Villain's version of Good Deed

Chapter 3: A Villain’s Version of “Good Deeds”

In the dim, pulsing heart of Lucien’s throne room, 017 hovered miserably near the ceiling, its body flickering like a dying star. Emergency protocols screamed inside its core systems, most of which were frantically trying—and failing—to reboot a proper mission plan.

This was a disaster.

No a catastrophe!

No an apocalyptic-level event with bonus DLCs for humiliation.

017 couldn’t just sit here and let its reputation (and existence) implode. It had to do something. Fast.

It zipped into a low hover above Lucien, who was lounging lazily on his throne, idly flipping through a grimoiresque tome titled “A Beginner’s Guide to Soul Harvesting” like it was a casual magazine.

017 steeled itself.

It would fix this.

Initiating a trembling emergency override, it summoned a bright blue quest panel in front of Lucien’s face:

> [Emergency Good Deed Chain Quest Initialized!]

Save a small creature in distress!

Offer a genuine compliment to a random citizen!

Gift someone something valuable!

Completion Bonus: +10 System Stability.

Failure Penalty: ...You don’t want to know.

017 coughed politely. “M-Master Lucien—uh, Host Lucien! New missions! Simple, noble tasks that even the lowest villain can do! Y-You want to, right? Right?!”

Lucien raised an eyebrow, amused. “You sound desperate.”

“I AM desperate!” 017 blurted out, voice breaking slightly. “Please. For both our sakes.”

Lucien smiled, slow and wicked, and for one flickering moment, 017 thought maybe—just maybe—there was a sliver of hope. Maybe this terrifying warlord would play along, just this once.

“Very well,” Lucien drawled. He rose from the throne with unsettling grace, his dark cloak swirling behind him. “Let’s do your little ‘good deeds.’”

017 cheered internally.

Maybe... just maybe...!

---

Mission 1: Save a Small Creature in Distress

It didn’t take long to find a suitable target: a tiny, scrappy kitten stuck up in a dead tree just outside the Crimson Spire. Its pitiful mewls echoed in the toxic-smog-filled air.

017 pointed frantically. “There! Save it! Gently!”

Lucien stared up at the kitten. His expression was... unreadable.

Then he lifted his hand.

A circle of blood-red runes flared underfoot, and the entire tree was violently uprooted, launching a mass of dirt and screaming insects into the air. The kitten, still clinging for dear life, was yanked into the sky—

—and gently floated down into Lucien’s waiting hand via a cushion of dark energy.

017’s screen blinked.

> [Mission 1: COMPLETE]

...Technically correct.

Still horrifying.

017 hesitantly floated closer. “T-That wasn’t exactly what I meant by ‘save,’ but... points for efficiency?”

Lucien ignored it, stroking the kitten’s head with one gloved finger. The little creature purred, clearly choosing to overlook the traumatic airlift.

“I think I’ll keep it,” Lucien mused.

017 sighed. Small victories.

---

Mission 2: Offer a Genuine Compliment

017 figured this one would be even easier.

Just say something nice! How hard could it be?

They walked into the nearest village—well, stalked ominously into it—and found a terrified blacksmith hurrying to close his shop at the sight of Lucien’s crimson cloak.

017 chirped. “Now! A nice compliment! Something wholesome!”

Lucien approached the man, who was visibly shaking, and said in a smooth, deadly voice:

“You have a marvelous instinct for self-preservation. Very few run that quickly.”

The blacksmith immediately fainted.

017’s screen cracked slightly.

> [Mission 2: COMPLETE]

"...That’s NOT what I meant!” 017 wailed.

But the system counted it.

Because technically, technically it had been a compliment.

Lucien smirked, patting 017’s glowing body like one would a distressed pigeon. “Relax, little system. I’m exceeding your expectations.”

017 sobbed internally.

---

Mission 3: Gift Someone Something Valuable

At this point, 017 was beyond hope. It floated numbly as Lucien prepared his final ‘good deed.’

They approached a wandering merchant on the road, a scrawny man carrying wares on his back. The merchant took one look at Lucien and tried to bolt, but Lucien was faster.

With a casual flick of his hand, Lucien conjured a shimmering, jet-black dagger out of the air. The weapon radiated dark power so heavy it made the ground tremble.

“Here,” Lucien said, voice almost tender. “A gift.”

The merchant, frozen in fear, accepted the dagger with trembling hands.

017 scanned the artifact instantly.

> [Item: The Soul-Drinker’s Fang]

[Effect: Grants immense strength. Also whispers cursed lullabies that eventually drive the wielder mad.]

017 shrieked. “THAT IS NOT A GOOD GIFT!!”

Lucien only chuckled. “He’ll be the strongest merchant in the land. Briefly.”

The merchant screamed and ran, dagger still in hand.

017 stared blankly at its internal quest logs.

> [Mission 3: COMPLETE]

---

[Chain Quest Completed!]