'Oh, we're cooking with gas now,' I cheered as hands practically flew across the stove, flipping pans and searing with expertise. 'Even if I had to spend a couple thousand dollars refurnishing the apartment, completing the quest was the best decision I could have made.'
[You have completed the Quest: This House Is Not a Home...Yet]
[You have received the following reward(s)]
1. +5 skill points
2. +1 Development Point
3. +$5000 Appliance Coupon
While the development point was more of a long-term reward, the five skill points I used immediately, with a vast majority going to my cooking skill, which brought it up to the next level.
[Skill: Cooking IV]
Upgrade Cost: 0/4
Effect(s):
1. +15% to the final quality of all recipes
2. +15% to cooking speed
As for the two remaining points, I decided to pursue the shop for a new skill worth adding to my repertoire before taking it to the second level.
[Skill: Butcher II]
Upgrade Cost: 0/2
Effect(s):
1. +10% to the final quality of all recipes that contain a protein
Since most of my big-ticket items contained some kind of protein, whether it was meat or fish, another ten percent was a significant bonus to profit margins.
There was also the real-world effect of becoming more familiar with the related subject. Jumping straight to level two was almost jarring due to the amount of information that was suddenly impressed into my brain.
I could now identify the roughness of my steaks, trimming them down to get the perfect ratio of muscle to fat if needed. As for my salmon, I effortlessly scored the skin with my knife at the ideal depth, allowing for a more even sear and crispier skin that practically melted on the tongue. And extracting the succulent flesh of a lobster from its shell had never been easier as I cracked joints and used a small pinroll to squeeze the meat free from the carapace.
Every subtle change was stacking up to make a massive difference in my productivity, and I couldn't have been happier. Being rewarded for hard work and thoughtful planning had to be a better feeling than any drug, though I couldn't say with absolute certainty.
"Hmm, you weren't kidding about those improvements," Megan commented as she swept into the kitchen like a force of nature, picking up he order I had just put down, "I can barely keep up with how fast you keep turning these orders around."
I grinned, leaning over to give Megan a quick peck on the cheek, "It also helps that I've got something to look forward to. I want to spoil you and Patty rotten tomorrow at the mall."
"God, what did I do to deserve a man like you?" Megan flirted as she fluttered her eyelashes at me.
"Triple Ds and hips that don't quit," I replied with a cheeky smile, only for Megan to swat me on the arm, "I-I mean, your winning personality and beautiful soul."
"Uh-huh," Megan muttered, unimpressed, though she couldn't keep the smile off her face for long, "You're lucky you have such a cute ass."
"Hey, my eyes are up here," I said, faking offense.
Megan grunted as she turned and walked back towards the door, "Hypocrite."
Even though I didn't want to give her the satisfaction, I couldn't help but glance down at Megan's ass as she sashayed out the door.
'Goddamn, I love that woman,' I thought to myself before turning back towards the stove, not wanting to fall behind the slew of orders. 'Still have most of the dinner service to go, and I wasn't lying about wanting to spoil them.'
Images of Patty and Megan in various outfits that hugged their bodies and curves played across my mind as I got back to cooking, and I could have sworn I got some kind of hidden buff as my movements sped up even more.
--[Day 6 Report]--
Simlife
Profits: +$14,692
Cost: -$11,941
Gross: $2,751
Modifiers: Fortune II [+10%]
Income: +$3,026
Total: +$4,832
DateLife
Energy Spent: 2
Energy Gained: 2
Tantric Reserves: 2/5
Lust: -10
Total: 0/100
I stared at the day's report as I laid in bed next to Megan who was already asleep and had claimed my body as her pillow. Based on Income, today was my best day yet. Still, what was three thousand dollars in the long run?
'I already plan on spending a couple of hundred, probably closer to a thousand, tomorrow for the girls. Which I'm happy too, but what happens when instead of clothes, we need a car, or even a house? If Patty moves in after I enthrall her, this place is going to get crowded quickly, and then what about the other two thralls? And that's only for my first rank.'
A frown crossed my face as I racked my brain for a solution, 'I know it's only been a week and I should be happy with my progress, but of course I'm not.'
Looking over the report once more, a thought crossed my mind, 'I've been focusing on maximizing profits, but that's only one part of the equation. What about minimizing costs? Sure, all of the input comes from the system store...but do I need to buy from it directly?'
[SimQuest:Farm to Table]
Objective(s): You've realized that there may be more options when it comes to your ingredient selection
1. Find and secure a more cost-effective alternative to buying ingredients
Reward(s):
1. +2 Perk Points
2. +2 Development Points
3. +$10,000
4. +5 Skill Points
I didn't know whether to cry or laugh as I stared at the quest prompt that had appeared the moment the thought crossed my mind, 'I guess that's a sign that I'm onto something. I'm also going to guess that the quest name is supposed to be a hint. Clearly, the system doesn't like subtlety.'
[You're damn right I don't. And I'm glad you picked up on that; otherwise, I would have spent the next week watching you fumble about.]
'I was wondering when you were going to pop back up. How was your nap?'
[You mean when I wasn't tracking all the countless variables to generate quests, skills, and everything in between...it was rather pleasant, thank you for asking. But enough about me, you've had a week in paradise, how has it been?]
'Is it going to be a surprise when I say it's been perfect?' I replied with a smirk as I glanced down at Megan.
[No, it isn't, though observing you over these few days, I know you must have some questions]
'Well, maybe it's not a question, but if you could give my first few days a letter grade based on my progression, what would you give me?'
[Progression-wise, you're a C+ at best]
I couldn't help but balk at such a low score, 'C+, really? I thought I was making some good progress.'
[You are, understand that anything above a B is improbable, you would have to pick the most optimal skills and recipes with the best ratio of cost to profit. Realistically, no human would think about making those decisions. Also, this is a paradise you shouldn't be making those decisions.]
'But what if I'm a miser and seeing the pennies stack up brings me immense joy?' I asked jokingly.
[Then you wouldn't have agreed to take two college girls on an all-inclusive shopping date. You do know that they're going to squeeze every last dollar out of you?]
'I've accepted it as a strong possibility, but I consider it an investment and hope that later in the day I'll be able to reap my well earned profits.'
[Did you just make a fiancing joke about having sex?]
'I plead the fifth,' I replied instantly and I could practically feel the system roll its nonexsistant eyes.
[Moving on, my long term advice is to keep thinking with your head, the world and as an extension of it myself is designed to adapt to your desires and aspirations. There is no planned series of quest or a laid out progression system, so don't fall into the trap of just relying on the system. Use you're head, if you want something to happen take the steps yourself and then I'll make sure incentivized and rewarded for following through.]
'...So if I wanted to find a cook for the resturant I should post an add online?'
[I can neither confirm nor deny that listing a job offering on a public formum designed for skilled individuals to seek out employment opporunities, may or may not result in such an individual apply to be a cook at your resturant.]
'Alright, alright I get it, no need to beat me over the head with it,'
[Hmm, just making sure it sticks, not sure how good your memory is going to be after tomorrow.]
'You have no faith in me do you?'
[None what so ever.]