Ch 38 Guild Transfer

  After sorting most of the fabrics into separate fanny packs, usually by color, I had decided to take a nap. It was early morning now. I was thinking of celebrating the 4th with my parents. That would be rather nice. I could buy up a bunch of platters for a grand town block party. There was roughly 2000 people back home. I could afford that much, I thought. I should double check with my parents first though. Didn’t just want to bankroll everyone.

  But it was time to get the Econ’s level of apartments set up. I had the credits now. It’s been hours.

  Alright. “Raven, can you create the second floor of the bedroom side of the community center from here?”

  “Confirmed.”

  “Alright. I want half the beds but pretty much the same layout. One bedroom with two bunk beds. Each gets its own wardrobe, system locked. Half bath in the bedroom. Full bath in the living area. Table for four, kitchenette. Full bath gives a pristine per person per day. Throw in a couch. Same rental as every other bed. Got it?”

  “Confirmed. Preference on unit numbers?”

  “As long as the bottom floor? I think that’s what, 10 or 11 rooms?”

  “Correction. 10 is shorter, 11 is longer.”

  “Ok, I’ll go 10 for neater numbers. Stairs on each end with an elevator in the middle. How much for that?”

  “1200 credits. 10 units 80000 credits. Confirm purchase?”

  “Yeah, go ahead.”

  “Time to completion 160 minutes.”

  “Thanks, Raven.”

  Still quite a few credits. What else did I want today?

  “Raven, if I were to purchase the first level of primary learning for two other people, do I have to be near them?”

  “Confirmed. But be able to instruct on usage.”

  There goes that idea. Maybe I’ll buy it for everyone in the guild first. It seems too useful to not. It’s only 5k for now. I wonder if the price will increase.

  “Ok, who is in the building now?”

  “Kate, Maggie, Lucas, Mikey, Olivia, Oscar, three unknowns.”

  I wonder why everyone was here. Oscar brought three people with him too? I suppose I needed to go check out what’s going on. It was about 9am.

  Leaving Sky Trail and going to the community third floor, I found everyone sitting around listening to Oscar. He was talking and asking about how the guild was currently being run. He wanted to streamline a few things so people couldn’t just drop in and expect to run right then. Have certain hours of operation that our runners were expected to run people so they weren’t always on call.

  I should have expected that. I should have said that.

  Maggie was nodding and agreeing with him. The others were looking relieved. I should apologize to them

  I made my way over to them and Oscar noticed me.

  “Well, Arthur, nice of you to join us. Also, good morning. I noticed you don’t seem to have a room in the guild, mind saying why?”

  Being put on the spot like that was troublesome, but I should have explained sooner.

  “I have a sleep skill. I sleep less than a few hours at a time. I bought a van from the system. I usually stay in it. I’ll try and be in my office more if you need me to, but I was organizing stuff until early morning, so just took my usual nap there.”

  Oscar nodded at that. “Sorry to put you on the spot. I thought you might be avoiding the guild for some reason. But you were in the under garage, weren’t you?”

  I nodded. He guessed right after all.

  “Well then. I was explaining what I wanted the guild to look like. Why don’t you tell me what your vision of the guild is and see how we compare?”

  I coughed slightly. I was not expecting this, but I should have, damn it. He wanted fair and equal measure. Because he didn’t know how guilds actually worked. So I shook my head.

  “I think the best person who knows how guilds actually work isn’t me, but Jamie. My idea of starting a guild was to get people to walk others through the dungeon and get more people used to the system. We’ve accomplished that. Other than that, I want to train people up and start a crafters’ village, but I’ve got a separate line on that now. That may not be guild based. Jamie? Do you mind explaining an MMO guild for us?”

  I looked to him, giving him the option to opt out. But he seemed extremely excited for some reason. He jumped out of his chair and came up to us. The three unknowns were sitting at a separate table, I noticed. They had the military look.

