Summer

Tommy was still wandering around when he started to hear something akin to a group of angry sheep making quite a bit of noise. At first, he tried to annoy it, but the constant bopping sounds of them seemingly colliding with something were a bit out of the ordinary.

"What the..."

As he moved closer to the sound, seeing a young woman fly constantly between a couple of the sheep.



"Hm.."

Usually, whenever Tommy is faced with something he doesn't understand, he always finds himself unconsciously lighting a cigarette to take a quick smoke break while he gathers his thoughts. Maybe it was the nicotine that helped with his stress? The mask was a bigger help, he honestly wouldn't know how to cope well without it. Putting it all on his alter ego was a lot better than handling it all as Tommy, even if they are the same person.


"I'd ask if you would need some help, but it seems like you are having quite the time with those sheep. Though, I'm not too sure how you'll be able to have a conversation while flying about."

It was quite an entertaining scene, to say the least. Fun, right? When was the last time that Tommy had some fun? If he could recall something fun, it would be sitting in a very nice-looking lounge, drinking, smoking, and listening to some nice jazz music. If not that, it was playing with the orphans from his old orphanage. Maybe there were some other things that Enigma considered fun back in the day, but being blasted into orbit by a bunch of sheep wasn't one of them.

"I have to say, it has been a while since I did anything fun. Maybe after my smoke break, I don't think my defense is rather abnormal to take any hits at the moment."

After introducing herself as summer, Tommy finished his cigarette and tossed the small butt of the cig away. Blowing out the last bit of smoke, Tommy felt a little better now to continue the conversation.

"You can call me Enigma. That's the name that I go by these days, doesn't hurt to have a code name. Mind if I ask you some questions, Summer? I'm looking for something here, there's a rumor that there are some treasure drops that occur in the area. I don't know if you experienced it or know of a way to trigger it. Or anything out of the ordinary besides yourself? Maybe a secret mission of a wolf that shows up at night to hunt these poor fellows?"

That was actually his best guess, being a shepard for the sheep could trigger something.


Summer

"It sounds like frolicking in the river isn't my cup of tea, but that's okay! Everyone has their own idea of what's fun. It's impressive that you can find happiness even in a world like this."

Tommy was different from you, but that didn't change his opinion of you. He had to learn quickly about the world of professionals and corporations, and it wasn't always fun for him. Tommy remembered partying hard and drinking until he blacked out just to please his bosses. It was always for someone else's sake back then.


"But hey, free food is always a good thing!"


Tommy is usually cautious, but he had a feeling that you were exactly who you said you were. If you can play with a sheep that hits like a battering ram and think it's cute to be blasted into orbit, you must have a decent personality and pure intentions.


"Friend requests are a two-way street, so people only know about you and what you present. There are lots of things that people have to do to survive in this world, and some of them aren't great. As for me, I sometimes end up in places I don't belong and find information on things that no one else wants to know about. I guess that makes me a spy of sorts, but my martial arts skills aren't that fancy. I'm better off using my tricks rather than fighting."


Tommy always tries to avoid confrontation and takes the path of least resistance whenever possible.


"As for the hints I mentioned earlier, that was it. Impromptu surprise missions are triggered by chance. Secret missions are another thing entirely. I decided to test you after seeing you play with the sheep. By gaining their trust, it could have been a part of a secret mission. The second hint was about a waterfall near the lakeside, with a cave opening behind it. That's all I know for the time being."


Summer

Tommy was a survivor in a world where the rules had changed. The old world was gone, and a new one had taken its place. In this world, people gained abilities and classes, and Tommy was one of them. He had learned to adapt to the new world and was willing to trust his fellow man more than ever. He knew that they had to work together if they wanted to survive.

As he grabbed the sandwich, Tommy examined it for a moment. He opened it to see what kind of sandwich it was, as well as its contents and condiments. Humming to himself, Tommy also gave it a sniff to check if there was anything that would give cause for him to be alarmed. The sandwich looked good, and he took a bite. The flavor was decent, and he was satisfied.

Tommy was a positive person, and he believed that they could make the new world better than the last. However, there were still things that they didn't know. For instance, they were still unable to figure out what happened to those who managed to get a game over. Tommy was pretty sure it was the same as death since there were remains left behind, like the ones he saw on Ender Island. He hoped that other people shared his enthusiasm and for the right reasons as well.

As he watched the woman in front of him, Tommy examined how she was using the shield to support herself. Was that linked to her class somehow? Was her defense really that high? It reminded Tommy of an anime trailer he saw as he was scrolling through the internet before the world changed. He decided to ask her.

"I maxed out my defense because I don't want to get hurt in the new world. Does that sound about right for your class and playstyle?"

Tommy chuckled a little bit as he finally took a bite of the sandwich but turned away a bit as he lifted the mask just enough for his mouth to have room.

"I have a few gadgets or items, but nothing like a grappling hook yet. If I find something like that, I'll use it. I can't fly and don't want to be in a situation where I'll need to. But yeah, I can disappear too. I just go poof, like I was never there."

Tommy then wiggled his fingers as if it was a magical occurrence for his disappearance. Perhaps it was; he could teleport from time to time.

"I'm in the middle of investigating Ender Island. I hired a companion named Pori to protect me, but we lost contact after we crashed on Ender Island. But for the investigation of the lake, I could use a bodyguard like yourself."


Summer

"Telekinesis, you have a useful ability," Tommy said as he watched the woman, impressed by her knight-build of shield and sword that allowed her to create a proxy version of flight or air movement. She seemed to have more abilities than she let on, and Tommy thought her skills could find use in any party she joined. He wondered if he could sell her profile potential to guilds as a referral, which would give him a more reliable reputation.

As Tommy contemplated this, his thoughts wandered to the idea of a pretend husband. He found it amusing that some things about the world never changed, even in the face of danger and chaos. People would still shoot their shot if they thought they had a chance, and having a friend pretend to be a boyfriend was a strategy used to deter unwanted advances. The scenario itself seemed incredibly normal, almost refreshing.

With a curious gaze, Tommy brought up the map on his screen and studied the outline direction of where the river was located. It was always helpful to know the terrain and geography of the area, especially when navigating through unfamiliar territory. As he continued to analyze the map, his thoughts returned to the woman's abilities. He couldn't help but think that she would be a valuable asset to any group or guild. Perhaps he could make a deal with a few guilds to sell her profile potential, or maybe he could even join forces with her and start their own guild. The possibilities were endless.

No, that last part seems like a lot of work. Tommy was more inclined to play on someone elses dime.

"I know where it is, it's a few meters west from here. Should take about thirty minutes to arrive there if you don't mind the walk. Ten minutes by car, but I don't have a vehicle.  Follow me, i'll send you a party invite so that you won't get lost. "

After sending the party invite, Tommy proceeded to lead the way.


Summer