Chapter 17 : Chapter 17
Chapter 17 : Contracts
“You said Mythos, right?”
The woman spoke cautiously with a warm smile.
“I apologize if you were offended by what happened earlier. However, as you both know, thousands of students enroll every year, and hundreds among them possess supporter skills capable of commercialization. They are even talents who were prominent where they lived.”
Vanessa observed the two people standing in front of her for a moment, then continued.
“Due to Quest Academy’s system, not every student remains until the end. That is why we consider contracts carefully. However, if we do sign a contract, we invest all resources for that person’s success.”
Acknowledging her mistake, yet not lowering herself.
Sal admired Vanessa’s conversational skills and decided to willingly accept her sweet talk.
Of course, he had no intention of contracting anything right today.
The best strategy right now was to make them want him more.
Since all the initiative in the negotiation was with him, there was no need to rush.
“I am Vanessa. If you don’t mind… may I ask the name you registered at the Academy?”
Her smile turned even more charming.
It seemed she was trying to slyly dig up information from Sal.
Sal shook his head slightly, and Vanessa immediately moved on to the next topic.
She seemed worried about offending him for no reason.
“Then, let’s talk assuming a contract has been made.”
She glanced at Porge as well and raised her eyebrows slightly.
“Since you introduced Mythos to our side, are there any facilities or services you wish to use?”
Porge smiled broadly and gestured for Sal to speak.
“I am a 1st year, and I have absolutely no resources. What I need right now is a method to generate profit and an environment where I can improve my skills. The Mythos Crafter ability allows me to restore and upgrade items, and furthermore create new inventions. Up to Mythos grade.”
Of course, Sal didn't know how to do that at all yet, but Vanessa didn't need to know that.
“My internal Essence is insufficient to run large projects, and in the current situation, no matter how well I do, Epic grade seems to be the limit. But if there are usable Energy Cores, much more work will be possible.”
Vanessa stared blankly at Sal.
“To speak so confidently, have you perhaps done a lot of crafting?”
Sal noticed the challenge contained in Vanessa’s tone at once, and willingly accepted it.
“I made a Rare grade gauntlet with a few scraps of metal and old gloves. I infused a specific person’s Essence to make it bound to the wearer, and engraved a self-charging rune to enable self-energy supply. Ah, and yesterday, I restored a clumsily modified Core to Epic grade.”
Hearing about the gauntlet, Porge also opened his eyes wide in surprise.
At a thought that suddenly occurred, Sal added.
“There is one thing I want to make clear. I will not sign an exclusive contract with any place. I want to sell the items I make to other students too.”
Vanessa smiled and pointed at Porge.
“Fortunately, we just happen to have a new appraiser candidate who will be joining us. If you receive certification from the appraiser, the item’s quality and function are recognized as proven, so free trading among students is possible. Of course, since an exclusive contract could bring very large profits, it would be better to judge after hearing the proposals rather than unconditionally refusing.”
Observing the two’s expressions, Vanessa did not push that topic any further.
“Since you are still a 1st year, some buyers might try to lower the price at first. If you wish, we can handle the commercial parts on your behalf. Including contract brokerage.”
Sal nodded.
He liked that proposal quite a bit.
However, he had a resolve not to negotiate anything right this day.
He thought to see what conditions they would offer after building up more of a track record and making them feel thirsty.
Above all, he was deeply grateful for Porge’s help.
Sal had a talent for reading people’s abilities and selling goods, but he didn’t know well about dealing with people and how to commercialize abilities.
In that regard, Porge’s advice was truly valuable.
Vanessa handed Sal a customized gift bag filled with high-end souvenirs and practical items.
She deliberately wrote down her contact information with an exaggerated gesture and handed it directly to Sal.
“If there is anything you need, or want to talk about our services… or if you just want to find out what work is done here, please contact me anytime.”
Sal held his breath until the elevator went down to the lower floor.
As soon as the doors opened, he let out a long sigh.
Porge laughed loudly.
“Was it quite nerve-wracking?”
He scratched his bushy beard and gestured to go towards the industrial zone.
“But why did you act as if I were two people? Won’t it be exposed soon?”
Porge shook his head and raised one finger.
“Appraisal is the core of our business. Without an appraiser, you cannot value any item, and it is easy to become in a position subordinate to the guys above. When you craft, restore, or upgrade something, the only person who can judge whether it is truly usable or not is an appraiser. Just one appraiser certification? Everything works out well.”
Porge smiled slyly.
“I might have been a bit selfish, but I wanted you to receive a salary from above while actually working down here with us. If that happens, you get a discount when buying goods from above, and you can also do side jobs with colleagues here. If someone makes, restores, or does something, they ask you for an appraisal, and you just receive some necessary materials. Down here, that finishes in a few seconds. But up there? Administrative procedures, reports, it would take hours.”
Those words were sufficiently persuasive to Sal as well.
And Sal was happy about the fact that he could spend more time in the workshop.
Porge turned around again and raised a second finger.
“Did you see them judging you without listening to a word? Isn’t it ironic? That the guys responsible for setting the value of goods actually have no eyes to see talent. The name Crafter looks cool, but to craft an item for others takes a long time, the success probability isn’t certain, and material costs are enormous.”
