CH66: A Page of Rants
***
CH66: A Page of Rants
I received a letter from the Herbology Association President informing me about the progress of my lab.
The old man even had the cheek to ask me if I had any projects going that he could know about.
Well, more like he wanted to get the jump on my latest research before the Alchemy Association Head.
Unfortunately for him, I had been too busy with other things that I hadn't gotten the time to continue any new research.
Anyway, the letter detail the things the Association Heads provided me for my lab. With this, I knew what wouldn't be in my lab that I wanted. I would have to source those things myself.
It's a good thing my main profession allowed me to acquire those things.
-
As usual, I left the DoomMane estate on another one of my 'business/ sourcing' trips. I took a public taxi carriage which took me to the city centre.
On the way, I couldn't help recalling its been a month since I last went on a 'business trip'.
In other words, a month had passed since my shopping spree through the {Vault of Knowledge}.
Although none of the Knowledge I bought that day translated into an immediate improvement in my strengths, I believed they would build the foundation for my success in both my professions till the end of my journey.
That said, it wasn't like I didn't have any complaints.
(P.S: The following are words of ranting and whining. You are free to skip if you want. You'd only be losing important details within the lines.)
The Interface nerfed my privileges after becoming a True Member of the House of Death. As I mentioned before, I understand the reason for this, but it didn't mean things weren't annoying because of it.
I think the most significant nerf at this time were the changes to the {Queen's Favour} blessing and Gandr's spatial connection to the {Fool's Sanctuary}.
Gandr's Spatial Connection to the sealed space became a one-way connection, meaning I could put things into the {Fool's Sanctuary} through Gandr but I could no longer take things out through it.
I had to enter the sealed space to retrieve whatever I wanted.
This wasn't so bad per se. It was just inconvenient.
It meant I had to plan ahead and get everything I needed from the sealed space before embarking on a mission.
The entry process into the {Fool's Sanctuary} was... illuminating. So much so that I was careful where I chose to enter. Not to mention I'd come out where I went in.
Since I wanted to keep it a secret for obvious reasons, I usually only entered the sealed space from my room after locking the door tightly.
Hence the annoyance.
Items bought from the [Weapons] Tab of the {Vault of Knowledge} are rare to non-existent in the world of Arun. They aren't things I want lying around if I don't want to attract unnecessary attention to myself.
So, I usually keep them in the showcase in my Study in the {Fool's Sanctuary}.
The new changes meant I had to retrieve them beforehand for any contract I needed them. I had to pick and choose what I needed and wouldn't be needing for each contract in advance.
As for the changes to the {Queen's Favour} Blessing where I now earned Mischief Points instead of Attribute Points, I haven't done any missions so I hadn't really understood the changes at this point.
Actually, I'm not sure the change to the blessing bothered me much if I think it about clearly.
I needed a lot of MP, and I mean A LOT!
Heck, I even had to buy bullets with MP.
If I knew using a gun meant shooting MP, I wonder if I would've chosen a gun as my primary weapon.
...
Nah, who am I kidding. As a soldier and operative in my past life, how could I resist the allure of guns?
Besides, I'm sure that damned Loki would find a way to fleece me of my hard-earned MP.
Maybe he'd give me a special, juicy, hard-to-ignore skill that can only be used through MP or something. I don't put anything past the guy.
These weren't actually all that bad.
The worst of it all was that damned Tyrant Close Quarter Combat.
*
-The Tyrant's Close Quarter Combat Technique-
Category: Combat/Physical
Introduction: This is the fighting and tempering technique created by the one who stands supreme above all in the Universe, the Tyrant Overlord, Shepherd. The technique has been improved so many times that it is a Supreme Law of the Universe in itself.
Remark: This is a fragment of the technique bestowed onto Lord Loki after he amused the Tyrant. At Master-tier, Host may comprehend 1% of the Supreme Law technique.
Tier: Basic Tier
Requirement: A constantly evolving physique, High Pain Tolerance and High Combat Sense.
*
High Pain Tolerance my foot!
No amount of pain tolerance could make up for the agony this damned training manual inflicted. I forgot how many times I cried through practising it.
I used to think I was a tough guy who could withstand anything. Well, this damned thing showed me otherwise.
I was humbled, broken, fixed, then broken again.
Words can't express the agony I felt.
Imagine tearing your flesh over and over again just so it can heal and become stronger. Breaking your bones over and over... grinding it to as small particles as possible before it healed up again for you to repeat the same process.
Heck, this damned sadistic training manual made sure that my body was tough enough that even my third leg... my little brother was tough!
A kick to the groin would incapacitate me? Well, no longer!
This damned manual made hell sure of that!
(Breathing exercise... Please wait...)
