Ethan approached the village warehouse, just as Anna closed in on him.
Stumping her feet, she pouted. "That hurt you know?"
Ethan chuckled,. rolling his eyes. 'Who knew Anna had such a crazed tsundere personality.'
From his interactions with her when he played the game she appeared so serious.
Opening the door, staring at the almost empty warehouse. He exhaled then turned to look at Anna.
Touching her face, she muttered, "What? Is there something on my face?"
"What I'm about to show you, you have to promise not to tell anyone about it."
Staring at Ethan, Anna nodded vigorously before blushing lightly as a thought flashed through her mind.
"Good. Stand back and prepare to be amazed."
Anna's eyes glowed mischievously. 'Here it comes—he's going to show me something big.'
Ethan navigated to the inbox, selecting the resource rewards. Hundred pieces of neatly cut logs materialized on the ground followed by hundred pieces of roughly cut stones.
Anna's eyes widened as the logs and stones suddenly materialized out of thin air. She stepped forward, touching the neatly cut wood.
"That's… actually amazing."
Then, her expression dimmed slightly as she sighed. "Oh well."
Ethan caught the shift. "What? Is it not enough?"
Anna waved her hand dismissively. "It is. I was just expecting something else."
Her eyes drifted lower, trailing Ethan's body, stopping just below his waist.
Noticing her gaze, Ethan coughed violently, stepping back. "Anna. No, absolutely not!"
Anna tilted her head, innocent. "Hmm? What?"
"Whatever you're thinking—stop thinking it!" He crossed his arms, glaring at her.
Anna giggled. "You're getting awfully defensive, Chief."
Ethan stomped out of the warehouse, face burning. "I'm done with this conversation."
"Look at him running like a startled maiden." she teased. Her gaze lowered once again, she bit her lips before following him.
Ethan returned moments later with Romelu in tow. "So, can you build it?"
Walking towards the stacks of stones and wood he knelt down, knocking on the wood. "That's quality wood right there."
Standing up he patted his shorts. "Yes I can, leave it to me Chief. The building will be ready in a day or two."
"Good, have someone help you." Ethan said walking back to his house with Romelu walking behind him carrying three logs on his shoulder.
As Ethan and Romelu walked pass, the villagers stopped in their tracks.
"Where did all that wood come from?" a woman whispered.
"Did the Chief buy it?" a man muttered.
"No one saw a merchant come through," another added, eyes narrowing.
"Hold on," a middle-aged man frowned, stepping forward. "Chief, we didn't see any merchants arrive. Where did this wood come from?"
Ethan sighed, pausing he met the man's gaze evenly. "Trade secret."
The man's frown deepened. "Secrets? From your own people?"
"I promise you'll understand soon." Ethan clasped his shoulder. "For now, just enjoy the extra materials."
Henry cut in crossing his arms. "Chief, you can't expect us to trust you blindly. Not after what happened with Gareth."
Ethan met their gazes. "And I don't expect you to. But trust is built over time. For now, just know that everything I do is for the village's survival." With that he continued walking.
The murmurs grew louder, curiosity mixing with unease. Ethan pretended not to hear, but he knew—rumors would solidify by nightfall.
Romelu eyes darted across the surrounding villagers before stopping at a burly man a head shorter than him, crouching down hammering nails onto a wood. "Oi Jord come help me with this."
Jord looked up with a smile before standing up and approach him. Reaching his hands towards the wood.
Romelu chided him. "Not that you short oaf! Go to the warehouse"
Scratching his head lightly Jord made his way towards the warehouse.
Inside his cabinet, Ethan sat on the bed, navigating the transparent screen before him.
Staring at the image of the starting reward a red coloured gift box, selecting it the scene before him changed, the box shook before bursting open.
[Lucky spin ticket.]
[x1 Resource point locator.]
[x1 Logging cabinet.]
Staring at the rewards, Ethan cursed under his breath, "Damn you lady luck."
He clenched his jaw. Last time, he had gotten an elite soldier unit and a fortified house blueprint. Now? A logging cabinet and a random resource point locator.
[Oh, you poor thing. Did the big bad RNG hurt your feelings? Should I start a GoFundMe for better loot?]
[Also, stop blaming luck. You just suck at RNG.]
Clutching his hairs almost screaming, Ethan replied, "Who else am i supposed to blame?"
[Your terrible relationship with the RNG god.]
Ethan sighed closing his eyes. "I'm going to uninstall you."
[Too bad. I'm a pre-installed feature. Sucks to be you.]
A low knock came from the door, followed by Anna walking in carrying a plate of rice with a watery curry stew.
Placing the food beside him, Ethan stared at the food then at Anna, She fidgeted slightly. "I'm sorry Ethan but i had to make do with what we have."
Patting her, he responded calmly. "Why are you apologising? It's all good soon we'll be having meals worthy of a king and his queen."
Anna smiled before rolling her eyes, "Dream on."
Turning to leave she paused at the door, muttering under her breath. "His queen?"
Her face flushed crimson as she turned to look at Ethan who had a smirk on his face. She harrumphed, stomping out of the house.
Staring at the door, Ethan laughed. "It takes two to tango Anna."
Soon, the sun began to set. Casting a golden brown hue over the sparse buildings in the village. The chirping of birds echoing softly mixed with the sounds of the villages bustling slowly dying down.
Stretching, Ethan adjusted his body. Sitting up from his slouched position. "Old habits really do die hard."
[Or you just suck at being better.]
Staring at the screen, he muttered exasperatedly. "Can a dude catch a break?"
Looking at the side mission, he smiled, "Time to hunt a rat."
If his experience with games had taught him anything, it's that you're more likely to get rewards suitable for a mission right before you start.
Selecting the lucky spin ticket, the screen before him changed to a huge spinning wheel.
Crossing his fingers. "Come on god of RNG. Come on."
The wheels, spun faster before gradually slowing down.
Ethan watched the spinning wheel gripping the arms of his chair.
It ticked past "Rusty Dagger (Common)."
Ethan felt his soul leave his body.
It hovered over 'Bag of Carrots (Uncommon)' and Ethan nearly screamed.
Then, finally—it landed.
[Congratulations: The Twins (Rare)]
[The Twins are a rare dual short blade, forged by a dwarf forge master and engraved with magic inscriptions.]
[The inscriptions allow them to return to the users hands if thrown within a 100 metre radius]
The image of a twin silver short blade, appeared on the screen, his heart skipped before he let out a hearty laugh punching the air.
"Take that lady luck."
[Oh boy, you shouldn't have said that.]