The night wind seemed to carry away the last trace of the smell of rust and sweat in the abandoned warehouse.
The moon was already high in the sky when William Rodriguez returned to his "cozy" little apartment.
He threw the ill-fitting coat on the only sofa, and the fatigue in his body surged over him like a tide.
But he seemed a little excited because of the successful customer acquisition tonight.
"Brother Chain, Brother Chain, I hope your wrist injury can meet the compensation standards soon."
He muttered to himself and poured himself a glass of water. The water from the tap had a faint smell of disinfectant.
I had just taken two sips, and before the cold liquid had completely slid into my stomach, the familiar system prompt sound suddenly rang in my mind.
[Ding! Customer "Arc Boy" (customer number 002) submitted a claim application.]
William almost spit out a mouthful of water.
"So soon?"
He quickly concentrated and called up the system interface.
The person who filed the claim was the "Arc Guy" who was encountered on the roof of the burning apartment building.
The claim item clearly stated: "The energy core of the homemade arc launcher was overloaded, and the internal components burned out, making it unusable."
Attached were several blurry photos showing a pile of charred and twisted parts, vaguely recognizable as the remains of the previous energy pistol.
"Wow, this kid really lived up to everyone's expectations, he exploded as soon as he said he would."
William's mouth curled up into a gloating arc. This was a textbook-level "risk case".
When I was promoting the "Accidental Damage Insurance for Homemade Equipment (Trial Version)", I also specifically emphasized the issues of energy core overload and heat dissipation.
He chose "Approve Claim" without hesitation.
[Claim approved. We are allocating repair funds for our client, Arc Boy, and recommending a nearby underground repair service provider with relevant qualifications...]
The system's efficiency remains as high as ever.
Then, the prompt sound that William was looking forward to even more came.
[Congratulations, host! The first claim for the trial version of the policy for client "Arc Boy" has been successfully settled. You will randomly gain one of this client's abilities/traits/knowledge... The selection is in progress...]
A flash of light flashed across the virtual screen.
A cool electric current spread from William's fingertips to his brain, as if a hidden acupoint had been opened up in an instant.
[Congratulations to the host for acquiring a new ability: "Primary Energy Tuning (Passive)" - When you access or inspect simple energy-driven devices, you have a chance to gain insight into their optimal energy flow paths or potential energy leaks. Through simple adjustments, you can slightly improve their energy utilization efficiency or stability.]
William's eyes lit up.
This ability is good.
Although it was only "elementary" and "small", it was like adding wings to a tiger when combined with his existing [Mechanical Induction (elementary)].
In the future, when he meets a client like Arc Boy who uses energy weapons or other high-tech equipment, his "professionalism" will be raised to a higher level.
Maybe it can even be used to modify some small gadgets.
He was thinking about the specific usage of this "primary energy adjustment". Before he could get over his excitement, another system prompt sounded.
It seems to foreshadow another "happy event".
[Ding! Customer "Chain Volunteer" (customer number 003) submitted a claim application.]
William was really stunned this time.
"No way? Is this big brother also so efficient?"
How long has it been since he came back from Brother Chain?
One hour?
Two hours?
He quickly checked the claim details.
The client, a "chain vigilante," claimed: "A previous injury on my left wrist has recurred and aggravated acutely, suspected to be a secondary strain. This has limited joint movement and is affecting my daily high-intensity training."
The reason is described quite well.
"It seems the ointment's effect has worn off, or maybe this guy went back and started fighting with the sandbag again."
William touched his chin.
These street vigilantes are all high-risk groups that cannot afford to be hurt.
His business has a bright future.
Also "Approved Claims".
[Claim approved. We are allocating treatment funds for our "Chain Vigilante" client and recommending over-the-counter medications and basic nursing care at nearby pharmacies...]
[Congratulations, host! The first claim for the trial version of the policy for client "Chain Vigilante" has been successfully settled. You will randomly gain one of this client's abilities/traits/knowledge... The selection is in progress...]
Another burst of light flowed, and this time, a gentle yet tenacious force penetrated from the surface of his skin, as if an invisible film quietly covered it and quickly merged into it.
[Congratulations to the host for obtaining a new ability: "Resilient Skin (Basic)" - Your skin becomes slightly more resilient when it suffers minor physical damage such as scrapes and tears. Minor bruises and abrasions heal slightly faster.]
William felt a slight tingling sensation in his body, which soon disappeared.
He pinched his arm, and the skin seemed to have indeed become... tighter, with a bit of elasticity that ordinary people didn't have.
Although it is only "beginner" and "minor improvement", it is undoubtedly an insignificant layer of protection for workers like him who are always ready to run away or deal with emergencies.
At least if you get a little scratched, it will heal faster.
Overnight, two clients received claims in succession, and he also gained two new abilities.
William's mood was like a roller coaster, from exhaustion to surprise, and then to a subtle sense of steadiness.
[Mechanical Sensing], [Primary Energy Adjustment], [Resilient Skin].
Although it's still very rudimentary, it's a good start.
He seemed to see a clear path to becoming stronger by "selling insurance".
"The road ahead is long and arduous."
William stretched, and his bones made a slight crackling sound.
The feeling of hunger came again, stronger than any time before, as if it was the body's craving after acquiring new abilities.
He walked skillfully to the window and cast his eyes on the familiar vending machine on the corner.
Tonight, maybe you can treat yourself to an extra energy bar.
After all, to become stronger you need some "fuel", right?