Ever had a feeling where you read the book but didn't understand it. You just mugged it up to pass the exams. Years later, you read the book again and you realise, "Oh! That's how it is."
Artha was feeling something similar. He had bombed so many chicks and their parents but he had not felt like eating eggs in real life. But he was directed, taught and scolded. He had made his own calculations to murder them. Even then it was hit and miss.
Now! Yeah baby! That moment of realisation. The moment why others scolded you , called you a bozo, a moron, an insect with a microscopic brain. To be honest, he was called a flea brain.
The wondrous moments of self realisation did not last. He had to rush back to the bar. The alliance of guilds had planned something big and it needed official approval, however dubious the said office might be. So as a token member of the alliance, he had to attend.
The bare bone plans made had been filled. The investment amount that can be used to buy gift crates had been decided. However, the office politics meant that guild leader in each village might get different amount allotted to his disposal.
From this point on, it was basically each village level guild leader to himself. Whatever grudges they had with other guilds, they had to set it aside and work together or suffer due to heavy competition. Few places were good. There were the only big fish, they could decide the market. This village, fell somewhere in between. There was no big grudges but there were a lot a guilds.
The meeting was to fix the uniform price for all the crates. And allotment of such crates. Artha was feeling pain. Hundreds of millions of credits. All into other's wallet. Let's not forget the fact that his regular income would be cut off. These guilds would not buy from him if they are already full with gift crates.
As a neutral member and silent spectator, he didn't have much to do in the meeting. He just noted who had more spending power, who were cash strapped. He might trade in kind with those poor souls. He might, just might have a chance to complete first step of quests to be apprentice sooner.
All sorts of leaks were plugged in, contingency plans made and meeting finally ended. Baccara was not there in the meeting, only Sun Lord, who didn't even talked to him. Feeling neglected he walked out to see that guilds had started working already. Nearly every one was talking about the gift crates and the guilds willing to buy them. Few die hard fans were trying to brainwash others to join their favourite guild, if not possible, just sell the gift crates to them. Artha just shook his head and walked towards training room. Keini didn't give any task. Just had to try. What if? What if suddenly she has some things she needed but couldn't leave the place? He could be errand boy and fulfill the task. Get loads of XP and coins.
No such luck today though. After donning the uniform, he started segregating the wastes from potioneering rooms.
Oh, some one is working desperately on stamina potion. This apprentice is not bad, much of the essence has been taken out. Oh man! What was that apprentice thinking while mixing the portions? He got the ratios all wrong. He obviously took all the salvageable items and properly disposed others. As apprentices practiced more and more, they were making less and less mistakes. Unless it was a new recipe. He may not be able to get much of this place, he myself while changing the uniform.
He still had time. Maybe he should fulfill next step of quest from Zoya now. He might even get S grade evaluation for completing the quest early.
His guess was right. The evaluation - beyond his imagination. The coins and XP bonus - enormous. The multiplier bonus - top notch.
Humming happily he retired to the nook, trying to copy the tome. Zoya had advised him to not copy as it required mana to copy such manuscripts. As a low levelled player, he didn't have enough mana for the endeavour.
He thought differently. He had not read the manuscript as the NPCs would have. Probably he won't copy the regular way. As far as mana was concerned, he was really ready to get drunk on mana points if need be.
As soon as he got the things ready, opened the time to copy, a window popped up.
And it was loading. Such a familiar thing. Having experienced it before, he waited.
However, the end result made him feel like flipping the whole desk away.
Zoya was right after all. He would not try to attempt copying till his mana increased drastically. He really should find tasks or quests handing out attribute points or raising Wisdom directly. With multiplier bonus in effect, it would be equivalent to rising few levels. But would there be such a wonderful tasks or quests available in village level? Even if they are available, would he able to get? Even after he got the task, would he able to complete it? After all the difficulty of task was corresponding to the rewards. With nothing to do, he went the kitchen in the inn to help his mater in cooking. Still prep work though. Master didn't believe in this apprentice much to give him a recipe to try.
Everyone was having fun, but Artha was feeling down. The gift crates! They could ruin him or make him a millionaire. Now all he could do is wait.
And hope.
Hope that there is not expiry date on them, that there won't be any restriction to open them within certain time. Else, once he did, with his multiplier bonus in effect, he could literally drown this village with all the supplies. He still had over two thousand of training staff from the time of character creation that he was not able to dispose yet. To other items was trash. But he was waiting for the time to turn it into useful item. But he had to find that way fast.