"No, don't eat that!" I knocked Steve's hand away from his mouth as he tried to throw some small tool into his mouth.
I swear…
Just the two of us were at Ratmir's after completing an incredibly anticlimactic delve to the south of Velez. It was with badger-like creatures and we earned a single large chunk of silver that was worth at most a single gold coin.
Ratmir was running another battery of tests on Steve to test his intelligence-enhancing circlet after we'd done so many delves in the Struva area.
The mad scientist seemed to get along better with Steve than with me, the two chittering away mindlessly while he poked and prodded my bond. The sugar glider seemed to be sending more complex feelings through our link and Ratmir started asking him to send specific things, making accompanying faces. Steve thought it was a game and tried to do them back luckily instead of sending agony, arrogance, and constipation.
The cognitive tests Ratmir used on Steve were rather strange – then again, what isn't with Ratmir? – but he said my bond was improving beyond even his wildest expectations.
That's both good and bad. It means he can probably get to pretty smart but it also means I'll have to deal with what a smart bond means sooner rather than later…
Moving onto a new topic, I asked, "Ratmir, do you have any solution for his 25% efficiency with non-null affinity essence? I feel like that could be a hindrance if the null zone gets fixed or we move somewhere else." It was a concern that my bond had such a low efficiency for absorbing the green affinity essence in the area.
My personal efficiency for green essence was around 85-90%, which was higher than the typical 80% for most people absorbing any essence that didn't match their affinity. The big issue with the null zone was simply that null affinity essence was damaging to most people's essence channels, not that they didn't absorb it efficiently.
"Not yet but I'll keep testing it. Yes, I like testing you, yes I do," he said to Steve while tossing him up and down. "It's not a problem now though is it my little friend?" The sugar glider honked his nose.
"I know you tested the circlet with a neutral essence stone but I got this null affinity o—"
I cut off suddenly as the stone was no longer on my palm.
And of course, just like Steve would do, Ratmir's first test was to lick it.
"You're washing that off before you give it back. And don't drain it, I want to test it with Steve."
The man didn't seem to be paying attention but I continued on.
"I figure you can watch him use the stone and see if there is anything strange between allocating directly to his cores and the circlet. I know we wanted to see if there was any difference between him letting the essence settle into his channels first then pushing it to the circlet. We can maybe test a tiny bit there but I'd rather right not now in case it hurts his essence channels."
"I have essence stones here to replace any lost essence so it won't be a problem. I guarantee," he said, this time switching the stone under his nose slightly as he seemed to be testing the smell with each nostril.
After another twenty minutes of doing random things to the stone and finally giving it to my bond, we learned that Steve could indeed 'donate' his settled essence but it was slightly less efficient than just allocating to the circlet from the start. Ratmir had a million theories why but it didn't really interest me.
What it meant was we could basically take in as much null essence as we wanted and use it for anything, including to power up my spells – and hopefully Steve's too once we got him smart enough to absorb them.
Finally, I asked Ratmir to just monitor Steve as he absorbed the rest of the null affinity essence stone into his cores. It was past time I started to let him actually increase his own cultivation since I was already nearing Tier 1.4 when he was still near the bottom of Tier 1.0.
Steve played with the stone while he absorbed the essence and seemed to be enjoying himself. The constant feelings of hunger through our bond lessened as he concentrated of filling his essence channels.
As he neared the end of absorbing the stone, only 3% or so left, I couldn't help but ask, "Uh, is he getting bigger?"
Ratmir excitedly started another round of tests, measuring him from multiple angles.
In our moment of inattention, the little monster ate the stone.
Of course…
Thus began another hour of testing.
The good news was twofold: First, Steve reached Tier 1.1. His triumphant dance at eating the stone made me laugh despite the worry and he was able to absorb most of the remaining energy from the stone anyway.
He sent reassuring feelings to me through our link.
The second bit of good news was consuming the essence stone in that way actually helped his essence channels slightly; he was now at about 25.2% efficiency for non-null affinity essence. Neither Ratmir nor I was willing to let him eat an essence stone to test it out further – me because of the danger and Ratmir because of the cost.
The bad news was Steve definitely got a bit bigger. Only 5% or so but if he kept growing at that rate relative to essence absorbed, he'd be pretty huge by the end of Tier 1.
The first sub-Tier was only 2% of the total essence needed to go from the bottom of Tier 1.0 to the peak of Tier 1.9. So him growing 250% would mean the backpack was worthless halfway through the Tier. And if it was compounding…
I left the scientist's place with a lot on my mind.
***
[Incoming Message from Inga Balodis: My personal assistant just arrived in Velez, please meet with him. It's important.]
[Who is this?]
[Incoming Message from Inga Balodis: Very funny. I promise it will be worth your while.]
I tried responding again but my AAI told me I was temporarily blocked from sending messages to whoever Inga was.
I sent out a message to my usual group of Tiesa, Jasna, Gabor, Risto, and Vana trying figure out who the mysterious figure might be.
[Incoming Message from Vana Soroka: Oh no boy, what did you do now?!]
