Ben was enjoying the clean wilderness night air after being confined to the city for a couple weeks. He came to a stop at the intersection where he had built the Weaponsmith Guild, Armorer Guild, and Bowyer Guild.
'I never even had a chance to check out these guild structures before I left for the city. Now that I look at them they are a little bigger than the workshops. Even though you can't enter them they must have some special features if they are this big. The system told me before that most of these workshops have complex formations in them to create items from the used resources and gathered Mana. Those formations must need to be a certain size to function or there are so many of them in there that they can't be scaled down that much. Maybe these guilds will provide some special bonuses being they are so large maybe they have more formations?'
Ben walked over to the closest guild which was the Weaponsmith Guild and opened its interface. The interface menu gave a list of percentage graphs on how much it was currently increasing weapon production, weapon quality, and weapon bonuses.
'Hmm? What is this tab? Recruitment?'
Down below the percentages was an additional tab labeled "recruitment". When Ben clicked on this recruitment tab a prompt window displayed before him.
[Would you like to recruit a weaponsmith?] [YES] [NO]
'System, does this mean what I think it means? Can I actually have this guild create a living person with a weaponsmith occupation? I remember you telling that the barracks could create troops by using this world's monster spawning physics, can these guilds also do the same thing?'
*Ding!* [You are correct most of the guilds can provide experienced people related to whatever area the guild is associated with. It is also possible to purchase how much experience some recruits are created with. Just like the structures that can be upgraded to five levels you can pay for additional experience to be added to upgradable recruits.]
"If I were to purchase a fully upgraded weaponsmith will he have the talent to create decent weapons by hand with tools and resources then?" Ben curiously asked.
*Ding* [A fully upgraded weaponsmith would be a master artisan weaponsmith his crafted weapons would be top-tier weapons in looks and quality. It is also possible to assign a recruited weaponsmith to a Weaponsmith workshop. If that assigned weaponsmith stays within the Weaponsmith workshop's radius the crafted weapons quality of any weapon produced there will further increase even if the structure is fully upgraded to a level five.]
"This is incredible I can bring these "recruits" to the city and open businesses with them. They could craft items or serve customers without relying on the support of the system. I will need to sit down and go through the guilds and figure out a game plan here for expanding my operations in Goldcrest one day."
Ben thought about the possibilities these guilds could provide and soon began to wonder how most of this was actually done by this miraculous system he was gifted.
'System, I know that you once gave me a basic explanation of how this is possible, but I need to learn how this is all done. The two of us will be together for a long time and for us to grow stronger I need to begin to learn how these things work and how we can help one another.' Ben explained earnestly to the female-voiced system hoping to learn how this all was possible.
*Ding!* [Since you would like a detailed explanation of how the system process is accomplished, I shall provide one.]
[Currently, on Earth, it is known the human body can produce 100 watts of electrical power. What still has not been discovered is the human body along with everything living thing in every universe also produces still another energy that we will call "Mana". Earthlings, unfortunately, have not developed their frontal lobe enough to use Mana so they are still unaware of its existence.]
[This energy we refer to as Mana can be used to excite the molecules in the air to create the fire used in fire magic or draw moisture from the atmosphere to create water used in water magic. You could look at magic as another form of science.]
[This science of magic can also be used to create or assemble atoms in a particular sequence to create solid objects.]
[Just how stars are formed with gas and dust it is possible to use Mana and QI to create and gather protons, neutrons, and electrons to assemble atoms in conjunction with formations.]
[Complex formations are fueled by Mana to create, gater, and assemble them to create just about anything.]
[This is how the system creates structures, resources, and living being. The blue mist you have often seen is a combination of Qi and Mana gathered by formations to assemble atoms. As long as the molecular makeup of a solid object is known it is possible to use mana to create or gather protons, neutrons, and electrons to make mass.]
For example with the Marble Quarry structure, it will use Mana to interlink one created Calcium atom, one created Carbon atom, and 3 created Oxygen atoms to produce Calcium Carbonate CaCO₃.
[This created Calcium Carbonate is used with the Mana and Qi to rapidly form coarse-crystalline metamorphic rock that will quickly become the marble you would build with.]
[When your Weaponsmith structure takes iron or steel from the Warehouse it will break those metal units down into their atomic structure. These atoms harvested from steel or iron units will then be reassembled to create a new weapon. These formations provided by the structures you build can form and interlink atoms to form a wood plank as easy as a human being.]
[This same process can also be found naturally occurring in this world. In areas where Qi is present and Mana condenses over time living creatures or in Earth's gaming terms, "Monsters" are born.]
[Depending on the type of elemental mana energy used and how the surrounding atoms are formed various types of creatures can be naturally created. Generally, a singular condensed pocket of Mana will create the same type of creatures but of random ages, sizes, and strengths.]
[When it is a natural occurrence these monsters cannot be predetermined on how they will look or how strong they will be. One monster could be created with a high mental awareness or with extreme strength, while the next one could die in a matter of minutes after being created from not being optimally formed.]
[If you look at this process like an RPG game then these dense pockets of condensed Mana and Qi are comparable to spawners or spawn areas that create an unlimited amount of monsters for the player to kill for experience and loot. Since this is not a game, obviously you can't gain experience or earn loot from kills, but you can develop and/or advance skills, spells, and techniques from fighting them.]
[The loot you obtain would be what is harvested from the creatures or monsters in form of skins, furs, scales, meat, blood, or cores and any other useful creature body parts. Monster cores are more powerful than profound beast cores and make decent crafting materials so it is advisable to Analyze their properties.]
"I just have even more questions now after listening to your explanation. For starters when did you become so...human like? You used to talk much more like a computer that would just spit out basic information. If you were not speaking to me in my head right now I would swear you were a real woman talking to me this whole time."
*Ding!* [As time passes and my levels increase it unlocks blocked sub-divisions of my programming. It is like an adult growing up, my awareness, personality, and knowledge continue to make me a complete entity when these blocks are removed and I am able to learn and experience new things.]
"So that's how it is. I originally thought you were just a system program. I have read a little on quantum computers online, but I have never heard of a biological one before. Is this how you were merged with me?"
*Ding!* [Correct, I am similar to a highly advanced biological computer which was fused with your brain. I am presently unaware of who may have been responsible for this, but I do know that I can only function by merging with another advanced organic species.]
"It seems we need each other to survive in this world. If you are an AI do you have a name? I am beginning to feel bad calling you "system" all the time. Even if you do not have any feelings that can be hurt by it, you still are an existence with self-awareness."
*Ding!* [I do not have a name that I know of unless it is blocked behind my currently locked partitions. If you are uncomfortable with referring to me as System you can provide me with a name that you find suitable.]
"Alright, I will have to think about that one. I will try to come up with a good one that suits you."
After Ben thought about this whole process of how the system has the ability to create plants, resources and living beings from Qi and Mana, he remembered how all his food and resources also had Qi in them and how the system said Qi was used in this process.
'I have one last question. If Mana is used to form and assemble the atoms, why is Qi also found in the food, animals, and resources?'
*Ding!* [As you have just stated Mana is what is used to create and fuse the atoms together and QI is used to increase the growth and assembly rate of the resources and organic materials.]
[As for resources Qi is used to increase the quality, durability, and atom assembly rates. By having Qi present it is possible to increase the rate at which the atoms can be linked together.]
[Without Qi, the building times on your structures and the growth rate of plants and living beings would greatly decrease.]
'I see so if Mana used to create and interlink the atoms then Qi is used to increase the growth rates, production times, and constructions times.'
'It's strange now that I think about it, I am able to keep up with this information. I wonder if it must have to do with my Intelligence and Wisdom increases from my cultivation advances?'
Ben wondered for a moment how he could follow everything the system explained before shaking his head and refocusing on what he should do next.
'Now about this subject of recruiting people, I think it is about time that we got serious with the security around here. These thick high walls are great, but without troops to defend this place an enemy could cause us no end of trouble even if they had a hell of a time getting in here.'
Ben walked west a couple streets toward the western wall and opened the Build Menu. On a large piece of empty land between two streets which was big enough to hold around one hundred of the smaller houses.
Here he placed down a [Ground Forces Barracks], [Stables], [Training Fields], and Classrooms].
