Purchase Vern a drink of his choice

Reward: Information

“Well that clears things up.”

“What do you want to drink? I’ll buy.”

Not every loose contract has to be directly asked for, if a person intention is strong enough it can be directly related to those nearby, and if a person concentrated their intentions, like Vern is doing, they can wordlessly send such contracts. Not everyone knows how to do this, but a Vern is a veteran of the art.

“How gracious! I’m not one to slight new friends, of course I can’t deny your gift.”

Vern let a half a laugh before looking mournful as if he was really forced up against a wall, but he still didn’t hesitate to signal the bartender who expected as much and was already filling a glass to the brim. It would appear the Bartender and Vern could communicate without words.

“So tell me young entrepreneur Abstinence, what do you want to know?”

Just as Rak was about to speak Vern continued without missing a beat.

“I don’t pretend to know everything but around Inte? Heh. Well I don't have to tell you? I’m sure my name already spread to the cities Long, Trove and Hampter. Aye, aye. Ah.”

“This is going to be a hassle.”

In his heart, Rak wanted to curse the man but he didn’t let it show and just nodded and laughed with Vern, he did know other such showmen who liked the limelight.

“Of course! The real reason I came to Inte was to meet an exalted founder like yourself.”

Unbearable praise and self praise continued to ring out in the Hunter’s pride tavern, so much that the couple trying to enjoy themselves were practically chased out, unable to stand it.

“Vern, let me ask you, what are the needs of the village? What could a person like myself do to help bring Inte joy?”

For the first time Vern couldn’t immediately vomit out words and had to take a moment to gather his thoughts, but it was still only a moment, a person like Vern wouldn’t stop talking just because he didn’t have an answer at the tip of his tongue.

“Aye, this is a question very dear to me. As you know, Me, Vern, a venerable founder of Inte can feel the bonds of responsibility weighing heavily on me.”

“Of course.”

“As such I spend every day thinking of how to better the lives of Inte’s commoners. Aye, ah! It is a true plight.”

At this point Rak understood his question was too general, this Vern person wasn’t any sort of businessman or a government official. Vern continued to drag things out so Rak decided to ask more generic questions about the town.

It was already noon when Rak managed to tear himself away from Vern after gathering suitable information and Vern even handed over a rather detailed map of Inte after being bribed with a tall drink.

“Things really do get more challenging as we go along.”

Feeling drained Rak felt the need to roam about aimlessly to recharge, his eyes on the various people walking about, their clothing and weapons hanging at their side. There is no reason for a person to have their weapons hanging like that, as they can directly summon it from their inventory.

“Suppose having good looking swords and armor is something of note.”

Exactly as Rak said, the quality of armor around these parts can only be said to be up to be average, the biggest factor differentiating people is the style. Two swords entirely different in caliber may be of the same quality and yet one is far more expensive and sought after. This is just human nature at work.

“When I get back to Alp I should try to see if I can see a list of people’s hobbies.”

Just as Rak had stumbled onto Olric, Rak might be able to set up variety of workshops by hiring locals in Alp. In fact, hiring a person from Alp increased Rak reputation with the Chaos theory’s government system in Alp.

“One of the problems is advertisement. There is no obvious way to set up adverts so you have to rely on preexisting places to sell wares. And without renown I have to personally contact people to set up contracts.”

From Rak’s perspective, the biggest factor in setting up businesses is advertisement, whether if its to the public or other companies. Without advertisement things become a lot more direct.

“I suppose making an advertisement company could work, but the management is too hands on, I’d have to find a very competent person for it to work, not to mention the cost could be towering.”

The more Rak thought about it, the more he liked the idea of setting up workshops in Alp and import from there. If he found some interesting things in other villages, towns and cities, he could create more profit by creating trade routes. This idea of Rak’s is not at all unique, but not every place is teeming with ambitious and innovative merchants.

“I suppose I should talk to Url, his taming might be key to a more affordable carriage fleet.”

Unlike buildings, which can be commissioned by the government system in villages, towns and cities, taming or training beasts is something done by people. Carriages can be commissioned but their value can’t compare to a novice tier one carriage built by an engineer.

Rak doesn’t know how carriages are built or purchased, ignoring the government commissioning them, the materials used to build carriages can’t be too cheap and the quantity is not to be underestimated.

