Chương 120: Chapter 116 – Sign Me Up

Mark woke up and got dressed. He went out to the main room of his cabin and looked again at the picture on the wall. It was not the lake, because it really had no meaning to him. It was that it was a painting that someone created. It did not solve a problem or feed someone. It just looked, well, beautiful. Since he was dropped here and told to survive, that was all he had thought about. Living another day. Someone is living for today. And maybe Mark needed to also. He went and got breakfast at the inn.

Dale let him know that they were planning to meet tomorrow after breakfast to discuss the village decision on what they should pick. So Mark let Dale know that he was going to ride up to Forgeworks and see how things are going there and get the feel for the choice they were going to make. Dale said, "What choice are they making up at Forgeworks? I thought this was just a zone decision." Mark replied, "Well, when the message originally came in, I thought it was just a silvermere thing too.

According to my steward interface, all three zones I have a view of all need to make a decision, and they all have different choices with very little overlap." Dale said, "Well, that's different. If you're heading up there, make sure you stop in at Forest's Rest. Clara and Ben went back and took one of the parents and a few children to live there in your old cabin. Please check in with them and make sure she is doing well." Mark picked up his horse at the stable and brushed it down.

He managed to get the saddle on it and all cinched up without making it mad. He was still a little frustrated that Ava took his horse, but all of the horses he bought were good horses, so he would just have to learn to love this one. The ride north went quick. Now that there were roads everywhere and with the village, outpost, and other bonuses to travel on the road, it went very fast, and the horse was wonderful to ride on.

He had now ridden enough that he did not feel like he was going to fall off or die trying to ride anymore. When he got to Forgeworks, his biggest trouble was where to leave the horse. None of the places were designed for horses. No barn or stables, not even a hitching post. He finally found a tree nearby and tied it to the tree since he would not be here long. His first plan was to find John and see how the Forgeworks is doing. See if they needed any help or if there was anything he could help with.

He was passing by the cookhouse when he heard a couple people talking about the choice. Mark knew exactly what they were talking about, so while he was thinking about it, he brought up the choices they had here in the forest zone.

PROJECT OPTION 1 Alchemy & Medicine Complex Estimated Time: 35 Days Personnel Required: 8 Assigned Workers Primary Requirements: • Herb Supply • Dedicated Healers • Alchemical Ingredients • Clean Water Access • Medical Storage Facilities • Major Contribution Investment Projected Rewards: • Regional Medical Facility • Alchemy Laboratories • Herbal Preparation Manuals • Medical Training Programs • Alchemy Task Expansion • Recovery Facilities Possible Long-Term Benefits: • Medicine Production • Improved Survival Rates • Advanced Healing Classes • Potion Development • Regional Research Opportunities PROJECT OPTION 2 Artisan's Consortium Estimated Time: 40 Days Personnel Required: 10 Assigned Workers Primary Requirements: • Skilled Craftsmen • Lumber Supply • Refined Metal Supply • Leather and Cloth Production • Workshop Construction Materials • Major Contribution Investment Projected Rewards: • Regional Workshop District • Crafting Manuals • Apprentice Programs • Production Facilities • Artisan Task Expansion • Advanced Crafting Opportunities Possible Long-Term Benefits: • Specialized Equipment Production • Improved Tool Quality If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author.

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• Advanced Crafting Classes • Increased Trade Goods • Master Craftsman Development PROJECT OPTION 3 Adventurer's Guild Estimated Time: 60 Days Personnel Required: 15 Assigned Workers Primary Requirements: • Training Grounds • Dedicated Adventurer Support Staff • Monster Resource Stockpile • Housing Capacity Expansion • Defensive Infrastructure • Major Contribution Investment • Exceptional Regional Participation Projected Rewards: • Adventurer's Guild Hall • Training Complex • Combat and Survival Manuals • Contract Board System • Party Registration Framework • Adventurer Task Expansion • Expedition Support Facilities Possible Long-Term Benefits: • Improved Party Formation • Advanced Combat Classes • Faster Skill Development • Increased Regional Recruitment • Large-Scale Expedition Capability Project Description: Creates a permanent center dedicated to training, supporting, and organizing adventurers.

Guild facilities, training grounds, lodging, equipment support, and expedition services transform the region into a recognized center for adventuring activity. Warning: Requires substantial labor, resources, and long-term commitment. When he went through the choices, he knew it was an easy choice. The Alchemy & Medicine Complex was by far the best choice. And if that were not an option, Artisan's Consortium would be his second choice only because he knew how important crafting was to Tom.

He was going through and examining each option, reading them over and over, and yep, he knew exactly the choice they would pick. Mark then tuned back into the discussion going on around him. Two men were talking about the "Best Option," the Adventure's Guild, and the one man said to the other.

"Yep, sign me up!" Mark laughed because it was such a ridiculous choice. And continued on to find John. He had to wait twenty minutes, as there was a line at his office door, but when he was finally free, Mark went in and sat down. John said, "Hey Mark, it's nice to see you. Are you enjoying it down south in the wheat fields? I hear it's beautiful. Oh, and what is with that stupid name you guys gave the village, Beavers Crossing?

That surprised me when word came our direction; I think about half the people laughed at it." Mark said, "Yeah, I hate that name. Ava came up with it, and the system took it and ran with it. I did not seem to get a lot of choice in the matter. Other than the name choice, things are going great. Many of the houses and buildings are done. We are slowly getting new people moving in, and people are reaching out to rent shop space and go into business.

And of course there is more wheat than anyone knows what to do with." John and Mark talked over the Forgeworks for and John shared the production numbers though Mark could already bring them up in his steward tab, it was nice to get his perspective on it. They were ramping up production, and people were already talking about expanding and building two to three more buildings. But no one has made a final decision on it yet.

People were asking about more ore types, but no one had yet found any other than the Iron they had. Though the new coal deposit was big and people were excited about so many uses for the coal, it made the need for charcoal go down. Mark said, "Before I leave, what are your thoughts on the regional projects? I know if I had a choice it would be the Alchemy & Medicine Complex any word on what others are thinking?" John started to laugh.

"You wonder what they are thinking? Who do you think lives in this place they are all wannabe adventurers. All anyone can talk about is when can we start building the Adventurer's guild. And where should we put it, we will need a lot of room. I personally think it's a dumb choice. Artisan's Consortium would be far the best choice. But with the number of adventurers living here, it's a done deal." Mark finally got to Forest's Rest just after the lunch rush was finishing.

He sat on one of the benches that had a view of the side door that people kept going in and out of, delivering orders to the tables. He was watching Clara. He did not want her to notice him because he wanted to watch and make sure she was doing well. For being an 11 year old she sometimes acted more like an adult than many of the adults around here. He laughed when he saw her dressing down someone for peeling a potato wrong. He still laughed every time he thought about when she told him he was the potato peeler.

Maybe sometime soon one of the smiths will make a real potato peeler, as he still cannot peel them without losing a third of the potato. Clara eventually noticed him and came out to chat, bringing him a plate of food. Clara said, "Hello Mark did Dale send you up to spy on me? I have seen at least 4 visitors come and just watch me. Please let him know I am doing fine." Mark said, "Sorry, yes, I was told to check in on you. How are things going."

Clara said, "One of the children's mothers came up with her daughter and 3 of the girls' friends. They moved into your old cabin, and we are living there with them. I am doing well. The girls and their mother not so well." Mark said, "Oh, I was not aware that some had left Beaver Crossing." Clara said, "Not many have gone far, but a few of the kids have found places to stay so they are not crowded in the inn. The mother came to 'Watch me' and keep Ben and me safe.

But it's more like we watch her, as both Ben and I have levels and classes." Mark laughed and chatted with her a while longer and let her go. Before he left, she asked him when he was buying her a horse like Ava's. Apparently Ava had ratted on him about the horse. Mark let her know she got his cabin and the kitchen manager job, which is way better than a horse, and she agreed. Before he left Tom asked him to come over and pick up some things he wanted him to take back to Beaver Crossing.

When he went into the crafting station, Tom started pulling out various-sized leather balls and handing them to him. Tom told him that the system a while back made him make 30 leather balls and that he could not figure out why he had to make the balls until the kids showed up and wanted him to take 28 of them back with him, as Ben and the girls were keeping the other two.

Mark also asked Tom about the choice, and he also wanted the Artisan's Consortium but agreed with John that it was a lost cause and the Adventurer's Guild was sure to win but figured they would need crafters more than ever so they could sign him up.