Chapter 140 - Contact from Walter (1/2)

”I don't have time to work on the Rifle crossbow,” thought Balthazar as he made his way to the engineering association. ”It is best if I make some suggestions and log out. It is best if I still contact Winston and ask him of his experience. I don't believe that he will deny me that information,” thought Balthazar.

Rudra was already waiting for him at the reception of the engineering association. The reception had quite a lower number of players compared to forging association. Balthazar expected it as he had always known that engineering which required knowledge in multiple secondary professions is harder than others and had much less players interest or good at it. Though the creations of engineers had a lot of uses, it wasn't an easy occupation and was dangerous.

Alchemists and Forgers don't have to be worried of blowing up trying to make creations at lower levels, unlike engineers who could blow themselves up to death creating bombs and the like. Dynamites were the simpler explosives and thus had less power, but later it would become harder. Moreover, most engineers were requested to make explosives and blowing up in vita-nova makes one feel they have really experienced it. They occupation requires them to have a moderate amount of sensitivity to properly build tools so they can't put their senses down completely and work. The worst part was not dying after an explosion but staying alive which cause them to feel all the burns and pain till they were healed.

”Come on, let me have a look at the new designs,” said Rudra as he noticed Shadow enter the ground floor of the engineering association.

”You are almost drooling,” said Balthazar as he passed on a bunch of designs to Rudra.

”Dude, it has been quite overwhelming today. We have managed to do things that even Super guilds would find hard to do,” said Rudra.

”So, what other thing did you manage to do. Any new engineering tools?” asked Balthazar.

”Managed to mind a few tools, but they were mostly simple ones. Scopes, caltrops, new kind of bombs, smoke bombs. They are technical weapons and not much useful against most monsters but could be used well in dungeons,” said Rudra.

”Caltrops, I expected,” thought Balthazar. ”Where did you find smoke bombs design. I doubt you got smoke bombs from the Colosseum,” asked Balthazar.

”Ya. We didn't get it from the Colosseum. We have a famous engineer join the guild courtesy of Merlin. Already joined the guild as engineer, but he insisted to be left alone for his quests and didn't want to even share the workload of the other engineers of the guild and produce the common goods required,” said Rudra.

”Seems to me like he wants to be an independent player,” said Balthazar. All the requests of the player were consistent with the desires of one who wanted to be an independent player who only sold their goods. ”Why are you even entertaining him?” Shadow asked Rudra.

”It is mostly because of Merlin. He vouched for him and told that we would get decent goods for providing him raw materials. The man also had a quite high success rate and production speed,” said Rudra.

”Looks like an expert. What is his name?”

”He uses the name Earthly Researcher. He is apparently also good at other secondary professions and does most quests alone. Merlin came to know him because he was related to Grenadier Mage,” said Rudra. It was clear from Rudra's tone and manner of speech that he wanted Balthazar to look into and if possible, get him to sign a contract with the guild.

”Can't promise you anything, but will check him out,” replied Balthazar. It was clear to him that the player in question was quite confident of his abilities and so was Merlin. So, he didn't dare to give any assurances.

”I am going to another planet on work tomorrow. So, probably won't be able to stay in contact for some time. It is test of sorts from my family,” said Balthazar.

”They suspect you for something? You need any help?” asked Rudra. He didn't know of the tradition of the Blyth family and thought that his friend was in some kind of problem.

”Hahaha. No. It is just a tradition, something like a coming of age ceremony or test to check if we are strong enough to handle a few things. Mostly a pre-requisite of sorts for most positions in the family,” said Balthazar amused by his friend's thoughts and grateful for his concern. He explained the situation to him and that he was participating for helping out Robert to become an elder.

”Damn! You have a lot of work. You sure are gutsy to be playing with such issues.”

”Ya, I will meet you after dinner in the game,” said Balthazar and he logged out. He had a meal just four hours ago in real life and didn't really feel hungry. So, he decided to contact Winston first.

”Ah! My grandson calls me in time for dinner? To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?” said Winston as soon as he took the video call. Though his words were pleasant they oozed out sarcasm as he clearly knew the reason Balthazar called him.

”Ya. I get that I don't call you much,” said Balthazar. ”I was hoping to meet with you though.”

”You could have put in a message about it.”

”I was working on my business. You know that I was asked to have a personal source of revenue,” replied Balthazar.

”In the gaming industry, please. I doubt you know anything about games,” said Winston. ”You were a very studious engineer and finished your college early to apply for a job at the force. When did you even get time for games?”

”In college. You don't spend all your time in college reading.”

”Ok. At least tell me you earned a decent amount the past few days. I consider it a decent income if you are actually working,” said Winston grinning. He felt that his grandson was going along a wrong path with the game. It is fine if he just owned a gaming workshop, but he believed it to be a complete waste of time to be spending time there personally.

”I earned about 2 hundred thousand credits on my first day. Apart from that I have much more in virtual game coins which I can't convert to actual credits right now nor do I intend to. I don't have the exact numbers but can contact my manager Rudra to give it to you,” said Balthazar.

”Two hundred thousand? That's it?” asked Winston in a derisive way.