After the plot-shaking encounter with Allie, Bob dropped by Old Man Li's place. As expected there was TVBJ playing loudly on the TV and Bob could even see a mahjong table set up in the corner. Allegedly, Old Man Li claimed, it was to keep his "god of gambling" skills sharp…
It was as always true, since Rizz indeed had a direct influence on gambling ability, but as always, this would be a story for a later chapter…
"Master, I noticed someone today with some strange information next to her Anti-Rizz Index, something about a Magic Treasure, and it seemed to be suppressing her Anti-Rizz Index, do you happen to know much about it?"
Old Man Li stroked his chin, a habit which made him appear more wise.
Whether it had any tangible effect was unknown.
"Bob, you have… grown up… a lot... Truly… I am… happy."
Bob was used to this as Old Man Li was clearly stalling and figuring out what to say. As his degenerately exceptional (or was it exceptionally degenerate 🤔) master lounged on his lounge, Bob could see the wily grandpa typing in the search terms "Magic Treasure?" and "Anti-Rizz Index" into Googlé with one hand, whilst he looked serenely and majestically at Bob with the usual appearance of a master, sipping his rice wine with the other whilst smacking his lips at the brisk flavour.
"It is… an important… matter that I wanted to wait until you were ready… to tell you." Old Man Li was glancing surreptitiously back and forth from his laptop screen to Bob.
Bob at this point had sufficient trust in his master after reaping the benefits of all the prior training, so he wasn't worried, since he figured Old Man Li was probably cooking something up as per usual.
"The truth is… Magic Treasures are ordinary items that have absorbed an immense amount of either Rizz or Anti-Rizz energy. As a result, they have properties that could augment or diminish an individual's natural Rizz or Anti-Rizz Index."
As expected of a Rizzmaster!!! They always had the answers - even when they sometimes actually didn't.
Old Man Li continued, now in his element (yes, it was alcohol).
"I didn't want to tell you earlier in case you might come to rely on these items as a crutch to become stronger, instead of consolidating and building on your own true strength."
Of course. Bob's eyes dawned with the golden glow of enlightenment. This explained many things. For example, why Old Master Li always wore the same bathrobe and never washed it. Bob, like a frog in a well, had misjudged him. It wasn't poor hygiene, rather, Old Man Li had been in the process of cultivating and transforming his bathrobes to peak Magic treasure quality, imbued with the Power of Rizz!!!!
Old Man Li continued sagely. "Whilst there are some exceptions, Magic Treasures cannot be used by everyone. Instead, the Treasure needs to fit, be an appropriate accessory, or be compatible with the user, in order for the effects to take place. In addition, it is a percentage modifier, meaning that if someone had a Rizz Index which was 0, then even if they were given an extremely powerful Magic treasure, it would still result in a Rizz Index of let's say 1000 x 0…
- which would still be 0."
Oof. Ignoring the sheer savagery of the statement regarding people with no Rizz, Old Man Li really knew his stuff.
"Moreover, in the process of making the Magic Treasure, The amount of Rizz or Anti-Rizz Energy that is transferred to the item is dependent on the user's expenses effort. The more Rizz or Anti-Rizz energy is expended by the person, the more energy would be transferred to the item."
It all made sense. Bob kowtowed gratefully.
"Master, your chosen Disciple Bob humbly thanks Master for this Enlightenment. I will now aim to put this knowledge to good use."
___
Accordingly, Bob began to consciously channel Rizz Energy into his own items, in order to cultivate his own Magic treasures, in particular his trademark black clothing, and of course, the conscious effort expended into them.
Soon, he had leveled up again!!!
___
Bob
Rizz Index: 106800000
Touch Index: 790000
Strength: 9870000
Intelligence: 100970000
Positive Intention Lv 33
Results Oriented Focus Lv 37
Respect for others morals and understanding of culture and social customs Lv 31
Imagination Lv 38
Empathy Lv 41
First Principles Thinking Lv 33
Resilience Lv 47
Adaptability Lv 43
Objective Data Measurement Lv 33
Objective Analysis and Evaluation Lv 38
Proactivity Lv 37
Actual Results (1 star Keep going, you're getting there!)
Magic Treasure Augmentation: (Black clothes) Rizz Index increased by 10%.
Genetic Quality: B++++++
Bob's next step would be to start making some real-world progress towards his goal of achieving genetic immortality, currently via the three-pronged 'Spray and Pray', 'Spray and Stay', and 'Spray and Slay' strategies outlined earlier (in chapter 15).
___
Meanwhile Sally had returned from her Undercover Mission at University and was reporting to Empress Bing Qi Ling, who was currently enjoying her bowl of wonton noodles with assorted condiments seated at her Icy Winter Table.
"Auntie, on the Undercover Mission, I met an interesting person who was able to surpass the Supressed Anti-Rizz Index. What do you think we should do with him?"
Oh? Empress raised a wonton up from her bowl with her chopsticks, as if she was appraising it's quality carefully.
"Well done, Sally. You may have found someone with potential."
Sally did not have any photos of Bob at this stage, as such, although the Empress had ordered the ARSES to exterminate Old Man Li earlier, she did not yet know who Bob was or what he looked like.
"Hmm… in that case, we should keep an eye on him." Empress delicately ate and chewed the wonton slowly as if appraising its flavour (It was prawn and seafood) before continuing.
"If it turns out he is beneficial to our cause, then we can consider some mutually beneficial arrangements that could nurture… his… growth…" At this, she raised her chopsticks upwards vertically and used a tissue to clean the long girthy lengths in her hand in several disturbing stroking motions.
"Otherwise…"
At this, an aura of frost seared up Empress's hands, transforming the chopsticks she was holding into icesticks, before she slammed them viciously onto the table, where they splintered into a mini blizzard-snowstorm of wood and ice fragments that rained all around them, adding to the drama of the scene.
"-We would snap it like a twig!!!'"
It?!?! Don't you mean snap him?? What are you referring to?!
Sally, being innocent in this regard, could only assume that there was a deeper meaning behind Auntie's words that she didn't yet understand.
"Yes, Auntie." Protected by her Undercover Identity as Allie, Sally would now aim to find out a bit more about this… Bob. At the same time, she would now begin to tread her Divine icy path to become the future Queen of the Anti-Rizz realm, shaping the world through the power of her insane Anti-Rizz Index and supreme genetic quality…
Indeed… In the world of Rizzdom…
The shenanigans were just about to begin.