Chapter Two: Tracing the Brush

[Copying Brush] (Bound to the player “Ember”)

Item Type: Anomalous Tool

Tool Effect: Copies the skills and physical forms of selected targets.

Requirements for Use: A copying template, Perception level (dependent on the target), various materials (dependent on the target), and proficiency (dependent on the target).

Description: This is an anomalous tool of extraordinary origin. It is suspected to have been created when its former owner used a large quantity of blood to paint, causing the brush to become steeped in boundless resentment and transform into an anomalous tool. Under special conditions, it can bring paintings to life. The original owner of this tool is still alive, but was sentenced to life imprisonment for breaking the law. When he was arrested and brought to justice, he had just completed a painting using his own blood...

[Notice: Copying templates must be recorded. You may investigate the conditions for recording them yourself, or purchase the user manual for the Foundation’s anomalous tool, the “Copying Brush.”]

[Notice: The supplementary items used with the “Copying Brush” are stored in a special space and do not occupy inventory slots.]

...

The user manual has to be purchased separately?

They really are as shamelessly money-grubbing as ever...

Ember could not help grumbling. At the same time, the other eight Guardian Knights and the Veil Messenger were also complaining incessantly about how expensive everything was and how few points they had left while exchanging their items.

[Notice: A bloodline contract in your possession has been detected. Although it is inactive, it may serve as a copying template. Would you like to record the bloodline information of the mantis-shaped “Juvenile Shadow-Eater”?]

Hm?

Yes!

[Notice: Bloodline information recorded successfully! In the future, when copying the mantis-shaped “Juvenile Shadow-Eater,” you may use the corresponding materials to paint it directly.]

[Notice: Your bloodline contract with your contracted follower, the mantis-shaped “Juvenile Shadow-Eater,” has become invalid.]

“Heh-heh, trying to swindle me out of my money? Not a chance! I’ve even saved the thousand credits needed to cancel the contract!”

Ember burst into laughter. He had never imagined that the little mantis would continue following him in such a manner. After reading the description of the anomalous tool’s effects, he discovered that, with his current proficiency, he could only copy the little mantis’s [Consecutive Leaps] for now, forming a skill card. As for the card’s actual effects and duration, those would be determined comprehensively by the copying materials, his proficiency, and the quality of the painting.

The better the materials and the higher his proficiency, the lower the required painting quality. Conversely, exceptionally high painting quality could make up for the first two conditions.

That was precisely why Ember, whose expertise was perfectly suited to it, had taken an instant liking to this anomalous tool. His Copying Brush had long been thirsting for action!

“But I don’t have the materials needed to copy Consecutive Leaps. I’ll ask the others first.”

Once he had made up his mind, Ember did not even bother touring his luxurious duplex apartment. The moment he opened the door, he happened to run into No Expert and Lu Renjia coming down from upstairs. Compared with Ember’s radiant mood, the two of them looked utterly crestfallen.

“If only we had known the exchange list would gain so many good items. We should have spent more sparingly back then!”

During the final battle on the Killing Isle, everyone except Ember had become caught up in the moment, exchanging various items to attack the Leech Matriarch. The problem was that after the Shadow Queen appeared, the system had not judged the Leech Matriarch to have been killed. As a result, all their heavy investments had yielded no points in return, leaving them staring helplessly at piles of precious items, on the verge of tears.

Ember, who had charged at the forefront and consequently saved a vast number of points, naturally could not understand their feelings. All he could do was drink down the third bottle of the improved basic evolution serum while expressing sympathy for their misfortune.

The three of them left the apartment building together, only to discover that the island had undergone earth-shaking changes. The most obvious difference was that the dense veil of darkness, which had once blotted out the sky and sun, had vanished. Bright sunlight fell upon their faces, greatly improving the moods of No Expert and Lu Renjia.

“Not bad. The environment is much better than before. If everyday life were always shrouded in gloom, I doubt many players would want to stay online.”

With his vision no longer obscured by the dark veil, Ember surveyed his surroundings. All kinds of buildings had risen from the ruins left behind by the storm. Roadside signs displayed the latest map of the island, which contained residential, commercial, civic, and professional districts, as well as wilderness areas that were not yet fully open.

The professional district lay at the center of the island, surrounded by the residential, commercial, and civic districts. The wilderness formed the outermost region and required authorization to enter.

“Come on. Let’s look around the commercial district first.”

Ember was rather eager to see what his own player shop would look like. No Expert and Lu Renjia, who had also obtained player shops, felt the same way. After leaving the novice residential district, the three of them boarded a free sightseeing car bound for the commercial district.

Along the way, they saw countless players, as well as a large number of game characters. Men and women, young and old, were everywhere. According to the driver’s introduction, they were all peripheral members of the three major organizations, responsible for managing the island’s daily affairs and providing various services to newcomers arriving on the island.

A single island plane could accommodate only one thousand players at a time. Unless they possessed a permanent property, players could not obtain priority access. Thus, although they saw many players along the way, the island was still far from overcrowded.

Before long, the sightseeing car arrived at the commercial district. In an extremely prominent location, the three of them spotted their player shops. The stores were not particularly large, but their decorations were pleasing enough. Moreover, being situated in a prime area, they attracted the curious glances of many passing players.

“Wow! A player shop! Whose is it?”

“Obviously, whose else could it be? It must belong to those nine people!”

“I know that, of course. But why are there only three shops?”

The reason was actually quite simple. Of the nine players, only Ember, No Expert, and Lu Renjia had completed the main quest “Reconstruction,” so only the three of them had received this special reward. Although Wine Growing Stronger with Every Cup had also obtained permanent property in the True Isle after becoming a Guardian Knight, her main quest, “Investigation,” had offered different rewards.

Listening to the various exclamations from the surrounding players, No Expert and Lu Renjia shook their heads at Ember.

“For people like us, a player shop isn’t all that useful. To open one, you need a plentiful supply of goods, but the three of us are weaker than the last. Such a prime location would only go to waste. Lu Renjia and I are planning to find an opportunity to sell our shop to one of the major guilds. What about you? If the three of us sell together, we can definitely get a much higher price than if we sell separately!”

“I think I’ll keep mine. I just got a little something, and this is the perfect place to test how well it works.”

No Expert and Lu Renjia both became interested in what Ember had said. They did not even bother inspecting their own stores and instead followed him into Player Shop No. 001. A few curious players with access permits entered with them.

“Brother Expert, I never thought I’d see you here. Thanks again for taking us through that dungeon back then.”

“Haha, it was nothing. Don’t mention it.”

The four onlookers were all newcomers. One of them had dealt with No Expert before and naturally struck up a conversation with him. The other three were also more interested in the veteran player and began paying close attention to their exchange, somewhat overlooking Ember, the shop’s owner.

“Lu Renjia, I seem to remember that you obtained an enhancement material from the Mantis Leader. Could you trade it to me? I have a use for it.”

“Sure. Here you go.”

“Thanks!”

“What are you planning to do with it?” Lu Renjia asked only then. “I remember you saying that this material might conflict with the compatibility of your armor. Are you planning to replace your armor?”

“Of course not. Just watch.”

Ember spoke with complete confidence. He casually retrieved the grinding tools paired with the Copying Brush from the special space and ground the defensive enhancement material into powder. He then poured in some of the specially prepared medicinal fluid that came with the tool and gradually mixed it into a suitably colored deep blue-black pigment.

Finally, when Ember brought out the Copying Brush and prepared to paint, Lu Renjia suddenly understood.

“So you chose one of the Foundation’s unique anomalous tools?”

“Yep! Ten points. It was incredibly expensive!”

After sighing over the price, Ember pointed at the medicinal fluid and paper and continued grumbling.

“And these supplies cost money to replace once they’re used up. Add in the material cost, and the total comes to two thousand credits—and that’s without counting labor! Tell me, isn’t Singularity a bunch of profiteers? If labor were included, I’d have to at least double the price just to break even.”

A sudden snicker rang out from inside the shop. One of the novice players, whose attention had just been drawn by the anomalous tool, could not help laughing.

“You call Singularity a bunch of profiteers, but how are you any different? The cost is two thousand credits, and you’re selling it for twice that. I refuse to believe the official shop doesn’t carry similar products that are both affordable and good quality. You can’t just jack up the price because you think being number one on the rankings and a Veil Messenger entitles you to do so, can you?”