RWBY is owned by Roosterteeth and The Gamer is owned by Sung San-Young; not me.

I also do not own GTA (Rockstar does).

King Kong is owned by very complicated groups of people of which Universal owns most of the current rights along with the Cooper estates, Time Warner, and DDL owning other parts of the rights, as well as some being within public domain.

Alice from Alice in Wonderland was created by Charles Lutwidge Dodgson

Attempt Tomorrow: Thank you very much. I was wondering if people found my story to be emptily wordy and so were just skimming it to see if anything happens and then leaving. I also wonder if all my author's notes are being read or not as well. I have the feeling that people aren't reading them at; and ironically I've taken as much time on writing these as I have the actual chapters.

I ended up PMing to attempt to answer dragoon109 instead of writing it here.

Version 1: Mostly Economics. Too little connection to the last chapter.

Version 2: Too much Nero. Ended up with economics not fitting in.

Version 3: Other parts of the tutorial was unfairly marginalized.

Version 4: Too long. Too many topics went into too much detail. Has some time skips now.

I originally wanted this out on Tuesday, but I was hit with the double need to answer questions in a way that actually fit either this note or a PM, and as an even larger loss of time; I had one of my classes change-up when homework was 'suggested' to be done by. So it's due this week and not next week, so I probably won't be able to finish the next chapter for a bit as well.

Remember: 100 Lien = $1 otherwise the numbers will seem strange due to lacking context.


Jaune Arc: The Accidental Hero

Chapter 4

The Hero Awakens Some Monsters

XXX


Remnant.

A world so reduced that even its residents call it something less, a normality so great that the original name that this world was called was forgotten. A land once filled with promise, a world of near infinite mana and countless gods both big and small. A land that was once home to hundreds of planetary class elementals, and tens of thousands of continent class spirits. A world whose human population is less than half a billion, who are crammed like sardines into less than a twentieth of the planet.

But Remnant is not empty; rather by any count it should be over populated. The fading of the deities of old, the assimilation of most of its elementals, and the demise of the majority of it's spirits, they and much more can be ascribed to this problem.

A problem known as Grimm.

Over ten billion Grimm of near-human and beyond size exist.

Over a trillion Grimm of the sky and even smaller animal Grimm.

Over twenty trillion aquatic Grimm.

And near uncountable numbers of pest based Grimm.

These Grimm need not eat.

Nor sleep.

Nor do they expel waste; along with a plethora of other activities commonly associated with 'the living.'

Because of that, these monsters who are sometimes thought of as the living dead are able to infest an area in numbers far greater that any other creature on the planet can match.

In this desolate world, a concept which humanity has not once forgotten, despite all odds, (or perhaps because of such odds),has been the concept of a 'Hero'. Someone who despite regularly facing endless risks managed to survive, thrive, and triumph in this world with so-few happy ends that an era of what other worlds would consider 'constant low-intensity warfare' is instead considered 'unprecedented peace'.

The young boy in his bedroom, lounging on a snow-white rabbit bed while wearing full sky-blue sleeping (battle) gear thinking about 'the importance of appreciating what you have', is not one of them.

I really love my onesie.

Without it I probably would have had to wear some smelly armor that doesn't properly fit me.

Without it I probably would have died in those battles last week.

Without it I probably wouldn't have enough left in me to heal my sister.

That doesn't even take into account that it truly is the best sleepwear either.

But right now I love it for another reason entirely.

"So long as you are not in combat, Starter Clothing can be repaired at no cost outside of time."

Meaning all the damage that my onesie took was rendered into nothing for free.

I really love my onesie. I think as I look down at my freshly laundered clothing.

And the repair function isn't the only useful function that I unlocked by finishing the tutorial either.

So as great as free repair is (without learning sewing or needing materials to boot), I got something far better than that from the tutorial.

A better way to strategize for the future; known as 'Modes'.

By default I am The Gamer as a Class and Apprentice Lady-killer as a Title. My Job puts me as a Elementary School 4th Year. (Though why that function is working now but wasn't before I have no idea). I also can see status of those who I observed. (I did it the first time that I visited my sister while she was in the hospital. She made me feel a lot better, despite probably not deserving to feel that way.) But my class now comes with a subclass called 'Mode'. Which by default it set to 'General' which provides a bit of a bonus to everything Gamer related that I do. But I can choose to switch modes, to get other bonuses.

'Crafter' mode: enhances both detail and complexity of finished products as well as helps creation of better recipes within the 'Craft' skill. It even shows some possible future recipes that I can 'unlock' by simply increasing my 'craft' skill. Though higher level skills need a specific secondary skill, (and/or production of many of a certain lower leveled recipe to unlock), I still have a valuable source of knowledge even without more research.

'Research' mode allows me to set aside 'Funding' and 'Time' to create 'Deadlines' and 'Goals'-basically self-made quests to discover something. The key here is that I'm told the difficulty of doing something within the allocated timeframe. Meaning without spending any time I can actually 'research' how much time it'll take me to complete any objective.

Of course it too (currently) has limits.

I can't (I tried) research how to "Have unlimited HP.", "Create system indestructible objects.", "Fix Remnant to what it once was.", "Kill all Grimm forever.", or the classic; "Find the meaning of life."

Still the main difficulty to that sort of large-scale research appears to be political and economic support; meaning I could solve some so-called 'impossible' problem as long as I have the resources for it.

'Political' mode allows me to run for office. I can be elected as 'Hall Monitor', 'Class Representative', and oddly enough 'Mayor'-I think it has something to do with some obscure law that allows Hunters to take command of the city that was worded incorrectly and so still is a law despite it not having been made with that intention or something. It keep tracks of support, funding, relevant news, and other such goodies. It helps my path to power since I can see 'pre-build support' or general groups of people who will support me regardless of extra campaign efforts, something that provides free information for who I should focus my efforts towards in other modes even if I never use its primary function. It would also allow preparation for large-scale events such as war.

'War' mode enhances my ability to command and make it easier for me to organize things in a more uniform manner. It can be broken into 'Team' mode with a 'ambushed' status if I'm interrupted while commanding to fight. So it's like using my breathing technique to regain my MP; high reward high risk. I also need to hire an army or create an army if I want that to be truly useful. But at this scale travel and speed becomes important.

'Travel' mode takes my current fastest mode of travel (24" 30,000 Lien (Medium-Low) Quality Road Bicycle) and lets me travel (barring 'sudden large interruption') at my average speed to my destination. Meaning I need money to buy a top quality cross-country bicycle before I go anywhere.

'Racing' mode just helps me go faster without straining my transport, and I get some experience for moving from place to place too. So it actually would help increase my 'average' speed for use in travel mode, and of course will be the fastest mode I have to go shorter distances to boot.

Other modes exist (like 'Criminal' and 'Volunteer' mode) of course, (and sadly no 'Sandbox', 'God', 'Admin', or 'Debug' mode exists), but the most notable mode is 'Tycoon' mode.

And no, it's not just the best mode because I can make money without fighting Grimm, but the best mode because it currently makes the most money for me of anything that I can do.


1) I can gain loot from any foe I defeat. But the chance of dropping on Grimm below level 15 is extremely, meaning I need to face Grimm powerful enough that even a properly armed member of the army would have some difficulty against them. And even once you get a more normalized loot chance against higher leveled Grimm, (outside of bosses), most Grimm drop crafting materials.

Human opponents would drop better loot, but they are obviously in less supply (in most modes).
Still going out to hunt Grimm is obviously the worst until I can comfortably farm Grimm of levels exceeding level 25. But judging from the level of that Ursa Major, (who was obviously some sort of mini-boss, yet was definitely weaker than a normal level 25 Grimm), I would either have to hunt true boss monsters or go to a far more dangerous area (at least a few hours further away from the city) than where I was. Which until I finish upgrading my equipment is something that I will not risk; Grimm mix far more than video game monsters do, so either option is a horribly bad, yet quite predictable idea. That concentrations of Grimm are far more dangerous than you'd expect is one of the main reasons that so many Hunters disappear. So my general geographic information, while helpful, is not a good enough reason to hunt in and of itself. In addition to that, I have reasons other good reasons to not hunt Grimm.

2) Also, I am 'Friendly' with the local Grimm, thus they won't attack me if/when I go out to gather materials. So I can farm herbs or something with little risk of being attacked by Grimm and not be forced into wasting time to kill them every time I want something.

3) Since I am not an RPG Hero but a Gamer protagonist, I should be learning more abilities.

4) Staying around and thinking is obviously the best way to do this.

If I do so, I will be able to accumulate more resources; physically, mentally, socially, and economically to create a vital margin of safety for later, especially useful for when I'll start requiring high proficiency in multiple high level skills for simultaneous use. Currently I'm in early stage sandbox mode, so I should take advantage of it.

Like how in Gangster Steals Cars: San Andros where you could go conquer most of the enemy territory early in the game to make accomplishing all the missions, (though winning is probably more vague in such a messed up system as 'all games'), later on really easy if you wanted to. I'm going to make any story enemy into those 2 or 3 guys that get shot down by my 'homies' while armed with their bats while I sit around with a machine-gun as an over armed 'loser' like in that game. (I'm so glad to have such understanding parents let me play mature video games since I was around 5, they even saved up some older ones based on advice from the rest of the family, so that I would have at least some fun while learning valuable things about the mindset needed to take on hordes of Grimm.)

Specifically: How NOT fun it would be to fight endless hordes of Grimm due to attracting more and more of them. The value of self-control, as well as the meaning of logistics.


I also learned that:

Each level of skill with 'Basic', 'Intermediate', and 'Advanced' tiers represent completely different levels of application of a skill. And skill usage grows fastest for The Gamer, through constant repetition and not extreme battles. Also if you wait until level 100 you can create your own unique style (with semi-customizable bonuses) depending on the level of the skill you reached level 100 in. It goes back down to 75 afterwards, but each unique style comes with its own 'Flow'. Incompatible flows will have increasingly negative effects on me; so I'll have to use that function carefully.

