Since Richard finally had something that he could call a windfall he went looking for equipment of his own. During his recent break from the dungeons he had gone over all the money that he had spent. And found that the amount that went to rentals was enough to have gotten a piece of equipment already. The only issue was he never had enough excess all at once. Maybe he should have looked into buying on credit?

  While fighting in the dungeon Richard decided that he liked clubs. They didn't have a pointy end that needed to be stuck into an enemy. Nor a blade that needed to slash them. With a club, while it may be inelegant, all he needed to do was hit something very hard. And if it wasn’t enough the first time, then again and again until it was.

  Browsing at the Crafter’s Guild armory was first done online, just to get an idea of what was on the market. But since it was something that he was going to swing around Richard wanted to hold it in his hands first. And take a few test swings first to make sure that he liked how it sat in his hands. With some options in mind he went to the Crafter’s Union the morning before meeting with the others.

  There was the basic nanocarb club that he had been renting from the Dungeon Centers. It was one of the cheaper clubs at $80k. It did what he wanted it to. But it was also a beginner’s club. One that he might outgrow sooner than later. He was pretty happy with it in the end, and wanted to find something that could be considered to be a reasonable upgrade.

  A possible upgrade was a heavier club. While the nanocarb one looked more like a dark grey baseball bat, this one looked like a small hexagonal column that someone had shaved down a place for a handle. It was heavy in his hands and Richard was rather concerned about how it seemed to be swinging him more than the other way around. It was also $100k. The sticker shock caused his bank balance to hurt just considering it. He was getting stat bumps in Strength every level. So it might be an option later.

  The Alchemy skill was giving him boosts in the magical stats, Magic and Wisdom. Which meant that he could also consider a Spell Skill Book, That line of thought was quickly tabled when he saw how much they cost. He wasn’t successful enough to have millions to burn yet.

  After much browsing Richard had found another club, it was shaped more like a wooden club one would think an orc would swing around. It was made of a heavy and durable dark brown wood that dropped in the dungeons. And had a few studded metal bandings around the business end. Swinging the wooden club felt better than the hexagon club. The added weight wasn’t enough to really be noticed by Richard and it had a much better fit for his hands. The magical make of the club should also help him deal more damage in the dungeons.

  Though he was happy with the wooden club, the price was between the other two at $90k. While better than $100,000, it still was one of the bigger purchases he had made while being unemployed. And the hesitation was real.

  As for his armor, he just bought the level up from the set that was rented at the DCs. And instead of just a chest protector and pants, it was a complete set of armor and retailed for a price of $135k. Having the addition of gauntlets, boots, and shoulder guards. The armor also had dungeon metal plating on top of the nanocarb. And while it felt like a lot of weight as he was putting it on. With his Strength stat sitting at 13 he found that the added weight was negligible.

  One problem with the new club was that he needed both hands to wield it. And while he tried with a buckler at first, it just felt off to Richard. He didn’t like how the buckler would pull on his arm as he swung the club around. So he discarded the shield with the theory that exploring in a party he wouldn't need as much of a focus on defense. The gauntlets would serve in a pinch. And in the worse case it would give him a chance to experience one of his Healing Potions.

  Given that he didn’t know if anyone else in the party would ever have any healing skills, Richard had farmed a trio of Blue Slime Cores and bought the Healing Flowers from the DC to make some. Hopefully they wouldn’t be needed at all. It might have been paranoia after almost getting press ganged by a red guild. But he wasn’t willing to take the risk and it was better to have potions and not need them.

  With his shopping out of the way, Richard made for the lobby of the Mushroom Dungeon. It was the meeting spot he had set with the newly joined Enigma and another member of the Crafter’s Union.

  ***

  The lobby of the Cabbit Dungeon wasn’t very busy. Just a few people milling around like Richard or parties passing through. He hadn’t been waiting long when a petite woman approached him. She had a short bob of black hair that was laced with white and deep crows feet appeared at the corner of her eyes as she smiled. On her lower back appeared to be a short sword with the handle on her right side. The red and black armor that she had equipped appeared to be of high quality to Richard’s eyes.

  “Getting a bit long in the tooth aren’t you, Nobu?” she asked. Nobu was the gaming tag that he had used years ago when he first started playing mmos.

  “Enigma?” Richard asked. While he had always wondered about their true identity he didn’t expect the small middle aged woman in front of him.

  “Only online. Just call me Windry. Did the other member show up yet?” she asked and looked around the lobby.

  Richard checked his messages quickly and found a message saying that the guild member, Angel, was running behind. “Seems like we need to wait some more.”

  Windry was still beaming up at him, but Richard wasn’t really sure what to say. “We’ve known each other for years,” she said. “I didn’t figure that you would be this quiet in person.”

  “I can’t say that I have too much experience with meeting online friends. You’re…”

  “Not what you expected right?” He shrugged and she laughed. “I know. That’s the point of not letting people know who you are online. Never know what they might do with it. Never know who might be scraping the convo to find out more about you. I should know, considering some of my best work is still in use today.”

  Richard looked at her for a moment before he spoke, “Sorry. I’ve learned more about you in the last 5 minutes than years of playing games together. It’s a lot to process all at once.”

  “Don’t worry about it. I was surprised that you asked for help with the dungeons. Didn’t seem like a question that you would have asked. Given your solitary nature. That dungeon the other day must have really shaken you up,” she said and patted his arm. “Don’t worry now, this grandma is here to help.”

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  Richard shook his head. “You don’t look a day over 50.”

  Windry threw her head back and cackled. “Levels will do that to you. Along with good genes. And anti-aging treatments. Probably money as well.”

  The two of them chatted about an upcoming game that they were debating playing for a few moments before Richard’s phone buzzed. The message said that they were there already. When he looked up he assumed that the lost looking woman standing by the doors was his party member. She had the Crafter’s Union badge attached to her green colored armor. And was carrying an unstrung bow in one hand with a quiver at her hit. Her hair, likewise colored green, was pulled back into a short ponytail and she was wearing a pair of goggles on her forehead.

  When he waved at her she trotted over. “Richard?” she asked.

  “That’s right. And this is Windry, the other member of our party.”

  She laughed. “My name is Angel. We’ll it’s Angelica, but I hated that since I was a kid. So Angel please.”

  “Have you been to this dungeon before?” Windry asked.

  “That’s right. I need some drops from the second floor. I’m a Woodsmith,” she tapped her arrows and her bow, “I pretty much make wood related items. At least so far.”

  “Rich here is an Alchemist. What? Don’t give me that look. You need to get it out there at some point,” Windry said. She pointed a thumb at herself. “I’ve joined the guild. But it’s more to help out.”

  Richard continued to frown at Windry who chuckled back. And Angel spoke, “Oh wow. Are you two related at all?”

  “No, we are just old gaming friends,” Richard said.

  “Unless he wants to marry one of my grandkids. All my children are happily married, so he’ll need to go that far.”

  “Oh. Won’t they be too young? I would assume that they are still in their teens?” Angel asked.

  Windry cackled. “I started young, as did my kids. I’m 60 years young and my grandkids are in their 20s.”

  Richard shook his head. He could tell that Windry was having too much fun trolling them. Though it seemed like what she had said wasn’t a lie at all. “How about we go into the dungeon first. Is there anything special to know about the 2nd floor? The first one was somewhat lackluster in its monsters and drops.”

  Angel waited a moment before she realized that Richard and Windry were looking at her. “Oh! Sorry. Um. No. There are bigger Walking Mushrooms with purple caps. Sometimes they are accompanied by the smaller red ones. Given the chance that they might shoot spores it’s better to take care of them one at a time. Usually the smaller ones first. And then the big one. I guess Richard will be the front liner then? With Windry running as a skirmisher? I’m obviously a backliner so I won’t be able to face tank at all.”

  Richard blinked and then shook his head. Angel had dumped out a whole load of words at once.

