As we returned to Algasta, I still had 30 hours to release myself from the bracelets. It’s time for me to put my {Traits} to work. The town gates were lively. I guess we weren't the only group adventure. The different sets of armor and apparel made me gasp. One duo group that caught my eye was all female. The dwarf had black and red armor. I couldn’t tell for the life of me what type of metal it was. Like I even knew of that to guess. It looked thin and with a form-fitting design. On both shoulders, legs, and chest, there was a gem on each placement. Her weapons must have been inside her spatial ring. Are all dwarves this fancy with their gear?

Her companion was a female orc who was wearing anything barely. Her stature wasn’t like that of her male counterparts. More like the average human male in height, she was 5’9” tops. She had on a tightly woven brown strap to cover her chest. Below that, she had some shorts with a partial skirt to cover them. With her feet and arms, she had both in brown wraps covering halfway.

The one thing I can say is that [System] or maybe genetics but beauty is prominent. Would it even be possible to be ugly in this world? Overnight from just one skill, I lost 10’s of pounds of weight. Being fit is easy when with stamina regen, anyone can run a marathon without breaking a sweat.

Her tattoos that were covering her entire body was on full display for the world. I couldn’t tell the exact designs, but I could barely make out two. One resembled a two-headed bird on her upper back, with the second being a small spiked tortoise running down the right side of her chest. She was a bruiser like me, but she had apparent differences in armor choice and {skills}. I wonder what benefits those tattoos have, or are they purely aesthetic?

I tapped Hanguk on his shoulder as we were still passing the group. I didn’t want to miss my chance, Chole taking no mind in the disturbance and continuing her walk towards the gates.

“Yeah, Jack”

“You see that orc girl, why doesn’t she have armor? Are her tattoos special somehow is that? Why?”

After looking around for the girl, he finally noticed the tatted orc girl.

“Yeah, I can’t tell you, Jack, it’s a clan secret. Sorry bro, but I gotta follow the rules.”

“How would they know if you told anyone? Not like anyone is watching us, right?” I said half-joking but with a subtle seriousness to my voice

“System contract after [Ritual of Maturity].”

“I get it, Hanguk, while we're at it can you tell me about your clan?”

“Our clan statement would explain better than I ever could” He cleared his throat and spoke.

“The Clan is Family beyond blood, Trust without thought, Sanctuary to the Broken and Damned. The Clan is Home” That's our statement to the world.

“You sound welcoming. I wouldn’t expect less from your group, to be honest.”

“Thanks, Jack, yeah me and Chole have a tough road ahead, but it’s worth it.”

“She’s in your clan. It’s not an orc’s only thing?” This explains how she knows Hogard and why she and Hanguk knew each other from before.

“Anyone can join technically, but she’s a special exception” He grimaced as if he said too much about something that wasn’t his place.

“I understand,” we left it like that. Before I forgot, I have to tell them both I can't hunt tomorrow.

“Hey guys, before we split off, I want to let you know. I can’t hunt tomorrow. I know it late call, but something important came up, and my due date is tomorrow.”

They both looked at each other and, without words, shook their heads, and Chole spoke. “It’s Ok, Jack, we're used to being a duo,” Chole replied, Hanguk repeated almost the same sentiment.

With that, Hanguk and Chole split from me and walked back to their compound.

Hanguk and Chloe POV

Hanguk spoke with a calm assertiveness to his voice, “So what do you think of Jack.”

“He seems ok, naive, and question heavy as all get out. He can figure things out pretty quickly if you leave him to his vices. He’ll stall out soon enough on his own. What do you think?”

“Talent without guidance is worth nothing. Those bracelets had Hogard mana Signature all over it. He's marking his claim for everyone to see. Must have something to do with why he can’t hunt tomorrow. He better be grateful, the clan gave up six adult Cooshee so that he can get one measly gold.”

“One gold isn’t much. He better invest it well. Luckily Elder Baba didn’t give up any of our krenshar. I don’t think anyone in the clan would have agreed to that. I wonder what Hoggard has planned for him?

“Be my best guess with Hogard, the clan and the guild aren’t always aligned, to begin with. The faster Jack increases in strength, the greater our return. Right now, that’s all that matters. There's still daylight just because we went on a “hunt” that doesn’t mean we’ll delay training. We have our mission, and he has his, isn’t that right private Chole?

“Yes, Squad Cadron Hanguk”

Jack will have to learn everything has a price, even comrades. Hanguk thought as both him and Chole walked towards the clan's internal compound.

Jack POV

I should have asked them where the library was. I haven’t explored Algasta. Heading back to the guild is my only real option would be the main lobby receptionist. Entering, I walked toward one of the multiple open aliases. At first, the male receptionist I thought was a dwarf, but he had a more whimsical look, with a younger appearance with a stature similar to a dwarf but more slender build of an elf. Is he another hybrid?

“I want to know can you give me directions to the nearest library, even better, is there a map of the city.”

When he talked, it was more frank with none of the pleasantries of Maricela. “A physical map would cost one silver; a system map will be 10.”

Ten silvers aren't sound expensive, but I’m not sure how much my weapon will cost. “Is there a guild member discount or rate” Better to ask and know than to be silent and never know?

He looked me up and down, and with a pinch of disbelief, he asked, “What rank are you?”

Remembering Chole’s explanation from earlier, I answered, “I don’t know to be honest, but Maricela in the training facility. She had me inject my energy in one of your crystal balls.”

“I see,” he paused before continuing. “We all know, Maricela” He left it at that before pushing the crystal ball towards me” I repeated the process as before. The same faraway look from before became apparent after a few seconds he spoke.

"I’ve updated your profile so that this mishap won’t happen again. All guild allied or affiliated support members with [Deceived Gods] will know who you are from now on, Mr.Talbot.

On the map, yes, all guild members are given a map of algasta with additional segments of explored surroundings starting at ten silver.”

“Just the basic map is fine” again, he pushed the crystal ball in front of me, but this time it had some radiant white light trapped inside.

I touched the ball in that instant. All the information revolving around that singular concept was rushed into my head and pieced together like a jigsaw puzzle. I could feel a doorway open then close. I knew if I just a second longer, that wave of knowledge would grant me more than I could imagine.

“My apologies I should have warned you, [Skill Transfer] is a feeling most never get used to. Try not to Mr. Talbot” With that last bit having a more severe tone masked behind the words. “You should now have [Map], with a detailed map of Algasta, Mr. Talbot.”

“Thanks for the skill and warning. I’ll try not.” With him bringing it up, I asked, “What rank am I currently?”

“Unranked currently, we have a 24/7 ranking evaluation room up to D rank. Guild affiliated quest is currently unavailable because of your status.”

“I see, thanks for that” On tomorrow's duelist, I have a free day better get this done now than later.

I left the guild and walked towards the plaza to sell these parts off.

The plaza was more towards the center of the city. The once deserted streets became almost packed as people went in and out of buildings, alleys, and side paths that the imprinted map in his head didn’t know existed. Note to self maps aren’t perfect.

To my surprise, the plaza wasn’t a loud affair of haggling, but instead, the same screens from the training facility and guildhall were on every stall, with each customer just standing or sitting around looking blankly at their screen. All you would have to do is walk up and touch the screen. Looking around, I found an alchemist group. I felt the screen, and three options came into view.

[Buy]

[Sell]

[Craft]

[Talk to the merchant]

Picking sell, my spatial ring came into view, almost like an inventory screen. I chose the organs and the entire [galloptor] corpse. Eight silver was my total, with quality being the reason given for not receiving max value. It’s only 50 bronze. I accepted, and the items disappeared in return, eight silver were deposited from the merchant into my spatial ring. I went back and selected talk to merchant, one the sitting beastkin walked towards me.

”How can I help you, we don't haggle on prices, but crafting is negotiable depending on the job.” his voice had disdain in it. I could tell he couldn't give two fucks.

I shouldn't have selected this option ”It was on accident, my bad”

He looked upset but went back to his seat and continued to read something.

Having an interface would change how commerce would occur, but for it to be this fluid. Just wow.

Moving on, I needed paper and pencil time to put my agility to work. I was going to the general wares store. I bought ten sheets of paper and two pencils for 20 bronze. Getting 80 bronze back, I went towards the blacksmith. Touching the screen, an array of options appeared from armor, weapons, and accessories, picking weapons. I looked through the weapons types, filtering to show only the fist types; the weapons for selection were limited from claws, gauntlet, and an assortment of palm daggers. It just wasn't anything lethal enough that was in my price range. With the cheapest option being two gold, I couldn't just buy my strength.