So I can farm 'Basic' skills, and create a skill based on being a master of 'Basic', then create a skill based on extreme efficiency for further increased farming efficiency later if I take the time to do this the smart way.

I can save the several(?) times I create incompatible flows for a skill that I truly need more of to boot.

I also have several advantages to using 'Tycoon' mode:


1) I already have a skill I can leverage to create products. My 'Cooking' skill (at level 37) is my highest skill, and I already can create a wide variety of cakes (though mostly that's because I've unlocked several recipes to that effect).

2) I can already create 'Intermediate Wedding Cake', something far beyond 'Basic Cake' that is the first product in the Cake line of sellable products. (Though it sorta sucks that video game logic applies to me as far as officially selling products go. At least I didn't need to research how to breathe.) I can use this to rapidly level up through Cake products specifically, or somewhat more quickly level up through other cooked products in general.

3) As 'Craft' helps you create things that you explicitly don't know how to create, an increase in my crafting skills beyond a certain level will let me build better items with higher success rates; even if in fields that I have no experience with, which should allow me to prepare for weapon crafting to better arm myself to face the Grimm.

4) I can put things on queue to start creating items, (and gaining experience for doing them), while doing other things in my head as well.

5) I can secure better materials at wholesale prices should I start a business.

6) I can acquire business loans (below a certain threshold) from the mode itself; no need to borrow from other people.

Currently I'm in debt due to my 100,000 Lien loan from my father. Outstanding loans start reducing reputation if kept unpaid for long enough (a figure related to loan size, type, and other such factors). If your reputation goes down below certain thresholds (without gaining appropriate levels of infamy to counteract the process) shop owners will charge you higher prices! Of course, the opposite way works, meaning if I increase my reputation, I can get discounts on products as well. As repaying a loan is a respectable accomplishment, I should be able to milk it to receive greater increases in reputation.

Specifically I have negative 86,210 Lien; I borrowed 100,000 Lien, but only had 500 Lien in my inventory, plus my 500 Lien secret savings, which combined with the 12,790 Lien left from what I originally borrowed.

7) A company would be a good explanation of 'how did you get money to do X' later on. It also will cut suspicion towards any casual display of wealth I may need to do as well.

'Criminal' mode could also deal with this but it comes with the risk of actually being illegal with various negative consequences associated with it.


I do other reasons to do this though.

My sister was still a bit weak from attempting to copy my Semblance but she was happy and alert now.

But when I visited her the first time…


..

.

Dull green eyes, void of life stare back at me. With skin so pale that it as to appear dead, and hair that despite being the same shade of gold as it was before, appears to be yellow like disposable straw due to the change in atmosphere. No real body reactions either. No tensing or recognition. Nothing to define the thing in front of me from a badly crafted doll.

..

.

This is Nero..?

THIS?!

..

.

"Observe" I whisper, unable to help myself as I stare at what should be my sister intently.


Name: Nero Arc

Gender: Female

Class: The Emperor

Job: Elementary School 2nd Year

Title: Flickering Embers

Level: 5

Age: 7

Next Level: 57.82%

STR: (10) 30

DEX: (5) 20

VIT: (5) 15

INT: (2) 5

WIS: (1) 4

LUK: 15

Status: Soul Drained (Medium-High)


Soul Drained…

She really is…

Because of…

..

"Hey… it's me." I began unable to start with anything but a cliché that I had always found strange, "Because of you I'm doing well. I came to thank you and see how you're doing." I trail off not knowing where I'm going with this.

..

.

"Mother was really worried you know." I continue, "But I told her that you would be fine because… you would definitely become the Emperor one day." I say more strongly.

..

"I not just truly believe that you can do it… But I feel that unlike me… You won't fall off the path to your dreams. No matter what happens, you will continue as a burning flame" I say with conviction, "That is why…" I trail off awkwardly as I run out of steam.

..

.

"Look, I brought cookies!" I shout with forced cheer and smile, "Sneaking it in was… well… errm… actually not that hard I suppose. I mean you wouldn't know it but I have a storage space… so I can carry all the cake and cookies you want. I'll learn how to make them even better…. so… so you better get better soon!" I end loudly but in a confused way.

..

.

"...Bi… Bro…" Faintly I hear a sound.

!

Instantly I observe the figure intensely once again. This time I don't even need to whisper to activate the skill.


Name: Nero Arc

Gender: Female

Class: The Emperor

Job: Elementary School 2nd Year

Title: Smouldering Embers

Level: 5

Age: 7

Next Level: 57.82%

STR: (15) 30

DEX: (8) 20

VIT: (7) 15

INT: (3) 5

WIS: (2) 4

LUK: 15

Status: Soul Drained (Medium)


"That's it Nero. You're doing it." I start to say, "And here is your cookies." I try to say casually as she looks at me with those empty eyes.

"Chomp…. Chomp… Chomp…" As she chews slowly, I can something return to her eyes but still she surprises me greatly when she finished half a cookie then says, "...Warm…" while looking at me.

Huh?

Oh the cookies.

"Yes. My inventory is amazing. It can even keep food fresh! So any cookies and cake I bring will stay fresh forever!" I say slightly giddy that she is starting to feel better.

"...not…. that." She says with difficulty, "...you… warm."

?

What?

But I'm not even hugging h-

!

I immediately rush to hug her.

"Sorry about that. I forgot that with how much you move in your sleep, that when you finally wake up you're always cold." I say as I hug her.

She is actually cold. If this was Lily then I could make jokes about how her current lack of bra, (not that Nero needs a bra yet I mean she's only 7), combined with her current coldness would be almost as bad for boys as my fist when I punch them for staring. Though saying that seems to embarrass even the 'Queen of Pranks' for whatever reason... though she calls me stupid when I wondered why she was embar-

Nero!

What should I say to her?!

I spend more time with her than any other sister…

I should know what to say here!

..

.

But nothing comes to mind. Did I spen-

!

In the entirety of my memories of her… did I do more than just hug her and treat her like...

...like

..like a... cute stuffed animal!

..

.

I really am a failure.

I can't even comfort my sister!

No real goals

No more dreams

No life outside of-

"Don't." A voice that sounds nearly normal commands me.

As I look at her eyes that for a moment contain all of her overwhelming passion, (despite lacking her usual volume), I know that she'll be just fine.

"I choose to help you, because I wanted to." She began,

"But you couldn't have known it would end like this!" I almost shouted at her from self-recrimination.

"I did." She claimed,

"More than anyone else I know how strong you are. Even without showing signs of manifesting a Semblance, your Soul was strong enough for you to have been the greatest of the Arc siblings."

"I-" as I attempt to interject,

"Sieglinde is only confident in battle. She lacks confidence in everything else! It's different from how I am similarly confident in battle; but I only avoid other people because I already know what I want to do."

"Rowan only 'chose' to fight in close-range because it was expected of her. She really wants to fight in far range but didn't have the independence to say no!"

"Arthuria often ignores her own feelings because it is not something that a 'Perfect Knight' would have!"

"Lily hides her own insecurities behind a mask of pranks, while both Scarlet and Charlotte are the same, only they do it with books.

"That-" Even as my mind reels, I try to respond; with what-even I'm not certain.

"No you listen!" Nero interjects strongly again.

"The only reason Sieglinde is so good at close range combat...is because her Semblance is similar to her namesakes except even more defensive! Without it she would be just be a shy girl who pretends to be introverted while really just being terrible at talking to others."

"Rowan used a spear because she didn't want to fight in true close range, but couldn't get any further away without the pressure being too much for her. When her Semblance was discovered a year ago, she stopped using a spear because it was expected that she fight with a hammer just because of how her Semblance works.

"Arthuria just wants to help people, but doesn't have the courage to do so while facing all the hardships of the world."

"Lily has no real goal, so she just keeps up with her twin in combat while being the 'fun' sister to create a contrast. Without Arthuria around, Lily wouldn't be even a third of what she is now, and most of what she gained is empty without a reason behind it."

"Scarlet pretends she lives in a magical fairytale; even developing a Semblance based on that wish."

"Charlotte just truly loved her books but even now when she actually does want to make friends… she can't help but continue to hide her presence; despite having originally been terrible at hiding herself."

"While I…I am the worse. The only reason I know what I want to do is because…

fighting is one of the few things that make me feel alive."

"I…. don't know what to say." I start after a short blank pause, "But for what it's worth, I'm sorry that I couldn't help you more." I finish while feeling inadequate.

"That is why you're so strong." She starts tenderly, "We all try to spend so much time with you because you don't know what to say, but you don't pretend to either. While at times you may be silly, you always see the best in others. You are the only one who could take our mothers words about 'making friends' and go ahead and do so." says as sister as she smiles fondly at me, "You always try your best to shoulder the burdens of others, even when it's painful. Even when you act like you're unconcerned, you are always thinking of a way to make things better. And even when the solution makes you unhappy, for the sake of the other people involved; you still go through with it. Even when you're hiding information, even when you're lying, you do so to protect other people."

After a short pause Nero continues with, "We all love spending time with you, not only do you make us feel stronger; but because you honestly want everyone to succeed and be happy. You help us become more in our strengths, while also becoming less in our weaknesses." And then she begins to frown, "The only reason you don't have like a dozen girlfriends is that you intentionally keep your distance from non-hunter family girls, and treat girls from Hunter families they're just 'the guys'; and that is once more because you are trying to protect people. So you are the strongest among us, it just isn't easy…" She trails off for a moment and grimaces while my subtitles show that she whispered 'honestly wearing a onesie to fight', "really isn't easy to see sometimes." she concludes before clearly looking into my eyes waiting for my answer.

But I…

...Am The Gamer

...What does that say about me….

..

.

As I look into her shiny eyes I feel that I need to at least tell her a partial truth.

"I just do my best because I was too stupid to do otherwise. I didn't even know that any of my little sisters had activated their Semblances; I still thought it was only my older sisters alone. Had I faced this reality…-" I finally decide to begin with.

