That night, Jester was back in Toonworld. His vision snapped into focus. He stood exactly where he had logged out. Deep within the North Dungeon's Third Floor.
The strange, sweet scent. Like mint and candy floss. Stone walls in lighter shade of green. The glowing fungi. And the ceiling lost in shadow. It was the Dungeon's Third Floor.
Nightclown checked his HUD. Time remaining: 1 hour 30 minutes.
The dungeon's exploration could wait. His immediate goal for now was the story. And story required world-building. Not just combat.
He reached for his [Hearthstone]. A smooth object in his system inventory. He activated it.
A faint, ethereal glow emanated from it. The dungeon receded. Blurring into a vortex of color.
A moment later, he materialized inside his small, cozy tree stump house. Back in Toon Forest Village. Familiar scenes greeted him. The curved walls, the hammock, the full-sized body mirror, the empty shelves, and the small table.
Outside, the village was quiet. Bathed in the soft, yellowish glow of cartoonish street lamps. And the larger, gentle luminescence of a stylized moon. Stars, impossibly bright and numerous, dotted the ink-black sky.
The air was cool and fresh. Carrying the distant calls of unseen nocturnal creatures. And the faint scent of pine and something sweet, like baked goods.
Nightclown stepped out.
Cammy was hovering silently behind his head. Its single lens blinking rhythmically. The [Toon Camera Recorder] was already on. Capturing the tranquil, illuminated village.
Most of the anthropomorphic villagers were indoor. In their own houses. Their windows glowed with a warm, yellow light spilled onto the cobblestone paths.
This was a different atmosphere than the bustling daytime. A hushed quiet. Full with different types of possibility.
He walked past the closed general store, the silent tailor's shop, and the darkened market stalls.
The sounds were subtle. A rustle in the bushes. The distant hoot of an owl. The gentle creak of a weather vane.
He focused on observation. Details. The way the light caught the evening dew on the oversized cartoon leaves. The soft shadows cast by the round, stylized trees. These were the elements Daisy would need to build atmosphere in their movie.
As he turned a corner near the mostly empty village square, a ripple in the air caught his attention. A figure coalesced from the shadows. Surprisingly agile and quiet.
It was an anthropomorphic lizard. Tall and slender. Garbed in midnight-blue ninja attire. Its eyes, sharp and yellow, fixed on Nightclown.
"Ho there! Fellow traveler of the night." The lizard rasped. A faint hiss audible in its voice. It held a small, rolled-up scroll, secured with a thin leather strap.
"I am Ninzard, a purveyor of fine, discrete goods. And if my eyes do not deceive me, I see a fellow rogue in your stride." He continued.
Nightclown stopped. A rogue merchant. This was exactly the kind of encounter Jester needed for his story. A new character. A source of unique items.
"I'm Nightclown." He introduced himself. Nodding. "A rogue apprentice, you could say."
Ninzard's thin lips stretched into something akin to a smile. Revealing a row of small, sharp teeth. "Excellent. For one such as you, I have wares that might... expedite your less conventional pursuits."
The lizard unrolled the scroll. It glowed faintly. And surprisingly, it projected a holographic list of items into the air between them.
Cammy, almost immediately, zoomed in slightly to capture the details.
Ninzard's Elementary Discreet Wares
o Poison Vials (x5): Weak but effective. Apply to weapons. Price: 400 coins.
o Shurikens (x100): Decent throwing weapons. Effective at range. Price: 500 coins.
o Kunais (x100): Decent throwing weapons. Good for precise strikes. Price: 500 coins.
o Smoke Bomb (x10): Single-use tool. Creates a cloud of smoke for distraction or escape. Price: 500 coins.
o Lockpicking Kit (Basic): Essential for accessing secured containers. Price: 600 coins.
o Scroll of Invisibility (Single Use): Become unseen for 10 minutes. Requires concentration. Price: 750 coins.
o Rope and Hook: Decent rogue tools. Versatile for traversal and utility. Price: 800 coins.
o Silent Boots (Pair): Reduces movement noise. Price: 1000 coins.
o Shadow Cloak: Enhances stealth in dark areas. Price: 1100 coins.
o [Inspect!] Skill Book: Instant learning. Detects target's items and basic information. Price: 1200 coins.
o [Steal!] Skill Book: Instant learning. Attempts to steal a targeted item. Price: 1200 coins.
Nightclown scrolled through the list. His initial thought was how much of this could be useful in the dungeon. Or for future 'story elements'.
The throwing weapons were practical. He still wanted to order long ranged weapon like crossbow or gun from Mr. Gorhammer's Smithy. But back-up throwing weapons wouldn't hurt. Throwing and retrieving his spear during combat was too... inefficient.
The utility items like smoke bombs and rope and hook were classic rogue tools. They could definitely be useful.
But his gaze lingered on the two skill books at the bottom. [Inspect!] and [Steal!]. These were game-changers. Direct skills that fit his chosen specialization perfectly.
