The silence in the jeep stretched on as President Santos continued to stare at me with barely concealed disappointment. I could practically see her mental calculations as she tried to figure out how to diplomatically express her confusion about bringing someone whose primary skill involved cutting down trees to solve a deforestation crisis.

"Let me explain what the Lumberjack job actually includes," I said, accessing my System interface to review the specific skills I had acquired. "It's not just about cutting down trees I can promise you that much."

"I'm listening," Santos said carefully, though her tone suggested she was preparing for further disappointment.

"Axe Handling," I began, reading from the skill list. "Level 5. This gives me proficiency in precise axe swings, balancing accuracy, speed, and stamina efficiency. That means I can work with cutting tools more effectively than almost anyone."

"Okay," Santos said slowly, still not seeing the connection to environmental restoration.

"Environmental Awareness," I continued. "Level 6. This allows me to read wind patterns, slope conditions, and terrain hazards to improve safety during tree work. But more importantly, it means I can assess environmental conditions and understand how they affect forest ecosystems."

I could see her expression beginning to shift from disappointment toward cautious interest.

"Wood Harvest Efficiency," I said, warming to the explanation. "Level 6. This skill maximizes usable timber while minimizing waste and energy expenditure. It means I can identify which trees should be removed and which should be preserved for optimal forest health."

"That's... actually quite relevant," Santos admitted, her voice taking on a note of renewed hope.

"And the most important one," I said, saving the best for last. "Forest Stewardship. Level 5. This skill applies sustainable cutting practices to maintain long-term forest health and regrowth. It's essentially a comprehensive understanding of how to manage forests for maximum ecological benefit."

The transformation in Santos' demeanor was dramatic and immediate. The crushing disappointment that had characterized her reaction to the word "Lumberjack" was replaced by genuine excitement and relief.

"Those are some of the most ideal skills you could have for our situation," she said, her voice full of renewed enthusiasm. You wouldn't even be able to tell that she was ever disappointed before. "Environmental Awareness and Forest Stewardship alone would make you incredibly valuable for our restoration efforts. Combined with precision cutting skills and waste minimization, you're essentially a complete forest management specialist."

"That's what I was hoping," I said, pleased that my faith in the System's seemingly contradictory choices had been vindicated. "Sometimes the most useful abilities come in unexpected packages."

"This changes everything," Santos said, her energy levels clearly restored to their previous optimistic state. "With those skills, you could help us identify which areas need strategic tree removal to promote healthy regrowth, which forests are being managed unsustainably, and how to optimize our conservation efforts for maximum ecological impact."

The remainder of the drive passed much more pleasantly, with Santos describing specific areas where my new abilities could be applied while I asked questions about the scope and complexity of Brazil's environmental challenges. The combination of Forest Stewardship and Environmental Awareness seemed particularly relevant to addressing the fragmented forest problem we had observed during the drive.

Our destination turned out to be an impressive building located closer to the center of São Paulo, positioned strategically to provide easy access to government facilities while maintaining appropriate security and privacy for diplomatic guests. The architecture was modern but incorporated traditional Brazilian design elements, creating something that felt both international and distinctly local.

Directly across from the building was a park that had clearly once been a beautiful public space but was now completely overgrown and inaccessible. Trees and vegetation had grown wild and uncontrolled, creating an impenetrable jungle that blocked pathways and made the space unusable for its intended recreational purposes. It was a perfect microcosm of the larger environmental management problems facing the country. Though it was a shame since the park looked quite nice.

"This building is specifically designed for diplomatic guests of your caliber," Santos explained as we entered the lobby, which was elegant without being ostentatious. "You'll have access to secure communication facilities, meeting spaces, and anything else you might need for your work here."

The interior was clearly designed to handle international visitors who might have complex and sensitive requirements. I could see evidence of advanced security systems, communication equipment, and the kind of attention to detail that suggested the Brazilian government took their diplomatic hosting responsibilities seriously. Which I greatly appreciated. I never want a repeat of an incident like Hyena ever again.

"Your conference meeting is scheduled for two days from now," Santos continued as we made our way toward what appeared to be a bank of elevators. "That should give you time to get comfortable with the local situation and perhaps do some preliminary assessment of the areas where your skills would be most useful."

"Two days sounds perfect," I said, already thinking about how I could use that time to better understand the specific challenges we would be addressing.

"You can order anything you want during your stay," Santos said as the elevator carried us toward the upper floors. "Room service is available twenty-four hours a day, and our staff is prepared to handle any special requirements you might have."

The accommodations turned out to be a full suite that was essentially a temporary apartment, complete with separate bedrooms for each team member, a common area for meetings and relaxation, and a balcony that provided an excellent view of the city and the overgrown park across the street.

"I'll leave you to get settled," Santos said after giving us a brief tour of the facilities. "If you need anything at all, just contact the front desk. They have instructions to provide whatever assistance you require."

Anthony immediately announced his intention to explore the local area and get a feel for the city, disappearing with the kind of professional efficiency that suggested he would return with detailed knowledge of security considerations, local resources, and probably several recommendations for good restaurants.

That left Evelyn and me alone in the suite, both of us feeling the accumulated fatigue from international travel and the emotional intensity of the political situation we had left behind.

"I think a nap is in order," Evelyn said, settling onto one of the comfortable couches in the common area. "That was a longer day than expected, even before we factor in the time zone changes."

"Good idea," I agreed, though I found myself drawn to the balcony and the view it provided of the environmental challenges we had come to address.

The next few hours passed in the kind of restorative sleep that came from finally reaching a destination after extended travel and preparation. When I woke up, the sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows across the city and highlighting the contrast between the modern urban infrastructure and the patches of unmanaged natural space that were scattered throughout the metropolitan area.

Evelyn was still sleeping peacefully, and Anthony hadn't returned from his exploration, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the view from the balcony. The overgrown park across the street was even more obviously problematic in the evening light, with the wild vegetation creating deep shadows that would make the space feel unsafe even if it were accessible. In all honesty it was such a terrible view that it made my mood worse.

As I stood there looking at the abandoned park, I found myself automatically applying my new Environmental Awareness and Forest Stewardship skills to assess the situation. The vegetation patterns suggested that the space had been left unmanaged for several years, allowing aggressive plant species to dominate and creating an ecosystem that was neither truly wild nor functionally cultivated.

The Wood Harvest Efficiency skill was providing analysis of which trees and plants could be selectively removed to restore accessibility while maintaining ecological value. Forest Stewardship was suggesting approaches for creating sustainable management practices that would prevent the space from becoming overgrown again in the future.

It was a perfect test case for the abilities I had acquired – a manageable area where I could apply forest management principles to demonstrate their effectiveness before tackling the much larger challenges facing Brazil's national forests and conservation areas.

The park represented everything that was wrong with Brazil's approach to environmental management in miniature. Natural spaces that were neglected rather than stewarded, leading to outcomes that served neither ecological preservation nor human needs. With proper management, the area could be both environmentally healthy and accessible to the public.

Looking at the overgrown mess of vegetation, I felt the same kind of professional assessment that I imagined a doctor might feel when diagnosing a treatable condition. The problems were clear, the solutions were apparent, and I had the skills necessary to address them effectively.

"I'm dealing with that right now," I said aloud, making the decision to use the park as my first Brazilian environmental project.

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