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"Did it just," Asahi muttered, unable to fully process what he had just witnessed.
"It spoke..." it was Akemi with her jaw still agape.
Mater, seemingly enjoying the effect he had on the Market staff, chuckled again. "Sure did! Never seen folks so surprised over a friendly talk." Said in a jovial tone.
Asahi, recovering from his initial shock, turned his attention back to the elderly lady. With a mental sigh and a renewed sense of duty, he guided her towards the counter to complete her transaction.
Meanwhile, Kazuhiro maintained his professional demeanor and addressed Mater with an even tone. "Welcome, how may we assist?"
Mater looked around the surroundings with wide eyed interest, his gaze lingering on the various aisles filled with an array of goods. "Just what kind of place is this, I know for sure the whole thang wouldnt fit in a small garage." his voice carried a hint of excitement.
Kazuhiro, overhearing Mater's comment, offered a brief explanation to the Market and its inner workings.
Mater chuckled, "Well, I'll be! That's somethin' you don't see AND hear every day, huh?" His tone was one of genuine intrigue, as he continued to explore the aisles.
Kazuhiro nodded. "Feel free to explore. Don't hesitate to ask any of us, as we'll be here to assist." he offered, gesturing towards Toru and the twins.
"Well, Don't mind if I do~" The market staff watched as Mater's rustic figure gradually disappeared into the horizon of the aisles.
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The continuous beep ended as Asahi scanned the last item "Alright granny, this is your total." He turned the screen to show her.
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Original price: 54.79 SC
Tax: 5%
Total price: 57.53 SC
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Asahi turned the screen towards her, displaying the total price of her purchase. Muriel, adjusted her glasses to get a better look at the figures on the screen.
"Oh, that's not in dollars, is it?" she inquired, a slight note of surprise in her voice.
"No, its not." Kazuhiro overhearing their conversation, chimed in. "You can either exchange any valuables you have that equal the amount, or you can use the ATM over there to convert your currency to store credits." he gestured towards the currency conversion machine, positioned conveniently within the Market.
Muriel's eyes followed Kazuhiro's gesture towards the ATM. "Well, that's quite handy." she remarked
Asahi offered to assist her with the process. "Would you like some help with the ATM?" he asked
"That would be most kind, young man. Thank you." Muriel replied graciously. She followed Asahi to the ATM, where at first he was clueless on how to operate it, but the instructions on it were clear and it's interface is user friendly, there weren't any struggles with helping Muriel to convert her currency.
According to the guidelines and Asahi's support, she inserted her cash into the ATM. After a moment, the machine processed her transaction and updated her balance to reflect the new amount in store credits.
Now with the option to either receive that currency in its physical form or in a virtual form. Asahi chose the latter as the card seemed more convenient to carry around. The machine later dispensed it and Asahi handed her the card with the converted credits. She looked at the card, nodding in appreciation of the smooth, quick and user-friendly process.
Returning to the counter, she completed her purchase with the store credits as then the items were bagged by Asahi. "Thank you. We hope to see you again soon." handing her the bag
"I certainly will. This place is full of surprises, Ohoho." she replied jovialy, her tone carrying a sense of delight and intrigue.
"Come on, Courage. We have to go now." she gently called out to him who's been patiently waiting. Courage then followed Muriel as they exited the store, though not before the paranoid dog looking back one last time, just to make sure.
Asahi, with a contemplative look, glanced around the now quieter store. "One more left to go." he muttered aloud, a hint of fatigue in his voice. His thoughts momentarily wandered to the talking tow truck, He found himself pondering its current whereabouts.
"Yeah..." Akemi from a different counter replied, she leaned on the counter and rested her head in her hand. Her eyes roamed only then to land Kazuhiro, with a question in mind, she didnt hesitate to ask. "Kazuhiro-San, does the place have its own open and closing hours?"
"As far as I know, No, it doesn't have regular hours. The place is always open for anyone at anytime." Kazuhiro answered, his tone casual yet informative.
Akemi nodded, taking in this new piece of information.
"24/7, huh?" Asahi let out a small, tired sigh. The thought of the store being open all the time meant he probably wouldn't be getting much of a break in the future.
