Chapter 9: Schedule
*****10:17*****
I woke up with a hangover and a rough idea how screwed I was when it came to Runes. I checked the time on the HUD, 'Damn! 10:17, the dungeon is a no-go for today. Especially in my current condition. I need water and breakfast.' I tried to sit up on the bed, and the a wave of crippling nausea hit me. 'Water, then shit-shower-shave, then...baby steps.' I slowly stood up, made sure I had everything, I was hungover not braindead, I didn't want to reveal my secrets to anybody. Off the the showers I went.
*****10:50*****
A nice long shower later. I was feeling better. I bought brunch from the SHOP, steak, eggs, grilled vegetables and a litre of coffee. With that I sat down at the desk and planned my future in Orario.
The days of the week were the same as my previous life. Today was a Sunday. I needed a plan and schedule for balancing all the activities I will be undertaking. Dungeon diving is a priority, but there are also obligations I have to the familia. I joined on a Thursday, so I think Asfi and Hermes, gave me some time to get acquainted. However, I have to show initiative, I decided to join this familia, so I have to make a positive contribution to it. Maybe the information on the Jack Bird mechanics will be enough to get me on their good side.
*****A few hours later*****
It took a bit of time but I think I have a pretty workable and adaptable daily and weekly schedule.
Monday: Dungeon in the morning, studying in the evenings. Studying can be either whatever I'm trying to learn or what I have to learn from the Hermes familia in order to operate effectively.
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: Dungeon for the day. Practice what I learned, or improve tactics. Training grounds after dinner, or stay in the dungeon for the three days.
Friday: Dungeon for the first half, and study for the second half.
Saturday: Training Grounds and studying.
Sunday: Day off, take care of maintenance. Relax and recover my strength.
Again it's subject to change but it has room for flexibility and I'm not working on too many things right now.
*****14:00*****
I put away the cutlery and utensils for brunch in my INVENTORY, they just disappeared, very convenient. I don't want to be taking up space with dirty plates and mugs.
Next I pulled out all my weapons and started to clean them and make sure there wasn't anything that needed fixing. The spear and shield need to replaced immediately. I'll buy basic gear for now. I will also need armour based on this worlds conventions. I can walk around in a plate carrier and flak jacket, and most people would assume its a different leather armour and ask questions. I do not want to be involved with others unless it has some benefit to me. Also I would like a pet. A dog, or seven, would be nice, dogs are awesome.
'There's something about monster taming, I'll look into it later.'
For now spear, shield, armour. I'll look around town first before I look at the SHOP, I have to have possible deniability. I show up with brand new armour and nobody sees me shopping around for a set, that will set off some alarm bells. I can't "tactically acquire" armour, or weapons here either. Every adventurer gets their shit custom made, so one, it won't fit, two, I'll be known as a thief. So I must steel my resolve and embark on the one endeavour every man hates, shopping.
Taking my shield, spear, and my backpack with me, I went out. I left the machete and Xiphos in the INVENTORY.
*****18:00*****
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed looking at cool new magical weapons and artifacts. However, I was not at all surprised when the salesmen for the Hephaestus and Goibniu familias tried to rip me off. I mean a simple shield was V5,000-10,000. They were trying to sell me this shit for V20,000-50,000. I didn't bother with them but I learned of the materials and ingredients to make the arms and armour.
Now to head home and simply buy from the SHOP, now that I know what is reasonable for a beginner to carry, I won't look like an imbecile carrying something that I should not have.
Safely back in my room, I changed clothes and just sat in my bed as I went into the Chat-Group SHOP.
SHOP->Weapons->Shields
Balance: $7,697,483 Valis: $924,000 Cores: $736,483 Drops: $6,037,000
I bought a large round shield with a "bouche" or gun-port on the right-side of it. It cost me V50,000 in monster cores and drops, and the effects this thing had were amazing.
Shield of the Line: A shield, designed specifically for spearmen. The "bouche" allows a spearman or a line of spearmen to efficiently stab charging enemies. This shield is enchanted to be lightweight and self-repairing. The enchantments will stay powered as long as the shield is bathed in the blood of your enemies.
Balance: $7,647,483 Valis: $924,000 Cores: $695,483 Drops: $6,028,000
It was amazing! It weighed less than my original shield by a large margin, about an eight of the weight. Next was the spear. I looked for a spear/glaive hybrid.
Spear of the Fallen: A spear made by melting the spear-tips of the vanquished and spear shafts of the remaining. Is enchanted to be unbreakable, lightweight, and self-repairing. The enchantments will stay powered for as long as the spear tasted the blood of a hundred enemies a week.
That cost me V500,000 in cores, drops and cash.
Balance: $7,147,483 Valis: $875,000 Cores: $272,483 Drops: 6,000,000
'Wow, that took a fat chunk of my cores. I think that is the only currency that matters to the Chat-group. I mean all prices when you want to gift are in the amount of cores. I need to kill more shit.'
I looked into armour, there was an armour like they wear here but much more utilitarian. It was a blend of Greek hoplite and Roman legionary armour. It cost $15,000,000. 'Sorry little birdies, daddy needs new gear.'
