HC:Pacifist | Ch. 118 - The Kind Porter (Patreon)

“Hello, Red!”

“Martyr. Good to see you today!”

1.43 gold has been removed from your inventory.

Congratulations on completing a trade between [Dwarf Exiles] and [Golden Mountain Inc].

Broker 1500XP; 3%(x75%) of the profit (13 silver); +13 reputation with the dwarf exiles.

10x[Blue Tin Ingot] has been removed from your inventory.

20x[Box of Tin Screws] has been removed from your inventory.

Since traveling light had been essential to increase his chances of succeeding in the [Green Pastures] quest, this particular trade, which involved carrying around heavy items made of metal, had suffered slightly. Nevertheless, every single point of reputation and broker experience was valuable, and Roth was happy to still have been able to carry some screws and ingots with him.

“By the way, Red, I have some diamonds here with me.”

Red’s eyes widened and seemed to pop out of his hairy, squared face at the mention of diamonds.

“Before you get too excited, these were only loaned to me. I was wondering if I could use that little gadget you showed me last time so that I can read the inscriptions on them.”

“Aye, follow after me.”

Red raised a small movable part of the counter, allowing Roth to step through, and guided him through his workshop until they had reached his worktable. Roth took out the five diamonds and showed them to Red. As soon as the old dwarf’s eyes landed on the gemstones, his frown turned into a white smile punctuated by a few golden teeth.

Red, the Dwarf is impressed with the fine works of art that you have shown him.

+50 reputation with the dwarf exiles.

“This is a fine collection! Much better than the last ones you showed me.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Look, the craftsmanship in these is exquisite. I’m impressed.” Red nimbly picked one of them, and adjusted the light and the lenses. “Want to know what it says?”

Roth got his notepad ready to take some notes.

*

[Longhead Maze] completed.

You've successfully changed into the [Longhead] race.

Xerxes smiled appreciatively as he read the description of his new race. He had worked hard to find it. He’d been through every canyon, cliff, and cave he could find for clues on this hidden race, but his efforts had finally paid off.

Longhead (Hidden Race)

Race Description: You've pushed your mind to the extreme and broke it while exposed to mentalite radiation. Your brain mutates and grows stronger than you ever imagined, but your physique grows weary.

Racial Effects:

+2 skill slots;

+10% intelligence;

-20 strength.

You feel the Earth’s heartbeat.

Skills:

Mental Cocoon (Racial)

Skill description: The rain of fire brought thousands of small meteorites that fell on the earth. Some of the minerals within them have fascinating properties. By exposing your brain to the mentalite mineral, it grows stronger.

Skill effects: If you find enough mentalite fragments, you can upgrade your mind at the expense of your physique.

First Mental Stage: 0/100 mentalite fragments.

Mental Implosion (Racial)

Skill description: By removing any dead weight, your mind is free to become sharper and stronger.

Skill effects: You can detonate a skill slot permanently to increase your intelligence by 30.

He loved everything about this class. Ever since he’d found the hints of this questline in the Pegasus library, he’d searched for it non-stop, following every breadcrumb and looking under every rock. Maybe with this, he'd finally surpass Zin and his cursed invisible blades. This essentially made him a glass canon, but the massive power boost was well worth it. Finding more mentalite fragments would be difficult, and he wasn't sure if he'd use [Mental Implosion] yet, but it was nice to have the option.

Now that he was done with the quest, as promised, he sent the information on unlocking it to the guild's library keepers. He sent a message to Loki and started heading toward Hilsford. It was time to hunt the mouse that had dared delay the guild’s plans.

*

Roth left the village scratching his head. He stared at the five riddles within the enigma diamonds but was clueless as to what each of them meant.

“What is faster than light?” Roth thought that nothing was faster than light. This question made no sense to him.

“I bubble without boiling. I freeze the past without getting cold.” Roth tried to figure out what it was, with no success so far.

“A man is on one side of a river, his dog on the other. The man calls his dog, who immediately crosses the river without getting wet and without using a bridge or a boat. How did the dog do it?”

“Three spies, suspected of being double agents, speak as follows when questioned:

Albert: “Bertie is a mole.”
Bertie: “Cedric is a mole.”
Cedric: “Bertie is lying.”

Assuming that moles lie, other agents tell the truth, and there is just one mole among the three, who is the mole?

“Three rats are sitting at the three corners of an equilateral triangle. Each rat randomly picks a direction and starts to move along the edge of the triangle. What is the probability that none of the rats collide?”

All the riddles looked extremely complicated. He tried posting them on the chat in the forums that had been sitting there, collecting dust. Hopefully, GrandpaBill would be able to help him soon. He would just have to wait and see.  In such a big world filled with so many players, there had to be someone who could figure out these for him.

After thinking for a few moments, he also posted the riddles on the chat he had with the 14th and Drake. While Roth was in the village, the sun had set. Under the moonlight, Roth made it through the woodland until he had reached badger territory. A crowd was already gathered in the oak tree, and the discussion sounded lively even from afar. Drawing closer, Roth could tell that most badgers had already arrived and eagerly waited for the poetry reading session to begin.

“Hey, everyone!” greeted Roth in Badgerian.

“If it isn’t our friend, the Martyr?”

8.56 gold has been removed from your inventory.

Congratulations on completing a trade between [Council of Badgers] and [Golden Mountain Inc].

