Chapter 135: Feeling Like a Cliché
The next day Nara paid a visit to the Invention Society. It was likewise located in downtown Sanshi, where most Societies headquartered their main building. While the Adventure Society and Magic Society often had simple outposts to conduct business, the lesser societies did not. There were only so many inventors, and they didn’t need access to the society on a daily basis.
The Invention Society was similar in construction to the Adventure Society. It was 5 stories tall, with sloping glazed roof awnings and elegant architecture of Sanshi’s downtown but lacked the Adventure Society’s characteristic marshaling yard and notice board.
Compared to the Magic Society, the atmosphere was less hectic. The Magic Society was constantly bustling with business, from requests for maintenance, verification, research, and rituals. Magic was used in almost every aspect of Erras’ society, both currency and power source. Magic Society members could make a living solely from the maintenance of arrays and as ritualists: Not all participated in Research as Aliyah did. Nara wondered if it was time for the Magic Society to split into another society to delegate some services, but such politics were trouble, and the Magic Society wasn’t likely to give that influence up.
She stepped through the doors and immediately noticed the lower ratio of essence users. At bronze rank, she conversely stood out. She was immediately greeted by an official, a bronze rank one, like her.
He was an older man, showing only slightly in his features. There was an aspect of age detectable in auras, and he was older than he looked, in his sixties rather than in his thirties as he appeared.
He had dark tan skin, as if he grew up at the shorelines of a hot and sandy region. He had smooth and wavy black hair, and eyes caught between blue and black like they were black pearls plucked from an oceanic abyss. His facial hair was full and neatly maintained, making him look like a dark-skinned sea spirit.
“Sanshi’s greetings,” he said with a small bow, “I am Niram Wu, an Invention Society’s mediator and invention custodian.” He maintained the professional tone that Nara expected from society functionaries.
“Nara Edea. Were you expecting me?” she observed.
“I have been assigned as you liaison with the Invention Society. If you would follow me to a meeting room, we can discuss matters further.”
She did, weaving through the hallways past large archive rooms, rentable workrooms, meeting rooms, and large test rooms. Along the way, he introduced some of the facilities of the Invention Society. A records room, where inventions and their details were listed. A smaller materials auction, although they could not buy and sell awakening stones and essences. They didn’t have the facilities to prevent theft of them, so the Adventure Society was the best place to keep and sell high value manifestations of magic. However, the society had a collaborative relationship with the Adventure Society and functionaries would purchase essences and awakening stones to deliver them to you, as needed. Essences were used in high level crafting—it was uncommon for inventors, who usually innovated with common materials, but the option was there, as well as a path to gaining essences once you had enough funds to afford them.
The functions of the Invention Society largely benefitted those that did not own their own workshops and space unlike how Amara, Henri, and Nara did. The rentable workrooms were sturdy, well supplied, and relatively inexpensive. Clients were billed for any used materials, but the tools available were some that others could not purchase. The sturdy test rooms had protections in place to prevent accident, and the walls were reinforced to prevent damage.
They additionally had tools for detecting lies, important for disputes and accusations of theft. If an invention was created simultaneously without theft, that was a separate issue and the job of mediators.
Niram led her into a nicely furnished meeting room, with warm tea and simple snacks waiting on the table for the two of them. The room was pleasant, with decorative plants, art, and the vibrant draperies of red, blue, and yellow that Sanshi was known for. This was a nicer meeting room than the typical, Nara noted, and she realized she had reached the point in her journey in this world where she deserved some level of VIP treatment on her own merits. Her Edea surname may have something to do with it, but Nara liked to believe that what she had now was truly her own.
The two sat across from each other, and Nirma got down to business promptly. He spoke in a measured, even tone, clear and calm, indicative of his experience with complicated negotiations and official meetings.
“In the past two weeks, several submissions have listed you, Nara Edea, as the primary or secondary inventor of inventions. The primary inventor, when no secondary inventors are listed, has primary ownership and decision making power over the invention or discovery at hand. This is complicated by the status of one of your inventions, which is listed as restricted, but that will be discussed in depth later. Primary ownership means that, for a period of time, no one can make or improve your invention—legally. With primary ownership, you gain the highest percentage of profit from any crafts, should you choose to sell the right to manufacture your invention, for applicable inventions. This exact percentage is negotiated with the craftsmen, with the mediators if you so choose for our assistance, at a fee, but you have the power to deny any negotiations if you are unsatisfied, and seek your own avenues of production. You may rest assured that, according to regulations, we will not impede your dealings if you choose to create your own contracts regarding your invention, and the right to your invention still holds even if done outside of the authority of the Invention Society.”
He paused to see if Nara had understood his explanation so far.
“Why only for a period of time?”
“It is the policy of the Church of Creation that you cannot hold permanent ownership of an invention if it is not improved upon, and we abide by this policy. The base duration is 10 years, although this duration can be extended with the submission of ongoing research. As you are primarily an Adventurer, miss Edea, you can designate the right to improve your invention to others. This is the third tier, tertiary ownership. As the primary owner, you can remove anyone from tertiary ownership at any time, although contract limitations may prevent this.”
“Ah, they don’t want their help stolen then get kicked out of the profits.”
“That’s correct. Their share of any profits generated are determined, once again, through contracts. If you have no intentions to improve an invention, is it best left to a tertiary inventor to improve upon your inventions. You can, of course, remove this right after a contract period if you wish to improve upon your invention on your once again, or you may improve your invention simultaneously. There are no limits to innovation. Similarly, if your project is wide-ranging and requires extensive set up for business, you may receive an ownership extension.”
“Sometimes its hard to improve something without implementation,” Nara noted.
He removed a magical tablet from his dimensional bag, and handed it to Nara, “This is a record of the regulations for the ownership of inventions. It’s rather extensive, but a short summary is that as long as you are setting up your business or working on improvements, there is no need to worry about losing ownership. There is leeway in being late, we are not strict as long as there is improvements in the end. The intention is to promote innovation, not to remove your rights to your inventions.”
“I see. That’s a good policy.”
“Now, regarding secondary ownership. You may dispute secondary ownership if you are unsatisfied with your status as secondary owner. You can have joint primary ownership of an invention, if you choose. You have been listed as joint primary on two inventions—the mana-cycle and the ritual stylus. Additionally, you have primary ownership over the boom whacker and soul-song communion.”
“So, I don’t actually have a secondary inventor designation?” Nara tried to recall what could have been listed as her invention. Soul-song communion was the first, then the boom whackers for Redell, the ritual stylus for Amara, and the mana-cycle for Chelsea. Laius’ cookbook wasn’t an invention; if she wanted it published, that’d be through a different society.
“No, but it is prudent so I will explain. Secondary inventors do not have the right to sell the invention, aside from certain exceptions. They will inherit primary ownership if the primary owner forfeits ownership or otherwise loses it. They will, however, always receive a percentage of profits from contracts. Their percentage is determined by the percentage the primary earns, and it is divided between all secondary inventors.”
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“So, they cannot be excluded by the primary.”
“That is correct. If you have a dispute about being excluded as being a secondary inventor where you believe you have a right to secondary ownership, you can submit a dispute to the Invention Society regardless of membership. The rules and procedures for this are included in the reference book. While in a dispute, living expenses are given to the plaintiff. If the dispute is found valid, the primary owner may have ownership revoked, downgraded, or unchanged depending on the severity of the accusation, and owed profits must be paid to the plaintiff. If the dispute is invalid, the plaintiff must pay back the living expenses, and their ability to dispute that invention will be rejected. Subsequent failures may result in a suspension of the ability to dispute ownership of an invention for increasingly long period of time and the denial of living expenses during the process. Since you are either sole or joint primary owner of your inventions, you can dispute contracts if you so wish.”
Nara looked at the invention ownership papers handed to her.
“I trust Amara and Chelsea, so I’ll go along with whatever decision they negotiate. And Henri…maybe check in with me or the others first.” She felt a little bad about the impingement on Henri’s character, but he wasn’t very responsible with finances.
He nodded, making a note in a file.
“Since you are an Adventure Society member, any contract earnings can be withdrawn from either Invention Society branches or Adventure Society branches. Funds can also be directed to the Labor, Crafts, or any other Society as needed. Within the tablet are lists of which Societies we can transfer funds to free of cost, and which we charge a fee for. For those you are a direct member of, the fee is waived regardless of their status of cooperation with us.”
He smiled at her before continuing, “While I have just delivered a rather lengthy explanation on primary and secondary ownership rights, your two solo primary inventions fall outside the norm.”
“How so?”
“I shall begin with the boom whackers.”
Nara was impressed with his ability to say ‘boom whackers’ with a straight face, but Niram was unflinchingly professional.
“An exception of the innovation requirement is for something we consider ‘complete crafts’. Perhaps they are simplistic in design, or their function is at base, efficient and fine as is.”
“Like a tube you smack to make sound.”
He nodded.
“The concept itself is not novel. It is rather the material, construction, and magic on it that is. These inventions are considered ‘public inventions’. Others still cannot manufacture it without your permission, but it is listed within our public inventions archives. Any legal manufacturing will be denied but,” he gave an apologetic smile, “We cannot stop people form making tubes that make noise when hit. Conversely, since it is public, others may come to you with contracts to produce your invention, without your active searching or input. You can reject these contracts, but it is an accessible way to profit, and it is recommended you go through with one you prefer. Additionally, as a public invention, others can offer their improvements, and you may accept their improvements in exchange for listing them as a tertiary inventor with a contract. Usually these contracts are brief. They earn a specified amount of money, then are removed from tertiary ownership.”
“So, they sell their improvements, then are kicked off to keep the third tier clean?”
He didn’t mind Nara’s crude description, and madeknw no indication to indicate his displeasure over it, if he had any.
“It is a method to allow small inventors to make accessible income,” he said. “Many intentionally try to improve complete crafts without many tertiary inventors, because their share will likely increase. But this may change based on the scale of the invention. Payment can also be negotiated as a single sum, or a percentage based on profits.”
“So bigger projects may have many tertiary inventors, and it’ll still be lucrative to try to get your piece in.”
He nodded, “If you choose, you may designate any invention as a public invention. This will allow tertiary inventors to try their hand at innovation, without direct invitation to the project. However, any sufficient innovation may give them the right to secondary ownership.”
“This is one of those faultless dispute cases?”
He nodded, “You may also actively invite someone as a secondary owner in that case, to prevent a dispute and negotiate specific terms. As a mediator, I can settle these disputes and direct what needs your attention and input, as well as negotiate contracts. I receive a percentage based bonus for my services, beyond the base pay as an Invention Society functionary.”
“I see, so you’re incentivized to try to get lucrative contracts for me.”
“If you are unsatisfied with my performance, you can also choose another mediator. You may also utilize multiple mediators, as well ones specializing in differing inventions. I cannot profess to have full mastery in all of the fields. In our services reference book, you can find mediator specialists.”
“What’s your specialty?”
“I specialize with Adventurer-Inventors,” said Niram promptly. “Those that are busy with other responsibilities, I manage the details and send reports to my clients. Contracts will still require your approval. Full reports are also made by the Invention Society, in case you have disputes with my conduct. You may ask any task of me related to contracts and inventions, and I will act as your representative on your behalf, keeping your priorities in mind.”
“Priorities?”
“Whether you wish for maximum profits, innovations, more affordable wide-scale appeal. I do my best to fulfill those requirements. If I do not, you may remove me from contracts I mediated. I would receive a lesser percentage from those contracts, but it is reduced from the full amount.”
“So, you don’t necessarily want to negotiate for maximum profits if that’s not what I want.”
“On that topic, I may dispute my removal if I feel it was unjust. If I succeed in my dispute, I will regain the full share of my mediator fees from contracts. Of course, you are not obliged to work with me after the dispute. I would only keep my share of what is contractually obligated to me.”
She nodded.
“Finally, we have the matter of your restricted research, submitted by high priest Redell Gainer. The Invention Society and I do not know the contents of this submission, as we are restricted from full knowledge. Ah, please wait, do not tell me either, I have no desire to know. Unfortunately, many of the rights of primary ownership do not apply here. You will receive a portion of funds from the relevant authority from any funding and further research of the project they do. In certain circumstances, you may be privy to their research or even join the research if you so wish, although this is on a case-by-case basis. You may also find that the relevant authority is willing to act on your behalf in certain matters.”
