“Still above water?” I asked Clarissa as we sat down for breakfast togeather.

“We are still above water, but it is tight. Thank you for letting your income be used as a zero-interest loan,” Clarissa said. That was something that was being kept between us and a select few other people.

The amount of financial pressure my Empire was under was immense. There was no immediate need for more points, so after some discussion, Clarissa had agreed to a zero-interest percentage based loan. Basically, she would be getting 80% of my income for the next 100 days. The remaining 20% was used to pay for my staff and other ongoing expenses.

In turn, Clarissa would pay out 80% out of national budget, over a period of 100 days, 1,000 days later, which would be a lot more. The payment period would stretch to 400 days at 20%. It was a good chunk of points I was giving up for the future, but there was a desperate need for more points for all the expenses that were quickly building up for the invasion of the West.

The Crystal Vortex was just the top of the massive iceburg of expense that was rolling on through. While we could have cut into other projects, Clarissa was trying not to do that. That was why I was going easy on the tax revenue right now in return for future promises.

“As long as I get paid back,” I replied. I could take a much longer look at things now. Getting the Western expansion off to a good start as quickly as possible, would prevent a lot of future headaches.

“Don’t worry, the accountants will manage. The new Crystal Vortex? Good, bad?” Clarissa asked me.

“Expensive. We will have to stop in a level 4 or 5 zone during the trip to get enough points to keep going. Foreman Hamid outdid himself in the design and the assembly. I don’t suppose we are going to have more powerful beam cannons any time soon?” I asked.

“The portal buildings come first and securing New Kochi. Also, the second extra-large airship, we will be using for long term transport, unless you want to help?” Clarissa asked.

“We will be able to send what, 300 people over in the first wave?” I asked.

“If we pack them on. Then yes. It will be incredibly tight. Ideally, we would want you to make two trips to ensure we have enough of a force moved over,” Clarissa said.

“That is half the Imperial Army?” I asked just to be sure.

“Yes, 500 soldiers, and 100 support personnel are being moved over, not counting the Airforce,” she replied.

“That is a lot of support personnel,” I said.

“They won’t have much of an immediate use but will be important once the portal building becomes operational and we begin moving people over. Having set roles for people is important,” she added.

“Like having guards and soldiers?” I asked.

“Yes. De-escalation is a key tactic we will have the guards’ use. Soldiers are meant to fight and kill. While there is some combat overlap, there are different skills they need to focus on. Part of the support personnel are guards for the eventual small civilian population of the city that will be present,” she said.

“Hmm, no issues?” I asked.

“There are issues, but nothing you need to deal with. Just having two trips to get everyone moved over will be useful,” she said.

“I can do that. Just an extra 7 days of travel,” I replied. Well, more like 6, but I would have to clear out a zone or two to get enough crystals. Well Michelle would have to, but it was the same thing really.

“Thank you. That gives me more wiggle room on the timeline to get people moved over. Regular trips will probably happen starting day 5,100 and a portal building will be built around day 5,200. The second going up around day 5,300. I would need you to make the purchase in New Kochi,” she said.

“Ah, ten billion points is too much to trust anyone else with,” I said with a nod and Clarissa inclined her head at me in agreement.

“No accidents when we have to move that many points over,” she said, and I was in complete agreement. No one would be stealing from me ever again.

“Cashing that many will be a pain, but we can manage, somehow,” I said. I really wanted a portable store for one trillion points. That would make such things a lot easier, but the expense was way too much. A trillion points hurt my soul just thinking about the sheer amount spent on a convenience item.

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“Not thinking about it?” Clarissa asked me.

“Quite a bit actually, but the sheer cost is…just horrendous. I could get up to a base level of around 2.5 million stat points for that amount, which would mean 7.5 million stat points,” I said with a slight smile.

“No issues working out the increase?” Clarissa asked me.

“The minor issues will work themselves out in combat and once I test myself against a level 7 monster. Might even poke a level 7 zone to grind for points after my next round of exploration. I have looked at the research, but any suggestions?” I asked.

“More Body, since that impacts movement and survivability. Beyond that, it is hard to say. You would probably know better. But you know there is probably another stat upgrade at a million,” she said.

“Hmm, there is also the issue that I am struggling to react to my movements. I need a lot more Mind to keep up the ratio with Body. The meta-point did not help in that regard,” I said.

“That does bring up something else I wanted to ask. If you lose your airship, come back right away, so we can stay in contact. I don’t think anything will happen, but it is always possible,” Clarissa said.