"No." She says calmly in response. "Regardless of what happens you would have eventually calmed down and made the type of big decisions that others would be unable to make. You even have developed your Semblance towards magic despite the fact that you thought so little of our, your younger sisters combat strength. You developed a power that would grow over time, that was meant to be used with study and forethought, and not just an extremely broken power with immense power now, you have the confidence to wait to gain strength and be forced into learning and understanding many things to use it fully. You did not take the easy route of a simple to understand power that you could wield just as simply as a tool. You created potential itself; something created by your real heroic traits as a person. The ability to plan is your best trait, this is just an extension of that ability. You also have been taking less damage from attacks as your natural Aura started awakening, so you probably made your Semblance evolve that into a greater form. You give off less of a feeling of warmth than before so you probably have a weaker healing ability than what you should have had,; which is probably why despite being weaker than you, I was able to copy such an overwhelming skill in the first place. When we were fighting you also had a far weaker defensive ability than I would expect just from the feeling you used to give off alone. Meaning you changed yourself enough by your own will and your own decisions that you gained this power against the nature of your Soul. Something that none of the rest of us were able to truly escape. So if you are not very strong, then that means the rest of us are just extremely weak."

I have a really good sister don't I.

I can't stay depressed here; and have to work harder.

"Thank you." I say in the end. "I only wish-" I say before a thought comes to mind.

Hmm… wait?

If she is Soul Drained…

And according to Soul Demise I have a large Soul…

...

"I want to try something, so stay still."

I once more concentrate on the increasingly familiar feeling of loss and cold, but don't transfer the warmth. I feel the warmth held in my hand and attempt to change it to the feeling I felt with Nero at her strongest. I feel a buildup of energy flowing through me.

*ping*


You cannot learn this skill

Required INT 50

Required VIT 35

Required WIS 25


Then I'll expand it. I think resolutely having no intention of giving this up so easily.

And so I flood my entire body with all of my Aura. Every last drop while focusing on every bit of energy I ever felt from Nero in the past.

*ping*


A skill has been created through a special action.

Through the power of your actions the skill 'Life Transfer' has been created.

Basic Life Transfer (Active) Lv 1 0.00% 100MP

The weakest form of a technique that swiftly converts the user's life force and Aura into a transferable form to be passed on to a target. Uses the users Soul for the conversion process.

Effect increases with VIT.

If all qualifications are met, may choose to upgrade to 'Intermediate Life Transfer' at Level 50.

Maximum Targets: 1

Currently restores 100 HP of target for 100 HP of user.


Hmm.. pretty weak for now but it's an instant heal which isn't that bad.

I guess I need a more clear idea of what a Soul is first?

Maybe that technique?

..

.

Energy gathers through the entire body of Jaune Arc. Yet the essence of the flow feels somewhat like Nero Arc. The energy replenishes and dissipates creating a cycle.

*ping*


A skill has been created through a special action.

Through the power of your actions the skill 'Basic Group Ki Breathing' has been created.

Basic Group Ki Breathing (Active) Lv 1 0.00% 30 MP

The weakest form of a technique that helps use both the user and another's gain enhanced Ki recovery.

External Shocks will break Group Ki Breathing and cause you to fall into a state of Ki confusion.

Uses the users Soul for the conversion process.

Effect increases with INT and level in any Ki Breathing technique.

If all qualifications are met, may choose to upgrade to 'Intermediate Group Ki Breathing' at Level 50.

Give Additional 5MP/minute to both user and target.

Maximum Targets: 1


...well I guess Ki and Soul isn't the same either.

..

.


XXX


With Ki Breathing for recovery I ended up spending a few more hours trying to create a Soul transfer technique.

The closest I came to succeeding was using the over time buff of Soul Demise, with Group Ki Breathing to create a Recovery Technique that lasts 3 minutes, restores 50 HP/minute, and 5MP/minute to all beings in the zone. But since it cost 60MP to use said technique, at the moment it was a failure. I was curious to note that I could use the technique and then use Ki Breathing, but not combine it with Group Ki Breathing.

Towards the end I got frustrated enough, (that after deciding that the problem was I couldn't feel well enough through our clothing), that it would work better if we both stripped to create direct skin contact, a nurse came in and kicked me out before I could even try the technique!

I guess I'll have to let her recover naturally.

And so I did.

I ending up spending most of the week training cooking to properly apologize to Now; and I naturally smuggling in sweets for her as well.

But the problem here was that I used the word 'Inventory'. So she may figure out what my Semblance really is and propel events forward.

I have several assets in play against that time bomb.

After finishing the tutorial I was the option to gain the levels that I should have gained while trapped at level 7 something which would naturally help in the short-term. But I was told something of even greater worth.

I could decide to convert my extra experience points into a 'Soul Shard' and not gain extra levels; (A special line of quests where you don't gain experience but instead form a Soul Shard. It only appeared because one of my skills could use Soul Shards to increase its effect to implying interesting things about how much of a Sandbox this world truly is...) Or to put another way, I could not just fix Nero up now (judging from how she was SOUL drained), but also accumulate the resources necessary to use this skill on an emergency basis in the future.

Still I had other problems to worry about.

I had to accept Now as my current weapon.

The Now who told me "I understand. You wish to become a Hero, I will help you do so if you will let me." smiling as brightly as the morning sun at me while Dango behind her mimed chopping off certain… parts of my anatomy while also smiling; appropriately invoking the darkness of the deep night in contrast.

I had to accept someone who was actively trying to propel me into the main scenario.

So I needed a good exc-reason to do something other than 'go off and kill massive numbers of Grimm' that sounded appropriately Heroic.

Yet cakes alone was not enough; birthday cake for orphans wouldn't give enough opportunities to be a 'Hero' to satisfy such a motivated person in the long-term. So as I looked at the screen to input my company name, I decided that it would have to be cookies.

Why cookies?


1) Because reputation gain is disproportionately weighed on volume at lower levels. Thus selling 'Basic Cookies'; the highest volume item that I could currently create would greatly enhance my speed at gaining reputation.

This applies even taking my bonus to selling cake into account (due to being overqualified at baking cakes; apparently if you practice a particular skill enough, you can gain 'familiarity' with a recipe and recipe tree to enhance your ability with those specific recipes), as said bonus pales in comparison to the base appeal of cookies.

2) Also, due to the greater time required to create cakes compared to cookies, I would need to hire more labor sooner should I start with cakes.

My plan to stay low-key, to continue being a minor nuisance, and not... well a bigger nuisance(?), as I had no desire to test my luck against dedicated business people, (who are probably max level in both 'Tycoon' and 'Criminal' mode, along with more than a platter of 'Political' and other 'fun'), or the ruthless politicians that I would need to deal with (in order to grow beyond a certain size, in this world ruled by Oligopoly, despite operating under the pretense of being 'free'), should I chose to show off.

3) The market for cookies is larger, more robust, less controlled by Oligopolies, and an easier field to set up a presence in over all.

..

.


It has nothing to do with the fact that my mother organizes a ladies night that goes through several thousand cookies alone, (ignoring all other desserts that they consume) each time that they meet and that my mother was happy when I said I would bake her some for the upcoming meeting later this week.

It has absolutely nothing to do with that at all.


..

.

4) And even if that wasn't the case, selling cakes only works until the point that I can no longer personally create cakes.

Afterwards I'll need to hire a high leveled chef, since my cake recipe requires a decently high level to make at proper levels of quality, which would vastly increase the cost of the hired employee beyond what is necessary to hire a cookie baker. This lower my profits and hinders my accumulation of resources. (If I went with buying lower quality raw materials to make it easier to make something at the level of my end product, 'Food Critics' would eventually find out the quality level of my suppliers and start complaining. It eventually would lead to lawsuits; including with people that in no way shape or form actually were harmed by my products. Even using countermeasures like 'Training Manuals' would only partially reduce that never-ending horde of lawsuits.) Also, ʻCakeʻ has more specialty items associated with it; including ʻAdvanced Wedding Cakeʻ and that in turn would lead to more potential social prestige. Obtaining more ʻBusiness Connectionsʻ would allow better rates on supplies, and doing ʻSpecial Actionsʻ such as ʻJoin Gentlemens Clubʻ which gives you possibility of huge ʻPrivate Loansʻ or ʻBirthday Cake Giveawayʻ, for reputation and tax write-offs. The second action also was especially good if it fell in line with the rest of your reputation. But, 'The higher-rank within a good you go, the more people will try to steal your product'; I would have to worry about corporate spies taking away all my money, leaving me broke on the side of the side of the road while my fam-

...

So mass-producing cookies was better.

Especially since I can sell multiple products.

So I can just hire someone who makes something else later. You only need to share recipes if they are making what I'm making after all, so corporate spies can be dealt with. Just make certain not to talk to them like they're a 'Partner' since if you do, they sue you later saying that they own part of your company.

Also, since it's a tycoon game, the absolute biggest benefit is something most other people lack in the real world.


'At lower levels of business revenue, The Gamer will take care of all considerations for each line of business that you participate in.'


This means that as long as I fulfill the conditions I receive the benefits of not having to do:

Any tax planning.

Any supply chain management.

Any negotiations.

Or anything else!

Also, despite having no credit history, with the power of The Gamer, I could borrow more money, up to 10 million Lien as a 'Micro Business Start Up Loan' legally, and up to 1 billion Lien as an 'Organ Sale' (illegal) loan.

But seeing how that skill almost crippled Nero…

I am NOT going to sell my organs.

Besides, it's bad business; eventually someone will figure out where I got that start-up money; 'Where did Jaune Arc get the connections to be able to sell organs?', seeing that ruining some far off future plan… well deferring until tomorrow what I could do today is the primary reason that I'm having problems here and now isn't it?

