Chapter 142 - Probing each other

As he was messaging Rudra, his suggestion and instructions to successfully have monopoly over the mithril mine at Jarko Town, Grenadier walked in along with Sultan, sat down and began to drink.

"I was expecting some one else to come along side you," said Shadow as he finished his discussion with Rudra.

"Ya. He is coming in a couple of minutes. He apparently was working on something and told that he would come once he is done with it," said Grenadier. "I hope you don't want to try out something like wanting him to become the head engineer of Crimson Realm. He is as unreliable as you."

"Whoa. You angry at me or something?" asked Shadow surprised and caught off guard when Grenadier called him unreliable.

"Don't worry, he always becomes like that when you bring up Earthly," said Merlin. "Another round?"

"Yes."

"Yes."

"I want a mead. I got bored of Whitewater," said Shadow.

"Dude! Were you drinking all night?" asked Sultan surprised when he heard that Shadow had already been bored of the specialty of the place. Though he was a royalty even he couldn't think of spending enough on Whitewater that he would be bored of it.

"Not really my drink. With such a good taste, I would like to get high soon and slowly enjoy it. With Whitewater, I can't have that enjoyment," said Shadow.

"Huh, whatever dude," said Merlin ordering another round for them. Though Whitewaters effects tend to go down quickly, they have programmed it to have a lingering effect of inebriety after having a few continuously and it would persist longer than other drinks. They did this so that players wont continuously throw their money at the drink. If that happened, sooner or later, accusations would soon come up that the virtual drink was made just to addict players and steal their coins. That wouldn't be good for the game and might even have detrimental effect on sales of the drink.

So, a couple more rounds later, Merlin had over six and had started to sing some folk songs. The other two also soon joined him. Sometimes, they hummed and sang along with the musical troupe and other times they sang gibberish. He soon notices that it wasn't only them but players and even a few NPCs from other tables started to do the same.

"Never knew that this would also happen in these places," thought Balthazar as he had never had much time to do this. He was always come to a bar to discuss something or gather information as a vice guild leader. "I guess adventurer teams have a lot more free time which allows them to really enjoy this," he thought.

As they were singing a person approached their table and Grenadier suddenly stopped singing as he noticed this player. Merlin simply bounced off to another table and began to sing with them as he noticed the player.

"Well, I guess at least one of my little brother's friends don't lose control completely," said Earthly Researcher as he looked at Shadow.

"Well, I am not always like this. I do enjoy getting wild occasionally," said Shadow. Earthly researcher's words clearly put him on a level higher than the others and could be a way of using it to sow discontent among them. As he was unaware of the players intentions, Balthazar denied his words albeit only partly as a flat-out denial might be detrimental to his talk with the new player.

"Hmm. At least you know when to keep control," said Earthly as he looked at Grenadier with a disappointed expression.

"Wait a minute. You are his elder brother?" asked Shadow pointing to Grenadier as he repeated the man's introduction in his mind.

"I guess you're just a bit better than those," said Earthly shaking his head as he realized that Shadow was also slightly tipsy and slow on uptake.

"Want a drink?" asked Shadow as he signaled the barmaid to come.

"No, I dont partake."

"So? Why did you want to meet me?" asked Earthly Researcher.

"I just wanted to know why you don't want to do any jobs suggested by the guild?" asked Shadow.

"That's easy. I am a researcher and quite a famous one at that. I own an entire moon. I am good at building stuff. I enjoy the simplicity of the tools and repeated simple movements is somewhat relaxing, but I don't enjoy doing repeated actions too much. If I make about 30 dynamites, I will get bored," said Earthly.

"But it is hard for me to let you use the guild resources without anything in return. Don't you think it is a bit unfair on your part to ask it of me?" asked Shadow.

"It is not like I don't bring anything to the table. I am capable of acquiring quite a few designs," said Earthly.

"Hahaha. You know that I and Crimson Power were the ones who first managed to come to a city and got hold of the engineering designs within that hour, right?" asked Shadow. "I don't have any issue in finding new designs either. A guild will always have more chances of getting designs than a single person when one comes to know of a tool. It is not like we don't have designs which we keep secret from the others too."

"Hmm," said Earthly Researcher and it was clear that he was a bit angry. He had hoped that with a new guild they would be a bit liberal after he told them that he owned a moon. Most starting guilds would be that way in the hopes that he might be a sponsor.

"I own a moon and can be a sponsor," he said openly flaunting his wealth.

"I have control over more than one," said Shadow in reply. "I am not talking to you as a potential sponsor. I already have enough of those. I am asking you what potential you have that you would be given special consideration."

"I am a good engineer. I have skills that most don't and would be able to easily identify defects and even repair equipment that I haven't previously worked on," he said. He decided to use similarity of the game to real-life and his familiarity to engineering in real-life to gain an advantage.

"I constantly work with engineers and have expertise in creating in field. I am sure that I have the same experience if not more with most of the tools and items in the game. Only reason, I am not head engineer is because I have job that I can't neglect for the game," said Shadow. "I graduated as an engineer. I have made name as a fighter, but I am good at engineering too. You can check with Merlin if you find it hard to believe."

"I can provide you good code to employ somnium tech for training players with the use of samsara framework," said Earthly researcher unable to find anything to beat him. This was his trump card that he decided to use.

"Hahahaha," laughed Shadow loudly. "Totally useless. I have already made arrangements for it and am also making plans to train my players with the help of experts in combat."

Earthly researcher's look became increasing glum after each of Shadow's replies. It was clear that he was thinking of an appropriate answer. From his first interaction with Earthly, Balthazar managed to deduce that he was an intellectual and a proud one at that. So, losing a battle of wits or even failing to come to terms favorable to him were options he would hate to choose in front of the little brother that he looked down on.

