New Ammo

Timold widened his eyes and took the piece in Jax's hands. He pulled out an eyeglass that looked like a high-tech monocle and closed the other eye as he examined the exoskeleton.

"Hmm, that'll work. It's not the best material but it's enough to make cheap rounds. They won't be as strong as somethin' ya might find in the city but they still pack a punch."

Jax nodded and dumped all of his 437 exoskeleton pieces on the table.

"Pfft! What the heck! Where did ya get all this boy?!" Timold had been caring a mug of something when they entered his workshop area and did a spit take. He wasn't sure how he got a drink from nowhere but it assumed it had to do with him being a high level.

Jax ignored his surprise, "How long would this take?" He wanted to see if he had time for anything else but was thoroughly surprised by the old dwarf.

"Probably only 30 or 40 minutes. Flintlock ammunition is easy to make once ya learn how to do it. Way quicker than forgin' a weapon." Timold talked like making ammo was child's play for him.

"Alright, how much will it be."

"Depends on how much I can make out of all this. I estimate around 100 rounds so, 5 silver? I hardly have to do any work since I got a forge specifically for ammo."

Jax nodded and left 5 silver with the exoskeletons and began walking towards the exit.

"If it ends up being more expensive just let me know when I get back." Jax left and Timold grumbled.

"This kid already knows I can make ammo? I don't think I advertised anythin'. Was it the guns that gave it away? Heh. Whatever."

Timold figured Jax knew he was high level but he didn't care. What could he do? He was way too weak but Jax wasn't the kind of person to blab about things like that. It was what Timold like about him since most of the other "Essentials" were so nosy.

"I wonder what Sentinel will choose him." Timold causually waved his hand causing the entire pile of exoskeleton pieces to fly up and straight into furnaces and then sat down on a chair and closed his eyes to wait for them to finish.

It may have looked like a waste to a player, but the old man wasn't sleeping, he was still using his magic to mold the pieces together and into solid balls in every furnace at the same time.

- - -

Jax made use of the next 30 minutes or so stocking up on items, and selling what he didn't need. His inventory had gotten really full from back-to-back fights so he was able to get rid of all his loot he no longer had use for and bought some health and mana potions. Now that he had an active skill that used mana, he would keep some potions for it.

He said goodbye to the sweet old grandma who ran the apothecary and stepped outside onto the street.

"Are you Kenny?" A deep voice called out and Jax quickly turned with a hand on his gun. Although fighting wasn't prohibited in towns and cities, the guards and soldiers who patrol popular places could easily overpower you and throw you in jail.

The system made it so they were always stronger than whoever committed the crime then your character would be stuck in one place for the next several hours depending on the severity. He had seen a few people being dragged off before as many guys tried to sexually harass NPCs.

The man in front of him was like a giant. Jax was already tall, standing a bit above 6 feet. This guy had to be pushing 8 as he looked down on Jax. His brown hair was spiked in the front and he had thick eyebrows that complimented his fierce gaze and a strong Jawline to match.

He wore a full set of heavy armor that was colored dark blue and a Great Sword almost as tall as he was, was strapped to his back. A dark blue cape was settled in between his back and the Great Sword sheath, giving Jax the feeling that this guy liked blue.

"Who's asking?" Jax decided to annoy the guy, as he could assume he was a top-ranker. He could see a thin glow of blue around his chest plate meaning he had at least 1 rare item. He didn't know if the guy meant to do it, but his blue-colored armor hid the glow really well.

"Just answer the question." The giant replied back.

"Sorry, but my mom told me to never talk to strangers. It would be different if they introduced themselves though...." Jax held his hands up and shrugged his shoulders.

The giants fuzzy eyebrow twitched but he didn't get visibly mad.

"I am Aaron Kolverstein and I am here to invite you and... Sucky Succie... to join my guild, The Nightwalkers." He paused at Adrianna's name.

Aaron spoke loud enough for everyone in the area to hear. Whether he intended to do it or not, Jax once again didn't know. He was a big guy with a big voice so it could've been natural but now all eyes were on them.