[Incoming Message from Vana Soroka: File]
It was just a video of her waggling her finger back and forth.
Tiesa was much more helpful, letting me know she was the mayor of Pitola.
[Incoming Message from Vana Soroka: I have some nervous-looking guy – Norbert I think – here saying he has a meeting with you. Should I tell him to wait or scram?]
I asked what Tier and Vana guessed high Tier 1 or low Tier 2. Tiesa agreed to come to Vana's if I paid for her meal and drinks to make sure nothing too rowdy happened.
Norbert was so non-descript it was notable. His brown shirt and slightly lighter shade of brown pants faded into the overall common room well enough that at first glance, you might think just a head and hands were floating there. But his hair also matched the décor well enough that it was almost like he was wearing an all green bodysuit in a weather studio.
This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
He stood up as I entered, giving a small bow and approaching with his hand held out firmly in front of him. "Mr. Carver I presume. Though the change to your hair style almost made me not sure. Do you have a more, erm, private place to talk?" he asked, pulling at his collar nervously.
I glanced to Tiesa who was half turned our way while chatting with Vana.
"Let's sit down and you can let me know what this is all about first. If we start to get into sensitive details, then we can discuss going somewhere we can't be overheard. Besides, there are all of five people in here I don't know."
I sat down at a table and gestured to Vana for some food, holding up three fingers to indicate one for me, one for Steve, and one for Norbert. Whatever she was making would be good so I didn't much mind.
"So, I presume you know why I'm here. I—"
"I don't," I said cutting him off. "Literally, I didn't know the mayor of Pitola's name until a short time ago."
"Oh dear. Hmm." Norbert looked absolutely flummoxed. "That, yes, that is unfortunate. Well, first I'd like to offer a formal apology on behalf of the city. You were not treated well," he said as if that settled everything. Deciding not to interrupt, I let him go on. But if that was the entire amount of contrition, I was not satisfied in the slightest.
He gave me a weak smile. "Mayor Balodis wanted to make things right with you in a subtle way, so as to not upset other parties, who might then escalate, and… you get the point. But then it became obvious you were slightly higher profile than just 'the man who looks like the tornado that is Cornelius'."
I scoffed and he nodded solemnly, continuing. "So instead, she's been moving a few things around to find paths that are advantageous to you. And her of course. She's very happy to lay her cards on the table, so to speak. Everything she offers also furthers her agenda."
"I'm listening," I said. He had piqued my interest more than I cared to admit.
"Yes, well we have three main things to discuss: what happened that morning and why, how you might partner with the city – she has a number of opportunities for delving near our fair city at greatly reduced rates and/or tax loads – and then lastly, more information on people who have meant you harm." He said all three with a whisper but especially the last one.
"You mean when I was unjustly kicked out of your city? Now that you find out I'm useful, you want to partner instead of apologize?" I might have been kicking the messenger a bit but it was still something I was wary of. Especially if they were trying to go around the Velez Council, it smelled fishy. "Also, 'people who have meant you harm' is rather vague, don't you think?"
Isekonsultant Tip to Thriving #49: When you have someone you think might be a bit weak and has information, look to put pressure on them in a way they'll hand over the information to relieve said pressure. Don't do too often or go overboard but it can be useful if a bit mean.
"Yes, I can go into the potential partnerships to the city at a highly surface level but everything else must be in a more private location," he said. "I have an AAI-backed guarantee to not reveal the information in a place that might be easily overheard. Even just your room is fine. Or my room at the inn by the eastern gate."
Tiesa walked over and sat down. "I heard most of it. Sent messages through a few people and he's at least legit. Give us an AAI-backed guarantee that we're safe from you, anyone you are aware of, etc. while in your presence. After that, I'll discuss with Terry."
The two of us sat there in an awkward silence for the next five minutes before I received a wall of text, almost 1,000 words long, that carefully laid out tens of different angles on how he knew of no plot to harm us nor would he do anything not in self-defense.
It was one of the most ironclad contracts I had ever seen. The only issue was the open-ended timing, which made it slightly less enforceable. He amended it to a three hour window and we headed up to my room, food in hand to a slightly indignant noise from Vana.
"Don't you dare dirty up my sheets," she called after us.
***
"So, as you can see, we dug into a number of records and we believe Selim Koval, Guildmaster of the Pitola branch of the Adventurers Guild, had a secret rendezvous or two – okay, we believe based on our information network it was exactly seven – with Cornelius when he was in town. That is why we believe he targeted you."
Norbert had laid out about twenty pages of documents detailing information on just Selim and Cornelius including differing accounts by witnesses who saw Selim around the supposed times. It was incredibly thorough. I took pictures of each one for later study but it sure explained some things.
Tiesa laughed. "So that's why he wanted to put a bag on your head." She found it more amusing than I did.
"Really? It was all just a scorned lover or some bullshit?" I asked indignantly.
Norbert nodded. "He isn't known for making the best decisions. But he is exceptionally charming when he needs to be though."
Refocusing slightly, I said, "Selim stole money from our group. We were owed a fee for finding and destroying a sentient dungeon," I said.
"As stated earlier, there would normally be some kind of recompense, usually just a bit of gold we fined him or the Guild. We did fine each over 100 gold for the incident. Upon digging into their books, we know your team was due at least 100 gold so we can transfer that either to your team's coffers or directly to you right now," Norbert said as if either was totally acceptable. "We'll dig deeper to see if you are owed more."
I messaged Inara to see if I could use the 100 gold the following week to pay for Steve's final treatment and owe the team. At a quick yes, I told him to transfer to my account and let Tiesa know I'd told the team via AAI.
Isekonsultant Tip to Thriving #50: Make sure the people around you know what kind of person they are dealing with. If that's someone who isn't going to screw over friends, make it clear when things could be interpreted that way.
"Yes, so that is what you were owed but not all that you deserve. We want to make things up to you as well."
Tiesa laughed. "Oh, I like hearing that."
Norbert nodded seriously. "Of course the ban on your entrance to Pitola is lifted but we'd ask you inform us ahead of any visit so we can arrange for Selim to be elsewhere and/or for a disguise. You may do as you please but it would likely be easier for all…"
He seemed very nervous but it made good sense so I wasn't too miffed about it.
Far easier to not purposefully rock the boat for my own ego.
I motioned for him to go on.
"There are approximately seventeen businesses that would like to establish a relationship with you and we have 26 Tier 1 rifts we would like your help delving, many where multiple delves would be best."
I raised my eyebrows in shock. "Uh, I think you need to get in line if you haven't already," I said. "And I get you are trying to funnel the money to me but I have an exclusive contract with the Velez Council. Wouldn't be good to violate that…"
He nodded vigorously. "Yes, I am speaking with them tomorrow. However, I understand you have a second Tier 1 group and we'd appreciate if you considered stationing them with us for two weeks. In addition to the normal fees, if you agree to that we will pay you an additional 40 gold right now. That goes to 30 if we don't have confirmation by the end of tomorrow and twenty by the end of next week."
Tiesa's tongue poked out for a few seconds, the telltale sign she was messaging via AAI. "Done," she said. I shot her a strange look and she shrugged. "I sort of manage Vesna's team."
Putting that to the side to discuss later, I turned back to Norbert. He deposited 40 more gold into my account at The Sprouting Jade Financial and Trade in Pitola. It was an account I didn't know I even had until he deposited the first 100 gold. All my previous dealings that weren't directly in gold were essentially 'Velez or Struva owes me' and it felt great to have an option outside The Purveyors of Platinum.
"I'd still like the option to delve there when the time comes so please start working with the Council," I said as we moved on to the most nebulous thing he had said. "Now, who is this group that wants me harm?"
Norbert thunked a packet down of close to 60 pages this time.
"Why do you do all this on paper? Wouldn't it be easier via AAI?" I asked.
"AAI signals can be intercepted. Mayor Balodis is a careful woman. No undue risks. Stationing me here for a few days is far better from a risk/reward standpoint than just sending a message." He said it like his time wasn't really worth much.
I shrugged as that was an analysis he was free to make.
We started going over the documentation they had on the Church of Unullification and the mysterious woman we'd seen overseeing the group that tried to assassinate us on the ride back from Pitola.
While the city wasn't willing to pay the massive fee to figure out who put out the noble contract that allowed them carte blanche to kill us – at least they weren't willing to pay until they ran out of steam just doing a normal investigation – but thought they had narrowed it down to about fifteen noble or noble-adjacent women. They were running down leads on each right now and would be sending me more information when they eliminated at least a few more suspects.
As to the Church itself, calling it a total hot mess of an organization wasn't far enough.
A new religion wasn't really expected to be perfect but 'utter shit show' was being too kind. There was no real overarching philosophy other than 'the null is here to cleanse'.
Whether that was good or bad seemed up for debate.
What that phrase meant was absolutely up for debate.
The hierarchy was essentially nonexistent and so there were already over 50 splinter groups with different takes operating in Pitola alone. It was mostly centered there but rumors of people taking up the cause across The Kingdom of Verdant Earth and The Monetary Might Kingdom were becoming fact.
As to why they were targeting me, there were five or so prevailing theories, ranging from the normal – I was lowering the impact of the null essence and thus lowering its cleansing power – to the far stranger – Steve was actually foretold to be the leader because of our delving team name of The Order of the Ever-Consuming Glider and they needed me out of the way to let him ascend.
The last one made no sense to me since the team name was registered right as we were leaving Pitola but the files said it was now a reason they might target me even if it wasn't likely at the time.
"The guys are absolute clowns," I said, forgetting I'd have to explain what clowns were once again.
"Yes, clowns indeed," Norbert said a minute later. "But they have some strong backing and we aren't sure from where. When you come to Pitola, we'd like to connect you with some groups trying to combat them."
Being vaguely targeted gave me a headache and I asked for both Tiesa and Norbert to leave so I could think things over.
I talked to Steve for about an hour before giving up at making any progress in my thinking and instead just relaxed into bedtime by reading a few of the picture books I had out loud to Steve. He seemed to really enjoy the Putijama version of what was essentially Everybody Poops.
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