"So, to summarize," I stood with my arms crossed, feeling like a CEO at a meeting with a key investor. "Five injectors of the improved combat stimulant, which I've called the Ultimate Predator Serum." Not me, but the system, I corrected myself mentally, but Blade didn't need to know that. "Two more muscle stimulants. And I've reserved one Intellect Potion for you for a future barter. Correct?"
"Yeah," Blade nodded, leaning against his Charger. "If you weren't so stingy, you would've sold more stimulants."
"I have few myself for now; this isn't mass production," I spread my hands. "And while you can only offer money, this is my maximum."
Seven stimulants. Ten thousand dollars each. Seventy thousand. Blade agreed without even blinking. Though behind his sunglasses you couldn't see it anyway; maybe he did blink...
"I'll bring you an interesting thing during the week. It's definitely worth a trade for your miracle potion," he promised. "You'd better prepare more stocks of consumables so I don't waste chump change on them."
At those words, I choked on air.
"Chump change?! It's seventy thousand dollars! Is exterminating vampires really that profitable an occupation?"
"Heh," he smirked and gently patted the hilt of his katana. "If you knew how much she and her maintenance cost... And yeah, something trickles down from the bloodsuckers, something was inherited from my laid-to-rest old man, something I earn on emergency missions from 'up top'." Here Blade pointed significantly upward, indicating that I shouldn't meddle with these "top" circles.
"Phew, alright," I exhaled. "To be honest, I jacked up the price on the stimulants to discourage buying them for money. Planned to do some metal smelting... But who knew that in your case it would work the other way around."
"Kid, I just understand that you could close this shop at any moment," his tone became more serious. "Your potions are a tactical advantage that can't be measured in money. As long as there's a chance, I'll use it."
"How will you pay? Cash? I'm not sure you carry a suitcase of money with you."
"Nah, that's inconvenient," he snorted. "Digital age. Why carry kilograms of paper when there are secure accounts and other perks of civilization?"
"To keep you from being tracked and caught by the tail..."
"If you have connections 'up top'," Blade smirked, pointing to the sky again, "you practically become a ghost in the system. Untouchable. So here, take this."
He reached into the inner pocket of his coat and pulled out a plastic card. Matte black, no name, no number, just a gold chip and a tiny, barely noticeable crown engraving.
"An account is linked to it, protected by the British Crown. Spending up to a million bucks a month won't attract extra attention. Even if you spend more—nothing threatens you; 'up top' will sort it out. I'll re-link it to you now via online banking and send the data. Seventy grand will be in the account by today."
"Convenient..." I had to admit, taking the card. It was heavier than ordinary plastic. I put it in my pocket, feeling my financial reality just take a quantum leap, as the influencers from my past world would call it. "By the way, do you happen to buy gold or platinum?"
The ore needed to be sold off, for expenses would only grow and grow, and going to pawnshops was becoming increasingly risky.
"Do you see a long nose and a skullcap on me?" he smirked. "Nah, kid, I don't deal in that. Но now, I think, I understand why money doesn't interest you much. Anyway, I have a verified buyer. Takes only 20% below market price, works with any volumes, pays in any form. Doesn't ask extra questions."
"Great! Waiting for his contact, Frankie's contact, and the bank account details."
"No sweat," Blade pulled out a smartphone, and a moment later two messages arrived on my phone. "I'll send the account data a bit later."
"Is that... normal? Sending such important info via text?"
"People 'up top'," Blade smiled significantly.
"Fuck, now I'm worried about attracting the attention of these powerful people..." I muttered.
"Don't sweat it," he slapped me on the shoulder. "I work with dozens like you. Но there's only one like me. I am the sword. And you are the blacksmith. They're interested in the sword, not the blacksmith who sharpens it. As long as you work in your garage and don't stand out, everything will be fine."
That was the problem—sooner or later I would have to step out of the shadows. But alright, we'll deal with that as we go. Blade got into his Charger, the engine roared, and the car sped off, leaving me in the silence of the Sunday day.
I looked at my CP balance. At the card in my pocket. At the new contacts in my phone. And then mentally clicked the icon in the system interface. And no, I'm not a gambler!
"Forge the Universe! 450 CP."
I stared at the result.
