His inherited memories had no mention of either Darell Mathews or Glorious Artefacts. His current memories told him that the Mathews family dealt with bespoke industrial equipment. Anything from tricky tools for the food industry to super secret military projects. The only reason he even knew that much was that the family created a pretty fun TV show where amateur inventors could showcase their creations. It was half reality TV and half contest.
He liked to watch it when decompressing, as there were some wacky participants while also being oddly wholesome, as the contestants supported each other.
As for the guild, he was drawing a blank.
However, he couldn’t really show that on his face thus he cocked an eyebrow while glancing around. Spotting an arrangement of sofas and other implements of comfortable sitting – conveniently near the table containing even more sweets – he motioned toward it.
“Well met, Mister Mathews! How about we take a seat for this conversation?” he asked.
Darell let out a relieved sigh and nodded. “That’d be agreeable…”
Thus, the small group with Sam and Darell at the head, walked over to the seating arrangements. Katie instantly claimed an entire platter of bite-sized cakes then sat down next to Isabella on the loveseat, looking like somebody who was about to enjoy their favorite show. Isabella just exasperatedly snagged a cookie from the tray but otherwise stayed silent. Though, Sam expected that later she would interrogate him.
Lara elegantly sat next to him on the sofa – though leaving enough space between them not to cause any misunderstandings – opposite of Darrel who was starting to look less and less composed.
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and resting his chin on his hands.
“Well, Mister Mathews, how can I and by extension, the AFK company help you?”
Darell swallowed, glanced at Katie and Isabella who were munching on cookies and cakes as if they were popcorn, then at Lara who returned the look with an imperious stare before returning his attention to Sam.
“Well, as you know Glorious Artefacts is one of the bigger enchanter guilds in the Emerald Kingdom.” Sam actually didn’t know that. “But what you might not know is that operating a guild in the game was a task set by the head of the family to see the worth of the next generation. Not to see who should be the heir, of course!” he added hastily. “Instead, the head wanted to see us show off our knowledge in management and economics.”
Sam nodded wisely and motioned for the man to continue.
Said man took a deep breath and did so.
“I set up the Glorious Artefact as I’m not the best at fighting or strategies, thus operating a mercenary outfit was out for me. My strategy is to conquer the economy through the power of high-quality products.”
“Something that your family is known for…” Sam interjected softly.
“Exactly!” the man exclaimed pointing at Sam. “Well that was the plan…”
“And it went wrong somehow?”
Darell shook his head. “No. The exact opposite. We have so many commissions that we had to increase our prices. And the clients were happy about it! Happy! Can you believe it?”
Lara nodded in understanding while Sam eyed the man. At first, he suspected it would be one of the tropes playing around, but now he wasn’t sure anymore.
“Congratulations, I suppose? But I’m sure you didn’t approach me to boast about the success of your enterprise,” he told the man and then watched as Darell hung his head hearing it.
“Indeed… I’m here because you’re my last hope.”
“Now that’s something familiar,” Sam replied with a smile. “How can I help you, Mister Mathews?”
Darell looked up then away, staring out of one of the ceiling-height windows showcasing the well-cared-for garden.
“With all these commissions we need a lot of raw materials. A lot. But to buy more you need noble connections as the merchants charge out of the wazoo for wholesale amounts.”
“They indeed do that.”
“Yeah… so one of my relatives managed to get one.”
“And they want to take over your guild?”
“Naturally…” Darell replied morosely. “That’s why I went around to see who also had one of those connections.”
“And you found us…”
“I mean… it’s not like your existence is a secret. There are entire forums dedicated to following your actions and predicting the next best thing.”
Sam smirked. “I know.”
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Darell stared at him for a second then snorted. “Of course, you know about it. After all, Solar knows everything…” he finished the sentence a little sarcastically.
Sam raised an eyebrow. “What?”
Darell just smiled. “Don’t worry, it’s just something that people say as you’re rather famous for being able to answer any question about the game…”
Sam thought about it for a moment before nodding. “Better than having a stupid nickname…”
“I suppose…” Darell agreed with him. “So…what do you think?”
Sam leaned back on the sofa and sent a glance at Lara who nodded while barely moving.
“Well, first of all, what are you offering?”
Darell looked back at him with hope.
“Well, I was hoping to strike a deal for bulk purchasing raw materials.”
“What about retaliation from your relative?”
Darell opened his mouth then closed it before letting out a sigh. “Right. That idiot would surely try something.”
