Chapter 7:
Jay stood over a map, a normal map. It was a normal map, prominently displayed on the largest table in the Northsand Capital.
Yes, it took up quite a bit of space in Jay’s 10 sq ft hut.
Jay glanced at a mark on the map, “It’s almost done, soon, I’ll start my Barony for real. Stansa won’t know what hit them. This time next year, I’ll be able to rightfully call myself Count Northsand.”
Jay’s hut was quite lavishly furnished, not quite ‘fit for nobility’, but close to it. Most people would call this place, ‘The den of a new money hermit’.
Which was… fair.
Besides the fur rugs carpeting most of the singular room, there was a bathtub and sink out in the open, powered by (Uncommon) water and fire type mana gemstones.
Next to the full-size map of Southern Pantheon’s Rest was a collection of books written in an unknown tongue to Divinity’s Rest.
In one corner of the circle was the alchemical crystal grinder one of the Alt-Jay’s brought. Weighing 80 pounds and at half of Jay’s height, it was the first thing that showed the limits of Jay’s cheat item.
The Alt-Jay’s could only bring something that they could walk through the portal with, presumably, a portal opens up for Alt-Jay and he walks through the corridor to the real world.
First time he saw an Alt-Jay use a wheelbarrow. Certainly wasn’t the last time though.
Seeing himself cart 32 swords and 96 gems was something else for Jay. The gems alone were worth enough that you had to start getting into things that cannot be purchased with money to spend it all in one place.
After spending one loop on collecting that specialized alchemical grinder and collecting information around the area close to him, he played with exponentials for 6 days. Until he realised he would never truly hurt for cash again.
The downtime was enough to transform Jay’s place from a hole in the ground to a respectable 1 room hut.
It was also enough time to turn a vague idea into a plan of action.
Multiple vague ideas into many plans.
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…
Jay stood up from his territory crystal, “There, unless the ‘loop pranks’ have gotten a lot more fucking distasteful, that should start things off nicely.”
Jay reluctantly put his hand towards his baby, “Territory crystal…. Shard!”
A bit of the Northsand Barony Crystal broke off and jumped to Jay’s outstretched hand. “Gods, I hope this works…”
Now that he had spread the word, anonymously, It was time to hightail it to make good on his word.
With all the charms and potions, Jay’s ass could haul his cart 20 gilopaces in less than an hour.
…
Clerk Iona read the crystal message again, “...Hey, someone call Guildmaster Tekk! We have a request that might open up a new branch!”
The Northern Stansa Adventurers Guild HG was in an uproar. That much was understandable, after all, it wasn’t everyday that a claimed dungeon that produces mithril dropping monsters was handed over to the guild.
…
Mage Fargus was lying in his own sick.
It wasn’t until a messenger boy kicked him did he rise. “...uegh. What is it you want… kid?”
The messenger boy frowned, “Letter for you… ser.”
Fargus sat up against the alleyway and tore into his letter.
“...”
He was stunned by the offer.
“THAT much for maintaining some mana wells in the godsforsaken badlands?!”
Fargus definitely thought some things were suspicious about this offer. Like how the messenger boy was able to find him in a random alleyway instead of leaving it at his residence. Or how the employer both knew about and offered to pay his gambling debts.
But both of those things could be explained by divination, and he had seen those thugs break people’s ankles.
Fargus brushed the sick off of his robe, “If they want me to leave immediately, I’ll leave immediately.”
…
Hello Baron Northsand,
We here at the Rocking Earth Mage association are happy to oblige in your request to magically enhance your lands. The ample amount of rare grade nature gemstones will aid the process greatly!
Expect our greatest mages posthaste!
…
The dry year and long winter had hit the border villages the hardest. That was why every rinky dink Barony village had accepted the offer easily.
Hell, some of the villages would have accepted the offer anyways. It’s hard to ignore favorable conditions, advanced payments, and sweet promises.
That day, over twenty border villages packed up their crystals and abandoned their baronies.
…
Jay had sent hundreds of messages to different groups and several talented individuals.
He was determined.
But it wasn’t the work he had put in that occupied Jay.
Nor was it the fast speed he had found himself going.
No, “This is gonna be so much fun!”
As Jay tapped on the big box of potions, charms, scrolls, and bombs, he thought of the challenge ahead.
And it put a smile on his face.
He giggled, “I’m gonna fucking speedrun this dungeon.”
While Jay distracted himself with his delusions of grandeur, his ass was having the time of her life hauling ass at a speed rivaling automobiles.
Jay almost wished that someone would see him, just to see the look on their stupid faces.