Chapter 23: The Rival Outpost
The CommNet for Genesis Outpost #7 was practically vibrating with speculation.
Ryan had just listed multiple Reinforced Utility Knives for trade. This was a big deal. Most people were still stuck with the basic, flimsy knives their pods had dispensed.
BigTony77: Woah! Ryan Stone is like, a knife factory! How is he making so many good ones?!
PrincessFluffybutt: Maybe he has a ’Super Speedy Sharpening’ Aptitude! Or perhaps tiny, helpful knife-making elves live in his pockets!
ConfusedCarl: My elbows are telling me he’s got some kind of Crafting skill. That’s super rare! And super useful! I’d trade my left elbow [the slightly less tough one] for a good knife!
SmartyPants2000: The logistical implications of one individual possessing a repeatable method for Tier E weapon fabrication are significant for our Outpost’s overall combat readiness! In layman’s terms: Yay, better stabby things!
Ryan chuckled as he read the messages.
Let them think he was a master craftsman. It was better than them knowing he was just really good at taking apart old knives and sticking them back together with bits of magical vine.
His SSS-Tier "Ultimate Infinite Extraction System" was his secret weapon, and he planned to keep it that way.
He decided to expand his trade offer slightly, casting a wider net for useful materials.
He posted on the Barter System: