Wrent fiddled with a Stamina Recovery Potion in his hand, sitting at the end of a long table in a well-furnished room. “Have any of the alchemists replied? I want to know if the potions they are providing are complete knock-offs. I haven’t heard of anyone being able to produce five hundred a day.”
It’s been less than two days since they signed the contract, but Wrent has yet to distribute the Stamina Recovery Potions to his gang members for fear of them being poisoned.
“Boss, our in-house alchemists are all currently busy, and will only respond in two weeks’ time.” The Red Lions’ main headquarters were still embroiled in a violent conflict with the Ilysian Punks and the Wretches. Wrent had not yet been requested to join the conflict, his controlled district was not adjacent to any of the fighting zones.
“How about Haui? Has he replied?”
“We provided him with a few samples, and he has verified that they are legitimate stamina recovery potions, albeit with a lower efficiency than his.”
So the Seven Snakes are mass producing it but with a much lower quality than if done by a certified alchemist… “If Haui says it’s okay, then we can use it. Priority is to distribute them to our gang members first for enhanced training and preparation. We need everyone ready to assault the Seven Snakes at the end of the non-aggression pact.”
If everything goes to plan, the samples their alchemist will receive will not be the Euria-infused ones, seeing as the first three crates are completely clean. Kyle tapped the table, thinking. It’s been two days since the start of the contract.
A gang member entered, passing Kyle a few message tubes: replies from the other gangs. He opened them, reading the contents before calling Keith into the room.
“The new recruits won’t have time to train in preparation for the battle. The other gangs have agreed to purchase Strength Potions from us at a fixed rate for the next month. Get the new recruits to begin production on a separate line. Follow the exact method I did for the Stamina Recovery Potions, but no Euria this time.”
Kyle had sent a contract proposal, undercutting the market price of the Strength Potions with a discount of ten percent, selling them for nine hundred rakels each. This should not rock the market too much.
“Sir, are we not planning to get the other gangs addicted?”
“Not yet, no Euria infusions. Let’s not burn bridges yet this early. Focus on earning money first – the faster we deliver the batch of Strength Potions, the more cash we will have on hand to make more and fight better.”
Keith bowed, heading to the common area to set up the production, while Kyle considered his war plan. With the potions secured and a revenue source established, the supply contracts with the other gangs as well as the brothel’s incoming expansion would cause his current pile of cash to skyrocket.
However, he had to consider the method by which he defeated the Red Lions. Showing off too much would be a big disaster, as it would prompt the top leader of the Red Lions to intervene and most likely crush them.
He knew that the Red Lions overall were engaged in an open conflict with the Ilysian Punks and Wretches, which gave him more wriggle room to move around. However, there were also the local enforcers and Ardent Cretins watching him.
Either way, he needed to ensure a clear combat advantage if he wanted to be able to control the flow of the fight. Time to source for new advantages I can get.
Kyle got Damian to bring him to the nearest arctech dealer he could find. The dealer was situated in the corner of the food market, with multiple types of armour and household appliances on display. This was where Keith bought the arcite stoves from. There were no weapons on display, as all arctech weapons were considered illegal in the city.
The dealer wore a simple cloak, though Kyle could tell he was wearing armour underneath. Kyle picked up a few items, reading the description.
Kyle inspected the Chest Plate, noticing it was fairly intricate. Engravings similar to the metal pipe he had ran all over the surface and interior, along with what seemed like two electrical terminals that powered the entire thing.
“Ah, you’ll need an arcite fuel pack for that.” The dealer pointed to another device that was a basic waist belt, filled with canisters of a mild cobalt blue liquid that pulsated slowly. Kyle recognized it to be the same fuel that currently powered his potion stoves.
“How much for it?”
“Well, normal civilians are not supposed to have their own fuel packs without a license, but we’re far past that, aren’t we? Sixty thousand.”
Kyle’s face didn’t show any reaction, but he internally winced at the price.
The dealer noted Kyle’s reluctance. “You can run the other two items without the need for arcite fuel, but that’s all dependent on how much… natural energy your body has.”
Seems like he’s referring to the MP stat I’ve been seeing. I have zero right now, however. How do I increase it? Kyle nodded before leaving. The prices of the other two items were also in the tens of thousands, representing an important investment that Kyle wanted to mull over first.
Returning to the base, Kyle laid out the three arctech items he had in front of him.
All the items in front of Kyle now required MP to activate their skills. Kyle had witnessed Lionel activating the hammer, and Wrent wearing an armour suit that clearly had arctech capabilities. Even with the Strength Potion, I’m at a disadvantage. I can’t use the system interface to determine what their effects are beforehand when fighting without touching.
“Statistics”
He did not have MP and had no concrete idea how to gain it either. However, based on his understanding of how ‘Titles’ worked, he might have a rough guess.
“Are there any items that boost the… natural energy of someone?” Kyle asked Damian and Keith.
