Bodega Cat (System Apocalypse, Deck Builder, Litrpg)

Bagel had a powerful feeling of relief when Ashley gave him the news. He had been holding tension everywhere that hadn't abated, despite the tender administrations of several people's hands.

"You're not needed for another dungeon run. We had enough people volunteer."

"Thanks. Who do I need to thank? I think maybe I can start making dinner orders?"

"If you start that then you'll be making food for over four hundred people. Actually that would be a good way for Janet 2 to make sure we didn't lose anyone."

Bagel was already thinking about how much money he was losing in this deal.

Could the Treasury bear it?

He was sure that he could. He was also sure that he liked calling the amount of funds that he had in his investing account the treasury. Because really wasn't an account. It was just a ledger and a number. The current amount that he had was $10,000 credits. He was sure that that was going to increase by the end of the day when all the adventurers guild Representatives checked in and gave more credits.

He could feed them for free for an in period.

It was just better if he got paid for it and then use that money to buy up more land or also get credit for investing. At some point in time, everyone that invested into the TSA was going to be able to pull their investments out. But that required an increasing base of a pyramid of people to put more money in so that they can buy more land. At some point in time he would have to expand to basically all of Manhattan.

And that was when the question was going to be... Which borough would you go after next and could he buy up the bridges?

But with New Park? He was readily able to buy up twice as much for half the cost. And he didn't need to mention that he had joined the perk to the TSA. They just knew that he was investing what they gave him. It didn't have to be specifically for more buildings though he wanted to do that as much as possible.

"Bagel we're going to give you over 5,000 credits by the end of the day," Ashley said. " I know there are priorities for us to buy, but if you could really think about what would have be the best investment for the guild and I think that we need to start thinking about which block we're going to take over next once this block is completely dawned. And I'm really thinking about the block directly to the north or east of us. Or perhaps the block to that is diagonal and then trying to build around that."

Janet too was able to quickly show several ideas of the blueprints that detailed what she was talking about. The new maps now included routes for the taxis to go through, cutting off second and 3rd avenue from the top to the bottom throughout their neighborhood.

Turtle Bay went all the way to fifty ninth street north, then to fifth avenue and it stopped at forty second street on the south side. That was a lot of individual blocks on the midtown east of Manhattan if he could even get them.

But he needed a lot of money. He needs a lot of credits to make it and he needed Ashley. Well he didn't need it, they want him to have it... He was sure that humans wanted him to buy him as much as he could. The more land that he bought up that say if he would feel.

" You really think that I should make a decision already?"

"Doesn't the TSA have a say in what you buy next?"

Bagel swished his tail. He had known the question was going to come up but they hadn't really told him what to get. They had told him that he needed to keep moving and getting more. They hadn't told him which direction to go because they hadn't known who else would have a mantle car that would let another person buy up land.

"That's not exactly how it works. After The last meeting they had definitely not chosen what we wanted to do next. In that case, according to Jan and the clause is that I keep doing what I was doing and carry on."

" So no decision means that you get to decide. Is that what's happening?"

"You say it like it's a bad thing but really if they don't decide they have already decided what to do next. So I'm kind of leaning on them to actually do that now if they don't want to tell me? That's on them."

Ashley crossed her arms. "Didn't one of the voting member is passive away during the last meeting?"

Bagel vaguely called somebody not making it. "Beats me. I do need to attend a meeting. I'm pretty sure that the meeting that was supposed to be today got moved to three days from now."

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Janet beeped affirmatively.

"Well there, you have it. The standing orders of the TSA are to keep glowing up stuff in this direction and if that's what we're going to do then that's what we're going to do."

"And there's no way for us to influence that decision?" Ashley said.

"I suppose you could go to the meeting and say something. There is a questions from the public part and from the shareholders. I suppose if we listen to the shareholders then we could make a decision that way."

The wheels were turning in Ashleys head. Bagel it seemed to look before and he knew that she was going to ask him to do something ridiculous. She didn't know what it was yet. He was prepared for it this time though

"If you want to come and talk to them as a shareholder which you are, you could do that. Especially if you come out and have to go. They're going to have to listen to you and they have to take consideration of your opinions. with you. Ask them to do something and let's see what they do."

This had become the party line from him and Janet. He could now write say that he could give her what she wanted but he could tell her to show up. He could tell her that things would be better effective if she did show up. He couldn't tell her that the last penny was just him and Janet. He could but he wasn't supposed to. It wasn't like it was a matter of public record.

