I’m glad to be able to help.
Money worries are not something I want her to have anymore.
Its family.
You help family.
With our future earnings prospects, I won’t need to care about half a frigate in a few months.
Sharing these profits with my sister makes the win that much sweeter.
It won’t slow down the growth of the company, it’s all still in the company account.
No problem.
The next morning, Lili had gone to school already and I usually would be restocking the boat to head back out as soon as possible, but since I was staying in town for close to a week, there was no immediate hurry.
Today was all about making nutripacks.
Arriving back at Bessie it was straight to work.
All the ones made yesterday were brought to the bridge and I copied a box of Tiramisu first.
No problem.
The quick depletion of mana was very noticeable but not as brutal as before.
Making 68 yesterday was just short of 3 cases, and since I hadn’t used all my mana, it seemed 3 cases might be possible.
The second box of Cheese cake was quick but not painless.
It felt like going from a cold room to outdoors until you sweat then back into the AC.
sweaty and cold.
Now feeling the expenditure, I pull out the last box of Ice Cream Cake, eyeing it warily.
If i pass out from this, my appointment isn’t until later this afternoon, and the 6 hours of deep sleep would end before 3.
That would allow me to get there by 4 and back when Sis gets off work.
Ok, here I go.
Staring at the box of nutripacks, I copy the whole thing at once, really pushing my limits.
Trying to see what I’ve got, when push comes to shove.
It’s important to really know the difference between ‘almost out of mana’ and ‘once more and you pass out’, especially if I’m going to be accepting donations from pirates in the future.
The last thing anyone wants is to find out that one of their basic assumptions about their capabilities is wrong, especially during combat.
I copy the last box and it’s over quickly.
The cramps feeling in my stomach is just starting though.
Ugh, curling up on my bed only helps a tiny bit.
Either I can suffer through this for who knows how long or..
Grabbing 2 individual nutripacks, I copy them.
The knotting of my muscles feels very similar to lactic acid buildup from exercise but it’s the whole body at once, not just a single muscle group.
The two more aren’t enough.
Who would’ve thought I’d regret having a large mana reservoir at some point.
I quickly make another pair of copies and when I’m still conscious but noticing the pain ratchet up, I make a third pair of nutripacks.
5 hours 35 minutes later, my eyes pop open and my crumpled body begins to come alive.
‘Ahh, ahh… sigh’ deep breaths as I slowly stretch out my body trying to get blood flowing in my extremities.
My hand feels a little numb, like it fell asleep this whole time.
Damn next time I’ve got to do this while laying down, not sitting up.
This feels a bit reckless.
On the bright side, I feel reenergized internally: mentally and spiritually.
Physically I’ll do some stretches and take a shower, a hot, steaming, aromatherapy shower.
I walk around the bridge and do 30 minutes of stretches and some light exercises.
This kind of work load is basically sitting around all day.
I’ve gotta keep this body healthy.
I want many, many years of this new life.
Yes, I’ll shoot for 2 lives this time.
This last session produced 78 nutripacks.
It’s safe to assume that’s my maximum mana reservoir for now.
Sensing how far out my ability to call is now 23 meters.
Woo hoo half way through level 4 already.
“Exie, I’m already level 4 and growing quickly.
We should be able to head outta here in another 4 days or so.” [Host is practicing quite diligently.
Copying and shaping are good ways to use up all of your mana everyday, since that leads to the highest reservoir growth.
This difficult, virtuous cycle will begin to pay off sooner than you think.] “Thanks, I’m really grateful you chose me.
Ok, back to work” As I begin copying another box of nutripacks.
Once making 3 more cases and using up over 90% of my mana, it only feels like an emptiness in my soul.
The physical pain is much reduced, or I’ve tuned it out.
Either way I’m grateful.
To get through that initial painful stage of using all my mana.
A dull emptiness is much less distracting and easier to deal with.
Counting the spoils of my labors, 218 nutripacks is quite a haul, just shy of my initial goal of 10 cases(240 nutripacks).
Sending over 8 cases now and a bunch more in a couple days, sounds fine.
It would be a hassle delivering these on public transport, so I call a courier and have 8 cases sent to Murdock, my used-car-salesman of a resource broker.
He seems just shady enough to get everything I want done with no questions asked.
Just the way I like it.
Also his motivations seem slightly more than just money.
He wants prestige and to move up in life.
Ambition is a great motivator.
If managed properly, I can keep him loyal and productive.
If not, it’s dancing on a knife blade.
This feels like the former, and I’ve got no one better, so let’s go!
Tidying up the ship after my whirlwind nutripack session, I’m off to Murdock’s to make sure this initial handover goes smoothly.
Right when I arrive, the delivery guy has dropped the last box off in Murdock’s office and takes off.
I slip him a 10 credit tip, never know when we’ll need him again.
Actually, probably the day after tomorrow.
It’s best to stay on good terms with him.
Murdock was tallying the inventory giddily.
It was obvious he was excited about the money he’d make off these.
Also it’s twice as much as previously agreed.
Quickly putting three boxes aside, he sends a few messages and within minutes his phone dings satisfyingly.