"That's the Vice-Captain of the Nightwalker guild! What's he doing here?" Someone spoke.

"The Nightwalkers are one of the top 3 esports teams in the city! I love watching their games!" Another said.

"Why is Aaron talking to that chump? Was he being rude to him?"

"Probably, he looks like a siscon or something."

People blurted out random things but he got some good information on it. He didn't know everyone and every team that was in the city of Serene. He had heard of the Nightwalkers but he didn't recognize Aaron. It didn't matter though, the answer was still the same.

"No thanks, I'm fine playing solo, and I don't know where Succie is so good luck finding her."

Aaron didn't react, almost like he expected this, but the crowd certainly didn't like it. They threw curses and garbage items at him but it wouldn't change his mind.

Aaron closed his eyes for a second before opening them again, "Is that your final answer?"

"Yes," Jax wouldn't hesitate just because he was a high-ranking player from a top team. If he caved, he would lose his freedom, and all of the trouble he had gone through so far would've been for nothing.

"I see... good luck then." Aaron walked off and didn't look back. The players parted like the red sea for him as he headed for the village exit most likely. The players began dispersing while still cursing at Jax but he was focused on Aaron's words.

"Was that a threat?" It was hard to tell if the guy was just the silent stoic type or if he meant it to be threatening. Either way, he would be on his toes for a while. If someone from one of the top guilds approached him, it wouldn't be long before others did the same.

It wasn't that he hated the guild, but it was too early in the game to tie himself down. That was a decision he would need to make closer to mid and late game when leveling slowed and evened out.

Right now there were probably a few people who were really op and nobody could challenge them, but once it got into the mid and late game when everyone was all around the same level, the playing field would be more even.

Everyone would have good items by then and even op legendary and mythic wielders could still be taken down if they dropped their guard. Jax made his way back to the blacksmith and looked for an uncommon sword when he got there. He found one that worked, it didn't have an extra effect but it dealt a solid 35 dmg.

He had taken the time to check out all the items in the uncommon room since both his guns had effects but the sword didn't. It seemed to be pretty evenly divided between items having extra effects or not. He must've been lucky that the weapons he needed had two extra effects amongst the pile.

Timold looked done for the most part. There were a couple of buckets on the ground that had big dark balls in them. They were almost the size of a baseball and wondered how it would even work with his gun.

"Try one out back and see how it is. There's a dummy and a target to the left. I'll be there in a sec."

The dwarf had a metal mask covering his face as he stuck a metal rod into the furnace before pulling out a different rod and began hammering it on an anvil.

Jax walked to the back door before Timold stopped him again.

"Ah wait, take that." He lifted his visor and pointed to a table near the door. It was a mess, but in contrast to it all was a pristine white envelope written in a language he didn't know. Dwarven most likely.

"What's this?" Jax didn't think the dwarf could keep something so clean.

"A recommendation."

---------------------------------------------------------

Current Character info

[ID: KENNYYYYYYY]

[Level 13: Exp - 5400/7000]

[titles: Dungeon Buster]

[class: Gunslinger]

[Subclass: Successor of the Pirate King Dreadbeard - Unique]

[Class skills: Pistol Twirling, You're a Pirate Harry! , Quick Swap]

[Money - 59 copper, 36 silver, 1 gold]

[stats:

Health - 70/70

Mana - 10/10

Attack - 50(+50) per gun*

Defense - 5(+20)

Speed - 20(+10)

Magic Power - 5]

[items equipped:

Pirate's Bandana - Uncommon

2x Uncommon flintlock pistol

Uncommon Hunter's Vest

Common leather pants

Common padded boots

Bound items: Hobgoblin's Golden Tooth]

[Skills - Precision lvl1, Ricochet lvl1]

[Inventory - Uncommon Flintlock Pistol, lots of goblin ears, lots of giant ant exoskeletons One-Handed Uncommon Sword]

[Unique - N/A]