The once empty land was now covered with rising blue mist which was beginning to take on the shape of the structures Ben had just purchased.
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Ground Forces Barracks: A large fortified five-story military dormitory. It provides your ground troops with a place to eat, sleep, and bathe. Houses 960 troops.
First Floor: mess hall, security room, recruitment room, weight training gym, laundry
Second Floor: thirty rooms with four bunk beds, two desks, eight closets per room, men and women's bathrooms and showers
Third Floor: thirty rooms with four bunk beds, two desks, eight closets per room, men and women's bathrooms and showers
Fourth Floor: thirty rooms with four bunk beds, two desks, eight closets per room, men and women's bathrooms and showers
Five Floor: thirty rooms with four bunk beds, two desks, eight closets per room, men and women's bathrooms and showers
[Locked until: built armory-water treatment-waste management-power plant]
[requires: wood-stone-iron-glass] [costs: 1000g]
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Cavalry Stables: A large facility that raises and houses many varieties of mounts used from Earth and Victus. From a standard horse up to a ferocious magical beast can be chosen to be raised here. A higher stables upgrade level allows for a wider choice of mounts. [option to crossbreed some species with DNA interface] [Locked until: built Barracks] [requires: wood, stone, iron, glass]
[costs: 2000g]
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Training Fields and Classrooms: A large open field with beginner and advanced obstacle courses, rappelling walls, rock climbing walls, drill fields, training dummies, and a school with classrooms that are supported by the system. Soldiers can go to an assigned classroom and establish a temporary link with the system to have combat strategies, tactics, formations, and military maneuvers from ancient and modern Earth downloaded directly into their brain allowing them to obtain new knowledge over time. [locked until: barracks-engineers guild-research center] [requires: wood-stone-iron-glass] [costs: 2000g]
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"This was costly, I only made three new locations and spent enough gold coins to by a quarter of Goldcrest." Ben chuckled as he shook his head at how much money he had just spent in a couple of minutes and moved on to a new location.
Without waiting around for the military buildings to be constructed, Ben walked over toward the armory just north of the stable's location and placed down a [Leather Products Manufacturer].
Leather Products Manufacturer: Produces a wide selection of leather products like horse bridles, saddles, stirrups, wallets, carry bags, sundry pouches, gloves, boots, jackets, pants, belts, whips, duffle bags, backpacks, straps, tool pouches, sundry containers, footballs, basketballs, volleyballs, baseballs, baseball gloves and many other products. It also comes with a custom design menu that allows you to design your own leather products. [locked until: built tannery] [requires: stone, wood] [consumes: leather, steel, plastic, nylon, cotton, hemp, wool] [costs: 200g]
He had a good supply of leather from the hides being supplied from his cattle and pig ranches that went to the tannery to become leather. This new Leather Products Manufacture could make just about anything ever made from leather back on Earth.
Now that he was building a stable he would need to begin production on saddles, reins and most importantly stirrups. This world still had not invented anything like the modern ergonomic leather saddles and stirrups used on Earth.
Not only the saddle but the stirrups greatly increase the rider's ability to stay in the saddle and control the mount. If a soldier had his or her hands full with a sword and shield or even a bow it could become difficult to remain in the saddle while moving and turning in battle.
Since Ben had arrived on this planet he had still not seen anyone riding a mount. Everyone he had come across in the city or out on the open roads were either on foot or using horse-drawn carts.
'System, do you know if this world has begun to use cavalry in warfare?'
*Ding!* [On rare occasion, military officers have been known to lead their troops into battle while being mounted. This allows them to move quickly between squads and give orders that may not be heard over the roar of battle. There have never been any organized cavalry units used in a battle on this planet. This world has not progressed in warfare as quickly as planet Earth. When two parties go into battle they will simply throw their troops at one another until one side is defeated or surrenders.]
'Then this world might resemble Earth's early Medieval era architecturally and culturally, but as for warfare, they are more like the early Romans before establishing the city of Rome. Before becoming a great empire they started out at the bottom like everyone else and fought in simple war-bands without the strategies and tactics they developed later on. If I bring organized armored infantry, archers, armored cavalry, and siege equipment onto a battlefield it would be a massacre.'
