Optimizing Your Isekai - Progression Fantasy w/ Slice-of-Life and Biz Building Elements

Vidas called me into the carriage early on the day after our fight while we were still a few hours outside Velez. Inara and Tiesa were both there too but zoned out using their AAIs. "Terry, we need to talk," he said simply.

My anxiety spiking, I tried to exude a calm demeanor. "Sure, what about Vidas?"

Isekonsultant Tip to Thriving #11: In a world driven by personal power, fear is a normal and healthy emotion to feel but not show in most circumstances. There are times to be vulnerable but not when with a team you barely know and their opinion can impact your future. While masking is taxing, it's valuable.

"Spoils," he replied simply.

"Spoils? Don't we have an agreement for sharing what we get from delves, including appraisals for anything without a fair market value?"

"Yes, but we recovered a number of things from those incompetent assassins, including two spatial items. Technically, the person you killed, their goods are all yours per standing Kingdom practices. It wasn't from a delve." He leaned forward. "We didn't set the terms for something like this in our contract or when we formed The Order. And by another technicality, you could claim Steve as a sixth member with equal share rights."

I couldn't help it as I burst out laughing. At Vidas' foul look, I held up my hand but took a while to get myself under control.

"Sorry, just the idea of Steve as an equal contributor to anything other than our food bills is laughable. I am a bit sick to my stomach at the idea of looting people we killed, though I know it's a reality. Here, let me send over a proposed amendment briefly."

[Proposed update to spoils and delving share: unless otherwise split out differently in advance, all net proceeds of delves and any other source of income derived through direct actions of The Order shall be 20% to Terry Carver and his bond, Steve. For clarification purposes, that is treating Terry and Steve as one entity to receive 20%.]

"We can have someone on Katarina's side hammer out the specifics as I want to focus on net proceeds. If we all have to buy our own healing potions and supplies – or if we don't all chip in for Romie's arrows – it will just lead to unnecessary strife and friction. At least some of our money going towards a shared pool works best," I said, reaching out my hand for a shake.

"Um, Jasna said you were a business person in your previous life. Were you any good at it?" he asked, scratching his head.

"Ha, you need Pavel in here for your side too," I laughed and made enough racket to get Inara to stop working on her AAI.

"You two are entirely too loud. I had sound dampening at 90%. So, how bad did he try to stiff you?" she asked Vidas, throwing a shoulder at me.

"Remember what we agreed was fair and then where we would draw the line? His first proposal was beyond the fair line to good. Even threw in team consumables as a condition for shared funds without me bringing it up. Maybe I don't need Pavel after all," he said chuckling.

"No, you just have someone who wants to stay on your good side and is not a sickna. At least in this specific way," she said, sticking her tongue out at me and unfocusing her eyes, clearly going back to her AAI.

"So, not to be crass, but what did we get?" I asked.

"Two spatial items though it was clear Romie's kill – or their first, solo kill – was either the team pack animal or leader since they had essentially all the money and consumables. Stupid way to divvy things up if you need consumables in a fight. Pretty cheap stuff all around but still 20 gold, two spatial items in rough shape, a few crappy looking but hopefully usable healing potions, some equipment that wasn't ruined. All in, probably 80 gold. Add in the five gold we got from the delve and we're at seventeen gold each. Though we'd like to cut that to ten and add 45 to the team pot. I need some repairs, Romie needs quite a few more arrows, stuff like that."

At my nod, he continued. "Great, then we can also use that to commission that morningstar since that's going to be our most expensive piece," he said, laying a hand on my arm and smiling. "It's what's best for the team."

Smiling back, we went over a bit more about what we'd acquired and where our next big payday was likely to come from.

***

"Please, follow Igor who will take you to the servant quarters. Tiesa and Jasna messaged ahead so we have some lovely garments for you to wear around the estate while we take care of your equipment. Yes, we'll get everything cleaned and repaired but I'm sorry, I just can't have people so dirty in the main house. We only have enough room for these three in the main house's facilities." Katarina had met us at the gate as her slightly beaten up carriage trundled onto the estate.