Damian and Keith were a bit shaken, before glancing at each other with a knowing expression. “Sir, Slavin at the brothel has a few types of erm… artefacts of a certain nature that might boost your lifestyle,” Damian replied with a hint of understanding.
“What the hell are you two thinking about? I’m talking about using arctech.”
“Oh. Right. Sorry. It might be worth a shot trying to find Ulon’s private stash then, it’s where your current necklace came from.”
“Haven’t we already auctioned or trashed most of it?” Kyle recalled disliking the useless trinkets and ornaments, and when he touched them he didn’t see any interface pop up.
“No, those are just the public ones. I don’t know too much about it, but I do know it’s somewhere in the room. Though it is just a rumour I heard through the gang members, it may not be true.”
The three of them scoured the private room where Kyle was sleeping, eventually finding a secret wooden box in a bookcase, embedded into the wall “Oh, this is exciting.” Keith had stars in his eyes, no doubt waiting to see what valuable items there were in so he could sell them for the gang.
Damian noticed the box was not secured nor locked in any way. “He probably thought no one would steal anything.”
The box was opened to reveal a huge pile of junk, all useless trinkets. Kyle methodically went through them one by one, slightly irked at the mouldy condition of many of the statues. Soon he held a statue of a penis, and it seemed slightly used. He quickly handed it over to Keith, who had long lost the stars in his eyes and nearly gagged when he saw it.
After sorting through more than a hundred objects, Kyle soon found a sapphire ring, the band golden. It seemed like there used to be an engraving on it, but it somehow has been worn off over time.
That’s a very small amount… Kyle immediately put the ring on his right hand, feeling a surge of ‘mana’ rush through his veins like a hit of an exotic stimulant. It was minuscule in effect, but he could already tell his body had improved slightly.
Kyle sorted through the rest of the stash, only finding one book of interest. It was a intricate bound tome, complete with a metal binder and leather covers filled with engravings.
“My god, I didn’t know this still existed!” Damian exclaimed as he patted the dust off the old tome. “Theorin was the first gang leader of the Seven Snakes, more than twenty years ago. He was a natural-born wielder of Arcia, allowing him to dominate the districts before arcite fuel became popularized. Did not expect Ulon to hold on to it.”
Kyle opened the tome, noting the density of the words, as well as some of the more complicated words. He would need Keith’s assistance to translate it.
However, with this book, he could potentially begin to utilize more arctech in the future. Even he understood the limitation of his fighting skills against items that could impart special effects. With this, it’ll be an easy win.
Wrent fiddled with a Stamina Recovery Potion in his hand, sitting at the end of a long table in a well-furnished room. “Have any of the alchemists replied? I want to know if the potions they are providing are complete knock-offs. I haven’t heard of anyone being able to produce five hundred a day.”
It’s been less than two days since they signed the contract, but Wrent has yet to distribute the Stamina Recovery Potions to his gang members for fear of them being poisoned.
“Boss, our in-house alchemists are all currently busy, and will only respond in two weeks’ time.” The Red Lions’ main headquarters were still embroiled in a violent conflict with the Ilysian Punks and the Wretches. Wrent had not yet been requested to join the conflict, his controlled district was not adjacent to any of the fighting zones.
“How about Haui? Has he replied?”
“We provided him with a few samples, and he has verified that they are legitimate stamina recovery potions, albeit with a lower efficiency than his.”
So the Seven Snakes are mass producing it but with a much lower quality than if done by a certified alchemist… “If Haui says it’s okay, then we can use it. Priority is to distribute them to our gang members first for enhanced training and preparation. We need everyone ready to assault the Seven Snakes at the end of the non-aggression pact.”
If everything goes to plan, the samples their alchemist will receive will not be the Euria-infused ones, seeing as the first three crates are completely clean. Kyle tapped the table, thinking. It’s been two days since the start of the contract.
A gang member entered, passing Kyle a few message tubes: replies from the other gangs. He opened them, reading the contents before calling Keith into the room.
“The new recruits won’t have time to train in preparation for the battle. The other gangs have agreed to purchase Strength Potions from us at a fixed rate for the next month. Get the new recruits to begin production on a separate line. Follow the exact method I did for the Stamina Recovery Potions, but no Euria this time.”
Kyle had sent a contract proposal, undercutting the market price of the Strength Potions with a discount of ten percent, selling them for nine hundred rakels each. This should not rock the market too much.
“Sir, are we not planning to get the other gangs addicted?”
“Not yet, no Euria infusions. Let’s not burn bridges yet this early. Focus on earning money first – the faster we deliver the batch of Strength Potions, the more cash we will have on hand to make more and fight better.”
Keith bowed, heading to the common area to set up the production, while Kyle considered his war plan. With the potions secured and a revenue source established, the supply contracts with the other gangs as well as the brothel’s incoming expansion would cause his current pile of cash to skyrocket.
However, he had to consider the method by which he defeated the Red Lions. Showing off too much would be a big disaster, as it would prompt the top leader of the Red Lions to intervene and most likely crush them.
