The recovery for Jen, Sam, and Tamako was far worse and took much longer than a Deck Jump. The next morning when Slim determined they were well enough to look out for themselves, he messaged, “I’m out of here. Let me know when you get more tuna.”

Sam gave a feeble laugh, and replied, “I’ve got you covered,” and then he went back to meditating and cleaning his mana channels of the corruption that entered his system during his initial recovery from Slim’s mana syphon, as Sam thought of it. If his AI hadn’t kicked on and started forcing his system to filter the mana he was able to absorb again, the corruption would have been much worse.

Tamako was outside keeping watch and gave Slim a slight nod of thanks as he ran by. She wasn’t feeling the best yet either, but she wanted to be useful after all the problems she caused.

Jen was the last to recover from the ordeal. Sam and Tamako generally had an idea of what Slim did to their mana, but they didn’t actually understand what or how he did it. Of course, they knew neither Jen nor Slim were going to explain it further. Jen looked over at Sam, and could sense Tamako was outside, and messaged them both, “We’ve got to get out of here.”

“Agreed,” replied Sam.

Tamako entered the safe house, and said, “I understand why we need to go. My lack of foresight in using the spear makes me unworthy as a companion for you two. Ascending to the Seventh Deck is probably impossible, but it definitely will be with someone with my poor judgment.”

“Tamako enough!” Interrupted Jen. She didn’t usually use her psych skill to pry into Tamako’s feelings, but Tamako’s feelings were radiating so strongly, it was impossible for Jen not to sense them.

Sam wasn’t blind to the emotional gymnastics that were about to happen. He quickly came up with an excuse to dodge all the mushy feelings and crap, and said, “Just a second, I’ll get our stuff from the guild house, run a few other errands, and then meet you both back here before noon. Good?” with emphasis on the word “both”.

Jen sighed in frustration, knowing Sam was dodging out of helping her calm down Tamako, but said, “Fine, just stay low-key about leaving.”

Sam nodded at Jen and gave Tamako a brotherly wink, and then said, “See you both soon, and Tamako, a word for the wise, the sooner you decide to agree with the boss, the sooner all the emotional, sappy talk will end.” Sam noticed Tamako’s slight smile in reply as he headed out pressing his hand to his soundwave and sending a message to Melvin.

****

Luckily for Sam, he ran into Dicey and her husband Poker on the way to the Highland Guild compound, and he said to them, “Just who I was looking for. I wanted to let you know we’ve picked up a confidential quest and will be moving out of the guild apartment today.”

Dicey nodded at the news, and said, “Congratulations! Where are you going?”

Sam gave a friendly frown, and said, “It’s confidential, and I also can’t say exactly how long we’ll be gone, but it’ll probably be at least several months.”

Poker said with a grin, “We appreciate everything you did for our daughter, and it was a lot of fun having all of you around. I’m especially sure Crapshoot is going to miss you! Would you like me to get her for you? She might have some sort of going away present she’d like to give you!”

Sam laughed at Poker’s good-natured joking and offer, and as he was turning off towards the apartment, said, “Too funny Poker. You all take care.”

Dicey and Poker waved at Sam as he headed away, and once Sam was out of hearing distance, Dicey said to Poker, “That makes things a whole lot easier.”

Poker nodded, and replied, “Sure does. Do you think they suspect someone recognized Tamako and will be looking for her here?”

Dicey shrugged, and said, “Don’t know, but either way, not our problem anymore, and we don’t have an obligation to say anything to the Board.”

Poker let out a sigh of relief, then changed the subject slightly, and asked, “Why didn’t Sam hook up with your mom? She’s smoking hot and was all over him.”

“Mom’s crazy, and Sam’s a smart man. That’s why.” Dicey laughed as she slapped Poker on the ass, and said, “Oh, and don’t call my mom ‘smoking hot’ again, even if it’s true, that’s just creepy!”

*******

Sam spent the next hour removing or destroying the enchantments he’d placed around the apartment. The only thing he couldn’t replace, and really wanted to come back and get was his ballista. As he stored it away in one of his storage rings, he noticed that even with all the reinforcement enchantments he’d placed on the wall, the wall was still damaged from when he’d fired bolts into a storage ring. He smiled as he remembered the explosive recoil of the weapon, and he started to grin as he imagined firing a bolt from one of his rings into a massive monster like the hydra they fought on the First Deck.

*******

Sam was running short on time as he hurried over to Melvin’s home, and when Melvin answered the door, Sam asked, “Do you have the goods?”

Melvin laughed at Sam’s abruptness, and said, “Well, Hello! and it’s good to see you too.”

Sam smiled at Melvin’s good nature and sheepishly replied, “Sorry Melvin, just in a hurry as I’m heading out of the City today.”

Melvin nodded, and said, “Please come in so I can make this quicker then.”

Sam’s guess was both “right” and “wrong” as Melvin introduced Sam to his family. Sam found out that Melvin’s kids were suffering from the same acne skin problems that Melvin had suffered from. What Sam didn’t expect or anticipate was that Melvin’s wife suffered from a degenerative disease that had already crippled her hands and feet.

After introducing his family, Melvin pointed to a waste-high stack of tuna, and said, “That’s all I could fit into my storage ring or afford. I know you offered to pay me a premium for getting it so quickly, but I won’t hear of it. I won’t accept a copper over my cost. Because of your help, my employers have promoted me and moved me to the gnome trading floor.”

Sam shook Melvin’s hand and said, “Congratulations on the promotion! I really do appreciate your last-minute help today.”

Sam placed all the “tuna” into his ring and then paid Melvin, but as he tried to pay extra, Melvin again refused. Sam nodded and said, “Fair enough. Can I sit down just a moment before I head out? The rushing around this morning has worn me out.”

“Of course!” replied Melvin, and Sam took a seat across from Melvin and his family.

“Melvin, could you get me a drink of water?” Melvin nodded and headed into his kitchen with Sam getting up and following him. As Melvin entered the kitchen, Sam shut the door and placed and enchanted lock on it, keeping Melvin out of the living room. As Melvin’s family started to get up in alarm at Sam locking Melvin in the kitchen, he activated his healing tattoo.

Melvin’s wife, son, and daughter all fell to the ground in pain. Sam was horrified by how much they were screaming in pain. He’d expected them to suffer a little discomfort and to make a little noise, but he was shocked by their reaction. He quickly threw down several of his silencing rods to hopefully keep any neighbors from hearing. Sam thought about stopping the healing, but under the stress decided to accelerate the healing on all three of them at once. Sam wasn’t as good with the healing spell as Jen, and didn’t understand how to alleviate the pain like she did. The spell continued on longer than he expected as his AI slowed the enchantment to keep his butt cheek from incinerating. Soon the enchantment drained all the mana stored in his butt cheek, then his AI tapped into his personal mana to finally finish the full healing process on Melvin’s family after about 10 minutes.

Sam slumped into one of Melvin’s chairs while trying to keep his burning and sore butt cheek off the seat, and then he mentally released the locking enchantment on the kitchen door. Melvin immediately stumbled through the door, and Sam could see where Melvin had bloodied his fists pounding on the door.

Drop Shot, Melvin’s wife, was looking back and forth between Melvin, her children, and Sam. She was breathless and crying, but then her tears turned to joy when she realized her children’s’ skin condition, teeth, and everything else was perfect. Additionally, she discovered that she could move her toes, feet, legs, fingers, hands, arms, and everything without the excruciating pain she lived with daily.

Melvin was excited to see the condition of his family, but he was furious at Sam for “how” he healed them, and looked over at Sam, and hollered, “You’re an asshole! I thought my family was being killed in here. Why didn’t you tell us what you were going to do?”

Sam replied with embarrassment, “Melvin I’m sooo sorry! Things didn’t go like I expected. I thought you might refuse the help, and so I thought it would be a cool surprise for you and your family.”

Melvin shook his head in disbelief, “Who would be so stupid as to refuse such a gift of healing for their family?! What in the Seven Decks would make you think I would refuse?”

“I thought you might demand to pay me or something, or refuse until you could pay. It sounds stupid hearing myself say it out loud. I clearly should have simply discussed it with you and your family first.”

“Ya think!” Melvin replied still angry and emotionally drained.

Sam was feeling really, really stupid. He was very weak from activating and using his healing enchantment, but he stood up, grabbed his silencing rods, and stumbled towards the door as he was also pulling a healing charm from his ring.

Drop Shot leaped up, pausing just a second as her movement surprised herself, before she rushed over to Sam and guided him back to his chair, and said, “Master Sam, we all make mistakes, but the goodness of your heart and generosity to our family, far, far exceeds such a minor misjudgment. I insist you rest here for as long as you need.”

Melvin calmed at his wife’s words, and said, “Master. Sam, she’s right. I appreciate what you have done for my family far more than you can ever understand.”

Melvin’s kids were hugging each other in excitement, and then their mom, and then their dad. They had already suffered the bullying from the other kids, and couldn’t believe their good fortune. They didn’t know what Mr. or Master Sam was going to demand from their family for the healing, but they were willing to work hard to pay him somehow, and asked what they could do.

Sam shook his head, and said, “I was serious when I said I was in a hurry. I’m heading out of the City and may not return this way for years. I have one more thing for all of you. I was just making this charm earlier this week out of some new materials I was experimenting with, so…I’m not sure how long it will last, but it should last for many years if you don’t abuse it.”

Melvin nodded, and said, “Master Sam, I promise we won’t abuse the charm and will use it as directed.”

Sam looked at Drop Shot, and explained, “Your body is working now, but I don’t think your underlying disease is cured. Your kids are still growing, so they may have more skin problems as they continue to mature. If anyone is having problems, simply place this charm on your body as you sleep at night, and it should help cure or alleviate your problems after several nights. Do NOT try and will the charm to heal you instantly or you’re likely to destroy it. Everyone understand?”

They all nodded their heads showing they were listening to Sam’s directions.

Sam then continued, and explained, “This is a blood bonded item, and will only work for you four. You all need to mix a little blood from the end of your fingers together, and smear it on the charm at the same time.”

Melvin’s family took a moment to bond the charm as Sam instructed, and Sam said, “Last, I need you to swear a gambling oath keeping my healing skill, charm, and identity secret.”

They were all more than happy to take the gambling oath, but as Sam was leaving, Melvin said, “I know you like the gnomes ‘tuna’ fish as you call it, unfortunately, it’ll cost quite a bit extra with The Shop’s upcharge, but with my merchant skill, I can keep an inventory of it for sale in the Shop on reserve, just for you to purchase. I can then check the inventory every week and fill it back up if you’ve purchased any. If you’d like me to do this, that is.”

Sam’s face and smile lighted up at Melvin’s offer. He was also surprised to learn that people with a merchant skill were offered additional options by the System’s Shop. He wanted to ask Melvin more questions about the merchant skill, but he was already going to be a little late meeting back up with Jen and Tamako, so Sam said, “That would be very helpful! Thank you! You and your family take care!”

As Sam left Melvin’s house and started heading towards the meet-up point with Jen and Tamako, he heard, “That was over the top sickly sweet. I didn’t know you had that in you,” laughed Slim.

“Shut up! That was none of your business. What are you doing here?” Sam replied feeling embarrassed and uncomfortable.

“After I finished a small errand this morning, I went back to the safe house to check on Jen and she said all of you were leaving this afternoon and that you were going to get me more of the tuna fish. So, I had her ping your location so that I could find you and make sure you didn’t forget.”

“Are you going to tell Jen what happened in there?”

“Are you going to ‘give’ me the tuna?”

“Deal, if you stay quiet,” replied Sam as he dropped the tuna fish for slim to pick up.