Theo was back at it, training with Ty, practicing proper footwork and the basics of wielding a short sword. After two days, he was headed back to the inn after another long, grueling day at the training yard. He started noticing people giving him looks, and he was pretty sure he was being followed. Before he began to spar with Ty, Theo asked him,

  “I know the system is aware of everything that goes on in the tutorial, and I’m pretty sure you know my circumstances and are aware of what’s going on as well, or have an idea, so can you tell me why multiple people are tracking me?”

  “Actually, yes, I can. The followers of Tim created a wanted poster and a dossier on you from your time in Tim’s town, and they’re going to send it to their agents. But that didn’t happen because everyone whom Tim influenced fell and started screaming when you killed him, so all of Tim’s agents got found out. So, because of that, when the different factions searched the town hall, they found that information about you, and some parties would like to know how you managed to kill Tim without succumbing to the brainwashing yourself,” Ty answered.

  “And since I’m in a system-sponsored inn and training yard, plus being in the town, they can’t grab me to ask me those questions. But why haven’t they approached me yet, I wonder?” Theo pondered out loud.

  “I’m guessing it’s a compilation of the unknown and goodwill. You came from a solo tutorial shown in the report. You have unknown abilities and powers, and you also helped out in the invasion. There’s also another aspect that needs to be addressed.” Ty said

  “Oh, pray tell, and what might that be?” Theo asked.

  “You’re specifically brought here to deal with Tim, so the system can help you with this problem and tell people to go fuck off. But that will breed more questions,” Ty said.

  “So my choices are to deal with them myself or have you guys step in. But that might cause more problems down the line, that’s what you’re saying?” Theo asked.

  “Got it in one,” Ty said.

  “The system already stated that it wants to recruit me. I’m pretty sure you’re aware of this. I am assuming this is a test of how I will handle being under pressure,” Theo said.

  “You assume correctly,” Ty said.

  “Pray tell, might I know what I will actually be tested on?” Theo asked.

  There’s not much to it if you decide to handle it; the system will observe your actions, that is all,” Ty said.

  “All right, that is not much to go on,” Theo sighed.

  Theo continued working on his swordplay, footwork, and other aspects of swordsmanship. At the end of the day, he went back to the inn and took a bath. He was eating at the bar when a man approached and sat next to Theo. He was wearing the typical brown pants and brown tunic. Theo couldn’t see any weapons on him, but with the knowledge of spatial storage, that doesn’t mean anything. He had a forgettable face.

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  “Julie and the other leaders would like to talk to you,” the man said

  “No, ask your questions,” Theo said

  “What?” the man said with a dumbfounded expression on his face

  “What I mean is, they are not here, and you are, so ask your questions. I’m not part of their groups. If they want to speak to me, they can come to me; otherwise, what do you want to know? Theo said with a smirk.

  “That is not how it’s done, you go to them, they have the power here,” the man said

  Theo started to laugh.

  “That’s a good one, you know the library’s free, it tells you all about the factions and pantheons that rule the multiverse and what’s gonna happen after the tutorial. They are only a charge until the end of the tutorial, then that’s when the real fun begins, and the real powers will begin to play their games; they will be just ponds, they don’t know it yet,” Theo said.

  “And I’m thinking of becoming a pond from the major power in the multiverse, but I have something they do not that gives me a lot more leverage when it comes to dealing,” Theo thought with a smirk.

  The man misread the smirk.

  “Well, that’s out of the tutorial, but we're still in the tutorial, so I must press on you to come with me for a meeting,” the man said

  “They’re not here, you are, so ask,” Theo said again.

  “Fine, first off, where’s your sword cane?”

  “It’s in my room. I bought a short sword because, with Tim, I learned my lesson about how he coveted my sword cane. It is a pretty unique item, and I wanted to avoid wandering hands,” Theo said

  “Make sense, what about the chains?” the man said.

  “System award for the solo dungeon,” Theo lied.

  “And what did you do to get them?” the man asked.

  “For being awesome,” Theo said.

  “You’re not gonna answer straight, are you?” the man said.

  “Nope, especially not someone who hasn’t even introduced themselves,” Theo said with a sip of his drink.

  “And how did you manage to kill Tim without being underneath his control? We read the reports they left in Peter’s office,” the man said.

  “This one I will give you: it was a system award,” Theo said, as the man raised an eyebrow.

  “I got a skill book that gave me Mental Resistance and fought a few monsters that used mental attacks.” Theo lied again

  “That is a complete lie. From what I read in the library, no way in hell just having mental resistance would defend against Tim’s manipulations. It’s the skills, Soul Resistance, and Mind Resistance together that defend against his fuckery,” Theo thought.

  “So you’re contributing all these things to the solo tutorial,” the man said.

  “Well, of course. It’s not like I can do any of this before the system arrived,” Theo said with indignation.

  “I’ve met other people who’ve had solo tutorials, and yes, many had uncommon or even rare skills, and some came out with powerful classes, but none had the capabilities that Tim’s people reported about you,” the man said.

  “And?” Theo said with an eyebrow raise.

  “We would like to know,” he started to say, but Theo cut him off.

  “Look, I got some goodies from the solo tutorial. I’m not part of the six organizations; frankly, I told this to Julie, and I’ll tell this to you: you’re not the four F’s. I have no reason to tell you anything. I may or may not have killed Tim; I helped capture the people under his influence and created the ritual. My part in this is done,” Theo said, picking up his drink again and taking a sip.

  “Again, we can simply grab you and take you somewhere until the end of the tutorial, and we’ll have an unpleasant conversation,” the man said in a dangerous tone.

  “Man, this takes me back. Back then, I was on the other side. I’m usually watching footage of the interrogation, not being part of it. This is novel. Usually, the people in my shoes don’t have any leverage and are locked in a room surrounded by agents and cameras, so I am way better off than those people in my past, and I bet all of them wish they could do what I’m about to do,” Theo thought.

  “Again, the library’s free. You can only do that if I leave the city grounds; otherwise, the system helpers would stop you, and I have no plans of leaving the city until the end of the tutorial, so go fuck yourself and the people who you work for,” Theo said with a smile.

  The man got up; his face was red, and he said, “Thank you, Theo, for answering some of my questions. I’ll stop by again for another talk soon,” the man said.

  “I’ll be here,” Theo said while giving the guy a sloppy salute.

  The man huffed and walked away in a controlled walk out of the inn. Theo finished the rest of his meal with the drink and headed to the library for the rest of the afternoon.