As the rest of The Order walked away grumbling until they heard about the near spa-level treatment and amenities they were going to get, Katarina threw her head backwards to indicate to follow and rushed into the house. As we were led to the edge of the now too-familiar sitting room, she waved a wand at each of us.

"Cleaning enchantment. Not nearly as good as the real thing but good enough." Steve shrieked indignantly at having something poked at him that he couldn't eat. "Yes, there is food in there for you my little handsome man," she said to the sugar glider.

"Terry isn't little," Jasna said with a head tilt. "Oh, you meant Steve. I didn't care for that joke."

Tiesa just rolled her eyes and led her nearly sister into the room.

"Okay, so we have so much to discuss and my staff can only delay them so long, let's get down to business," said the Councilor, rubbing her hands together.

***

"Ugh, it is so unfortunate you had to destroy that dungeon. It really could have meant so many advancements in our understanding of… well… everything," Katarina said looking forlorn. "At least you got your cute little masseuse out of it," she said, giving the small ball of shrieks a smile at seeing him trying to push the muscles on Jasna's shoulders around.

I looked to my partner in the dungeon secret and she nodded resolutely.

After a few hours of private discussion, which had caused a few knowing and scandalized looks when we returned from our private walk, we decided to keep it a secret. Jasna hadn't been able to communicate with the core like I could. But somehow, she sensed an intelligence that was in pain but also projected 'the idea of some bad joke' into her mind directly.

"Yeah, the dungeon almost had me fooled by the end," I said, trying to keep to truth – I had thought it fooled me in a way. "I am probably lucky Tiesa was battling it's barrier, I don't have any idea what I would have gotten if it didn't have to waste its energy holding her back."

Probably a sick weapon on top of Steve.

"Still, a sentient dungeon that actually spoke to you… I want to get to that further, but let's go through everything hour by hour of your trip to make sure we didn't miss anything world-shattering. You all have been a busy bunch…" Katarina took a long pull from her wine and it was refilled almost the second it left her lips by Maksim.

As we caught her up, she looked like Christmas came every day for a month. "Go back to the part about the botanist and alchemist."

"You saw that too, huh? Realized it on the ride back," I said, knowing where this was going.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

I guess I won't be the most special boy in the world for too much longer.

"You mean that we have something to give multiple people a null affinity? Do you really get what that means?" she asked, looking at the suddenly confused Tiesa and Jasna. "We could create multiple teams of people to clear the rifts of null essence with one person who absorbs all the null affinity essence. Rent them out to cities that are worried about breaks. We would have the people who can easily absorb null and are the only city with the research on the allocation bracelets to make it possible. Velez would suddenly become one of the most powerful cities in the entire Kingdom."

"And the most targeted," Tiesa said.

"Yes, that is true… hmm, will you please give me the flower? I have a stasis ring specifically designed for keeping plants from degrading and often strengthening them."

"Nope, not yet," Jasna replied to my surprise. "We need a contract around this and to think on it. We," she pointed to herself and Tiesa, "know what happens when greedy people come for your town that can't defend itself. Give me the ring and I'll take good care of it."

Katarina looked to Maksim who tilted his head in a nod and shrugged. "Yes, okay. That makes sense, though please do not disturb any of the other plants in there," she said, reluctantly handing over an ornate golden ring. "Do be careful with it, it's been in Maksim's family for generations."

Jasna popped out a small carrying bag and looped it around her neck, dropping the bag and necklace down her shirt.

"Okay, so we will talk again soon on the Affinity Alteration Amaryllis and then we will put out the feelers on who tried to kill you. Well, who tried this time," Katarina said, giving a light laugh.

"I want to be involved," I said. "I am sick of taking a backseat on these things."

At her surprised look, Tiesa cut in. "Jasna had a talk with him about what he actually wants versus what he says he wants. Time for him to put on the big boy pants and risk his neck."

"I think I've risked my neck plenty! Including with that dungeon!" I knew she was kidding but it still irked me.

"Which you didn't record but claim was epically hard. Anyway, we have other things we need done. Isn't Ratmir out for his head?" Tiesa asked, nodding in my direction.

"Yes, apparently the voice notes you dropped off Terry are in your native language. Without a direct AAI connection, they can't be understood. I thought it was quite funny. He did not. You'll want to swing by his and give him an update on a lot." Katarina sent me a checklist of what Ratmir wanted to discuss.

"Okay, I do have something I'm going to demand happens today," I said as we heard the front door open and the first of the rest of The Order was led into the sitting room. "Steve gets scanned."

***

The Magister of Scans and his assistant were throwing disgusted looks at the entire room. Katarina had messaged in to the Council to get approval to use mana to power the Scanner and had called in her own niece to power it as one of the few certified in town.

"Okay Zdenka, let me walk you through the process as I know it can be hard for one that is not so skilled," the Magister said condescendingly.

"Listen Vadim, she's been doing this since well before you arrived so pipe down," Maksim Illeva said. "Zeddy, just block them out but if you can't, let me know and I will throw them out."

"This is highly inappropriate!" shouted the assistant of the Magister.

"The entire Council voted remotely, something we rarely do, to approve this and get it done today." Turning to the Magister with a look of the cat to the canary, she smiled. "I can ask them if they'd also like to review your position here if you want. I know you and your daughter Ivana here have found a nice niche to fill. But things change. Often suddenly." Katarina had turned back to looking at Zdenka, not even deigning to glance at them as she threatened their livelihoods.

"Okay Uncle, anyone other than me, Terry, or Steve makes so much as a peep, you toss them out. You all realize why this is so restricted right? Injecting mana is incredibly finicky and can damage the Scanner if done incorrectly."

Steve decided that was the perfect moment to try flying, leaping at Zdenka. She caught him, nuzzled him, gave him a kiss and a scritch on the head, and handed the little monster back to me.

"I am going to super charge it, essentially using my entire mana pool. That would normally mean 20+ scans but it can be hard to get the Capability reading through a bond link so we need extra power. Better safe than sorry. And yes Magister, before you ask, it is below the 80% of safe capacity threshold, I am probably more protective of this Scanner than you are." Zdenka was quickly becoming one of my favorite people.

I sent Katarina a message. [What else are her specialties and is she for hire?]

[Incoming Message from Katarina Illeva: She is engaged.]

[She's like 20. Despite what this body looks like, I am around 35 in your years. Get your mind out of the gutter woman. I simply think she's smart and doesn't take crap, which I appreciate.]

[Incoming Message from Katarina Illeva: I'll speak with Maksim but her specialties lie in business matters, especially trade deals. And she has a strange love for creating small little programs, usually games, for the AAI.]

[Great, talk to your husband. I might have some work for her that would be in her wheelhouse. And again, don't be gross.]

She let out a small laugh and Zdenka paused, raised an eyebrow at her and then her uncle. As Maksim approached his wife with his arms out to pick her up, Zdenka laughed and shook her head, going back to charging the Scanner.

Katarina gave her husband an approving look that he took his duties seriously.

Finally, after ten minutes of waiting and keeping Steve mildly mollified, Zdenka stepped away from the Scanner. "Ugh, that gets worse every time, I swear. Anyway, all yours!"

"Um, does anyone know how to get it to scan a bond?" I asked. "And I've heard some Scanners aren't powerful enough to scan certain Innate Capabilities. Since it's super charged, will that change anything there?"

[Incoming Message from Katarina Illeva: No dear, not powerful enough has nothing to do with how much power is currently in the Scanner, it's about its ability to actually scan deep enough in your soul. No penetration power. I checked. With six different people. Twice each. I am on your side, you know?]

