22 Little One

After the portal closed behind me, the fake smile on my face disappeared. Even joking around and one-upping Mordo didn't make me feel better.

I had just taken a person's life! And it happened so quickly and easily. I should've been having a panic attack, but Gamer's Mind kept me calmed down.

I already knew that my ability bullshit, and I was a broken character, but this... was too much. The fact that the man dissolved and turned into loot made it even worse.

What kind of an ability was The Gamer to turn other people into loot? This was really disturbing.

I was starting to doubt whether this was all real or just a dream. I was distraught over this situation. I needed something to distract myself and took a stroll.

I walked around aimlessly until I passed near a garden center. That reminded me of Groot, and I figured it was time for me to plant him. It would also serve as a good distraction.

A nice lady walked over to me.

[<Gardener> Gracie Lee Lvl. 7]

"Welcome to Timothee's Floral & Garden Supplies, how can I help you?" She asked.

"I'm looking for a plant pot and soil to plant a... flower," I said, trying hard not to stare at the floating text above her, something that hadn't bothered me much until now.

"What kind of plant pot and soil are you after? You can also tell me what's the flower you wish to plant if you don't know," Gracie said.

"I don't know the name," I said. I couldn't possibly tell her I want to grow an alien plant life.

[Lying has increased to 22. ]

"Can you tell me what's the best plant pot and soil you can recommend?"

Gracie showed me around, pointing out at all the plant pots and soils, and explaining their usage to me. In the end, I left the store with a plastic plant pot and an all-purpose soil, she recommended me.

I figured I should return at this point and plant Groot, so I started walking home, the plant pot and soil were in a bag I carried. On the way back, a charity flyer taped on a wall caught my attention.

It was titled Help the people of New York and asked people to donate to the ones that got their homes destroyed in the attack by Groot. They asked for anything the people could donate, time to help with reconstructions, money, unneeded clothes and furniture, or even food.

I stared at it for a moment and decided the last was something I can do. It will also serve as another distraction for me. I looked around, making sure no cameras or people are looking at me before I stored the bag I carried in my inventory.

Then I walked towards a nearby grocery store, one I had never visited before since there is a store that's a 5-minute walk from my house. This one is about half an hour away.

I entered the store and started picking the products that I needed to create a lot of sweets and cookies while also picking out some canned food since I can afford it. I'm not sure if I was doing it out of the good of my heart or if I was just trying to make myself feel better.

Either way, I carried over everything to the till and placed it there. I mostly kept my eyes on the ground, pondering what had happened.

There were a few people in front of me, and I couldn't help but hear.

"That will be $100."

"Here you go."

A minute later.

"That will be $100."

"Here you go."

At that point, I just had to look up and see what was happening. There was no way everyone purchased stuff for exactly $100.

My eyes first snapped towards the computer the cashier was using, where it clearly stated $39.76 then to her when my eyes widened for a brief second.

The woman was beautiful with blonde hair and blue eyes, but that wasn't what surprised me.

[<Runaway Heiress of the Frost Family> Emma Frost Lvl. 52]

{Emma Frost, a mutant who has used her powers since she was a teenager to excel at all things in life. She ran away from her toxic family after her father namer her as the heiress.

Since then, Emma lived for free in various hotels by tricking the people with her mutant powers while working minimum wage jobs. She got captured by a group of people, trying to ransom her for a large amount of money from her father. Emma not only managed to escape on her own, but she got the ransom money as well.

However, she had to run away from Massachusetts due to the amount of influence her father possesses there.

Emma has been tricking people into paying her more while trying to keep a low profile while working as a cashier. Despite that, she has had to fight off pursuers from both her father and another organization.

Emma is a powerful telepath, but she posses no physical capabilities.}

[Mutant Powers: Telepathy; Telekinesis]

Oh, shit! Her level scared me for a moment, but the last part of the information from Observe gave me confidence.

Either way, it was shortly my turn, and Emma stared at me in utter confusion. She checked all the items and said, "That will be $100."

Her eyes then widened, like a deer caught in a headlight, realizing that she had said that on habit.

"I meant $36.59," Emma quickly corrected her self.

I handed her a $50 bill and just packed my stuff. I wasn't interested in dealing with her, and I was confident there wasn't anything she can do to me.

"Don't report me, please," Emma said and reached out, grabbing my hand.

"That will be too bothersome," I said, clearly just wanting to leave.

However, she didn't let go.

"Promise me, please!" She pleaded.

"Look, Emma, I don't need to promise you anything. Now let me go so I can leave."

"You...you..." Hearing me say her name, she backed away like a scared rabbit. Emma frantically looked around, seemingly searching for a weapon.

I just turned around and left. I didn't want to deal with Emma. I've heard of Frost Corp, and it's a big corporation.

Emma must've realized I didn't mean her harm as she ran after me and grabbed my arm again.

"You weren't sent by my father?" Emma asked with hope in her eyes.

"Nope, I have no business with your father, I was here for my groceries."

Emma gained confidence by my answer. She pulled my arm between her breasts and pushed herself on me.

