Создатели Судьбы / The Creators of Destiny: Глава 44

Chapter 44

Camrad_RIP 12.02.23 в 16:52

What do you call a man who, at six in the morning, decides to shovel snow off the pavement with an axe welded to a pipe?

Camrad_RIP 12.02.23 в 20:02

And it's not a Tajik migrant, of which there were many in my childhood, although I'm sure he has limited or even social citizenship. He lives here in our city and understands that people are sleeping but knocks anyway.

Camrad_RIP 12.02.23 в 20:06

"Comp, wake up!"

Camrad_RIP 12.02.23 в 20:07

The music played on the edge of audibility, escorting me from the room to the kitchen, then a little stronger in the bathroom, changing to upbeat rhythms as I began my breathing exercises. The air conditioner, which had been ruined yesterday in a creative rush, was sadly silent. That's all right. Today everything will be solved!

Camrad_RIP 12.02.23 в 20:10

While I was shaving, I thought about today's plan.

Camrad_RIP 12.02.23 в 20:10

Review the downloaded paladin counseling. Need to check if I've done all the available ones.

Camrad_RIP 12.02.23 в 20:11

By ten, a trip to the workshop where they build my odor module; the tester showed that the software, converted from the standard one by an acquaintance for my purposes, basically works fine, and they called back yesterday and said it wouldn't stink again. And that's a good thing.

Camrad_RIP 12.02.23 в 20:13

Then to the district Tax Office and straight to registration. The threshold of payback I specified is seven hundred grand, then I will have to register on the Creators' website, so I will have to register. At the tax office, I figure it'll take half an hour, so I'll spend three. Or four. Victor's father used to say that in his youth, people would stand in queues for twenty-four hours. Brrr, the Dark Ages!

Camrad_RIP 12.02.23 в 20:14

So I'll be free at three. Is that it? No, at four.

Camrad_RIP 12.02.23 в 20:15

"Comp, checking email."

Camrad_RIP 12.02.23 в 20:16

Links, more links, advertisements, price lists, and two recent issues of regulations. Oh! I downloaded the documents into my glasses. That's something to do in my spare time. On second thought, I also downloaded the questions on paladins. There are all kinds of cases.

Camrad_RIP 13.02.23 в 10:32

I'm home by four, picking up an order from the shop on the way, marking two hours for a performance check. Then an hour to test the mod... what do you call it? "Stinky"? "Skunk-Megapro? That was the only way to call the first model. Now it's going to be "Lily of the Valley" - it already smells nice, but it's still a headache. That's a subtle hint.

Camrad_RIP 13.02.23 в 10:33

At five, into the game. It's a very interesting scheme that appeared I need to get through the level and a half, to the fortieth, and get my own "Divine Touch". Because the two standard scripted quests I've sort of completed, and the two ahead - "The Apostate" is waiting for me at the Great Hill, and "Discovery New" along with an unknown location "The Valley of the Fallen" suggests that this chance will not slow to appear, I'll try. I wonder what the reward will be. A new class? I'd like to, but I don't think so. Heroic classes appear after the hundredth level, so it's likely to be an artifact with a binding. Also not the most common thing. It is worth floundering. Or just rash reputation and free points? They might, for now, the game is full of surprises... and so are the players.

Camrad_RIP 13.02.23 в 10:36

So I'm in the game until ten o'clock tonight. Should make it to the thirty-ninth.

Camrad_RIP 13.02.23 в 10:37

Called up a menu from the COD website, sent the application for the group, and dropped it off with the 'Familiar Players' mark. This would be quicker than searching on my own. I'm already a big paladin. I'm alone in the dungeons now, unprofitable. So a level and a half I'll make up in the group, thanks to the acquaintances, that is, who have opened their names to me, already over two hundred.

Camrad_RIP 13.02.23 в 10:39

While eating my morning oatmeal, I thought about the speed of my game. I'm way ahead of schedule, and way ahead. I thought I'd get an extra skill at level seventy, but I got it at level thirty-five. I gained twice as much faith as I thought I would. All of my skills, except Exile, were at rank two. Reputation - as in the old roleplayer, busy only playing a role with NPCs. Plus, this thing with the quests ... So at the fortieth, I'll get the title of "Paladin of the Temple"! Maybe I should go beyond the pass. In terms of combat capabilities I'm already almost to level sixtieth ... even ahead in some ways. Beyond the pass - go to the underground cities, where almost all the evil creatures and paladins with priests are always needed. No temples there, though, the cities were built in the Age of Darkness by various aliens, but I can make my own temple.

