was because he was moving a little too quickly into the depths of this world.
Great, now he just ruined his sleep, and his body no longer feels as relaxed as he wanted it to be. 'Tsk, the best bet would be to offer [Australium], try to clean the misunderstanding while it is possibly still fixable. And stick myself closer to the immortal on Ironwood's side.' If that immortal has the general of the Atlesian military in his pocket, then it is safe to assume he is the dominant one in at least the kingdom of Atlas.
'Things just need to get more complicated, don't they?' He looks at [Fear Of Lost Teeth], he wonders for a moment, how many people currently live in Mantle, and how long it would take Atlas to react to it. 'I would have a chance.'
[Ding! Host, the points have reached 10k.]
'Buy [Wooden Chest]. Let's test my luck, shall we?' When waiting for Ironwood, he had a chance to check a few other system functions, like the store. According to the list of available items, the chests are divided between ranks based on the amount of energy they contain, in other words item ranks they contain; each rank is ten times the price of the previous rank. Ranking goes like this: [Wooden Chest(F-E)], [Iron Chest(D)], [Bronze Chest(C)], [Silver Chest(B)], [Golden Chest(A)], [Platinum Chest(S)], [Locked].
[Wood Chest] is the cheapest, also the only one that contains two different rank items. Soon, a screen with a familiar gacha animation appeared. An old wooden chest with rusty locks struggled to contain things inside it before bursting open, revealing the three cards he had drawn.
[Item: Hawk Ring
Rank: F
Description: Bronze ring with the symbol of a hawk imbued upon it, used by Hawkeye Gough of the four knights of Gwyn. Those who wear it may gain the eyes of a hawk, and their bows would be blessed by the winds to go further, for they should drag the dragons in heaven to the ground to be slain.
Note: It can also enhance binoculars for some reason.]
The name Gwyn sounded familiar, not sure from where, but it does sound familiar. Simon decided to note another possible fictional world his old one was connected to.
[Item: The "Hercules" Method
Rank: F
Description: It's a book with an almost cartoonish cover of a big, muscular man lifting the title. On the first page, there is only one line. The Mind Commands, The Flesh Obeys. That's the principle and core of the "Hercules" Method. Master it, and you would gain complete control over your physical body, allowing you to perfectly control its every part and process down to a cellular level, allowing you to accomplish superhuman feats. It's not just muscles we are speaking about, your brain, too supercharged could predict the future, see through a living body like an X-ray, even hypnotise someone, but with just a glance. Beyond that, you are near-immortal, you don't age past your prime, you heal fast, it takes a lot more to kill you, and over time, transcending the need for substance. Everyone has the potential to learn the method, but only a few have the mindset and talent to master it.
Note: Perhaps there is more to this method than it says on the surface. Only one way to find out.]
It possessed great value but also complicated things in certain ways. Still, can't deny it has great value for whoever possesses it.
[Template: Weightlessness
Rank: F
Powers: [Flight], [Prodigy(Airbending, Spirituality)], [Calm Mind].
Description: You have gained the state of weightlessness, becoming one with the wind and letting go of your earthly tether. You have fully embodied Laghima's philosophy of letting go and becoming void, allowing you to attain the power of flight. You understood the free spirit of wind, gaining great affinity for bending it; luckily, even if you can't bend the wind, you could still fly like the wind. Freely and swiftly, never needing to tether yourself to the earth once again.
Note: Flight is the only exception. If you wanna master airbending, then you should be able to do that in the first place.]
Simon leans back. Was he satisfied with what he pulled? He kinda was, they could cover his weak spots nicely, especially [The "Hercules" Method], it would allow him no longer, as by his own words: weak sack of flesh. Still, the things he pulled this time came with their own problems. He looked around his cell, a small, dark room with bare necessities for one to live. There were no windows; the only source of light was the light imbued into the ceiling, which is currently turned off because it's sleeping hours right now.
Even so, he wouldn't believe it if his cell wasn't wired to monitor him. So if he wanna keep the fact that he could just store things in a pocket dimension and pull them out whenever he wants, then he can't just summon his gains whenever he wants. So the option of training [The "Hercules" Method] and becoming superhuman overnight is currently unavailable.
'Now I also have the option of just flying away once we reach Mantle. As long as they won't shoot me down, of course. But the question is, is escaping now worth it? Ironwood sure won't let me get far away easily, not to mention the creatures of grimm.' He needed to be patient; as long as he managed to introduce [Australium] to the world, he might not even need to escape this place. 'The inescapable prison is often an impenetrable fortress. Until I can make sure I can survive beyond the city walls, I should make use of my status as a prisoner here.'
