Hearing loud and clear the moan of suffering of his companion, Roberto at first struggled to understand what the hell he had just discovered. Instinctively, he turned his head towards XK22, who was still undecided on what to say, and then went to join the other two geniuses without even opening his mouth.

As soon as he arrived, Roberto was greeted by a Mario with his hands behind his back indicating with a movement of his chin where to look. The boy blinked a couple of times as he noticed the famous red-colored hand. He then realized what the problem was and asked the Assistant: "Do we have to kill all the Monsters around us before we get the rewards?", with a tone halfway between an interested and debilitated one.

[Eh... Of course.] XK22 began to explain again, giving Alex a few quick glances in between words, then going on to say: the System distributes rewards only after all enemies near the Players have been identified as 'eliminated'. Eh... I thought that... I thought that Mr. Alex had avoided giving the final hit to that Fuffa in order not to trigger the rewards distribution... I was... I was wrong?]. Concluding in one of the most hesitant voices he had ever shown up to that point, hoping meanwhile within himself that he hadn't just made dear Alex look bad.

"Ah... Yeah, I must have gotten totally fucked up," Roberto declared once he finished listening to XK22, turning in Alex's direction and looking at him for a handful of seconds. He didn't say anything, fortunately or not, to the boy who in the meantime had realized he had stepped in deep shit. Also because, in all actuality, Roberto was more pissed off at himself for not thinking more about it and not checking out his partner's work.

For some strange reason, he had really trusted Alex to clean up the Monsters in an excellent way. Well, perhaps the beating of the Bolzig has made me lose my mind. He then came to think with a bit of self-mockery, all the while giving the concrete block a stomp so it could fall with a thud and crush the infamous hand.

[Automatic check in progress... Check completed. The Mona-Prescelti Team has obtained 20 Experience Points and 2 Credits. The rewards have been deposited in the Team Bank. Please use the Terminal to collect the rewards.]

Once dead, the System's voice resounded again with the usual metallic tone. At the same time, a notification appeared in front of everyone with exactly the same words but in written form. To make it disappear, and this was the first time, it was necessary to click an 'X' placed in the right corner of the screen. A change probably made to make sure Players actually read the message, in order to create as little confusion as possible.

"Oh, how nice..." Both Alex and Roberto commented, saying practically the same words and almost at the exact same moment. The smoker felt a sort of electric shock go up his spine at the thought of having had the same reaction as his companion, but he did his best to forget the sweet praises of friendship that his brain had already begun to formulate.

Moving on instead to ask the Assistant another question, questioning him with a serious attitude, "What about this fucking bank? More crap?" Oh, I said the facial expression was serious not that his words would be. The man had, after all, still a hint of annoyance to release.

[The Team Bank is a subprogram developed to be able to store your rewards before they are used. Ah, right. In order to cash out from the Bank, you need the consent of the majority of the Team. You will see this when you try it. Otherwise, the transaction will be rejected automatically]. The little creature answered, hurrying to speak so he could change the subject on the plate and save, at least in his mind, the honor of the poor Alex.

The explanation was good and the usefulness of that function was not bad. As Camilla, the least informed on the matter, pointed out. It was a bit strange that the way the rewards were distributed changed so much for the Common Monsters compared to the Bosses. So, moved by that curiosity, the girl ended up asking: "Is this normal? Is this how it works in the videogames you guys play?" Seeking the opinion first of the missed groom and then of the other two paragon of cunning.

