[Information of the Compartment Upgrading Store!]
"Is that the kid who passed the piece of Night Copper Ingot to you?" A man around 40 years old suddenly appeared behind the female reception and asked her in a very soft whisper. "Yes, Section Leader Su. He had only been a member of Blacksmithing Workshop for less than a month." the female reception report her findings to the Section Leader Su, and after he heard her reply, he turned around and prepare to leave.
"Xiao Rou, help me to get to the good side of this kid, I want to keep his talent by my side if I could do it. Can you try to help me in this matter?" Section Leader Su suddenly changed his tone and continue to speaks before he takes his step and leaves. "Of course, leave it to Xiao Rou" she replied. Hearing her reply, Section Leader Su leave the counter area, leaving only another few more ladies there gossiping with each other.
"Sister Su, you and your father are so stiff and rigid, can't you two just call each other Father and Daughter in front of everyone?" one of the female reception speaks out what's in her mind. But then, Su Rou, who is actually the only daughter of Section Leader Su turned around and reply with "Mind your own business!" in a very cheeky way, with a part of her tongue is on her bottom lips.
When I say left, of course, it means I left the reception area and not the Blacksmithing Workshop. I went back to the Contribution Board to look for another quest, and try to get one that could be completed in a period of time, compared to the previous one that requires myself to quickly rush all sixty full carts within three days.
After I looked around and found nothing, I had a little disappointment, as I turned around and prepare to leave. Then, the female receptionist called Su Rou called out to me from far and hinting that I should be going over to her. Hesitated for a while, I walked over in case she had something for me. The moment I stand before her, she passed a request slip to me, and tell me the details before I read it.
"This mission is especially for those who are seriously good in mining and smelting. Do you think you could assist this Senior Blacksmith in obtaining 500 Brass Component (1%) for him within five days?" she speaks with a gentle tone, where even myself is smitten by her for a moment. "Em... What are the rewards?" I tried to look at the piece of paper.
"If you could do it in five days, fifty contribution points. Four days, sixty. Three days, one additional [Tribute Crystal] will be given." she said. The I replied her with "Oh, I see. I will take this quest. Will there be a supervisor at the mines for this?" but she quickly replies me and says "No there won't be anyone over there to monitor you. You will deliver the 500 Brass Component to me, and I will pass you the rewards."
Just like this, I collect another contribution request and walk away. I first intend to return to the Refining Workshop, but after a while, I decide to visit the Compartment Upgrade Store for a while, because I am 315 Black Spirit Crystals richer now. It only takes me ten minutes to get there, and as I entered the dimly lit store, I am shocked with its internal appearance.
Within the store, at least twenty staff could be seen within, each with their own respective workstation that is well equipped with a plenty of materials, specialized to craft the Compartment Bags. There is a total of 3 different layers within this shop lobby area, where the first four workstations are placed on the ground level, and one step higher, is the first layer. This layer is also occupied by four workstations again, before the second layer, with only two workstations.
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
All ten workstation is quite busy, with ten customers is sitting by the other side of the workstation, as they speak with the crafter. Beside my left, a reception counter is seen with around three to four female receptionist, while at my right, about fifty people are cramped by the seats to wait for their turn. This gave me a question in my mind.
"What the hell is actually happened in this Compartment Upgrade Store anyway?"
The moment I kept questioning the sight I am seeing, almost five-person already had their request completed and left, with another five-person taking their turns. I looked at their movement and went over to the reception to get some of the information before I rashly take my turn to queue along. "Hi big sister, can this brother know the procedure within the store please?"
"Oh? Are you new here?" the female reception looked at me with a smile as she continued. "The Compartment Upgrade Store is almost the same as other stores, but instead of catering for the client in a bulk, we do in one to one. Depending on your requirements, the Ground Layer is where the worker could assist you in matters within grade 10 compartments, while grade 9 on the first layer, and grade 8 on the second layer."
"Before I go deeper, what are you looking for this visit?" she asked. "I am looking for new compartment bags if it's possible, to increase my carrying load. In the same time, I need to see if it's possible for me to get a better-ranked compartment bags too." I replied. The moment she heard my words, she chuckled for a few times before she controls herself.
"Little brother, you are quite a country bumpkin, am I correct?"
I smile to the female receptionist and awaits her to start explaining. "Alright, since that is what you are looking for, I will explain on that part. The compartment bag is not available to be purchased. Purchasable Compartment Bags is only obtainable through auction, and they are always expensive. To request the staff to craft a Lower Grade 10 Compartment bag for you, you will be required to hunt for a few materials."
"Five Space Pearls from the Spatial Cave, Five Durable Bear Hides, Five Terra Crystals. Of course, the initial payment for this service will be five Black Spirit Crystals as well" she mentioned three different materials and its initial cost for the worker to refine it for him. "Erm, big sister, where could I get all this?" I immediately asked.
"Space Pearl is from Spatial Cave is its name says. It is a restricted cave that required at least seven strength Points to survive unless you have good equipment on you. The Bear is easily found around the Ling Hun Town as they are the native beast that's breed along the whole Ling Hun and Ling Shou Town. The Terra Crystal, however, is most difficult to obtain."
"You'll need to enter the Earth King Mines to have the chance to mine for the Terra Crystals, and it is difficult because the percentage of successful mining is quite low. You need to mine around 100 Terabits to refine a single Terra Stone, and a hundred Terra Stones to refine it a single Terra Crystal. It is very difficult, that's why not everyone could have many Compartment Bags."
"Unless..." she speaks halfway and stopped. Hesitates to continue. "Big sister, unless what?" I asked. She considers her option before she decides to tell me the truth. The adventurer Guild has some hunting mission actually, and that's to hunt for some Traitors that contributes to other country and disturb the improvement of our Tian Gong Country."
"Their rewards is to possess all the traitor's Compartment Bag, which is quite a generous rewards. But that is only the earlier part. Because upon obtaining other people's compartment bag, you still need to destroy his ownership although he is dead, through spending a thousand Black Spirit Crystals to remove his ownership." she finished her words.
"WHAT! A Thousand Black Spirit Crystals? Why would that be so expensive?" I am shocked with the answer because I actually possess three Compartment Bags from Lu Fang. "Well, 500 of it is treated as the salary for the worker that will use his whole day effort to remove the ownership, while another 500 will be used as the Spirit Essence to remove the Ownership's soul within."
"A owned Compartment Bag will not remain forever, and their durability will reduce as you use. The moment the durability is all gone, it will be broken, and cause all your treasure to lost within the void of space. You wouldn't want that to happen, right?" the moment she finished her word, I finally understand the reason why would the disposable trash starting to be missing from my inventory!
Luckily, most of my important items are still put in my own compartment, and not those belonged to Lu Fang, or else, It would really hurt me. After I finish obtaining the information from her, I went off from the Compartment Upgrade Store and returned to the Refining Workshop. Getting another day of rest, I prepare myself to go for the mining once again, but this time, I will need to allocate time for both cave instead, because, in the same time, I have a contribution mission needed to be completed within five days.