Toru chimed in with his characteristic monotone. "We only have to complete a week's worth of daily tasks and do at least two world missions every month. It's not a lot, and I'm certain we can take our own breaks once we finish those monthly assignments." he reminded Asahi.
"Thanks for the reminder." Asahi expressed his gratitude, leaning slightly on the counter. His gaze then shifted towards Kazuhiro, particularly noticing his arm.
"By the way, Kazu-san." Asahi began, as he gestured towards Kazuhiro's bandaged arm with his free hand, "I'm sure you can find somekind of healing artifact in here that can patch that up real quick, why the wait?"
"I'm waiting for a world that appears to which it has healing capabilities, and those that are accepting of my being. I don't plan to waste a credit on this store unless it's dire."
"I see. That's not a bad idea to save for anything—" Asahi began but, his words were suddenly interrupted.
The sharp, clear ting rang out, echoing through the store and originating from the worker's pockets. Each of them instinctively reached for their devices.
As they retrieved their devices, the screens lit up with a cascade of messages and alerts. The employees exchanged curious glances, each wondering what urgent matter or new development had triggered this simultaneous call to attention.
Asahi's eyes scanned the message on his screen, his brow furrowing slightly as he tried to make sense of the new information. It was rare for all their devices to buzz with notifications at the same time, and this coordinated alert indicated something significant.
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Installation complete...
You are now able to browse the new applications...
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Asahi's eyes widened in surprise at what he has just read. "YES! IT INSTALLED!" he exclaimed, unable to contain his enthusiasm.
Akemi, though less vocal, shared in the excitement. Her eyes sparkled, and a small, thrilled shiver ran through her as she gazed at her own device. The anticipation of exploring these new applications was palpable between the siblings.
Prompted by his own curiosity, Kazuhiro, in his role as a supervisor, pulled out his own device. His screen displayed the Worker application, now flashing, signaling that it required his immediate attention.
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__Workers__
Akemi [ ! ]
Asahi [ ! ]
Toru [ ! ]
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As Kazuhiro was about to navigate through the application, carefully reviewing the updates and notifications specific to each worker, his focus was momentarily diverted by the commotion from the twins.
" YES! STRIKER! "
"NICE! STRIKER! "
The twins shouted in unison, their excitement palpable as they both threw their fists in the air triumphantly. However, their celebration was quickly replaced by a look of confusion as they realized they both had been assigned the same class role 'Striker.'
Kazuhiro, unsure on why they got the same role, decided to delve deeper into the system to understand the nuances of their roles.
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__Worker: Akemi__
Chosen Class: Striker -Tier 1-
Bonus Attributes:
+3 STR
+3 AGI
▪︎ Description
The quick hitters, Balanced in both strength and speed.
Class abilities:
▪︎ Double trouble:
I thought a single fly was annoying, and yet, there's a second one coming my way.
Description:
If both Strikers are present within a close proximity, they will both receive an attribute boost to Agility and Strength, which would double according to their current attribute base stats.
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▪︎ A tiger's swipe: (Akemi)
Leaving your opponent breathless with these relentless quick attacks.
Description:
Your attack speed is enhanced, and know where the vital hits are located.
Given Class Item:
▪︎ The leeching dagger:
Ever sharp, never wares itself.
Description:
Its blade made of obsidian, giving it an ever-dark glow. It melts through as it slices. Will deal critical damage if it hits a vital point, otherwise every hit would consume its opponent's energy as they gradually grow weary, to make it ever sharper.
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__Worker: Asahi__
Chosen Class: Striker -Tier 1-
(AN: Everything is similar except for one ability and an item)
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▪︎ Metalic hit: (Asahi)
Broken bones, nerve damage, and missing limbs? That can be sorted, however, your medical bills won't be cheap.
Description:
Any metal item can be used as a weapon, its force shatter will come in several folds enough to render your opponent staggering, or rendering them dead, however, for that to happen, you need to charge the attack for a longer period for a devastating hit.
Given Class Item:
▪︎Eternal bat:
Heavy, buts it's enough to send someone to the nearest hospital... or their funeral.