+1000 broker XP; 2%(x75%) of the profit (66 silver); +74 reputation with all badgers.

The Council of Badgers has paid you 7 gold and 54 silver.

Congratulations on completing a trade between [Council of Badgers] and [Golden Mountain Inc].

1000 broker XP; 2%(x75%) of the profit (10 silver 13 coppers); +87 reputation with all badgers.

It wasn’t much, but now that Roth knew the advantages of having access to the reputation store, he wouldn’t stop coming here. The memory of all those skill cards, items, and flags made him drool. The badgers soon made him snap out of his loot-ridden daydreams.

“By the way, as promised, we’ve been able to write down a few poems for you.”

He’d forgotten about that. “Really?” Roth tried to sound excited. It wasn’t that he didn’t like the poems, but there was so much to do, and he didn’t have the time to sit around and read poetry.

“They are true masterpieces. One of them is even about you.”

“About me?” Roth’s ears perked up. No one had ever written a poem about him before. If he didn’t count the one they had read once about a stinky human. But he still chose to believe that wasn’t him. With so many humans in the woods, it had to be about someone else! “Yes, we did. Here. Take a look.”

The nearest badger took out a stack of papers, and, going through each of them, finally found the one he’d been looking for and gave it to Roth. The calligraphy was exquisite.

“The Kind Porter

In Hilsford's heart, where cobbled streets wind,

A broker walks, a soul both gentle and kind.

Between the beautiful badgers and the city's embrace,

His journey unfolds with each steadfast pace.

Popcorn, paper, and ink he brings in his cart,

He carries treasures, a bridge for souls to embark.

Through meadows and dangers, his pathway aligns,

Bringing goods that inspire tales and designs.

A scent of woodland clings to his attire,

A fragrance of earth, of stories by fire.

Like leaves that have danced, he weaves friendships anew,

With badgers and humans, a kinship so true.

His battles aren’t fought with swords of steel's might,

But kindness and love as beacons of light.

In a world oft divided, his mission takes flight,

Uniting through commerce, day and night.

Though sometimes a human stench may trail in his wake,

His intentions are pure, no falseness or fake.

For within his heart, a goodwill does dwell,

Guiding his steps as he trades and does sell.

So remember this merchant of humble renown,

A weaver of bonds in a bustling town.

In the tapestry woven of woodland and grace,

His presence does linger, a sweet, lasting trace.”

+500 broker XP.

Congratulations! The council of badgers has made a poem about you.

+200 reputation with the badgers.

+1 intelligence.

You’ve received a special item: [A Kind Porter].

Kind Porter (Rare)

Item description: A poem condensing beautiful facets of your work as a merchant. Reading it fills you with joy.

Item effects: Whenever you read this poem, you gain broker XP. You can read it once a day.

What in the world was this? An item that gave experience and could be used every day? This was incredible.

“I’m speechless. This poem is beautiful.” Roth fought a tear threatening to form in the corner of his eye. All badgers regarded him with smug faces. One of them took a stack of papers out.

“What are those?”

“We thought other artists would like to read some of our poems too. Why don’t you take them to the city and see if they want to read them?”

Roth’s eyes went toward the stack of papers in the paws of the badgers. If everyone could use these items, people would get in line to have one of these. Maybe it wasn’t just for profession XP, either. Perhaps there were poems here that gave other types of buffs.

“Why don’t I sell them in the city for you all?”

“Sell them? Art is not for sale, human!”

“You don’t understand. Look. You have so many beautiful poems…. But you can one day make them into a book. We’ll have to cover printing costs, hiring an editor, and an artist to design your cover, and many more things. Imagine. A book with all of your poems sitting in every library of every city in the world.”

The badgers looked at Roth with fire in their eyes.

“Of course, you’d need considerable funds to do this! Why not use these masterpieces to help you get started? It will also get the word out, you know. You’ll start building your brand, and more and more people will read your poems. Besides, would you eat food prepared by the world’s best chef and not give them anything in return? Wouldn’t that be offensive to a great master? What about you? No one makes poems like you. You deserve to be appreciated.”

Your eye for business and passion for arts touch the badgers.

+1 charisma.

“The human speaks the truth. Our craft is far too precious to stay under the oak tree's roots. We need to send it out to the canopy of the world.” Many more agreeable comments joined in. The badgers seemed pleased with the suggestion.

“Very well, human. We’ll listen to your advice. With time, we’ll amass enough funds to make the best poetry book the world has ever seen!”

[Badger Poem] added to the Badger’s trade agreement.

“You can start by selling these for us.”

Roth gathered the pile of poems that had fallen into his lap. He studied one of them.

Song of Mushrooms (Uncommon)

Item description: A poem condensing beautiful facets of the work of an herbalist. Reading it fills you with joy.

Item effects: Whenever you read this poem, you gain herbalist XP. You can read it once a day.

Amazing. The badgers had picked up worthless items such as [Old Paper], [Raven’s Feather], and [Old Inkpot] and had essentially printed money with them. These would sell incredibly fast in the city for no less than 1 gold a piece! The bonus XP added up, especially if the item was reusable.

As the badgers kicked off their poetry session, all that Roth could hear was the song of golden coins jiggling in his purse.

Ch. 117 - Zion

INDEX

Ch. 119 - Meek