[Information package received (Uncommon) – Temporal Anti-Matter Manipulation Principle — TAMMP (Final Fantasy XIII-3). Unlock cost: 900 CP]
You can master the forbidden technology of the Academy of Grand Pulse, combining anti-matter and Chaos to control time. Without equipment, you can locally (in a small area of space) stop time for 3 seconds, but you will be seriously exhausted and your movements will be slowed, and repeated use will completely drain your body. With suitable tools and materials, you are capable of creating devices that slow down, accelerate, or stop time. Fal'Cie Pandemonium forbade this power, fearing its potential to destroy reality, but perhaps you will be able to reveal its secrets.
What? No, that's not right. WHAT THE FUCK?! Is this even legal?! One thing is stimulants, another is the violation of the fundamental laws of the universe! Even three measly seconds of time stop is too much... TOO MUCH! What kind of budget Dio is this? Although, judging by the description, very, very budget, with a bunch of crutches and side effects. Но even so... And this is only an "Uncommon" item. I've received something above "Common" rarity for the first time! So, I'm not cursed after all!
The euphoria from the realization that I got a god-level power was quickly replaced by cold pragmatism. What am I to do with this? No, it's clear I'll unlock it one day. Но do I need it here and now? There are 620 CP left on the account; I need to save 280 more for the unlock. At the same time, I can do another spin for 500 and get something more practical. A bird in the hand in the form of temporal manipulations, or an incomprehensible crane in the sky?
I spent ten minutes thinking. The temptation was great. But the true potential of TAMMP was revealed specifically in technology. And for that, resources, laboratories, and knowledge were needed, which I didn't have even close. Three seconds of time stop might save my life, but the same "Proteus" fabric from Peter, stimulants, and a gun from Frank will provide me with safety on a more permanent basis. And for monsters like the Hulk, these three seconds won't solve anything. No. This is a skill for the endgame. And I'm not even in the midgame yet.
"Forge the Universe! 500 CP."
[Attention! Due to the user reaching the 500 CP price threshold, the chance of more rare items appearing has been increased! The description of items created by the user has been improved. The description of dropped system items has been improved.]
Now that's interesting! The System rewards large bets. This couldn't help but please. I wonder if there will be an upgrade after 1000 CP too? We'll live and see. Right now, what dropped is more important.
[Information package received (Uncommon) – Technological Modernization (Terra Formars). Unlock cost: 700 CP]
You are a master of reimagining technology, capable of taking any laboratory equipment apart down to the last screw and turning it into something completely new. A centrifuge becomes a thrower of lethal projectiles, a spectrometer becomes a laser for cutting titanium, and an industrial 3D printer becomes an anti-matter generator. Your deep understanding of mechanisms allows you to create innovative tools and weapons from the most mundane devices, limited only by available materials and your ingenuity. With this information package, you turn a laboratory into an arsenal, and every tool into a masterpiece.
Now you are capable of converting a jewelry furnace into a mini-forge for smelting unique ores, turning a laboratory mixer into an impulse generator for stunning enemies, and modifying an oscilloscope into a detector of foreign energy. And this is only a small part of your true potential!
Before studying the information package, note that you require physical equipment (laboratory or industrial). Results are limited by materials and the complexity of the original device. You are not capable of creating magical effects, only technological ones, only science.
God save the System! A second "uncommon" skill in a row! And this one... it was a thousand times better than TAMMP, specifically for me now. Just reading the description, I already felt my world expanding. With this skill, I will stop being just a craftsman blindly following someone else's recipes. I gained the potential to finally become an Inventor.
Damn... Ideas were already swarming in my head, each one crazier than the last! I look at my welding machine and already mentally see how I'm attaching conditional magnetic coils to it, turning it into Isaac's plasma cutter. I see how my Marx generator and a set of capacitors become the basis for Shocker's vibration-gloves. Но to hell with just weapons! I'll be able to assemble miniature scout drones! Improve the suit from "Proteus" fabric, adding... I don't know, an active thermal control system or even better—adaptive camouflage! And even... even that damn Protective Field Generator won't seem impossible with this skill!
This skill... I simply must get it. As early as possible.
And then I remembered. The healing potion for Peter's uncle. I planned to unlock it in the coming days from the Arcanum set for 200 CP. I have 120 on my balance now... And I need to gather 580 more to unlock this Miracle Skill. Sorry, Peter. Your uncle is in a relatively stable condition; he has months, if not years. And I need this power now so that we have those months and years at all. With a skill like this, I'll earn those 200 CP in the blink of an eye.
Phew. That's it. Calm down, John. Just calm down. Yes, the System dropped the jackpot. Но it's no reason to rejoice like a child. It's a reason to become even more careful. Because the more power you have, the greater the temptation to use it. And the higher the price of a mistake. And the notorious responsibility, where would we be without it...