Description:
Light for its user, but heavy for others. This bat has a 10% chance to temporarily paralyze opponents when hit, stun them if hit on the head, or be extremely lethal if they are weak.
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Kazuhiro silently pondered over the twins' information, 'Slight changes, yet they indeed complement each other as a duo.'
"That's so AWESOME!" Asahi couldn't contain his excitement.
"Glad to know I'm not a supporting role," Akemi expressed her relief, a hint of pride in her voice. "Looks like we're a team." she turned towards Asahi, who was still engrossed on the screen. She sighed as she was met with no response.
Akemi then turned her attention towards Toru. "So, what did you end up with, Toru?"
The kid, typically more reserved, looked up from his device. "It's not bad at all. I think I prefer this to being in a more aggressive role." he replied in his usual calm manner.
Kazuhiro chose to briefly inspect Toru's role. He navigated through the application, finding the boy's profile and the details of his class.
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__Worker: Toru__
Chosen Class: Trapper -Tier 1-
Bonus Attributes:
+5 INT
+3 DEX
+2 AWR
▪︎ Description
Requires strategic planning, a calm mind and most importantly patience.
Class abilities:
▪︎ A Trapper's awareness:
There's a wire linked between those two trees, and behind that dense foliage are a group of bandits waiting to ambush, and also, that girl over there it's actually a guy.
Description:
A sixth sense to detect and identify all kinds of traps.
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▪︎ Phantom trapper:
Its best to not be seen while setting up traps, even if the trap itself ends up failing, you wont be suspected for it.
Description:
The ability to leave your physical body as a wandering soul, in that frame you are able to lay and adjust traps while your physical body remains in its current position, leaving it vulnerable till you return.
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Given Class Item:
▪︎ Phantomweave Cord:
A trapper's dream is to have an efficent and convenient tool.
Description:
This string can be modified and change at will, changes such as sharpness for enhanced lethality, it's length, its width, its durability and its visibility by making it incredibly thin for it to not be visible to the simple human eye.
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Kazuhiro pondered over the contrasting roles within the team, 'The twins, Akemi and Asahi, are clearly the offensive powerhouse with their roles as Strikers. Their strength and agility stats are impressive. They're practically built for direct combat.' he mused.
'In contrast, Toru's role is more about defense and strategy. His intelligence and dexterity stats are the highest among the rest. It's fascinating how well suited he is for this role.' Kazuhiro's focused on Toru's profile, noting the newly unlocked 'awareness' attribute.
'Hm, it seems special attributes aren't just unlocked through situational scenarios. They can also be unlocked through specific classes.' Kazuhiro's insight offered him a deeper understanding of the intricate system.
"Looks like Toru is the supporting role for this one." Asahi remarked, a playful smirk barely hidden behind his hand. He glanced at Toru, trying to gauge his reaction to the gentle ribbing.
Toru didn't respond verbally to Asahi's comment. Instead, he simply continued to review the details of his new role on his device, his expression unreadable. This lack of reaction only made Asahi sigh lightly, his attempt at eliciting a response from the kid falling flat.
As the team engaged in slight discussions about their newfound abilities and explored various features of the application, Kazuhiro decided it was time to delve into his own class specifics. He pulled out his device and navigated to the homepage. There, in the class application, an exclamation mark caught his eye, signaling that it required his immediate attention.
Curious, Kazuhiro tapped on the application. He was immediately drawn to the top right corner of the screen where a unique symbol of a tree was displayed, also marked with a notification. He clicked on it, and the class tree unfolded before him.
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__Class tree__
● Merchant
Class tree points: 20
(AN: bascially, there 5 teirs in total, i suggest you look through the document in my pattron. Its free.)
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A network of paths and nodes laid out before him. Most of the nodes were shrouded in mystery, their objectives and rewards hidden and require points to unlock. Only the nodes at the very top were visible. These visible nodes seemed to be the starting points.
As he contemplated the possibilities, his train of thought was suddenly interrupted.
The loud, unmistakable sound of the car horn echoed with a loud HONK through the store, drawing Kazuhiro's attention away from the device.