It’s very similar to the sound when I get a bank deposit.
“Heck yeah.
3 of those boxes were already sold and paid for.
I’ll transfer it to you right now.
Ahh so nice to get paid.” Moments later, my phone had a similarly satisfying ding.
I check it and 51,840 credits have been deposited.
Doing the math he sold them for 800 each.
Obviously more is better but right now, it’s the cash on hand that I’m most excited about.
Now I’ve enough to close the deal on the Amadeus.
Oh yeah.
Finally I’ve a bit of credits and can take a breath.
Sigh.
It’s been a bit stressful, but well worth it.
Murdock is confident he can move these within days, and any more I can get so it looks like nutripack making for the next couple days until we can sign paperwork on the Amadeus.
“You know if you could get the Chocolate Cake and Blueberry Cheesecake then these would sell even faster.” he adds before I’m out the door.
“Really?
Ok I’ll see what I can do.
Any others I should look out for?” I’ll definitely pick some of those up on the way home.
Why not?
It is an investment, not me wanting to try new, delicious nutripacks.
Of course not.
“Nah but any of this quality will sell quickly.
Just bring whatever you can get.” He’s seeing credits all over now.
I don’t bother telling him I’m only doing this a couple more days, then only on special occasions, when I need some quick cash.
But for now it’s just right: training and quick cash.
No complaints here.
On my way to my sister’s I stop into a nutripack specialty store and ask for the last two of the dessert series and any others that sound good.
The sales lady hands me the Chocolate Cake and Blueberry Cheesecake, then turns around to see what she’s got, inspecting two others and bringing them over.
“These are new flavors, recently introduced, and have been selling well.
1800 each, but well worth it.
The Cherry Pie and Mochachino have great reviews as well.
“Cherry Pie is my new favorite.” she can’t help but add.
I smile quietly on the outside and am ecstatic on the inside.
After I copy and sell these, not only will I have made tons of credits but I’ll also have lots of choices in the future for meals.
“Thanks I’ll take one of each of them then.” simple decision.
The sales lady is slightly disappointed it’s not a larger sale, but a sales’ a sale and she rings me up.
4 new flavors to try but I’ve got to wait till tomorrow to try them.
No point ruining my appetite right before dinner.
That night after dinner with Lili, I headed back to the ship.
The sleep there is better; it’s my true home now.
Before going to bed I made another case of the new flavors, 6 of each.
Since depleting my mana reservoir completely raises the total capacity, it’s a no-brainer to try using it all up right before bed.
I make another 4, and feel it’s close to empty, so I make another 4 just to drain the tank.
The moment the last 4 finish, my body gives out and falls asleep.
Thankfully I was laying down and will spare myself the pain of sitting for 6 hours.
The next morning I wake up refreshed.
None of the previous discomfort.
After setting up the appointment with Uncle Lin for the day after tomorrow, it’s back to the grind.
This time I’m experienced and make 3 cases of the new ones then it’s 2 at a time until ‘lights out’.
This time it was 82 nutripacks, an increase of 4 from just yesterday.
Waking up a second time today is slightly surreal, like sleeping in when you need to wake up, but this is work.
I’m workin’ here.
Making 3 more cases of the new ones, it’s now just slightly discomforting to use this much mana so quickly.
Coffee, real coffee, will make it all better.
Thus it’s necessary to enjoy oneself when in port and coffee with real food sounds just right.
Since instant coffee is all that’s on the ship, it’s better than nothing, so instant it is.
As I’m savoring the coffee, the boxes of nutripacks are couriered off to Murdock.
He should be excited by the new flavors.
I bet he sells out in just a few days.
With these 6 boxes, that’s 14 cases in 3 days.
Thats over 240k credits at 800 apiece, minus his 10% broker fee.
Well worth it.
His contacts and hustle are well worth it, probably more, but everyone loved getting a deal.
People like that are good to work with.
Sure he might seem shady but so far he’s delivered on everything he said.
Having a way to use his connections to make money is what I need now the most.
And since my confidentiality is tied to his making money, he’s unlikely to burn me.
Unless he’s offered an absurd amount of money, and no one’s looking for me that badly yet.
Maybe in a year or two, but definitely not now.
Right?
Leaving the docks, I head into the food stalls nearby and grab kebabs and flat bread with pickled veggies.
Real food is divine.
It’s only 20 credits for the food.
I’m not stressed by spending it anymore.
The difference a bit of money makes is like night and day.
I next get some chicken fried rice and an extra crispy fried chicken leg.
It’s been so long since I didn’t buy the cheapest item on the menu.
Besides, it’s important to fuel the machine.
Grinding nutripacks takes a lot of energy.
This metaphysical stuff is all new.
It’d be no surprise if increased food intake comes with manipulating mana.
Wandering the food court, I see some pretty girls eating and giggling amongst themselves.
It sounds nice and reminds me I’ve been out in space for a month and almost died.
Swiping right is just a natural reaction to that.
Since I’m in town for another day or two, why not try to meet a nice woman to spend some time with?
Nodding to myself, I pull out my communicator and start seeing who’s around this random weekday?