*****22:00*****
As I was laying down, a thought just came to me. All the things I buy from the SHOP or am gifted from the Chat-Group are perfectly sized for me. I mean there was no adjustment required for the shield straps. Same with the spear, and Xiphos.
'That's pretty handy.'
***** Monday 05:30*****
Waking up early, I got ready as quickly as possible and made breakfast before the others came down. Six golden eggs and coffee. In twenty minutes I was out and on my way to the dungeon.
Balance: $1,147,483 Valis: $875,000 Cores: $272,483 Drops: $0
A six million vali breakfast, worth it.
*****06:00*****
It takes about ten minutes to get from the Hermes familia residence to the dungeon. I'm starting to notice a pattern. All exploration centred familias are located close to the dungeon. The crafting and service familias are located farther away, and are an integral part of their district or area.
I reached the dungeon with my new weapons in hand. The guards recognized me and were a bit more relaxed when they saw me with some better kit.
I didn't hold back and went after every monster that I came across. I also used the suppressed MP7A2. It is an excellent weapon on the first two floors. Done with getting two golden eggs, I went to the third level. Here I encountered more drop lizards. Although drop lizards are also encountered on the second floor, I only encountered two close to the exit of the second floor.
Another bloodbath ensued. I was trying to be brutal and efficient. Both my shield and spear needed blood to keep working. I think a scared a few adventures I came across with how brutally I was taking apart everything in front of me. Thankfully they didn't notice the cores disappearing as soon as they appeared. A quick trip to kill another Jack Bird, I made my way to the fourth floor.
Taking things slow due to me going solo was pretty smart of me. The fourth floor saw more cooperation between different monsters. They were easy to handle, as they telegraphed their tactics and weren't quick enough to land the first hit. It's not who moves first, it's who hits first. 'Hit first, Hit Hard, Hit Often.' A good motto to follow in a fight and in life.
As I got more and more familiar with the dungeon and ways it will try and kill you on the upper floors, I forwent my spear and used the Xiphos and shield. I was pretty decent with that combination but I need to practice and refine my techniques. I have a lot of unnecessary movements and leave openings when I'm going for the death stroke.
*****14:00*****
I was pretty happy with what I'd achieved today. 3 golden eggs and about $689,000 in cores and drops. The golden eggs are breakfast so those don't count. I didn't bother hunting more because the last time someone saw a Jack Bird was twenty years ago. I wasn't too bothered by someone finding one or two.
Balance: $1,836,720 Valis: $875,000 Cores: $872,483 Drops: $89,237
The odd numbers are triggering my OCD. So I bought a box of HE grenades using Drops and Cores.
Balance: $1,825,000 Valis: $875,000 Cores: $865,000 Drops: $85,000
$11,720 got me a box of 24 HE grenades.
'Much better.'
I got to the residence and was met by the vice-captain Falgar Batros. "Afternoon Mr. Batros." I greeted him and walked inside. He isn't the talkative type, so he just nodded and went on his way. Inside I was greeted by Hermes, Asfi and a brown haired girl I hadn't met yet.
"Afternoon Mr. Jordan, how've you been the last few days?' Hermes greeted and inquired.
"I've been well. A a few trips into the dungeon and a bit of learning about how to improve my abilities." I replied.
The three of them were shocked at my response. They then noticed my blood covered weaponry and clothes. The brown haired girl exclaimed up, "you've already been into the dungeon!?"
"Yes, what's the big deal?" I questioned them in turn.
"Nothing of the sort, it's just that we usually take the new members into the dungeon to teach and evaluate them." Hermes replied.
"Right, well you don't have to worry about that." I told them. "Was there anything else?"
"As a matter of fact, yes. You see Nelly here was supposed to take you into the dungeon and bring you up to speed, but since that is not happening now because you just got back, we'll get you started on how we operate and our network." Hermes stated. "Asfi here will walk you through everything, get cleaned up first."
"Right, where should I meet you?" I asked Asfi.
"The library, it's on the third floor." She replied.
"I'll see you there in half an hour." I said and walked off.
*****18:15*****
Finally dinner time!
I was learning about how the Hermes familia operate, their messenger and information network and where to go for specific things. It was pretty simple, it took a few hours but I could remember most of everything she told me.
I got the feeling that she wasn't telling me everything, but then again, no one tells the new guy anything important. Also the information I could get from the SHOP was more compete and thorough than some of the details Asfi told me.
Dinner was a pretty calm affair, Nelly the girl who was supposed to take me for my first trip to the dungeon was looking at me like I ran over her cat. Asfi noticed this asked a simple question "So Cassius, what time do you usually head into the dungeon?"
'I see where this is going.'
"Early, I'm usually at the entrance by 6." I replied calmly.
At that everyone stopped what they were doing. I just gave them a look and they went back to what they were doing, a bit more quietly.
'I'm going to run into a few of them tomorrow aren't I?'
*****22:00*****
After dinner I checked the CHAT and caught up with the others. Studied runes and called it a day.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone