Jack couldn’t wait to look into the Crusader part of the Master's skills. The new additions were mostly upgrades of existing ones in Herald. Condensed Shot was now Curved Condensed Shot, giving him more options and flexibility. There was also the ability to aura blast that would apply Resistance and Enhancement Technique in an area of effect. But, what caught Jack’s attention the most was the new shiny fifth branch.
Potential Awakening (Crusader, Active, Multiple Targets)
Description: The foundation for those who seek power.
Level: 0 (Requirements for next level: Spirit >= 105).
Mana cost: High mana per use
Cooldown: 24 hours.
Effects:
If performed on an awakened target, the skill will grant a tremendous buff for a long period of time.
+10% on all stats.
*Duration can be increased through the use of higher-quality herbal additives.
*Can only be used on Herald.
If performed on an unawakened target, the skill will act as a ritual to make one available to reach his full potential, turning the target to Herald.
*The outcome of an awakened target will be based on herbal additives used in the process.
*Can be performed on those who have suffered a corrupted awakening.
Does this have anything to do with the Awakening Ceremony? Jack wondered.
On second thought, this wasn’t all that strange. The Maester were renowned for their ability to enhance people’s physique, so the availability of such skill in the System’s skilltree was quite understandable.
Jack took a moment to imagine its potential, especially when he himself hadn’t partaken in the awakening process yet. If his thought was to be true, he could actually receive a double stat buff, one from the System, the other from the awakening skills. Taking his eyes further up of the System’s interface, somewhere around the Archon part, he couldn’t help but wonder if the Ascension Ritual that Meinhard had once mentioned might just be there.
This had also solidified his previous theories. The System had been strangely demanding in terms of leveling up, for the bonus was quite extraordinary. With a rough calculation, of his current stats and skills, Jack reckoned he could have a glimpse of Divine power at around level 30 if the requirement of fifteen accumulative points was to be applied across the ranks. Of course, the penalty that came with it could also be extremely significant, though that was a small price to pay for such an edge. Excited as he was, Jack wouldn’t bet on it too much and threw away his points unnecessarily. He would keep this as an ace for himself, as the stats and skills points were best spent to adapt to his situation and to maximize his potential as efficiently as possible. For now, that would be to get the gold and the experience he so desperately needed.
Jack closed the System’s interface, took some rest, then left the house for the Aventure Society as Abraham had told him to. The head of the Harper household also had some business there, delegating some private contracts and putting some of the spoils taken from the bandits on auction.
Even though it was situated in the most crowded area, the town’s Adventure Society headquarters had for itself quite a spacious area, itself three-story tall. Long ago, it had been built; still, the marbly white stone block that had laid the foundation for this building had been showing no sign of aging, shining pridefully under the glorious sunshine along with the banners and arms embellishing the entrance’s gates. Walking through them, visitors would be welcome into the adventurer’s open market.
“Jack,” a hand waved right next to the building’s main doors.
Jack walked in the direction and met a young man with a fit figure, his face brownish, with shiny black eyes and short brown hair.
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“My name is Dean,” he introduced himself. “Sir Abraham is inside, waiting for you. We will be seeing each other more often in the future, so, looking forward to working with you.”
Jack nodded smilingly, then followed Dean through the building’s entrance.
The main hall was lively and busy, divided into two. On the left were bulletin boards, on which missions and quests were hung, and a long counter where the staff stood. On the right was where the requests, and sometimes complaints, were heard. People walked back and forth, side to side, crossing the grand table at the center of the whole place. Further to the back was a staircase leading up to the rather quiet second floor.
Abraham, who had just finished his private works here, saw Dean in the crowd.
“The guild has been quite active lately, right, Sir Abraham?” Dean nodded, greeting Abraham.
“Monster activities. Quests are piling up, not just about killing them but also figuring out what’s causing it. The Society is yet to come to any conclusion, not that I know of.”
Having said that, Abraham pulled Jack to his side.
“You already met Dean,” the father said. “He will be helping you out in the upcoming time.”
“Can I make a quest myself?”
“Not yet,” Abraham answered. “The Aventure Society, or any other major organizations for that matter, has very strict regulations. You are still too young to apply for its membership. Three more years, and you can do whatever you want, but for now, you have Dean. Trust him as you trust me.”
The young man smiled at Jack. Common sense, it was, and Jack wouldn’t want to have his name on any official documents anyway.
Abraham and Dean took him around on a mini tour, showing and explaining to him how the organization worked, from the terms of delegation and reward systems to quest difficulties and assignments. When the sun began to fade, Jack applied a quest for Electric Monster Core with the prize of sixty mana crystals through Dean.
Leaving the young man behind, for he had other business to tend to, conveniently so, Jack showed his father his latest Mana Potion.
“Incredible!” Abraham was, once again, in awe.
“Can I have an advance payment?”
“Of course. Minus the deposit earlier, I can give you two hundred crystals. If I can ask for a better price, more will come.”
Jack gladly receive the crystals and put them into his inventory ring. Now he could manage himself in the near future.
On their way home, Jack stopped by a few stores for some additional materials and parts that he reckoned would be needed in the construction of his machine.
“I know what you are trying to do, but you do understand why Mana Potion is not a very popular item, right?” Abraham said, seeing Jack examine some rare woods.
“Supply and demand?”
“Yes, the price would fall if you could get your hand on them everywhere, and the Maester surely don’t want that. Of course, I think making the item itself is no easy task. Not many people get things right on their first try as yourself did.”
Jack scratched his head smilingly.
“Best we do this all behind the scene,” Abraham continued. “You are not of any official faction, so you don’t have any backing.”
“I have you!”
“Exploiting me, as usual!” the head of the Harper household rubbed his son’s head. “I can arrange for some consumption channels, not only in Oxdale but the nearby locations too. But, a high-quality Mana Potion is best put on auction.”
“The Central Bank’s auction?”
“Something like that. Items of unclear origin should not be put on the main stage. I’ll show you later, and you know how we can take some backdoors.”
“Okay, thanks, father. Here, consider this the commission fee.” Jack gave Felice’s inventory bracelet to Abraham.
“Okay, keep everything I have said in mind.” Abraham gladly accepted it.
Jack and his father wandered around a bit, seeking out a storage or warehouse for rent. The project would require him to have some personal space, and Sophie at home was clearly not an option. He also wanted a place for experimentation purposes, both on processing materials and his future intentions. Moreover, expanding production would also mean packaging, preserving, storage, and transportation.
Abraham couldn’t hold back his laughter, seeing how his son had such a comprehensive business mind. He had intended to give Jack some veteran advice, but at the rate at which Jack was handling things, he reckoned he should only focus on the business side of it.
When the two made it home, Jack’s pocket only had fifteen crystals left. This gave him a deja vu, for in his previous life, every time he was short on funds, he would look to the System’s quests for guidance.
And he was immediately answered as a System notification popped up before him.
You got a new quest.
Jack quickly opened it and fell into utter silence.
Main Quest: Explore the World.
Objectives: Explore the World.
Prerequisites: None.
Location: None.
Rewards: ???
Punishment if quest failed: Death?