The cheapest option was a steel cestus. It was a leather wrap with steel padding on the knuckles. With wrist supports by a set of straps. The 3d icon allowed me to rotate and view the equipment. I was trying my best to memorize the design. I walked off and started drawing the basic structure of one to the best of my ability.

Walking towards a different blacksmithing group with a younger elf and older dwarf combination. If you noticed someone coming to your shop walking off, then coming back with a design, you would assume he just copied it from your store. Compound with my appearance and how the guild receptionist and last merchant responded, I would not test it.

Selecting merchant on the interface, the dwarf appeared.

”What do you want?” His tone was contentious. He knew I didn't have two pennies to rub together.

”I want to have you craft this passing him the cestus design I copied. I have an adult cooshee. Would it possible to use the skin, claws, and teeth to produce this, with any leftover material you can have for yourself.”

”Read the sign, boy,” he pointed towards his shop sign. It was written in some foreign language, not like the contracts [Universal Language]. I couldn't understand the words if I tried.

Embarrassed to reply, I told the dwarf,” I can't currently read at the moment.”

”Now you can't read, and you have a cooshee to sell, leave before I get angry. Next time be honest and have an actual business.” I've been guessing based off previous fantasy tropes of what the professions would use. I didn't know that some would have requirements

He turned his back on me, walking towards his elven apprentice before I could respond.

Taking the cooshee out of my spatial ring, I spoke,” I need someone to create me a weapon. Your apprentice could use some practice, right?”

The thump the body made on the table in front of me rumble from the weight of the creature. Made the man turn around.

”Get that bleeding corpse off my table" anger racked his voice, I disrespected him, and I had no excuse. Putting the corpse back into my spatial ring.

”Sorry, sir. I meant no disrespect. I need some help. I'll work it off anything left over on the tab.”

He looked me over for a definite minute or two, come behind here, your right my apprentice does need some practice”

I felt relief; walking behind the table, passed the outlined border for the shop. The outside world disappeared, and it was replaced with a warped mirror view of the outside. It was similar to the feeling of being cut off from the outside world when I was in the training facility. Instead, This felt like an extended of the original.

”Stop gawking and get over here, drop the creature, and I'll examine it” He pointed towards a stained spot on the ground. Thinking this was the dismantle location, I pulled the beast out.

”Alfred get over here and watch,” the dwarf commanded his apprentice.

”Yes, Sir,” he walked over and stood at attention.

As he inspected the corpse, he looked over the teeth, fangs, claws. He was using his hand to examine the muscle underneath the skin. After what was close to 10 mins, he placed his left hand on its forehead. He closed his eyes and from the forehead across blue and green veins spread until it reached the tip of its tails. From there, the veins retracted back towards his hand, and as he pulled away from a green/blue jawbreaker size, rock formed in his hand.

He extended his hand outward using his left to encapsulate it in a green ball. My best guess a {Qi Construct}. He gave it to his apprentice, who held it from there.

”Go sit somewhere, boy. Crafting your gear will take a couple of hours if you want quality.”

”Thank you, sir,” I walked off to a secluded patch of dirt as far away from the work station as possible.

I entered my inner world, with the next few hours free. I planned to go to the library and read up on different energy types. With this little break, I can at least focus on the task Hogard gave me. Personal and second-hand knowledge is acquired for the road to mastery. My dad loved that phrase. He heard it in some old Chinese martial art film.

Artek and Alfred POV

”Alfred, I want you to cut off that section and mask it with an auditory and visual illusion.”

”Um, yes, sir.”

Alfred weaved the space with the fluidity of a seasoned professional. Jack's isolated space became a one-way mirror, with them looking in and him out into a fake world.

”Look at this,” Artek, showed his fledging apprentice the branded mark on the claw of the cooshee.

”That right there is the [Twin blood] clan insignia. He didn't hunt this fucker. Someone gave it to him. A pack of these would have torn his sorry ass apart. They've Annihilated entire clans because a youngster would accidentally overstep his hunting grounds slaying one of their hybrid pups.”

”Why did you refuse him then?”

” I saw him copy Aan design before coming over; look at him. He's desperate. Doesn't even know how to repair F rank shit he calls gear. We found ourselves a Jackpot, someone prominent in the clan is helping this youngster. You need a supplier, and with luck, this boy might take you with him.”