Chapter 138
Open Patents
A moment, that was all I had, all I needed to myself. My Magic Fundamentals class was over for the day. My next class wouldn’t be until tomorrow morning for my Qi Manifestation class, meaning this was my time to relax. Meaning that I was free of all guild obligations and done for the day.
What do I do with my free time? Well, like anyone I have my passions. Some of my students have their passions in inappropriate places, like each other, or certain spouses, but now that I am no longer actively involved in the Thieves Guild, I don’t need to keep track of such events. Instead, I prefer to let others think they have their anonymity inside this world where we are literally viewed by millions at any given time. Kind of odd, really. While others might eventually have an affair or fling brought to life, by a watching relative, most people tend to be oblivious to the fact that their actions can and often will come back on them.
Which is why me, I try to spend all my time and desire on my true passions, skill grinding. This is why I was so excited to finally get all the students kicked out. Everyone but my security detail is now gone from my teaching area, meaning I can finally focus on something I have craved to do for a while now.
Yes, I have finally found the chance to finally improve my Gear Infusion skill. As Gear Infusion is one of the special skills I chose to focus on with the awakening of my legendary bloodline’s Title, I already have some understanding of what to do.
First off, I need to be quick, as basic metals tend to corrode due to my dueling Life and Spirit auras that are going off around me at any given time. This has helped me to come up with an understanding of both metals, alloys, and the fundamentals of the mechanical nature within this steampunk world we find ourselves in.
Let me try to explain the nature of metals. First there are what I consider three tiers of metals. There are base metals, those that are both abundant, but easily degradable due to their very existence. These are Iron, Copper, and other light weight metals.
Next, we have the second-tier metals. These are metals that are slightly more robust, and more durable. Oddly enough, precious metals like silver and gold fall into here, along with a few other metals that have odd characteristics to them like aluminum. Additionally, this is where alloys first make their appearance. Alloys, being the combination of two or more elements first appear in the tier two category as they are more resilient to external energies. This is where bronze, brass, and cast iron appear, all of which can be used to stave off one external elemental forces. Metals and Alloys from this tier are the basic tier needed to actually be used for Gear Infusion, as they are the only sources that can contain internal energies.
Unfortunately for me, the fact that I have not one but two competing auras of different elements means that even using tier two metals or alloys is a no go, if I want to pursue my engineering side. It was a long costly time to realize this, and to realize that I truly needed the Midnight Hunters to fund my hobby, if I wanted to be able to actually create something that would last.
This of course brought me to the third and final tier of metals and alloys. While this might seem like an easy understanding with a lot of potentials that could be expanded upon in the future, for now this will be my final destination for the sake of getting and using engineering components. Tier three for metals are the top of the line. These are the strongest base metals known in the world of biprism. These are your Tungsten, Titanium, Mithril, Oricalcum, and other rare metals that are generally placed in alloys automatically due to their individual weaknesses. The primary weakness is that most of these metals cannot hold an edge, meaning that for weapons and other critical tools, they will need to be made into an alloy with another metal that can be focused down to a stable edge.
Again, as time goes on and my understanding of metals improves, I feel that there will be a fourth or maybe even a fifth tier of alloys that are perfect for creating both cultivating and magical machinery. For now, though I realize that the great part about tier three metals is that they can take both Qi and Mana energies. This tier of products are also able to withstand being in my vicinity without beginning to show signs of rust or extreme aging, which will prove invaluable if our guild ever tries to explore elemental realms, or better still sell items that are capable of withstanding elemental realms.
This of course brought me to my first major discovery or creation with Gear Infusion. I was messing around with wiring, trying to create a component that was both bendable and able to withstand great pressures, while channeling energies. This was how I created my first, of hopefully many great inventions.
Personal Quest Complete: The New Gizo (Repeatable): You have managed to create a new item unique to the world of BiPrism. You have created a Multi-Threaded Energy conductor for non-electrical energy sources. Rewards: Experience, Title (Upgradable), Patent Rights.
Experience gained: 2,500 / 1,250 / 1,250
Ding.
Level up.
Ethereal Healer has increased to level 210.
Title: Innovator (I): You have invented one new thing never before seen in the world of BiPrism. Effect: +1% efficacy to all created products.
Patent Rights: The creation of the item Multi-Threaded Energy conductor for non-electrical energy sources (Name pending) has been registered to Cassiopeia Spiritlight.
Do you wish to make this an open patent, or a closed patent?
The question about whether to make this an open patent or a closed patent caught me off guard at first, until I was then hit with an answer to my seemingly unspoken thoughts.
Open Patent: You make this particular patent available for all to be available where you will get a 10% experience royalty on all items that are made with this product. Closed Patent: You are the only one who can sell, trade, or manufacture this product and you can limit the number of people who have access to the patent.