“Even against us?”
“I mentioned that I’m not great at strategies, right?” Darell replied with a wry smile. “He is even worse…”
‘Well, that’ll give Lucy a few more gray hairs…’ Sam mused.
“So you need defenses for your guild, yes?”
“Yes…” Darell admitted sadly. “So far we managed to keep ourselves safe but I’m pretty sure that my relative can pay people who would be willing to ignore the reputation of our clients.”
“There are always people like that…”
Darell took a moment of silence before looking directly into Sam’s eyes. “And what is your counteroffer?”
Sam smiled. It was not a nice smile. In the background, Katie began to cackle before Isabella shushed her.
“Join as a subsidiary. Separate so that you can prove to your family how great you are. We take over the security, supply chain and give you slots in our markets.”
Darell stayed silent, contemplating the offer. Sam was also thinking about it. Now that he knew why he had no inherited memories of the guild – clearly the relative had gobbled it up – he was much more calm.
An enchanting guild was exactly what the doctor ordered. He would start them as a subsidiary and then have Lucy work her magic. Bamm, they had a support structure for Liz to realize her more ambitious projects. Granted, first, they would need to vet the guild, but raw materials were basically free at their level. Sam felt it was worth the risk.
And if it turned out to be a Trojan horse then they had the playbook for that scenario too. Honestly, he kind of wanted to see that and watch Tim flex his security skills while Lucy destroyed them.
After a minute of complete silence, Darell let out a final sigh.
“Alright, that seems to be the best I could get… here is my contact info. Send over the contract and I will have my people check it out…” he replied looking slightly defeated as he handed over a card. Then before Sam could speak up he stood up and hurried away.
Sam exchanged a look with Lara and she just smiled happily.
“Why are you happy?”
She let out a small gasp.
“You didn’t know? Will wonders never cease?” she exclaimed as Katie sniggered off to the side. “Darell Mathews is an engineering genius. He had dozens of patents by the time he finished high school.”
“Huh…” Sam shrugged. “I just like the TV show they make…”
Lara narrowed her eyes seemingly trying to decide if he was lying and covering up his lack of knowledge or telling the truth.
However, before she could voice her thoughts, they were distracted by some angry shouting coming from a nearby hall.
“That’s the room where Father had some pods set up!” Katie exclaimed as she stood up, raining crumbs everywhere. “Let’s go!”
The hall was lined with top-of-the-line pods, surrounded by banks of equipment, technicians, and servants. There were also some great screens around the room, allowing people to watch those who were in the game. Sam could spot some PvP matches as well as a few people displaying their gains from the auction.
However, most of the attention was on one young man who was currently clambering out of their pod, the servant next to them was sent to the ground while the young man kept yelling.
“You fucking cheat! That was not a quest item!”
Another young man was standing not far away and laughing so hard they were clutching their stomach.
“I died! Do you hear me? I picked up that stupid vase and it killed me! Who is going to reimburse me?”
The laughing young man managed to get himself under control to answer. “You bought it. No takebacks!”
The first man let out an inarticulate yell and turned toward the servant who just managed to pick himself up from the ground. He grabbed the man and shook him. Sam saw several more servants, significantly more muscled head toward them.
Katie as expected had her hands in fists and was chanting: “Fight! Fight! Fight!”
Isabella was holding onto her shoulder. Sam thought it was wise.
“Sir! The auction holds no responsibility for the items after the winner accepts them!” the servant cried out as he tried to pry himself out of the death grip.
Several people sprang forward and tried to assist one of the people embroiled in the tussle.
Sam saw several more people move forward or start laughing and chuckled.
“Come on, guys. Let’s leave before the party starts…”
Lara once again linked her arms with his while Katie and Isabella followed them.
“Can we get ice cream?” Katie asked excitedly as they ignored the sounds of chaos behind them.
“I hate you!”
“No, you don’t,” Sam replied to a glaring Lucy who was staring at him, sitting on his sofa.
“Yes, I do,”
After they returned from a quick ice cream trip, Sam didn’t even wait a second to explain what happened, while Lara left to link up with Dan. Lucy was aware of most of it, as some chronically online people who were present at the auction live commented on the entire thing.
And the fight that happened after it…
But Lucy found his negotiations more important.
“Sam, what the hell am I going to do with an entire enchanter guild?”
“Vet them, then set them up in the fortress with Lara and send Liz over. Then profit?”
Lucy looked like she wanted to say a lot of things before taking a deep breath and then letting it out.
“I hate when you dump things on me without any warning…” she complained.
Sam shrugged. “It’s not like I planned this…”
“And what does it say about you that it’s very hard to believe you?”
“Now, that’s just mean…”
“Suck it up and start explaining your plan!”
Sam got off Lucky’s back and stepped forward until he reached the edge of the cliff they arrived at. Behind them was a forest trying its best to thrive and before them the beginnings of a savannah, populated with parse copses of trees with yellowing grass everywhere.
He could already feel the sun heating the air around him with a trickle of digitally recreated sweat falling from his forehead.
With a quiet curse, he stepped back and began to retrieve his desert gear.
He wouldn’t really need it at the beginning, but better to be prepared. Plus, it was better to try it out in a less intense situation than the real desert.
Sam had a feeling he wouldn’t have much time to safely and peacefully practice with his equipment.
According to the forums, there were already several villages that were taken over by the blood mage army.
‘They’re probably starting to set up the logistics for the invasion…’ he mused.
Flipping his hood up and lowering his goggles – that came with night vision, heat vision, and pink vision when he felt a little sad – he patted Lucky on his head.
“Come, friend. Let us step on the road of adventure once again…”
Owed bonus chapters: Three (3)
Titles:
[Apprentice: You are an apprentice learning under a master. Increased experience point gain in the key skill of the apprenticeship.]
Magical Items:
[Ring of Minor Health Regeneration: A small ring, made from subpar materials, with a low-quality magical gem. As long as the gem holds mana, it aids with health regeneration. Can hold 100 Mana Points, and regenerates 10 Health Points for every point of mana consumed. Current Mana: 100/100.]
[High-quality Troll Leather Armor: Created by a journeyman crafter employed by your own company. They worked extra hard to make sure to return your goodwill. Excellent quality, given the materials and the crafter. Enchanted to decrease the sound it makes during movement, as well as has increased durability. Thanks to the substance it was impregnated with the troll leather it lacks its customary weakness to fire.]
*Not actually bottomless.]
[Ring of the Shadow Fang: Made from shadow metal and accented with white moon-silver, this ring allows the wearer to summon a dagger made from shadow. The strength of the dagger depends on the wearer’s shadow mana control. The distance the dagger can move from the wearer depends on the mana control of the individual.]
Quests:
Active quests:
[Just walk in there!]
[Prove yourself!]
[Peaceful land, peaceful mind]
[Deli-Very!]
Finished quests:
[Monster Parade!]
[Topping the tree!]
[Reap what you sow!]
[Seaside opportunity]
[Another seaside opportunity]
[The booty of mystery!]
[Demonic demonstration!]
[The Test of the Survivor!]
[To the city you go!]
[Eternal Vigilance!]
[Returning Champion]
[Volatile Valley]
[Ride forward to be not killed in nasty ways!]
[Location, location, location!]
Skills:
Mana Skills:
[Mana Body: Level 7/100 (21%) (Passive) Your mana permeates your body, enhancing and improving it. The better your control of your mana is, and the more mana you have, the bigger the effect is. For every 100 Mana Points, it grants you 1 Base Health gain. For every skill level, it increases the Health Regeneration by 0,1.]
[Mana Shield: Level 99 (99%) Using mana, you can form a simple shell around yourself, which decreases the damage you take. Damage decrease depends on the amount of mana invested. For every unit of Mana invested in the spell, the shield will protect you from 9,9 (physical) damage.]
[A/N: Currently: WIS: 55 / MAG: 50 = 1,1 --> +2,1 Mana Regeneration per skill level]
[A/N: Currently: WIS: 55 / MAG: 50 = 1,1 --> +3,1 Mana Regeneration per skill level]
Neutral Mage skills:
[Mana Unraveling: Level 14/25 (19%) (Active) You can spot even the smallest imperfection in the weave of the mana. If your control is better than the one who wove the spell, then you can attack those imperfections and unravel the spell or magic in front of you.]
[Spell Matrix: Level 40/100 (4%) (Passive) You mastered layering spells as very few have before. You can layer ( or connect any other way) together as many spells as you can. The cost of this action is increased by 5% (cumulative) for every two layers or spells.]
[Solid Spell Foundation: Level 5/5 (MAX%) (Passive) Your foundation is solid and unshakeable. The stability of layered spells is increased.]
