ch12-Tutorial (7) Professions

"I would like one week of the highest level alchemy, array crafting, and enchanting rooms. Not simultaneously, but one after the other," Oliver said, his voice steady with purpose. "Also, provide me with one servant during my stay for assistance with the materials and tools I will need."

The bartender, a stout man with a rough demeanor, nodded silently in response, his sharp eyes flickering briefly with curiosity.

With a quick, practiced motion, he reached for the wooden box that was sitting on the counter and retrieved the required amount of money for Oliver's unusual request.

Barely two gold pieces left the box, an amount that would seem absurdly low for such high-level services.

Yet, in this region, prices often failed to match the true value of things, especially when it came to the underdeveloped professions and technologies of Floor 0.

The bartender motioned for Oliver to follow, turning toward a narrow door just behind the bar.

With a creak, the door swung open, revealing a dimly lit staircase that spiraled downward, leading to the lower levels of the establishment.

Oliver followed him silently, his steps echoing slightly against the stone walls as they descended.

Once they reached the bottom, they stepped into a long, wide hallway. It stretched out before them like a forgotten underground chamber, devoid of any decorations or adornments, save for a single sign on each of the doors.

Each sign indicated the type of crafting that could be performed within the room. On the floor outside each door sat a single wooden chair, where a handful of assistants waited idly for their masters or clients to call upon them.

The bartender led Oliver toward a door marked with a golden nameplate, the elegant script spelling out 'Alchemist' in shimmering letters. He gestured politely toward it.

"This, Sir Blade, is our highest-grade alchemy crafting room," the bartender said, his voice filled with a mix of pride and caution. "I can assure you that not even the three noble houses of this kingdom have a better room than this.

Your assistant will arrive shortly, bringing all the alchemical resources you requested. Should anything come up during your work, there is a button inside to summon your assistant."

Oliver gave a curt nod, his mind already elsewhere, and dismissed the bartender. "Thank you, you can go now."

The bartender bowed slightly before retreating, leaving Oliver alone. He entered the room, and his eyes scanned the space with measured curiosity.

The room was functional but unimpressive, especially given his high standards. Oliver had seen much better facilities in his previous life.

The bartender had spoken confidently, but to Oliver, this room felt like a pale imitation of what he knew a real high-grade lab should be.

Walking around the room, Oliver's gaze landed on the various tools and equipment laid out before him. The cauldron was finely made, and the tools were certainly of good quality—sharp, precise, and fit for handling delicate alchemical ingredients.

However, Oliver couldn't help but notice the glaring absence of any magic arrays or specialized enchantments that would enhance mental clarity, improve potion efficacy, or protect against mishaps. None of the tools, not even the cauldron itself, bore a single rune.

He sighed softly. 'This is at best a very bad grade 2 alchemy lab,' Oliver thought to himself, mentally comparing this to the true high-level facilities he had once used.

The disappointment was palpable, but he quickly reminded himself that this was Floor 0. Everything here, from the people to the tools, was a step behind—no, several steps behind the rest of the tower. But for now, it would suffice. It had to.

'I suppose it's more than enough for what I have planned,' he thought, his confidence gradually returning. He didn't need the very best to accomplish his immediate goals, and his current plans were not overly ambitious.

In this world, professions were ranked on a scale from 1 to 10, with grade 1 being the lowest and grade 10 being the pinnacle of mastery, corresponding to the ten hub worlds.

A grade 1 alchemist, for instance, would find his skills most effective in hub world 1, where resources and conditions matched his level. Similarly, for each profession—whether it be alchemy, array crafting, or enchanting—the power of their skills was bound to the level of the hub world they operated in.

Attempting to go beyond one's grade would be incredibly challenging without the proper tools, resources, and, most importantly, skills.

As Oliver pondered the intricacies of this system, a gentle knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. The sound was followed by a soft, feminine voice from the other side.

"Sir Blade, I have brought the alchemy resources you requested," she said politely.

Oliver crossed the room and opened the door, revealing a woman dressed entirely in black. Her attire was plain but functional, a uniform of sorts that identified her as a servant of the establishment.

In one hand, she carried a large sack, filled with what Oliver assumed to be raw alchemical ingredients. In her other hand, she balanced a neat stack of 50 or so small wooden boxes, each likely containing specific, high-quality items for his work.

"Thank you," Oliver said, taking the materials from her without further conversation.

His focus was already shifting to the tasks ahead. With the door closed, he began organizing the resources, placing each herb, vial, and plant extract in its proper place around the room, methodically preparing his workspace.

Once everything was in order, he sat down before the cauldron. But instead of diving straight into the work, Oliver closed his eyes and sat in the lotus position, a habit he had developed over years of practice.

He needed a moment to mentally rehearse the complex process of potion-making. Conceptualizing each step before physically carrying it out was essential, especially given that, for the time being, he lacked the system-granted skills that would make the process easier.

'Hope this works out,' Oliver thought, a slight tension settling into his chest. His plan hinged on mastering not only alchemy but also array crafting and enchanting—all within the confines of this tutorial.

While he had once reached grade 6 in alchemy, grade 5 in array crafting, and grade 4 in enchanting in his previous life, this time he would have to start from scratch. The system had yet to grant him the necessary skills, and he would have to rely solely on his memories and natural abilities for now.

It was a daunting task, but the rewards were worth the risk. In the hub worlds, mastering any of these three professions could grant someone immense influence and power.

Oliver himself had gained most of his wealth in his past life through alchemy.

He exhaled slowly, clearing his mind as he prepared for the work ahead.