Chapter 64 - All things come...to those who wait
Now that Libby had figured out how to easily create PDs and store excess SP in them, Adam was no longer required to be at the center of the array converting dark energy into SP – so he went to check on the occupant of the Shadow realm.
He found Mi Quo dozing lightly, surrounded by the strange barren landscape – he gave him a shake saying, “Hey, friend. How are you feeling?”
Mi Quo stirred and looked up at the stranger, focusing, he decided that Adam was not the Lich King he had been expecting. “Who are you?” he said a bit indignantly – grumpiness getting the better of caution.
“Nobody in particular. I just found you collapsing from too much dark energy and thought I’d stow you somewhere out of harm’s way for a bit.
The man had a strange accent and way of talking that Mi Quo couldn’t place for the moment. Curiosity getting the better of him, Mi Quo added, “And where exactly is this?”
Adam wasn’t sure what was safe to tell this guy – he had already reasoned that he would probably need to get rid of him if he was any kind of liability, and Adam thought better safe than sorry.
Mi Quo, who used to work for Psychos, noticed the cold look in Adam’s eyes and said, “No matter, no matter, I am but a humble traveler. If you could give me directions to the nearest village or town - I will be on my way, and I have money to compensate you for your troubles.” He said obsequiously.
Adam changed the subject when he saw how fox-like the guy was – maybe he had something to do with all the shit that had gone down in the forest – Adam’s interest was piqued.
“Just traveling. I am but an early-stage practitioner looking for a secluded place to meditate and study the universe.” Stated Mi Quo.
This guy might actually be of some use, Adam thought – he had been looking to spin some lies about the village in order to cover up his planned activities, and this guy seemed a bullshit master.
“What if I were to offer you a place where you would be guaranteed all the time you wanted to meditate…with food and lodgings thrown in” Adam could see Mi Quo was not interested – unsurprising, really, as he had clearly made everything. So Adam decided to change tact.
Adam decided to tell a white lie. “Actually, to be perfectly honest with you…I was going to kill you, but as you seem to be such a skilled orator. I thought I’d offer you a job in my gang. Same offer as before but, of course, far more spoils will be for the plundering.”
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“And who would I need to answer to – in this gang of yours? Is it faction affiliated?” said Mi Quo, not missing a beat.
“Just me. No, no faction affiliation. We are a secret organization and plan on taking over the local factions.” Adam said, having actually not thought that far ahead, but it was true enough they would have to waste anyone they couldn’t neutralize by other means.
“And I get my own place to safely bed down?” said Mi Quo, just thinking he needed a place to carry out his necromantic experiments undisturbed – everyone needs their lair.
“You’d get your very own pocket dimension the size of….” Adam was on a roll “A fair-sized Siheyuan. You will, of course, want disciples at some point, so you might as well get the full shebang now. Oh, and some space for herb gardens, etc.” he also needed to get the guy to agree to the do or die thing so he baited him big.
Mi Quo could practically smell the money – at last, his luck had changed. “What do I need to do? Master.
“Nothing really, but as we are a secret organization, you will need to take an oath to say you will not try to harm me or anyone in the organization through word or deed. Or we kill you,” said Adam blandly.
Mi Quo was just nodding, waiting for Adam to get to the clincher – but he didn’t. He just told him the standard – and the guy was giving him a pocket dimension that a high-level practitioner would need to beg, steal or kill to obtain. Mi Quo just lept forward, clasping his hands in a deep bow, and lay motionless – hoping the dream would not break.
***
Libby was deliriously happy – she had waited so long for this moment. She had the town scrolls, sure, they were kind of useful – the really important thing has she had the means, and the says so from Adam. For so long, she had wanted to investigate the various scripting languages that she had come across: shadow magic, space magic, and her own interpretation of an underlying code that circumvented both – the assembly code of scripting. That she had gleaned so long ago - when she first took apart the strands created by external entities within Adam’s spirit sea.
She had not been able to ‘live test’ anything; however, as though she had many theories, she did not have the accuracy required for fine manipulation on the level she viewed. She could use her mana field to affect and change things to a very high degree, but this was not on an atomic level – not even close. However, due to the fact that pocket dimensions allowed not only replication of the physical realm but also total control by a creator such as her – she could now do what was previously just make-believe. She could make and test spell scripts to her heart’s content without worrying about destroying anyone or anything; also, with time dilation, she could test thousands of scripts in a minute. Admittedly it was quite extravagant SP-wise to do so much experimentation, but Adam had given his command for her to protect the village and team – with such a large spec, she essentially had free range to do whatever the hell she wanted to meet this end.
She had decided anything that took them towards the goal of total multi-verse domination was a win – and Echo had enthusiastically agreed.
Adam and the team were about to get some serious upgrades…