World Filter

The heat in the workshop was suddenly more noticeable when Mark cut the link between the three of them. He immediately sent what little Prana he had to his muscles, as every one of them protested at the abuse.

Taking a second to send some Sam’s way too, knowing she couldn’t be faring much better. Inventory limit be damned, Mark took out a bottle of water and drank down half of it in one go. Switching to slower swigs when he finally got his breath under control.

Jonathan did not even pause as he held the little dagger up to the morning light.

Jude and George fought one another to be the first to inspect the blade, but Jonathan held up his hand, passing it first to Sam and then to Mark.

“You guys are also its creators so you should be the first to see it.”

When Mark took the offered blade, he turned its cold body over in his hands. It was pretty and simple, the edges weren’t as sharp as Jonathan had hoped, but with the cooling of the metal he’d done the best he could. It reminded Mark of a stiletto dagger, with its thin blade and sharp tip. Channeling some Prana through it proved that it was a conduit. Mark's power flushed through the handle to rest at its point, waiting for the signal to rush into the world.

It was amazing but Mark had seen its flaws through Jonathan’s eyes. The main problem was that most other silver-tiered items offered the user much more than what they had managed. It was basically just a dagger with some additional attributes and a conduit. Mark’s Riftglimmer Waystone offered more attributes and held the ability to transport a group of people. When comparing their strengths, the three of them had only managed to make a pale imitation. If they could improve the process, Mark was confident they could make something truly incredible.

Overall, it was impressive yet simple, and Mark was happy he could be part of its creation. Handing it back to Jonathan so that George could inspect it felt good. He’d managed to craft something, granted it was through someone else, but still, Mark would take the win.

That, and rest.

It became apparent that they had spent the better part of the night forging a single weapon along with many failures. Some of which Jonathan wanted to keep because he thought he might be able to learn something from them. Either way, they were drained and a new day had just begun.

Jude pounced on the dagger as soon as Jonathan released it. They demanded to know in what order they had applied the runes to make the conduit viable.

Mark was not too sure about this, but he’d felt Jonathan changing his strategy with each iteration. Making multiple combinations, Mark was fairly certain that was the reason the later tries had continued to fail now and then.

The runes had to be inscribed in a particular order to get the outcome they desired.

Jonathan answered all the questions as they came, giving details to their trial and error. The workshop had been perfecting this method for a while and Jonathan had just managed to take the last step. It was no wonder they were celebrating.

They now knew that conduits required silver-ranked bases to be able to handle the breakdown of the material. It might be possible to make one starting at bronze, but then the material one started with would have to be far stronger than steel.

Titanium or Tungsten might work but Mark would need to learn how to make those as they were incredibly complex refined materials. A process Mark had no clue about, and currently not something their workshop could not produce. Sam would study up on metallurgy before they tried again.

Sam and Mark extracted themselves from the situation, leaving Jonathan to handle the breakdown of the process so that it might be repeated later.

The fact of the matter was that whoever attempted this had to have the pure attributes to handle the energy. A problem that would solve itself as the level of crafters increased. George had once said that certain skills could also make up for this deficit so they’d have to see what came out when their crafters had developed further.

Jonathan just so happened to have the skills of a crafter and the strength to pull this off, with a little help.

When Mark and Sam arrived back in the lobby someone caught his eye, waving like a mad woman.

Changing their direction Mark pulled Sam toward Joslin, who was calling them toward the back kitchen.

Passing through the set of double swinging doors, Mark saw a small kitchen space where Joslin no doubt did all her business.

“Morning Joslin, is everything alright?” Mark smiled as he stepped through the door.

The woman looked both worried, and like a satisfied cat.

“Could be better, could be worse, Mark my boy. Ms. Dureal. Follow me if you will.”

Mark glanced at Sam who didn’t seem to have any more idea than him, so they walked deeper into the kitchen which was an array of shining surfaces and a plethora of tools.

Joslin led them into a walk-in refrigerator, which was currently out of service.

The warm smell of plastic sealant and moldy vegetables hit Mark’s nose. Though, after the array of stenches he’d encountered of late, it was nothing special.

Once they were closed in, the small woman took a clipboard with curling pages out of her inventory.

Sam took it and her brows rose at whatever she was seeing.

“Are these numbers confirmed?”

Mark took the offered clipboard and saw it was the number of current purchases from the system.

“Over six hundred tonics bought today, of various strengths and attributes, I double-checked. And look, a new one appeared after I hit a certain limit!”

Joslin held out a familiar iron-tipped vial. The only difference was that the liquid inside was clear.

Without needing to wait for his system to identify it, Mark could guess what they were for.

Joslin confirmed it a moment later

“They’re Resistance tonics. The strange thing is, that iron gives 3 points, while bronze and silver give 6 and 9 respectively. I always thought Resistance was one of those broad attributes, so I’m not too sure why the system is being so stingy with this one.”

She was right of course, most people's Resistance was inflated by their items, rather than their attributes. The fact that an equivalent silver potion gave fifty of any one attribute was strange.