"What do you want from me? Please be frank," said Earthly Researcher finally conceding to Balthazar. He understood that he couldn't get an upper hand at their argument. So, he decided to check what the offer is? "At worst, if his conditions are not at all suitable, my idiot brother will make a few jokes about this," thought Earthly.

"Ok. We took mainly because some one's recommendation. It doesn't look like he is on the best terms with you, but the fact that he recommended you implies your are skilled," started Shadow. "So, usually I would offer you an amount more than reasonable to acquire your services, but you are obviously don't have the usual interests."

"Thus, I offer this suggestion. The guild will try to provide you as many materials as possible, but with a few conditions. You can play on your own as much as you want and make whichever products you wish. We will buy it and at a reasonable price and pay you a certain percent," said Shadow.

"Don't need a percentage. Good amount of resources is enough," said Earthly Researcher waving his hand indicating that he didn't care about the money.

"This is a business transaction. So, it is best if we pay some amount for your services. We can have it at a lower value that usual if you wish," said Shadow lifting his hand to stop him from continuing that discussion.

"Now, the conditions. The first is that you have to maintain your level at a slightly higher level than the usual in the game. Crimson Power will keep you updated on that. You can play only on weekends and holidays, but this is a must. If you fail, you will work with the guild members and they will help pull your level up. You should always have a reasonable level to make items of the level that would be of use to us," said Shadow explaining the reason for the first condition.

"That is probably expected, I guess. No problem with that," said Earthly. "They are willing to help me pull up my level. What can be wrong with that?" he thought.

"Think carefully. For example, even if you found some good design which you want to try out. You would need to increase your level with the help of guild members, except if you are able to increase your level making that certain item," said Shadow clarifying the scenario that might occur.

"No problem."

"Sometimes, we will require your expertise in making a harder design or work. I assure you that it will be something that is challenging to you and is not some small thing like dynamites that are made in large amount. It would be tools that aren't easy to make and wouldn't have required materials in large amounts. We need you to show your expertise there," said Shadow.

"What you said is quite vague. Can you elaborate?" asked Earthly.

"They will be mostly large-scale projects, big items or complicated items, like caravans, defibrilators and the like," replied Shadow. "You know the rare and hard ones which others might find hard to assemble."

"Oh! That's it?" asked Earthly in surprise.

"Well! It is a special offer currently being provided to players who have similar expertise in real-life," said Shadow. "Only for one year. We will have to renew the contract based on the performance. I have high expectations of you, but I am not willing to have a longer contract based on someone else's belief in you."

"I understand. I am fine with it. As long as I don't have to waste time collecting materials," said Earthly.

"Of course, I understand. I have a similar arrangement for forging. I will draw the contract, why don't you have a drink while you wait. I would suggest the pampara pine juice," said Shadow as he pulled out a contract paper and started to write down the details.

A few minutes later, Earthly had signed the contract and Shadow forwarded the contract to Rudra. "This is the best that I could do. He is an expert and would not accept the position of head engineer," messaged Shadow.

With that done, he was sure that he had managed to get a good player for forging and engineering each. He wanted to go and try out forging while wearing the headgear and then probably a couple of fights in the colosseum.

"Dude! How did you do that?" asked Grenadier who had been sitting quietly observing the discussion between his old man and Shadow. "How did you convince the retard?".

"It is all thanks to you. If you weren't so closely observing us both, he probably would have left saying that he could go to another guild as soon as I asked what he could do for us," said Shadow. The entire discussion was a play on a father's ego and would have been impossible without Grenadier Mage.

"Ya. I get that. But it was still awesome. I will remember to use this incident to have some fun," said Grenadier. "He always acts like he is in control of everything. It was always his way or no way. It amusing to see him concede."

Grenadier was really happy at his brother's situation and that he ended up signing a contract to work for Shadow. On the other hand, Earthly was having an entirely different conversation with Merlin through video call. Merlin had disappeared into the crowd a few moments ago.

"So, what is your conclusion of him. Is he the colonel?" asked Merlin.

"My friend, I think that you have made a mistake this time. I doubt that Shadow is just acquainted with the colonel. I would rather not pursue this," said Earthly.

"Why do you think so?"

"He was exceptionally calm and has good sense of negotiation," started Earthly. "He spoke very confidently. He clearly told that he is a capable engineer. Isn't the colonel an engineer too?"

"Yes."

"Apart from that, he was also good at forging, right?" asked Earthly.

"Our inquiries have confirmed that from both Crimson Realm and Sirius Imperials. Even if he is not exceptional, he is definitely in the top at present. I heard Crimson power even wanted to make him head forger, but he denied it for the similar reasons as you," said Merlin.

"See that is where, I am confused. Assuming his background, he is bound to be good at fights and engineering and skilled, but to be also good at forging? He never had the time to know all of it. Either he is a monster, or he isn't who we think he is," said Earthly.

"Hmm. That is actually a good point. He is also a half decent alchemist," added Merlin remembering of the time the Alva's tincture. That was a rare potion that even he found useless, but Shadow had managed to make it into a treasure.

"See. Apart from that he told me that he controlled multiple moons. I have made inquiries and the colonel only had control of one moon. He must be very good at lying if he is the colonel. I also have the feeling like it is just a business to him, and the others are just employees, but the colonel and the Powers kid were apparently good friends," said Earthly.

"You made a lot of inquiries into him," said Merlin surprised.

"Knowing who it might be, why wouldn't I?" sneered Earthly at Merlin's lack of courage.

"I doubt he is petty enough to retaliate in real-life. Such people tend to crush others the same way they feel that they were wronged," he added.

"So, you are sure that he isn't the colonel?" asked Merlin trying to confirm it once and for all.