288 Array Master (2/2)
”Ye-yes.” Filma bowed to them and left.
...
Not long after, Filma came back to the counter. While the blue-haired girl immediately asked her. ”Filma, how is it? How bad does he fail? Tell me.”
Filma shook her head. ”Ryan, I think you are missing something great. He didn't fail. Instead, he passed it with flying color. Even the Guild Master said his refining was perfect. Ah, I have so much to learn. He might be my idol. I think you better be prepared for later.”
Judging from her father's expression, it seemed she will have a full 'Conversation' with her father, the third elder.
...
Alex didn't care about any of that as he made his way toward the Array Master Guild.
It was the time he visited the Array Master Guild. Surprisingly, the guild was not brimming with people. Alex didn't put his mask on according to his plan earlier.
He strolled for a while. He could see so many empty racks here and there.
He went to the receptionist. It was a young man with big round glasses. His coconut haircut made his appearance more plain. Alex didn't have any problem with his appearance, though. He thought if his appearance was like this too back on Earth.
”Can I help you?” He asked politely.
”Yes. I am wondering if I can take the Array Master test here.”
”Of course, you can. Which rank do you want to apply for?” The glasses boy smiled as hard as he could. He was happy to see another person who wanted to test. Unlike Alchemist and Forging Master, it was hard to find Array Master around the continent.
”Em... Can you explain to me about the requirement first?”
”Oh, I forgot about it because I'm too happy. The population of Array Masters is not many to begin with.” He said.
”I'm new here, so I hope you can explain it in detail,” Alex asked.
”Of course.” He nodded. Then, he started explaining, ”Unlike Alchemist and Forging Master, we changed low, mid, or high rank Array Master to the color of the badge: Bronze, Silver, and Golden.
”Because of the scarcity of Array Masters and the high demand. We employ the achievement system here rather than classified them with how many symbols they could make.
”Everybody who took the test will always start from the bottom. In other words, if you test for rank 2 Array master, then you will start from bronze rank 2 Array Master.
”If you wanted to rank up to silver rank 2 Array Master. You need to contribute fifty rank 2 array plates to the guild. As for the golden rank 2 Array Master, you need to contribute two hundred array plates. Although I said 'Contribute,' it doesn't mean to give it for free.
”You sell it to the guild. You will get eighty percent, and the guild will take twenty percent. However, this also comes with a benefit. Your array plate would be more trusted if you are a golden ranked Array master. In other words, people tend to buy a rank 2 array plate made by golden rank 2 Array Master than buying it from bronze rank 2 Array Master. Because they know the golden rank 2 Array Master has experienced under his/her belt.”
Alex pondered for a moment. Making an array plate was really hard. Take his Jadeite Mirror Array as an example. It contained a thousand symbols.
He could make it in a few hours on the ground. But with the limited space of monster skin.
He would need to cram all of those symbols in that little space. Array Master tended to stick a few skins together so they could make a bigger plate. Though they loved to call it 'Array Paper.'
Anyway, with that little space. Alex would need to make a thousand symbols. He would need a longer time and higher concentration. That was the reason why Array Master preferred making the array on the ground than in the array plate. They didn't need the array plate to boot since they could make the array themself.
”But most racks are empty around here. Wouldn't it be the same whether you are a bronze rank or golden rank Array Master?”
”Yes. Indeed. Because of our small number and high demand. They are usually empty. So, to fix that problem. We would take twenty percent from a bronze rank Array master, then fifteen percent from silver rank Array master, and lastly ten percent from golden rank Array Master.
”We also sometimes made an auction for golden rank Array Master, so their product could sell more.”
”I see.” Alex finally understood their approach. Then he asked, ”What about the test?”
”If you want to take rank 2 Array Master test. Then you need to be able to make at least two rank 2 Array. It doesn't matter which array you can make as long as you can make them. You need to be able to make it with your spiritual energy, then on the ground, as well as on the plate.”
”So, I need to make three on each array?”
”Yes.”
He pondered for a while. He only had mastered four arrays, which were Jadeite Mirror Array, Pollen Illusion Array, Simulation Room, and Teleportation Array.
He thought he would only need to be able to use one rank 4 array and one rank 3 array just like the Alchemist test. Luckily he could still take the test with his Jadeite Mirror Array and Pollen Illusion Array.
Alex couldn't let them see his Simulation Room as it was such an absurd array. The same applied to the Teleportation Array. He couldn't imagine what kind of expression they would make when they knew he was a Space Element Array Master.
”Alright. I will take the test.”
”Sure. Let me help you with the registration. Which rank do you want to apply for?” He took a paper to write Alex information.
”Rank 4,” Alex said casually.
”...” The glasses guy thought he didn't hear him right, so he asked again. ”I'm sorry, which rank?”
”You didn't hear it wrong. I want to take the rank 4 Array Master test.” Alex said.
He unconsciously dropped the paper and his pen. He looked at Alex dumbfoundedly. The young man in front of him wanted to take a rank 4 Array Master, it was unbelievable.
But he remembered what his Master said to him back then, ”Don't judge the book by its cover. You might regret it later.”
He tried to regain his composure while getting his paper and pen on the ground. He tried to smile as hard as he could and said, ”The fee is twenty thousand Spirit Stones.”