RE: Reality Smuggler (R-18)

Inside an upscale grocery store in western 1st Ave Seattle...

 

A different world.

The rich and poor live in a different world.

I started understanding the difference between the rich and the poor. The mindset was completely different.

I always thought it was about houses, cars, jewelry, the latest phones, fancy restaurants, luxurious clothes, vacations, exclusive parties, etc.

But after this shopping trip to this upscale grocery shop, I now understand the difference.

It isn't about looking wealthy... but BEING wealthy. It is not about showcasing your wealth like some nouveau riche but having a healthy lifestyle.

And one of them, you guessed it, is food. Rich people like quality food. Of course, we all like quality food, but the rich take it further, making it their staple instead of that occasional splurge.

And now, I am here, wearing the shoes of a wealthy shopper. It felt like I entered a different world.

But, unlike me, Tess was unfazed. She was born into a wealthy family and is a self-made rich woman, and the prices don't faze her. What I never dared to do on a birthday was like Tuesday for her. She barely skimmed over the cost before putting whatever she wanted inside the cart.

As a rich woman, she likes quality food, and the only reason she was obese before is because of her unfortunate circumstances and how she was treated. Besides stress eating and lack of exercise, her foster family gave her low-quality food while they ate quality food... at her expense. Talk about ungrateful sons of bitches.

Anyways, this brings us to the present...

 

 

"What do you prefer? Lavazza? Olympia?" - Tess asked while raising two specialty whole-bean coffee bags.

"These things are so expensive..." - I muttered while taking the bags.

For a damn 12 oz bag, they cost around $15-25 a pop. That is twice the price of regular coffee brands. Three times that of cheaper brands.

Great-Grandpa Ryan liked Eight Oclock medium-roast whole-bean bags, costing less than $15 for a 30 oz bag even without a bargain. And I, taking him as a role model, followed his example.

So seeing these overpriced luxury coffees made me hesitate.

"Iver, these are quality, ethical coffee brands. All those cheap $10 and below brands use a higher percentage of moldy or broken beans and additives, making them poor quality and even toxic! If you want quality drinks, this is it." - Tess said with pursed lips.

From her look, she wouldn't take no for an answer.

"... Okay, fine. But let's at least buy them somewhere cheaper. Like Safeway?" - I tried to compromise.

"Hm... I don't look at the cost of my food much, but you make a point." - Tess shrugged, putting the bags back.

Seeing that, I sighed in relief before glancing inside the cart.

As for what was inside the cart? Things that would make your average salary earner have a heart attack.

It had specialty bread, cheese, meat, seafood, nuts, juice, wine, condiments, olive oil, and everything else, all luxury brands that made my heart ache. And that was just the food purchase. She also bought toilet paper and some other things.

As for the price tag? If cheaper, around 50% more than a middle-class store. If more expensive? It can reach a ten times difference.

Like, some wines can reach $250 a bottle...

Luckily, she was considerate enough and only bought a $60 champagne.

However, when we reached the fruit and vegetable place, I stopped her from buying.

"Let's go to the farmer's market for those." - I said with a smile.

"Oh, good idea!" - Tess nodded.

And then, taking what we gathered, we went to the counter.

And so, after waiting in... oh, wait, there was no line, one of the benefits of upscale grocery shops. The place had few shoppers, half of which were sent by the rich to do the shopping for them.

So, after getting super-fast service and spending around $400 (My heart!), we drove home, unpacked everything we bought, and then shopped at Safeway for complementary purchases (Another $200...) before going to the farmer's market.

"I haven't shopped in the farmer's market since I went to college." - I said while looking around.

There were stalls set up selling fresh produce from the nearby farms. Some of them were reasonably priced or even cheap, while others were expensive as fuck.

"I only went shopping with my parents... I missed it." - Tess said with nostalgia.

"..."

After hesitating for a moment, I held her hand as silent support.

Tess turned to look at me, a gentle look in her eyes as she hooked at hand with mine as we silently walked to a basket stall and bought a large basket before going around and shopping.

It was fun, even with the price being above average, but we also had to be careful of non-organic stalls and mediocre products. Luckily, the one selling the baskets told us of a few reputable farmers to buy from.

 

At a fruit stall...

"These look great! How much for these?" - I pointed at the seasonal berries.

"For you and your lovely partner? 5.70 for Cherries, 4.90 for Strawberries, and 6.60 for Raspberries a pound, top grade." - The farmer smiled.

"One from each, please!"

Before I could say anything, Tess immediately said.

"Haha! Good choice. I'll round it down to $17. Cash or card?" - The farmer said while packing the fruit.

Inwardly shaking my head, I looked at the half-full basket.

"We should head back soon." - I thought.

Just then...

{Iver, I detect a fake nearby... No, make it three.}

"Three? You sure?" - I asked to confirm.

{Yes. However, they feel stable, unlike the other fake. They are approaching at five o'clock, from where you parked your car.}

"Those are probably the God Hunters, then. Can you approximate how strong they are?" - I asked.

{One has around 200-300 mental energy, another with 600-700 mental energy, and a third with 5,000-6,000 mental energy.}

"Yikes... Can they detect us?" - I asked warily.

{Unless they have a psychic detector, they shouldn't be able to—}

At that moment, I suddenly felt something uncomfortable.

I felt like someone was trying to undress me and see me naked.

{—Enhance Conceal Presence, NOW!}

Suddenly, Trod's monotone voice turned dire. That rarely happened.

And that feeling of getting undressed was increasing in real-time.

I didn't ask useless questions and immediately enhanced the relevant power.

 

Conceal Presence 5: Completely conceals the Host's presence, smell, sound, and temperature from mortal means. Increases resistance to mental-energy-based detection and tracking. Price: 1,500 Enhancement Energy A

Enhancement Energy A: 201,610 -> 200,110

 

The feeling of getting undressed slowed down but was still there. So I decided to enhance it again.

 

Conceal Presence 6: Completely conceals the Host's presence, smell, sound, taste, and temperature from mortal means. Increases resistance to mental-energy-based detection and tracking. Price: 9,000 Enhancement Energy A

Enhancement Energy A: 200,110 -> 191,110

 

The feeling went to a crawl and would probably take hours or even days to undress me, but I decided to enhance it again for good measure. Although the cost was extravagant, it was worth it.

 

Conceal Presence 7: Completely conceals the Host's presence, smell, sound, taste, sight, and temperature from mortal means. Increases resistance to mental-energy-based detection and tracking. Immunity to detection means below a certain standard. Increases resistance to divine augury arts. Price: 63,000 Enhancement Energy A

Enhancement Energy A: 191,110 -> 128,110

 

And with that, the feeling was gone. Instead, it now felt like someone was trying to peek through my clothes but failed miserably. 

"Phew..." - I sighed in relief.

"Hm? Iver, are you thirsty?" - Tess turned to me and asked.

"A bit. Let's get some juice and then go home." - I smiled at her.

"Okay! I saw a juice stand over there." - Tess grinned and dragged me over.

Warily smiling, I followed her while glancing in a direction.

I saw one man and two women looking around while arguing before running away.

"A close shave..." - I thought.

After memorizing their faces, I decisively ignored them.

 

Name: Divine fragment of Ic'thotl'itrod

Powers: Dark Offering(Dark Idol), Camouflage(Alter Appearance 4, Conceal Presence 7), Storage(Increase Storage size 4, Automatic Ordering, Time Flow Control 4, Segmentation 4), Teleport(Increase Range 5, Reduce Cost 5, Reduce Cooldown 5, Mass Teleportation 4, Waypoint), Reality Travel(Decrease Cost 5, Decrease Cooldown 5, Add Reality Anchor 1, Unanchor, Improved Selection 1, Information Gathering 1, Strategic Insertion 1, Arrival at Waypoint), Evolution(Devolve, Synthesize), Enhancement, Sanitization(Empowered Sanitization 1, Sanitize Area 1, Sanitize Other), Energy Conversion, Increase Compatibility 2, Grant Affinity (Mortal Tier)

Spells: Touch of the True Sun 2, Analytical Eye 2, Empower Words 2, Mark of Zeal 2, Void Shield 2, Displace Object 2, Divine Might 2, Disruptive Void Coating 2, Unreality Barrier 2, True Sun Fireball 2, Space Grip 2

Host Abilities: True Tongue 2, Unreality Affinity 2, Void Affinity 2, Space Affinity 2, True Sun Affinity 2, Immortal Body 2, Immortal Soul 2, Divinity 2

Basic Energy: 7,642

Evolution Energy A: 2,008

Enhancement Energy A: 128,110

 

...

 

A bit earlier...

 

A man and two women exited a new Rolls-Royce.

"Haha. Wow. I haven't been to the farmer's market in ages." - The man said while looking around.

He was blond and bearded with a cute teddy-like face yet built like a bulky football player.