Porge spoke as if shuddering, then glanced at Sal’s eyes as he nodded.
“On the other hand, appraisal uses only Essence, and takes much less time. So realistically, your main source of income will be appraisal. What we just did is, we raised the value of the person named Salvatore to the fullest, making it so Salvatore can give work to Mythos. Doing the same work but earning double, why should you earn only once?”
Porge raised both hands as if that was too obvious.
Sal laughed, but that peculiar skepticism did not leave.
“It sounds plausible, but eventually it will be exposed. If they ask just one word to the Dean, they will know immediately that I am one person.”
Porge wagged his finger.
“The Dean suggested creating another persona first. To protect your identity. So the Dean, Upgrade, and I will all acknowledge the existence of ‘Mythos’. So don’t go blabbering about your ability. We don’t want to attract useless attention.”
Sal nodded with surprised eyes.
“Now, let’s finish the tour. You have to go to class, and I have a lot of work piled up too.”
Sal moved his steps following Porge to the industrial zone of the workshop.
Some machines were cutting precision metal with lasers, and other sides were printing parts for assembly.
Porge pointed to a printer.
“There are essential parts like this. Instead of buying every time, we make them directly like this and include it in the unit cost. These machines start work immediately once you input the blueprint, and those blueprints can be bought from other students or bartered. There are quality differences for each blueprint, and later if you take the relevant module, you can try making new blueprints yourself too. Upgrade is incredibly strong in this area, so if you’re interested, make sure to talk to her.”
Sal nodded and continued to follow Porge.
The two stopped in front of a certain machine.
“This guy is so amazing I might become baggage soon! It’s equipped with a mobile forge and even a functional furnace. Metal refining is excellent, but for blade crafting, it’s even more killer! If you’re interested in this area, tell me anytime.”
Porge placed both hands on his waist and looked at the equipment like a proud parent.
The machine looked quite crude on the outside, but the blazing furnace was emitting light so hot Sal had to cover his eyes.
Porge pointed in the opposite direction and led Sal.
“This side is precision tools for laser engraving.”
Porge opened a drawer under the equipment and spoke.
Inside, colorful dust was piled up high.
“You must always keep the tray empty. This is rule number 1.”
Sal’s eyes sparkled as soon as he saw the dust.
The dust was pretty, but also because his ability recognized it as usable material.
“Where does this dust go?”
When Sal asked, Porge pushed the tray back in and said.
“Sometimes the alchemy side takes it, but mostly we stabilize and dispose of it. There’s almost no corner to utilize it.”
Walking a few minutes more, Porge arrived in front of a transparent door where faint light leaked out.
“The friends here technically belong to the production team too, but we classify most as the R&D part. It’s a place where technology and magic are mixed, and this side is in charge of the academy’s infrastructure overall. Drop by sometime later if you have time. You might be able to learn something called Magic Programming. If you don’t learn it here, you’d have to enter the advanced R&D course to learn it.”
With those words, Porge finished the tour and brought Sal to the floor where he first met Upgrade.
“I hope it was an informative and fun time! When the appraisal contract comes down, I’ll put it on your desk.”
Porge stepped aside and pointed to a newly installed desk while they were away.
“These friends must have felt sorry about yesterday’s incident. Since I was keeping you occupied, they wanted to prepare something cool for you.”
Sal looked around.
Crafters pretending to be immersed in work were visible, but embarrassed smiles hung on everyone’s faces.
He was genuinely touched by this consideration, and felt a pleasant surprise seeing Upgrade sitting in the chair next to his workbench.
Porge cleared his throat and said.
“Upgrade insisted on sitting you in the seat next to her…”
“That way I can watch you and tease you to my heart’s content.”
Porge chuckled and left the spot leaving the two behind.
Sal approached his desk.
A large box was placed on the desk.
He stopped breathing as he opened the box.
He couldn’t know all the components, but each one was filled with high-end tools of at least Rare grade.
His eyes didn’t react as intensely as expected, but he was already happy enough to fly away.
Upgrade pulled her chair closer to his workbench, rested her elbows, supported her chin with both hands, looked at Sal and asked.
“Do you like it?”
Sal felt his auction-type brain unconsciously starting to calculate the price of the tool set.
He quickly stopped that calculation and looked at the gift with his heart as it was.
“I really like it. Thank you.”
Upgrade tapped his shoulder and smiled brightly.
“To apologize for yesterday, and to welcome you to our team, everyone pitched in a little.”
She gestured with her chin to the other crafters who were bowing their heads.
Sal raised his head and said.
“Thank you so much!”
Then he recalled what Porge had told him.
The crafters here were people who took care of each other.
“Since there’s still an hour left until class… if you have any items you want appraised, just bring them. I’ll look at them for free today!”
Soon, seeing all the crafters approaching him with items in their hands, Sal burst into laughter.
He closed the tool set, gestured to the person who came first, and said.
“There is just one condition.”
The man who was about to hand over the item stopped his hand, looking a bit nervous.
A look of anxiety briefly flashed across his face.
“Your name, what work you do, and one embarrassing story about Upgrade. Just tell me that.”
The surrounding crafters burst into laughter, and even Upgrade smiled at her bench.
“Please say it loudly, so Upgrade can hear too.”