━━━━━━━━━
〖Prison Star Calendar〗
〖Year 187, June 22〗
〖3:47 PM〗
〖Countdown to Advancement Trail: 4 days〗
〖Countdown to Confession Death: 27 days〗
━━━━━━━━━
Upon the end of his “nap cultivation”, Tyler elevated his “Deceiver” skill to Level 11.
━━━━━━━━━
Intelligence attribute: 189 + 10↑
Maximum Magic Energy: 1890 + 100↑
━━━━━━━━━
The augmentation of the intelligence attribute and maximum magic energy was a foreseen incident.
Still, the transformation Tyler earnestly anticipated remained elusive. The charm effect’s valid targets remained objects of Level 3 and below, remaining unaffected by the skill level’s ascension.
(According to this pattern, it seems I must wait for “Deceiver” to reach Level 15 or potentially Level 20 for any increase.)
Despite the disappointment, it was within reason. Otherwise, this skill would be too outrageous.
Subsequently, Tyler departed and initially ventured into the impoverished district teeming with demi-humans, continuing his benevolence.
Guided by the bystanders, he arrived at what was reputed to be the best ornament workshop in Sunny Town.
Recently, Tyler’s identification and mind-reading ability were repeatedly constrained by visible distance, unable to exert effects. Hence, Tyler harbored a notion he wished to attempt to actualize.
“Excuse me, is anyone there?”
Entering without seeing anyone, Tyler greeted, and abruptly, an elderly man crawled out from under a distant workbench.
“Welcome, what can I do for you?” The old man asked, still busily occupied with his work.
“Distinguished craftsman, I’ve heard that you are the most skilled ornament maker in Sunny Town. I’ve come to visit you out of admiration. Do you have some spare time now?”
Tyler voluntarily lowered his stance, prompting the busy old man at the workbench to momentarily set aside his work and turn to face Tyler.
The craftsman looked to be in his sixties or seventies, yet robust, with small but bright and lively eyes.
Tyler identified the craftsman’s status info and found his manufacturing occupation to be “Ornament Maker”. At Level 17, he indeed possessed some skills.
“Hehe, you flatter me, young man. What do you need?”
The ornament craftsman glanced at the young man’s demeanor, guessing he might not be ordinary, and began to wonder what he could be here for.
Tyler first scanned the goods on the store shelves, discovering numerous colorful glassware, secretly congratulating himself for coming to the right place.
He then invited the craftsman to sit at the table and spread out a roll of blueprints.
“Sir, I have an idea. I’ve already drawn the design, but I lack the craftsmanship, so I would like you to realize it for me.”
The craftsman first glanced at the design roughly and then began to study it with interest.
“It’s intriguing, grinding the glass pieces into specific shapes, then assembling them inside a cylindrical wooden tube… but what’s the use of this assembly? What do you intend to do with this?” The craftsman asked while examining.
“As long as you look in from this side, you can see distant objects clearly.”
Tyler gave a simple introduction, not intending to elaborate.
If he were to explain the concepts of “refraction” and “imaging” in this world of swords and magic, it would seem too “magical”.
“Oh? Can glass pieces have such an effect?”
Upon hearing the young man’s explanation, the craftsman became rather eager to try. However, before undertaking this task, he needed to confirm one thing.
Before the craftsman could speak, the young man had already placed a gold coin on the blueprint.
“Sir, I know this is not an easy task and that making glass can be quite expensive. Therefore, you can use this gold coin first. When it’s used up, I will add more funds.”
Looking at the shiny gold coin, the craftsman was taken aback. Despite the young man’s simple attire, he was surprisingly generous.
You see, the craftsman was only thinking of charging 30 silver coins.
“Young man, your offer is too generous, I can’t accept so much.”
“Sir, I assure you it’s not too much, because I hope to have the first version of the prototype by June 26.”
“June 26? Isn’t that just four days away?”
“Yes, do you think you can do it?”
Hearing the young man’s slightly provocative question, the craftsman’s spirit was instantly ignited!
Since the customer had already provided complete blueprints and paid a generous sum, how could he, the number one ornament maker in Sunny Town, back down?
“Young man, I accept your task!”
.
A half-hour later, brimming with anticipation, Tyler exited the ornament shop.
The blueprint he had commissioned the ornament maker to construct was, in fact, a telescope’s design.
However, the final product’s feasibility and efficacy depended entirely on the craftsman’s execution.
At present, including the recent order, Tyler’s savings dwindled to a handful of copper coins, insufficient for purchasing the materials required for concocting potions tomorrow.
Thus, Tyler concealed his face and, in a genuine performance, donned the guise of an assassin bounty hunter. He headed to The Quest Guild to undertake tasks and replenish his coffers.
Inside The Quest Guild, others failed to recognize the assassin as the recently infamous “Banning”.
Only Emilia, however, wouldn’t overlook her ‘almost boyfriend’.
When Tyler approached the front desk to submit his materials, Emilia casually laid her hand on the back of Tyler’s hand.
The contact made him shudder slightly, as if electrified.
“Lord Banning, why have you suddenly decided to take on tasks?” Emilia inquired in a hushed voice.
Tyler, having used his mind-reading early on, already knew that Emilia had seen through his disguise. Therefore, he wasn’t surprised by her question.
However, Emilia initiating physical contact with him in public inevitably made his heart rate quicken.
“Recently… I mean, some time ago, the ‘North Sunny Wasteland’ incident resulted in Sunny Town losing many excellent bounty hunters. I was concerned about an excessive backlog of tasks at The Quest Guild, so I came to help alleviate some.”
The “genius” Tyler effortlessly fabricated a convincing lie, conveniently enhancing his image in Emilia’s eyes.
“I see, thank you. The task procedures have been completed. I look forward to your triumphant return.”
Emilia efficiently finished the paperwork. Before Banning left, she deliberately brushed her hand on the back of his hand again, then watched him depart.
Once Banning left The Quest Guild, Emilia immediately placed a “temporarily closed” sign on the front desk.
She then swiftly entered the records room and shut the door. Her face flushed, she clasped her hands tightly to her chest, fearful her wildly thumping heart might leap out.
She was truly startled by her bold actions, only releasing her shy emotions after holding them in until now.
On Tyler’s end, even after leaving The Quest Guild, he remained somewhat dazed.
Tyler found it hard to believe that the girl he had just encountered at The Quest Guild was truly Emilia. 𝔬𝗏𝓵𝒩𝐞xt.𝔠𝓞𝑀
Why would she perform such a bold act in public?
If things continued this way, wouldn’t they… if they were alone at her house next time?