Chương 74: Chapter 35 : Part 2 : The Mission

The workday ended a little earlier than expected. After helping Patrick close the truck doors, Aldric put away the last moving blankets, said goodbye to his coworkers, and left the depot. Unlike usual, he did not head back to his apartment. Another mission awaited him before dinner at Emma's: the gift. He stopped on the sidewalk and took out his phone. After doing some research the previous evening, he once again opened several articles about etiquette.

"It is customary to bring a small gift when invited to dinner."" The gesture matters more than the value of the gift."" Choose something simple." △ OBJECTIVE UPDATED △ Acquire an Appropriate Gift The System provided neither a budget, nor the nature of the gift, nor any criteria by which to judge whether the mission would succeed. He would have to discover those himself. He looked up at the shops lining the street. Storefronts stretched along both sides of the boulevard.

A bakery still filled the air with the scent of freshly baked bread. A bookstore displayed several novels in its window. Farther down, a flower shop caught the attention of passersby with its colorful bouquets. Directly across the street stood a wine shop, its shelves filled with bottles. Finally, on the corner, a chocolate shop welcomed customers who emerged carrying small bags tied with elegant ribbons. The three gifts most frequently recommended on the Internet stood before him: Flowers. Wine. Chocolate.

He decided to examine each option before making his choice. — A comparison seems necessary. In his own world, choosing a gift rarely required so much thought. Customs were clearly established. A deserving warrior received a weapon, a trusted ally a horse, a scholar a valuable book, or a barrel of mead after an important victory. Every gift had a specific purpose and a value that was easy to understand. His gaze settled on the flower shop.

Colorful bouquets swayed gently in the evening breeze while a woman arranged several roses inside a large metal bucket. Aldric took a deep breath before crossing the street. The shop smelled of fresh flowers the moment he stepped inside. Metal buckets filled with water stood near the entrance, each holding bouquets of different colors. Roses, peonies, lilies, and tulips filled the displays, while several green plants decorated the shelves at the back of the store.

Aldric paused to take it all in before a woman in her fifties approached him. — Good afternoon! May I help you? — Good afternoon. I am looking for an appropriate gift. The florist nodded. — Certainly. What's the occasion? — I've been invited to dinner. — Then you've come to the right place. Flowers are always a wonderful gesture. She led Aldric toward a display where several bouquets had already been arranged for sale. — Do you have a preference? Roses? Peonies? Lilies? Every flower has its own meaning.

— What is their lifespan? — Their... lifespan? — Yes. — That depends on the variety. Usually about a week. Sometimes longer if you change the water regularly and trim the stems. — They are already dead. — I'd say they've simply been cut. — Which inevitably leads to their demise. — Yes... in a manner of speaking. — Giving someone an object whose destruction is already certain seems like a rather irrational investment. The florist laughed softly.

— I've worked here for nearly twenty years, and no one has ever described flowers that way before. — Is that observation incorrect? — It's just... a very unusual way of looking at a bouquet. — Then why do humans give them? — Humans?... Because they're beautiful... — Temporarily. So they serve no particular purpose. — They make women happy. — How? — When someone gives flowers, they're not just giving flowers. They're showing that they were thinking about the other person. It's the gesture that matters.

— So their value is primarily symbolic. — Exactly. Are they for your wife? — They're for a friend. — Have you known her for a long time? — Since I arrived in this world. This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. The florist selected a bouquet of white roses and several peonies. — I think she'd be delighted with this one. The colors complemented one another perfectly, and the bouquet had been arranged with great care.

Yet one thought kept returning to his mind. They were destined to wither. — If I give her this bouquet today, it will disappear in a few days. She knows that as well. Yet she'll still be happy to receive it. — Exactly. The logic still eluded him. In his world, gifts were often meant to last. A sword accompanied its owner for decades. A horse could serve for many years. Even a book sometimes endured for generations. Here, a cherished gift seemed to be something everyone knew would not survive for long.

— The customs of this world are remarkable, he murmured. Thank you for your explanation. Aldric inclined his head slightly. — Will you take the bouquet? — Not yet. — You're not convinced? — I would like to compare several categories of gifts before making a final decision. An important decision deserves a thorough analysis. — Your mother must be very proud. Without understanding the remark, Aldric gave her a polite nod and left the shop.

Once back on the sidewalk, he cast one last glance at the bouquets displayed behind the window. Flowers had one clear advantage: they were beautiful and rich in symbolism. They also had one equally obvious drawback: their disappearance was inevitable. He then turned toward the shop directly across the street. The wine shop was his second option. Aldric crossed the street and stepped inside. The scent of wood and grapes filled his nostrils. Shelves stretched from floor to ceiling, each one lined with bottles.

