Liam stared down at the dungeon token, debating whether he should use his ticket to exchange for the item.
“Ordinance, is there another way we can obtain a dungeon token? I don’t want to waste the ticket. If we can get the token or another symbol elsewhere, I’d rather use the ticket on something else.”
“There are alternatives besides the current option, master. However, the alternatives are difficult to accomplish. You can obtain a token from a dungeon diver or purchase one from the Marketplace.”
“There’s no way I can take a token from a Dungeon Heathen! That’s practically suicide! Show me the Marketplace instead.”
“Agreed, master. The first option is nearly impossible. However, your second alternative is probably not viable either. Searching marketplace… displaying results… Master, please register membership with the Marketplace by infusing your Soul Energy into the window.”
Ding!
System Function: Accessing Marketplace
Displaying message from:
Marketplace Representative
Welcome Visitor!
To gain access to our services, please sign up as a member! The process is simple and easy! Infuse your Soul Energy through your medium of communication, and you will be automatically registered.
Please note the following:
Purchasing transactions are free. However, selling transactions have a listing fee of five percent taken after the transaction. Higher-level members can negotiate for better rates.
Pleasure doing business with you!
Infuse your Soul Energy to begin.
Liam read the blue prompt and followed Ordinance’s instructions, circulating his Soul Energy into the popup window.
Ding!
System Function: Marketplace Accessing... Searching for ‘dungeon token’ and ‘Daemod’… quantifying results… displaying information… Displaying search results. Filtered by 'lowest value price' Item Seller Price Token of the Obsidian Dungeon Glutzy 450 high-grade orgin stones Token of the Onyx Dungeon Mefisto 520 high-grade origin stones Token of the Stygian Dungeon Balefor 610 high-grade origin stones …(expandable) Claw of a Stage 5 Daemod Michael 9600 high-grade origin stones Horns of a Stage 7 Daemod Lady Gwendel 25000 high-grade origin stones …(expandable)
Liam was flabbergasted. He had never seen a high-grade origin crystal, and the cheapest symbol of the Daemods was in the hundreds. Accumulating that much would likely take him more than a month, but Liam didn’t want to use his ticket. He asked Ordinance for a second opinion.
“If we use the miniature world to grow herbs and collect them from the wild, do you think we can collect enough to buy the token?”
“If you collected herbs alone, I estimate you may be able to collect about one mid-grade origin stone per day for a total of thirty mid-grade stones in a month. That number would likely decline as you would have to search farther once the herbs in the area become bare. You may also draw attention and ire from other foragers.”
Liam digested the information, and the numbers didn’t look good. Ordinance’s evaluation continued.
“Using your miniature world to grow herbs to sell in time is uncertain as well. The miniature world has a plot of 10’x 10’, able to grow 20-year-old herbs daily. I estimate the worth of one daily harvest could be around ten to twenty mid-grade stones, which for a month is equivalent to 300 to 600 high-grade origin stones. However, saturation will again be a problem, and prices can drop. You could sell them on the Marketplace, but the time until the herbs sell is also uncertain. Time is our limiting factor. We need more time to grow herbs and sell them. Time is required to learn how to make potions. However, most important of all, we need time to build your second soul house.”
Liam was in a tight spot. With his current breathing technique, the previous second soul house took six years to build. However, he only had less than a month to construct his soul house and contract a summon powerful enough to fight his teacher. He could not do both and buy the dungeon token. Ordinance interrupted his anxious thoughts.
“Master, you will have to make a decision. You can forfeit your duel to create a soul house to fit your requirements. However…”
Liam immediately stopped Ordinance midsentence. He raised his voice and shouted out loud, “No! I am not going to give up! Tell me another way!”
“Yes, master. I was going to say a summon requiring a larger soul house does not always correlate to a more powerful being. Especially in your case. The summon you will acquire will defy the traditional standards as you cannot contract a being with affinities of this universe.”
“You're right. I’m sorry, Ordinance. My emotions went a bit out of control.”
“I understand, master. Your other option is to take the dungeon token now and start creating a second soul house. It would not be large, but I am confident you would be able to contract your second summon. How it can assist you in your duel is still unknown. To start on your soul house, I recommend using the miniature world to age the maximum amount of herbs possible. Once you accumulate enough origin stones, you can buy a better breathing technique from the Marketplace. You can then also absorb excess origin stones to further speed up the process.”
Liam looked around at the other treasures around. He was surrounded by aged books, floating talismans, flickering orbs, shimmering weapons, and armor emitting a visible aura. Liam especially looked at the shields and armor. He sighed and finalized his commitment to a decision.
“Alright, I’ll take the dungeon token.”
“Master, I recommend sorting the miniature world as soon as possible.”
“Yes, let’s meet back with Luke and Vice Guild Master Hansel. Then we can sort out the miniature world.”
Taking the metallic ticket, Liam put it on the barrier or light. A reaction sparked from the ticket and the barrier shattered into pieces before evaporating into smoke.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
Liam grabbed the circular token and brought it up to his face to examine. Etched and colored in shades of black, the token depicted an image of a man with curling horns on the sides of his head. Liam ignored the odd image and clasped his hand tightly around the token. Turning back, he left the treasury room and returned to the receptionist.
