Chapter 213. Home Improvement.
So, these furnishings were a whole lot more than I had first thought. Having staff on hand, and extra defenders just in case, would be a nice bonus. To top things off, the space would be much more comfortable, and I was sure that Melvin would have a grand old time checking out all the changes.
Of the two offerings, I wasn’t even going to consider the torture dungeon as an option, I was leaning toward the Victorian looking one. Having more staff and defenders would be nice, and frankly, I just liked the whole setup a lot more. My cash reserves were going to take another hit, but I’d already scoured the city and bought everything else I was interested in.
“I have to say, the whole furniture thing is looking more promising with what you just showed me. Why don’t we do the 50-gold option, and how do we make all this happen?” I asked.
“It’s easy enough, once the price is paid in full, my team will arrive and complete the installation. It takes only an hour or so once you pay and give us permission,” Chaladoom explained. I was sure there was some system hocus pocus going on with the installation, which was par for the course.
“Here’s your payment, so I can expect the install completed in an hour or so?” I asked.
“Yes, give us two hours just to be safe, and the system will send you a notice soon to grant us limited permission to visit your personal space. I’m glad I could help you today, is there anything else you needed?” Chaladoom asked.
“No, but I do have a question. If, in the future, I want to upgrade the furnishings, how do I go about it?” I asked.
“Whenever you’re ready, just come see me. After all, it doesn’t matter what tier of the city you have access to, there’s no law saying you can’t return to the lower tiers to do business,” Chaladoom said.
“I’m assuming we’d be looking at the next tab, the 500 gold one?” I asked.
“Precisely, and before you ask, no, you cannot have a peek yet. I don’t want to spoil the surprise. I look forward to working with you again,” Chaladoom said.
“One last thing, I see that the design I purchased has a desk included. Does it also come with writing materials? If not, do you know where I can find some?” I asked, remembering Tzes’zod’s request back when he mentioned the furniture.
“It’s normally not included, but I’ll see to it that an ample supply is stocked inside your desk. I’m always happy to help a new client,” Chaladoom said. Great, finally something I didn’t have to shell out more coins for. Thanking Chaladoom once more, I made my way out of this small shop.
I must admit, I was excited over what the 500-gold furniture option would get me after seeing how much 50 bought. After taking a few steps from the shop, a system prompt appeared.
The business known as Chaladoom’s Furnishings wishes to install mana-based furnishings inside your personal space. Do you wish to grant them limited permission to do so? If you decide to grant them permission, they will be restricted to simply installing your purchase and cannot change or interfere with anything else inside.
I granted them permission, wishing I had some way to warn Melvin and Tzes’zod about what was going on. Ducking back into the shop, Chaladoom assured me it would be fine, any residents of the personal space would receive a system announcement about what was happening, and why they were there.
With a couple of hours to kill, I checked back at the Summoned Market, hoping that my gear had arrived early, and I wouldn’t be forced to stay another night here. Getting the mana gauge back home was something I wanted to accomplish as soon as possible.
Thankfully, both other pieces were there, and it appeared that the clerk had been hedging her bets on how long the whole transfer process was going to take. You had to appreciate a business that subscribed to the under promise and over deliver mindset. I took a moment to check out the two newest additions to my set. Having four pieces in total gave me some solid resistance upgrades.
Summoner’s Leggings of Resistance. Part of the Summoner’s Resistance set, these leggings are magically reinforced, making the cloth and leather material as strong as chainmail. A 5% frost resistance is granted by this piece. This resistance stacks with all other forms of resistance. Part of a 5-piece set, an additional 5% frost resistance is granted for each additional piece of the set that you have equipped.
Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.
Summoner’s Bracers of Resistance. Part of the Summoner’s Resistance set, these bracers are magically reinforced, granting them the same strength as steel plate armor. A 5% acid damage resistance is granted by this piece. This resistance stacks with all other forms of resistance. Part of a 5-piece set, an additional 5% acid resistance is granted for each additional piece of the set that you have equipped.
You have equipped 4 of the 5 pieces from the Summoner’s Resistance set. Your total bonus is as follows:
1. Fire resistance: 20%.
2. Frost resistance: 20%.
3. Acid resistance: 20%.
4. Piercing resistance: 20%.
Since you have equipped more than 3 pieces of the set your summoned minions will enjoy the following protections.
