Chapter 505

“Shit! Utter shit!” His latest teacher threw the cup on the ground, shattering the piece of cookware and snarled in Arthur’s face. “Are you shit, boy?”

Thankful, that they spoke English. More Tower shenanigans, but Arthur was happy about it in this case. He couldn’t even imagine how hard it would be to learn the dozens of languages he would need to cross through Towers. Even more so, whatever actual language the scaled creature that was staring at him, daring him to answer in anything but the negative was actually speaking.

“Do it again.” The creature stomped away, back to their own kiln and Arthur considered if it was wrong if he released a Mana Dart into the back of their head. They were a crafter. It was fine if he blew them up, right? Just because he had used too much clay to make the cup, such that it was so heavy it could have been used to brain someone else didn’t make it shit. The shape was right, he had smoothed out the bottom and had none of the weird ridges his earlier work had. Even the top wasn’t that sharp…

“Well? Are you going to work or just glare at me?” Another growling hiss.

Arthur sighed and walked back to his wheel. He glanced over to the drying rack where the rest of his work was waiting and knew that every piece within would receive the same treatment and changed direction. He thrashed everything, a part of him flaring with anger and hurt at doing so, since he had spent literal days creating much of this.

Five floors up and his new master, a special ‘gift’ from the Tower was an ass. Rather than follow the common, usual route upwards, Arthur had chosen to take the offer given to him, to work with a Master that would test him for a journeyman piece rather than a basic one that most others would require at this level.

Harder work, more stringent examination of what he created; but everything up to this point had been too easy. Came from having such a high perception and body, his ability to manipulate the work. Now, however, he was being tested on more than his ability to throw; but to know what to do. Testing him on not just his physical ability but the depth of his knowledge – and that was not something that could be rushed.

Instead, he had to talk to others, to watch and ask questions. To read up on the numerous books and treatises that were being imposed on him, to learn rather than just do. It was terrible if he was trying to speedrun the Tower, but since the eligibility for such things was for first time Climbers, it mattered little. More importantly, the eventual rewards for making journeyman work were much higher, as he would be able to sell his gear for contribution points.

Getting good enough was going to be a pain, but at least he was in a small village now and he had his own little Clan hall that he could create, allow others who were testing to rest within too. When the studio finally closed, he returned to his Clan building, practiced a few hours with his spear and then cultivated within, pulling Tower energy into himself to continue the slow grind of improvement necessary.

 

***

 

The stream of Climbers coming in and out of his Clan building were constant. The addition of a place where Climbers could rest, relax and cultivate at a higher speed was a powerful draw. Even more so, when Arthur had begun to spend some of the stones he had acquired to purchase beginner crafting manuals. Since many of those who came with him were taking up different crafting techniques, they were all adding the books to the main Clan library in the building, creating an immediate and powerful draw for newcomers.

It further helped that Arthur could just designate a room within as a library, forcing people to read the manuals in the building itself. He could constantly add copies too, at a cost. Thankfully, the cost and methods to pay for expansions in the building all came from Tower quests, which his new recruits were more than happy to take advantage of since they were paid out by the Clan, the Tower and, eventually, by additional benefits in the Clan itself.

Truth be told, Arthur was uncertain how many of those he was recruiting would ever become mainstay members. It was unlikely the majority would ever have more than a passing attachment to the Clan, one based entirely on benefits. Very similar, in some ways, to clans and guilds in online games.

That was not necessarily a bad thing, though he was beginning to consider building multiple levels of trust within the guild itself, a way for individuals to prove themselves and get better benefits. It was something he would have to discuss with his team, on the outside when he had time.

He vaguely recalled some xianxia works he had watched, where there were those who were outer, inner and core members of a sect. Of course, being dramas, they also highlighted the numerous problems of such organisations, with nepotism and their inability to find talent one of the biggest. Still, if he based it off certain types of output and what they wanted from those involved, it could work.

Probably needed to have some level of nepotism allowed, though. Not just because that was how it worked in Asia, but because the ability to allow individuals to promote those they thought worthy could counteract a straightforward system that did not work with mavericks. Of course, said promoted nepo babies needed to actually be held to account at some point.

Then again, maybe he shouldn’t be basing all his organizational theory on TV shows and works written for the drama, often created by individuals who had never worked in such organisations before or managed multiple reports.

Still, watching the people who were filling his Clan room, he wondered if he could perhaps make use of them too, to push the Malaysian’s.

“Israt, how many people are in that room?” Arthur asked, eyeing the half dozen individuals who trooped out of one of his residences and then, another half-dozen walk right in right after.

“Sixteen. I’ll be adding two more soon, sir,” Israt said, grin widening. “Rima and Fahima paid for two and one night too, but they haven’t been back. Got to wait if they don’t come back.”

 

“There are only six beds in there.”

“Yes. They take turns. Eight hours,” Israt said, nodding. “If you are disappointed, sir, I can add more. If we take out the beds and put in planks, we can have people cultivate sitting up. More people can join!”

“And will they be worth anything?” Arthur said.

“Of course! Stones now, points later. If they are good, we can give more benefits. More money.”

“I don’t like us exploiting them that much.”

“How is it exploitation, sir? When they know what they’re paying for. We charge cheaper, doing it my way. Even better for them!” Israt added. “Allah willing, they all ascend, but I tell you, the cheapest ones are the ones who push.”

Arthur grunted. “Surprised you aren’t asking we remove the top floor too.”

“Of course not!” Israt eyes grew wide, in shock. “Once you leave, and if no one there, we can charge extra! Big money for the ones who like their luxury. Of course we keep some for your people.” There was a slight hint of disdain in the man’s eyes and voice, one that Arthur chose not to acknowledge. He was not going to give up his room, even if it might be more practical for more to be stuck within. Rank had to have some privileges, and he was at the stage where he was actually learning a lot that could not be interrupted. At a certain point, just sitting around cultivating was insufficient.

“Can. Well, I guess this makes sense at the lowest level..” Arthur sighed. “Once we can though, we’ll want to see about expanding this.”

“No problem!” Israt grinned widely. “We’ll get the quests knocked out.”

“Good man.” Standing and stretching, Arthur chuckled. “If you’re all working this hard, I guess I better start too, eh?”

“Sure, sir!”