Specifically as long as I have 'below 5 billion Liens in annual revenue', (the definition of a 'small business' by the Gamer), I don't need to hire any employees for anything except the creation process, meaning I can avoid the corruption associated with hiring people. Of course, how much of that would actually be profit would vary. (I also don't get where that number 5 billion comes from, since that isn't Remnant's definition of a 'small business' at all; it's probably related to some other mode that I haven't studied enough to find out about. Seeing as 'War' mode allows you to conquer enough land (combined with ample development) that I can see the definitions of various things being changeable enough that some seemingly arbitrary number would make sense from the view of The Gamer alone as well. This is especially true should I have as much free time to build up resources as I suspect I do. The abilities I gained are definitely not just that of a 'children's game'. So I probably won't have troubles until I'm a teenager and can play with 'teens'. Of course, I'm taking a gamble with this, but just going by what is best in the shortest term will end up with me being stuck when it truly matters.)

Still I have several choices on the form of my created company.


1) If I stay the default: Being a 'Sole Proprietorship' would make me personally liable for everything that goes wrong.

Which is such a big 'no', that I won't even joke about it.

2) Partnerships' require… well actual partners. Nope

So my best option is (3) create a 'Limited Liability Company' to avoid something called 'Double Taxation'... (well basically it seems that if I made a 'Corporation', I would be taxed as both a corporation and as myself for some reason, while doing it this way, I only have to be taxed once. Well it probably is more complex than that. But I don't want to sell stock on the open market so the other options of being a Corporation seem almost useless to my current situation.)


Candidates for later expansion are:


1) Weapon Production:

High grade consumer orientated guns, already cost 200 to 300 thousand Liens, but even Mid-class Hunter grade specialty weapons cost at least twice that; the only reason actual Hunters can afford those weapons is the giant subsidy that Hunters can legally apply for, (but seeing as how said discounts actually decreases the reputation of the one using it… Well it may seem 'cheap', but by making the weapon creators dislike you, when you actually want to buy high-class and above weaponry, weapons only buyable through custom order… well I'm not so certain that taking discounts is a smart idea at all; especially since those high-class and above gear is not covered under the subsidy), which many Hunters use in exchange for taking many missions. Well it is obviously a method of control; one that was important I be free of in the event that the boards were one of the antagonistic factions in this story.

That doesn't even take into account resupply costs. Average 'Combat Quality Dust' costs about 5,000 to 10,000L an ounce in small containers, and even with bulk discounts you still would blow through more than the average household makes in a single year in a single long battle. (I won't even get into what top class Dust can cost or do. Unless I suddenly gain a skill to create Dust, the only way I'm using it as a primary weapon is if I start dating a supplier of the stuff.)

More common 'Industrial Quality Dust' is…. not compatible with higher grade dust weapons at all. Though skilled enough crafters can get around that… I mean uncle-nevermind.

Weapon grade crystals cost… well there's a reason that Signal is the most popular primary level Hunter Training School in Vale; hint: they give you free materials to create a weapon as your second year project.

Smart of them to do it in the second year; keeps people from taking what basically amounts to free money and running. Difficult to run away when the authorities had a year to get familiar with you. Especially with the relation that said school has to the military. Since it's opening 67 years ago, (a few years after Beacon which officially opened right after The War (it was once a military academy so the 'official' opening date is nearly meaningless)), not a single Arc has entered Signal, and quite a few just went on to take the 'Hunter Aptitude Tests' and not go to Beacon as well.

2) Other Desserts:

Gain a reputation for the stuff. It makes cross-advertising very valuable. But it may be in enough of the same category to partially count towards sales or something similar. I'll have to ask Now about that sometimes.

3) Cosmetics:

A large and stable market, I can acquire more materials, (without being eaten), as long as they are reasonably local due to my reputation to boot.

4) Clothing:

Though only low margin types. I have been told I have no eye for fashion; not true, I just was focused on becoming a Hero so I had didn't really care what I was wearing as long as it fulfilled the basic needs of being 'cool when I'm hot, and warm when I'm cold.', as little, well littler me was wont of chanting. It's really amazing how big a difference a few years can make, I mean just 3 years ago-Wait… my stats… Is Nero SMARTER than I was when I was her age? But that means… She was just…-NOPE

Hunter Class clothing is insanely high margin; but it is also almost completely dominated by the Walter family. "Save money, Live more." (Though if you're off to fight heavyweights like Goliaths you go completely custom; unless you want to "Save money, Die not in debt.")

5) Shoes:

More towards comfort than fashion again I'm afraid. Still I can also do Hunter class combat shoes eventually if I'm not mistaken. The competition is more intense what with Martini in Mistral with 'Sandals', Choo in Atlas with 'Combat-ready Heels, Bags, and now for a limited time-' did I mention that having 7 sisters is a bad thing? And who am I talking to anyway? I'm NOT going insane; (I can do that after I'm dead thank you very much), I need to be around at least until my sisters have grandchildren that I have to watch…


..

.

Anyway, as for a name, 'AAAAAA' would be funny, but it probably would kill off sales unlike in a video game, so no.

'Arc Inc.'? I question at my screen.


Name is already taken. Please check your spelling and try again.


'Arc Company'. I state again.


Name is already taken. Please check your spelling and try again.


…..what the...

'Arc Bark' I say in annoyance.


Name is already taken. Please check your spelling and try again.


..

.Seriously?

..And how is my speaking 'spelling' anything anyway?

.

'Arcsome'? I say more hesitantly to the screen.


Are you certain you want to use the name 'Arcsome'?


"No I changed my mind." That name would get old fast...


Please choose a name for your new company.


'Jaune Arc Industries' is good enough. I suppose that works the best.


Are you certain you want to use the name 'Jaune Arc Industries Is Good Enough'?


What.

..

.

"No." I quickly command at the screen. "Use, 'Jaune Arc Industries' instead." I say more slowly.


Are you certain you want to use the name 'Jaune Arc Industries Instead'?


..

.

This AI sucks.

..


XXX


Eventually (through truly Hero leveled willpower) I managed to reach the end of the process.

It 'only' took 2 hours too.

Just 1 more step.


Where do you wish to start your company?

Depending on where you start your company a wide variety of Geographical Bonuses may or may not apply! Special Personal Bonuses available if you chose a starting location based on your own values and background. Choose wisely and someday you may become the greatest businessperson on the planet!


Seems simple enough.

"Alright let's do this." I say happily at the screen.


1) Vytal (Continent)


A) Vale (Kingdom)

I) Vale (Region)

a) Vale (Large City)

b) Valley (Medium City)

c) Glen (Small City)

d)Basin (Large Town)

e) Tarn (Medium Town)

f) [921 more results]

II) [open for 15 more regions]

a) [open for 4287 more results]


B) Vacuo (Kingdom)

I) Vacuo (Region)

a) Vacuo (City)

b) [629 more results]

Subsidy Kingdoms to Vacuo

II) [Open for 12 more regions]

a) [open for 5206 more results]


2) Mantle (Continent)


A) Altas (Kingdom)

I) Atlas (Region)

a) Atlas (City)

b) [403 more results]

II) [open for 28 more regions]

a) [open for 5302 more results]


3) Mistral (Continent)


A) Mistral (Kingdom)

I) Mistral (Region)

a) Mistral (City)

b) [307 more results]

II) [open for 6 more regions]

a) [open for 4103 more results]


4) Other [open for 4 more results]

..

.

What.


XXX


Apparently:


1) It costs more to start a LLC in Vale (city) than it does anywhere else in the Kingdom of Vale.

2) But it costs more to start a LLC in Atlas (city) than any other city. But, Atlas (in order to attract 'high quality investors willing to make long-term investments'-i.e. More super-rich people willing to freeze their balls or… whatever it was that girls had) offers the most tax breaks if you start in that area.

3) But, Vacuo apparently has the most cheap legal labor

Since all the Protectorates (or as The Gamer calls them, Subsidy Kingdoms) are technically 'independent', (which is less and less true with the increased power of the Grimm in recent times), with the 'excess' labor needing to go somewhere. It is one of the places where racial relations are the best, (so those dozens of little Faunus 'rights' groups that plague the rest of the world are reasonably well-behaved in the area), or rather most of those outside of the main Kingdom are poor so the only way of survival was to tolerate each other . (Though I sometimes wonder about my family; we are old enough to have some of the original Faunus blood (rather than the diluted blood that everyone else has), so we could have more 'real' Faunus blood than some of those people; the animal-like mutations actually didn't happen in the earliest generations after all.))

4) While, Mistral has the highest level average for their citizens, which reduces the effects of corruption and crime.


But:


1) Both Mistral and Atlas has a few very powerful families that control a good deal of the economy, meaning getting any cut of the action will require me to dive deep and fast.

2) Vacuo is dominated by extremely complex politics, meaning I need to upgrade my ability to lie significantly (no political connections to make up for any mistake I make); as well as absorb a few dozen books on history and law before even thinking of opening a real business in the area.

3) And Vytal already has a great deal of Arc family interests; meaning I may end up associated with the family legacy if I stay here.

..

.yeah… I'm going to be here for a while aren't I?


XXX


"So… what now?" *chew chew* Asks Jaune with blank eyes.

At least these cookies are good.

'I'm going to sell cookies first, so I should at least practice making commercial quality items.'

"Best decision I made yet." I say as I attempt to grin. "Hmm… what about waffles? I like waffles. Waffles are amazing!" Feeling a bit aimless Jaune decides to ponder seriously on-

"GAH!" I slap my own checks. "I must stay on track. I will stay on track. I am on track!" I shout with increasing volume to the empty space in front of me that I can almost see the (currently closed) pop-up window occupying.

While it's surprising that so many places large enough to start a business HQ exists, If I start outside of the Kingdoms it more politics will get involved as a whole…

With that as I base, I'll just ignore anything outside of the Kingdoms.

Within the Kingdoms though...

While I couldn't look over everything in the last few days (even if I hadn't been too busy preparing for Ladies Night) , I at least saw enough to see that hiring people in one of the 4 main cities is a bad idea if I plan on remaining small.

So one of the smaller cities is probably better. They still allow hiring of people semi-anonymously and still have decent 'Public Order' scores and everything… I mean… seeing as I have the option to actually buy up individual villages to make worker camps it may be a worthwhile invest-

NO!

Don't make it more complex than you have to Jaune.

Kingdom. Small City. Good workers. Safety.