As an independent agency created by the state government, the corporation that the TSA fell under was able to move faster with the city charter. There was something about this design that city bureaucrats were familiar with. Eventually, instead of putting the money towards buying more land up, he expected that they would be using it to line their own pockets.

What was little percentage between friends anyway?

"I can't tell you to actually show up, but I really think you should show up to the next meeting? Is that how we phrase things?"

Janet beeped affirmatively.

Ashley narrowed her eyes. "You know something that I don't know. I think I'll be at the next meeting."

"Excellent. Now I just need to make sure that I don't need to do any dungeons. Please tell me that I don't need to do any dungeons. I'm done with dungeons."

Ashley consulted her tablet, looked at the map and then back at Bagel. She flicked her hair back, which because she had braids meant that it looked really weird. "Okay, that was unintentional. But yeah no; you're good."

"Yesss."

"That doesn't mean go away. We need you to keep feeding people. It's only 6:00 p.m. I might need to wake up meatball though."

Bagel was more than happy to wake up Meatball. He stalked out to the front, moving towards Paolo as if he was about to catch a bird.

High above of them, pigeons were still circling. Paolo saw his gaze and looked up as well.

" I haven't seen them landing a lot recently. It's got to be tough for those patients that don't understand what's going on and why there's not food everywhere now."

Bagelhead no sympathy for pigeons. It was well. It was true that he wanted to eat one, after long discussions with the humans there, they were far too dirty for him to ever actually eat one of.

He still wanted to try peregrine falcon because at least those birds were clean. He just hadn't had a chance. But one day, he would get what he wanted.

"Meatball time to wake up!"

Meatball jumped up, making it a good two feet into the air before she began to flail. The shear reflex that she had made him feel old. He probably wouldn't have cleared a single foot without trying. That she had just so effortlessly...

"Bagel? What the hell!" She settled onto Paolo's lap, greedily stretching so he couldn't occupy any of it.

"The adventurers guild needs you."

"Ugh. Alright."

She jumped down and as quickly as she left, he returned.

"Sorry! You might be needed," he said. "But I need this seat."

Meatball slunk off, with her tail raised high. Bagel snuggled in.

"Don't you have to go restock your Bodega?"

"I'm going to give it about twenty minutes."

"That sounds pretty sensible. Have you eaten or drank anything today?"

"I still have the taste of clown in my nose and tongue," Bagel said, scrunching up his face.

"That doesn't sound good. You know in these trying times I like to remember- wait, did you say clown in your nose?"

Bagel sighed. There would be more questions. What kind of world allowed someone to be questioned when they were still trying to unwind after a big top experience?

"Yes, unfortunately."

"That's... Well I don't know what that is. I hope it gets better."

"We all do. Clowns are funny business."

---

Meatball tromped into the guild hall, nearly running over Ashley.

"What do you have for me? Anything good?"

"Meatball!" Ashley gave the small cat a big hug. She always felt so tiny despite being fully grown. "Not much. We are going to be sending some teams a bit further out and wanted to see if you were willing?"

"How far out?"

"That is the question. We're currently checking ten blocks north and south for any of the more difficult dungeons. This would be a lot easier of any of the pigeon deck bearers would actually drop by and help."

Meatball was still staring at her.

"I'm sorry I don't have an exact location right now but I will in about five minutes. Janet 2 is crunching the numbers and we expect to hear the last of it all shortly."

"Oh so... Stand by?"

"Precisely. I wish that I didn't have to wake you up but your team said that you would be up for it."

Meatball regarded the group that she had been attached to for the last three hours. Ashley could put them together again, but she was waiting on the final verdict.

Adventurers like Meatball were too useful to the cause.

She needed them to plug in the holes in their search for stability. No open dungeons meant no possibility for overflow.

An end to the dungeon surges in their area probably didn't mean that more would pop up elsewhere. That would be entirely unrealistic and potentially unfair. The rules that governed the system didn't seem to actually be coherent too often.

Now all she needed was a few more people half as enthusiastic as Meatball to clear out more dungeons and they might be able to advance further.

Janet 2 gave her a beep, jogging her thoughts. Then she updated the map of the neighborhood.

"One more mid tier dungeon. Forty fifth and first. Meatball?"

"On it."