Ch 104
Matt leaned back as Emily delved into the various menus that he had no interest in, all the while reading aloud the information she could extract from them. With this information, Greg took on the task of maintaining a priority list for each potential control they could unlock using the 490 reputation points remaining after Matt had spent 10 to grant vice leader access to her. The first thing Matt noticed was that basic controls each cost 10 points, whereas simple controls required 20 points. Moreover, it appeared there were corresponding options that necessitated unlocking the lower option before accessing the advanced one. This discovery was made by Emily, who realized that administrative access had only been unlocked after Matt had granted vice leader access, thanks to using her analysis skills.
"Alright, I believe I know what needs to be done," declared Emily, after thoroughly reviewing the remaining available controls. "I am going to unlock the nine basic controls that are highest on the list first. After that, we will see which simple controls they unlock, if any, and then proceed down the list, checking for any new options each time a basic control is selected."
"This is frustrating," remarked Greg with a frown. "I can see that there are a lot of generally useful options, but if we just go down the list like that, I think it will negatively impact our build in the long run."
"Could you explain?" asked Eleanor, her curiosity piqued.
"It's like the difference between running a restaurant and a clothing store," Greg explained. "Both sell items and will use some of the same tools, like lights and a building, but they require completely different configurations of both. So, I think we need to decide what our organization will be and what tools will bring us closer to that vision before choosing anything that isn't as general as a building and lights."
"Then let's start with a few controls that are essential," stated Matt, his voice steady yet uncertain. "After all, I don't think any of us are entirely sure about what the organization will become."
"That's where you're mistaken," Emily interjected confidently. "It's destined to become a government. If everything goes according to plan, it will be the one that governs all of Earth by the time beings from other parts of the universe arrive."
"I don't want to rule the world," Matt countered, a hint of hesitation in his tone. "I'm not even sure if I'll be there most of the time."
"You won't be ruling in the way you imagine," Emily clarified, her expression thoughtful. "Consider it more like you'll be responsible for keeping it safe, overseeing its protection, while others manage the day-to-day issues unless you feel the need to step in and correct them on something."
"No, I don't want to see the whole planet absorbed by us," Matt replied firmly, determination etched across his face. "I envision teams of elite forces that can stand up to—"
"That's not feasible," Emily interrupted, giving Matt a defiant look. "The elite will need to have others they want to protect if we want any long-term plan to succeed. This isn't a situation where we can just do whatever we please and expect things to turn out as we hope. We need to provide others with a compelling reason to join us and ensure they don't leave when they receive a better offer. That means creating a system where their friends and families can feel safe and secure when we send them off on assignments."
"I believe I understand the issue," Greg stated confidently. "Matt is inclined to have everything operate autonomously, avoiding interaction with the masses altogether, while Emily is focused on ensuring everything is designed to endure, using those very masses as the reason for our existence. In my opinion, the best way to move forward is to require that the masses cannot join Scattered Stars unless they are committed to striving towards becoming part of the elite. At present, the system compels everyone to do just that, but once we return to Earth, many will be content to pause and find a stable path of advancement that doesn't involve constant fighting. The real question is, what criteria determine if someone is considered part of the elite?"
"Their level," Matt declared firmly. "Unfortunately, that's what it boils down to. Even if someone is a great crafter, if their level is significantly lower than the top players, they'll be nothing more than pawns when a true powerhouse arrives. Especially considering how quickly HP scales, I anticipate it will become unmanageable at higher levels, making it nearly impossible to defeat opponents swiftly."
"Do you think decapitating something will stop being effective?" Zara asked, her brow furrowed in concern. "Because no matter how much HP something has, that should still be lethal."
"No, it won't," Greg replied with certainty. "While decapitation might inflict catastrophic damage, I can envision scenarios where there could be time to reattach the head or even for a new one to regenerate, especially if our consciousness shifts from our brains to something akin to a soul vessel. The number of mechanisms that the system enables suggests that, for all we know, our physical bodies might not even be necessary for our existence anymore."
"Most religions would argue something similar," Rose chimed in thoughtfully. "So, yes, I think Greg is onto something. It's kind of fascinating in some ways but downright terrifying in others."
"Alright, let's focus on a few choices that will be beneficial regardless of what we decide to become," stated Emily with determination. "I don't want us to stray off-topic, especially since we have a lot of work to do. I think most organizations don't start with as many points as we did. First, is everyone okay with implementing a leadership messaging system for 10 points?"
Stolen novel; please report.
"Wasn't that limited to just one message a day from each leader?" asked Eleanor, raising an eyebrow. "It feels rather restricted to me."
"Yes, it is limited, but it's exactly what we need the most if we want Jaelyn to keep us informed about what's happening on her end and for us to send her instructions," explained Emily. "I'm also anticipating that it will be upgraded in the simple controls."
"Just do it," Matt interjected confidently. "Then let us know if a better option becomes available."
