Jack walked down the corridor as he analyzed the Artificer’s skill branches after having completed the study. Currently, all that was available were skills of Herald rank. The rest was still grayed out.
Jack could see that the Artificer faction was split into two branches, Creation and Combat. If Combat was chosen, an Artificer would be able to wield most weapons and equipment but suffer some penalties. Rather, Jack was more amused with the creation branch, for he saw here one of the most crucial skills from his reincarnated experience in world No.146.
Artificer’s Basic Knowledge Lv. 0 (Passive, Herald)
Next level
Lv: 1
Effect: Provide the necessary knowledge for the subject to easily examine items and materials. The amount of knowledge increases with level.
Jack rejoiced, so much so that the end of his lips started twitching. Examining used to be a fundamental skill provided from the beginning in his previous world, but now required upgrades and was also much more inconvenient. From the delay in installing and initiating, it seemed that the system, or more accurately the sphere, had had some problems during initialization. It could be because this world was so much more sophisticated.
Basic Knowledge was a key point to reach the next skill.
Item Crafting Lv. 0 (Active, Herald)
Next Level:
Lv: 1
Cooldown: 24 hours
Effect: Choose a crafting item from the provided list. The requisites of materials, knowledge, and skills will be displayed for the subject to perform the crafting. Cooldown decreases and categories increase with level.
Jack curiously pressed the three-line icon next to the skill node. A list of craftable items appeared before him, among them weapons, armors, and accessories. Though he was only Herald rank, the list was quite long, and there were even items of higher rank. Jack was confused by the fact that these higher rank items could be crafted by a Herald. Unable to check the further skill nodes, Jack continued to look into the list.
After having seen everything, Jack found two items that he deemed essential.
Item Identification Lens (Accessories, Herald, Rare, Upgradable)
Description: The mortal eyes are nothing more than obstacles in the quest to find the nature of the world. Only through the lens of truth does one see the essence of things.
How to use: Put the lens on both eyes.
Effect: Display the object’s information within sight of the subject. Reveal information of items of higher level and further distance with upgrades.
*Require the corresponding knowledge
*Can examine items of different factions. Require the corresponding knowledge.
Core Material: Light Essence
It was followed by a list of material requirements and crafting instructions. Jack had thought Basic Knowledge would provide him with visual clues, but it wasn’t the case.
With a long sigh, Jack took a look at the second item, for it brought him some important information.
Reset Clock (Accessories, Archon, Epic, Upgradable)
Description: To move further is to go back. To be strong is to be weak. To start is to reset.
How to use: Turn the hand of the clock when available.
Cooldown: 3 months.
Effect: Take away all granted skill points and return them to the subject. The subject can then use these points to upgrade other skills in the system. Keep in mind that stat points will also be reset. Side effects include sudden changes in the subject’s physiology that could potentially cause dizziness, nausea, and headaches in a short time. Caution upon usage is advised. Cooldown reduces with upgrades.
Core Material: Soul Essence, Time Essence, and Space Essence.
Stolen novel; please report.
Jack barely took a breath during his inspection of the description. His eyes then moved toward the skill branches, the nodes floating before him. From the effect of this clock, he started to understand the possibility of the system, a chance to become Master of all factions.
Hot blood steamed in his head, his hands and legs shaking, as he let out a satisfying yell. He casually laughed out loud, walking through his schoolmates, who were all looking at him like a maniac. Now, Jack finally understood why the system was inadequate in many basic sections like item examination. The upgrades made in this world were so vast that some compromises were needed to complete it. He wholeheartedly looked forward to his future.
With excitement overwhelming, he opened the door to the principal’s office. Meinhard was still too busy with his paperwork to have a lunch break. Rumor had it that when the body had been modified for the Crusader rank, eating became nothing more than an unnecessary pleasure.
Meinhard looked up, adjusting his glasses, then signaled him to sit.
Jack could see a small stack of three books on the table. He knew he shouldn’t touch them without permission, so he continued with the information in the crafting list. Before the system’s complete initialization, these will be the only clue for his future journey.
After fifteen minutes, the principal stood up and walked to the table, sitting in front of Jack.
“Tea?” Meinhard asked.
“If possible,” Jack said, “I would like the previous one, please.”
The principal gave him a glance before taking out a crystal and crumbling it for the tea. This time, Jack noticed that the professor had to use the force between his two fingers to crush it. If so, an average person would barely scratch the crystal with their innate strength, even with a blunt or blade. It could potentially be the reason for the lack of crystal consumption in the lower class.
Jack accepted the cup of tea and enjoyed the comfortable feeling of mana flowing in his veins and bloodstream.
“Thanks,” Jack said.
Meinhard leaned forward, his hand on the stack of books.
“I was considering if I should punish you for the mess you caused today,” he said wearily. “Julia and Hazel were very displeased about you.”
“So the librarian’s name was Hazel,” Jack laughed. “And you sure pay me a lot of attention amid your daily mountain of tasks.”
“I had thought that a person of your age would stay away from trouble.”
“What can I say? I’m just trying to live young.”
Meinhard gave up, pushing the stack of books toward Jack.
“One of them carries information about soul deficiency. I don’t have much time, so you will summarize it for me after you finish it, good?”
Jack nodded. The principal put the book aside. It seemed that books with the most bizarre information usually had underwhelming appearances. Lacking flashiness and embellishment, the book’s leather covers were old and worn, and no less were its pages. Though, Jack saw it as an indication of the book’s importance.
The other two books were tidy and well-maintained. Nothing impressive.
“These are additional knowledge books that I reckon you should read to avoid any more aversion with the school’s staff. One about mana manipulation,, the other about Warrior faction history.”
“What about Arcanist?” Jack asked curiously.
“Maybe next meeting with more time, I’ll lecture you myself.”
“What an honor!” Jack said.
“Can you be any more sincere with your words?”
Jack contemplatively looked at the book in front of him, then suddenly said.
“Can I ask how many factions there are, professor?”
Meinhard frowned at the question, sensing Jack had caught on to something.
“You knew I was an Arcanist before I even mentioned it. How many there are do you think?”
Jack wonderingly looked at the floating orbs in his peripheral vision.
“Nine, maybe?”
“Nine?”
Meinhard frowned harder.
“How do you know this? From the event?” His voice rushing.
Jack knew he had poked another hornet's nest. He tried covering it.
“I’ve already known four, just lucky guess.”
Meinhard put his hand on his chin. Of course the principal didn’t buy the answer. In truth, he only knew well about seven existing factions, and that was a common belief, not limited to the Dessotor Empire alone. The other two factions were either completely forbidden or forgotten. Another reason was that his rank was too low to learn more about them. And here it is, Jack knew the exact number of factions. That couldn’t have been a coincidence.
Not sure how to respond, the principal’s eyes landed on the lamp post where the raven had been during Jack’s first visit. He had received more directives ever since.
“If you had wished to know about the factions, besides the four you had already figured out, I could tell you about one more. There’s a reason that you could only know four for your age.”
“What is this faction then?”
Meinhard took a deep breath to steady himself.
“Nightblade.”
“Nightblade?” Jack curiously asked. “Sounds like a bunch of assassins.”
Meinhard opened his eyes wide.
“It is true?” Jack asked, waiting for no response. “Wow, that sounds awesome.”
The principal had lost count of the number of times he had to shake his head since first meeting Jack. He sat straight up, his face hardened to correct Jack’s attitude.
Waiting for the right quiet moment to warn Jack, he started speaking.
“Nightblade is a faction no longer allowed in many empires. But, the emperor Anton Ovidus has created an exception. The reason for that is a man, whose name is Flavius Corvus.”