"Wait! Wait! Wait! What do you mean by a job of 10k$?!! Just, what kind of work do you want me to do? And how does it all relate to that search? I don't understand any of it," Ciana spoke, looking at me. Her eyes clearly focused as she was comparatively much more interested than before.

I guess. That much is to be expected. I thought as I had checked her background. Despite her father paying her $3000 monthly rent and $12,000 half-yearly semester money, she was only given $1000 to $1500 for other necessities, which barely covered the cost of her living.

Now that the main problems such as school fee or rent were gone, an additional job of $10k would obviously incite her.

"You know about Arcadia Online, right?" I asked this question, making her nod, before I added,

"I would like you to join that game and follow my instructions. There will be a bunch of daily tasks that I will give you, and in return you will earn a sizable reward. You can keep the money, though, within the game, make sure not to do anything without my permission."

The idea was simple. To use all the Ciana Grace, Evan Casto, Damian White, Sarah Rose and Charles Richard to create a force within the game that works for me without having any direct connection with me.

It's not an impossible dream if I can manipulate each and everyone of them according to their situation. Though it's going to be a challenge in its own way. I thought as I didn't want all this effort to be one-sided, with barely anything in return.

Hearing that, she nodded somewhat. Then, pondering a little, she asked," but doesn't that headset cost $10,000 or something? How am I going to afford that?"

"I have already ordered one. And it should be delivered by today's evening. Just fill your information accordingly," I answered before taking out three torn pages from my notebook and passing them to her,

"You can choose your name, race and class. Other than that, everything should be followed by this notebook. It would be a guide to get you to a good level before you are ready for the tasks that I am going to issue. Once you reach the required level, send me a friend request online. I will explain the rest of the details after that."

At the current level, it would be difficult to take even half the quests that I have. She would need to excel at least in a portion of her own abilities before she can be someone I could use or take help from her. Until then, I can only hope that this investment will work out.

She gave a brief look at the lists, reading bits here and there. Her eyes flickered as she saw some of the contents before turning back to me, puzzled as she asked me,

"Why? Why would you trust me so much? Don't you think I would betray you?"

I have searched throughout your entire life history. The kind of people your family were. The decisions you made, the kind of person you are, the hopes you carry and the choices you are going to make in the future. At this point, I think I know more about you and your life than you ever could. I smiled as I thought a little before answering,

"Call it intuition."

A slight pause for a few seconds before I added,

"Also, if you happen to come across anyone with the same name, make sure to inform me about that as well."

It doesn't seem she was convinced of that, but in the end, she could only nod at it.

Standing up, I then folded the chessboard before neatly placing the pieces in the box. With most of my work done, it was about time I left. Though before that, my eyes once again went back to her strange condition.

"Ah! By the way, don't you take any medicine for that?" I asked as I looked at her bluish finger, making her observe it for a few seconds before shaking her head in a 'No'

"The doctor said it was fine. As long as it doesn't hurt, it shouldn't be too much of a problem. Should I be concerned?" She asked as she looked at me, a bit worried. Though recalling that she had no pain in her hands as she played chess, I asked,

"Were there any episodes of pain? Or any ulcers?"

"None."

No ulcers mean that it's a minor constriction. There are also no signs of necrosis or infarction. With her age, I doubt it's SLE. I thought, crossing that from the diagnosis.

"Any other symptoms, such as headache or weakness? Or perhaps any episodes or rashes on your face?"

"Nothing out of the ordinary. And no rashes."

I nodded before pondering and asking,

"Show me your tongue."

She opened her mouth, showing a bright pink tongue for a brief moment before I asked her to close it, and then moving towards her, I also checked her radial pulse.

"Seems normal enough," I answered, to which she asked again,

"What do you think?"

It's not a shock or MI. The cold isn't enough to cause thrombophlebitis, either. Which means it's most probably…

"Primary Raynaud's phenomenon. It's a common disorder in temperate regions, mostly occurring in young women. Makes your blood vessels narrow, causing less blood flow to peripheral regions. Should be fine as long as you avoid the cold. If you feel pain or tingling, try taking nifedipine, it's a vasodilator," I explained to her, making her nod as she took out a pen and wrote the name of the medicine at the corner of the notes that I had provided her.

Working part-time at the clinic last time taught me a lot. I recalled my early college days, where I would try to learn anything I would see and take it up as much as possible. A smile formed on my face as I recalled the hardworking days.

Turning back to Ciana, amazed as she looked at me, I pondered for a few more seconds before saying,

"I have paid your rent and fee. I also took care of the gangsters in the area, but if they do come back, do tell me about them. Also, for the job you were looking for, quit it. If you really are going to do it anyway, try asking your teachers. I think they have a program for that. Lastly, even though I took care of your immediate problem, I don't think I can do anything about your parents. Sorry to be blunt, but they are scum I would rather not get involved with."

Her eyes widened as she said,"no. Please don't. I don't even want to do anything with my parents. I am thankful that you didn't do anything, and please let's never go in that direction."

Holding the same pen in her hand, she played with it for a few seconds as she continued,

"I had an inkling, but it really does surprise me that you were the one who took care of the gangsters. How did you do that? Makes me all curious about who you are."

I stood up without answering as I prepared to leave from here. She walked me out with a slight smile as she said,

"Sir, thank you."

With a slight bow, she closed her eyes as she added,

"Thank you for changing my life completely. If not for you, I have no idea how I might have survived in the future, that is, based on if I had one."

I saw her sincerity as she continued,

"I don't know how much you know, but I… was planning to end my life 3 months later in case everything goes bad. It was suffocating. Every day, knowing that I can't do anything to change this suffocating destiny of mine, I had no idea how to escape this hell."

She told me about her sufferings.

"What you have done for me, sir, it's not just solving my life problems. You have given me a second chance at life itself. This life, I owe it to you."

She praised me to the best of her ability.

"I will do anything it takes to help you out. Whatever tasks you have for me, I will do them. Hehe. Even if there were no gain in doing them, I would have still done them for you. Also about the names you have told me, I will make sure to keep an eye out for them," she said with a smile on her face.

I nodded at her without saying anything. A few teardrops escaped her eyes as she smiled brightly, asking me,

"Haha. It almost feels like a dream… but it's real, right? Sir, I won't just wake up from it, right? Everything is really fine, right? It's not fake, right? It's not a prank, right?"

I saw her tears, her smile, her hopes. With a calm smile on my face, I observed her from a distance.

"It's real, Ciana. Everything about it is real," I answered before almost walking out of the apartment. Since I have already mentioned my in-game ID within the notes, I don't think she would have a problem in contacting me.

"Thank you," she thanked me once again. Then, as if pondering something, she asked,

"By the way! What's your in-game ID, by the way? You didn't tell me that."

A little slow, isn't she? I thought before answering,

"Ezekiel."

Ciana looked at me as the pen in her hand slowly fell off, falling down on the ground and making a click sound.

"…"

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