Chương 53: Do You Like Animals?

The aroma wafted down the street, and Berry licked her lips. Watching the little glutton, Ryan didn't know whether to laugh or cry; he led her into the market and bought her a stick of candied haws and a puff of cotton candy.

"Wow… so sweet!" One taste of the cotton candy, and Berry jumped for joy.

"Come on—there's other good food too. I'll bring you to buy more another time."

"Really? Big brother is the best!" …

"Jade, I'll leave the girl to you—that all right?"

"Don't worry, Boss. With me here, Berry will be just fine!" Jade drew Berry to her side and said gently, "Tomorrow big sister will take you shopping, all right?"

"Yes please, yes please!" Berry danced with delight.

"This girl… really takes to strangers." Ryan smiled and shook his head, then handed Jade ninety sets of Farmer's Spring to price and sell, keeping ten sets on him in reserve.

"Sigh—this bag… a hundred slots still isn't enough? Looks like it's time I found a moment for that quest." He sighed, glanced at the time—the sky was paling—and logged off for now.

"Bro? Logging off this early?" The instant he did, Lucy's voice reached him.

"Lucy? Why are you up? It's barely dawn—it's cold out."

"I'm fine. I'm not a little kid; I don't get sick that easily." She smiled and shook her head.

"Logging off this early—is something the matter?"

"Yes—a trip to the Violet Club."

"What for?"

"Violet's arranged new identity papers for the two of us. With them, we can live normally again."

"Why would she do that?"

"She probably sees potential in my Big Gunn persona. Just mutual benefit, that's all." The two tidied up quickly, left the rooftop, and went to the Violet Club. Early in the morning the streets were sparse, and not a soul could be seen entering or leaving the club.

"Hello, Mr. Gunn. Miss Violet has been waiting a long while!" Led by the manager, Ryan and Lucy came to the room where he'd last video-called Violet.

"Your and your sister's identity papers are on the table. I used your new documents to open a card for you—five million in it. Enough for you and your sister to settle somewhere comfortable." Violet's voice was grave.

"But let me warn you again: don't go killing people carelessly! This isn't the game world! Flouting the rules and taking lives like that—watch you don't bring fatal trouble on yourself!" The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

"I know that well. People don't offend me, I don't offend them. But if anyone again dares try to harm me or those at my side in the real world, I still won't show mercy." His gaze sank, his voice beyond dispute.

"You—" Violet raised a hand to her brow, feeling her words had been wasted. To bury this affair she'd shouldered enormous pressure; if Ryan didn't learn restraint and kept on so willfully, even she'd be powerless. Never mind—I'll just post more people to watch him from the shadows, so things don't spiral into disaster the next time something happens.

"Infuriating—how can a man be such a blockhead? Not everything in this world is solved by fighting and killing!" She kneaded her brow helplessly, then discussed a few gear-and-resource matters with him before ending the meeting. Watching Ryan's retreating back, a cloud of worry crossed her face, and she murmured to herself, "What's wrong with me? Fretting like this over a man I've met only a handful of times?" It baffled her no end. …

Over the morning, with his brand-new papers, Ryan found an agency and rented an apartment—half a year's rent paid upfront, 30, 000 Azure Coin. Then he hit a supermarket and stocked the new place with appliances and necessities, another 50, 000 Azure Coin. That done, he and Lucy moved into their cozy little two-bedroom home, ate a hearty lunch, and each returned to their room. Ryan logged back in, and soon Lucy did too, arriving at the shop.

"Lucy, listen carefully to what I'm about to tell you."

"…Okay." Seeing him suddenly turn so stern, Lucy nodded obediently. In the past, he only wore that look when she'd done something wrong.

"From today on, I'll teach you some basic combat techniques and set you training drills. You're to complete them on time, in full, every day!"

"But… I still have school!"

"From today, you don't have to go to school."

"Wh-what? Did I… hear that right?" Lucy's eyes went wide, disbelief all over her face.

"You heard me. With everything that's happened these past days, going to your old school might get you marked by people with ill intent—and if you came to harm, I couldn't protect you." His voice was grave.

"And don't think I don't know—if I didn't force you, you wouldn't even have the energy to turn a page."

"…It's not that bad." Caught dead on, Lucy flushed and ducked her head, murmuring thin as a mosquito's whine.

"So from today, you focus on the game! Ask me whatever you don't understand! For the time ahead, you have one goal—raise your strength."

"But why?! I just want to plant flowers and tend grass in the game—I don't like fighting and killing…"

"It's my only request of you!" Ryan said, beyond dispute.

"As for why… you'll understand in time."

"…Fine."

"Remember—no slacking! I'll spot-check your progress anytime!"

"I know, I know…" Watching the listless Lucy, Ryan's head ached a little. The girl could never muster drive for things she disliked. This wouldn't do. He had her train hard only so that when Virtual Sync came, she'd have the strength to protect herself—stronger still, if possible. But if she didn't take it seriously, all his painstaking care would be for nothing.

"By the way, Lucy—do you like animals?"

"I do! I'm this grown and you've never once let me keep a pet!"

"Then how about this—why don't you change class to Summoner? That way you can play with all sorts of cute little animals!" A thought stirred, and a plan took shape.

"But… I already changed to Light Priest!"

"Easily fixed! Leave it to me!" The corner of Ryan's mouth curled. So long as it got his precious sister to cultivate in earnest, none of this was a problem.