by Dakota Krout
His mind slid away from that subject, and only his Mental Manipulation Resistance allowed him to realize that it was happening. Joe didn't fight it; this was something he’d rather not think about. Still, it made him realize why people weren't freaking out or having more severe reactions to being trapped here or losing people out on Earth. They were getting over it really fast. Artificially fast.
Still, he couldn't argue with the results. He hurried to Jake’s shop and pulled out the laundry list of things he needed for the first time, things he needed restocked, and finally, things he wanted to have so that he could make alterations to current ideas. Jake went over it, making marks in certain areas.
Jake handed the paper back to Joe. “A star means I can get it in a few days, a number shows how many weeks I would need to get it, and a frowny-face means I can’t get it at all. Everything else I have on hand.”
Joe read over the list and arched a brow. “You’re usually so well stocked.”
“Busy times, even if it is for one of the most interesting specimens to come through my shop.” Jake leered at Joe, trying to hold back his excitement. “You know, the population density is still so high that a wave of zombies would devastate the city. Or! Oh, I have a parasitic mushroom that sends people into a rage…!”
“Please stop trying to use me to spark off an extinction event.” Joe’s mouth was really dry. Jake had a way of making Joe tense.
“Oh, I don’t want that! I am just looking at your reaction to see how… into it you are,” Jake promised him rather insincerely. His fidgeting body was starting to really make Joe nauseous.
“About the things you do have in stock…?”
“Oh, sure, sure.” Jake started dancing around the shop, packaging things into neat, little bags made of some kind of waxed paper. “The only difficulty is going to be the Water Core. Specialized affinity Cores are created naturally, and this makes them expensive. Of course, there is an alchemical process to making it happen, but all this does is boost the cost of a Core further.”
“Naturally?” Joe thought of his skill and wondered if that would work.
“By spending multiple years in certain creatures living in areas where the natural affinity of the area is at least seventy percent higher than the other natural energies.” Jake nodded sadly. “Not something easily replicated, as trying to force mana into a Core without an Enchantment tends toward…”
He put his hands together and mimicked an explosion. “Point being, I have natural and alchemical versions. Natural is going to be better overall, but that costs the most. Alchemical should work but sometimes may interfere with the intended reaction.”
“Natural, please,” Joe replied, getting a nod and an invoice all in one. He took a deep breath and left a stack of banknotes on the counter. He was waved off by Jake and started toward the town square. “I needed the items. I was low on everything. Eighty thousand dollars? No, no. Just… eighty platinum. Small, tiny coins that have no intrinsic value. Yes.”
Joe teleported back to Towny McTownface and collected his Coven. It was time to find a lake.
Chapter Forty-eight
“This is going to be the perfect place, guaranteed,” Jess told Joe as the group stopped at the swampy morass that lay just to the east of the guild’s area. “There is a lake’s worth of water, and the guild made a quest to clear out the bugs in this area. They are huge and deadly, and they keep killing off the livestock that we are trying to raise. One stone, many birds.”
“Good work, Jess.” Joe paused and looked over at her. “Everything else working out well? Need anything from me?”
“If you aren't opposed, I’m going to collect samples from the area when we are done here. I could use… certain things for my class.” Jess once again avoided the subject of what her class actually was.
“Fine by me.” Joe called over to the meandering Coven members, “Y’all! Ready to make this happen?”
He pulled out the three-foot by four-foot paper that he had made this ritual on and was actually impressed by how small he had managed to make it. The level of detail had been so high that he had expected to need to use the Ritual Hall to make full-sized rings. Cheating shadow-eraser for the win! He placed one of his Mana Batteries in place as well, not wanting there to be any power requirement issues. This had the added effect of balancing the circle, making a prime number of seven ‘participants’.
“Ego similis ad aquam. Eam continet testudines!” As soon as the ritual activated, things went crazy. All the liquid water within ten square meters evaporated at the same time, and all the water that rushed to replace it met the same fate when passing the boundary. This reduced visibility to nothing for everyone in the area, and the instant cloud started whirling around them as the ritual circle absorbed it for future use.
Multiple sounds started filling the area: rushing water, fish flopping around on suddenly dry land, and the drone of insects as their habitat was disturbed on such a massive scale. Joe couldn't see what was out there; he could barely see his hand in front of his face. Still, he was concerned about what would be waiting for them when this was all over.
Grunts, animalistic screams, and furious buzzing started reaching his ears, increasing in volume as the ritual continued. Soon, the sound of rushing water turned into sloshing water as the ritual finished up, and the unnatural fog vanished into the circles as suddenly as it had appeared. Everyone looked around to see what had been happening, and Joe’s eyes alighted on a familiar figure.
“Joe! Joe, is that you?” Jaxon was standing a few meters away, his hands shifting from T-rex heads into regular hands, and he was bleeding from multiple weeping wounds and covered in various forms of ick. “It is! Joe, you came for me! I’ve been lost in this swamp for days! Thank goodness! I was getting so worried that I’d need to go to respawn to get home, and then you came and drained the whole area just so I could find my way back!”
There were piles of insect corpses around Jaxon, most of them with at least one bite out of them. Joe could only swallow as Jaxon stumbled toward him, and before anything else, he used Cleanse to not only clean him up but get rid of the various disease and infection debuffs that he had gained in the last few days. Then he healed him and gave the no-longer-feverish Jaxon a hug. “Glad you’re okay, buddy.”
“I need new clothes.” Jaxon looked at his ragged gear and stumbled along as Joe led them home. “I deserve so many contribution points. So many bugs.”
Joe grimaced at the mention of the contribution points. As far as he could tell: still a useless currency. After depositing Jaxon in a barracks with a large meal, Joe checked that he had an empowered Raze as well as an Architect’s Fury ritual ready. Since they were charged and ready, a simple thought would get the process moving. It was time to get to the Zoo.
He laughed at the grim thought he was having. He was pretty sure those words were usually said with cheerfulness, faked or otherwise. Joe went to Ardania, stopped at the bank, and restocked his ring with bank notes, then started his walk across the city. He was wearing his fancy clothes again and starting earlier in the day than he had last time. Joe paused to refresh himself before entering the Zoo, a quick Cleanse bringing him to full alertness and spotlessness.
This time, there was a butler that greeted him. No hint of clowns or the feared Jesters, which Joe had come to realize were the Zoo-kept Assassins. “Welcome back, Sir!”
“Thank you.” Joe showed his pass, and once again, the handcart was pulled out for him to ride in. It didn't move, and he soon found out why.
“One moment, please forgive my impertinence.” the butler looked so distressed that Joe could only look on in concern. “It has come to our attention that you may have smuggled out a Rare seed the last time you were here and that you may be attending the Zoo today with less than the best of intentions.”
“What–”
“If I may, Sir,” the Butler cut Joe off smoothly. “There is no proof that you took the seeds, none at all! In fact, all of our c
oncerns will be allayed if you would be so kind as to allow me to hold your storage ring while you attend today. I swear that we will return it to you, without ever looking into it, but… to attend, you will need to do so.”
“What about my bank notes and such?” Joe looked at the distressed butler. “How will I buy anything?”
“If you will show them to me, I will vouch for your ability to purchase anything up to the amount disclosed.” The butler waited as Joe pulled out fifty platinum worth of notes, and his eyes widened fractionally. “I see that our Zoo has made an… impression on you.”
“Yes…” Joe looked into the distance, feeling the need to feign the manner of Nobility. “Before now, even a positive one.”
“I am sorry for the inconvenience, Sir.” The butler put the ring into a pocket, and the cart began moving. “The Floodwater family noticed that there had been a small batch of fruit that went out with seeds, and even though they are unlikely to grow anywhere but their specialized vineyards, the family became slightly… feisty.”
“Why would they allow out fruit with seeds if this were such an issue?” Joe avoided the subject of why the Zoo might think he was there with bad intentions. He knew why. They knew why. He simply didn’t know how they knew that he was there to cause damage, as only the Royal Family likely knew about his quest. Perhaps they simply thought the Architect’s Guild had ratted them out for supplying them with a knockout weapon?
“I’m told it was an error that has been rectified.” The butler paused, “As far as I know, only one harvesting crew was slain over the issue. A very lenient punishment, but they are known to be softies like that.”
The cart traveled through the menagerie of interesting creatures, but Joe didn't bother to look around. Looks like he might have made another powerful enemy. At least, if the news about the seeds got out. Joe had no doubt that the seeds would thrive in the environment he had planted them in. Oh well. At this point, he would just add that family to the list that wanted his head.
There was a stutter in the air as the cart and group arrived at the Bloodsport Arena, and Joe watched as spells exploded in the air to announce another day of bouts and black market sales. The cart moved much more slowly this time, as the path to the arena was filled with other, very well-dressed people. Joe suddenly realized that wearing his fancy clothes twice in a row was likely a sign of not being well-off, and he tried to decide if he cared or not. Nah.
A short while later, Joe was in the arena and in his plush chaise lounge. The door closed, and soon, only the butler and Joe were in the room together. “Anything I can get for you, Sir? Might I suggest the barrel-cut Filet Minion this evening?”
“Filet Mignon?”
“No, this is a type of meat from Minions, the creatures that work to protect the Boss creature of various dungeons. Succulent.”
Joe couldn't think of anything to say, so he simply nodded and waited for the first fight to begin. His food came, as well as a full bar on a trolley. Joe arched a knowing brow at the butler. Apparently, they had extra service for people that were known to spend large amounts of money. “Trying to get me tipsy?”
“Never!” The butler politely lied. “Can I get you anything that would pair well with the Minion?”
“I am doing well for now.” Joe ate his steak, and about halfway through… the fighting began. Joe had several issues that he needed to attempt to balance while everything was going on. He needed to ensure that he was paying enough attention to the fighting that the butler would pay less attention to him, he needed to get his ritual into a good location for activation and activate it, and he needed to pay enough attention to the butler so that he would know when to make his move. Oh, and he needed to buy anything he thought he would need. Keeping an eye on deals. Yes.
