Ch 33 The Guard

  Arthur was back at the Guild. He was a little lost at what to do with himself now. Then I remembered I leveled up.

  “Raven, how many skill points do I have?”

  “User has 40 skill points.”

  Thinking about it. Now would be a good time for he, himself to use Jamies services. He didn’t know what skill he should focus on. He had a lot of crafting skills. Should he get a fighting skill? More crafting skills?

  “Where is Jamie at now? Is he in a consult?”

  “Child Jamie is currently doing homework in main area on third floor.”

  “Thanks Raven.”

  Making my way there I was thinking about my skills.

  Then thinking about it I called status.

  It wasn’t too bad. I had just dumped most of my credits into the guild. I just needed to wait a bit for my passive income. The wands were selling world wide now with others promoting them too. And Ill make slow income from the bathrooms. Trickle income, but still income. Then there’s the bags and clothes.

  I should see if the guard wants some of the clothes. They might like the armor clothes. Or should I try and make uniforms for them? I hadn’t thought about that. I think ill pop over and see.

  With that thought in mind, I thought of my teleporting dashboard and selected the dungeon button. Then I was gone.

  *

  It was still fairly busy near the dungeon. But it looked like everybody was just a bit cleaner. Their armor was better taken care of too. I approached the guard stationed near the blockade closest to their buildings.

  “Hey there, is Sergeant Sorko around? I have a proposition, and he’s familiar with me. Names Arthur Turner.”

  The guard looked me up and down. I was still wearing the silk button up and shorts. With sandals. Not exactly professional mind you.

  “Yeah, I know who you are. The not so dead guy. Sorko isn’t on duty right now but ill radio him. See if he’ll take you to the higher ups at least.”

  I nodded in thanks. Then waited while he relayed a few messages back and forth. I’m glad I kept all the clothes in my inventory. I had something to show at least. And quite a few bags. They would be interested in those.

  While I waited I watched those who went in and out of the garage. There were a lot more people then I had previously imagined. I had guessed around 500, but it seemed to be in the thousands now. That’s what I get for being out of the loop for a week. I really did need to build the apartments sooner rather then later. I just hoped I had enough credits by the time my land purchase went through.

  The guardsman I was talking to waved me behind the barricade. He gave me directions to a specific building. One I had been to before. Where I met Oscar’s daughter Sergeant Wilco.

  What a coincidence.

  Making my way there, I was given a few looks of curiosity. But it seems I was more well known then I had previously thought. I saw a couple of the bathrooms installed near the buildings and the barracks, so I assumed it was due to that.

  Getting to the building and climbing the three steps, I politely knocked on the door. I didn’t know wether or not I was expected. I waited for a loud ‘Enter!’ before opening the door.

  Sitting in the room was two people this time. Both desks had someone. I approached the first desk, thinking I was dealing with the lower officer. The man waved me to the higher-ranking man. Which had me wincing a little. But I moved further back into the room.

  It was an older man. With salt and pepper hair. I could tell by the look of him he was career military. I wasn’t sure my spiel would work as well on him as someone else. So, I needed to adjust.

  “Hello sir, I don’t know if you know me. I’m an enchanter, named Arthur Turner. I made a few things I thought the guard might like to have. They are for sell in the system store, but I know ya’ll are running different operations for credits. So, I was thinking of selling these for currency or credits. Let me show you what I have.” With that, and his silence, I started pulling out one of each bag, and a few sample clothes. Including underwear.

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  He gave me a few gruff looks. Then started feeling the material. “Tell me then Turner. Why would we buy civvies when we have combat gear?”

  I took a breath and started to explain the enchantments.

  “These have both Pristine and Durability. Which means they can be cleaned and repaired with a simple pulse of mana. Durability makes it much, much harder to damage. I made them as civilian clothes for those that run the dungeons. I have them without durability as well for daily wear. These bags hold 50 times their space. This fanny pack for example, if you open it will enfold your entire arm. The messenger bag and backpack are nearly bags of holding. They can hold up to the equivalent of a fridge and a couch, respectively. With automatic recall and never forget what you have in them. The fanny pack you have to organize yourself, but not the other two.”

  I let out a breath when I was finished. Letting him mess around with the clothes and bags. He picked up one of the shirts and tried to tear it. He couldn’t. I could see the strain on his face as he tried however. He picked up a fanny pack and opened it. He stuck his arm in and felt around. Then picked up a few things off his desk and stuck them in as well. Then felt around again. Then did the same with the backpack.

  “I like the bags. But the civvies are too civilian. We were uniforms to designate ourselves. What are you selling the bags at?”

  “50, 75, and 100 credits in the store. I’m willing to sell them half price for credits. I half quite a lot. My dungeon stint I kept making them. They all have durability as well. They however aren’t limited to one person. So, they can be passed around. If you wanted to buy them for currency, I think 100$, 150$, 200$ each?”

  He looked at me. Muttered something under his breath and sat back. He hummed in thought. “When you say, ‘quite a lot’, exactly how many is that?”

  I blinked. “Raven, how many of each bag do I have?”

  “User has, 201 attic fanny pack, 369 basement messenger bag, and 173 basement backpacks.”

  The officer looked at me for talking to thin air. I relayed the numbers to him. He gave me a quick look. Then scribbled some math.

  As I watched him do this, I spoke up. “This isn’t a one time deal. I can always make more easily. So if you want more of a certain type later I can come back. Or if you want only a certain type I can make more of those.”

  He stopped writing. Then stared at me for a moment. Then pulled another sheet of paper out. This one had a chart of some kind. He went through it. Making notes of some kind.

  “Exactly how much space is in the backpack?”

  I blinked. “100 cubic ft. With recall, auto organize, and remembering what’s in it. Why?”

  “I want only backpacks. 1000 of them. Can you make that happen?”

  I stuttered a moment. Then coughed. “Uh, yes? It’ll take some time, but yes. They’ll be made of different materials though, is that ok? They’ll still be durable.”

  He thought a moment. “What if we supply the material? Military grade canvas. Same as our duffels. Or could you make them as duffels?”

  I blinked. Thought hard for a moment. That would mean another dungeon stint. “I’m honestly not sure? It’s not something I’ve previously made, so it would mean going back into the dungeon for months at a time.”

  He stared at me. “Such as when you were presumed dead?”

  I nodded to him. “I spent five months in the dungeon. I came out just over five days later.”

  He sat back again. His stare was more intense. “You can stay in the dungeon longer than the monsters exist? They don’t respawn?”

  I shook my head. “No, once dead they don’t come back. There is more mana in the dungeon. 50 times as much as Earth’s current mana. So, if you wanted bags with 50 times as much space id have to do it in the dungeon. If you wanted bags with only 20 times as much space, I could do that at my guild.”

  He blinked. “Guild?”

  I pulled out my phone and pulled up the guilds website. Then handed him my phone. He stared at it, then scrolled through. I started to explain.

  “Just as the guard is running each other through. We’ve been running civilians through. They have to buy at least one lethal wand, and we want them to rent armor. They have to make it through looking at our Book of Gore. But we walk them through the dungeon. For 50 credits. They make 50 credits their first run. Then they can run it alone. Or run it again with us and make 100 credits. My guild is called Wands and Words. I run it. It’s so people can adjust to the system.”

  He stared at my phone. And kept scrolling through the site. “What’s this about skill consulting?”

  “One of our services is helping someone select their next skill or skills, and how to get them. Say if a fighter was wielding a long sword, but would be better suited to a hand and a half, or duel wielding. Or someone was better suited as a mage. We have a skill directory book to help people better understand their skills and how to use them. Make them more cohesive with the skills they already have.”

  He looked at me. “And you provide this service to anybody?”

  “Yes. Anybody with the credits or cash, they must have the skill points to buy the skill or skills. We also have a practice area in the guild to help them get used to their skills. It’s to prevent people without experience form dying in the dungeon. If any of the guard want to use our services, they are more then welcome.”

  He looked at my phone once more. “20% discount.” He stated flatly. I grimaced. Then nodded. They were doing good work. It’s the least I could do.

  A system prompt appeared.

  I selected Yes. I hadn’t known his name. I still didn’t know his rank. But this was a good deal for me. The guard will come to the guild and, well, they wont need running through the dungeon. But they will use the other services. Such as the training area and the skill book. Maybe that will help promote the guild. I should talk to Oscar about this too.

  Officer Denvers was at first startled by the prompt but quickly agreed.

  He gave me another look, then handed my phone back.

  “This seems interesting. The system will help make contracts? And back them?”

  I nodded. “We can still break them. A few kids broke one of our contracts with a runner. Had an extra jump into the dungeon at the last minute. Made it too many to run safely. System said that both parties broke contract. A ‘mutual breach.’”

  He nodded. Then looked at the clothes again. Fingering a few shirts. “Could you make these into uniforms? Instead of having the guard buying armor from the store?”

  I paused. I could. But did I want to?

  “I could yes. But the scale mail provides better protection as its actually armor. These clothes aren’t. They are made durable, yes. But if you take a blow, these are still made of cloth. They can’t block a sword or club. The armor can. That’s why they’re civilians clothing. To wear under armor. Not to replace armor.”

  He let out a breath. Then nodded at me. “I still want the bags. Ill take whatever you have on hand, however. Will you accept a down payment now and the rest later? I can assure you. We are good on credit.”

  He laughed at his own joke. I chuckled a little at it too.

  “Yeah, that sounds good. Just show me a place to put them. You can’t put one bag in another very well. The tend to intermix the spaces.”

  He scribbled down some math. “I think the total is about 25700? That do it?”

  I nodded. “Close enough for government work.” He blinked, then chuckled. I smirked a little. There were a few floating credits, but I wasn’t going to nitpick.

  “Alright. How about, let me check what we have now.”

  He pulled up a system screen of some sort. Muttering a few things to himself. “It seems we already owe you quite a few credits. Roughly 6000? Is that right?”

  I nodded. “I brought the bathrooms last night. I sold those at half price as well. More to come when y’all need them.”

  He sighed. “Alright. So I don’t have half for down payment. I can repay you the 6k, or make a payment for the bags, or make some kind of agreement for both. What say you?”

  I blinked. Then paused. Then took a breath. “Sir, I plan to have a long and fruitful relationship with the Guard. It would do me no good to screw you over with petty negotiations. Since I plan on having a long term selling plan, and I know that ya’ll will continue to make credits. Why don’t we make a payment plan? Based on what the guard can afford now and then projected forward?”

  He blinked at me. Then grinned. “You make a terrible salesman. You’re supposed to wring them for as much as you can. Not let them pay as you go. Didn’t you know that?”

  I grinned. “Then it’s a good thing I’m a crafter first and sells a second then, isn’t it?”

  He nodded. Then transferred to me 10k credits. “That’s half of what we have as ‘disposable’ right now. In a few weeks, that will be replaced. It’s what we use for missing or lost gear and such. Since the dungeon, we have been replacing quite a few things. Or buying new things.”

  I nodded. “You do know you can buy a pristine wand, then repair and clean any object, right?”

  He blinked, then glared at me. “What the hell are you talking about?”

  I pulled my pristine wand out. Then poured water on his papers. He shouted at me standing quickly. I smiled. “Riposte.” The water was quickly cleaned up and his papers neatened. He blinked. Then stared. He made a gimme motion. I waved him off.

  “One wand per person. They register to the first person that uses them. They’re for sell in the store for 50 credits.”

  He frowned. Then sat back down. Muttering to himself. “Can’t you sell them straight to us?”

  I shook my head. “I’m selling them straight to Dallas Medical. They have first dibs on them all. Sorry, hospitals come first.”

  He let out a sigh, then nodded. “I suppose that makes sense. They certainly can use them more. Still, thanks for the heads up.”

  I smirked. “There’s also auto size wands for sale in the store now, not just tags. Make everything the perfect size. Also 50 credits.”

  He muttered again. Then sighed. “Fine then. Make me suffer. Go to the barracks and fine a lieutenant to show you where to dump the bags. Leave me to my misery of poverty.”

  I smirked, then left the building. For some reason, this was a good day so far. I had somewhere to offload all my unneeded bags. Which I could make form mana at anytime. Maybe not with 50 times space. But really, I have an inventory. And they’re in the store.

  *