“Could you take me to Vice Guild Master Hansel and Luke? I believe he said they would be training underground.”
“Yes, follow me.”
Liam followed the receptionist back up the stairs. She led him down the hall and out from behind the counter. They dodged the bustling crowd and went down another set of stairs underground on the other side of the building. Liam went down five floors before hearing the shouts coming from behind the open entrance of the fifth floor.
“Vice Guild Master! You can’t take this pompous bastard as a disciple! He’s a bully and enjoys ridiculing the less fortunate!” Luke shouted out.
“My father made a legitimate request through the Polaris Guild! You're trying to start a guild war, poor little Tack?” Liam was surprised, hearing Darrell quarreling with Luke.
“If I’m a Tack then so are you! Idiot. Why didn’t you follow after your daddy in the Polaris Guild and suck his thumb?! Your daddy dearest would pamper you like the little baby you are!”
“Damn Luke! I earned my spot here at the Adonis Guild just like you did! They recruited me! All the other mentors here are incompetent! I am incompatible with those assholes!”
“That’s rich coming from a bigger asshole! You're an asshole calling out another asshole! How ironic. You’re just trying to make trouble for me like always!”
“Ha! Do you think I have the time to care about some peasant like you?! I’m here to learn from the best and become even better! You’re the one getting in my way!“
Liam walked in while the receptionist waited by the entrance. He saw the Vice Guild Master rubbing his temples. The Vice Guild Master exploded at his two new bickering disciples. “Shut it! Both of you! Damn you, Kai! I didn’t sign up for babysitting. I’m going to make him pay me more! Luke, we can’t just refuse a proper request, especially if they’re paying.”
Luke was appalled, and he immediately retorted. “That’s bribery! You guys were easily bought out by money! I won’t work with corruption! I’ll find a different guild! I was planning on Fortuna anyway!”
“You damn brat! You’re going nowhere! I’m going to beat some common sense into you! Come here!” Hansel’s massive figure grabbed Luke by the neck. Luke couldn’t resist and Hansel gave Luke a ‘nuggie’ by grinding his knuckles on Luke’s head.
Hansel continued and lectured Luke, “young brat, you dare to call us corrupted and threatened to leave! Knucklehead! I’m going to soften up that thick skull of yours!” Luke squirmed from the pain of Hansel’s knuckles rubbing on his skull.
Hansel stopped and continued speaking, “listen closely, brat! Guilds make and take on requests all the time! You may see this case as bribing, but no rules have been violated! Mentors can have as many mentees as they want! Why wouldn’t we take the free money given to us?! Besides! Aren’t we helping your friend who isn’t even part of our guild? You bribed us as well! We gave him a free ticket to our treasury! A free ticket! And now you say you want to leave! Ha! What are you going to do about your friend then!? Are you going to take back his ticket?!”
Luke stopped struggling and went quiet. He didn’t know how else to help Liam. He couldn’t take back what he already gave Liam. Hansel grinned seeing his rowdy disciple droop into submission.
Hansel threw away Liam and grabbed Darrel. He proceeded to give Darrel a ‘nuggie’ and a lecture as well. “And you! Let me get this through your skull too! Don’t you dare spew this nonsense about wealth and being better than others! The powerful only speak with their fists and their summons. Looking down at the weak makes you even weaker! Grow some balls and take accountability for your actions. Does making others feel bad make you any stronger?! That’s all in your head! You’re still just as powerless! I’ll properly train you two into worthy climbers of the tower!”
Hansel tossed Darrel to the ground and he rolled away like Luke. Hansel glanced over at Liam and glared. “And you! Be grateful you're not a disciple, or else I have to teach you a lesson as well! Now! Show me what you took!”
Liam gulped and looked away. He hid this hand holding the token behind his back and remained silent, not wanting to answer.
“Another brat! Damn Kai! I better get a bonus too and an expensive meal for this!” Hansel walked over and grabbed Liam by the neck and gave him a ‘nuggie’. “Are you going to show me now?!” Liam resisted, and Hansel put more force. But Liam didn’t give in.
Hansel was irked, and he tried to pry Liam’s hand open. “I won’t take it, you brat! What could I need from the first-level treasury?! I need to report what you chose! Now show me!” Liam used both his hands to grip tightly on the token. Hansel was surprised at how strongly Liam held on, but he would be most surprised by the item in Liam’s hand. Liam couldn’t resist Hansel’s strength, and Liam’s hands were twisted open.
“What the hell!? Why did you take a token of the dungeons?! We said we’ll help you climb the tower! Why are you trying to go to the dungeons?!”
Hearing the words of his mentor, Luke jumped up and ran to his friend, who was in a chokehold under his mentor. He looked at the token in Liam’s open hand and questioned his friend.
“Were you going to go to the dungeons, Liam? Please don’t go! I’ll help you here! We’ll help you! Just going near the dungeons is suicide!”
Liam sighed. He didn’t want to show the token because he knew it was hard to explain, so he tried to skip around the direct subject matter. “Relax. I’m not going to the dungeon.”