Anyway, you must be wondering, if this tempering technique is as bad as I say it is, why did I continue practicing it for one month? Am I a masochist?
Perhaps I am. *crying*
As much as it caused agonising pain, it also delivered on its promise. My body is stronger than anything I could've imagined. It's like the potential hidden within me was unlocked.
The Attribute Point on my Status screen didn't change, but I was sure I was 50% stronger, at least!
So, yeah... seeing these positive changes, I willingly became a Masochist and subjected myself to what can only be described as Self-imposed Torture.
As much as I hate that evil, sadistic individual, Shepherd, whose devious mind concocted this technique of legal, self-torture, I can't help but also praise his brilliance.
I noticed something interesting on my status screen.
All the <Combat> Knowledge I got from the Vault, i.e. Tyrant's Close Quarter Combat Technique, Valhalla Will Manual, Firearms and Gunfighting, combined together to form a new <Combat> Knowledge uniquely mine.
A Fool's Tyrannical Combat Tempering Manual.
I was very pleased to see this. It felt like a validation of all my hard work and suffering during the long month.
But then, I had a strange feeling.
I felt like a rabbit who was being train with a carrot and stick. I was put through all that and I'm happy because of a name change?
To make matters worse, the name... 'A' Fool's Tyrannical Combat Tempering Manual.
'A' not 'The'
If this wasn't a mockery, I don't know what is.
Add onto that, the damned Interface changed the name to 'The' after I pointed it out like nothing happened.
No apology, no nothing!
(Breathing...)
By the way, my Status screen looked something like this.
*
'Open Status'
{Status.}
[Leo Xander.]
Race: Prime Human
Title: World Challenger, The Fool
Alias: Agent Zero, Cub of Lionheart.
Age: 18
Life Path (Primary): Assassin.
Tier: Tier II (Hired Killer)
Promotion Exp: 730/15000
---
[Attributes-]
(Physical)
Physique: 50
Dexterity: 45
Mind: 50
Attribute Points: 18
-
(Blessing)
Love Partners: 1
Lover: Navia
Charm: 60/100
Mischief Points: 44, 900 MP (Knowledge)➡️ 24, 900 MP (weapons)➡️ 10, 500 MP
---
[Blessings]
(Passive)
-Bind of Love
-The Queen's Favour.
-Poison Master
(Incarnation)
-Fen (Instrument of Destruction)
-Gandr (Supreme-grade World Serpent)
-Grif (Eagle-Griffon Beast)
*
(Active)
-Mask of Loki (Equipped.)
-Joker's Trump Card (Assigned).
-Vault of Knowledge.
[Knowledge], [Blessing], [Weapons], [Customization & Design]
{[Knowledge] – <Combat>, <Energy>, <Life>, <Physical>}
-
[Combat] : (Tyrant's Close Quarter Combat Technique +Valhalla Will Manual + Firearms + Gunfighting) = The Fool's Tyrannical Combat Tempering Manual
[Life]: Survival Knowledge, Enchanting/Circles/Runes, Botany, Herbology/Apothecary, Biology, Psychology, Riding/Driving/Flying, Interrogation/Counter-Interrogation, Extreme Parkour, Theft.
[Energy]: Sharp Senses, Penetration, Mental Communication, Telekinesis, Hypnosis, Concealment
[Physical]: Quick Reflex, Stealth & Assassination, Combat Proficiency, Precision, Accuracy.
-
{[Weapon]- <Primary>, <Secondary>, <Tools>, <Misc.>}
-
[Primary]: Colt .357 Magnum Python Revolver, Combat Master .9mm Pistol
[Secondary]: Wristblade, Throwing Knife, Garrotte, Baton
[Tools]: Night & Thermal Vision Glasses (Mask add-on), Binoculars, Terrain Scanner
[Misc.]: 9mm Magazines, 9mm Bullet Box, .357 Cartridges, .357 bullet box, Gun maintenance toolkit, Various gun parts replacements etc.
**
After spending the month on 'The' Fool's Tyrannical Combat Tempering Manual -Tempering Manual for short- I didn't have the time to look into the other Knowledge I bought.
Unfortunately, Navia called me for a contract when I decided to focus on them now that I was done with the Basic version of the Tempering Manual.
The thought that I'd have to go through an Intermediate, then Advanced, and finally a Master version of the Tempering Manual was... disturbing.
Anyway, at least I can takeout my frustrations on the unfortunate victim of my contract.
Usually, I don't put my heart into the contracts, it's after all just business, but this time I will.
One month of self-torture has not only made me a certified masochist, I am now a Psycho who will kill to decompress... not only that, I will take pleasure in doing so.
Just to prove how damaged I was at this time, I took five contracts at a go.
(To be continued...)
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone