Chapter 11: Test of Character
Drake was a bit shocked at getting an epic skill from the roulette wheel, because while not totally rare it was still a hard thing to get and he had gotten it on his first try! He felt blessed with luck and decided to look at the effect of the skill.
[Battle Brain: Passive skill, Anytime Player enters into any combat of any kind, critical thinking speed is tripled. Please note:This skill may have an effect in your day to day life, if so please see a doctor]
Drake was floored. He felt exactly like he had when he saw the mythical class ceremony. Drake tried to remain calm and go over exactly what he remembers about this skill. 'Damn! I never thought I would see one in this life, much less possess it. Is there really a god or something that is blessing me with luck!? Wait, calm down, lets go over this.. As far as I remember this skill wasn't originally obtained at this dungeon but in a dungeon in the far east, I think it was some small city.. Rostara, rostark.. Rostario! That was it, It was in that city that this originated from in my past life. When the game first started, there were many skills that were deemed too extreme for public use and became banned from being used. In many cases, where the skills were passives, like this one, the player really didn't have control over its activation, so the skill was just flat out removed from the player. In my last life the player became a top ranker within a year of obtaining it, however he often boasted about the skill and thus many people found out. This wasn't the most game breaking thing so the devs decided to just let it slide, however that would bite them almost immediately as the player had found a way to abuse the skill. This is why they ended up having to ban it entirely and even banned the player himself. That player figured out that "Activated in any type of combat" can mean ANY type. He had figured out that if he identified someone as an enemy, he was at that point competing with them. This epic class skill was then turned away from fighting uses and instead used as a means of controlling the economy of kingdoms. This player completely monopolized the kingdom he grinded in and after 7 months the developers undid everything he had built up, banning him in the process. That player had openly sabotaged and plotted against major powers, but because he could think 3 times faster than those he deemed as enemies he was always leagues ahead of everyone.'
Drake completed his thought with that statement and once more looked at the book in his hands. He quietly said,"Learn Skill Battle Brain". Drake was then inundated with alot of information, almost so much that he couldn't handle it. He turned to Loco and said,"Alright, that's the first mini-boss. Let's take a break here and in about 15 hours meet back up, that cool?"
Loco nodded and said,"I could definitely use a mental break after all that fighting!" Loco looked tired but happy and Drake was the same. Even though both boys had struggled up till now, they still held pride and wouldn't easily admit they were tired. Drake knew this and decided to be the one to keep in mind their safety.
Drake said,"System Logout!"
Drake suddenly awoke in his bed, reality seemingly more foggy than before. It took Drake a minute to get his bearings, but when he did he noticed that he heard knocking at his door. The knocking was getting quite loud so Drake headed down to the front door to see who it was. Drake opened the door just as the knocks started to get annoyingly loud and quickly said,"What is it??"
In front of Drake were two people in black suits, they looked governmental, however Drake instantly recognized the one on the right as the man who had beaten him up several times in his past life for not giving up his property. Drake knew this would happen eventually and was already mentally prepared for this. He had made a plan for this and now just to satisfy his own curiosity wanted to test the character of the one in front of him, as the man who was knocking annoyingly loudly had been one of the few to actually be nice to him in the whole ordeal. Eventually he had even slipped the real reason the company wanted his house, there was a shit ton of oil sitting under it.
Drake said,"Good evening gentlemen, here for my house again?"
The two men looked a little annoyed at this question and said,"Listen, If you just make this easy for us, we are even willing to listen to any compensation you may ask for, please, this is a very important endeavor for our company." The one who was nice to him in his past life had said this with what seemed like genuine sincerity.
Drake invited the pair in and invited them to sit in some seats he had prepared in the living room for this very occasion. He had prepared two child sized seats in his living room for the two men to sit on, while he sat on a leather chair one might see a boss of a company sitting in. Drake wanted to make this discussion very difficult for them as well as psychologically put the two men in a position of inferiority. Drake said,"Well now that you are here, I only have one question. I will give you three chances. Only three chances to show me that you truly mean business." The two men looked at each other in slight confusion but the nice guy nodded after a minute and Drake continued,"Why do you want my house and land?"
The two men suddenly stiffened and the bully said,"Why do you need to know? That's our business!"
Drake said,"Only the truth gains trust my friend". Drake was being deceptively vague just to mess with them, his own little flare and a little revenge.
The nice guy said,"We want to build a stadium on this land"
This was what they were telling everyone else and so if Drake were to search around he would get this answer as well, but Drake knew this was not the truth and shook his head saying,"Strike one, try again"
The two both widened their eyes and the bully said,"Now what is the meaning of this! This is the same thing we have told everyone! Our company is publicly saying this, how can you possibly dispute this?!"
Drake simply responded in a deadpanned voice,"Because it isn't the truth"
The nice guy hesitated for a moment and then said,"Look, I'm not supposed to tell you this but our owner is buying up all this land to make a paradise for the rich and wealthy to vacation and spend their money, and they wouldn't like it if a "commoner" is within their area."
Drake simply smiled and said,"Wow, not bad, I commend you on your improv skills sir, but alas that is strike two." The two men started to pale as they realized that the stuff they were trying to peddle to Drake as the truth was not working. The nice guy started to secretly think,'This guy.. He knows… Oh God he knows..' Drake continued on,"Like I have said, answer with the truth. You only have one more chance now."
The two looked at each other and suddenly the bully spoke,"Look here you idiot! Our company will have this land one way or th-" He was suddenly cut off as the other guy suddenly spoke up.
"It's oil! There is a huge oil pocket beneath your house! Enough to help solve the current crisis within the state for at least 17 years!"The nice guy had suddenly blurted this out, which caught the bully guy off guard.
Drake quickly sat up in his chair, startling the two men and reached out his hand and said,"Hello sir, I hear you want to buy my house?"
The two were caught off guard once more and the nice guy reached out and shook Drakes hand and said,"Y-yes sir, we of the Holoman Group would like to purchase your home and land, and with it's value are willing to give concessions on behalf of the company."
Drake responded,"Very good, I will agree to sell my land for three things, all three I know your company will provide to me because of my certain insight into my personal land" Drake made no attempt to hide his words or to attempt niceties with these men. This would have to happen eventually and he had decided on letting it happen now. It would only bring inconveniences later and he couldn't allow any distractions.
Drake continued,"Gentlemen, My first request is to gain a Legal Visa Passport to the Southern Union. Second, the value of my land plus pain and suffering, all in all I would say about 7 million, make sure that the currency will work in the southern union. And lastly" He turned towards the bully and said in a slow methodical voice,"Tell Justin Holoman that if he ever attempts to silence me before he reveals the truth, I have a backed up file waiting to be released. I dare him to act"
The bully guy suddenly paled so much it looked like he had a serious disease
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone