The Autocraft Alchemist

Richard finally finished pacing back and forth and sat down. Though he hadn't been seated for a second and his leg started bouncing. He tried to push the energy away and instead he read through the level up notification again to make sure that he didn't miss anything.

He had received 2 more Alchemy Inventory slots. Which brought him up to 3 Inventory slots total. Since he reached level 2, and got 2 more slots, did that mean that at each level up he would get a number of slots equal to the new level of alchemy? So 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, 21, 28, 36, and 45 at level 9.

From what he had heard from the others, someone with an inventory had never appeared. So either that was true, or if anyone did unlock an inventory they hid it well. Was it only S-Rank Alchemy that received an inventory? If so it would make sense that it never appeared. But what if instead of S-Rank a lower rank was the requirement? Would an A or B-Rank skill provide an inventory? Did anyone even have skills at that rank?

Richard spent a moment looking up at the corner of the room. While he hoped that there were strong people out there, there was no way he could ever know. Not without access to more information than what he had. When or if that information would ever grace him… it would probably be never.

The weight of a S-Rank skill was heavy. And Richard wasn't sure how much he would be able to accomplish alone. It would have been helpful if there were other people, with high ranking skills, to provide aid in case the world went to hell again. As it stood he could only do his best and hope that it turned out okay.

Richard stamped his feet onto the ground. Such a line of thought wouldn't help anyone.

Moving on he checked his skill list and found that there was a sub entry to Alchemy called Bulk Autocraft. He focused on it and a new window appeared with 3 different squares oriented as an upside down triangle. The two at the top had the same feel as inventory slots. And between the two were arrows that drew towards one another before twisting together and pointing down to the third square. Which felt more like the part of the autocraft window where completed items appeared.

Richard looked at it for a moment. Shook his head. And then laughed. Bulk Autocraft would have been nice to have 20 minutes earlier. But since he had already crafted the Healing Potions he didn't have a need for it at the current point in time. Assuming that more orders would come in from the clan then he might be able to try it then. Probably when Jackie showed up again wanting more Flash Potions.

When he looked at his new Magic and Wisdom stats Richard found that the math didn't add up. He had received 5 extra stats when Alchemy had reached level 1. But he was currently sitting at 26 points in both, which meant that an extra 3 points had appeared. So that meant that he got 8 points at Alchemy level 2? Did that mean that he would be getting 11 points at level 3? Or would it be something else? Something to learn when the next level up came.

The final piece of the level up was the most important. Richard had used the System to ID a large number of drops since he reached level 1. He kept his expectations low and hoped to find at least 1 new recipe. Only instead he found several new ones. Digging through them would take some time, just to make a proper list for materials to purchase. As well to make sure that he didn't make the same mistake as the Imp Blood Vial. It would have been annoying had he left the market and had to wait another week before he could craft the vial.

Richard drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. While it felt good to finally reach the goal that he was aiming for. It was replaced by another, even higher, goal. One that he didn't have the slightest idea on how to reach. Just like it had been with the last two Alchemy levels. Would he need to craft even more potions? Probably. Same with the unique number. There also might be other requirements that needed to be satisfied. And it was fully possible that Richard could become stuck at level 2 for some time.

Instead of brooding over it, at least at that minute, Richard placed the potions that he had crafted onto a cart and left the crafting room. It would be better to get rid of them and then make some plans. But also probably a vacation was in order. He probably should go back into the dungeon for some exploring at some point as well. Having a higher level couldn't hurt.

So many things to do, and so little time.

***

Richard was kind of hoping that he would be able to just sell his potions to Grant. Only Argence was already waiting for him when he reached the buyers section. She smiled at him and guided him into one of the negotiation rooms or whatever they called it.

"What do you have for us today? Hopefully something new?" Argence asked once they were inside and seated.

"Not so much," Richard said. He had considered holding some of the healing potions back. But he still had two on hand for the next time he went into the dungeon. With the new inventory slots they would also be something that he could carry with him at all times. "Just some Healing Potions. I thought that with the ratter invasion they would be helpful to have."

"Ah," she said and looked at the Healing Potions. There was a delay before she finally spoke again, "I'm uh. I'm sorry. We currently are not accepting anymore Healing Potions at this time."

Richard blinked. "Nora asked me to make some. Not two days ago. On Monday. Things shouldn't have changed since then, right?"

"Um. Well. Let me check real quick," Argence said. She got up to leave the room and to Richard it felt a little like she was running away.

Not wanting to deal with whatever was happening. He sent Nora a quick message saying that his potions had been refused by Argence. How would she take it? Richard couldn't imagine himself in her shoes. Sure the money would be nice. But at what cost? From his own experience in corps there were always toes to be stepped on. And one just needed to be lucky that they didn't find the wrong one.

There was a knock at the door and Grant stepped in before closing it. "I'm sorry to hear that Argence isn't working out for you," he said and sat down. "We'll of course take any and all Healing Potions that you have for us. And that Argence had probably misunderstood."

"That… okay. Part of me wants to know what is going on. While I also don't want to be drawn in any deeper."

Grant shrugged. "It's probably for the best. Lets get you processed through first-"

The door opened and Argence came in. "I've been told that we may be able to make an exemption if you have something new to sell to us… oh." She started talking before she noticed that Grant was already in the room. Once she had seen him her expression fell and she looked to the floor.

"Argence. I'll be taking care of Richard from now on. You can go back to your other duties," Grant said as he looked over his shoulder.

She nodded once. Then walked out of the door and left it open. A second later she appeared again, apologized, and closed the door behind her.

Grant sighed. "We've shown you something unbecoming." Payment after that was swift. And Richard sent Nora a message thanking her, as well as letting her know that he would be happy to have Grant as his dedicated buyer. And that she should let him know if she wanted or needed anything else.

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Even though he had some more money to burn through, another $620,000. Richard didn't really feel like it. And he headed home instead of sticking around the guild or Rowan any longer.

***

Jackie crept forward, each step taking her deeper into the ratter warren. Only it was too quiet. And she wasn't sure if she should be happy or not. "Alright, I'm done with this sneaking about crap," she said and banged her sword against her shield. The noise echoed through the tunnels before it slowly faded away.

"Do you think that was a good idea?" Daniel asked. She had been showing him the ropes of how a tank does things. None of that fancy dodging and blocking stuff that he was doing. Just plain getting hit in the face and then hitting them back harder, how it should be done.

"Nah. At least it wouldn't have been. But I can't smell them. Not a one. Which is probably a bad thing," she said and turned to the group behind her. It was made up of her party, clansmen, some of their younger relatives, and then the Sword Souls who had the stones to fight something that wouldn't disappear after they stabbed it. "Scouts get to it, tanks fan out after them, with at least 2 dps each. Healers take middle and listen for combat and go aid as needed."

At her words everyone scattered. Only after a few moments, they started to trickle back to her. There wasn't any sign of bodies, loot, or anything really. The place had been stripped clean and the only thing left was the foul smelling combo of latrines and midden heap.

"Alright people," Jackie said after once everyone had come back. "There has to be something out in these tunnels that tells us a story. Give me your best guesses and I don't want to hear nothing."

Albright raised his hand and said, "Nothing." which caused Grace to giggle. Jackie would have smacked him if he was any closer. She shot a glare at Klein, but he just stood there with his hands in his coat.

After a moment several of the scouts had shrugged. Then the tanks, dps, and healers followed suit. Lala was the next one to raise her hand. "There is a section of the warren that has been collapsed. There might be something deeper inside still. Though it also appeared that the tunnel was sloping upwards. So it could have also been an exit."

"That's one not nothing. Lets try something else, what do people think? Was this a retreat since they knew we were coming? Or something else? Brainstorm it for me."

There was a low murmur as the team members spoke to one another. Small groups formed and they moved around the tunnels pointing and searching anything out of the ordinary. Which was everything since it was an underground tunnel dug out by rat humanoids from a magic portal.

As the groups went deeper into the tunnels they made sure that they were balanced, and tanks and dps followed after any that didn't have any. While the healers hung back and did their own thing, which earned them a glare from Jackie. They repaid her with shrugs.

Once enough time had passed everyone made their way back again. "There appears to be several places where blood had been spilled," a scout from the Swords, Ben, said.

"Tell me how that is unusual? Ratters are always fighting with one another," Jackie said.