Seeing the two options, I realized what the heck. A 10% experience royalty was a lot, meaning that anytime people even incorporated this new wiring into their devices I would gain a phantom 10% of that experience back for levels. I also knew that I really didn’t want to negotiate with people about money or finances, I mean even talking to Mallory about pay causes me to get flustered. But the idea that I could gain a level or two from my work way out here in the boonies, that would allow life to potentially be better for others, I honestly saw nothing wrong with that. Also, I knew that once I sold the patent the first time, copies of that item could be made of lesser quality, so while the patent itself could never be stolen, it could be mimicked, meaning that any experience or money I gained from that would be extremely limited.
With that, I chose to make it an Open Patent.
Your choice to make Multi-Threaded Energy conductor for non-electrical energy sources (Name pending) publicly available has been noted. Would you like to change the name?
“Yes.” I muttered. Then thinking quickly, I thought anything would be better than that name that was clearly lacking. But then I thought about it and decided on, “Qi and Mana circuitry.”
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
That was a terrible name, but in my mind it was better than the original bland name that would easily be overlooked that was first provided by the system.
Your Item: Qi and Mana Circuitry patent has been made publicly available.
I paused, hoping that there was some form of fanfare, maybe a burst of explosions or something. But nope, nothing happened.
I had hoped for something to happen, like someone to ask how I came up with the idea. What my inspiration was, something? I mean I wanted to add that the circuit was capable of collecting all qi and mana pushed into it, thanks to the external mithril coating. That the golden threat was for Qi energy, mainly because that is how I see Qi, so it made sense to use the golden wiring for Qi energy. Then for silver, well that has been a staple in almost all old wives tales about hunting supernatural creatures, mainly because it is true, the metal is extremely capable of absorbing and channeling mana.
Then just as I had this thought, the system asked.
Would you like to provide a description of the patent? As people are requesting an explanation.
With that, I paused, wondering who would already be aware of this patent? As that would mean they would have to be at the patent office directly and have seen the patent coming in. After a moment’s pause, I figured it was some type of automated clerk that was forced to register all new patents. Realizing this was all free publicity, even if it was only going to be seen this one time, by an underpaid office worker who likely hated their profession. Lord knows, I would personally die if I had to be stuck behind a desk all day reading new open patents coming in. Still, I decided to use this as best I could and explain the item, its design and the different components.
Qi and Mana Circuitry: The next stage in energy cabling. The alloy is capable of withstanding the pressures and related corrosive effects of being in elemental realms. Using both gold threading to conduct Qi energy, which everyone is capable of producing with enough practice, along with silver threading for those who poses magical abilities, this wiring allows for many alternate energy sources for both machines and robotics not currently available with the standard electrical circuits currently available and mass produced. In short, this will mark the true start of the enhanced steampunk revolution. -Cassiopeia Spiritlight
Yes, it was a bit bombastic, and egotistical, at least for me. I honestly don’t know why I decided to sign it, other than the fact that I wanted people to know that the creator of the item had written the review, even if it came across as conceited. But I really did mean everything that I wrote within that message. I thought that it was also a shameless plug for Qi training, which I and the Midnight Hunters Guild held a monopoly on, meaning there would likely be a limited run on this, as most mages stayed away from machinery due to the inevitable wear and tear that most tier one items suffered from long exposure to mages. But this was a tier three metal, meaning that even the toughest of conditions could be resisted.
Your comments have been judged, accepted, and verified. Providing final approved definition to Open Patent.
Once again there was a pause, as I expected a fanfare or something, but then was once again brought back to reality by the fact that no one cared. It was a niche product for a niche market that hadn’t been developed yet.
With that, I decided to go back to my work, as I still had to work on creating gears that could both turn and withstand the strain of elemental forces, along with two different competing energy sources. Then I had to create rods, pistons, pumps, hydraulic shafts, measurements, and resistance increasers.
My goal for this was to create a machine that my Qi students could wear that would eventually increase the physical strain they were under, based on how much of their own Qi they kept pumping in. Of course, the way to fix this and make it a usable, by others, device was to switch out the hydraulic shafts to go outwards, thus being a force multiplier, but that would be what I would patent, while what I would provide for my students would be much more diabolical.
Smiling inwardly to myself, I began coming up with a number of different Open Patents for items that could use both Qi and Mana for fuel, all of which would force my students to work harder to produce minimal results when worn.
***
(Gwen and Mallory)
On the other side of the field Mallory and Gwen watched as Cass began to cackle to herself evilly.
“Uh oh, what is she doing?” Mallory asked, unable to see Cass as her face was now mostly hidden by her face covering mask.
“She is clearly working on creating some sort of magical gear.” Gwen answered, using her Angel’s Sight to see behind the outer layer of clothing and witness what her mother was actually doing.
“Is her third eye open?” Mallory asked.
“Yes, she is clearly focusing.” Gwen said, referring to the fact that when Cass’s third eye was open, it often meant she was doing something extremely technical.
“Wait, she is quiet, what has she done now?” Mallory asked, suddenly realizing that Cass’s mad cackle stopped.
“Oh, she can’t laugh anymore as her tongue is now out.” Gwen said, then stuck her own tongue out to the side to demonstrate what she was talking about.
“Is she doing that little curl at the end?” Mallory asked.
