Chapter Six

  Tom and Jerry

  What the hell? Why is it the notification pop out again? I just refused this quest! And the reward change!

  He clucked his tongue. It seems this quest won’t stop him till he accepts it. If the circumstances were different he would have accepted the quest. But why was she so persistent about it? Hmm...I must find out what it is.

  “Why do you want it so much? Who are you anyway?” He asked. He paused for a seconds.

  The old lady skeptical to answer his questioned.

  “Fine. You don't want to answer? No frilled shark for you.” He sounds like he was talking to a little kid but who cares?

  “My name's—”

  “Don't even think of lying, woman.” He cut her sentence off. Persona knew all too well that this woman's going to lie on him. If not, the quest window would have changed!

  She sighed and looks wary to her surrounding as she answered him.

  “You better keep this as a secret. Sarah Harfield Baines but people have known me as Mariah White Baines. I am a collector. I collect various kinds of wild animal or monster.”

  “Oh okay, but why Mariah White?” He pondered.

  “Why do you have so many questioned?”

  “Just answer the questioned, woman.”

  “I refused. I vow to God that I shall never reveal it other than my husband. I had already given you my real name, so you better fulfill your promised. Give the frilled shark now.”

  This old lady's determined to get what she wanted.

  “You're not gonna stop till you get it, am I right?”

  “Yes. Whether you like it or not.”

  Ting!

  “I declined. I never promise anything to you.” Determined not to give it to her, he began to run away. But the persistent window notification appeared again no matter Persona refused. He didn't expect that the old lady would actually follow him like a stalker for days and nights. Who knows how many days had passed but due to constant running away from her. He gained lots of stuff such as; bonus stats points, new skills, and a title!

  Yes. The people who saw them had been given them title as the cat and the mouse but also known as Tom and Jerry for the players. He detests the title. However, he decided to used it since it can increase by all of his stats. He had come to learn that there's a limit about gaining bonus stats as the time goes by.

  He exhaled deeply. Now look what she has done to him! He only got 1 day left before the frilled shark gone from his grasp, not only that he also forgot about the restrictions was lifted few days ago. He was able to go to the library and got the information he always wanted and 5 intelligence points. However, the contract scroll was hard to find and if he manage to see one, it would be expensive. The reason why was the tax rates was freaking big!

  (Note: *God Apolaki is one of the deities in the Philippine mythology.)

  Persona held his breath. His eyes almost bulge out from his socket upon seeing how big the tax rates here. The tax rates were staggering up for about 45 percent! Persona thought he could at least get away from the crocodile governor* outside from the game but this kingdom was even worse. The ruler in this land was the same as the one whom he despised from the real world.

  (Note: *Crocodile Governor are those people who steal money from the people's taxes and would use some fake tears in acting that they are innocent when it's not.)

  The crocodile governors milking the people for all it worth.

  Okay. So he was a freaking idiot for choosing the Central Continent, Ardor Kingdom. Persona was so eager to start the game that he had never thought about the tax rates.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  Oh well, there's nothing I can do about it. And I only got 1 day. Tsss...Shall I just give it to her? If I do that, I would not only earn 100 gold and 90 silver but also she would stop pestering me.

  He sighed exasperatedly before coming out from the bushes. He was hiding there so that Sarah wouldn't able to see him.

  “Oh there you are! I already told you I can easily find you. Now will you give it or what?”

  “I give up. I'll give it to you.”

  “Ha! Even if it means that I ha...w-what?”

  “I said. I give up. You can have the frilled shark but in exchange for the money.” He surrendered.

  The old lady looks skeptical. “You're not lying right?”

  “Of course I'm not, but I will not give it to you as free. As you said you're gonna give me money for exchange for the frilled shark. You may not know but the original price for this shark was 400 gold but since you are so desperate and even followed me around. I shall give you 50 percent discount including SC discount. That would be 200 gold.” Persona assumed that this old lady is a noble and filthy rich. His instinct was telling him though. Besides, there won’t be a problem if she added 90 gold and 10 silver, right?

  “Huh? What's SC?”

  “Senior Citizen. Ow!”

  Pok! Pok!

  “You unscrupulous child!”

  “What? You're over sixty years old so I only given you a fair price!”

  “Hmp! You don't have to remind me for being old!”

  “Then it's not a deal then?”

  “Who said I am not going to giving you right money?” Her right brows arched.

  As expected! She's really rich!

  He took out the frilled shark from his inventory, it was currently inside the plastic bag full of water. The frilled shark who was idling floating in the water was startled and start bumping its body against the container.

  'Release me! You cannot tame me! I am great! Wait till I grow up for I shall eat you whole! Bwahaha!'

  “Fufu! This little baby frilled shark is very lively.” Sarah crouches down to look at the shark. “Don't worry little one, I shall be the one who will take you. You're just a baby yet the way you think was as if you're already old. You remind me on someone I know. ”

  Persona looked at her like as if she has a screw loose. Was she talking to the frilled shark like she can understand it?

  “Gee...” He muttered, handing the shark from her.

  Now he already has the money to buy whatever he wants now.

  Wait, as far as I remember, there are still unknown rewards. I wonder what it is...? Persona expectantly stared at the old lady who was busy talking to the frilled shark, next thing she did was casting some sort of spell. It seems she had forgotten his existence.

  “Hear thee, Goddess Idiyanale,

  I, Sarah Hartfield Baines, solemnly vow to ye, for I shalt not fail as a master for this being.

  I shalt be loyal, love them to the fullest and fight alongside with them when in need.”