At that moment, a message arrived on the smartphone, interrupting my thoughts. Blade.
"Your login and password for UK-International Bank. It's already linked to your number. 70k green in the account."
I downloaded the app and went through quick authentication. A figure flashed on the screen: $70,000.00. Not just a figure. This is freedom. Freedom to act, build, protect. Freedom from the tax office, finally! Great. Time for shopping.
"Yo, Peter, hi, not interrupting?" I dialed his number. Bl... what a shame. Why did I start with "yo"? A couple of days of talking with Blade, and I'm already picking up his mannerisms...
"Hi, John! No, not interrupting at all! What's up?" His voice on the other end sounded energetic and full of enthusiasm.
"I figured, since we decided to make 'Proteus' in the near future, why delay? Need to buy everything necessary. Can you put together an exact list? I'll try to get everything today."
"Yes, of course! Но John, seriously, you can't buy most of this in ordinary stores. You need to turn directly to industrial and laboratory suppliers; it'll take time..."
"I have my own suppliers," I replied confidently, remembering Lucas. I hope Blade didn't lie and he really can get anything. "So dictate the full list, no compromises. And throw in approximate prices so I don't get screwed." Since we start work tomorrow, that's how it will be.
An impressed silence fell on the other end of the line, and then Peter, rustling papers, began to dictate with the professionalism of a real project manager:
"Alright, if that's the case, then great! So, components for the fabric itself. The base is a 3D-mesh of aramid fibers. A square meter costs around 70-100 dollars, depending on the weave density."
"Yeah, got it. I'll take 50 meters with a reserve," I figured several suits would be needed. One for tests, one working, one as a spare, maybe one for Peter...
"Fifty?!" Peter exclaimed. "John, that's enough to dress a small tactical group! Alright... for that volume of fabric, 10-12 kilograms of hydrophilic amorphous silica will be needed. Nanopowder, particle size 7-15 nanometers, but the smaller—the better... and more expensive. For the liquid base—polyethylene glycol, 30 liters. Altogether it'll pull about 2500-3000 dollars."
"Tolerable," I nodded to myself, recording the info.
"Next. Membrane fabric for the outer layer. Another 800-1000 bucks for your volume."
"We're doing it full-out, so yes, noted."
"Then polyurethane hot-melt glue is needed; it's inexpensive. With consumables, that's basically it."
"Great. Now the equipment. Go ahead, scare me."
"A high-speed homogenizer, not just a mixer, so the suspension is perfect—about 2000 dollars. A vacuum chamber large enough to fit a roll of fabric—get ready, about 4000. An industrial oven for heat treatment with precise control—another 2500-3000. A heat press can be found for 1500. And an industrial sewing machine with a walking foot, capable of punching through aramid... that's another minus 3000. And the little things: special scissors, needles, Kevlar threads, seam sealant... another thousand."
"Phew..." I exhaled. "I've counted twenty grand just by rough estimates."
"Yeah..." Peter confirmed sadly, for whom this amount was obviously astronomical.
"Well, alright. Thanks, Peter, I've got it all. Won't distract you further. I think by evening, at the latest tomorrow, I'll have everything."
"You... you're really going to buy all that?!" Shock and admiration mixed in his voice.
"I'll try to put in every effort," I chuckled. "Alright, bye."
Hanging up, I immediately called Lucas. Listing the whole list for him, from aramid mesh to the homogenizer, I started to wait. Lucas calculated for a long time; only the quiet clicking of a keyboard was heard on the other end. I didn't rush him.
"Twenty-five thousand seven hundred dollars," he finally said in an unemotional voice. "With truck delivery right to your house—exactly twenty-six thousand. All anonymous, at any time convenient for you today after six. Payment—either cash to the courier or full prepayment to my account."
"Let's do delivery and full prepayment," I agreed easily, exhaling internally. The markup for such service was surprisingly divine.
After transferring the money to Lucas from the new card and coordinating delivery for 6:30 PM, I hung up. The first major investment in my safety and future was effectively made. The second remained. Attack.
I got into the "Honda" and drove for weapons. To Frank, who was possibly the Punisher. Thoughts were already spinning in my head. I need not just a weapon. I need a reliable platform that I can theoretically modify as soon as I unlock "Technological Modernization." I hope I can find a common language with him. Blade's phrase "he's a guy with principles" sounded rather ominous.