[Mana Construct: Level 84/100 (22%) (Active/Passive) You can create mana constructs over your weapons. These constructs cannot be separated from your weapon. You have total control over their shape and size. For every level in the skill, the mana cost is decreased by 1% and the damage inflicted by the skill is increased by 1%]
[Simplicity: Level 5/5 (MAX%) (Passive) The simpler your creations, the less mana it costs.]
[Infusion: Level 5/5 (MAX%) (Passive) Infusing different mana types into your mana constructs becomes easier.]
[Complexity: Level 1/5 (11%) (Passive) The complexity of your creations doesn’t detract from it. Usually, mana cost would rise when the complexity of your creation increases. For every level of this skill this increase in mana cost becomes less and less.]
Elemental Mage Skills:
Wind Mage skills:
[Wind Blade III: Level 9/10 (99%) (Active) A spell that allows you to launch a blade of wind. The cutting power and speed of the blade are increased. You have greater control over its movement after creation. Allows you to slightly control its path after launching the wind blade.]
[Wind Blade Storm: Level 6/10 (7%) (Active) A spell that unleashes a storm of wind blades around you. The damage of the released Wind Blades depends on the Wind Blade spell and your mastery over it.]
[Wind Bullet III: Level 9/10 (99%) A spell that allows you to launch a bullet made of concentrated wind. You have excellent control over the projectile’s speed, size, and path.]
[Wind Explosion: Level 3/10 (21%) A spell that allows you to create a singular bullet of wind mana, and then fire it, which will, upon impact, detonate. The strength of the detonation depends on the amount of wind mana channeled into the bullet and your mastery over the Wind Bullet spell!]
[Wind Movement: 39/100 (19%) (Active) You can use your mastery over wind to move in any direction you wish. Your movement speed is increased significantly. This speed boost is increased by 1% for each skill level.]
[Wind Edge III: Level 9/10 (99%) (Passive) A spell that allows you to enhance the edge of any bladed weapon you wield with the wind. Thanks to the spell, the speed of your strikes will greatly increase. The power and reach of the blade will be greatly increased further.]
[Wind Affinity: Level 61/100 (17%) (Passive) You have a good affinity for the wind. Beings born of the wind will be more favorable to you. The cost of the Wind-type spells and skills is reduced and their power is increased by 0,5% for each skill level.]
- Wind Flurry
- Wind Bullet Barrage
- Healing Wind
- Wind Jump
- Wind Drill
- Wind Blade I-III
- Wind Blade Storm
- Wind Bullet I-III
- Wind Explosion
- Wind Movement
- Wind Edge I-III!
Utility skills:
Companion skills:
Shadow skills:
(Shadow Cloak triggers this benefit.)]
[Shadow Affinity: Level 30/100 (14%) (Passive) You have a good affinity with the shadows. Beings born of the shadows will be more favorable to you. The cost of the Shadow-type spells and skills is reduced and their power is increased by 0,5% for each skill level.]
Physical skills:
[Basic Armor Mastery: Level 91/100 (6%) (Passive) You learned the basics of wearing armor. Decreases the Stamina consumption slightly while wearing any kind of armor.]
[Clean Armor: Level MAX (MAX%) (Passive) Your mana got used to a certain spell, so the waste mana radiating from you will, over time, permeate and clean your armor.]
[Resistant Armor: Level 5/5 (MAX%) (Passive) Thanks to your practice, you can fully utilize everything that your armor provides, granting you increased resistance against the environment. Grants 2% increased environmental resistance per skill level. Environmental resistance protects against environmental effects only.]
[Durable Armor: Level 0/5 (0%) (Passive) You learned how to roll with the punches. This includes knowing when your armor can take a hit and when it can’t. Increased durability for any armor you wear from incoming damage from non-environmental sources.]
[Epic Breathing Technique: Level 9/10 (99%) (Passive) You breathe, and the world breathes with you. You move along your own rhythm. Decreases stamina consumption even more during any activity and further increases stamina regeneration when not in a fight. Gain +2 Stamina Regeneration for every skill level.]
[Tranquil Heart: Level 11/100 (54%) (Passive) Your heart beats to the same rhythm as your body. It’s efficient and harmonious. You have an even easier time resisting mind-altering effects and a portion of of those effects are reflected back to the source. The portion is 1% per skill level. You also radiate an aura of tranquility that confers the resistance portion of the skill to your allies near you.]
[Flow: Level 77/100 (9%) (Passive) Thanks to being a natural sensor, you can read the flow of the mana. Increases your stability and the bonuses any movement or martial art skill provides by 1% per level in the skill.]
[Focused Flow: Level 5/5 (MAX%) (Passive) When focusing on any enemy beyond what is normal, your ability to read their flow becomes clearer and more precise.]
[Controlled Flow: Level 5/5 (MAX%) (Passive) Your read of the flow is more controlled, allowing you to see the flow much better. Increases the flow visibility by 20% for every skill level.]
[Immersed Flow: Level 0/5 (0%) (Passive) When you start reading the flow a counter starts. After every ten seconds, the effect of the Flow skill increases by 1% for each skill level. Maximum 600 seconds.]
Parry: Level 24/100 (13%) (Passive) Decreases the stamina consumption of defensive weapon movements. It allows you to more efficiently and accurately parry incoming attacks. Decreases the damage of the blocked attack by 0,5% for each skill level at the moment of blocking.]
[Cleansed Body: Level MAX (MAX%) (Passive) Your body has been cleansed of impurities, giving you a more charming aura. NPCs and players will treat you slightly differently depending on their tastes. Gives a flat increase of +3 to STR, AGI, END. You can upgrade this skill by further cleansing your body.]
Resistance skills:
General skills:
[Dwarven Language: Level 5/10 (1%) (Passive) You managed to learn the basics of the Dwarven language.]
[Elven Language: Level 7/10 (8%) (Passive) You managed to learn the basics of the Elven language.]
[Dark Elven Language: Level 5/10 (1%) (Passive) You managed to learn the basics of the Dark Elven language.]
[Sarkan Language: Level 3/10 (42%) (Passive) You managed to learn the basics of the Sarkan language.]
Crafting skills:
Pet skills:
[Strong Jaw: Level Max (Passive) The jaw of the wolf is strengthened.]
[Lucky Aura: Level Max (Passive) Those who are in the same party as the wolf receive a buff to their luck. It depends on their luck how big the increase is.]
[Animalistic Mana Control: Level Max (Passive) The wolf controls the mana inside him based on animalistic instinct.]
[Animalistic Shadow Control: Level Max (Passive) The wolf controls the shadows around him just as easily as it breathes.]
[Shadow Spirit Body: Level Max (Passive) The body of the wolf is part shadows and part spirit, which makes it much more malleable.]
[Shadow Strike: Level Max (Active/Passive) All attacks started from the shadows receive bonus damage, and the wolf can clad itself in shadows, making its entire body into a weapon, while striking at an enemy increasing its range of attack.]
[Shadow Jump: Level 20/20 (MAX%) (Active) The wolf gains the capability to dive into your shadow and emerge from a different shadow. Range: 200 meters. Cooldown: 30 seconds.]
[Shadow Dash: Level 20/20 (MAX%) (Active/Passive) Wherever the wolf steps, he can leave small pools of shadows that the wolf can use to jump into. When diving into the shadows, the wolf can travel at an even greater distance with his speed increased by 2% for each skill level.]
[Shadow Claws: Level 20/20 (MAX%) (Active/Passive) Your companion’s claws are infused with the shadows. There is a low chance to leave behind shadow mana with each attack of their claws. Alternatively, they can actively increase this infusion of shadow mana and strike at their enemies with giant shadow claws.]
[Shadow Bite: Level 20/20 (MAX%) (Active) Your companion enhances their bite with shadow mana, increasing the area and strength of the bite.]
[Shadow Steed: Level 21/50 (3%) (Passive) Your companion has learned how to run while being ridden. Stamina consumption is decreased when being ridden and can carry bigger loads.]
[Shadow Bleed: Level 41/50 (8%) (Passive) Your companion’s claw has been enhanced by a chaotic shadow field which rends the area where the claws strike, causing extra bleeding.]
[Weakening Strike: Level 15/50 (21%) (Passive) Every strike of your companion's claw weakens the enemy's armor. The maximum stack of the effects is 3+1 per 5 skill level.]
[Shadow Heal: Level 21/50 (37%) (Active) Your companion can absorb the shadows hiding them to heal itself.]
[Runic Weapon: Level Max (Passive) The wolf’s claws and teeth are clad in runes that grant him a certain amount of ability to pierce through the impenetrable. Grants a 13% chance to do True Damage with the claws and teeth.]
[Runic Strike: Level 20/20 (Active) Lucky gains the ability to channel mana into the runes of his claws and teeth to enhance the damage theydo. The damage type depends on the type of mana he channels into it. Current natures are available to use: no attribute, shadow, or spirit.]