Camrad_RIP 13.02.23 в 10:41

By the way, what about the "Temple of All Gods" idea? Is it worth considering? Or go to the coast, to the Capital and the Main Temple? Well, I'd better find out where Amala's homeland is and go there, just as a pilgrim. I bet that would be a bonus to paladinage! And, since my thinking is so effective, I should check the fanfics: what about the temples and the blue and white banners? A collective superintelligence might suggest some pretty crazy ideas.

Camrad_RIP 13.02.23 в 10:42

Well, here's the plan.

Camrad_RIP 13.02.23 в 10:43

"Comp, organizer"

Camrad_RIP 13.02.23 в 11:41

My glasses purred, my tablet and mobile phone trilled, my laptop beeped, and only the home computer was silent as usual.

Camrad_RIP 13.02.23 в 11:41

After spending half an hour searching, I raked up a bunch of texts with stories "about paladins", and hastily browsed through them. Somewhere the authors researched the world of the game in-depth, such texts were marked as a priority, somewhere there was just a good slog, these were second-rate, but they would come in handy. A dozen or two had to delete. Solid fighting and adventures of flesh were not interesting. It's addictive, though.

Camrad_RIP 13.02.23 в 11:48

In the stairwell again, some bad man threw spam leaflets on the floor, I had to pick them up and put them in the bin. Strange people: they live here, why litter where you live? I've never understood, even as a child I don't remember writing anything on the wall. I used to break windows, yes. Strangers for a reason. But defacing walls?

Camrad_RIP 13.02.23 в 20:36

As I approached the car, I slowed my steps. I stopped. I cursed.

Camrad_RIP 13.02.23 в 20:35

The first thing my adult life has taught me is don't be late! Never, under any pretext whatsoever. If you have to, get out twenty-four hours before the meeting, but just don't be late! The appointed time of the meeting is a test to see how you're doing. Are you on time? Can you be trusted? I can't remember how many times a partner who was late for a meeting turned out to be rotten. It is fair to say that there are plenty of bastards among neat people, but that is another matter. So far, I see a pile of broken ice piled in front of my car hinting at the fact that I shall be late today. On one side is the fence, on the other the ruins of an ancient soviet car, and in the front the fruits of the janitor's morning inspiration.

Camrad_RIP 14.02.23 в 08:56

I listened, but no shovels were shuffling in the snow, no cheerful swearing, no one rushing past with a businesslike attitude, so maybe this was not an attempt to get a bribe from me for the work, but quite a casual working moment. I hadn't cleaned the car in a week. It had snowdrifted, so the ice was piled in front of it, waiting to be hauled out. Damn, I should have left it in the garage. I wasn't going anywhere! Quickly figuring out my release options - waiting time for a taxi, catching a hitch - I shrugged and headed for the underground.

Camrad_RIP 14.02.23 в 08:58

Hmm, so here's the aftermath of quitting at last! Not in the warm car, but on the breeze, towards the flying snow dust, towards the entrance to the underworld that swallows up the cheerful and merry people and lets out the nervous and twitchy citizens.

Camrad_RIP 14.02.23 в 09:00

As luck would have it, the train was delayed, and at least a dozen people crowded in front of the doors. I was second, so I stepped on the heel of a man who was lingering in the aisle, and then I shoved him with my shoulder. I went straight into the back of the wagon, where I quickly pressed my back against the door (it said "No leaning in," not "No[ressing in"). The man was about to say something to me, but then he was pushed a second time, then hit with a trolley bag, and stepped on his foot. He finally jumped out of the aisle. The young lad who stood in his place, however, also slowed down sharply. Apparently, hypnosuppressors do exist, and they are installed at the entrance to a subway. There was nothing else to explain this instantaneous slowness.

Camrad_RIP 17.02.23 в 09:13

I called up the menu and looked at the list of books, then, after realizing that, I switched off the external channels and the sound. I'm not used to commercials in the car. And in public transport, it always popped up. So... The neighbor to my right opened the book, and I mechanically squinted my eyes, wondering. Amusing physics? Oh... well, yeah. Glasses. I've heard many people like to hold a book in their hands, but this is the first time I've seen it. You hold any paper that feels nice to you, and the glasses project an image onto the pages. The interns told me. Silly, in my opinion, but apparently someone likes it. Sighing, I moved the cursor below and opened the first normative document: I had to know what the lawmakers had invented for the enemy's fear.

Camrad_RIP 17.02.23 в 09:16

After three stops the crowd had dispersed, two schoolboys about ten years old were shooting their blasters, hiding from charges visible only to them behind the benches and passengers, then someone tried to hack into my glasses: I automatically jabbed at the warning marker, which gave the aggressor a link to the Penal Code article. The student, sitting three people away from me, jerked and got out as soon as the doors opened. There were three musicians playing in the passageway, each one different. They played well, no worse than those in Adar's cheerful quarter, and I habitually threw in my change. I don't give money to beggars and bottle-beggars, only to musicians who know how to play, and they did, even though they were now competing for the hearts and nerves of the passers-by.