Hansel let Liam go, but his tone changed. There was a hint of scorn in his voice. “You disappoint me, young Dysfunctional. Is this how you prove your worth? If you’re not going to the dungeon then are you planning to stare at that pretty token? Or maybe you will throw it at your enemies while you run away?”
Liam wanted to tell more, but Ordinance stepped in and spoke in his mind, “Master, I don’t recommend revealing too much information. You may draw unwanted attention.”
Liam understood and replied with a vague statement. “I need the token.” He looked at Luke and directly addressed his friend’s concerns. “I know choosing the token seems like a poor choice, but believe me. I too want to grow strong and survive. I won’t go to the dungeons, but what I need most right now is this token. I can’t say any more than that.”
Luke and his mentor looked questioningly at Liam. Luke sighed, “there’s no changing your mind when you’ve settled on something. Fine. As long as you're not going to the dungeons, I’m okay with whatever you do.”
Hansel thought it was odd how Liam resisted showing the token to him. Embarrassment sure, but he could have chosen something else. Additionally, Liam refused to show the token and used all his strength to stop his hand from opening. That was already too odd. Adding that the item chosen was a dungeon token, and it wasn’t going to be used properly, made the whole ordeal even stranger. Hansel made a mental note to keep an eye on Liam and report back to Kai.
“What’s done is done. Don’t regret your choice, Dysfunctional. Now then. Since everyone is here, let’s discuss the Ivory Tower. Our goal is to reach the fifth floor of the tower. Today you all will prepare everything you need to climb the tower. We will start traversing the second floor tomorrow. I was given a time limit so we will go to the fifth floor in one go. We will not return until you all have obtained your second summons. The journey will take two to three weeks depending on how fast we move. I will show you all the ropes along the way. Take this list with my seal and go to the first floor. Show it to a receptionist and they will take you to prepare the necessary items for your first climb. Don’t grow dependent though! The guild only offers this once to you newbies. Next time you will all provide your own supplies. Dismissed!”
The trio received their lists and went out of the fifth-floor training grounds. Liam’s receptionist was still waiting and heard all of their conversations.
“Since I’m here anyway, let me guide you three to get your items ready.”
Darrell strutted past Luke and Liam and followed after the lady receptionist first. Luke glared at Darrell, and Liam shrugged. Liam felt unsure about Darrel. Their last encounter was odd. Liam was uncertain if Darrel had a different side to him. Liam whispered his thoughts to Luke as they climbed up the stairs.
“Hey, it’s weird, but I saw Darrell earlier when I went to exchange the ticket. He was still an asshat, but he refused his first mentor because she demanded he stopped interacting with Dysfunctionals.”
Luke scoffed and didn’t care about Darrel overhearing him. “You probably met a look-alike, Liam. That stuck-up piece of shit would have matched fittingly with that other piece of shit mentor.”
Darrel turned around and glared at Luke. “Take that back! I did refuse that nasty woman as my mentor because she belittled Dysfunctionals! I know the stereotype isn’t true! They don’t deserve the discrimination! My father’s team member is not useless!”
Luke faked a distressed posture and made a sarcastic remark. “How could this be?! Darrell standing up for someone weaker than himself. The world must be falling apart!”
“I said take it back!”
“Oh. Does Darrel have a split personality then? Since when did you care about others, huh? You want me to take it back? Then take back your calling us ‘poor’ and ‘broke’! Take back calling our parents Tacks! Take back all those years of harassing us!”
“I wasn’t wrong!”
“See? That's the Darrel we know and hate!”
“Fine! Be that way! I know I’m not a monster.”
“No, you're an asshole. Even if you were lying, you still have double standards. Being part asshole still means you're still part crap. As you said, there’s nothing wrong therefore nothing to take back.”
The receptionist had to break the argument. “Ok. I understand Vice Guild Master Hansel’s frustration completely now. I’m not paid to babysit you three. Fight outside the guild later. If you tarnish the guild’s reputation, know that both the Guild Master and Vice Guild Master will punish all of you heavily.”
Liam simply watched on as the two bickered, but got roped into being reprimanded. The three remained silent for the remaining part of the walk to get their items. The receptionist brought them up the stairs to the third floor. They walked down the hall and Liam noticed they passed by a large library where the guild members entered and left. However, unlike the Fortuna Guild, nonmembers could not pay to get in.
The lady walked to the end of the hall and brought them to two closed double doors.
“This is the guild store. You can buy and sell your soils and items here. This is where you will exchange your lists for the items provided by the guild. The counter is in the back. Don’t try stealing anything, or else you’ll have the whole guild chasing after you. Good luck and stop bickering.”
The receptionist lady left, and Luke snorted back at her. “I will now start bickering. Ready to continue where we left off, Darrel!” Luke looked around but Darrel had long walked towards the counter in the back. “Hey! Get back here! I’m not through with you yet!”
Liam watched as his friend chased after Darrel and the two began spouting their attacks on each other. Liam could only laugh. For some reason, he felt a connection between the three of them. He walked over and put his arms around Darrel's and Luke's shoulders.
“Let’s go, guys! There’s free stuff! Good stuff!” Liam walked forward, pulling along the two to the counter.