"Yeah, Robert. I haven't been to it since I got recruited." - Said one of the women while stretching.

She was a young redhead, around 19 years old. Her slightly freckled and pale face, hidden by a long-brimmed straw hat, was cute, and her mane-like red hair looked like cascading flames. However, although hidden by long white clothes, one could see her body bulging with power and raw muscles, like a dedicated bodybuilder. If not for her feminine face, soft voice, clothes, lower height, and decent curves, one might mistake her for a man.

[Enjoy it, Madison. This is a rare vacation.] - The second woman said with a robotic voice.

She was of mixed ethnicity with long single-braided hair and was in her mid-thirties but looked younger due to having good genetics. Her face, having a few deep scars, as if carved by shrapnel, still retained a heroic beauty. However, her scarred throat looked as if it was slashed by a knife and was equipped with an audio device. Her toned body was lithe and athletic, but her left hand was gloved and rigid, her left eye was synthetic, and a dog tag was on her neck, revealed through her open military shirt.

Along with her relaxed military clothes, military cap, and holstered pistol, she looked like a veteran on vacation.

"Eloise, I still don't get why you're wearing that on vacation." - Robert pointed out.

[After going through death a few times, you would find that dressing like this is the most relaxing.] - Eloise said while raising her rigid gloved hand.

As she moved her fingers, one could hear a robotic noise.

"I... Forget it." - Robert shook his head.

"Well, it certainly beats getting that shit injected into us." - Madison gave a carefree smile.

[We are not supposed to talk about it here.] - Eloise remarked.

"Oh, come on! If a bystander hears it, he would think I am talking about drugs." - Madison waved her hand.

"Speaking of which, the guy we are after lost his marbles because the doctors overdosed him, right?" - Robert asked.

[Now that you mention it, Madison, did you check the area?] - Eloise asked.

"Oh, right! I had it on low mode. Let me do a quick... What the?!" - Madison suddenly exclaimed.

"What?" - Robert was startled.

"I have a weak class 2 reading! It's coming from the farmer's market!" - Madison pointed.

[Go!] - Eloise frowned and ordered.

Madison and Robert nodded to each other and ran to the market.

However, halfway over...

"What the?! It suddenly got blurry!" - Madison exclaimed.

[Keep moving!] - Eloise ordered.

"I am, but— Shit! Now I can't even detect his direction!" - Madison stopped and looked around in confusion.

"What?! How is that even possible?! Even a class 3 Assassin can't do that!" - Robert looked around, bewildered.

[Madison, what happened?] - Eloise vigilantly looked around.

"I-I... It's gone." - Madison shook, her forehead perspiring with sweat.

"Gone?! What do you mean, gone?!" - Robert looked around in dismay.

All around, there were only regular people doing their shopping.

"If I say it's gone, it's gone!" - Madison angrily said.

[We go back. Now.] - Eloise suddenly spoke.

"But—" - Robert tried to voice.

[That's an order!] - Eloise commanded agitatedly.

Robert could see the fear in her remaining organic eye, something he never saw in this battle-hardened woman.

"Madison, let's go." - Robert said urgently.

After stiffly nodding, the trio ran to their car.

After entering the car and driving away, Eloise made a call.

Drr*

{Eloise? What is it—}

[We encountered a class 4 Assassin.] - Eloise interjected. 

{... Is this a joke?} - The other side asked incredulously.

[This is serious, Albertus!] - Eloise growled.

{If you encountered a class 4 Assassin, you should be neutralized. You know that better than all of us.} - Albertus said calmly.

[I know...] - Eloise frowned, caressing her neck.

{... What happened?} - He asked.

Eloise then narrated what had transpired.

After hearing her out, Albertus spoke.

{It is too soon to judge anything, but don't come over for now. You might be ghosted.} - Albertus said.

[Then we will sleep in a hotel tonight.] - Eloise answered.

{Hm. But don't feel too pressured. Chances are, the Assassin was having a vacation here or just gave you a warning. Anyways, I will contact HQ for details. The three of you can go and have fun in the meantime.} - Albertus said.

[...Understood.] - Eloise replied.

And the call ended.

"Class 4 Assassin?! Have fun?! How can we have fun with something like that around?!" - Robert retorted. 

Madison, on the other hand, was still shaking like a leaf. Her already pale face was a shade paler.

[Because there is no use worrying. If that monster wanted to, we would get wiped in seconds.] - Eloise replied calmly.

"... Have fun, my ass..." - Robert muttered while driving away.