Ben remembered that each kingdom had their own cultivators and asked the system about them.
"What about the cultivator's and magi do they fight alongside their kingdoms troops?"
*Ding!* [Cultivators and magi of this world seem to separate themselves from politics and war and concentrate mainly on increasing their cultivation or spell capabilities. Unlike you who has a perfectly matched flawless cultivation technique and my aid to help you make the quick stage and level increases the cultivators of this world are still in the early era of developing cultivation techniques and have to advance through trial and error. This can even result in internal injuries that set them back a couple years while they heal. The only time that they tend to step away from their cultivation or spell training due to war is if their home town or city is under direct attack and the enemy seems close to sacking the city.]
'Heh, so the kingdom takes care of them giving them nobility titles and luxurious estates and they just sit on their asses cultivating until the enemy is knocking down the city gates. It sounds like they are afraid of getting injured in combat and having to discontinue their cultivation and training until they heal back up again.'
As Ben talked with the system, he continued to look through the Build Menu and studied the different bonuses that each guild might provide him and asked the system what type of people these guilds would provide him.
'I have a better understanding of how all the different guilds can help me. Those military structures should be built by now, I should head back over there now and check them out.'
Ben couldn't believe his eyes when he walked onto the training fields. He had always been interested in anything to do with the military and for a short time before graduating high school, Ben even had thoughts of joining the military.
He had watched documentaries online of men and women going through boot camp and the daily training they had to endure.
When he crossed the training fields it reminded him of the military bases that he had seen online. There were obstacle courses, rock climbing walls, rappelling walls, rope bridges, rope climbing, pull-up bars, fenced in sparring rings and other areas off in the distance that he couldn't make out. There were even large open fields for physical training and practicing maneuvers.
On this large stretch of grounds, there was what looked like a typical two-story high school building. Upon entering the school he found the classrooms instead of having desks and chairs had lounge chairs that looked like a dentist chair.
As he inspected one of the chairs he found there were what looked like electrodes wired to the chair headrest.
The system told Ben that these were placed on the temples of the soldiers to create a link that would basically download military knowledge directly into their brains.
Each class could be programmed to provide any type of specific information and/or also provide gradually changing and progressing military knowledge.
The school was fashioned after a modern Earth high school and had electric lights and modern facilities. He even found men and women's bathrooms and a large gymnasium.
'I'll wait until tomorrow to begin setting this school up. I want to go take a look at the barracks and stables still.' Ben thought as he left the school.
The new barracks wasn't hard to find it was an impressive five-story building located near the school. The lower floor had a huge cafeteria, weight training gym, a laundry facility with huge commercial washing and drying machines.
Near the front barracks entrance, there was also a state of the art security room with monitors linked to security cameras and intercoms.
When Ben went upstairs he found each floor had thirty small rooms which each had four bunk beds, a couple desks, chairs, and eight locking closets.
He had almost expected to see large rooms filled with rows of bunk beds like the military shows he had seen online. The rooms were not that big, but they were clean with modern decor and had electric lights.
Each floor also has communal bathrooms providing the recruits with stall toilets, sinks, mirrors, and showers that could be used by anyone who stays on that floor.
Doing some quick math Ben figured this one barracks could house 960 soldiers. Each room could sleep eight people and there were thirty rooms on each of the top four floors.
"This place sort of reminds me of a decent sized hotel with all these rooms on each floor. It is a lot nicer than I thought it would be. I was expecting more of an austere facility."
Back on the first floor, Ben entered a set of huge double doors marked "Recruitment".
Inside was a large room approximately 50ft. x 50ft with a 25ft high ceiling. Engraved into the concrete floor were large interlinking circles with complex patterns and symbols overlapping one another.
*Ding!* [These are the formations that are used to create the soldiers. You can open the Recruitment Menu and make your choice and they will be created individually or in groups depending on how many you decide upon.]
The system sensing his curiosity in the engraved circles and symbols on the ground provided Ben with a quick explanation of what this room was used for.
With a small excited smile, Ben opened the recruitment interface menu and began to read through the choices offered to him.