However, just as tier one beer can be easily and quickly produced, tier one carriages can also be crafted in a relatively short period. What must be taken into account is that not all creations are equal, crafting a sword may take longer than crafting a pair of pants in the same tier, but creating one tier higher pants could very well take longer than creating a sword.

If Rak’s brewery could produce tier two beer, they might only sell small quantities of it and would be forced to deal with cities to find valuable consumers. But what goes into creating tier two beer? Can it be as easy, as quick and as cheap as tier one beer? The answer is no, and as tiers scale higher, eventually, even with people willing to purchase, they won’t be able to keep up production due to many factors.

“From what I understand, most of the ore comes from great mines, one in the village Kante and a portion all the way from the village Dim, which is a town away from Hampter.”

Speaking to Vern didn’t result in too many obviously useful information, but the man had spoken to quite a few travellers and even carriage drivers who hauled things like ore, food, weapons and other miscellaneous products to Inte.

There is a potential mine in the town Tyr, but is has not been developed because they have no idea it is there. Similarly quite a few potentially valuable resources go unattended due to ignorance.

“Neither Dim or Kante transport ore through Alp, this might be an issue if I want to set up a Smithy. Do I have to make a trip to the village Kante? Suppose it’ll be worth if I can get Whor town and Kante to sign brewery contracts.”

If Rak finds people to work in his workshops, materials should be easy to attain and in sustainable volume, as long as they are within tier one. Even some tier two products are not too hard or too expensive to attain at the moment. Inte for example can be said a somewhat reliable source for tier two beast materials, wild herbs and wood.

“Alright, I’m in no hurry, taking a few days to settle things isn’t too bad either. I should check out this Training hall and Hunting lodge.”

In Alp town there are Hunting lodges, but they are personal lodges not large ones meant for groups of people, there is however no Training hall. In general these places are meant to generate system contracts. Village centres, Town halls or City offices can all generate contracts but what people really want are Chaos theory system contracts.

While government generated contracts are valuable, Chaos theory has its own worldly system which is active everywhere in the world, a rare rusty pin found beneath the dirt in some abandoned forest could trigger such a contract, and they can also be induced by building things like Training hall and Hunting lodges.

Unlike traditional production buildings such as the brewery or Smithy, Training halls and Hunting lodges focus on combat related contracts. While Rak’s brewery may induce some contracts, it is more likely that Olric will be on the receiving end of it, rather than Rak who is unlikely to spend much time brewing.

“Looks like a normal building, not too large not too small.”

It is unfortunate for Inte that their buildings can only be built as tier one buildings. It is not impossible to upgrade it to tier two, but without town the difficulty is increased by a few factors. It is however not all that unusual to only have tier one buildings towns even though if could upgrade to tier two.

“Very quiet people here.”

Inside the Bear Hunting lodge are eight individuals, two of which are part of the hunting lodges management. While there isn’t much to manage, being affiliated with management can grant benefits.

“More bird quests?”

“Seems like all we get are bird quests these days.”

“Some city or town must have a great need for arrows.”

“It has to be, it’s not for the meat is it?”

On a decrepit wooden board that looks like it’s seen better days are contracts. Not everyone can see all these contracts, but quite a few are open to the public.

“Still better than last month’s bear claw fiasco.”

“I thought we agreed not to talk about that.”

“Well, all these bird hunts are making me want to put down my bow, the amount of arrows I’m losing isn’t helping either.”

“Stop missing then.”

Rak had approached the wooden board and saw two contracts immediately and four other contracts that are obfuscated in some sort of blurr.

“Hmm?”

Bear hunting lodge hunt

Hunt Trel wart pig

Requirement per portion: five kilogram of raw meat

Requirement per portion: four pristine claws

Requirement per portion: Two square meters of pristine fur

Portions left: 27

Reward: 150 experience

Reward: 15 copper

Bear hunting lodge hunt

Hunt Yellow trim

Requirement per portion: six pristine tail feathers

Portions left: 856

Reward: 100 experience

Reward: 5 copper

“This barely seems worth it. Experience is alright but the pay is pretty awful.”

When Rak was doing various chores in Alp he did have to accept similar payment but he wasn’t going out to hunt, his tasks were almost entirely without risk. Not only that, as he completed more and more tasks, his compensation from both the town’s people and the Chaos theory system increased.

“Maybe it’s because I’m not hunter, the contracts I can’t see are probably worth a lot more.”

With many fledgling hunters the large amount of hunting causes considerable income, and is one of the reasons why Inte is as wealthy as it is. There are other factors outside of hunting, such as their lumber trade which is also considerable due to the city Hampter and the city Trove who both require a considerable number of quality lumber.

“I guess I don’t have to actually accept these contracts.”

Losing interest in the public hunting board, Rak went on to inspect the bows and arrows the hunters all carry around.

“So all hunters use bow and arrow?”

In truth, only two people inside the hunting lodge have the hunting job, rest are all aspiring hunters and can only be considered amateurs. Once they attain the hunting job, they will no longer be as dependant on a hunting lodge as the Chaos theory system will be more likely to issue them with quests suited for them. A hunter may only need to come across the tracks of an animal to be issued a challenge to hunt it.

“Huh, those two also carry spears.”

The Hunting lodge is not large by any measure and currently has no wares for sale, so Rak decided to check out the Training hall. On the way Rak stumbled onto a tannery where people produce leather. Unlike the hunting lodge, none of the devices are public and the whole building is owned by a group of people. To be specific it owned by an individual who is in charge of a group of people called Ongoing hunt.

The group is registered in Hampter, as only City Offices can register people as one entity. These groups of people are officially called a guild, each guild has multiple benefits to offer people and these benefits can become very specialized.

The Ongoing hunt has a few perks that make hunting, skinning and leatherworking easier for its members. To mention a few, tracking and skinning are less likely to fail. Successful hunts also increase experience gained.

It is fair to assume that Ongoing hunt is a guild filled with Chaos theory created people, but it is not improbable that a few real humans have joined the group. A single person can create its own guild for purpose of developing it for themselves and them alone, but such actions can be time consuming and in some cases expensive.

In some cases for people that are very specialized, they can create their own guild and focus only on one job aspect. A smith of some sort can invest into guild benefits that only work in the field of smithing, making the guild a ‘smith’ guild as it were. In this same way, Ongoing hunt is considered a hunting, skinning and leatherworking guild. Three aspects isn’t too hard to manage for a sizeable guild.

Like most things in Chaos theory, guilds are organized into tiers and so are the benefits. Ongoing hunt for example can still invest in more relevant benefits but to upgrade current benefits they’ll have to level up the guild and reach tier two.

In Rak’s experience so far, most things are either tier one or untiered. Most of the food he eats is untiered, the carriages he travelled in are untiered, his house and bed are all untiered. His brewery however is considered to be tier one. The weapons people walk around Inte with are for the most part tier one. Upon being worked, a lot of the fur and leather will become tier one products.

It is not impossible to find tier one food, but in general, restaurant have no need to serve tier one food and they would likely not have too many buyers as the price would dramatically increase. In many cases, consumable products suffer from this, when a person’s armor and weapon reach tier three, they’ll most likely still continue to use tier two or even tier one consumables like food stuff and potions.

“This place is noisy, even compared to the tavern.”

Standing outside the Warrior’s hut Training hall Rak can hear the impacts from people hitting both each other and various dummies. Accompanied by this noise is the low yells of various people sparring and training.

“This place smells like that hotel booth.”

This Training hall is owned by an adventurer guild that takes on missions in the endless mountain range, and even though they mostly fight beasts and their duties are similar to hunters. However the few people with a combat job like a warrior, incidentally, a hunter is also considered a combat job, these people with a ‘job’ do receive jobs to explore sections of the mountain range.

The greatest difference between what is considered an adventure guild and a hunting guild is the manor of their contracts. A hunter is associated with hunting but they can also receive exploration quests, only they are more likely to receive hunting quests.

“Are these people all part of some organization?”

Vast majority of the twenty some people in the Training hall have a large snake slithering down their right arm, the tattoo sometimes faintly shines. Their sized vary between a person but they are easily identified as the same pattern. Quite a few of the women are considerably smaller than the men and the tattoo reflects that.

“Are they flashing?”

Previously in the Hunting lodge, Rak didn’t notice a small arrow on the neck of the hunters, everyone inside that building is a part of the Ongoing hunt but none of them flickered with light like the ones from the Lost in the forest adventurer guild. The guild mark shines everytime they receive experience in some form.