Can affect area when company gets bigger.

But not so much effect that I get lots of politics.

No other big companies.

Just The Gamer and I.

So:


1) Small City (big means pre-established power and little control)

2) Kingdom (Less hassles with trade and expansion on top of safety)

3) Someplace with skilled workers.

4) Someplace that is (reasonably) safe.

5) Someplace that is easy to operate in.

6) And has decent infrastructure-since I do want to expand even if I'm being low-key.


But the biggest problem to accomplishing any of this is...

I have no money

While my mother provided materials for the upcoming Ladies Night, (and enough extra that I made some specials for everyone afterwards), I still am not making a profit from it either. Since it became a quest, I am getting experience points for it though, but that doesn't change my lack of money at all.

Gah…

..

.

"Business Mode" I whisper to stare at my nemesis once more.


You are already in the process of creating a business. Do you wish to go to the step of the process you were last in?


….

My options are so limited

..

.Frustrating...

"I really wish I had more money." I mourn at the source of all evil.


Do you want to look at alternate sources of in world financing?


I already know about organ selling and everything else.

"No thank you." I say to the screen.


Do you want to look at alternate sources of Gamer specific financing?


What

They can-?

"Smack" After I facepalm. "Yes please." I politely request at the possible solution to my problems.


The qualities needed to form a great company are many. From idea to execution a long and drawn out process awaits. In order to create a thriving business you need numerous repeat customers. In order to acquire said customers you need both a worthy product to produce and a well positioned location to sell your product. One of the largest constraints placed upon The Gamer in going through these steps is lack of financial resources. Alternate sources of financing are available to The Gamer to order to give shape to their dreams!

..

.

Please choose an alternate source of financing.

...

Soul

Company

Services

...


...Soul?

NOPENOPENOPENOPE

..

.

Hmm then probably services is best.

"Services." I state still in a good mood.


As a businessperson you have the opportunity to take various business related quests on your path to becoming the greatest businessperson on the planet! Choosing 'services' allows you to borrow money today in exchange for doing business related quests tomorrow! Depending on the amount of money that you borrow, you will have to do varying amounts of quests without compensation.

..

.

Please choose the type of quests you want to do for repayment. Choose carefully and plan accordingly and you will quickly pay off your debt towards becoming the greatest businessperson on the planet!

.

Social

Economic

Military

.

In order to choose what type of quest based compensation you wish to pay, various examples have been prepared. Would you like to see them?


Is this going to be like choosing a location? I wonder with sudden inexplicable terror.

.

..

.

Can't be helped. I gather my resolve.

"Show me the examples." I challenge the screen.


Beginner: Missions of low difficulty for The Gamer.

Can be accomplished within a few months.

Time limit: 1 year.


Can borrow 50 Million Lien in exchange for doing one of these quests.

Social: Become 'Friendly' with a close rival companies boss.

Economic: Open 5 more stores to personally distribute your product.

Military: Force a close rival company to temporarily shut down for economic reasons.


Intermediate: Missions of some difficulty for The Gamer.

Can be accomplished within several months.

Time limit: 2 years.


Can borrow 500 Million Lien in exchange for doing one of these quests.

Social: Become a 'Good Friend' with a close rival companies boss.

Economic: Open 20 more stores to personally distribute your product.

Military: Force a close rival company to shut down due to bankruptcy.


Advanced: Missions of great difficulty for The Gamer

Can be accomplished within a few years.

Time limit: 5 years.


Can borrow 5 Billion Lien in exchange for doing one of these quests.

Social: Marry a close rival companies bosses child, while having said child as a 'Crush' to obtain a 'Highly Functional' arranged marriage.

Economic: Open 100 more stores to personally distribute your product.

Military: Force a close rival companies boss into personally owing you enough money that you are able to force them into sell their company to you and give you a child of your choice, in exchange for debt forgiveness.


..

.

Not going to think about it…

Just going to think about the logistics…

..

"Suu…" I breath in.

..

.

"Haa..." I breath out.

Nothing says you can't do multiple with the same company. But the 'more' is in place to prevent multiple counting of the same stores. But does that mean you can close stores between missions and then reopen them?

Also what does 'Close' mean in this?

"What does 'Close' mean in these examples?" I ask the screen.


'Close' in this example is a term that refers to other businesses within the same size category. Categories include 'Micro', 'Small', 'Medium', 'Large', 'Very Large', 'Huge', and 'Macro'. Should The Gamer borrow money at their current level of business, they will be within the 'Micro' category.


So I should keep my business just below a new range before borrowing money. That will be helpful in the future.

Hmm..

At first it seems that the advanced quests requires too much change in the world early on to be a good idea. But if you don't need to carry it out until the end…

"What are the penalties for failing."


The penalties of failing these quests are:

Full repayment of the loan with interest compounded monthly at double the market rate.

Loss of reputation with The Gamer, locking in various functions varying on the degree of failure.

Normal losses when a loan is not paid.


And no. The lowest quests don't give you much money for what it's asking you to do. While the highest one is a bad idea with this kind of odds. Intermediate may work though. But that's only if you get this particular quest...

Still..

"Go back to the selection." I say, "Company." I say even before the screen finishes flickering.


As a businessperson you have the opportunity to sell stakes in your company in various ways on your path to becoming the greatest businessperson on the planet! Choosing 'company' allows you to borrow money today in exchange for doing selling part of your future income tomorrow! Depending on the amount of money that you borrow, you will have to sell varying amounts of your company.

..

.

Please choose the level of stock that you wish to sell. Choose carefully and plan accordingly and you will quickly rise towards becoming the greatest businessperson on the planet!

..

.

In order to choose what level of ownership that you wish to sell, various examples have been prepared. Would you like to see them?


"Yes."


Minor Shareholder of The Gamer Cleaning Services: The Gamer sells a small share of their company.

5% of the company is sold valued based on the current relevant skills of The Gamer.

Max 5 year loan before paradox kicks in.

Base: 100 Million Lien Modified by 1.5 for having a level 20 'Cleaning' Skill.


Major Shareholder of The Gamer Mining Company: The Gamer sells a large share of their company.

15% of the company is sold valued based on the current relevant skills of The Gamer.

Max 2 year loan before paradox kicks in.

Base: 1.5 Billion Lien Modified by 3 for having a level 60 'Mining' Skill, level 50 'Cleaning' Skill, level 40 'Driving' Skill, and 'Elemental Affinity Earth: 10.'


Co-owner of The Gamer Agricultural Company: The Gamer sells a majority interest of their company.

Until shares are brought below 50% control of the company direction will be lost.

51% of the company is sold valued based on the current relevant skills of The Gamer.

Max 1 year loan before paradox kicks in.

Base: 30 Billion Lien Modified by 2 for having a level 70 'Farming' Skill, level 60 'Kill Pests' Skill, level 50 'Driving' Skill, level 40 'Sense Weather' Skill, level 30 'Heal' Skill, and 'Elemental Affinity Earth: 30.'


Hmm.. I see.

Higher base requirements to take out loans; which means less of a modifier for having higher leveled skills.

And if you train your skills higher you can take out better loans too.

But larger loans becomes more and more strange to the world itself and so needs to be repaid sooner. Even more high risk versus high reward then.

But the most interesting part is about how you can gain Elemental Affinities.

If Earth exists… then probably at least the classical four of Earth, Fire, Wind, and Water exist.

Then again… the Five Eastern Elements are… and Shamanism and it's talk about spirits in every-

NOPE

Earth can make a farming division to make homemade cookie dough. Chickens for eggs, Wheat for flour would be good.

Earth also helps mining for Salt and Sugar but I may well have to continue buying for the rest.

Fire can help with the cooking process. It should be able to further enhance the precision of my cooking, creating better cookies; and at the same time it would allow me to rank up dual skills!

Fire also helps with keeping the farm at the proper temperature as well. Even if I rent/lease cheaper land, I should be able to create a Greenhouse reasonably cheaply if I use it.

Wind can help with making things grow. Since animals grow bigger in places that have more air.

Wind also helps with maintaining a constant air flow. Even if the land I use has chaotic winds, I should be able to keep my investment safe if I have this.

Water can help everywhere. It not only helps things grow, but it also is needed to mine as well. It can should have some power over the chemical reactions to create things. If water moved as I wanted it to, I would be able to create some amazing cookies.

And that's just off the top of my head, I could probably figure out more things if I take the time to think about it. The possible cookies I could make, are endless!

"Haa… It's too bad I don't have a 'Cookie Elemental'." I say wistfully.


Do you want to buy a hint to finding a 'Cookie Elemental'?

Warning: As a 'Cookie Elemental' is a level 75 'Intermediate Summon Elemental Skill' technique, the benefit of obtaining this technique will be minimal until The Gamer possesses at least a level 75 'Intermediate Summon Elemental Skill'.

Do you still wish to proceed?


...What

...

..

.

Wait a second… I can use this to find out whether a skill exists or not.

..

WAIT…

If this is accurate…

"Where do you get information 'Geographic Information' from?"


The type of information filed under 'Geographic' is obtained by The Gamer ability communicating with the knowledge of the planet. So long as it exists in this world, The Gamer is able to obtain information on it.

Would you like to buy more in-depth information on a particular area?


"Mu ha ha ha." I attempt to laugh in the most stereotypically evil way that I can, "I can repay it."


XXX


That maybe wasn't as good an idea as I thought it would be.

The plan was simple


1) Use 'free' (other than the large amounts of time needed to study the screens and figure out the best way to take advantage of it) Geographic Information to undiscovered natural resources

2) Buy the land for the cheaper price that it's currently listed at.

3)'Discover' the resources in the course of doing business.

4) Mine the resources.

5) Sell the resources.

6) Repay the long-term loan.

7) Profit

8) Be in a strong enough position to directly compete with the end bosses of the economic modes.

