Create Common Chrono 2? Estimated cost 30 minutes and 2 energy. Use two gears, one spring, and one escapement? Yes/No?

Puzzle complete. +2 to Nonograms.

Attempt puzzle again? Yes/No?

Alastair churned out a battery with items Flor had found in an alley. Then another. They sold at four coins each, or twice the profit of a common chrono 1. “Kinda worthless. Outside of an additional plus two to nonograms, we don’t get any extra coin or anything from the chrono two over the chrono one,” Alastair said while in the shop. The shopkeeper stared blankly at him, so Alastair asked, “Is there a limit to the amount of batteries you’ll buy?”

The shopkeeper seemed to consider, then shook her head.

Alastair looked at Flor, “Should we see how much we’d get for the Slow Chrono? Maybe that would be worthwhile?”

Flor said, “As long as we don’t need it for our plan. But, it might be useful to see if it helps us in combat, so maybe see what we’d get for it and don’t sell it yet.”

Alastair pulled out the Slow Chrono. “How much for this?”

The shopkeep seemed to consider. “This is a unique item. You are not allowed to sell it.”

Alastair put it back in his pocket. “Answers that. We’ll be back soon with more chronos for sale.”

Alastair and Flor repeated the process for another three hours until they had twenty-four coins.

“Let’s buy a few one-heart potions, then go to lunch. After that, do you want to see if we can make it to the second mini-boss of the Carillon?”

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“Might as well. Let’s make sure we have enough money for lunch, though. And at this rate, we might end up back at the prison tavern tonight if we’re not careful.”

“We’ll still need to buy you a weapon to see if that helps,” Alastair said.

“So, let’s check a weapon shop first. Then if we want to stay at the Cricket and it’s full price, that’s twenty-five coins, and at four coins per health potion, maybe we can get one or two, depending on weapon price. We will need to make a few more chronos. Maybe we should buy another blueprint and both make them at the same time to maximize turnover?”

“Do you think that’s a weapon shop?” Flor said. The shop she was pointing at had an obvious sword and shield on the sign.

“Worth checking out.” Alastair walked in. Displays of weapons lined the walls. The Vendor 1 was standing idly behind the counter. “Looks like it is. Good afternoon. What do you have for sale?”

Vendor: “Welcome. Buy/Sell?”

“Uh, another of these drones. Buy.”

Vendor: “Gloves - 3; Studded Gloves - 8. Spiked Gloves - 23. Cudgel - 3; Mace - 8; Hammer - 23; Warhammer - 68; Iron Staff - 68; Rod - 203. Dagger - 3; Short Sword - 8; Bastard - 23; Long Sword - 68; Great Sword - 203.”

“What do you think, Flor?”

“I wish we had an idea of how much they helped. Or if they disappear each night. Or limitations. Do you think the gloves do as much damage as the dagger or cudgel? Or if I start with one I’m limited to that path unless I later level up to a warrior? Yikes, it’s a big decision.”

Alastair was getting annoyed at her indecisiveness. “Just go with gloves. We can try them out later and there are still three levels that are all within the realm of what we can purchase eventually.”

Flor looked at him in frustration, although she turned to the vendor and said, “Buy gloves.”

Vendor: “Three coins.”

Flor handed the coins over. The Vendor bent down and returned with what looked like leather wrist wraps that would extend over her knuckles. “Great. Well, let’s go get lunch.”

“Equip those while we’re here. We don’t want to forget about them later.”

Flor did something in her interface and the wraps appeared seemingly magically on her wrists. She said, “My combat skill went up by one. No real indication of what that means, though.”

“Okay. Of to lunch, then.”

“You’re forgetting about health potions. Unless you want to trek somewhere and then back again?”

Alastair sighed. “Fine. Yes, to the witch doctor.”