Chapter 886 (1/2)

Donny cracked his neck. He had been called out of bed early because there was a warning about a woman staying so long in a Dungeon that she had developed Aether Sickness, but it turned out to be a false report.

Then again, she’s associated with Randidly… Donny thought with a wince. She might just be a weirdo.

But because of the early morning, he wouldn’t have time to go to his home and shower; he would need to meet the representative without looking anymore imposing than an unshaven young man. Basically, none of any of the trappings of power he normally liked to have when meeting foreign dignitaries would be present.

Still, it couldn’t be helped. They hadn’t been given much warning. Only six hours ago, in the middle of the night, the delegation from Zone Seven arrived at Star Crossing and met with their Tribunal. After exchanging pleasantries, the representatives requested permission to use the transporter in order to visit Donnyton.

After a brief delay, they had been given permission.

Which was why Donny now slowly walked toward the heart of Donnyton, the System Village itself.

There were currently thirty or so shops operating in that area, most of them bought with points earned through the village. In addition, they had a cathedral and several facilities for processing equipment that was advertised by the System as intensifying the power of production based Skills within.

Sam thought it was a waste of points to buy such facilities, but Donny had agreed with Daniel that buying it was a good idea; if nothing else, they would learn much about the trick that the buildings provided. With that information, they would be that much closer to finding the trick to the System.

Ultimately, that thought didn’t come to fruition; truths were not so simple things as that. But they did learn that not everyone was affected by such buildings. Most of the high-Level craftsmen in Donnyton wouldn’t bother with the forges; they had the expertise needed to finish basic processing already. In addition, something about what the forges did… weakened certain aspects of the forging process.

Sam was of the opinion that the three high-Level pieces of equipment that Zone Seven had sent over were made in just such facilities. Each possessed a strange weakness in its aspects. Or rather than weakness, it was a lack of intensity in some aspects. According to Sam, the numbness from the System assistance would cause exactly that sort of result.

But of course, for those starting out, the System forges were a blessing that would give them a feel for imbuing a vivid character into the weapons and armor that they made. Just for the experience of that feeling alone, the facilities were invaluable.

There were higher tiered facilities available as well. But Sam told him not a bother.

Now Donny was wondering if ignoring those possibilities was such a good idea.

There was an ornate gazebo at the far end of the Village, near enough to the walls that it had been built of sturdy materials in case of monster attack but far enough away that it didn’t feel crowded by the grimly honed walls.

As per Donny’s instructions, the representative from Zone Seven was already waiting there for him. Well, there had been no other choice. Donny had been down at the hospital, watching an extremely irate woman insist she was fine, in spite of the fact that the Dungeon Operator claimed she had been in there for what would have been almost six months.

Donny pushed his hair back. He was a busy man, leading Donnyton. It was perfectly alright to be slightly late to a meeting like this.

Ascending up the short stairs to the gazebo, Donny smiled at the calm man who sat at the central table. But as he looked, that smile faded somewhat. The man was sitting with his eyes closed.

“...excuse me,” Donny said slowly so as not to startle him. “I didn’t mean to keep you waiting. A situation came up that I needed to deal with.”

Now Donny extended his hand as the man’s eyes opened. They were mild and brown. “I’m Donny, VIllage Chief. And you are?”

“Han Yazhu,” The man said. His smile crossed his face quickly, like ripples across water. “A messenger of the people. It is a pleasure to meet you. I have heard much about this Village. And to see it… it certainly lives up to its name as the center of New Earth.”

At that, Donny’s smile turned a fraction more genuine. But Yazhu continued to speak.

“Which is why I come from my humble Zone Seven with a simple request; please allow us to connect to your transportation network. I believe direct teleportation between the capitals of our two Zones will be beneficial to both sides.”

*****

When he was sure that Randidly wasn’t looking, Kerrar fished one of the wooden blocks that the man had tossed into the water and studied it.

Very quickly he swore and dropped the block, waving his hand. Wincing, Kerrar looked at his hand; it was burned.

Then he frowned down at the block and watched it slowly smoldering into ash. Somehow, the burning happened regardless of the presence of water. It simply was foretold that the block would burn somehow, so it did. It didn’t cause Kerrar’s Dangerous Depths to activate, but still…

Was this some sort of equipment that Kerrar didn’t understand that allowed Randidly to kill the monsters…? Then this burning was some sort of magical chemical reaction…?

That made Kerrar feel somewhat better about the situation. If this was an external tool, it made a bit more sense than that this strange man with burning emerald eyes was simply dropping blocks of wood into the water and then killing monsters.