1. Fire resistance: 8%.
2. Frost resistance: 8%.
3. Acid resistance: 8%.
4. Piercing resistance: 8%.
It was a nice upgrade, and the armor wasn’t too bad to look at either. The pieces I had gave me a less ragged, piecemeal look to my gear. The fact that it granted a bit of resistance to my minions was great as well. It looked like they were going to get 2% resistance for each piece I had equipped. Flagging down one of the clerks, I asked about the last piece of the set.
“Excuse me, do you know which item completes this set? Is there some way to reserve it if one becomes available?”
“I’m sorry, the system doesn’t allow us to disclose detailed set information, but I can check if there is anything else currently in stock,” the young man offered.
“Thanks, oh, one more thing. I have a piece from another set I have no use for, can I trade it in here for some summoning points?” I asked, realizing that the commander’s armor was going to just be clutter in my inventory.
The clerk looked up the item and confirmed that the commander’s set was one they would take into inventory. Just like when trading in a car to a dealership, you got a whole lot less in trade than you paid for it initially. At least it was enough to purchase a minor skill scroll for shields. Now that I had one from the new set, I needed to know how to use it.
I was done in Somhagen, all that was left to do was make the trip back to my personal space and return home. My thoughts were interrupted by a familiar and unwelcome voice.
“Hey Rico, what gives? I just got word that you were leaving. Are you sure we can’t stay an extra day? I’m just about to close a deal for this guy’s soul, er, I mean I’m about to buy some important supplies to take back to the place I’m renting from you,” Gary said. He was leaning up against the wall outside the entrance of the Summoned Market. I wasn’t surprised to see a trio of very agitated-looking market workers a few yards away keeping an eye on him.
“Sorry, Gary, but I have things to do back home and need to leave. I do have another hour or so to kill, though. I’m having some updated furniture delivered,” I explained.
“Fine, you’re the boss, at least for this trip. Still, I appreciate you letting me tag along, and despite you cutting out early, it was a profitable time for me,” Gary said. Sadly, it didn’t look like he was going to head out on his own for the last hour, so I was saddled with him following me around. To kill time, I stopped for a bite to eat, doing my best to not engage Gary too much in conversation.
It would be far too easy to slip up and say something to him that I’d regret. Much to my concern, he seemed to have taken an interest about Earth. I tried to downplay anything I thought might encourage his interest. Unfortunately, Gary was going to do what Gary wanted to do and there was little I could do to stop him if he decided that my home world would make a great vacation spot.
The only good news I had was that he seemed to not want to visit until the mana levels were a bit higher. Maybe his powers would drain back home, which would keep the planet safe from his machinations for a while. After an hour had passed, he summoned the palanquin again and we rode back to the personal space entrance.
“Melvin, I’m home. It’s time to head back to Earth, do you want to tag along?” I asked my gelatinous friend as soon as Gary left for his expansion space. Melvin sent back that going with me was an affirmative.
Looking around, I was impressed with how my personal space looked. It was a huge change from the big empty space it had once been. Now, I wouldn’t be embarrassed at having visitors, though it was a bit strange to have the six attendants standing around, waiting for orders.
I spent some time sorting out what I wanted to take back with me. I included most of the mana tabs, most of my coins, and the mana gauge. As far as the consumable figurines I wanted to take home, I added both veterans, the undying minion and the ogre zombie.
For the other choices I wanted the skeletal hounds, the angry mob, the panther, and the giant crab. Of course, I added Melvin to the mix, he and I had an appointment for some tacos and beer. Everything else would remain for future summonings.
With everything sorted that I wanted to bring back, I let the system know that I was ready to leave. A portal home opened and I stepped through it and into my apartment. It was evening here, and after a quick check to make sure there were no surprises waiting in the apartment, I began to relax. Picking up my phone, I dialed Marie, who answered right away.
“Rico, what’s up?” she asked casually.
“Marie, I think we need to contact Agent Lopez. I just got back from Somhagen, and I have something that might tell us when Earth will be inducted into the system,” I said.
“I’ll give him a call and then meet you at your apartment,” Marie said, ending the call. I didn’t even get a chance to tell her that Agent Lopez better bring his checkbook with him after all the gold I spent on the mana gauge.