The Systemic Lands

Chapter 90: Day 215 (3) – Viewpoints 6

Ruth

I sat in my base in Truth as the sun began to come up. I had trouble sleeping and woke up early. I thought back on how Michael said it was a light source and not really a sun. I let out another sigh. I hadn’t meant to escalate things to that point but seeing what had happened here. I couldn’t let it go. Stupid, I had been stupid.

Why couldn’t he see reason? If he had helped out, this problem would have been instantly resolved. He just didn’t want to get involved. His distaste for politics, but it was probably that Naran guy. The survivors said he had a silver tongue.

At least the fighting between me and the last few skill holders had solved the issue of other people. Just in a way Michael would prefer. I had no more tears to shed for all those women. They had begun a massacre. Everyone except me was now in hiding. After the attempted assassination by one of the victims I was trying to help, I had to give up reaching out. If I hadn’t the points or crystals in reserve to heal up, I would have died.

Now it was a waiting game. Who would break first? I had the store to give me restorations so I could outlast them. My thoughts drifted to what Michael might do.

I was honestly surprised how he had backed off. I had been hoping to push him into siding with me. Once he did that, he would be easier to direct.

“Dammit,” I cursed. I was basically exiled. That ridiculous debt, he saddled me with, how petty. Another day of slow grinding. I was considering abandoning the city, but after everything. Well, I just couldn’t leave.

Michael was also vengeful. Why couldn’t he have just been more pleasant and worked with me? If he had helped we could have create a loyal following in this city and it would have made things so much easier to manage than Purgatory.

Instead, he threw it all away. Threw me away even after I had saved his life. That man was ungrateful, selfish, blood thirsty, and I was going to…I wasn’t sure what I could do. I wasn’t an idiot enough to fight him. Without Tom to help, there was no chance of outpacing his grinding speed.

Now I was stuck. I didn’t dare go back to Purgatory without crystals, but getting enough way out here, without a cart, a team, or anything else was going to be impossible. Bastards had killed the people I was trying to form a team with. They couldn’t beat me, but I couldn’t be everywhere.

I ignored the little voice telling me I should have listened to Michael. What did he know anyways? Killing people? Brutality? Skinning and salting people to make a statement not to mess with him?

I knew Tom would come back. I had made sure of that. I had been planning to make Michael jealous, to force him to commit, but that didn’t appear to be an option anymore. With his help, we could take control of this city and run things properly. Well, time for me to get moving. Michael did leave me with one gift, the knowledge of the layout of the Systemic Lands. Perhaps somewhere else would provide more opportunities.

Once I figured out where I could hole up and grind monsters, I could make my move. I just needed one more thing to ensure my success. It would be tricky to get the information out of Purgatory. Information that was worth a million points, probably more. I just couldn’t let it slip through my fingers.

I slowly got up from my chair and left my spot.

Laura

“A grid, how interesting,” I said as I looked at the map that had taken all our combined effort to piece together. It had taken a lot of time, effort, and unfortunately lives. Progress was being made.

“There is a map option in the store, you know,” Garrett my assistant pointed out. I shook my head slightly at that.

“And when will that be? Once we get our members out of debt, we need to start looking for a place to kill level 3 monsters.”

“True. Why are we using levels by the way? The store is called tiers, but monsters have levels?”

“Habit and that is what Champion Michael does.” Garrett brought a hand up to his face but paused since the restoration had removed the need for glasses. He still hadn’t broken the habit of wanting to adjust them. We both looked back down at the map and the little wood carvings that represented the various people and where they were grinding.

“Where should we push for exploration?” Garrett muttered while looking at the map.

“That is up to the teams themselves, you know that,” I replied. Teams rotated on a 20-day grind to 5 days off. Everyone was on the same rotation, so we could have an internal auction for grinding locations. There was talk about staying out for longer, but 20 days without a restoration was tough. Also it was a long time to be away from the city.

“I know. But we are looking at two new teams for the next rotation. We are running out of room at the key areas, unfortunately,” Garrett said.

“And losing teams.” I looked at the marker towards the Southeast past the venom flies. That area was a complete mystery. A second team was out there at the moment, after we had lost the first one. “Attrition is a problem as well. Also, level 2 dungeons.”

There wasn’t that much to do in the city on a day-to-day basis. I ended up spending a lot of my time looking at this map and writing down the information the teams had told me. Garrett handled the logistics end. Qualifying new teams and making sure the teams that came back didn’t run into issues.

“Room isn’t that much of a concern, things are fairly spread out, since we only have 12 active teams. I am thinking of doubling up on preferred areas to put the squeeze to check out new areas.”

“Could work. We need more skill users regardless. I am getting daily requests to get a contract.”

“I thought you set up a referral system?”

“Sill a lot of people. 250 per arrival and only 2 can get skills? Everyone and their mother want us to sponsor them.” I was very glad and pleased with myself for having Garrett deal with that headache. It was worth hiring him to deal with all of that.

“I think we need to implement the unskilled teams. Make the chameleons to the West the target. If you want to be on the list, well go prove yourself,” I said.

“Deaths will be high.”

I let out a sigh. “Of course, they will. We are just grave keepers at the end of the day.”

Elise

I double checked my drawings I had made. I had redone them three times and had two angles. After that day when the Champion walked in, I had a chance not to be out there risking my life.

It was my dream to draw, and I felt I was quite good at it. At least it was good enough for me to get a loan to start up my business. It was a struggle, but the Union people were good customers, good enough to keep me afloat.

I can’t believe I hadn’t known who he was. I had beat myself up over that. Well, now I was ready for when he showed up. I looked over the lines of the outfits. Both the armor and set of clothes to wear around the city were perfect.

I set the drawings to the side and looked at my most recent design. There was a push for uniforms, and I wanted to get the business. There was only work for one outfit designer, and I was not about to let anyone else muscle in on me or my business.

Clean lines, simple. Red and yellow like flames. Maybe. Red and something else. I looked over my options. The coloring set had been quite expensive. It cost 5,000 points per pen and I had 6 of them. Then there was the sketch book, another 5,000. Then there was the cost of the shop as well.

At least Ken didn’t expect anything other than free drawings and repayment of his loan. I was also hopeful that he would use his influence to have my designs chosen. I had already designed several outfits for the people he had working for him.

“Hey Elise.” I looked up and saw Patrick, the guy running the spice store from next door.

“Patrick, what brings you over today?”

“Was wondering if you heard anything about the war. I heard a rumor that every person that can fight will be given a club and kicked out of the city.”

I rolled my eyes at that. “That doesn’t make any sense. You are getting too worked up about nothing. Right now, we just need to focus on our jobs. How is extracting the heat out of peppers going?

“So, so. I was a chemist, not a food person. A lot of stuff I am having to work from first principles and try different things. Costs are high and sales minimal.”

“I understand. Hopefully more people will change that.”

“I also heard that the Champion Michael depopulated the entire city. Killed all the people and ate their flesh.”

“And you are repeating that?” Patrick paled a bit. I swear the man’s tongue had a mind of its own sometimes. “You know what happened to Clarissa. She tried to make a move and lost an eye.”

“So, you think it has some truth to it?” Patrick asked.

“I don’t know, and I don’t want to know. I am happy drawing outfits for people and not worrying about any of that.”

“Aren’t you curious or afraid?”

“Patrick. I am afraid. But there is nothing I can do. Better to just not get involved. You should try that. You start talking a bit too much, well who knows what people will think.”

“You are right as always Elise. Head out to the plaza with me, for a walk?” I hesitated, but there was no work do be done at the moment. I also didn’t want to waste paper. If Champion Michael came towards our shops, well we would be in the plaza and notice.

“Alright, but in sight of our shops. Don’t want a customer to come by and we aren’t there.” That would also make Ken really unhappy, and I didn’t want that.

“Great, let’s go.”

Ben

The time had come, or I was out of time. Luckily, I had managed to convince Tyrese to save up the crystals to wait. I was also the only other person to be allowed access to the storage.

“Tyrese ordered, everything to the plaza. Going to make a big purchase,” I said.

“We didn’t hear anything about that.” One of the guards spoke up.

“It is a bit sudden due to Champion Michael coming back. Anyways, we need to get moving. I was told they wanted to make the purchase and then an announcement.”

“Alright, if you say so.” Perfect.

“I already arranged for a cart to be outside, let’s get things loaded up.”

“You aren’t going to help?”

“No Body upgrades unfortunately.” The guard I was speaking to just shook his head and soon more guards began to help out, moving chest after chest. Once the cart was loaded it was brought out to the plaza.

It was almost too easy. Who would think I would just walk out with all the crystals? Not these idiots. Their security was laughable and their organization pathetic. Once I was in charge, I would purge the unworthy, in a modern-day Sodom and Gomorrah. Once I was in charge, God as my witness, I would fix all that was wrong with this place.

We arrived at the pillars and the Captain there greeted me. “What’s going on Ben?”

“Orders from Tyrese. Making an emergency purchase right now. Champion Michael is briefing them on the threat.”

“I didn’t hear anything about such a large purchase. I know Tyrese was planning to make the large purchase himself from our meetings.”

“Champion Michael insisted things move quickly while he briefs them on the threat. You can keep an eye on me.” The Captain gave me a long look and then nodded.

“Alright, I will have my men help you.” That was perfect. Chest after chest was unloaded and I cashed in the points. With those points I purchased more and more Body stats. I knew it would be the key to winning in the fight that was to come. I had listened to the internal research reports and been a part of the discussions on stats. Body was the most foundational stat. Faster speed, power, everything a man needed to crush his enemies with his hands.

Every purchase of another stat point let me feel a wave of power course through my body. The numbers kept climbing higher and higher. Soon I would be invincible!