She frowned slightly, fingers curling at her side.
If I cannot buy it, then I have to obtain it another way, she thought, though the answer did not immediately present itself.
As she walked, her unease grew. Even if she managed to identify something valuable, how was she supposed to claim it lawfully without money, connections, or authority.
The system's rules were clear, and she had no intention of triggering penalties this early.
Zi'an stopped beside a quiet corner of the street, pretending to examine a basket of withered herbs while her thoughts turned inward.
"…System," she said softly.
There was a brief pause, then the familiar presence stirred.
[What is it, Host Zi'an.]
She hesitated, then frowned faintly. "You know, calling you 'system' every time is awkward. You're not exactly a featureless interface. I should probably give you a name."
The light flickered, almost imperceptibly.
[A name is unnecessary.]
Zi'an smiled slightly at that. "Maybe, but I prefer clarity. Communication is more efficient when things are properly labeled."
The system remained silent for a moment longer than usual, as if considering her words.
[Designation is unnecessary. Communication efficiency is not affected.]
Zi'an smiled faintly, the kind of smile that suggested she had already made up her mind. She leaned lightly against a wooden post, her posture relaxed, and tilted her head as if considering something important.
"Mmm," she murmured. "But it affects my mood. And if I'm going to work with you long-term, I should at least enjoy addressing you."
There was a short silence.
Then the system replied, its tone noticeably restrained.
[You may assign a designation if you insist. However, frivolous naming serves no practical purpose.]
Zi'an's eyes curved slightly, clearly entertained. "Oh, but it serves my purpose just fine."
She thought for a moment, her gaze drifting toward a pair of children squabbling over a candied hawthorn skewer nearby, then nodded to herself as if satisfied.
"Alright," she said. "I'll call you Little Fortune."
The response was immediate.
[…What?]
Zi'an straightened, clearly pleased. "Little Fortune. It's fitting. You're supposed to help me make money, after all. And it's much friendlier than whatever stiff title you were expecting."
The system's glow flickered sharply.
[That designation is inappropriate. I am not 'little,' nor am I an abstract concept meant to inspire affection.]
Zi'an let out a soft laugh, not bothering to hide it this time. "Relax. I'm not insulting you. If anything, it's optimistic. Besides, if you're going to be blunt and harsh, then I should at least balance it out."
There was another pause, longer than before.
[The designation will be accepted for the sake of operational continuity. However, I do not endorse it.]
"Of course you don't," Zi'an replied cheerfully. "That's why it works."
Her steps resumed, light and unhurried, as she moved toward the quieter side of town where discarded items and overlooked corners were more likely to gather. As she walked, she lowered her voice slightly.
"Alright, Little Fortune," she said, sounding almost conspiratorial. "Now that we're properly acquainted, tell me something useful. Where should I start looking?"
The system responded after a brief, clearly deliberate delay.
[Resource detection range is currently limited. However, areas with frequent disposal, low supervision, or natural growth are optimal for beginner-level acquisition.]
Zi'an nodded slowly, her eyes scanning the narrow alley ahead, where broken crates and abandoned baskets were stacked haphazardly against the wall.
"That's good enough for me," she said.
The system's voice followed, cool and faintly displeased.
[Do not grow complacent, Host Zi'an. Beginner tasks are designed to test judgment as much as luck.]
Zi'an smiled, her expression easy and untroubled as she stepped toward the alley.
"Don't worry," she replied lightly. "I've always had excellent judgment. As for luck, well… that's why I named you Little Fortune."
The glow in her mind pulsed once, tight and restrained.
[Designation acknowledged.]
Zi'an's smile widened just a fraction as she disappeared from the main street, already certain that somewhere nearby, something overlooked was waiting to be found.
The alley was narrower than Zi'an had expected, squeezed between two aging storefronts whose wooden walls bore long cracks and uneven patches from years of neglect. Broken baskets lay stacked haphazardly near the entrance, their woven reeds fraying and brittle, while discarded crates leaned against the wall as though someone had intended to return for them and then forgotten entirely.
The noise of the market faded as she stepped inside, replaced by a quieter, muted atmosphere. Sunlight filtered in only partially, leaving the deeper end of the alley cool and shadowed. Zi'an slowed her pace, her eyes moving carefully from one corner to another, not searching openly, but observing with the same practiced calm she had once used when combing through flea markets and abandoned warehouses in her previous life.
"Little Fortune," she said softly, keeping her voice low. "You said your detection range was limited. Does that mean you'll alert me automatically, or do I have to stumble over something first?"
There was a brief pause, then the system responded, its tone still faintly stiff.
[Beginner-level resource detection activates automatically within range. However, detection strength is influenced by the Host's proximity and attention.]
Zi'an hummed quietly in acknowledgment and took a few more steps forward. She stopped beside a pile of refuse that had been pushed against the wall, consisting mostly of broken pottery shards, wilted leaves, and scraps of cloth that had clearly been deemed worthless.
She crouched down slowly, her movements unhurried.
"If I were a careless merchant," she murmured to herself, "this is exactly the sort of place I'd ignore."
Almost as soon as the words left her mouth, a faint sensation stirred in her mind. It was subtle, like a light tug at the edge of her awareness.
The system's voice followed immediately.
[Detected: anomalous material.]
Zi'an's eyes sharpened.
[Location: two steps forward, beneath surface debris.]
She reached out and brushed aside a layer of wilted leaves and broken straw, careful not to draw attention to herself. Beneath them lay a small, dull object, half-buried in dirt and grime. At first glance, it looked like nothing more than a cracked fragment of stone, irregularly shaped and completely unremarkable.