“Curl at the end?” Gwen asked, clearly confused by the question, until she focused on her mother and with a shock realized exactly what Mallory had been referring to.
“Yeah, that is kind of creepy, how does she do that?” Gwen asked.
Mallory shaking her head, just sighed. “I don’t know. But I do know that this means she will be stuck in her own little world for hours.”
“How long has she been like this?” Gwen asked.
“I don’t know, isn’t she your mother? Shouldn’t I be asking this of you?” Mallory quipped back.
Gwen just shook her head. “If she was like this before, then I sadly never noticed it.”
There was a silence as the two watched Cass who worked away oblivious to the fact that others were watching her. Well with Jhonny right next to her meditating, along with her regular guards taking rotating shifts of looking after her, it was clear why she didn’t say anything to the fact that Mallory and Gwen both had taken a few moments to try to come by and check on her.
“Do you think she is doing anything important?” Gwen asked.
“With her, she is either breaking the very fabric of reality around us, or just trying to find a new way to read books without anyone being suspicious of her actions.” Mallory said, shaking her head.
“World domination stopped by a book fetish, who would have thought.” Gwen said, only half-jokingly.
“Lucky for us all.” Mallory said, joining in on the joke.
“So you think inviting her to join us for a walk would work?” Gwen asked.
With that Mallory just stared at Gwen. “Could you imagine her trying to slow down long enough to only walk, not run?”
“Yeah, it did feel strange after I asked.” Gwen said a slight smile to her face.
“Well, do you still want to go?” Mallory asked.
“I would love to, though I have to be back early.”
With that Mallory raised an eyebrow at Gwen.
“I do have class tomorrow after all.” Gwen said.
With that Mallory just smiled and said, “I don’t envy you in the slightest. I hear your teacher is quite the taskmaster.”
“She is indeed,” Gwen said as she began to walk away. Mallory gave a cordial wave to the Captain of Cass’s guards who were nearby to protect her if anything happened. Then with that she left.
Just as the two had begun to leave, a sudden sound caused the two to halt in their steps.
“HAHA!” Cass cried out.
Pausing, Mallory turned back to see the tiny form of Cass raising a tiny gloved fist in triumph. “What happened?”
“She created a new thingamajig.” Gwen stated.
Hearing that Mallory just nodded, “the old thingamajig.”
After a few more paces Mallory asked, “do you think it is dangerous?”
“What, the thingamajig?” Gwen asked, then seeing the nod from Mallory continued, “not more than anything else she has created thus far.”
“Sadly, that is not that reassuring.” Mallory said.
With that the two made their way on a slow leisurely walk around the compound.
***
(The Legrand Empire, Patent Office)
Franklynn had probably the easiest job in the kingdom. Why he was paid to sit in the patent office and wait for Open Patents to come in was beyond him. Most of the items that people offered up for free were nothing more than simple one-off gadgets or creations that would break, combust, or shatter before they ever got through completion.
His job was a high paying job for the government, meaning that after twenty years of dutifully coming into the patent office, noting the different Open Patents and ultimately noting them as basic or lacking any true ambition, he would be able to retire with full pension and benefits, never having to look at another patent again.
This was why on today of all days, fifteen years into his easy career, he noticed the first of many items that would slowly change his fate, allowing him to rise from a lowly GS-4, to a GS-5.
The first discovery was of an absurdly expensive wiring solution. Something that was clearly going to get it marked in the too expensive to use, but noted bin of his patents he would take, copy and provide to the government.
During the course of acquiring the patent, he even found the name to be bombastic. Qi and Mana circuitry.
Now this was not Franklynn’s first day on the job, in fact he had already seen a number of items claiming to be along this avenue. Which was why he went for the tried and true method of asking the system to provide a detailed description of the items being described. This would be the final nail in the coffin, as his skill and class, aided by the system, would let him see the truth, or rather the blatant lies that were provided by the patent creator.
This was why he was shocked when he received a paragraph long detail of a new wiring solution that felt more like an over-the-top sales pitch. Yet, despite all of this the system and his skills showed that every word written was one hundred percent truthful. Even the parts about being able to withstand the environmental pressures of elemental realms, and being able to channel both Qi and Mana. Then his heart dropped as he saw the patent name creator, along with the name of the person performing the patent’s description. Cassiopeia Spiritlight, the Cassiopeia Spiritlight.
He paused, his heart racing as he thought about this and the discovery. Just when Franklin had composed himself enough to begin to leave, he saw another Open Patent drop.
New Patent Available: Qi and Mana Gear. Creator: Cassiopeia Spiritlight.
Seeing the system message, Franklynn felt his heart begin to pound as he pinched himself wondering if he was in a dream. But no, this was reality. Not only was Cassiopeia Spiritlight creating new never before seen items, but she was also making them publicly available.
Then before he had a chance to recover, yet another item dropped, the third of what would be a dozen new components, all designed to revolutionize the world, and with-it Franklynn’s career path.
“Oh you beautiful, beautiful monster.” Franklynn said, as he watched, waited, and recorded each new item and their descriptions provided by Cassiopeia and verified by the system and his class.