"I'd say no, but it doesn't seem bad... It seems like an interesting feature." Alex answered first, trying to take as little time as possible so it would seem like he had already thought about it extensively. Even Mario stuck his head in the queue, saying while swaying his neck a little, "Never seen a similar mechanic. But this way we have much more depth control in our development. You two," and here he said it referring to Camilla and Sabrina. "You two were the only ones who didn't increase in Level. We don't have numerical stats to refer to, but I would be inclined to say that even one Level is an advantage not to be underestimated. And by being able to choose who to give Experience Points to we can also strengthen the people at the back without forcing them to put themselves in danger. Sounds like a good deal to me," he concluded, taking his chin between his fingers and nodding a couple of times.[The Team Bank is a subprogram developed to be able to store your rewards before they are used. Ah, right. In order to cash out from the Bank, you need the consent of the majority of the Team. You will see this when you try it. Otherwise, the transaction will be rejected automatically]. The little creature answered, hurrying to speak so he could change the subject on the plate and save, at least in his mind, the honor of the poor Alex.

Alex couldn't help but look at that giant with a certain jealousy for his well-oiled tongue. Poor beast, he would have liked to be the one able to present such a well-constructed analysis. The last remaining of the trio instead, the dear Roberto, used the thirty abundant seconds that had just passed to light another cigarette although he still had a couple of puffs available in the one still hanging from his lips.

"Did you get a degree in between the fights?" He then asked the giant to tease him, finding his exposition very rich and well-detailed but hardly digestible considering which ugly face it had come out of. In any case, Mario only raised his hands without starting an argument, leaving the smoker free to continue to have his own views.

After that, graced by not one but two silvery snakes, he turned to XK22 saying, "And there should be a reason behind this stuff? I understand its utility, but I have the impression that it has all the characteristics of a good mechanic that could create more problems than it would like to solve," realizing definitely that the game they had ended up in seemed to have been designed almost entirely with group mechanics as its main focus. Besides feeling a certain weariness in his bones now that the excitement of the encounter was gradually fading.

An oversized pain in the ass; or at least that was his conclusion about... Well, a bit of everything really.

[The System would have been forced to process too many notifications if they had been printed following every single death of Common Monsters. It would have been... it would have been an excessive consumption of resources for the System, Mr. Roberto.] The little creature answered him, accompanying his words with movements that looked very much like those that might have been displayed by a child who was ashamed to say something embarrassing about his parents.

"That is some fucking shit," the young man sighed back, fucking up most of the rosary in the process. He only regained the will to live after Camilla kicked him in the ass because of his vulgarity, leading him to say with a very non-expressive face, "Great. So? What would you like to do now?" Not even bothering to say half a word to Camilla.

"Oh, well," Mario answered him, taking a quick look at his wristwatch. "It's only ten o'clock... It would still be too early, but how about getting something to eat? Honestly, I feel pretty hungry." Clapping his palm against the dial to get attention like a molesting child would have done.

"I'll add myself to the proposal as well," reentered Alex, craving a good hour's rest. Camilla, of course, took his side and accepted the suggestion, bringing little Sabrina into the mix. She, poor star, just nodded, leaving the field free for her companions. Roberto, having arrived at that point, was already fed up and raised his big thumb, asking only: "Shall we bring the stuff up then? Although the view isn't bad I'd rather have lunch without the worries of being attacked again."

The rest of the gang agreed and Mario, even before actually Camilla and Alex briefly said their piece, grabbed the Chest and slung it over his right shoulder, ready to go. XK22 understood that his time as a celebrity was momentarily over and, although with a slightly bit of disappointment, said goodbye to the players with a: [I will always be at your disposal. Just call me by selecting the 'Call Assistant' option that has been added to your terminals. For now, I'll be leaving...]. Showing a sad expression on his strange face that he had programmed for himself.

"Why...why don't you stay with us?" Surprisingly, however, Sabrina stopped him, opening her mouth for the first time in a good amount of time, just as he had begun to evaporate into a small cloud of smoke. [Can I... Can I stay with you?] His eyes suddenly lit up, happy as can be by that small gesture.

"I don't see why not?" Camilla and Mario added as well, finding no reason to send him away. Alex, on the other hand, was a little late in saying the same thing, more than anything else because he didn't care much, while Roberto had other matters on his mind to follow the conversation. [Then I'll stay! Then I'll stay! Thank you Players!] Exclaimed the little creature, jumping into Sabrina's arms since she had been the first to ask him not to leave.