'Whatever, worrying now won't change anything, sleep now and think about it later.' Perhaps the effects of having a full stomach after a long time are kicking in. Simon slowly drifts away to sleep.
***
Schnee Manor, Jasque Schnee's office.
Jasque Schnee, in anger, launches the drink he was holding towards the man standing behind him. The man dodged it easily by stepping sideways. A bottle of wine shatters easily once it collides with the wall, leaving a deep pink stain on the white wallpaper.
"Wow, big shots are surely different. Each tantrum costs more than the monthly wage of your average Atlasian citizen," the man said in a mocking tone, which only made Jasque's glare towards him harden. Seeing this, the man raised his hands in surrender. "Now, now, Jasque, pull your mustaches. We don't want to attract attention to your office any more than this."
"It's fucking soundproof room," Jasque muttered before opening his desk and pulling out another bottle of fine wine. This time he didn't throw it; instead filled his glass. He was annoyed, mad, and perhaps even paranoid, but he needed to calm down right now. Besides, the bastard's failure isn't worth ruining his office any more than this. "You fucking told me Jenkins was dead for good. Well, the intel I got is saying something else."
He then throws the envelope holding pictures of Simon following after Ironwood and him in a few other locations towards the man. The man who saw the pictures simply shrugged his shoulders before throwing them into the still-burning fireplace. "Huh, seems like I underestimated him. Maybe the Atlas military, too. Well, nevertheless, I will admit that I might have done a poor job on this one."
"You don't say." He empties his glass in one go before looking at the man. "If you can't even finish off one normal person, what do I even pay you for Zycon?! Now what would I do if that bastard ratted me out? Would you be responsible for that?!"
"Jasque. Let's not try to push our luck, shall we?" Suddenly, Zycon appears in front of Jasque, facing him down. Jasque could see beyond his light purple colored bangs, his glowing amber eyes boring into the depths of his soul. Yet he didn't flinch; it wasn't his first time this had happened, and definitely won't be the last. "Besides, how do you know that dear Jenkins would definitely rat you out? You are too valuable as a customer to give it away easily."
"My daughter is in there; that wrench is too much like her mother to let opportunity like this slip away."
"Calling your daughter a wrench? That's cold, Jasque, even for you." Zycon took a step back. "Don't worry, you are safe for now since the general hasn't made a move on you. Besides, I am not so unethical that I won't finish the job I have taken from a loyal customer like you."
Zycon took a step forward to the window, passing by Jasque. He extended his hand towards the wine, but Jasque snatched it away before he could reach it. "I miss the Glass Unicorn, you used to let me order whatever I wanted there. Man, Rhodes was a bastard for burning that place down."
"Because the shit in there doesn't cost half a million per bottle. I hope you will do as you said. I heard he is going down to the Mantle tomorrow morning for some reason, but I am sure you already knew that." Zycon was annoying to deal with, but the reason Jasque is still associated with him till now is that even if he had an annoying personality, he never leaves his job unfinished.
"See you later then." With that, Zycon's figure started to fade away like dissolving into the air. Jasque used to have nightmares about this scene, like Zycon suddenly appearing in front of him to end his life, but now? He was indifferent to it.
"I hate that bastard." That was the last thing Jasque muttered before delving back into his late-night wine tasting.
***
Morning comes swiftly, with alarming sirens and automatic activation of the light; it gives Simon no choice but to drag himself out of bed. 'I really hope the better blanket Elm promised will come soon. The cells are surprisingly cold for a place shielded from the cold winds from outside.'
He needed to sleep in his clothes, not to catch a cold or anything. He quickly came in front of the small sink located in his room and started washing his face. Just as he was getting ready, the heavy metal door slides open, revealing several soldiers in armor carrying a suitcase. "General said you need to wear this before heading down to the Mantle so you won't attract too much attention."
"Is it really necessary? I mean, no matter what, a man surrounded by soldiers would attract attention." Soldiers didn't reply, simply held the suitcase forward. With a sigh, he took the suitcase and opened it, revealing the clothes prepared for him. He looked at the soldiers and raised an eyebrow. They quickly got his meaning and got out of the room, saying once finished, knock on the door.
With that, he shed his prison clothes. Once he is done changing, he first looks at himself in the mirror. There stood a young man with neck length teal colored hair, still messy from just waking up Simon raised his hand to fix it before deciding not to do so. Covered in a heavy, double-breasted grey trench coat with prominent lapels and dark buttons, underneath, he wore a white button-down shirt that appeared slightly rumpled, and dark, formal trousers and polished black dress shoes.
'Huh, I look like those detectives in TV shows.' With that, though, he picks up the white metal suitcase that all of this comes with and takes a deep breath while heading to the door. 'Let's hope all of this goes as planned.'