  “Well, let's see how we fare against the monster on the first floor. We can work out our teamwork before going any deeper,” Windry said.

  ***

  Nora sighed as she looked over the reports. More and more people were becoming explorers now that the ‘safe’ dungeons had opened. They offered a less dangerous way for people to gain power. And with all of the information in place it wasn’t hard for anyone to get into the middle layers.

  Which was great. They needed people in the dungeons, killing the monsters, otherwise there was a danger of another break happening. It wouldn't end the world, not with how far they had come since the forest one. But another break would make it a lot harder to live. For everyone.

  The problem with all of the new explorers was the increase in the supply of drops and raw goods. As well as an increase in the demand for created goods. Only there were far too few new crafters. It was possible that new crafters were going to ground, in fear of the red guilds who might seek them out. Captured by the red guilds, and so the completed goods don’t make it to the markets. Or just retiring from the dungeon, with no one knowing that they have a rare skill that could change the world.

  She leaned back in her desk chair to stare out of the window. Her officer was rather spartan. Sleek contours with dark floors, wood panelling on the walls, and a bright ceiling. The window looked out onto the riot of a cityscape created by all of the lights and screens attached to the buildings.

  There was only so much that they could do. The guild, her department, or just explorers in general. Which is why she went ahead with Jarl’s interest in this new crafter. She looked at the report on her desk, all potions checked out. He even submitted some new ones that needed to be appraised. Such a crafter was one of those that they needed in the world.

  And he had almost been taken from them. Something that she only learned from the report sent over by the Sword Soul guild after they raided a red guild. If anything she was surprised that Richard hadn’t gone to ground. That he stood up again against uncertainty.

  There was a knock at the door and Jarl came rushing in followed by Chuck. “Nora is busy, Jarl. I don’t see why you think that you can just brother her like this. You should have made a meeting.”

  “No! I know you sales types. Always lost in how much money you can make. Not caring about anything else. This is important!” Jarl shook a bunch of papers in his hand. “Not only are the potions perfect, so are the vials. We took a look at them after the effects had been tested and found that they were works of art. Not something that we can currently make. Not something that I can make! Me! A D-Rank Alchemist of level 7. Whoever did this is light years beyond anyone else and we need to find out what he knows. If it’s something that the others can replicate then we will be able to produce enough goods to tide over everyone!”

  “But his rights,” Chuck said and pinched the bridge of his nose. “You can’t just take a person off of the street, press them for their secrets, and then act like you’re a good person. That’s what red guilds do!”

  Jarl puffed his chest up at Chuck’s words. “Red guilds! How-”

  “Enough,” Nora said and the two quieted. “Why the hell are you two here in my office?”

  “Sorry,” Chuck said and slumped forward. “I tried to deal with him-”

  “Did you see the report?” Jarl slapped the papers in his hand. “Not only potions, but that bone meal! Plants growing in days, not weeks or months, days! If we can replicate that there won’t be any food insecurity. If not for the money then think of the fame, if you are the one who found the person who solved world hunger!”

  “Jarl, Chuck is right. We need to ask the crafter for his information. And if, only if, he chooses to share it with us can we go forward.”

  “He’s a member of the guild, I don't see why they would be any issue with not sharing.”

  “It’s only been a part of the guild for 16 days so far. And he was already almost pinched by a red guild. Luckily he gave them the slip and got rescued by the Sword Soul guild. Otherwise he would have been lost already.” She probably shouldn't have shared that with the two of them. But it shut Jarl up, which was the goal.

  The silence didn’t last long as he soon started again, “Alright. Then he needs to be brought inside-”

  “And put into the basement? Would that make you happy?”

  Jarl grimaced. His hands were shaking and the strength he exerted while gripping them crumbled the report. “Fine! Fine!” He turned and left.

  Nora tsked. “See about setting up a meeting with the crafter, Richard. I’ll be there, you can sit in if you want. But get an enforcer to keep Jarl the hell away. I might just toss him out the window otherwise.”