“Like resurrection?”
“I would not know what they are willing to offer in thanks, miss Edea. If you would like to know, the authority that restricted your research is the Church of the Healer.”
Resurrection magic had long cooldowns, and their use had to be prioritized. If they were in the middle of a crisis, resurrecting Aliyah over a silver or gold ranker, for example, would have been a considerable favor. Self-resurrection, such as what was provided by the Immortality ability Encio had, had a cooldown of around 1 year since it was automatically triggered. Resurrection abilities of healers, since they could not use it on themselves, had cooldowns as low as a month. John’s Grand Renewal, a common healer ritual, had a month resurrection effect at gold rank. It required a ritual and materials, which was the downside. It was the same ability that had been used to resurrect Aliyah. A resurrection per month was useful for adventurers, but it wasn’t saving victims of a tragedy. Nothing would resurrect that many people, which is why preventing civilian deaths was important.
She didn’t know if Redell was able to play favorites as a high priest of the healer and she also didn’t want to teleport to him and carry the body of someone close to her who had died and ask for him to resurrect them every time.
She’d consider the favor spent, and be pleasantly surprised if it wasn’t.
She discussed several details with Niram, such as how she wanted him to negotiate contracts, what he had approval to handle without her input and what he did not. She could revoke those permissions at any time. The only invention that she had full authority over were the boom whackers. The others, she’d leave to Chelsea and Amara, although she’d be updated on those as well.
She also accepted the Inventor Soceity’s membership. They had aura and non-aura membership cards, of which she received the former after an aura imprint. Even here, a check of her essences were required. All societies made sure their members did not have restricted essences.
*****
Nara hung at the top of a tall building, gazing out over the city. She held the Innovation Society’s membership in her hand, caught between feelings of excitement and guilt. She felt like a fraud—a bicycle wasn’t her own invention. The great and mighty tubular tubes, the boomwhackers, were created by Craig Ramsell back on Earth. She had stolen his invention, and pawned it off as her own.
She lifted the hand with the card, pretending as if she’d throw it out into the city. She wouldn’t. She wasn’t supposed to lose any of her membership cards, and Nara was too upright of a member to intentionally destroy one.
“I know it’s a cliché in those transmigration stories,” Nara said, talking to herself but also her familiars, “but I feel like shit. No wonder, imagine if I was recorded as the discoverer of gravity in Erras’ history. I’d never be able to live with myself. Dearly departed Newton would be churching in his grave at his stolen honor, and future Newton of this world would curse me once he was born.”
The bike was sort of a new invention—an adaptation to new circumstances. With that, at least, Nara found consolation. She couldn’t reproduce a bike’s derailers and chains, so they used artifacts to control a more simplistic chain and gear system. The magic used was all artifice Erras had used before, just rearranged for device you sit on between your crotch and roll around on (although the cloud seat cushions were considerably more comfortable).
The ritual stylus too. She had some contributions in astral magic, but it wasn’t much useful for what she wanted to accomplish for Amara. Amara would have to do most of the heavy lifting to make the ritual stylus a reality. It had needed three effects for completion. The first, Nara and Henri managed to make work—drawing persistent magic lines in the air. The second, actual activation of ritual magic, and the third, using necessary materials from a dimensional storage, Amara would have to figure out. Henri would help too, but she didn’t know the full extent of his knowledge. Knowing Amara, she’d rope in Lawrence and Chelsea for help. It’d end up with a lot of contributors, but the ritual wand was a device that may end up with a similar impact on society as the miniaturized mana battery.
Nara wasn’t wanting of wealth. Her reserves had been depleted after a series of familiar re-summonings and growth item rank ups, but her intermittent bronze rank contracts and contract-less looting was slowly replenishing them. Bronze rank monsters looted for around 11 bronze rank coins each, plus the value she gained from their cores and other materials.
Invention was never her focus. All she could do now was continue as she was—learning astral magic and raising her rank.