A man in his forties approached him. — Good afternoon, sir. Can I help you? — Good afternoon. I am looking for an appropriate gift. — Certainly. Is it for a special occasion? — I've been invited to dinner. — A bottle is always a safe choice. Aldric looked over the hundreds of bottles before him. — There are many of them. — There certainly are. Do you know your host's preferences? Red? White? Rosé? Champagne? — No. — I do not have that information. — We'll find something suitable.

He picked up a bottle with a dark red label. — This one pairs wonderfully with red meat. Then he reached for another bottle. — This one is perfect with fish. Finally, he pointed to a third bottle. — And this one is more versatile. — What is the difference between them? — This one has aromas of red berries with a subtle hint of oak. The other is more mineral, with a crisp freshness and a livelier finish. — I do not understand. — You don't drink wine very often? — Never. — Ah.

The shopkeeper set the bottles down on the counter. — In that case, imagine that each bottle has its own personality. — What effect does it have? — Its effect? — Yes. — It pairs pleasantly with a meal. — I meant its effects on the human body. — Well... wine helps people relax. — It also reduces reflexes. — In large quantities, yes. — And it impairs judgment. — That's true. — Why would someone deliberately give a drink that reduces cognitive performance? The shopkeeper laughed.

— In my world, a commander would never give his allies something that weakened their abilities before an important strategic meal. — Fortunately, not every meal is strategic... — I'm not entirely convinced of that. — Don't worry. If you bring a bottle, no one will think you're trying to weaken your host. — Even so, the risk exists. That makes it a disadvantage. — Do you always analyze gifts this way? — It is an important decision. — I see. — May I ask you a question? — Of course. — The person who's inviting you...

is she a woman? — Yes. — She must be very important to you if you're putting this much thought into it. — She has helped me greatly since I arrived in Paris. I therefore wish to choose the most appropriate gift. — In that case, I understand your hesitation. Aldric inclined his head. — Thank you for your explanations. — So you're not taking a bottle after all? — My analysis is not yet complete. — Then good luck. I hope your study produces the desired results.

Aldric politely bid the shopkeeper farewell before leaving the store. Once outside, he took a few moments to think. Flowers had one obvious drawback: they were temporary. Wine had another: it impaired one's ability to think clearly. Only one option remained. He stepped into the chocolate shop, and the rich aroma of cocoa immediately filled the air. Behind the display cases were dozens of gift boxes in every size. Some were decorated with a simple ribbon, while others featured elegant patterns or ornate metal tins.

A saleswoman approached him with a smile. — Good afternoon, sir. May I help you? — I am looking for a gift. — Is it for a special occasion? — I've been invited to dinner. — We have assortments of dark, milk, and white chocolate, as well as pralines, ganaches, and caramels. It's the kind of gift that always makes people happy. — How do customers choose? — Usually... they pick the one they like best. That answer gave him no objective criteria.

As he continued examining the display, a little boy who was shopping with his mother stopped beside him. He looked at Aldric, then at the different boxes before looking up at the knight. — Is it for a girl? — Yes. The boy immediately pointed to a gift box tied with a red ribbon. — Take that one. My mom loves those. The boy's mother gave him an embarrassed smile. — I'm sorry about him. He loves giving advice. Aldric turned his attention back to the gift box. — So your reasoning is based on firsthand experience.

— I just know she's always happy when Dad gives her one. — That is relevant information. He picked up the box. △ GIFT SELECTED △ Chocolate Social Success: +14% He set the box down before picking up a larger one. △ GIFT SELECTED △ Chocolate Social Success: +11% The knight frowned slightly. He put the second box back before picking up the first one again. △ GIFT SELECTED △ Chocolate Social Success: +14% The result was identical. Aldric continued his experiment. He tried a third gift box. Twelve percent.

Then a fourth: nine percent. Finally, a fifth: thirteen percent. After several attempts, he returned to the first box. It still produced the best result. The saleswoman, who had been discreetly watching the scene for several minutes, finally approached him again. — Still undecided? — I am conducting a comparison. — Honestly, they're all excellent. — Yet they clearly do not produce the same result. — Your first choice is our best-seller. — Thank you for your advice. He took the box and headed for the checkout.

As he passed the little boy, he inclined his head. The boy gave him a broad smile. — You'll see! It always works! — The statistics appear to support your hypothesis. The little boy looked at him in confusion. A few moments later, Aldric left the chocolate shop with the small gift bag in his hand.