Everyone in the Training hall is busy one way or another, making Rak, who is standing still, stand out. Fortunately, the people really are busy and take no note of him inspecting the place.

“Should I try copying them?”

Rak is no stranger to exercise but never has he punched a wooden dummy. As he doesn’t feel comfortable asking someone to spar with him, the next best thing is to mimic those that are punching and kicking wildly. Quite a few are also equipped with wooden weapons but there are none of these weapons lying around for Rak to use.

“Screw it, it’s just punching a dummy right?”

Gained 10 experience

“Really?”

As Rak has never experienced actual training in in Chaos theory he has not ever seen his experience increased in such a way. Every punch causes a bolded number to float above the wooden dummy.

Ten punches in, Rak steps back and falls into thought. The experience isn’t much as he still requires over a hundred thousand experience to level to the next level. From Rak’s perspective this is not worth his time at all. Even if he achieves level eleven, level twelve will take multitudes longer.

“Some of their attacks don’t look normal. Some of them look a bit like Url’s spear.”

Having thought this far something clicked for Rak.

“They must be training abilities and the experience is just a byproduct.”

Rak is neither a genius nor is he dumb, on this occasion he has guessed correctly. out of the people with abilities their main reason to train in the Training hall is the increased rate of skill progression. Their intention is to get their ability to the next tier.

After throwing a few kicks and even slamming his shoulder into the dummy Rak felt more confident in his guesses. What surprised him was that he rather enjoyed the activity, while it isn´t to the extent of wanting to spar, the feeling of his fists connecting with the dummy left him with a satisfactory sensation.

“I don’t see how I can make a business out of these people yet. From the look of it, they look like a frugal bunch. With the Village hall providing cheap weapon and armor repair there isn’t much to do.”

Feeling he couldn’t get his thoughts straight Rak decided to tend to his business and begin his negotiation with the local taverns. As with other villages, Rak had no issue convincing the taverns to switch to him as a supplier.

“If I knew Inte had such dedicated drinkers I would have come here first.”

Only the Withered fox and Laugher’s medicine could contend with these taverns and yet Inte as a whole managed to consume a quarter more than Alp town’s taverns combined.

“Assuming the other two villages relent as well, my profits should be over ten gold every two to three weeks.”

It didn’t take too long to deal with Inte’s tavern owners and eventually Rak met up with Alp town’s carriage driver who is in the process of loading processed leather. This leather will later be sold in Hampter where the demand is high enough.

“I wonder what the average strength is.”

Forl, one of three Alp’s resident carriage drivers has no issue lifting large bundles of leather and even a single huge green wood log. Only after finishing the job does Forl appear to be a bit out of breath.

While Rak isn’t unwilling to leave Inte yet, he did have some ideas of trying out hunting for the fun of it. After listening to Vern’s stories, most of which were centered around fighting, exploration and treasure, Rak felt a little fire lit inside him.

“I’ll deal with the brewery business then I can take a break for one or two weeks, see what other things this world has to offer.”

On the way back to Inte, Forl didn’t speak a word, even when posed with questions he would only nod or shake is head, and that was only on Rak’s insistence. Being no stranger to untalkative people, Rak cast away any thoughts of talking to the headstrong carriage driver.

“Compared to Forl, Url is a chatty Cathy.”

The trip back to Inte was quick, even though their carrying load more than tripled, slowing them down by a degree. It is still early evening so Rak stopped by the Withered fox, and in the processes remembered he had promised to let a man drink beer out of a barrel. Unfortunately, Forl did not agree to Rak’s request to go get one barrel.

“I can still ask Tril to let him take a sip out of the barrel. Only I don’t know if he’s still here.”

When the thought finished, Rak felt a sudden discomfort, asking that Tril to do anything was an issue. Sure, in the end he’d probably get what he wanted, but not without some struggle.

“How important can a map be anyway?”

As Rak took a step into the Withered Fox he was met with a very lively environment, the music is playing, it is only a bit higher than the constant chatter and occasional cheering. At a glance, Rak saw Tril carrying two large pitchers of what he assumed was his tier one beer.

There isn’t a table left open in the tavern, quite a few people are having to stand by the bar with their glass in hand. Eventually Rak found what he was looking for, the vagrant is occupying his own table talking to a towering woman with great passion.