"Right. But they tend not to kill each other without good reason. In this case there is a large amount of blood. And it should be more than what could have been spilled by any non lethal infighting. We think that multiple somethings were bled out."

Jackie squinted. "Somethings? And why would they be bleeding out kills inside?"

Ben shrugged. "We can't say what kind of being the blood came from. As for the way, it is unknown to us. It would make more sense to bleed kills outside."

Ideas continued to come in. The location of the armory was found, at least what should have been. And while there were a few bones hidden in the dirt, everything else was taken. The sleeping chambers brought nothing. The nursery was empty, just bones that had been chewed on. Everyone seemed to be avoiding the latrines, at least until a short straw was drawn and in the losing scout went. Several moments later they returned, smelling a lot worse, but with a single ratter corpse.

It was skinny to the point of bones showing as well as having been nibbled at by something. Either another ratter or whatever animals might hang around the warren.

"Do you think that it was tossed in there before or after it died?" Jackie asked.

"They would have eaten it if it died around the others," Klein said. "At least that is what… the research suggested."

"So it was in there long enough to starve to death. What could make a ratter that scared? All while cleaning out the warren to the point we find nothing?"

Again all Jackie got in return to her questions were more shrugs. A lot of things had happened right after the break. But nothing like this. Ratters never gave up anything without a fight. But while there were several clues, none of them were clear enough for a conclusion.

"Who wants to start digging?" She asked with a smile. The blocked tunnel was the only option left.

"We may not have to dig," Lala said. She had just walked into the warren from the path leading to the outside. "As far as I could find there is an entrance that way, ends up further to the north than the one that we came into."

"Alright. Diggers thank Lala for digging out our next clue. Was there anything else?"

"Well, yes. From what I could tell a large group had passed by the tunnel entrance. When? I can't be certain. The only reason that there is anything to see is that they weren't too picky on how they moved. Almost as if they didn't care about being found out at all."

"That's not really good news to us," Jackie said. There were several break species that fought against one another. Most of the humanoids had some form of burning hate for anything else humanoid. "But it gives us an idea. Only I'm not liking it."

"What got them?" Daniel asked and motioned to the warren.

"Probably something we don't want to meet."

"Oh. So we are going home?"

"If only we could be that lucky. While the ratters might be gone for now. There is always a chance of them coming back. But…" She shook her head.

"There is one other thing I think that you should come and look at," Lala said. "It's… something grotesque. Almost like something a serial killer would create."

Jackie shared a look with her party. Klein in his stupid trench coat looked the same as always. Grace had a worried look on her face. And Albright, for once, didn't look too interested in a fight. "Everyone get ready to leave asap. Abandon the warrens. Call all the scouts outside back. And instead move to drones. Get me as many high shots of the area as you. But for the love of the break, stay away from anything that looks like a settlement. Otherwise all tanks, healers and deeps with me," she said and ran out of the warrens. Several twists and turns later they were outside. Lala took the lead and showed them the collapsed entry as well as the thing that she was talking about.

It was a small tree that had been stripped of all limbs. On top of it was a ratter corpse that had been impaled on the sharpened trunk. The ratter's entrails had been pulled from its body and there were several clusters of wounds carved into its skin that appeared to be symbols.

Jackie stamped her foot onto the group one, twice, and a third time. Her strength was enough that she left behind an ankle deep hole.

"I did think that things were going too well," Grace said.

"Right? I was wondering when the other shoe was going to drop. But I didn't think that this was going to be it. Good thing that my will is already in place. Otherwise we might not have time," Albright said.

"Quit it you two. You're scaring the rookies," Jackie said and tore her eyes away from the dead ratter. "We are out of here. On the double. And not a word of this to anyone or anything. Hell, I'm tempted to confiscate all your phones and smashing the shitting things. Also no horns from now on. Hopefully they are far enough away." Everyone moved at once and started retreating from the site leaving Jackie along with her party.

Daniel had stayed back and pointed at the impaled ratter. "Wha-, what is this? What could have done it?"

"It's a sign of sorts. A bragging at what they have done. As well as a warning of what's to come."

"You get all that from one corpse? And who would even put that up like that?"

"Later. We need to be out of here asap," she said and fell into a jog with the others. Daniel watched after her for a moment before he ran to catch up.