The fighting began in earnest, and Joe motioned for a drink, which was happily obliged. Joe took a sip, and a slew of notifications appeared, various buffs and debuffs. He held the drink in his lap and made sure to keep it less than two inches from his codpiece. For every sip he took, two-to-three times that amount was siphoned into storage.
If anything, the butler seemed pleased to see Joe drinking so much of the expensive drink. When the first items he wanted to purchase came up for sale, Joe made sure to slightly overpay for them. He could see the man starting to relax in the corner of his eye, so Joe made the Architect’s Fury ritual appear under his own shoe.
Everything was ready to be activated, so Joe covered the paper in shadow and sent it silently sliding across the floor. It went up and behind a tapestry; then Joe solidified the shadow, creating what he hoped would look like a natural backing to the woven artwork. There was no reaction from the butler, so Joe ordered another drink in celebration.
One down, one to go.
Chapter Forty-nine
An auction came up that Joe was actually interested in. He had secured the second ritual to the wall on the arena-side wall of his balcony, again coated in a solid yet thin section of shadow. There should be no indication of where the ritual was activating from, for either of the rituals he had in place. To the butler’s great distress, Joe cast Cleanse on himself and removed all the debuffs associated with drinking.
Joe was pleased to find that the good aspects remained, and he got to some serious—if more frugal than the butler expected—bidding on items and materials. It was only halfway through the night, and Joe had already burned through the twenty Platinum that he had been given by the Queen. The bidding on the most recent item ended, and the announcer stopped everything for an intermission.
Standing and stretching, Joe asked to be led to the bathroom while the announcer was describing the amazing show that they had planned for the break. Seeing an opportunity, Joe reached through his connected shadows and activated Architect’s Fury just as they left the room. No one was inside to see the rings bloom out and sink into the stone, but everyone watching the interior of the arena was able to see when they expanded and bloomed around the building.
There were shouts at first, then clapping as the light was mistaken for part of the show. Joe looked around to see if anyone had seen where the rings came from. The butler, keeping an eye on Joe, assumed that the glancing was to see what was going on. This was lucky for Joe, as he soon discovered after returning from relieving himself. There was a person seated on his lounge, a person that Joe recognized from the palace. When he spoke, even his voice was familiar; he was the announcer at this event.
“Joe.” The Ringleader, Robert, was watching Joe very closely. What was more frightening was the group of brightly dressed Jesters that were fanned out behind him. “What did you do to my arena?”
“Ringleader.” Joe bobbed his head at the man. “I am quite sure I don't know what you are talking about.”
“Take a look, Joe.” The Ringleader gestured at the balcony. “What is that light that is shining in the area?”
Joe stepped closer, intentionally leaving his back open. “Is… are you talking about your intermission light show?”
He turned to look at Robert, catching the barest flicks coming from his butler’s hands. Sign language? Robert’s eyes once more rested on Joe. “I do hope you don't try to do something foolhardy. I have been keeping an eye on all of the things you have been buying, and each of them is a potent component for various powerful spellcraft. Items that have a very small chance of appearing in the world. In fact, the Tigerlily Titillation you won recently has less than a one in ten thousand drop rate.”
“I… I’m sorry to say that I am not sure what you are accusing me of?” Joe looked around at the silent people in the room. “Are you not happy that I have purchased what I did? I certainly don't want to cause offense. I came here because I knew how rare the items were, and I came prepared to buy…?”
Robert’s eyes flicked to the side, and Joe saw the butler sign ‘fifty’ and another that must have meant ‘platinum’. Seriously, how rude. Joe kept his mouth shut and simply waited. When he turned back to fully face the Ring
master, all of the creepy Jesters were gone. He hated that people could do that around him.
“As far as I can tell… you have done nothing wrong.” Robert stood and looked Joe dead in the eye. “However, you will be under close observation for the remainder of your stay. We will assess at the end whether you are invited back.”
“I can only hope that I am. As you stated, another place to find all this doesn't exist elsewhere,” Joe replied coolly. Now he was going to buy everything that he could, just to make his innocence appear realistic. He should have really brought less money.
“Hmm.” Robert stalked out of the room, turning back just as the ritual finished and the lights vanished. “I do wonder what that was. Have a pleasant evening, Mr. Joe.”
“You as well.” Joe sat down, intentionally not looking at the dangerous man who was likely in charge of a large group of assassins. This night was not going as smoothly as he wanted it to, in some respects, but it was going far smoother than he had expected.
He stood from the couch, sighing as the door closed. He started walking around and looking at the various tapestries in the room, touching a few of them and getting very close to others. “Butler, you don't think that I’ve been doing anything wrong, do you?”
“Sir, of course not! I’ve been here with you–” Whatever he was going to say was interrupted as a swarm of Jesters barged into the room, grabbed all the tapestries from the wall, and inspected them before leaving. They took the art with them.
“I…! I shan’t touch anything else!” Joe kept a stricken, faintly enraged expression on his face at all times as he sat down stiffly and waited for the fighting to continue.
Skill gained: Acting (Novice VII). You are really bad at acting, but somehow, that fact is helping you right now, leading to a high initial skill level. +1n% chance for your acting to be taken as you intend it to be taken, where n = skill level.