But I realized (when looking at Geographic Information with a more discerning eye later), that with only the free Geographic information, you only knew if an area had large amounts of natural resources, but not where or what said resources were composed of. Meaning that the best way to make use of the information was taking the loan to buy someplace so small that you could 'tell' where what you want is hiding. But not knowing the actual resource you would get for your troubles made estimating value difficult. And actually getting a mine approved crippled the plan, as places with less stringent standards tended towards either extremely unsafe and/or extremely unstable. In order to properly run a mine in such a place, I would need serious firepower.

So I would need to:

a) Lease some Atlesian Knight-45; the civilian version of an already weak robot (regardless of how the robots were supposed to be amazing machines that "works every time." Since Paladins of any level were only available to those of exemplary character, unquestionable valor, blahblah*bribe-us-more-money*blahblah.)

b) Hire mercenaries.

c) Build my own robots.

d) Go without.

Or:

a) Get on Atlas's list. The less said about their military the better.

b) Pay unstable amounts, (as for a large enough reward mercenaries will hold your stuff hostage), to a force of variable effectiveness, and of questionable loyalty.

Level up crafting and other skills related skills like mad before I even get to start a business.

Risk losing my entire investment to some random Dick with a gun, or even a little girl Jane with a stick if they're training to become a Hunter; a pretty stupid decision even with limited liability.

If I can't use most of the money that I acquire for the actual business, the risk of ruin is…

..

I could go light if I stripmined, but the consequences to that would likely mean surrendering another area to the Grimm. I also can't see my future elementals as being happy to help someone mine if they do it in strip mining style either. So it's bad in anything but the shortest term for me to do that. If I remember the old tales, most of Earth and Water were associated with female chaos deities, while Wind and Fire were associated with male order deities… or was that the minority version of that belief?

..

.

"I still have ways and options to use this though." I decide to use my time more wisely while noting that I should look it up later.

I can still buy an area with resources for cheap, just not for a full scale mining operation.

If I find someplace workable for cookie production, produce cookies in it for a few years, then right as I'm expanding the property deeper underground I can start 'discovering' new natural resources, and be able to mine some of it naturally, maybe I can even use it as an excuse to pay the employees a bit more for the holidays or something. (It may make some headlines if my cookie company grows enough, "Little Boy Blue Revitalizes Small Town." but I will make it worth it.)

And it's not all a loss, I can still find out existing skills to use later on, that-

"Beep beep beep" as my limited edition Sugareos alarm clock begins to ring I immediately stop thinking.

"Time to go." I note to myself as I close all the windows I had up for planning purposes.

And then I leave my room for my daily visits.


XXX


..

.

"As fascinating as the story behind this probably is," I begin quirking an eye towards the situation in front of me, "Could one of you please explain why you are both covered in whipped cream?"

"AH! it's-" bounces one voice at me.

"She start-" Another voice accuses looking at me while pointing at the first voice.

"'COUGH COUGH' Let's hear your story side first Now." I decide to ask the more quiet one for a summary.

While ignoring a faint 'muuu' from Nero, I smile at Now encouraging her to speak.

"Well, we noticed that you were working very hard…" starts Now, "So Nero and I both wanted you to have your own cake without having to bake it yourself. It… just didn't end up as we wanted it to."

"I see." I nod my head at her. "Do you have anything to add Nero?" before further prompting Nero who seems almost like she's only wearing whipped cream.

In fact…. I think that may actually be all that she has on, I think while seeing a hint of red in my peripheral vision discarded in the corner of the room.

"Art is all about presentation. So in the interest of art I saw it would be far better if I dressed up the cake." Nero starts eloquently, "I-"

Seeing a long speech coming up I interject.

"You decided to whip cream up Now while at the same time in order for me now to get too dirty ideas have her keep on her clothing after stripping completely yourself and making full 'whip cream clothes' for yourself didn't you?" I summarize what I feel must have happened.

"Thats not!-" Nero starts with.

"The truth." I answer for her, "Well we could play this where I ask 'Then why exactly do you have enough whipped cream on your chest to fill up a bowling ball?' and go back and forth, but I think instead I'll end this simply." as I take a slight pause for effect Nero looks at me nervously,

"If I were to take this hand here" as I wave my right hand at her, "and reach for your sides there" as I move walk closer to Nero while keeping my hands at the height of her waist as Nero slowly backs away with a 'wait', "will I find anything that even remotely resembles underwear?" I seriously ask as my hands are about to touch Neros skin, with she freezing with her eyes closed.

Then I pat her on her head.

"Fuah!?" as she makes a strange noise,

"Be careful next time alright." I smile at her.

In the background I think I vaguely hear something which more accurately appears in my subtitles 'That looks like it feels nice' coming from Now which I ignore.

"Anyway, after you both go take a bath-without fighting, and change clothes you can help me clean up the rest of this, ok?" I calmly sucker punch the two of them once they relaxed and ignore their following exclamations of surprise and dismay and continue smiling while refusing to listen to anything else that they say until they run out of steam (around fifteen minutes later) and agree to my demand.

"Well, time to clean up I guess, once again it's too bad no general clean skill-" I start to say to myself before recalling, "Wait… that menu from earlier… doesn't that mean a cleaning skill does exist? Maybe this has to do with intent? Not just 'clean' to do something else, but 'clean' for the sake of cleaning?" I hypothesis and test out said hypothesis to a conclusion feeling very sciencey.

And five minutes later as I hear a *ping* I think,

So it really was intent. But other skills seem to ignore intent and are just created. Why could this be? Perhaps system created skills are special in that way? Or maybe...already named skills all apply to skills that really do exist, rather than just finding skills that exist for The Gamer? Well I suppose it doesn't matter. I'm still probably years away from doing research to that level.

Still this skill appear to be based on the same concept as washing dishes, but apply a general bonus towards all cleaning activities, which is extremely vague. I probably have to level this up before I see anything resembling stats, the same way I did with washing dishing. Amusingly I was able to gain another 3 points in DEX , 2 in VIT, and 1 in STR from all the dishwashing I've been doing. And since I cooked the whole way using Aura and my breathing technique to enhance the amount of practice I could do...

Status I think to myself


Name: Jaune Arc

Gender: Male

Class: The Gamer

Sub-Class: Tycoon Mode

Job: Elementary School 4nd Year

Age: 9

Level: 7

Next Level: 0.00% [Banked Experience:839.21%]

Current Soul Shard Quality: 1 Upper-Basic, 1 Mid-Basic, 2 Low-Basic

Next level Soul Shard Quality: 1 Low-Intermediate

Obtain at first time discount at: 1000.00%

HP: 543.8 (250+168+125.8)

MP: 402 (150+252)

STR: 16.8 (12+4.8)

VIT: 16.8 (12+4.8)

DEX: 15.4 (11+4.4)

INT: 25.2 (18+7.2)

WIS: 15.4 (11+4.4)

LUK: 77 (55+22)

Points: 0

Lien: 0


At level 16 'Basic Aura Skill' gives me 20% to all stats unaided and 40% to all stats with the special effect of my Soul.

While at level 10 in my breathing technique, I gained 19MP/minute instead of 10; almost double!

Similarly, not only can my levels be gained now, but when I hit enough experience to have naturally hit level 10 (had I not been saving exp.), I naturally gained an unlocking of the effect where my stats increases my HP and MP as well.

10 HP per VIT and 10 MP per INT point apparently. Oddly enough, WIS is still not giving me any MP; it probably starts affecting me at a higher level of effect. Like maybe greater than 20 or 25. That sounds reasonable I think.

Even better is the fact that the special effect of increasing HP actually works with my enhanced passive stats!

Meaning I get not 15(150*.1) +60(12*5) equalling a total of 75 extra HP, but 41.8(418*.1)+ 84(16.8*5) equalling 125.8 extra HP instead.

So it appears that putting I increase in ability based on how much I strain my current limits, rather than just through repetition alone. Perhaps if I use weights when I cook….

*ping*


Due to your habit of making intelligent decisions, you gained 2 WIS.


"How nice." I smile while continuing to clean while thinking.

Still… why does it not have any status for me but it does for things I observe...

When Nero and Now come back in another twenty minutes they find an almost spotless room.

"Eh!?" Twin voices ring out.

"Hmm?" I question, "Ah.. since the two of you were taking a while I decided to just do it. (I still need to cook after all.)" I say convincingly, muttering the second part under my breath as I hear what I assume to be my lying skill gain a rank.

"Oh, you did not have to Mas-Jaune." Now almost called me Master which I stopped her from continuing to use due to all the horrifying misunderstandings that could happen to me should she continue to use that, while Nero just blushes and mumbles something under her breath that I don't even bother reading.

Looking at their embarrassed figure, I see ordinary girls, rather than monsters that would probably still crush me in a serious fight even with my improvements, and I think…

They can probably do that.

Hmm.. why are they fidgeting?

"...Big Brother?" Nero hesitantly asks.

"Yes Nero?" I question her tilting my head slightly.

"Why do you have those weights?" Nero asks with a slightly embarrassed blush.

"Hmm? I thought you would be used to it by now. I did wear my Onesie to battle after all." I cheerfully reply.

"But..! You really love that Onesie so…" Nero starts with before I interrupt her.

"But wearing weights to train while cooking isn't any weirder than fighting Grimm in a onesie now is it?" I finish for her.

"...I guess not?" Nero conditionally agrees, "It just doesn't really seem your style I suppose is the right way to put it?" Nero ventures out slowly putting voice to her unease.

"Ah. Since my Semblance does so well in the magic department, I decided to balance things out by doing some physical training. There nice and Jauneical right?" as I attempt to regulate the mood with a bad pun taped on to the end.

Fall for it. I chant in my head as I smile at her confidently.

"Ah.. I suppose that makes sense." says Nero as her voice slowly gets stronger, "Sorry for making a big deal of it." she ends with her usual cheer.

While nodding towards Now, I decide to finish this off once and for all, "Do you still think I'm weird Now?"

"NO!.. I mean I do not think that is the case." says a flustered Now, "I was just startled by the sudden change in your apparel. I apologize for my unintended rudeness." continues Now with an apologetic bow.

