While Deikmorn had a rather long meeting with Nyomel, Sammy assisted her realm in the night with routine matters of prayers, quest construction, and various matters a quick Goddess judgment call could smooth things over on. It was becoming more and more relevant to jump in like that with multiple teams and cliques developing. As much as argument was desirable to avoid, it was sometimes impossible.

  Quick expansion had caused tension due to issues of who lived and worked where, which Sammy could partially mitigate by judgment calls and partially solve by literally expanding their facilities. This was particularly needed in Geirkos, probably due to the fact she expected to have relocated to a main base by then. It was somewhat delayed, so she needed to compensate.

  A more makeshift and rundown adapted facility of the hideout was renovated into sudden prime real estate, top to bottom filled out and decorated as if Sammy had just hosted a home improvement reality show. Then she set about making a copious number of samesy living quarters, fairly spartan and compact, but designed for decent privacy.

  In her opinion, some of the tensions were from permanent agents living in-house in too close company with shared rooms and such. Private space could help for the benefit of those who were more introverted.

  Unfortunately, people won’t or can’t always tell you what their real problem is, even if you ask point blank. You have to be psychic or guess. Humans! We need psychiatrists, I swear.

  Damn, those Puck gains were insane! Seems like there were plenty of other nighttime gains, too, but that was the bulk.

  First things first, she took a look at Holy Relic Investiture, which modified the last paragraph only:

  It was an upgrade from a major and two minor. It brought up the issue of upgrading existing ones…

  “System,” she asked, “how do I upgrade Holy Relics to take advantage of this?”

  Rituals involved with Holy Relics are up to the deity, but one hour of meditation, work, prayer, or the like is necessary by you and whichever individual is most attuned to the Holy Relic. If you are the only one so attuned, you may assign a helper from amongst your Devout priesthood.

  “Ah. Got it. Interesting. So, hey… did you notice I stopped calling you Sys? It felt off.”

  The System is aware of all matters within the System. However, your addressment of the System is irrelevant — you may assign a moniker as desired.

  “Really? So if I decided to call you Shitface, you’d answer to that?”

  Yes, User Sammy.

  “So very tempting. But I think I’ll stick with the old classic. I bet I called you that in all my previous lives, huh?”

  The System cannot provide this information.

  “If I told you to stop referring to yourself in the third person, would you?”

  There is no ‘I’ in team. This is not possible, User Sammy. In addition, not all instances of reference to ‘the System’ can be replaced, because existential reality is the System.

  Sammy rolled her eyes. “I have one change though.” Dangerous? Fuck it. “No more ‘User Sammy.’ Refer to me as ‘Director.’ Acknowledged?”

  There was one of those frightening pauses in response the System rarely had. Acknowledged, Director.

  Sammy grinned smugly. “I wonder who else has a special name they demand to be called? I bet Dax does. Bast, of course. Maybe… Big Sexy? Yeah, I bet he makes the System call him Big Sexy!”

  Next up for review were the new traits…

  Oh, nice. That’s what I call some mid-level Quality of Life! No FE, permanently on, more or less. I’m a full-on flyer now! Though not as fast as my Angels, the top speed is solid. A ‘sprint’ at… 86 kilometers an hour, so far — unimproved, anyway.

  This is a nasty one. Phew! I’m glad I’m not my enemy. Hehe. Well, I kind of already did this, back at the naga temple. Is this my belated reward?

  Before she moved on to upgrades, she glanced at the REX buff change. Because they were highly modular, it was composed of ‘parts’ that equated to the severity of a buff. The customization became ‘5 parts,’ divided up into Super at 3 parts, Major at 2 parts, and Minor at 1 part, but the buff could have at most 3 effects. Generally, the best would be a Super and a Major.

  Her most typical REX buff, Blessing of Holy Wrath, could either do +2 Effective Combat Levels and 2 wound negations, or 3 wound negations and +1 Combat Levels. She decided to call the +2/+2 the original name, and Blessing of Holy Defiance would be the 3 wound negations version.

  And then it was time to check out upgrades. [Alter Fate] had a new enhancement:

  Oh ho! That’s interesting. Dangerous against a subtle foe, and a sure-fire bet against the easily duped. A question of who’s the bigger fool, I suppose. Anyway! On the next, on to the next…

  'Tea' is in team, so always spill it.

  Next Chapter...

  Floofa guest stars in a brand new episode! Will she take over the world? Will she obtain a new Good Good? Find out... next time!

  Backers go here! Huzzah! Thank you! is a link to the claim thread for those who want a spot.

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