“Well, I will have resonance stones for the radio and other purposes. I also need to upgrade the cannons, want something with a bit more kick,” I replied.

“Thinking about pushing into the void zones?” Clarissa asked me.

“Yes. Maybe. I am not entirely sure yet. But more fire power won’t hurt, even if it is a black hole in terms of points. I could maybe fly on my own,” I said the last bit while thinking about it carefully. It would be a huge risk, but it would be doable.

“And fight?” Clarissa asked.

“Well, if a level 6 monster shows up, I could just turn around and head back. But I do have sustained flight now with my stats. Still, the risk would be high, in case I get swarmed or need to use Air Burst a lot more,” I said.

“Don’t die. This Empire only holds togeather because of your presence,” Clarissa said. She didn’t need to remind me, but it was her way of showing she cared. My death would create a massive power vacuum which would destabilize things massively.

While I had no doubt that Clarissa had a back up plan, it was the kind of thing you didn’t want to use unless absolutely necessary. I was also the only hope for exploration and tower clearing. To get someone else to my level of stat points would take forever. Even more so to get someone who had some common sense.

“I like staying alive, so you don’t have to worry about that,” I said.

“Doctor Katz going with you?” Clarissa asked.

“He is retiring from my team actually,” I replied.

“Really? That is news. I know he was stressed out on the last trip and would think he would want to keep an eye on the nations to the West and what happens,” she said.

“He is more focused on the food project and needs a break. Almost dying, well it didn’t do him any good mentally,” I said with a shake of my head. It felt like a bad sign. Naran resigned and then died. Still one time wasn’t a curse or anything. If some super monster appeared, and Doctor Katz died, well two data points was enough to draw a line.

“You know, I used to think your ability to go out there and fight wasn’t so unique. Now, it is the single most impressive thing. So many other people are just…frustrating,” she finally said.

“What you mean to say is that fear grips their hearts. Fear of the unknown, fear of super monsters. It isn’t easy going out there fighting things that can kill you. But it is understandable. The crazy people earn themselves a Darwin award by removing themselves from consideration,” I replied.

“Getting the right kind of mentality and surviving isn’t easy. I had been hoping for a lot more level 4 grinders by now. And you are already at level 7.”

“I think I am at level 7, but it is one thing being able to beat a level 7 monster and getting swarmed by several of them. Also, the level 7 zones, my ass cheeks are clenching at the thought of what kind of fresh hell they are, when level 6 zones are hell,” I said with a touch of worry.

“Well, if you can push into level 7 zones, we might seriously start thinking about clearing towers, a lot of towers. You mentioned aerial assault tactics, by airship sacrifice,” she said.

“Yes. That is my new plan. But there is no rush. I would prefer to be easily clearing level 7 zones and level 8 boss monsters, possibly upgrade my skills again. Why?” I asked and Clarissa looked off to the side. “You wanted to see what the vote is?”

“It has been bothering me. Why a vote?” she asked.

“Because it is the most annoying thing possible. Our arrival is about power, when a vote would be nice. Getting votes requires power. Praise be the Almighty System,” I said with a grin and Clarissa rolled her eyes. “It isn’t like anyone else will get votes. Even if they do, they can’t outpace me. The one outstanding vote is probably held by the Sword of Ascalon, since I didn’t get a vote from killing the monster,” I replied.

“Which raises up even more questions. How does a sword have a vote?” Clarissa asked.

“When I run into it, I will ask. But I am more than powerful enough to not worry about it too much. If I could beat the monster before my meta-point, now it wouldn’t even be a challenge.” Clarissa inclined her head towards me, indicating she had conceded the point. It was also why I was so relaxed and not worried about getting stronger right away.

It would probably be another 5,000 days before I got frustrated again about my slow progress. But even within that time frame, I would probably be able to kill a level 8 boss. That was something I was looking forward to. How would skills upgrade at that point. At level 5, the bosses offered a single more powerful skill. Would there even be a boss monster in a level 7 zone?

The meta-point gave me enough power to finally get some more answers and connect some more dots to figure out if there was anything useful. There was a sliver of hope for something useful, but it was far more likely in my mind, there would be nothing except disappointment.

Clarissa wanted to push forward, just like I did to get answers. But this was the marathon of marathons. I planned to explore the West and then get a grip on my strength before testing a level 7 zone. I would probably have to get a lot stronger, which meant a lot more grinding. But that was my life now, and I was okay with that.