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Nixon could no longer hold back his anger.
He stood up from the table, staring directly at Nostradamus, who was peacefully eating his bread.
"WHY?!"
Nostradamus slowly raised his head.
"Why what, my dear fellow?"
"WHY DID YOU STEAL FOOD FROM THAT MERCHANT?!"
Nostradamus blinked.
Nixon pointed at him.
"You can bend reality! You can kill a group of guards and make it seem like they never existed! You can change the outcome of events! So why couldn't you just use your power to get us food?!"
The room fell silent.
Sukishi stopped eating.
Nostradamus placed his bread on the table.
"Ah. I see what you are asking."
"No, I don't think you do!" Nixon shouted. "You threatened an innocent merchant, killed the guards who came to investigate, and then erased the entire incident! You keep acting as if nothing matters because you can change what happens afterward!"
Nostradamus looked at him for several seconds.
Then he sighed.
"My dear Nixon, you have misunderstood the nature of my ability."
Nixon frowned.
"What does that mean?"
"Do you believe I can simply imagine anything I desire and force reality to obey?"
"After what I've seen, YES!"
Sukishi quietly muttered, "I can understand why he'd think that."
Nostradamus ignored her.
"My ability does not grant me unlimited authority over reality. It allows me to select an outcome from the possible futures of an immense number of events and make that outcome real."
Nixon stared at him.
"Explain that in a way a normal person can understand!"
Nostradamus smiled faintly.
"Imagine that an event has countless possible outcomes. Depending on the circumstances, one person might win, another might lose, a door might open, or a weapon might miss its target. My ability allows me to select a possible outcome and bring it into reality."
He raised one finger.
"However, there are restrictions. Not every outcome is accessible, not every event can be manipulated successfully, and my ability does not work on everyone."
Nixon's expression changed slightly.
"Wait. It doesn't work on everyone?"
"Correct."
"Then why did it work on the guards?"
"Because the guards are classified as NPCs by this game's system. My ability can successfully influence them under the appropriate circumstances."
Nixon slowly looked toward the door.
"And the merchant?"
"Also an NPC."
"So you can manipulate NPCs, but not every player?"
"Precisely."
Nixon rubbed his forehead.
"Then why didn't you use it to escape this game?!"
For the first time, Nostradamus's expression became noticeably more serious.
"Because my ability has limitations, Nixon. If escaping this game were an available outcome that I could successfully select and impose, I would already have done so."
Nixon went quiet.
Nostradamus continued.
"I cannot simply declare that the game no longer exists and expect reality to comply. My ability must operate within the possibilities available to me, and its restrictions prevent me from freely imposing every imaginable result."
He leaned back in his chair.
"Furthermore, selecting an outcome does not mean I can disregard every condition necessary for that outcome to occur. The circumstances matter."
Nixon listened, still unconvinced.
"Fine. Maybe you can't escape the game. But what about food? Why couldn't you select an outcome where we had enough food without threatening anybody?"
Nostradamus paused.
For a moment, he didn't answer.
Sukishi looked at him.
"That's actually a fair question."
Nostradamus turned toward her.
"I never claimed that every decision I make is the only possible decision."
"Then answer him," Sukishi replied.
Nostradamus sighed.
"I could potentially use my ability to influence certain outcomes involving food. However, I cannot guarantee that every desired result is accessible or that I can achieve it without satisfying the relevant conditions. Nor does the existence of a possible outcome mean I can freely manufacture money, supplies, or resources without limitation."
Nixon narrowed his eyes.
"But you never even tried another way!"
"That," Nostradamus admitted, "is a separate matter."
Nixon stared at him.
For once, Nostradamus wasn't laughing.
"I chose a direct approach because it appeared efficient. I did not adequately consider the wider consequences of threatening the merchant."
Nixon's anger didn't disappear.
"And when the guards came?"
"I made another decision."
"You killed them!"
"Yes."
"And then you erased what happened!"
"Yes."
Nixon slammed his hand against the table.
"YOU CAN'T KEEP DOING WHATEVER YOU WANT AND EXPECT EVERYONE TO FORGET IT JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN CHANGE THE OUTCOME!"
The room went silent.
Nostradamus watched Nixon carefully.
Sukishi looked surprised. Nixon was clearly frightened of Nostradamus, yet he was still willing to challenge him.
Nostradamus finally spoke.
"You're correct about one thing."
Nixon blinked.
"What?"
"Changing an outcome does not necessarily make the decision that preceded it morally justified."
Nixon stared at him, almost unable to believe what he had heard.
Nostradamus continued.
"However, I would appreciate it if you stopped shouting directly into my face. I am perfectly capable of hearing you."
Sukishi covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
"Nostradamus!"
"What? I am attempting to have a civil conversation."
Nixon took a deep breath.
"I'm not asking you to be perfect. I'm asking you to think before you act. We're supposed to survive in this city for fifty days. We need food, shelter, information, and cooperation. We can't just treat everyone who disagrees with us as an obstacle."
Nostradamus looked down at the table.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he picked up his bread again.
"Very well, Nixon. I shall take your concerns into consideration."
Nixon frowned.
"Does that mean you won't do it again?"
Nostradamus took a bite.
"I said I would consider your concerns. I did not promise you a particular outcome."
"YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!"
Sukishi burst out laughing.
"That's Nostradamus for you!"
Nixon dropped into his chair, exhausted.
He had just argued with a man capable of manipulating the outcomes of events, and the best agreement he could obtain was a promise to think about the problem.
Suddenly, a system notification appeared.
SYSTEM NOTIFICATION
CITY SURVIVAL: DAY 1
Team cooperation: UNDER REVIEW.
Leadership stability: UNCERTAIN.
Moral decision-making: DISPUTED.
The team's actions and internal conflicts may influence future events.
Nixon stared at the notification.
"Even the system is judging us now..."
Nostradamus glanced at it.
"How intrusive."
Sukishi shook her head.
"You two are going to give me a headache."
Nixon looked at Nostradamus one last time.
He still didn't trust him completely.
But at least he had learned something important: Nostradamus's power wasn't unlimited, and even a man capable of manipulating outcomes could make terrible decisions.
The challenge wasn't simply about finding someone powerful enough to protect them.
It was about whether they could survive fifty days with someone who might be their greatest advantage—and their greatest liability.
Nostradamus returned to his bread.
"Now, my dear fellows, can we please finish our meal? We have an entire city to investigate."
Nixon sighed.
"One day, I'm going to understand how your mind works."
Nostradamus smiled.
"I sincerely hope you don't."
END OF CHAPTER 9.
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