Not wanting to waste too much time in this rowdy place, Rak immediately went to talk to the man. The rather large woman is only halfway listening to the vagrant, it is uncertain why she has left already, perhaps because no other table is free.

“Rak! You finally came!”

Not expecting such a warm welcome, Rak felt a bit easier in his heart, for some reason he really wants a better map, he feels he knows too little about this world. Sitting down, Rak felt the woman’s heated gaze on him, making him feel a bit uncomfortable.

“Did you bring the barrel?”

“I don’t I have it on me, I can talk to one of the tavern owners and have them let you have a taste.”

“Drinking straight from the barrel!”

As before, the vagrant felt exuberated at the thought of opening a barrel and taking a large drink.

“You know, if you got the coin I can let you buy an entire barrel of untouched tier one beer.”

“This. You mean it?”

“Of course. If you follow me back to the brewery we can do it while the evening is still young.”

“Can my beautiful friend join us?”

Despite being entirely wasted, the vagrant didn’t have any trouble speaking fluently, not one word slurred. Rak only hesitated for a brief moment before relenting.

“Sure alright, ye, she can come.”

“Great! What do you think darling, want to go for a stroll? I’m buying a pristine barrel of quality tier one beer!”

The Withered fox has already received their delivery of tier one beer, but have not yet exhausted their previous supply. Not only the vagrant’s eyes but the woman's eyes have lit up with a fervent gaze.

Just as Rak has managed to drag the pair out of the tavern a cutting shout reaches Rak’s ears.

“Abstinence!”

Freezing for a brief moment Rak doesn’t turn back and instead quickly shuts the tavern’s door behind him, going so far as to rush the pair along.

“Come, come!”

Rak has taken to a brisk jogging pace, and can’t help but be amazed that their pair has easily caught up, and even to the point to grabbing Rak and taking off into a sprint. Absolutely baffled, Rak is met with a serious eyes and the soft sensation of a rather enormous pair of breasts, seemingly larger than his head.

“Who are we running from?”

“I don’t know. Abstinence, who are we running from?”

“Uh.”

The vagrant and large woman look back suspiciously, it is apparent that the pair as used to such actions, not even hesitating to running even though neither know why. Rak didn’t come out of his puzzlement before he heard the woman speak up once again.

“I think we lost them.”

“Whose them? Why did you suddenly pick me up and sprint like that!?”

Only by screaming in his heart could Rak calm down but he didn’t let it show on his face.

“Okay we’re safe, let me down please.”

“It’s okay, I can carry you.”

“Eh.”

Feeling his body being pressed further into a mountainous valley, Rak was again unable to muster out any words. Only after insisting a few times did the woman reluctantly let Rak escape her firm embrace.

“So where is your brewery?”

The vagrant was left a bit unsatisfied that the brewery was almost on the other end of town, but the thought of his own barrel erased any dissatisfaction. The woman was more than happy, partly due to the tier one beer but also because she has another more insidious aim, Rak’s innocent body.

“I don’t like the way she keeps looking at him, I’m not imagining this, right?”

The woman isn’t bad looking or even out of shape, she is just too tall. If it wasn’t for her radiant eyes and obvious womanly figure, he’d doubt she was human. Rak just barely reached her chest.

“Is she a type of giant? I don´t think I’ve ever seen a person this tall.”

The more he thought about it the more he was sure she was the tallest person he has ever laid eyes on. Just her size made him feel a bit emasculated, the vagrant on the other hand didn’t stop trying to get her attention as if he was contending with Rak to climb the mountain peak.

“We’re almost there, it’s over there, you see the lone building?”

The brewery is built on the cheapest land available in Alp, the surrounding land is all empty lots but with time this area should all become residence housing.

It's not impossible to break into buildings and steal things in Chaos theory, but within a governed area, such activities can prove to be difficult and even harder to go unnoticed, as the local government is immediately informed. The invaders would require sufficient strength to even escape.

“Have a seat out back, I’ll bring out a barrel.”

“I’ll help you.”

“No, it’s alright miss, I can do it.”

“Call me Delil.”

“Okay, miss Delil, I’ll be right back.”

She was initially reluctant to part with Rak but after hear the words ‘miss Delil’ she seemed satisfied and took a seat directly across from the vagrant.

“Was it a mistake to bring those two here?”