A New World, an immersive game experience

Both Solvi and Sanja had been conflicted with the deal Eldrian had struct, somewhat behind their backs even, blind sighting them.

Sanja had sighed, complaining that they had lost the upper hand and that Eldrian had forgotten about the ammunition for the cannons. Which was the true problem currently, at least in Kynigo.

Solvi, on the other hand, felt more conflicted, she was glad that Eldrian wouldn't try to keep something so massive from other kingdoms. In particular that it was her home kingdom certainly helped too. After all, she didn't hate her home, she just hadn't had much standing there.

Yet, despite this, it felt like Eldrian did it too easily. As if he did not quite understand the worth that such an invention actually was. Or more likely, he knew and simply did not care.

The silver lining was that he didn't give them one of the inner cannons, but rather one meant for the outer walls. The outer wall cannons were the ones made by a mix of blacksmiths all below Tier 5, and thus there wasn't a risk of Solvi's own technique or any of the other master blackmsmiths' techniques and inventions being leaked.

It was far more basic, and only applied the basic principle of using the pressure from an explosion to propel the cannonballs. Something that would easily be leaked and spread, thus Eldrian arranging a deal by willing sharing it was quite smart.

Though, strangely, Solvi knew she could only care about all that since with the advent of the cannons things were starting to look up.

"So you will be staying here?" Eldrian asked the dwarf, who nodded while patting the cannon Eldrian had taken out of his inventory.

"Yes, I will work with fine-tuning the cannons. When I return, we will have a true weapon capable of turning the tides of this war." Her true intent was to make sure that Taurus would be kept in the loop of developments.

Her reasoning was quite simple, she understood that something like this should not be hoarded. In that regard, she found no fault with Eldrian's approach. Her staying was to ensure that Ganalin would keep its part of the deal. And as a Tier 8 blacksmith, she now had the power to ensure this.

Smiling, Eldrian nodded. Saying his goodbye to Sanja he wished her luck with the negotiations and told her to expect six Chosen by the end of the day. With that, Eldrian moved to the teleportation hall on his agima. Unfortunately, he wouldn't be able to take it with him.

He had a simple plan going forward, they had to finish off the wandering hordes of the undead as they were becoming a true nuisance. They wandered without aim, but that was part of the problem. When they stumbled on an ill defended village, it must be abandoned.

This couldn't go on. However, first, Eldrian had to finally do some self upgrading and also organize the players to join him.

***

"See, I told you it wouldn't be that bad." Solvi chuckled as they watched Eldrian leave without looking back.

"How the hell did he do it?" Sanja wracked her brain trying to figure out how Eldrian actually knew how to make a deal. She had also quickly realized that he hadn't tried to solve it all by himself, only starting things and then leaving it to them to see through.

Knowing what he was good at and what he could be part of and when to take a step back. It was truly quite impressive.

And sure, it wasn't the best deal he might have been able to make. Fighting for every third would have been possible with a demonstration. But in the same way, spies being sent to steal the idea or even the research was also possible.

In fact, through a demonstration, the principle idea of how the cannons worked might be discovered already. In that regard, Eldrian's deal might have actually really ended up being a brilliant one.

Not only had he gotten the deal, he had also clearly shown that he wanted to work together, that he wanted to gain a deal that would help both sides. With this in mind, Sanja resolved herself to do her best.

Her first priority was to add that the cannonballs would be included in the deal, being purchasable at cost or close enough. She didn't think of asking for every fifth, but rather that when the dwarves had secured themselves a stable supply that there would then be made a stable trade.

***

Returning to Kynigo, Eldrian quickly updated himself on what had happened during the two days that he had been gone. Nothing major, outside of that they were now close to finding everything needed to heal Pelaros.

Pelaros's condition was still critical, but thanks to the Trainta Roz he was stable. Itireae was also checking up on him each day, for some strange reason seeing him lying there-- so close to death. It pulled at her heart, just slightly. But even that slightly was a new feeling to her.

The lives lost thus far in the war did not bother her, she simply saw it as natural. Whether they died today or in a few years, or even a hundred years. It mattered little to her.

However, the situation was different with Pelaros. She did not know him all that well, but he had quickly made an impression on her.

He was knowledgeable and talented, if he wanted he could have reached Tier 10. Maybe he might have even managed the feat already if only he had tried. Then he would not now be on his death bed.

Yet, Itireae knew that he would not wake -or die- with regret. He had lived the life he had wanted, trying to learn about the mysteries of the world and hoping to enjoy a peaceful relaxed life.

Looking at the elf, her concern clearly written over her face, Eldrian recalled the first time he had met her and smiled.

'It seems that you will actually manage to learn what you came to learn.' Eldrian thought with a mix of emotions, hoping that it would not come at the cost of Pelaros's life.

Leaving without disturbing them, he headed to the manor he had organized for the guild. He had wanted to simply give them his, but they had been adamant not to intrude on a member's personal space.

Naturally, with the end of the siege, there were a number of homes now empty. And while the manor they lived in was not in the noble district, it was large enough for the hundred-odd -which only fifty would be online at one time- to work from comfortably.

Naturally, as players, they did not need things like beds to sleep in. They had even removed the kitchen and turned it into a large meeting room. The main hall was where they would organize things, kind of like a guildhall, and the other rooms were used as storage.

There was, unfortunately, no universal inventory for the guild, only a management inventory that thus far only accepted coins. Thus storage rooms were required for things that belonged to the guild and not single individuals.

AN: Thank you, everyone, for continuing to read and support the story on Web.