The girl took him with her almost as if he were a stuffed animal, grabbing his soft fur without the slightest intention of letting him go. To tell the truth, in fact, the only reason she had raised her voice a moment before was because she found that subspecies of genetic concoction too cute to be wasted. Oh, if there are people in the world who appreciate, for reasons beyond my comprehension, having heels on their balls, then a little something like that could very well be considered normal.

"Great, then let's go," said Mario arranging better the crate he had on his shoulder and heading towards the broken moving stairs in order to return to the base.

The others followed him forming a queue of very few rows, with Roberto and Alex last in line; and Camilla, the little monster and Sabrina in the middle. And, here I feel compelled to say it, it was more due to a rare stance by Alex who pulled back, literally, his smoking comrade to join him in the rear. He was lucky that his target had nothing to complain about in that regard; he wouldn't have found him in much of a good mood at the time.

Moving on; the group eventually arrived at their destination, supplying the base with enough food and drink for at least another day or day and a half. It would have been convenient for them to be able to reuse the Chest to store their pots, plates or cups, being clean and possessing a cover, but it vanished soon after being identified as 'superfluous' by the System. Too bad.

Sabrina stood with that thought in her head for a few moments, finding it unhygienic the way they were currently putting their dishes inside a half-broken wooden cabinet. At least, there didn't seem to be any bugs making the sanitary situation worse. Not being able to do too much about it though, the girl simply pulled out the cooking necessities and set to work.

Camilla and XK22 handled themselves decently as her helpers, handling the fire, opening the cans and setting the table. The discount knights, with nothing else to do, sat to one side and rested, enjoying the warmth that the small bonfire and gas stove were providing.

Stopped in that nice comfortable position, the trio exchanged a few words, or it would be better to say 'bullshit', in between a glance at Sabrina's ass and one to that of Camilla. On the latter, already pre-purchased as Alex saw it, the boy had little to laugh at his companions who had taken to commenting under their breath just to piss him off.

A silly but decent little game to pass the time, with plenty of entertainment included. Ah, how nice to see how little it took for men to improve their day. A super power, in my opinion, graciously granted by the ignorant glee of their second brain.

"It's ready! Come and eat!" Camilla called out to them on the finest of occasions, turning around just as her future husband's imbecile was saying something along the lines of: "Don't piss me off, that stuff is mine!" Not understanding, thankfully, what he was referring to but appreciating his stance, seeing him stand tall in front of the very people who had just faced a frightening Monster almost single-handedly.

A small source of pride we might say. Rather sweet as well, if we forget that they were actually talking about butts.

Attracted by the food like locusts, Roberto and Mario left the matter alone with an impressive speed and ran to sit down, even taking the piss out of their companion when he found himself to be the last one, apart from Sabrina, not to be at the table.

Lunch continued without any more bullshit worsening the mysteriously fine flavor of the food Sabrina offered. Despite the fact that the meal came out of tins or half-cooked monstrosities, more like radioactive waste for the normal Italian palate, the final product ended up being very tasty. In particular, perhaps thanks to a good use of oil and spices, the boys devoured, with amazement marking their faces, the uncertainly shaped meatballs they found on their plates.

Whether they were meat or vegetable they were not able to say for sure, but they went down very well, especially when accompanied by that half glass of beer that the whole group managed to have. The only one to be choosy was XK22, but only because as an Assistant he had neither the need nor the ability to eat anything.

As soon as the banquet was over, an instant marked by a new cigarette lit on the side of Roberto's mouth, the little creature froze in place and his eyes just lit up for a handful of seconds.

And voila, more screw-ups… Ye... What a pain. And, having to agree with the smoker's prophetic thought, a new notification from the System immediately echoed in the Players' minds.

[NPC Child 00123 has been summoned within the Instance. Time available to be able to get his Quest: 22 minutes and 34 seconds...]