Emily nodded in agreement and then reported, "It did upgrade, and now it reads 'upgraded leadership messaging system,' allowing for up to five messages a day from the leader, three from any vice leader and one from the rest. It's not perfect, but it's much better."
"Alright, go ahead and get it," Matt ordered briskly. "Now, let's speed things up."
Emily nodded in agreement, and together they began picking up one control after another. Although it took the better part of the day to work through them all, by the time they had finished, they had unlocked enough features to make their organization feel significantly more manageable. The essential controls they had unlocked included member benefits, quest approval, contribution system, monthly broadcast, leader’s call, request board, team lead positions, and claim dispute.
Several of these tasks seemed like responsibilities that a customer service or HR department at any business would manage. However, all of them were general enough that Emily and Greg agreed they wouldn’t force Scattered Stars down any specific path just yet. One particularly advantageous initiative was the "Leader’s Call," which allowed Matt to make one call a week to any member of the organization to discuss anything with them for up to 30 minutes. This program was among the first to be upgraded to a simplified version once they began selecting priorities. The enhancement allowed the skill to evolve from a single 30-minute call each week to a one-hour call every other day, and they were optimistic that it would be upgraded again when they unlocked advanced controls.
They had also acquired upgraded versions of all the basic controls they had started with as they progressed. While some of these improvements offered increased functionality, such as the leader’s call and the leadership messaging system, others provided even more significant enhancements. For instance, the team lead positions unlocked two additional leadership roles, allowing Matt to choose two more individuals for leadership positions, either as administrators or recruiters. Although there had been discussions about selecting two more people to serve as recruiters from those invited outside Jaelyn’s group, they ultimately decided to appoint Eleanor as an administrator. This decision was also the reason they acquired the skill for administrator access. However, unlike the vice leader, anything an administrator wished to unlock required approval from either Matt or Emily through a generated message.
The team lead position control served an important function; it allowed anyone with at least five followers to apply to become a team lead and recruit those with fewer followers as probationary members of Scattered Stars. This meant that any member could act as a recruiter. However, probationary members were required to use the contribution system to essentially earn the right to become full-fledged members. The system itself was rather rudimentary and necessitated that either Matt or Emily set up the mechanics and provide the rewards in some manner. The good news was that Matt had the flexibility to offer nearly anything in his possession as a reward. Additionally, by utilizing the upgraded request board, he could request items in exchange for contribution points. For example, he could request arrows for Yumiko, which could then be obtained using contribution points, allowing those points to be spent on any items he placed in the contribution store.
This prompted him to immediately transfer various items they had harvested from monsters—items that Emily had assured him were valuable—into the contribution store, where they all agreed the prices were quite low. Following this, they submitted requests for wood, leather, and a range of other basic materials that were scarce in the dungeon, hoping to establish a functional trade system. There were numerous other complexities they believed needed to be addressed, but at that moment, with only 200 points remaining, they decided to select just five more simple controls, considering it wise to keep a reserve of 100 points in case of future needs.
Firstly, they introduced the member request system, which enabled any member to propose a trade of an item they possessed for either a specific other item or a designated number of contribution points. In either scenario, any other member could fulfill the request if they had the necessary item or points available. The system operated on a first-come, first-served basis, ensuring fairness and efficiency in exchanges.
Secondly, there was the distress call feature. This allowed any member to send out a call for assistance to the entire organization once a year. Although this capability was limited, it served as an effective means of pinpointing the location of a member in distress by transmitting their location, the perceived threat level, and the name of the sender. While not perfect, Greg and Emily were confident that this feature could be upgraded in the future. They also recognized that it was likely other organizations' members would have access to similar systems, making it an essential tool for their own group's safety and coordination.
The third item was the death notice. Similar to the distress call, this notification could alert the entire organization. However, this one required approval from either Matt or Emily before being sent out, as it would notify them first for authorization. This precaution was essential because the last thing anyone needed was to see the names of a hundred people who had perished in the midst of a critical battle or other significant event before it was over.
The fourth item, implemented only after much insistence from Eleanor, was the member's will. This feature allowed a member to designate someone to receive all their contribution points and control over anything in the member request section. It also required a leadership member to approve the transfer before it could be processed, ensuring transparency and accountability. The system would then list all changes that had been made to it at that time, providing a clear record for future reference.
Finally, at Greg's insistence, they selected the stat trainer control. This tool would allow members to choose a single stat, other than their highest, to increase by one point every ten days by completing an exercise related to it. While the prospect of gaining just one point every ten days seemed hardly worth the 20 reputation points it would cost, Greg's argument that every little bit helped ultimately prevailed. After all, accumulating points was crucial, and some stats were notoriously harder to improve than others.
With that decision made, Matt decided he would utilize the upgraded monthly broadcast to formally welcome everyone and provide them with a clear vision of his expectations for the upcoming period.