He checked his coin balance: 3248 coins. He considered his options. The [Thunder Nunchaku] and [Lightning Spear] were fine weapons for direct combat. But a true rogue needed more options. Projectiles. Utility. Information. And more loots.
"I'll take the [Inspect!] Skill Book, the [Steal!] Skill Book, and a hundred Shurikens." Nightclown stated decisively.
Ninzard's eyes gleamed. "An excellent choice, Nightclown. Skills are worth more than gold, though they cost gold nonetheless."
With a flick of his wrist, the selected items materialized in front of Nightclown. Two aged, leather-bound books. And a small, heavy pouch that clinked with metal.
Nightclown reached into his own inventory and transferred the coins. His HUD displayed the updated balance:
3248 - 1200 (Inspect) - 1200 (Steal) - 500 (Shurikens) = 348 coins.
He was poor again. But richer in potential. The sudden drop in funds was a familiar sting. But the gains were worth it. This was an investment in his progress. And in the movie's future.
Ninzard collected the coins with another swift motion.
"A word of advice, Nightclown," Ninzard said, his voice dropping to a low, conspiratorial hiss. "These skills, [Inspect!] and [Steal!], are... frowned upon within the confines of civilized settlements."
He looked around and continued. "Employ them within this village, and you will find yourself swiftly exiled. Beyond these walls, however, whether in the wild or in a dungeon's dark embrace, against beast or bandit, they are yours to wield as you see fit."
Nightclown nodded. This was Toonworld. Rules often had explicit, cartoonish, yet harsh consequences. "Understood!" He replied.
"Good." Ninzard gave a curt nod. "May your shadows be long and your pockets deep."
With that, the lizard merchant shimmered. Then dissolved into a faint puff of smoke. Leaving behind only the lingering scent of fresh fish.
Nightclown held the pouch and two skill books.
The [Shurikens] pouch felt satisfyingly heavy. He immediately put it in his system inventory.
And then, he opened the first book. The one labeled [Inspect!]. It glowed. Then it dissolved into golden motes of light that swirled around his head before sinking into his form. A system notification flashed...
[Skill Learned!]
[Active Skill Acquired: Inspect!]
Nightclown immediately read the system description of the skill.
[Active Skill: Inspect!]
[Energy Type: Force, Zeal, Mana, or Glitch]
[Effect: Target a creature to reveal its equipment and carried items.]
[Max Range: 10 meters]
[Cooldown: 1 second]
It was just like what he expected. But, Nightclown looked at the [Energy Type] part and frowned. This skill cannot be used with Stamina or Ki. It was lucky he had Glitch type of energy.
He repeated the process with the [Steal!] skill book. Another glow. Another cascade of golden light. Another notification...
[Skill Learned!]
[Active Skill Acquired: Steal!]
As for the description...
[Active Skill: Steal!]
[Energy Type: Mana or Glitch]
[Effect: Attempt to instantly steal a known item carried by a targeted creature or NPC. Success chance depends on Speed and Magic stats versus the target's Sense and Drive. Failure may result in hostile reaction.]
[Max Range: 3 meters]
[Cooldown: 5 seconds]
Nightclown frowned further. The skill was fine. But the energy type was even more constrained this time. Only Mana and Glitch could be used. He had Glitch so it was okay now. But...
It seemed that next time he purchase skill book or spell book, he needed to ask whether it was compatible with Glitch Energy or not. It would be bad if he got a skill he could not use.
Anyway, he had gained two new active skills. Direct, practical, and perfectly aligned with his Rogue class. This was good progression.
...
Nightclown continued his evening exploration of the village. He needed to find a place that offered more than just quiet streets.
A place where the villagers gathered. Where information flowed freely. And where he could observe interaction.
The faint murmur of voices and the clinking of glasses a few blocks away drew him close. It was a sturdy, timber-framed building. With a sign depicting a frothing mug of beer.
'The Carrot & Clover Tavern' was written on the sign. In whimsical lettering. A perfect spot.
He pushed open the heavy wooden door. A wave of warmth. The scent of cooked food. And a cacophony of cheerful chatter washed over him.
The tavern was bustling. Even at this hour. Anthropomorphic animals of every stripe filled the tables.
A grumpy-looking badger nursing a dark stout. A pair of jovial squirrels swapping exaggerated tales. A wise-looking owl on a stool near the fireplace, telling stories.
The atmosphere of this place was jovial, boisterous, and full of life.
Cammy, without any explicit command, subtly shifted its position. Ensuring it had an optimal view of the entire room. Its lens panning slowly to capture the full scope of the tavern's activity.
The ambient noise. The individual conversations. The clinking of mugs. All of it was being meticulously recorded. This was a story-rich material.
Nightclown approached the counter. There, a stout, cheerful pig in a white apron wiped mugs with practiced ease.
"What can I get for ya, friend?" The pig asked. His voice was booming in friendly manner.
"A Carrot Soup and a Root Beer, please." Nightclown ordered after he saw the menu list on the wall.
The toon hare sat on the stool in the counter. It was time to eat and listen for potentially valuable information.