Survival Quest (The Way of the Shaman: Book #1) by Vasily Mahanenko

where this stat comes in handy. But, as I said, I don't know exactly what it gives you."
    "Right, I see. How’d you end up here? After all, you don’t get fifteen years for stealing lollipops," I asked and, seeing how Kart tensed up, I quickly explained why I needed to know this. "You see, I like to know the people that I deal with and of all the prisoners only you've been speaking normally to me so far. So that's why I decided to get to know you a bit better. Or is this subject over the line?”
    "No, it's just that I thought.... that... Well, whatever — no harm in telling you the story: in real life I was one of the inner circle of a very influential person and knew very many of his secrets. When he went bankrupt, I was given a choice: either to tell all I knew or to get sealed in a capsule for the max term of fifteen years. They could not break me outside so they shut me in here; even rewarded me with a 'suitable' profession to boot: 'Informer'...  You see, if I start to level up in it then probably in six months or so I will start talking about my boss in order to increase my level...  And I don't want to do that, because even though he was a bit of a rogue, he always stood up for his own people and tried to help as much as he could. So it's better if I...."
    Suddenly Kart started to tremble, fell on his bed and became surrounded by a faint glow. This didn't last long and soon Kart sat up and turned to me, looking rather pleased.
    "Ah, I know why I like you," he smiled. "We've not had anyone new at the mine for over half a year. With you I started to increase my skill again, since no-one at the mine would listen to me for free."
    "For free?"
    "What did you think? People in here catch on pretty fast when making extra cash is involved. It’s me rather than them who has the need to tell them something. And they have to be actually listening too. So that's how many try to make money out of me."
    "If it's no secret, what are your other stats? You've probably already picked all four by now."
    "Me? By now my Chattiness is up to level 19. Amiability is at level 8 – another must-have. Everyone's levelling in it, so I've joined the club. I increased Smithing to level 4, but then stopped. To be a Smith you need a large amount of ore and I spend virtually all of mine on the daily quota. I've reached level 10 in Mining, and it's not getting any higher, thankfully, since my Informing is at zero. This way I have to hand in 100 pieces of ore a day. Ah yes, Smithing is not a stat, but a profession. As for my other stats I have three levels in Marksmanship and nine in Endurance. Now I rather regret picking them. There are no real opponents at the mine, only Rats, and chasing them around is a nightmare. Even though you do get additional reputation for each tail, the amount of time you spend trying to hit one of them is ridiculous. And it's your pick that you have to throw at the Rat, because nothing else generates aggro with it. I tried throwing a bowl, a copper ingot, even a boot - all of it goes through the Rat as if it wasn't there. Throwing the pick is another world of trouble, since it often flies out of your section. And what if it hits someone walking by? Then I would be done for in the blink of an eye. So I just mind my own business and don't touch the Rats. Although my hands are just itching to go after them, to put it mildly. So much free reputation running around right under your nose, but you can't touch it. And I have just a little to go until Respect status too."
    "But why would you be 'done for' right away? You'll be thrown back to level one, all your stats will turn to zero and you'll start levelling up again. What's the problem?"
    "The problem is that the Game remembers the parameters of each person playing it. When a prisoner levels up his skills, he receives pleasure and he wants more and more. But when he dies, he loses all the points gained in skills and professions and won’t get a new dose of pleasure until