For want of a nail

Pef made his way slowly through the town, noting the distinct lack of golden auras. He'd gotten lucky in finding two of them so early. And with Miss Fang, he'd found a second silver aura.

Although, he doubted the poor woman could be saved in time.

White auras were a bit more common, and as he reached the smithy of Master Ang, he found two more.

'White auras are rather more common, isn't it?'

'Perhaps ten thousand per universe.' the glove approximated in a second.

'That's super rare! What about golden ones?'

'Once per universe? Maybe less than that...' the glove estimated in a doubtful tone.

'Are you certain, my glove? Cause I met two golden...' the young user asked in a bit of cautious doubt.

'This planet is stupidly impossible. There must be a thousands of white auras just planetside. Like nobody ever recruited in this universe.' the expert system replied in an outraged manner.

'A reservation then. A special place left aside, or hidden...' Pef mused inward.

The glove didn't bother to respond. The golden auras were already indoctrinated, and in a few millennia they would ascend to Soldier rank on their own. Once it made contact with the higher ups, they would scour this universe and collect all the wonderful recruits.

Pef entered the smithy, where a old man was fitting a bone armor over a younger one.

"It's too tight!" the young man complained in a petulant voice.

"Young Master, stop breathing so deeply. Let me adjust..."

Pef walked over and tapped the shoulder of the armor, moulding it to the wearer like a second skin.

"Ah, that's much better, Master Ang. No wonder everyone calls you a genius!" the young master proclaimed in a praise.

The old smith rose his brows in surprise, following the intruding hand to its owner.

"Okay then. Go back home, young master. I'll settle payment with your uncle" the smith said politely, pushing the loud customer out into the street.

"Hey, wait a minute. I want a sword..." a young voice exclaimed in outrage.

"Come back tomorrow, Master Wong. Smithy is closed today" the old man replied sternly, and closed the door in his face.

Pef sat at the smith's work table, the smells and atmosphere so familiar, after working in Smith's Lin workshop for years.

"I'll make tea" the old man said gently, while letting out a sigh of relief.

Pef took out a few small Nascent rank bones, and started Practice, making of few smith tools, like pliers and scissors, drills and clamps.

Half an hour later, he rose his eyes to see Master Ang sit in front of him, face lit up in wonder.

Pef poured tea for both of them, while pushing the new tools aside.

"Name's Pef. Pef Xi" he spoke after a small sip.

"What can this old man do for you, master smith?" the older smith asked cautiously.

"Someone is kidnapping or killing all higher ranked cultivators. I plan to do something about it, but I need more evidence"

"Hmm. You're brave, but a Spirit rank won't be enough. Others like you tried, and also vanished" Master Ang said in a low voice.

"Yeah. Those huge spiders must be Earth rank then. Lucky I have Sky ranked weapons..." Pef said softly, producing a Sky ranked axe for inspection.

The axe was as tall as he was, with a moonblade half the length.

Cough, cough! The old smith choked a bit, then caressed the axe like a beloved baby.

"Just the weapon won't be enough, if those are Earth ranked beasts. Spiders have armor on the outside..."

"I killed the Sky beast for its bones. I can deal with a few spiders" Pef declared with confidence.

The old smith examined him for a long minute, his eyes lingering on Pef's skinny arms.

"One or two spiders maybe. Not thousands..." The old man concluded with a head shake, and sipped his tea in silence.

'Thousands of spiders?'

'Very likely. They would be decent miners at Earth rank'

Pef sighed, palming the axe and producing the large deer horns. They were Nascent rank and when upright they almost scraped the ceiling.

"You made those bows for the Sea Guard, right?" he asked the old smith.

"Indeed. Although, soul smithing Nascent bones this large, would take me a year" the smith said with a cringe of his shoulders.

"Just guide me through. I can stay one hour, and you keep those tools" Pef offered, his chin pointing at the various tools he left on the wooden table.

"Ha. If I had grandchildren, they would love this fairytale" Master Ang chuckled as he nodded with a smile.

The next hour, Pef learned to make bows, which were a different sort of difficulty. They to be elastic and balanced, while strong enough as well. And unlike skin and tendons, they rebounded back to their original shape at the minutest mistake.

Pef then fitted a string made of Sky Morse tendon, and tested the pull. His muscles ached as he kept the bow under tension for a minute.

"Huh. I don't think even Spirit ranks are strong enough to pull this bow..." the smith whispered after failing to draw a centimeter.

"Probably not. Good thing I'm not a Spirit rank then..." Pef answered with a small smile, then turned to leave.

The smith stared after the young man who turned his life upside down. Wait, he said his name is Xi? Like the fabled bloodline of Blue Xi?

His gaze turned to his work table, where a dozen copper square coins and some high ranked tools were left as a gift.

"That moron boy! I would have paid him instead, for these tools..." Master Ang exclaimed in fake outrage.

He hoped the young smith won't die like all the other cultivators who went against the Disciples. He had real talent...

Pef stopped for a few minutes to check on Master Yu's business, but it was loud and smoky affair, with hundreds of slaves toiling to crush copper ore and fuel fires. They even had overseers with leather whips...very antique.

He nodded to himself and left without looking back. The slaves were mostly criminals, going by their black and red auras.

Not a problem, yet. He will come back, once he had an army or better said, a Legion.

Pef made his way back to the tavern, only smacking a dozen pickpockets hands. Crime flourished as well, especially in towns with nearly no laws.

Nothing he could do right now, except break a few hands.

He sat down in the tavern, and the server brought him a beer without needing prompting.

"The seamstress is free to see you now, your honor." the man whispered in fake confidence.

Pef nodded in silence. The day wasn't over yet.

As Pef entered the clothing shop, he noticed the owner had prepared a small table with drinks and snacks, like she was waiting for a VIP client. No doubt she had inquired about Pef at the tavern, and left word she'll be free all day.

Rich and powerful customers were valued everywhere.

Pef scanned the middle-aged woman with his soul, checking for signs of cultivation. She was a Practitioner, although a recent one. Less than a decade of cultivation. That would make her about 30 years old, and unless she formed her Core in a hundred years, she would die of old age.

Such was the order of nature here, effort and practice being rewarded with longer lifespans and better health.

Her soul aura was a subdued brown, like thousands of other cultivators. But, she was also a good woman. Not everyone had to be a fighter. 'What if we Awaken this woman?' he asked in a hunch.

'Then, her puny neolithic cultivation method will be overwritten, and she'll possibly reach Earth rank, in a hundred years.'

'And her lifespan will increase to a thousand years?'

'Maybe more. With near immunity to disease, unless it's a violent death, she could live ten thousand years.'

'Oh, our cultivation method has anti-viral software?' Pef wondered.

'Of course. Or that Soul Poison Cobra would have killed you already.'

Pef sat down, measuring the woman with discerning eyes. Decent curves and body. But more importantly, she had kind eyes, with no malice in them. Rare sight in this world.

"Young master? How can this seamstress help?" the woman asked a bit worried.

Pef placed 10 copper square coins on the table, then nibbled on a rice cake.

"I need whatever robes the Disciples wear. Must look as real as possible." Pef whispered after checking for spiderwebs.

The woman paled even as her hand was reaching for the metal coins. She hesitated for a second.

"It's a gruesome death sentence, when they catch me." the seamstress said in a shaky voice, her hand clenched back.

"I will kill them all, esteemed lady. Just need some means to find them first." he declared calmly.

She hesitated, not quite believing him.

"I can also offer my own qi method. You'll become an Earth rank, in a hundred years or so." Pef offered in a soft voice.

The woman lowered her eyes, bitting her lips. "Big words, my lord. I can do it too. In 50 years of practice, I can form my Core..."

"At least 70 years. You'll die of old age, before your Core is formed. Practicing sewing is too safe." Pef countered while sampling her tea. Amazing tea, actually. Aunt Ching would love her.

"People say you're an alchemist, from Xi continent. They live for battle..." the woman said in a hesitant voice.

"Pef Xi is my name. Now, are you married, children, relatives?" he asked curious.

"My husband died, at sea. He worked as deckmaster for Diu family... His family now scorns me, like it was my fault." she explained in a sad voice.

"A lonely life and then a lonely death. Nobody wants a widow...and the charity of the Diu family might end anytime..." Pef mused aloud, then rose to leave.

The seamstress remained seated, while the copper coins glinted in the dying sun.

Pef woke up next day, as a weak fist pounded on his room's door.

He opened the door with sleepy eyes. "Oh, it's you..." Pef muttered with a nearly surprised voice.

Then he left the door open, and when inside the room, to wash in the water bucket. The inn would rate 4 stars simply for having clean water in the buckets.

The woman closed the door behind her, blocking it with a wooden peg.

She then stared at his thin back, while Pef washed off.

Her fingers touched his back gently. "You're not even fully grown. How can you fight those monsters? I hear they use huge spiders." she asked in confusion.

"Yes, I'm only 17. Also I am an Earth rank. I'll be fine" he replied with a handwave. A towel appeared in his hand and he dried off, before picking out some worker clothes and dressing in them.

A pair of leather work gloves followed, covering his hands.

"Your ring? A storage ring?" the seamstress asked in awe.

"So. Do you have everything for my order? Need any cloth or some dyes?" Pef asked instead.

"You left me enough money for ten such robes, unless you want them white. Their shoes will be harder. I rarely make shoes..." the woman said shyly.

"Sit. I'll make breakfast" Pef ordered as he took out a pair of Legion corns and two dead snakes from his glove compartment.

Some 30 minutes later, the woman wolfed down the maize porridge and fried snake like she'd never eaten before. "Sorry. I never had anything like this. This is just too good..."

"I get paid in hugs, when I cook." Pef replied with a kind smile. She did remind him of Aria, a little.

'Hmph. Men! Although...a short hug might be okay..." the woman mused aloud, while her eyes measured Pef up and down.

"You do need to measure me anyway..." our hero argued logically.

"Right...just a professional embrace, so I get to learn your size..." she said with a small blush.

As her arms wrapped around him, Pef hugged her back, holding her firmly to his chest.

"So, what's this lovely lady's name?" he asked, breathing in the smell of her hair.

"Si Chuan, I mean... Si Han. My maiden name. I shouldn't use my husband's name anymore..."

"Well then. Soon you'll be Lady Si Xi. If you don't mind sharing me, with my other wives." Pef whispered in a teasing voice.

The woman hugged him harder, not having enough courage to reply.

Some ten minutes later, a weak fist pounded on his chest.

"Short hug! I forgot. Go and do whatever you do in those worker clothes. I have to shop for linen cloth." Si explained in an embased tone, her face flushed.

"Ah yes. I'm working on the docks today. I should go and get hired already." Pef replied with a smile, then he poked the airbags of Si Han, just to make sure they were in working condition. They seemed fine.

The woman stepped back a bit, considering him with professional eyes. "Too clean. The dockmen are never this clean. Here, a bit of soot on your hair and neck." she explained while dusting him with some soot from the stove.

"See you soon, most beloved lady Xi. We should continue our measurements tonight, in much more detail." Pef whispered softly, as he passed her by and out the door.

Si stared after him, as Pef walked hurriedly, to work a miserable day job on the docks, for whatever reason he did. For fun or to hear rumours. Probably both.

'Dear gods. Did he just propose to me. Lady Xi?' Si realized as she entered her own shop.

Her heart fluttered a little, and her aura got a bit whiter, while her cheeks got redder. She had to sit and calm down for an entire hour.

Sometime later, on the docks, a familiar hero was getting scrutinized by a burly man.

"Boy, ever worked a manual labor? You seem kinda thin.." the foreman asked Pef with a frown.

"Yes boss. Felling trees, chopping carcasses, moving stone and bones. I am stronger than I look." Pef proclaimed heroically.

"We'll see. If you faint in a couple of hours, you don't get paid, at all" he warned our hero.

"No worries, boss. See, I can lift this barrel just by myself!" Pef replied, faking some strain.

"Only a palm from the dock, but okay. Two people normally do it. You're hired. Next!" the dockmaster yelled, calling another worker to be interviewed.

Thus, Pef continued working in ship building industry, while the glove spied and logged all conversations around.

A picture formed in Pef's mind, trade routes, dangerous lanes, pirates, monsters. Mostly monsters of human kind.

'House Wong is working with House Yu to create a monopoly on trade. And then worse.' the glove concluded.

'And Magister Fang is cowed and afraid, even with all his guards'

'Trader Diu only has one ship left. And not for long.'

'You scanned all the crates here?'

'No high ranked materials, no new metals. Grain, meat, leather, rope, oil, eggs, feathers.'

'Feathers, like for arrows?' Pef interrupted abruptly. FInally, a lead!

'Guess we'll visit House Wong today.'

'Tomorrow!'

'Right. You need to measure your future wife...' the glove remembered with a sigh.

'Exactly. Every centimeter of her.' Pef confirmed with an inner smile.

Next morning was a bit different, as Pef woke up being smothered by two warm airbags.

He poked them with a curious finger. The touch connected with the higher functions of their owner and she moaned a bit.

"Didn't you test and measure them enough?"

"Exactly. Had to make sure they didn't deflate overnight." Pef explained in a serious voice.

"You're strange. Go make us some breakfast..." Lady Si mumbled while turning around.

And such, the new couple began their life, living happily ever after...wait. Our story had just begun.

And such, Pef made breakfast, while making sure the new recruit was slowly recovering from a life of deprivation, both nutritionally and emotionally.

'Miss Si would need at least a month of sustained Legion regimens, before Awakening will be safe to initiate. The vaccines will induce infections with light forms of a trillion...'

'I know, my glove. I made penicillin already!'

'Barely the same thing. Anyway. We should also gift Miss Fang some Legion maize. She isn't living in a sterile barrier like your parental unit...'

'And we will. Just need to get the city under control. Establish a Legion chapterhouse, like we did in Lacrimosa. A couple of recruits, backed by hundreds of lower guards.'

'We had no opposition in the capital. Well. Barely any opposition.'

Pef nodded while he poured the porridge, this time alongside rice crackers with honey.

Si wolfed everything in her bowl, even licking the copper bowl for extra vitamins.

She eyed the beer that Pef drank with a frown.

"You will smell like beer today..." she observed cogently.

Pef chugged the remainder of his tankard in a big gulp. "As it's my intention. I'm going to visit House Wong"

"Had enough playing docker?"

"I'm going to change things around town, for a few days. Don't come here anymore, my lady"

"I hope you know what you're doing. The Wong are powerful..."

Pef agreed. They were powerful, and not good guys. Perhaps the nephew could be turned.

And such, Pef dressed like an alchemist again, and went to the stone square.

First he visited House Fang, and left a dozen corns to be given to Miss Fang, one per day.

Then he crossed the plaza, and stopped in front of the Wong mansion.

Next to it, there was a stone house looking empty. Pef smiled. Another house would be nice.

'This will give your enemies a big target'

'Sure. I like targets'

The glove grumbled, as his user disregarded operational secrecy, making himself too visible.

The Wong guards were sensible, avoiding pointing their fingers at the scary alchemist.

"Honored Alchemist, you wish to meet Elder Wong?"

"Yes. The boy too, if he's around" the alchemist replied gravely.

The guard blinked and ran inside. Half an hour later, a solemn procession appeared at the gates, a hundred Wong soldiers lined on the sides of the alley.

"His Honorable Elder Wong! Is exalted to receive! Honored Alchemist Xi !" a crier yelled, announcing the visit to the world.

Pef walked in slowly, noting the weapons and armor of the guards. All of them Core ranked, even for guards that weren't cultivators.

Just wasting money.

"Your eminence" Pef proclaimed with a soft voice.

"Welcome, welcome. Let's go to my garden, the house is being repaired..." The Elder said in a hurry, pointing towards a pavilion in the distance.

Pef scanned the Uncle, checking for anything suspicious.

And the uncle had an Earth ranked armor under his clothes, some kind of chitin plate, and a pair of Earth ranked daggers in his sleeves.

'They must have a high ranked smith, to make those items from spider bones'

'And especially those sapphire arrows' the glove muttered in agreement.

'An Earth ranked smith, able to bind formations to a metal like aluminum'

"What can House Wong do for your highness?" the man asked with shifty eyes.

"Well. I hear you've become involved in sea trade. Outperforming the competition, so to say." Pef commented while checking the area for dangers. A dozen guards were placed close enough to attack at a word.

"Ah, that's a minor, minor business of ours. We mainly grow animals and crops"

"Ah yes. Animals like birds. Feathers. For arrows?" Pef asked curious.

The Elder's face changed, his chest inflating to yell orders.

Pef's soul spike flew under the table and hit the man in the groin.

He continued sipping his tea, as a guard came to check on the Elder.

"He is dead. I foresaw this, even came to warn Elder Wong, but unfortunately it was too late. We should burn the body before the curse sets the town into flames" Pef spoke in a loud voice, while still seated at the table, the one with the dead Elder's face planted down in his tea.

The house erupted in pandemonium, as the young master had not returned from a night of debauchery, and the Elder kept everything strict under his control.

A dozen concubines were thrown out of the mansion, and a pair of Fang Sea Guards came to oversee the proceedings.

One of them remained with the Alchemist, as he was a guest of the Magister, thus highly respected.

Hours later, some house guards found Young Wong, dunked him in a water barrel and then brought him home.

As the evening fell, the Elder was set aflame, and the young master became Wong Leader. Not an Elder, as he was younger than 100.

Magister Fang stood by Pef while the corrupt elder fried, and watched the smoke rise.

"Very decisive actions, honored alchemist" the magister whispered to himself.

"The empty house. I think I will buy it. Just to be close to Master Wong during these trying times" Pef mused to himself, though just loud enough to be overheard.

"Ah. Such pious deeds. I'm certain Elder Wong smiles in Heavens for his luck" The magister proclaimed, offering a pious bow to the gods.

"I'll visit your eminence tomorrow then. Please arrange the house deed and hire a hundred servants. I'm new in town, you see.." Pef explained with a smile.

"Rest easy, Master Xi. I know the right men to hire"

"Also, Elder Wong would have wanted me to hold his assets in trust, until the young man is of age. Perhaps 100 years?" Pef asked with a frown. He wasn't sure how long this trust would last, after all.

"Most admirable devotion, Master Xi. Master Wong is truly blessed to have one such as yourself look after his interests" Magister Fang said while patting his fat belly.

"Good night, Magister. Master Wong, I'll see you tomorrow at noon. Bring your weapons, I will need to see about your training" Pef concluded while his legs coiled to jump.

Next second, the alchemist vanished, appearing on the roof of the house next door.

He then jumped off lightly, and began looting his new house of everything not nailed down.

Luckily, this planet had not invented nails yet.