  “Ok, so most guilds in a game are usually made for raiding dungeons, not for getting people through them. But! Since Arthur is so cool and all he wants us to train to a higher skill level to get people through! So I thought, why not learn from the dungeon! Arthur bought me a universal learning, and I’ve learned so much! Like that the scribbles in the second level of the dungeon are actually an alien language! I’m learning to decode it now, but I think everyone should get the universal learning at some point! It’ll be super useful!”

  I cut in here. “I was actually thinking of purchasing the first level for every guild member. Say as part of your contract, you work here for five years, I purchase it for you. It’s 5k credits. And takes 5 years to complete if you treat it like traditional schooling. Sorry to interrupt, Jamie.”

  He waved me off. “No, it’s cool. I think everyone should have it, but if all our guild mates have it, we can get through the second level dungeon easier. I heard what happened to a few people that didn’t do well, and well. Liv. I’m sorry. I was in the other hall. I didn’t know what to do. Then Arthur came to help you. I’m sorry.”

  Liv shook her head. “It’s ok, squirt. You’re a kid, we can’t expect you to know how to act like an adult. Hell, you’re more mature than half the people I used to work with. Which might not actually be saying much. A lot of workplaces turn into high school dramas. People tend to freeze in that mentality if they don’t go to college. Now that I think about it.”

  Everyone gave a chuckle.

  Then Oscar stepped in. “Now that we have a better idea of the next plan, Arthur, do you want to explain the purpose of the building across from the dungeon?”

  I nodded.

  “People are still living in the parking garage. So I made bunk rooms with system locked wardrobes. Full bathrooms. Apartments with 4 or 8 beds. I plan on making apartments with two beds as well. I just need to check heights of the overpass on both sides. They have full baths, dining tables, kitchenettes, half baths, the wardrobes. So people can rent by bed for a day, week, or month. 2 per day, 10 per week, or 30 per month.”

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  I took a breath.

  “But the main part is the rec room and library. Open space to just breathe. Tables and chairs to spread out. Board games and cards to relax. Books with certain criteria to relax. Nooks to hide in to decompress. Couches to share. A place for relaxation and decompression. You can only hide in a tent so long before you go stir crazy. There’s only so many times you can run the dungeon before you lose your grip on sanity. So I made a safe place to relax. Also a sparring ring to practice. Dodging simulators to train. Now I’ve added better simulators upstairs. For multiple people to practice all types of dungeons. They’re a hefty cost per person, but the training is worth it.”

  They were all looking at me.

  Kate spoke up. “Bossman, are you trying to bankroll everyone into the system now?”

  I blinked and shook my head.

  “I don’t know when the government here will collapse. I want to be prepared. I went to land management, and they threw a hissy fit I went over their heads to buy the land through the system. I built everything through the system. No normal infrastructure. It’s all system based. So I don’t have to worry about waste management. Or city connections. It’s all through the system. Even the power is through the system. I paid an upfront cost and have no monthly expenses for my buildings. What more could I want?”

  Oscar was shaking his head. “So you’re making money, with little going out?”

  I shook my head.

  “I’m not charging my guildmates anything except for the simulators, that’s half off. They have rooms here as they like. I pay them per consult and dungeon run. I don’t make money off them. I’m the supplier of the wands. So that’s how I make money through the guild. I make sure everyone is equipped as best they can be.”

  Oscar frowned a moment. “You don’t charge a percentage of what they make to be a part of the guild?”

  “No, why would I? These are my friends. The people who’ve stood by me for the last several years. That got me through hell when I needed help. I wouldn’t charge them a credit except the simulators have to have some input.”

  Oscar nodded slowly. “Would that extend to all guild members?”

  I was about to reply yes when Jamie cut in

  “No, there are gonna be tiers to the guild. The first tier is those that joined first. If these three join now, they’ll be first tier as well. After that we’ll see. You, sir, will be guild leader, but everyone has their place. We will have a point system in place for how our runners work. Those that are leveled higher will be allowed to run higher levels of the dungeon. Or more people. Those leveled lower will run lower levels of the dungeon. Once we have enough guild eyes, only certain people will do consults and dungeon runs. For now, we’re small enough that we don’t need a huge staff. But we’ll grow into more. We’re the first Guild in Dallas. Others will follow our example.”

  I looked at Jamie, then Oscar. I just nodded. I suppose it was true. First come, first dibs. We couldn’t have everyone doing everything. We couldn’t have the veterans doing the lowest tasks either. Jamie had good points. Things I didn’t know or think about. Then again, I didn’t play a lot of online games.

  Oscar seemed to think about it a few minutes. Then nodded. “As long as people get a chance to move up the tiers, I’m fine with that. We can always have more tiers. Now let me introduce you to the men I brought.”

  The three stood up to stand next to Oscar.

  “These men are all solid. They were discharged from the Marines after general health issues. But that doesn’t mean they can’t fight. I want them to join the guild and become runners as well. Is that agreeable to everyone?”

  Almost everyone turned to look at me.

  I hesitated the briefest second before I went to each of them and asked if they wanted to run the dungeon for good.

  The first stated, “I was kicked out of my AA program because my wife left me. I had nowhere to turn. The major is keeping me out of the bottle. I’d like to stay that way. Henry Dickinson, sir.”

  The second. “I was kicked from the Marines after consorting with a man. ‘Don’t ask don’t tell’ took it a little too far when it was found out he was a general’s grandson. My only family took that hard. I was their support system. My sister is a single mother and struggling. I want to support her. Thomas Walters, sir.”

  The last. “My name is Seamus McRiley. I was discharged for an autoimmune disease. But I’ve been told if you level up, you get healthy again. I want to try it. I don’t want to live the rest of my life taking pills every day. Struggling to get out of bed, just because my head is foggy. That make sense?”

  I nodded to each of them in turn. The last man I spoke to clearly.

  “I did a five month stint in the dungeon. My depression thought it was a vacation. Until I was so lonely and realized how I needed people around me. I was too cut off from people. I understand needing meds to survive. I leveled a few times. Got a mental skill and got better. There’s a skill called regeneration. You might want to grab it when you first level. It might be your key.”

  He looked at me in awe. He thanked me.

  I turned to the room. “Does anyone have any objections? No? Well, let’s welcome our new guildmates, shall we?”

  A general cheer went up.

  I went to the kiosk and bought a bunch of cheeseburgers and hotdogs. Plus some condiments. Then laid them on the table around me. Then pulled out my bottles and explained what they were. We started soda roulette.

  People were laughing and having fun. Eating and enjoying their time.

  I pulled Thomas aside, however. “Tell me about your sister.”

  He blinked. Surprised. “What do you want to know?”

  “Her age, her child’s age, her current occupation. Her living situation.”

  He startled. Then furrowed his eyes. “Sir? That’s a little intrusive, you think?”

  I blinked. Then thought back. No one told them.

  “This building has bedrooms for guildmates. You each get one. It’s 14x14, bedroom with a full bathroom. Maggie and Jamie don’t share. I’ve got like 12 empty right now. If she would rather join the guild I want to know. If her child is young or old enough to be alone I want to know. Jamie is 12 and has a consultation part of the guild. I’m offering her a blank job. A room for her and her child. So she doesn’t have to struggle on cash anymore. She wouldn’t have to run the dungeon unless she wanted to. She can just do consultations.”

  He stared at me. His eyes started to water. He quickly rubbed at them. Oscar started walking toward us. I waved him off. But now he was watching.

  “Sir, you don’t know what this means to me. Her daughter is 6 going on 7. She has autism. She’s special needs. She’s high functioning, but she has bad days sometimes. You’d seriously hire Sammy just like that?”

  I nodded quickly.

  “This is how we’ve gotten most of our people. Most of the guild were my coworkers from the subway this building used to be. Would Sammy want a separate room for her daughter or use the same room? I can likely fit in a second bed, especially if it’s smaller.”

  He just stared at me. Then bear hugged me.

  He was not a small man. I was skinny. And lanky. He nearly crushed me.

  He kept whispering thank you over and over. I patted him on the back. Saying nothing.

  When he was done I pulled out a piece of random fabric. Let him wipe his face. Then hit him with pristine. He looked better for it. His eyes were still red. Oscar seemed relaxed now. I think he got the gist of what we were talking about.