"Still if the two of you really want to help me," I say with returning to our former subject with a slight grin, "Then you can help me pass out the cookies on Ladies Night." It's keep me away from those cheek pinchers too.

..

.


XXX


A high-pitched cry.

A groan of pain.

A sound of horrible laughter.

And an aura too malevolent to be human.

Is it the Grimm; monsters of the darkness eternal?

Is it The End; apocalypse of unprecedented proportions?

No it is even worse.

"So cute!~" Screeches something that could be mistaken as a mythological Harpy, "And these girls are so pretty too!~" Joins what could only be a hippo.

Are we at the Zoo?

Or perhaps time and dimension traveled to some alternate Menagerie that succeeded?

No it is even worse.

"Let's dress them up in this!~" Coos something that could only be described as a cross between an elephant and a chicken, "And use this shadow too!~" gleefully grunts out something that could be mistaken as King Kang's uglier more manly cousin.

A monster movie!?

A nightmare?

No it is even worse.

As a young long blond-haired blue-eyed girl(?) in yellow dress with blue stockings, full make-up, eyeliner, and shadows, and a pair of girls dressed in a more generic cat and rabbit costume found out, ladies night can be pure evil.

"You make such an amazing Alice!~" gushes a woman who would normally look ordinary but as the only woman of the twenty or so surrounding me that could not be mistaken as anything but a woman , she looked remarkable enough that I wanted to hold on to her in fear; or rather it seems that Now and Nero were already clinging to her.

"I do try my best at everything I do." I gently smile along with my polite words, "And I must confess I always was curious about what happened in these Ladies Night gatherings." I admit my former, (and now completely non-existent), curiosity whilst looking quite earnest.

Ignoring the horrifying sounds of from the twenty other beings, I continue to look and smile with my head slightly tilted as if I still feel curious.

How did I get in this situation?

After I finished my, (in mock tribute to my namesakes namesake), 4444th chocolate chip cookies to be taken to Ladies Night, my mother was so surprised at my speed (cooking skill started to increase the number of cookies I could bake at once on queue and start slightly decreasing cooking time-somehow) that she invited me to go to what would normally be a girl only event. It is something that Lily and Arthuria had been jealously waiting to get into since both of my oldest sisters got in.

Hundreds of girls from the perky youth of teens to the regal sagacity of honored elders; yet the only ones truly interested in dressing up cute things... are the ones who seem as brainless as the Grimm.

But I was careful. I know how my sisters act sometimes. This could be a trap. 'I will not be caught.'

Yet somehow that thought backfired on me as the more polite, gentle, trustful, and curious I sounded the more they gathered around me. The oldest among them, monsters with ? as their level and things such as The Harbinger, She Who Cuts The Threads, and other such names; wizened old women nearly blind of eye, yet somehow giving off the impression of seeing everything, they started speaking about an "ol' Liddel", which was joined by queries about a 'Edith, Lorina, or an Alice', and after that nearly normal conversation, a cry went up about 'Wonderland', and I vaguely recognized what they were talking about.

The story of the girl who fell down a hole into another world.

Based on the true story of a little girl who would go on to become one of the greatest Hunters of her age; who had an illusion based Semblance which made her 'see' other worlds-except that some signs; such as being able to later in life bring back things from those other worlds pointed to her having truly traveled to another world in her youth. She became an eternally young monster who till her dying day looked like a prepubescent girl, with extreme power. She was a one-time mentor to my namesake! Even had rumors that the Arc family of the next generation descended from her. And considering what my grandfather; their theoretical grandson had as his power, a power that combined 'Imagination' with 'Truth' or joined the heavy 'Illusion' based powers of the Liddell family, and the direct 'Reality' based powers that tend to run in my family, I'm not completely certain whether that is true or not.

But while I was coming to that revelation, the three of us were cornered, stripped, and dressed up into these embarrassing costumes that they somehow had. Why did they have this? Since both Sieglinde and Rowan take after my mother, neither have blonde hair. And I actually haven't seen a single blonde in this entire party either!

Could it be my power?

Did it betray me?

..

No that makes no sense.

Still I had no answer for why this came to pass. So I decided to look at the positives.

1) My lying skill has gained levels like mad.

2) And I've gotten to see the levels of the mothers/aunts/and so forth of my future competition. And since it's all girls of around my sisters age or older, no one directly here would end up a classmate of mine.

3) I even ended up with a quest to enhance my reputation both personally and professionally if I continued this act for publicity. Of course, they peppered me with enough questions that I'm not even certain of what exactly I said so far… Good thing I can bring up a log later on.

Still… being here is…

Well it's not just looks isn't that bad. I've seen uglier members in my own family. It's not even the voices either, I've heard worse. Rather it's the two combined with the clothes, which is super frilly cute worn with those expressions... AARRGH!

NOPE

NOPE!

NOPE!

NOPE!

NOT THINKING ABOUT IT!

Anyway, I need something to distract them.

Those special cookies I made in secret for Now to eat later!

..

.

"*cough* Please excuse me, but I have an announcement to make." I say in my most polite and girly voice, "In order to commemorate this special occasion, I brought special handmade cookies as a prize for tonights special lottery drawing winner." I finish with a smile towards the suddenly attentive crowd.

It can't get worse than this, right?


XXX


I was wrong.

It got worse.

Somehow after I finished using the first set of cookies, someone started(?) or perhaps continued, I already don't know and they were really convincing so… well anyway, they talked about how I was setting up a business soon, so I should bring out every single different type of cookies for taste tests.

After feeding the hordes of rabid monsters, when I thought I would have time to catch my breath and see what I've actually been saying, some friends of Rowan somehow managed (while that traitor and Sieglinde both looked guilty at the side!) to get out that I had a super special cookie recipe that I made with all my current skill (It was supposed to go to Nero), and suddenly I would fail the quest to make Ladies Night a success that I had gotten in the middle of this whirlwind, unless I put up those cookies as grand prize, and everything else I had on me as consolation prizes. I thought I was upgrading in lyin-

Hmmm wait.

I know I'm not good at lying.

I know people here who could easily see through me.

They didn't reveal me as faking it.

They must have decided to make me suffer.

This is not just a game. It depends on my real skills. I have to feel closer to my target if I'm going to ever fake it convincingly. Still, it probably won't end so bad. The person that won my super cookies (made with the highest quality ingredients) is not even going to eat it, but give it to an old male friend who is still depressed despite some accident happening years ago... (Or maybe I feel that way because I'm too young that I can't image years as being short yet?)

So it's perfectly safe.

I only tried to add a little Aura... so it won't end up badly at all!

I faux-calmly ignore the fact that my senses leveled up my 'Detect Blood Thirst' twice as I did this quest, three more times when I gave out raffle prizes, then several times in a row with giving away this grand prize.

Just because it was level 9 when I started the night and is now level 21 is not ominous in any way shape or form.

Or rather… even if it was, I'll be nice and safe over here, while you'll all be over there. And Ladies Night is over and I even gained a few levels worth of experience-enough that I would be able to fully fix up Nero who was still stuck in Mid-Low leveled Soul Drain.

Somehow that sounds a lot less of a convincing argument than I thought it would be.


XXX


A pitch black room. The rancid smell of months old takeout, mixed like perfume with the incense of a thousand beer bottles. A shrine to the depressed, a temple to the lonely. A simple note appears trying to combat a years long darkness that enveloped it's single desolate inhabitant.


As you are down.

I brought Cookies.

Eat them happily.

Jinzhen Xiao Long


But even the words and feelings of someone who is both a distant relative and a former friend were not enough.

And so the cookies lay unopened.

..

.

Meanwhile, Jaune was looking over the first of many screens in horror.


Due to promises you made during the quest 'A Night To Remember', the following actions have been taken.

The Gamer has started the company 'Jeanne Arc Industries' in 'Vale'.

The Gamer has added appointed 'Jeanne Jeanne' as company mascot.

The Gamer has accepted 67 different orders totaling 11,146 cookies divided into 746 bags of 15 cookies of 'Basic Cookies' at an introductory rate of $2 a bag within a week.

The Gamer has promised delivery of 17 orders totaling 1155 cookies divided into 77 bags of 15 cookies of 'Intermediate Cookies' at an introductory rate of $3 a bag within a month.

The Gamer has promised to give a fourth of all first year proceeds of Jeanne Arc Industries to be divided among 36 different orphanages for 'Aspiring Female Huntresses' as a partial sponsor investing in the future!

Additionally, taking advice from the businesswomen of the "Vale Ladies Night", The Gamer has promised:

"To put all effort into making this business a success so that no regrets will be left even should I fail." And so The Gamer has sent notice to 'Vale Elementary School' informing them that they The Gamer "Would be leaving school in order to pursue their dreams! And would be glad to take exams to test through all remaining grades of elementary school within a week, to properly show off everything that they learned while a member of Vale Elementary School; finest institution of Elementary School level learning in Vytal!"

The Gamer has also agreed to locally source ingredients from the following vendors:

Mauve Farms for 'Organic Wheat' and 'Organic Eggs'

Cooper's Mill for 'Organic Flour' and 'Organic Brown Sugar'

Viridian Mill's for 'Organic Cane Sugar'

Azure Packing Company for 'Recycled Packaging'

Bisque Shipping LLC for 'Delivery'

And Claret's Kitchen Rentals for ' Recycled Cooking Equipment'

All other suppliers have been reorganized by The Gamer to shift this new alignment in choice.

The Gamer has also promised to supply individual 'Basic Cookies' to 17 different bakeries totaling an estimated 716 cookies daily; predicted to pick up as demand sharpens to higher quotas.

The Gamer has unlocked 'Organic Basic Cookies' a more healthy variation of 'Basic Cookies'.

Minimum Skill of Level 25 Cooking required to properly create this product.

The Gamer has moved into high margin low volume products.

Beware of the associated risks.

The Gamer has greatly increased reputation with 1572 people who were deeply related to the Vale Ladies Night.

The Gamer has moderately increased reputation with 115 different small-scale organizations associated to the Vale Ladies Night.

