I came inside the house and slumped down onto the bed, feeling a sense of exhaustion wash over me. Chloe followed me in and shut the door behind her, taking a seat on the chair across from me. She leaned forward, concern etched on her face as she asked if I was feeling hungry.
"Hungry? I'm starving," I replied, my stomach growling at the thought of food. "Tell the minion manager to bring something to eat. Have the new slaves prepare lunch today."
Chloe's brow furrowed at my request. "Why slaves? They might try to poison the food and you could end up dying."
I let out a sigh, explaining my reasoning. "I know it's a risk, but it will show me whether they are willing to stay here or if they hate me for what happened in their village. Plus, the minion manager can detect poison in my food. He'll check it before bringing it to me."
"But what if they manage to sneak poison into your meal?" Chloe asked, her worry evident.
I shrugged. "It's a chance I'm willing to take. In the meantime, why don't you go to the new citizens yourself and ask them to prepare something for me to eat? I'm not picky, as long as it's something I can eat and is cooked quickly."
Chloe nodded, standing up from her chair. "I'll do that. And I'll make sure to request a nice dish for you. Something to change up the monotony of the same old food we've been eating." She chuckled and headed for the door. "I'll be back soon."
As Chloe left the room, I lay back on the bed and closed my eyes, letting myself drift off into the world of dreams. I found myself back in my hometown, running through the empty halls of my old school. I searched every classroom, but there was no sign of anyone. I was out of breath from all the running, but I couldn't bring myself to stop.
The only place I hadn't checked was the gym. I sprinted down the hallway, my hand outstretched towards the door. Just as I was about to push it open, someone shoved me from behind and I woke up with a start. Chloe was standing next to me, shaking me gently and trying to rouse me from my slumber. I was covered in sweat, the remnants of a strange and unsettling dream.When Chloe returned, she brought a tray of food with her. It looked and smelled delicious, a welcome change from the mundane meals we had been eating. We sat down to eat together, the taste of the food surpassing all of my expectations. The minions were skilled cooks, but even the most expertly prepared meals can become tedious after a while.
After finishing my lunch in the early evening, I decided to go for a walk around the city. The walls were complete and the minions were hard at work on the tall tower. I wanted to see how their progress was coming along and meet some of the new citizens.
It had been a long time since I had spent any significant amount of time around humans other than Chloe and the minions. The minions were essentially my slaves and never spoke unless given permission. It would be refreshing to interact with the new citizens and see what they were like.
I shared my thoughts with Chloe, and she appreciated my candour, suggesting that it would be a good idea for me to go out and meet some new people in the city. I changed into a fresh set of clothes, and we headed together to the centre of the city. The builder minions were hard at work on the towering high tower, its construction well underway. I checked on the resources and saw that the stones, which had been dwindling in supply when I first began the city's construction, were now increasing at an impressive rate.
As the work was progressing smoothly, I was confident that the tower would be completed in a timely manner. Chloe gazed up at the structure, her eyes wide with wonder at its impressive height and stable design. She turned to me and smiled, offering her praise for my excellent work. I thanked her, feeling a sense of pride in my creation.
From there, we made our way to the housing area of the new citizens, located on the opposite side of the city. I had placed them there for our own safety, knowing that slaves often do not have their masters' best interests at heart. Sword-wielding minions patrolled the area, ensuring that the new citizens caused no trouble. As we walked through the streets, I could feel the eyes of the people on us, their curiosity piqued by my presence in their neighbourhood.
I approached a house with a closed door and knocked several times before it finally swung open. An elderly lady stood in the doorway, her wrinkles and grey hair a testament to her advanced age. When I asked if there was anyone younger in the house, she shook her head, telling me that it was just her and her sick husband inside. Chloe and I stepped into the small home, and I saw the old man lying in bed, his health clearly in decline. My heart went out to the couple, and I quickly opened my advanced controls, summoning a utility scout minion to come and assist them.
***
Ow... what was this pain I was suddenly feeling in my head. It was sharp, piercing and unbearable.
Something wasn't right.
Something wasn't right.
Something wasn't right.
Something wasn't right.
Hold... on, am I missing something? I don't get it.
This uncanny feeling. I... just... don't... get...
[System overdrive: repairing...]
[System overdrive: repairing...]
[System overdrive: repairing...]
[System overdrive: repairing...]
[System overdrive: failed to repair]
[Ignoring...]
...
What was going on?
[Hey, William~ I'm still waiting, you know. I feel like you've forgotten what your true goal is. I'll give you some more time, but if you don't find me soon enough...]