"You came here not knowing how to actually accomplish your scan? Look at what I have to deal with… here, read this pamphlet." The grumpy Magister sent over something via AAI.

After reading it, I reached out to the Scanner, both with my mind and my hand. [Welcome to the Scanner of Velez; AAI connection detected. Begin Tier 1 Innate Capability scan: yes/no]

I selected no and then followed a series of prompts as it asked me to place Steve's paw on the Scanner. Distracting him with a piece of cheese, I kept both of our hands pressed on the orb the full minute it made me wait, buzzing, humming, and flashing lights.

[Tier 1 Innate Capability: You may absorb as much essence of your Tier and affinity as you desire without impacting essence channels though with significant diminishing returns beyond normal levels. Removing essence that matches your Tier and affinity will not impact your cultivation or damage essence channels. Any essence that does not match your affinity will be absorbed at a 25% efficiency rate.]

What does that mean when he currently doesn't have an affinity to essence? And what does it mean if we can get him as much essence as possible that matches his affinity?

I forwarded his Cap readout to Tiesa, Jasna, Gabor, and, with a bit of hesitation, Katarina.

The predatory grin the Councilor gave me made me shiver.

I think I just made a mistake.

***

Katarina danced around her sitting room holding Steve to her cheek to his great enjoyment, this time with Tiesa, Jasna, Gabor, Maksim, and myself in attendance. She sent the rest of The Order to Vana's inn after the scan. "Oh my little glorious man, you are going to make us all rich! I love you. I love you! I LOVE YOU!" she said, burying her face into his fur and blowing a raspberry on his tummy to his shrieking delight.

"Does this mean what I think it means?" Tiesa said. "He can continue to absorb essence well past the limit in Tier and then take that essence out with no harm. That might be the most insane thing I've ever heard."

"Someone want to explain?" I asked. "I guess that means he can absorb spells?"

"You know what those people were doing in that lab? They were bringing people up to a certain level of essence and then draining it from their bodies. Free essence – essence that's been absorbed but is no longer in someone's body – lets you level up spells, weapons and armor, equipment, etc. without damaging your own cultivation. A lot of people go out into delves with a low allocation bracelet to absorb just a bit of essence and then sell their essence. If it's done willingly with an extractor, it still cripples your channels but it is safe." Tiesa looked contemplative.

"And then <redacted> nobles swoop in and buy power others earned," Jasna said. As everyone looked at her, her face showed confusion. "What?"

"The expectation was to say something about how Katarina wasn't a <redacted> Jazzy. It is the polite thing to do." Tiesa put her arm around the woman lovingly.

"Oh, okay," Jasna said. At everyone's pause, she looked around. "Oh, I guess I'm supposed to still say it?"

Katarina burst out laughing. "I like you Jasna. You aren't afraid of nobility simply because of their – I guess our, even though technically nobility is not valid in Velez – power and influence."

"Great, yes, we all love Jasna. She's smart, funny, kind, caring, a wonderful teacher, attractive, tough, etc. Can we get back to the little man of the hour?" I asked, pointing to Steve.

Tiesa threw me a funny glance but Jasna just nodded, looking to the fuzzy squirming ball of hunger and mischief.

"With Steve, assuming his Cap works how we think it does, we can essentially get as much essence to allocate to spells and items as we want. That would mean we can level up gear for cheap and be far better equipped than anyone else out there. And selling essence in large quantities can be extremely lucrative." Katarina had stars in her eyes. "If we couple that with the null affinity treatment from the flower… Velez might be able to overtake Pitola in a matter of a few years."

Nope, not stars. Hunger. Lust for power. Uh oh…

"Okay, we get it, Steve changes everything. Now, who wants to hear the update on who tried to kill Terry?" Gabor asked, looking for fanfare and just getting glares.