The Gamer has slightly increased reputation with 17 different mid-scale organizations associated to the Vale Ladies Night.

The Gamer has gained the attention of 1 large-scale organization associated to the Vales Ladies Night.


All my money… gone.

Organic Brown Sugar despite not being much different in terms of health is currently 'in'. So the price is massively beyond that of ordinary Brown Sugar which in and of itself is more expensive than White Sugar due to association. I expanded in scale enough that I will probably soon pass beyond the small business mark. And I'm starting here in Vale. And why did it have to be Huntresses-at least some of the more quiet members of my school are probably are part of any orphanage large enough that they would need sponsors.

No this is even worse. Doing quick number crunching in my head I come to a horrific conclusion.

I have to level up rather than get that Soul Shard!

Considering my current speed, stamina, and MP….

But first, how many levels can I gain?

Jaune stares at his over 1400% banked experience and watches sadly as it gives him 7 levels and not get turned into a Soul Shard.

35 points.

While normally 20 DEX and 15 VIT would seem the best idea…

That doesn't take training into account.

My Aura and breathing technique can somewhat take on the place of DEX and VIT… But how much can I risk…

While I can get up to 53 points in INT if I put everything in it… If I do so I won't have enough with that INT alone. I need more efficient skills if I want to do this.

...Wait…

...Skills?

While most of the skills I've tried to make required both VIT and INT… some pure mages are not physically strong at all.

So perhaps if you have enough INT you can substitute in a higher INT rating for having VIT? If I can use higher INT to create a buff on top of my passive Aura enhanced DEX and VIT… I should be able to do this.

..

.

Wait… 35 points?

My LUK is 55…

INT is 18, so I could make it go up to almost the same as my LUK…

What is that remind-

AH! The Skill!

If my LUK skill was once active because I had over 50 LUK, then I could perhaps do it again.

But… it could really be 60 or more and my LUK lowered to create such a powerful Semblance.

I should use the points to get as close to 30 in both DEX and VIT as I can instead…

If I do that-while feeling relieved that I came to a decision quickly before frowning,

"I'll just tread water and be stuck back right here again soon won't I?" I finish out loud.

"Just because things have changed recently… It doesn't change the fact that I'm me," I say closing my eyes while taking a deep breath, "if the world gives you lemons, just add your own sugar while enjoying some lemonade." I quietly finish off my personal variation of an old cliché with a small grin.

And as Jaune clicks and selects to place 35 of his points into INT, raising his INT from 18 to 53 he is greeted by a pleasant surprise.

*ping*


The Skill 'Mana Affinity' has been created through INT rising above 50.

Mana Affinity (Passive)

Technique that allows the user to become more sensitive to mana and handle it better.

10% increase in MP recovery rate.

5% increase in total MP amount.

5% increase in magic attack.

5% increase in magic defence.

30% increase in MP related skill effects.


This skill is amazing.

But just the fact that it lacks level…. Is it possible that when I was born I had a higher leveled version of this skill for LUK? The above 100 stat for LUK perhaps?

Hmm…. still let me try creating that again…

Energy easily focuses onto my fingertip; far more so than in the past, furthermore sensing something off I decide to focus energy on all 5 of my fingers on my hand simultaneously, rather than just on one finger, and following a faint stirring in my head that is almost instinct, I also surround my body with Aura of the same neutral type of energy, while utilizing a calmer more neutral version of breathing than I have been using during my defensive energy based breathing technique based off of The Shield.

*ping*


A skill has been created through a special action.

Through the power of your actions the skill 'Energy Storm' has been created.

Energy Storm (Active and Passive) EXP: Lv 1 0.03%

An advanced mana manipulation technique. By becoming a conduit for high quality neutral energy, the user of this technique pre-prepares a portion of their MP to be released together with their hands. The technique passively has the effect of bolstering the users physical body.

Only possible for those talented in manipulating mana.

Passively increases STR by 5%.

Passively increases DEX by 5%.

Passively increases VIT by 5%.

Passively increases stamina recovery rate by 10%.

Additional 10% increase in DEX when active.

Able to use Ki Strike when active.

Has a Neutral Flow.

Compatible with either Defensive or Offensive Flows.


Ah… so that was the problem. I think as the energy dissipates.

Since I created a breathing technique based on Defensive energy without being aware of what each type of flow actually felt like, I've been recovering MP far more slowly than I should have had I just been a neutral conduit for energy.

Still, this confirms it.

Such a complex technique… It makes no sense for this to be considered a normal technique and the silly skill I created to be considered worthy of being self-named.

The Energy Bolt was probably a key part of someone elses style, with this technique being a higher level variation that the Wizard(?) or beyond ranked spell caster used to keep up with other more physically inclined foes; without sacrificing either defensive or offensive power.

With Energy Bolts to start at range, another more rapid fire technique to pile up damage and stun in the holes left by the foe dodging the bolts, then this technique's active used as a finishing technique at the end an multi-faceted combo….

I can truly see the wisdom of my predecessors.

Still… as interesting as the idea of finding a way to shoot things faster would be, I don't have the time. I should be able to combine the passive of this technique with the active of my Aura manipulation skill, vastly increasing my ability to bake these cookies, still even with this, the extra rest time needed now that I chose not to raise my VIT, will still be enough that I can not afford any more delays!

And while Jaune is busy working like a cooking hamster in the Arc household….

..

.

A few days pass in the Xiao Long household.

"*CHOMP**CHOMP*CHOMP* THIS IS SO GOOD! *CHOMP* *CHOMP* *CHOMP*" cheers a very young and high pitched voice.

..

.

And with Jaune busy single-mindedly dealing with his steadily increasing workload, he just quickly dismissed the warning of danger without seeing the note that the warning was 'Long Ranged' due to having gotten too many ordinary warnings of danger lately, in a canopy of spills, accidents, and almost-crashes. (Though he was a bit too overwhelmed to check that his Detect Blood Thirst skill had gained a hidden special ability for reaching above level 20 in so few activations as well; granting Jaune the ability of vaguely sensing great danger to him even at vast distances should the danger be high enough.)


XXX


Jaunes power is really effective at what it does.

Jaune thought he could keep Now at bay by promising to do something Heroic with the money he was making.

But didn't really plan on doing all that much with the money until he had accumulated a large nest egg, and gotten high quality equipment.

And since he didn't want to fail the hundreds of small-scale quests that he just auto accepted during the Ladies Night… he missed out on doing the Brotherly thing and sacrificing for his sister to do the Heroic thing where it's implied that he thinks Nero can handle it (which she technically can-since she was recovering, just slowly). And with what he teased her about while wearing weights taken into account, he actually managed to increase both of their impressions of him even further.

Also, while having a girl over was no big deal, to Juane as he has 7 sisters and pretty much just glossed it all over in his head, with Neros comment on how he should already have a girlfriend being similarly ignored (since at this point of time he is still considered someone on the road to becoming a Hunter, so unlike Canon Jaune, this Jaune still has his initial good reputation, smarts, looks, and physical ability. And since he just awakened a Semblance and his Aura in one go, he now appears pretty much guaranteed to become a strong Hunter considering both what others know about his background and motivations…)-but has zero experience actually dating.

Well it normally wouldn't be so bad... but he is suddenly more popular with girls than just his awakened abilities alone should allow him to be, (something that is the result of his Title increasing his reputation gain with girls, as well as giving him a natural impression of being slightly flirty regardless of what he is actually saying); so he also forgoes mentioning school thinking it'll die down, which takes on a rather different feel when combined with what they think he did to Now to get her to 'have to' live with them while slightly crying, (something else Jaune didn't want to dwell on, but was something that he wanted to make up for by creating for her some treats that he created for her-treats which were the first sacrifice, showing that he does value his family more than anyone else), well his sisters decided to 'punish' the 'playboy'; hence why the attempt was so well-organized.

He also came to the conclusion that he once had over 100 LUK which is not true-rather he was born with both the skills given to a Gamer with over 50 LUK and over 100 LUK, which helped his LUK grow. As a testament to how his Semblances appears to be a growth type within Canon.

Originally, I had Jaune (still overwhelmed by Ladies Night), put his points into STR and DEX, and be forced into destroying his friendly relation in order to get enough money to continue on.

Then I realized that Jaune would only put points into STR as a matter of life and death; due to knowing just how much easier to increase physical stats pared to mental stats; especially with STR being the least helpful such stat with his defensive physical and offensive spellcaster fighting style.

So I then had him put 50/50 into DEX and VIT.

But then Jaune complained at me. Saying that he made this mistake and wanted to do better already, and that I would soon make him into a running gap on Aesop Amnesia if I kept him from calming down from past experiences.

So then Jaune calmed down, at which point it became obvious that he would notice another possibility, and take it. So rather than me poking at how he chose not to get INT pass 50 since it was not enough, I instead had Jaune calm down and remember that unlike in most video games, where current resources are pretty indicative of your total resources, he actually had the ability to create new skills based on his imagination and stats. So Jaune saw possibilities that while of some risk, (since it could be a far more complex skill than the current limited in sensing ability Jaune was thinking of), the chance of success was enough that he went and did something pretty smart for once; salvaging a great deal of the situation.

Of course, he is still stuck in a business where he naturally will become a threat towards affiliates to many large companies, and so is on the route of being forced into change, while at the same time has founded a company that gives off the mistaken impression that he's a girl. It's something that will drive some further quests-since as a living world, a great deal of things have to be unconnected or else risk making the world seem unnaturally small. But coming up with completely random quests will just cheapen the story, so coming up with quests that'll naturally come up with Jaune having the sort of personality that he does is… interesting to say the least.

Jaune once more exercised how he was with Ruby, agreeing while not really agreeing to her comment on his 'heirloom', which by that point was most definitely a 'hand-me-down' to Jaune with his confidence reduced from repeated failures. Still, he should be showing signs of being more aggressive than even a somewhat more confident Canon Jaune would. Part of it is age. Part of it is perceived ability. But another part of it is the nature of his ability or rather his Semblance.

And yay for Ruby, the first main cast member affected by Jaune.