"Comin' through!" bellowed the tow truck. It weaved through the aisles, driving in reverse as it honks continuously, its presence impossible to ignore.
As Mater rapidly approached, the twins and the kid instinctively stepped aside, narrowly avoiding its path as it neared the counter. L the truck skidded to a halt, its tires leaving noticeable marks on the floor. The three workers exchanged glances, knowing well that they'd have some cleaning to do after this lively episode.
"You folks weren't lying, that's for sure! Look what I found." the tow truck exclaimed proudly. From its hook dangled an object that immediately captured everyone's attention. A golden gauntlet, adorned with six gems that sparkled even under the store's fluorescent lights.
"Is that somekind of gauntlet?" Asahi muttered.
Akemi turned to the tow truck with a exasperated look. "How exactly can a thing like you even use THAT!" she exclaimed, her gesture towards the gauntlet emphasizing her bafflement.
"Shiney, ain't it? would look nice up on the shelves." Mater replied nonchalantly, "Now, how much is it?" The truck inquired.
"Right, sure, come over here." Akemi sighed, ready to facilitate Mater's checkout. She watched him maneuver his way toward her, "Since it's a sole item, there's no need for a scan. Just place it here."
Mater left the gauntlet on the purchase side of the counter. "Alright Missy, hope it ain't much, though."
The system later processed the item, displaying its details on the screen for Akemi. She leaned in to read the description, her expression changing from curiosity to utter disbelief. For a few seconds, she stood motionless, then suddenly, she toppled backward, overcome by the absurdity of what she had just read.
Asahi, darted over to her, concern etched on his face. "Akemi, are you okay?!" he asked urgently. Getting no response, he glanced at the screen to see what had caused her reaction.
As he read the description, Asahi's eyes widened in shock, mirroring his sister's reaction. Before he could even process what he had read, he too fainted, collapsing next to Akemi in disbelief.
"Seriously, what's the big deal?" Toru, slightly irritated yet curious, approached the counter to see what had caused such dramatic reactions. Unlike those two idiots, he managed to stay conscious, but his eyes widened in astonishment as he read the description.
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Item: Infinity gauntlet. (MCU)
Description: The Gauntlet is a massive glove, gleaming with the luster of gold and designed to fit any being, regardless of size or form. Its true power, however, lies in the six slots on its surface, each shaped to hold one of the legendary Infinity Stone gems of unparalleled might that control various aspects of existence.
Powers of the Infinity Stones:
Reality Stone: Alters the fabric of reality at will, creating or reshaping worlds and existence.
Time Stone: Controls the flow of time, allows time travel, and manipulation of events across ages.
Space Stone: Grants the ability to warp space, teleport across distances, and manipulate physical dimensions.
Mind Stone: Offers control over the minds of others and access to thoughts, dreams, and consciousness.
Soul Stone: Dominates the soul, granting the power over life and death, and access to an ethereal realm.
Power Stone: Contains raw energy of the cosmos, amplifying the user's power and enhancing the other stones.
Quantity: x1
Total: 1,369,000,000,000,000,000 SC
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"I have a bad feeling about this one." Mater murmured, he noticed how the other two collapsed and the reaction of the worker towards the item.
Toru, who regained his calm, rotated the screen to face Mater. The tow truck peered at the display, and upon seeing the description and the price, he let out a long, low whistle. "I knew somethin' was off when those two fell over like that. I don't rightly know what an SC is, but the amount of zeros in that price is downright crazy!"
Toru furrowed his brows, it wasn't about the price the begin, although its expensive but that thing is a godly item based on the absurd description.
Beep.
The familiar sound at the entrance signaled the automatic doors to slide open. The rest excluding the twins, turned their attention toward the new arrivals. Three, no, four silhouettes stepped up and entered the store.
A brief, tense silence fell over the store as the new visitors and the rest eyed each other. The group at the entrance surveyed the scene, their gazes moving from the tow truck to Kazuhiro and the kid behind the counter.
Breaking the silence, the individual in the middle glanced at Toru after observing Kazuhiro and Mater's strange appearances, and asked the kid in a tone of genuine curiosity mixed with a hint of bewilderment.
"Are those two, your pokemons?"
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