[Data processing complete.]
Barda had been waiting for this notification since the moment he entered the library. With a suave smile, he proceeded to launch the interface to get the full details.
The school was very protective of its information, that was why they wouldn't let just anyone browse the contents of their books just anyhow. if that was the case, then they would lose their advantage as an association. Only those they deemed worthy of receiving this information could get it, and only when it was strategic to the organization.
Unfortunately, they did not account for Barda nor his special circumstances. Perhaps if they had access to the galactic organizations they would have known and prepared, but now they were unknowing. As an android, Barda used more than the 5 common senses to analyze the environment around him, in addition to picking more details.
In the universe, one of the most used and worked on mods on the bodies, both artificial and natural was the senses. Being able to perceive a threat or collect illicit information was the hallmark of modern warfare, for without information one was like a fish in a barrel. As such, Barda's sensory mods had been through the roof in terms of performance and range.
When Barda first heard that he couldn't be allowed to read, he didn't fret since he had a faster method anyway. Any time he would enter a new room or stall, he would run a scan through everything in the room.
After the scans, the AI would take over the processing part. Using complicated algorithms that the A.I. could process in nano-seconds, Barda was able to analyze the thickness of the books and the texts in the book. To him, a fraction of a millimeter had no difference with a foot in terms of analysis.
It was a queued process, meaning that it would run in the background until it was done. By doing this, he had collected all the information that was contained in the library. It was only a matter of time before the processing was done.
The AI took the time to analyze the books and their contents based on the parameters Barda had set prior. This was his report.
[20,186 reading materials scanned. 11,234 reading materials analyzed. 4746 reading materials written in unknown languages. 1,621 reading materials damaged.]
[Grouping according to Categories:]
[2,137 reading materials related to Forging.]
[243 reading materials related to Weaving.]
[497 reading materials related to Pottery.]
[579 reading materials related to Sculpturing.]
[377 reading materials related to Artistry.]
[3,176 reading materials related to Alchemy.]
[3,901 reading materials related to Combat.]
[1,412 reading materials related to Cooking.]
[324 reading materials related to Carpentry.]
[1,173 reading materials related to Embroidery.]
Talk about a boon! That many reading materials available all in one afternoon. If the fraternity back at Gazan school were to learn about Barda's information heist, they would be furious. There was no way to prove any wrongdoing though, so Barda could only celebrate his perfect crime.
These books may not have contained all the information and advancement made in this world, with some containing erroneous information. What they did do was show the level of information and technology available at that time in society. With this, at least Barda wouldn't have to struggle to guess what he could comfortably use in the society and what was too advanced.
Moreover, with the information provided, Barda could walk around as an acceptable genius. A genius is not just supposed to be impressive on the battlefield, they also needed to impress at an intellectual level. Unfortunately, being knowledgeable about the information that no one knew was not being a genius, just being crazy. With the level of information available to him now, he could comfortably fit the description.
There was a difference between what the AI knew and what he knew. Over time, this had been a highly contended issue back in the galaxy, and how the developers had solved it was by making the search intuitive.
The same way one holding a device could type in a search on the information grid, anyone with an AI could do the same, only instead of typing, they thought. The advantage was that since the AI was part of who they were, the search was more intuitive, and the results were far better.
All the AI's information was stored in its Big Data storage drive. Not only could the machine absorb experiential memory, but it could also the information in the scans and documents stored.
The biggest breakthrough had been achieved when one could call up any relevant information without actively thinking about it, becoming part of the thought process. This did not only make the user incredibly smart, but it also limited the chances of deception.
The following morning, Barda was waiting by Lady Ellen's door with a hot beverage. He then proceeded to awaken everyone else under the Dark Flames Adventurer team. There was a surprise waiting for them. Having spent the whole night going through the books, Barda had a lot of information to work with, but no materials.
What was appalling Barda was that he had no money. Despite all he had achieved, he was still as poor as a church mouse. This he chalked it up to the fact that he never actively sort it out. For starters, he had everything he needed, well, almost everything, even without the money. It was not that he needed raw materials for exchange that he realized that he didn't have any.
Secondly, Barda felt that he could get it whenever. Unlike in the previous life where money was fleeting and hard to come by, in this life, he had power. The power he commanded made it that he was never irrelevant, hence he would always be provided for with his needs as long as he offered the right services.
The Adventurer Team did not have a standard salary but paid its members by a commission. Such a ridiculously high profile job had to be just as high paying and extremely lucrative. Since one hire usually led to another and so forth, this was also a chance to build up a profile. Too bad pay would come much later.
Barda then went to wake his best bud up, Batoo. For sure, Batoo was not stoked about being woken up that early, much less to dig into his savings and give out some to Barda. Not that Batoo had much money saved up, but he was also not dead-broke like Barda.
That morning, the commander and the rest of the team, including the subordinate teams, woke up to a refreshing beverage. Brewed as the day was breaking, Barda had used up all the materials he bought using Batoo's money just to make one serving for the team.
Despite the expenditure, Barda did not see this as a waste. Looking at the excited faces of the adventurers, even Lady Ellen was pleased with the result.
"Is this going to be the norm, oh head of logistics?" an excited Sten asked as he took another mouthful of the delicious liquid.
Prepared from the leaves of the Tundar plant, the Tundril was one of the most loved drinks in the morning, a proper way to start the day. However, it was not easy to come by, and it was extremely difficult to prepare. Only the best cooks could make them like these. It had the advantage of revitalizing the body and setting one ready for the day.
Before the previous day, Barda didn't even know such a drink existed, but the 1,412 reading materials associated with cooking had gone a long way to provide him with relevant knowhow of how to make it. That coupled with Barda's accuracy and dexterity, made the drink a big hit.
After breakfast, Barda went to talk with Lady Ellen about his role in the team. She was shocked to see that he even had a list of items he needed to procure to start working right away. After a lengthy closed-door meeting of which only the vice-commanders were allowed in, the matter was settled.
A very happy Barda came out of the room smiling ear to ear. He then selected 5 people who would make up what would be known as the logistics team. He had no preference, but of course, Batoo was the first to be picked. He then proceeded to pick another 2 men and 2 women as his starting point. Later, he left a notification for anyone else who would join, stating that he had 4 more open slots before setting off to the Adventurers' Association.
With a pocket full of cash and a group of adventurers as aides, Barda looked forward to the boons he'd get from the Association. It would no doubt be so much more than what he had come out with the last time he did.