  “I’ll call Sammy and ask her about it. Today. How soon can she move in?”

  I pulled out three empty fanny packs and handed them over.

  “Here, these have about 14 cubic feet each. You have to manually organize them, but that should help you move her. Also today if you like. I need to tell the other two they can move in as well. You’ll need to pick a room too.”

  He stared dumbfounded for a second. Forgetting he was allowed into a room too.

  “Right, yes. Thank you, sir.”

  “You don’t have to call me sir. Call me Arthur. Guilds are like families.”

  He looked at me and slowly nodded. “Sure, uh, Arthur

  Then he walked back to the others.

  I pulled a couple more fanny packs out and went to the other two. Telling them the same thing. The bedrooms, they could move in whenever. Then handed the fanny packs over to ease the move. Then told them they could keep the fanny packs.

  Then I started passing out fanny packs to every guild member. Including Oscar. Though I made sure his was a neon green. Just because.

  Everyone was marveling over them. Jamie was exclaiming about bags of holding. I had to explain the mana requirement. 50x dungeon mana. 50x expansion of space. He gave me a look. He had noticed the bags for sale in the system store. I explained I sold the extras and could only make them in the dungeon that big. Sorry.

  He huffed, but let it go. He had a fanny pack that was the size of a fridge. That should be good enough for now.

  I showed Oscar which rooms were occupied by the name plates, and let him pick which he wanted. Then deposited another 30k into the guild’s bank. Just in case.

  I had plenty of credits.

  I could try and buy up surrounding lots, couldn’t I?

  “Raven, are any of the surrounding stores going out of business now?”

  “Confirmed. Three nearby are. Would you like to purchase?”

  “Yes please. I should have enough in currency, yes?”

  “Correct. Total purchase at 325,670$.”

  Ouch. Most of what I had left.

  Needed to talk to Dumar then.

  Or I could just—

  “Raven, credits are still selling 1 credit for 15$, right?”

  “Correct. Would user like to purchase currency?”

  “I think I will. Say about 20k credits worth.”

  “Confirmed. User now has 300,000$ more.”

  “Thanks, Raven. I’ll try and not do that very often. I don’t want to ruin the economy while there’s one left.”

  “Confirmed.”

  “How many force bolt and gravity wands do I still have on me?”

  “User has in inventory of 2500 of each.”

  Well damn. Ok then.

  “Drop 500 of each into the guild vault, please. Let Kate know.”

  “Confirmed.”

  Now, what else. I could just go to my parents now I suppose?

  “Raven, is there any pressing matter that needs to be taken care of? Before I leave town?”

  “Confirmed. Alert Sergeant Wilco.”

  Right. She told me to, didn’t she.

  “Thanks, Raven.”

  I pulled my phone out to call her. Only to realize I didn’t have her number. Thankfully I had someone very close to her right in the building.

  I went to look for Oscar. He was in the main office now.

  “Hey, Oscar. I was supposed to alert Sergeant Wilco if I left town. I’ve been meaning to visit my parents for a few days. Only thing is. I don’t have her number. You mind telling her?”

  Oscar blinked at me.

  “You want me to tell my daughter that you’ll be out of town? Why is she keeping tabs on you? And why should I?”

  I winced.

  “You’ll save me a trip to the dungeon. You’ll save me from getting yelled at. And as for why she’s keeping tabs on me, she’s mad I bought the land from the system and built the community hall so fast.”

  Oscar sighed and rubbed his eyes.

  “Fine. I’ll shoot her a message. But I’m also giving her your number. Margaret was kind enough to give it to me. Lovely woman she is.”

  I blinked. Then blinked again.

  They were both single and in the same age range, so I suppose it could happen. Shrugging the thought off, I thanked Oscar and made my way down to my van.

  “Alright Raven, let’s hit the road!”

  “Confirmed navigation. Total drive time, 5 hours and 40 minutes.”

  Huh. I thought. Usually takes longer.

  Then I sat back, pulled on my PC glasses, and started a movie