"Please help me!" She pleaded while batting her eyelashes at me.

"Nah, I have no reason for that," I said, but I didn't pull away. The physical contact felt nice.

"Are you going to leave a poor and defenseless girl to fend for herself?" Emma asked.

She was probably a year or two older than me, and in no way was she defenseless, so I looked around and said, "I don't see one here."

"But you are also a mutant," Emma tried with another tactic.

"I'm not mutant, and if you need help, you can ask one of the two mutant groups in town," I said, and at this point, I was already satisfied with the physical contact. It was time for me to leave.

"No way! One of them is a group of idiots, while the other has a leader that wipes out the memories of thousands of people daily. Surely, you can help me better than them," Emma sounded disgusted while speaking about both groups.

"What do you mean the leader of one wipes the memories of thousands daily? Which one?" I asked, very interested in that.

"You don't know? Charles Xavier does it every time his little group does something. You have no idea how many people I've encountered with altered memories," Emma said.

That worried me a lot because my own memories might've been altered. I felt like I should've known who the X-Men were when I first saw the name, but I had no idea from where.

"Well, good to know, but I can't see how I can help you, nor a reason to do it," I said, ready to go on my way.

I need you to protect me, maybe give me a place to stay, and some money," Emma pleaded.

[Quest has been created.]

[Help the runaway heiress: Emma frost needs you to protect her, give her a place to stay, and some money.]

[Reward: 500 000 XP; ???]

[Failure: Emma Frost dies.]

[Duration: 1 month.]

That was a lot of XP, but I refused. The duration was too long, and I didn't want to waste my time making sure she was safe. I didn't even know her.

"Wow, you are asking for a lot. I think I'm going to say no," I wasn't the brightest tool in the shed, but I ain't that stupid to not know she wanted to take advantage of me, and there is no way in hell I'm bringing her to my house.

"Please, I really need help from someone capable," Emma said, looking desperate as if she was left without any choice.

"Look, you don't know if I'm capable or not, plus you don't have anything to offer me," I started leaving. I wasn't someone that helped everyone in need.

"I can... I can... make you the happiest man on Earth!" Emma suddenly proclaimed.

It took me a second to realize what she meant. That was a bit unexpected, but I had to refuse. I was a teenager that has never had a relationship in my life. Sex was something I've only dreamt of, but I didn't want it like this.

"No, thank you," I said, continuing on my way.

"At least give me a chance to hear me out," Emma said.

"I'm busy now, I have stuff to take care of," I just wanted to get away from her. She was too much trouble at this point.

Emma seemed adamant, though. "Okay, then let's exchange numbers, so we can meet up at."

"Fine, give me your number," I said, and her eyes lit up. She quickly told me her number, and I saved it on my phone. I then turned around and walked away.

"Wait, give me yours!" Emma called out after me.

"Nope, I might call you when I'm free, but I'm not giving you mine. Oh, and if you try something stupid, you will regret it." Emma looked desperate. I wouldn't put it past her of thinking of some plan to get me to help her.

Emma's mouth opened wide at my answer.

"But..."

I walked away, leaving her staring at my back. I was probably not going to call her. She was too much trouble for me. At least I knew she couldn't do anything to me since Observe stated she is a powerful telepath. Nothing was said of her telekinesis except that she possessed it.

Half an hour later, I returned home with all the ingredients and greeted grandma.

"Hey, grandma, I saw a flyer about charity for the destroyed part of New York. I bought some stuff, so I can cook them and bring them tomorrow."

"That so nice of you. Would you need help with the cooking?" She asked, but I shook my head. I wanted to do it on my own, and I can also raise my Cooking skill.

Before I started cooking, I entered my room and entered the Mirror Dimension. I took the plant pot, placed the soil in it, and took out the offspring of Groot.

I place the stick in the plant pot and poured water over it.

[Through a specific action, the skill, Gardening, has been created.]

[Gardening(Active) Lvl. 1/50: The art of planting, growing, and taking care of plant life. The higher the level, the faster plants will grow, and the healthier they will be.]

Before my eyes, the small stick sprouted hands and a small head formed on top.

"I am Groot!" The little Floral colossus said cutely. I was surprised he was already able to speak and that I understood what he said, but it wasn't what I wanted to hear.

"No, no, no. I'm not your mother!"

"I am Groot!" He repeated.

"No, no, no, not mama! I'm... your father! I'm your step-father!"

"I am Groot!" He declared absolutely certain of my status.

"No, little guy. I'm your father!" I tried making him understand

"I am Groot!"

This is going to be trouble.

[Name: William Williamson

Mutant Power: The Gamer

Level: 36 Next Level: 64%

Title: Sorcerer]

[HP: 1050

MP: 3,563]

[Strength: 30 + 31.2

Vitality: 35 + 36.4

Dexterity: 39 + 40.56

Intelligence: 101 + 109.08

Wisdom: 101 + 109.08

Luck: 22]

[Stat Points: 13

Cash: $40 644.70]

[Skills:

Gardening(Active) Lvl. 1/50*

Lying(Passive) Lvl. 22/50 (+1)