Both Hruk and I had notifications waiting for us after the public demonstration. We soon discovered that they were similar in nature.

Congratulations!

You’ve helped bring a new invention to Arena Disk!

Even though you lack the mastery and knowhow to build it yourself, the induction heater is your brainchild. Unfortunately, because of the lack of hands-on involvement, you will not receive an achievement for the creation.

However, the deities of crafting and creativity have decided you deserve a new trait.

Royalty Fee: Art, whether it be a symphony, a twice-baked potato, a magical or technological creation, or a painted canvas, deserves recognition. Whenever someone gains from a piece you introduced to Game World, you gain a tenth of their Mastery growths, and a hundredth of their profits. However, if your contribution is shared with another, the received benefits are proportional to your contribution.

That’s right. As the investor and idea man, you only gain a percentage of the financial benefits.

My jaw dropped as I reread the notification. If anyone ever replicated induction heating technology, I’d get half a percent of their earnings. The same would apply for any other ideas Hruk and I nurtured together. However, the trait’s benefits wouldn’t just end there. I guessed I’d benefit from my culinary creations, too. The twice-baked potatoes wouldn’t get me far, but I was sure I’d get around to producing more delightful dishes soon.

"How many of those contraptions are you making?" The hamlet's blacksmith asked, approaching us. He addressed me instead of Hruk, even though we had established that I wasn't the craftsman responsible.

"At least six," I answered. "We're not just making the hot plates, though. Hruk and I want to design a kettle that does the same for each household. This will require some trial and error. On top of that, we want to make a couple of miniature versions for ourselves and a kettle as well. There will be a fair deal of work coming your way."

"It won't just be the copper coil that we intend to commission," Hruk added. "We'll need frames and shielding for each of the sides."

"Won't we need aetherite as well?" I asked.

Hruk shook his head. "The villagers have shelled out enough and I'm minimising it's usage with a more complicated rune script. I only need need enough to create nodes and line the mana circuit."

"That's a fair deal of work," the blacksmith said, scratching his head. His brows furrowed as he looked over the plans. “I see nothing overly complicated, though. Tell you what. I’ll make all of this and whatever you need at material cost.”

“What?!” Hruk and I exclaimed almost simultaneously. “Are you serious?”

“The Gods of Crafts wouldn’t be pleased if I benefit financially and in mastery ranks with all of this work, when you’re not making money off it,” he replied. “Perhaps the great Smith will smile upon me for helping you test and bring something new to the disk. It’s been years since I’ve gained new traits or achievements.”

Hruk’s brows furrowed. “I’d just like to clarify that you understand this creation is ours and ours alone,” he said. “We might use your help for testing the product, but that’s all it is. You won’t have any right to the product or credit—”

“I understand that perfectly, Master Greenman.” The blacksmith sounded annoyed. “The system-granted benefits aren’t my only aim. Two of my three kids have been experiencing horrid stomach issues this past year. You, a great mage, have helped confirm our suspicions.” Venom filled his voice as he addressed Hruk. “The gnomes are responsible for our plight. Our village healer has confirmed your proposed fix, as well. Helping you isn’t just for my benefit, but for my family and people’s well-being as well.”

Hruk and I nodded, leaving the matter there. They got to work soon after, while I focused on nurturing a new mastery.

Hruk, as an Adept-ranked Scribe, has shared his mastery with you.

You’ve unlocked Scribing Mastery!

Due to an experienced teacher, you’ve received a boost to the mastery.

Scribing Mastery has progressed to Novice Rank 5!

You’ve unlocked the Print skill!

Print has progressed to Novice Rank 5!

Any information absorbed through Analyse and Loreseeker may now be reproduced using Print.

Documents and contracts drafted using Print are now bound by the system.

If either side breaks the contract, they’ll suffer consequences at the system’s hands.

The Mastery’s rank will determine consequences’ power.

Now that we were delving into the business side of things, I expected us to enter proper trade deals once in Eldar’s Port. While Hruk understood the rune scripts, his mother had failed to train him well enough on the business side of things. I had little experience besides reviewing supplier contracts and occasionally reviewing those for junior, non-English speaking employees.

However, my growing Intellect, ability to distract and catch people off guard would fare well with the mastery. I wasn’t sure whether my theory would work, but it didn’t hurt to try. At first, I thought Print would let me help Hruk create copies of his runescripts. Unfortunately, it required a skill shared by Scribing and Artificing Mastery: Inscribe. As a result, I didn’t get to practise the ability.

“How many masteries can a person have?” I asked Hruk.

“You can have ten active masteries at a time,” Hruk answered. “Once you cross the number, you can move them between a pool of active and inactive pool once a day. Inactive masteries won’t give you its attribute bonuses and you’ll lose access to its spells or skills. However, the traits gained through it will remain active eternally.”

With the knowledge in hand, I threw myself into learning about Arena Disk’s trade contracts. While the hill folk mostly practised barter within their hamlets, he had meticulously handwritten and notarized contracts for his transportation business. He also owned copies of contracts not including him as well. They were aged and detailed the deals his neighbours had with buyers at the delivery location. The studying didn’t progress my masteries, but I gained a more detailed understanding of my new world.

It took a month for us to finish the hot plates, kettles, and all other products. Tom came and went during the time. He expressed displeasure at me poring over his private documents, but accepted it as a trade for helping cure his child. The cost of Hruk’s creation far outweighed his hospitality. I didn’t throw that in his face, of course. Instead, I apologised and promised to stay out of his study for the rest of our stay.

We delivered our creations to each of the hamlet’s homes once we had our final prototypes. The blacksmith received them first for his help. Then I furnished Tom’s home before spreading it out to the rest.

Since I had little to do. I spent my time practising all of my masteries. Unfortunately, none of my masteries reached milestone ranks. I didn’t gain any new achievements either. As a result, my attributes didn’t grow. However, the low-ranked abilities and spells experienced miniscule progress. My master of Primordial Magic increased considerably.

Sneaking and Sleight of Hand progressed too as I messed with the hamlet’s residents. They had nothing worth stealing, and I found it difficult not to like them. However, Doctor Whoo and I found amusement toying with them. They’d put down one of their prized tools and turn away. Then when they returned their attention to whatever their doing, they’d find their tool missing. I wouldn’t move it far. After spending a good quarter of an hour turning over their homes and workstation, it would show up where they originally left it. I probably left the hamlet’s poor residents thinking that the water caused insanity on top of making the little ones sick.

Brawn: 7

—STR 4| VIT 10

Control: 18

—DEX 21| ARC 15

Wit: 22

—INT 15| CHA 29

Traits:

Coward’s Brand | Facts Begin With Fiction | Arcane Strings | Acknowledged By Mana | Sharing Traits | Druidic Inclinations | Spirit Sense | Royalty Fees

Masteries:

Musician: Journeyman Rank 5

Mana Wielding: Journeyman Rank 0

—Mana Sense: Journeyman Rank 0

—Mana Control: Journeyman Rank 0

Cooking: Apprentice Rank 8

Sneaking: Apprentice Rank 6

Loreseeker: Novice Rank 5

—Analyse: Apprentice Rank 0

Sleight of Hand: Novice Rank 9

Riding: Apprentice Rank 3

Beast Taming: Apprentice Rank 5

—Satchel Monster: Novice Rank 6

—Primordial Magic: Novice Rank 5

Fashion: Novice Rank 5

Scribing Mastery: Novice Rank 5

—Print: Novice Rank 5