Even stranger still was that the system sold them at the same price.

Though, if Mark's previous findings with Resisance were anything to go by, it was that while the attribute was not as flashy as the others, it should never be discounted.

It had helped, and even saved him, on multiple occasions. There was plenty they didn’t know about the attribute.

Sam took back the clipboard and looked it over once more.

“Good job Mrs. Moore. But why did we need to have this conversion in here.”

Joslin looked at them with large eyes.

“Are you kidding, do you have any idea the cost of my current wares? My inventory is frankly a target. I fear for myself and worse my children. It might be prudent to spread our resources, as it were. It shouldn’t all be in my inventory.”

The worried look in Joslin’s eyes made sense, and Mark realized the burden they had put on her.

She was completely right. When someone died so did their inventory, but that did not stop people from resorting to things like torture or kidnapping to get what they needed. No matter the reason, if one called something up from the system willingly, it would come.

Sam seemed to come to the same conclusion.

“Alright, we understand, for now, give us your supply, save for your personal purchases, and we’ll distribute them to trustworthy individuals. From now on there will be someone to come and get them daily so that you are not implicated.”

Joslin nodded but the look of worry didn’t fade completely from her face.

Mark couldn’t blame her. Now that they knew the street value of these tonics, she would be in the direct line of fire. Sure she was in their territory but, there were always unknowns.

Guns and food aside, these products would be in even higher demand. Making them a potential problem for theft.

A physical place was just as dangerous if not more of a problem because of all the skills and spells people were likely to have.

They had been taking their time to roll out the tonics as rewards so before people became aware of their stores they needed to have a plan.

Moving from the kitchen Mark and Sam rode the lift up to the penthouse. When they got there they found that Ethel was out busy dealing with a logistical problem elsewhere, so they headed to Karter’s office.

Outside the set of closed doors, Mark noticed a face standing guard he didn’t recognize.

Sam had long since overcome the boundaries of personal space, if she ever had them to begin with, and just walked right into the room.

They opened doors to reveal Major Liam Grantwood sitting opposite Karter, as the two were locked in conversation.

Sam paused for just a moment and then stepped in properly, Mark followed, closing the door behind them.

“Well, greetings Mr. Grantwood,” Sam said her smile never reaching her eyes.

The man watched them enter with little apprehension.

“... Likewise Ms. Dureal, I was just here informing your faction that your excursion out of the city has been noted and we are happy to announce we will be sending some much-needed help.”

The room froze, Karter looked marginally more prepared but he still wore a surprised expression. They must have walked in just as he was getting to the crux of the matter.

Mark had to admit he never expected this, the Loyalists usually wanted nothing to do with anything outside the city.

Sam’s smile wavered for only a second but she recovered and in the sweetest tone she could manage.

“This mission has limited space, why would we ‘invite’ someone we are not sure is capable?”

Mr. Grantwood mulled it over for a moment and then spoke, even he sounded sour as he spoke.

“Because to be frank my superiors are not happy, but they decided against taking any further course of action if you were willing to make this a joint mission. Call it compensation for your refusal to vacate key infrastructure.”

Lisa would have probably already made their defensive pact known as of last night. It very well should have reached the upper echelons of the Loyalists. So the idea that they would attack their faction while the three of them were away didn’t quite make sense. It would be declaring all-out war on NAS as well as them.

“When the invasion arrived we were prepared, and yet it mattered little. Information is key and we do not want to be left in the dark again. Allowing us to send a unit with you and NAS is just a precaution so that we’re on the same level.”

‘Keeping an eye on us you mean’ Mark thought sourly.

Sam glanced at Karter who looked just as against it as they were, and yet he still inclined his head as he began talking.

“Well, I can appreciate that, but as a starter, we won’t view this as compensation. If you are to come then just know it is because we respect your desire to be informed. On top of that, this is a five-man mission. Four spots are already taken, the Loyalists will be afforded one of them ”

Mr. Grantwood looked serious and then his brows drew together.

“Hang on a moment, a single spot? What can we do with that?”

Karter ignored Mr. Grantwood and continued.

“Unfortunately, for safety reasons, five will be the limit, if you don't want the spot, we will be happy to to fill it ourselves, but the number won’t be changing.”

Kater stared on at Mr. Grantwood, his demeanor uncompromising.

“No that won’t be necessary, it's your mission after all. We'll take the slot.”

Mr. Grantwood got up unhurriedly before saluting.

“Please remember we only have the public’s best interest at heart.”

Only Karter gave the old soldier a nod as he made his way out of the room.

Sam looked at Karter when Mr. Grantwood was out of the room.

“Who would believe that, and why did we agree to that?”

Karter grimaced as pulled his eye from the closed door.

“Sweety, I’m certain he truly believes he’s doing right. As to why we said ‘yes,’ we’ve run out of wiggle room. A joint mission is a hell of a lot better than two separate ones with the same goal. Keep your enemies close so that when they backstab you, at least you saw it coming.”