Camrad_RIP 17.02.23 в 09:38

I arrived ten minutes before the deadline, but they were already waiting for me. In a semi-basement room where two young technicians moonlighting on jobs like mine were sitting. The set-top box was a bit garish, and I would have to work on the design so it would fit in with most models. I was going to sell all seven hundred, and at least the same amount, otherwise, it was not worth the effort. While an acquaintance from a domestic air-conditioning installation company was showing me all the features, I was trying to estimate how many copies I would be able to sell. The idea was fresh, but as soon as I start pushing my model, will appear competitors, who knows the subject better than me, so I have to decide whom to join - air-conditioners sellers or game developers. And which one exactly? Without deciding anything, I raked up the modules and cartridges, arranged for the next batch, and left.

Camrad_RIP 17.02.23 в 09:50

I traveled to the tax office with a hitchhiker, who was discussing some new ban on something car-related and buzzed my ears and smelled tobacco in my jacket, so I got out of the car rather disheveled, which was caught by the tax officials, and against all expectations, I completed the procedure in just an hour. That's where the "space-time" wonders come in.

Camrad_RIP 14.02.23 в 09:27

I had to wait for my order at the shop, but after arranging it with the driver, I drove home like a lord, in a car with a private chauffeur. The pile of ice had already been cleared away, but I didn't doubt it. And I just complained on the management company's website just for the sake of order. But there were sheets of paper scattered around the mailboxes again, some tattered and trampled. All right, it's not hard for me to collect. And at the next tenants' meeting, it won't be hard to call someone a pig.

Camrad_RIP 14.02.23 в 09:22

Boiling with righteous anger, I finally returned to the flat two hours earlier than I had expected.

Camrad_RIP 14.02.23 в 09:21

"Comp, launching the Creators of Destiny."

Camrad_RIP 14.02.23 в 09:19

I had my lunch in "grab your bags, the train station is leaving" mode, that is, on the run, with a bite from a loaf and half-cold soup. Then I finally got the hang of it, calmed down, and checked the application - there was a letter from Nika, with a note: "Got an order for a booster." Lucky, very lucky. Let's see.

Camrad_RIP 14.02.23 в 09:18

In the meantime... taking my order out of the box, I started to install the add-on to the AC unit. As I expected, I had to adjust it. What a people, nothing can be done properly without a kick in the ass!

Camrad_RIP 14.02.23 в 09:17

An hour later, I finally got Vlad out of the room and walked through town to the Exchange. I stopped, bowed to the baker, and heard a few new gossips.

Camrad_RIP 14.02.23 в 09:16

"Pal, where the hell have you been?"

Camrad_RIP 14.02.23 в 09:15

Nika pushed her way through the crowd, followed quickly by a small dwarf.

Camrad_RIP 14.02.23 в 09:15

"There's a job! Here he wants a booster for three or four hours. And he pays well!"

Camrad_RIP 14.02.23 в 09:14

"Venerable, where exactly do you want to take up your craft?"

Camrad_RIP 14.02.23 в 09:14

The venerable one wanted on the not-so-distant, but still, not-close shallow Misty spot, where we set off at once. On the way, I removed myself from the conversation, checking out the mods and the smells he was emitting. The Misty spot didn't strike me as anything: an ordinary field, ordinary mist, the most mediocre elementals, and demons. The dwarf set down his marching anvil and set to work while Nika and I quickly slashed at the monsters that had drawn our client's attention. By tacit agreement, I got the booty from every third one, two of which Nika scavenged. The dwarf seemed to have withdrawn from the process, leaving everything to the computer, with occasional music and scraps of television broadcasts on his side.

Camrad_RIP 13.02.23 в 10:29

"Pal, would you like a breadcrumb?"

Camrad_RIP 13.02.23 в 10:26

"Is it poisoned?"

Camrad_RIP 13.02.23 в 10:26

"Nah, just with cumin."

Camrad_RIP 13.02.23 в 10:26

I wanted to, and Nika slipped me a breadcrumb on the exchange menu. One. But with cumin.

Camrad_RIP 13.02.23 в 10:27

"Decided to pump up the cooking?"

Camrad_RIP 13.02.23 в 10:25

"Uh-huh." She was eating something in real life and I sipped my coffee out of solidarity.

Camrad_RIP 13.02.23 в 10:24

"That's a good thing. A woman should be able to cook."

Camrad_RIP 13.02.23 в 10:24