He knew that the Red Lions overall were engaged in an open conflict with the Ilysian Punks and Wretches, which gave him more wriggle room to move around. However, there were also the local enforcers and Ardent Cretins watching him.
Either way, he needed to ensure a clear combat advantage if he wanted to be able to control the flow of the fight. Time to source for new advantages I can get.
Kyle got Damian to bring him to the nearest arctech dealer he could find. The dealer was situated in the corner of the food market, with multiple types of armour and household appliances on display. This was where Keith bought the arcite stoves from. There were no weapons on display, as all arctech weapons were considered illegal in the city.
The dealer wore a simple cloak, though Kyle could tell he was wearing armour underneath. Kyle picked up a few items, reading the description.
Kyle inspected the Chest Plate, noticing it was fairly intricate. Engravings similar to the metal pipe he had ran all over the surface and interior, along with what seemed like two electrical terminals that powered the entire thing.
“Ah, you’ll need an arcite fuel pack for that.” The dealer pointed to another device that was a basic waist belt, filled with canisters of a mild cobalt blue liquid that pulsated slowly. Kyle recognized it to be the same fuel that currently powered his potion stoves.
“How much for it?”
“Well, normal civilians are not supposed to have their own fuel packs without a license, but we’re far past that, aren’t we? Sixty thousand.”
Kyle’s face didn’t show any reaction, but he internally winced at the price.
The dealer noted Kyle’s reluctance. “You can run the other two items without the need for arcite fuel, but that’s all dependent on how much… natural energy your body has.”
Seems like he’s referring to the MP stat I’ve been seeing. I have zero right now, however. How do I increase it? Kyle nodded before leaving. The prices of the other two items were also in the tens of thousands, representing an important investment that Kyle wanted to mull over first.
Returning to the base, Kyle laid out the three arctech items he had in front of him.
All the items in front of Kyle now required MP to activate their skills. Kyle had witnessed Lionel activating the hammer, and Wrent wearing an armour suit that clearly had arctech capabilities. Even with the Strength Potion, I’m at a disadvantage. I can’t use the system interface to determine what their effects are beforehand when fighting without touching.
“Statistics”
He did not have MP and had no concrete idea how to gain it either. However, based on his understanding of how ‘Titles’ worked, he might have a rough guess.
“Are there any items that boost the… natural energy of someone?” Kyle asked Damian and Keith.
Damian and Keith were a bit shaken, before glancing at each other with a knowing expression. “Sir, Slavin at the brothel has a few types of erm… artefacts of a certain nature that might boost your lifestyle,” Damian replied with a hint of understanding.
“What the hell are you two thinking about? I’m talking about using arctech.”
“Oh. Right. Sorry. It might be worth a shot trying to find Ulon’s private stash then, it’s where your current necklace came from.”
“Haven’t we already auctioned or trashed most of it?” Kyle recalled disliking the useless trinkets and ornaments, and when he touched them he didn’t see any interface pop up.
“No, those are just the public ones. I don’t know too much about it, but I do know it’s somewhere in the room. Though it is just a rumour I heard through the gang members, it may not be true.”
The three of them scoured the private room where Kyle was sleeping, eventually finding a secret wooden box in a bookcase, embedded into the wall “Oh, this is exciting.” Keith had stars in his eyes, no doubt waiting to see what valuable items there were in so he could sell them for the gang.
Damian noticed the box was not secured nor locked in any way. “He probably thought no one would steal anything.”
The box was opened to reveal a huge pile of junk, all useless trinkets. Kyle methodically went through them one by one, slightly irked at the mouldy condition of many of the statues. Soon he held a statue of a penis, and it seemed slightly used. He quickly handed it over to Keith, who had long lost the stars in his eyes and nearly gagged when he saw it.
After sorting through more than a hundred objects, Kyle soon found a sapphire ring, the band golden. It seemed like there used to be an engraving on it, but it somehow has been worn off over time.
That’s a very small amount… Kyle immediately put the ring on his right hand, feeling a surge of ‘mana’ rush through his veins like a hit of an exotic stimulant. It was minuscule in effect, but he could already tell his body had improved slightly.
Kyle sorted through the rest of the stash, only finding one book of interest. It was a intricate bound tome, complete with a metal binder and leather covers filled with engravings.
“My god, I didn’t know this still existed!” Damian exclaimed as he patted the dust off the old tome. “Theorin was the first gang leader of the Seven Snakes, more than twenty years ago. He was a natural-born wielder of Arcia, allowing him to dominate the districts before arcite fuel became popularized. Did not expect Ulon to hold on to it.”
Kyle opened the tome, noting the density of the words, as well as some of the more complicated words. He would need Keith’s assistance to translate it.
However, with this book, he could potentially begin to utilize more arctech in the future. Even he understood the limitation of his fighting skills against items that could impart special effects. With this, it’ll be an easy win.
