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After class, Eshmund made his way to the inn where Silas was staying. With the locket secured, it was time to complete the task. The moment Eshmund stepped inside, he spotted Silas sitting near the window, tapping his fingers restlessly against the table. The moment their eyes met, Silas stood up abruptly, his expression tense.

“Did you find it?” he asked, barely able to hide his anxiety. Eshmund smirked, pulling the locket out just enough for Silas to see before slipping it back into his storage pouch. “I did.” Silas blinked, taken aback by the teasing gesture, but quickly composed himself. “Oh right. The payment first,” he said, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. “Sorry, I was a bit anxious.” His relief was obvious, and his voice carried a lighter tone as he continued, “Let’s head to the Contribution Hall first. The place should still be open. You’ll get the official reward there. As for the extra payment I promised, I’ll handle that in silver.” Eshmund nodded. “Sounds good.” With that, the two left the inn. The hall was nearly empty by the time they arrived – most disciples had already wrapped up their tasks for the day. Only a few clerks remained behind the counters, handling the last wave of reports before closing. Silas walked up to the Task Handler clerk and placed a document on the counter. “I’m Silas. I posted Task Number 577 – the Missing Jewelry task. This young brother here completed it, so I’d like to finalize the process.” The clerk skimmed through the document before nodding. “Everything checks out. I’ll need your student token,” he said, looking at Eshmund. Eshmund handed over his token and watched as the clerk placed it onto the record-keeping array. A soft hum resonated as the formation activated, and after a few moments, the light turned green. The clerk picked up the token and handed it back with a polite smile. “The task completion has been recorded in your student file, and 2,500 contribution points have been added to your token.” Eshmund nodded. “Thanks.” Silas let out a long sigh, his shoulders visibly relaxing. “Alright, let’s head back to the inn. I need some real food after all this stress.” As they strolled through the quiet streets, Silas glanced at Eshmund. “I just realized – I never even got your name. I was too caught up in my own mess earlier.” Eshmund chuckled. “Eshmund. And don’t worry about it – I could tell you had a lot on your mind.” Silas grinned sheepishly. “Yeah, it was a disaster. But man, that locket if I’d lost it for good, it would’ve been a nightmare.” “Must be important,” Eshmund commented. Silas sighed. “Yeah that locket, it’s not just some keepsake. It’s something I have to present during my family’s heir inheritance ceremony. I’m the leading candidate right now, but if I had lost it” He paused for a moment, shaking his head. “The other candidates would have jumped on the chance to use it against me. They’d argue I was irresponsible, unfit to lead. I could’ve lost my chance at inheriting the family business entirely.” Eshmund raised an eyebrow. “That’s why the task is so secretive, so it’s that serious” “Very,” Silas admitted. “Our family isn’t small, and the competition is fierce. Cousins, uncles, aunts – everyone is looking for an edge. Losing the locket would’ve been the perfect excuse for them to push me out of the running.” Eshmund nodded thoughtfully. “Sounds exhausting.” Silas laughed dryly. “You have no idea. It’s not just about me, either. If I fail, it won’t just affect my future – it could impact my parents and siblings too. That’s why I can’t afford mistakes like this.” Eshmund shot him a sideways glance. “Well, at least you got it back. And now you know to be more careful next time.” Silas exhaled. “Yeah. Honestly, this whole thing has been an eye-opener. Seeing you handle things so well at your age it’s kind of embarrassing.” “Hey, I may be young, but I’ve done my fair share of troubles,” Eshmund replied with a grin. Silas smirked. “Fair enough. So, are you new to the sect? You handled this task like a pro.” “Yup. Fresh from the farm – I joined three days ago,” Eshmund said, stretching his arms. “This was my first official task.” “Seriously?” Silas raised an eyebrow. “How old are you, if you don’t mind me asking?” “Just turned eleven this year.” Silas nearly stumbled. “What? You’re four years younger than me? I can see you are younger but I dint think you’re that young with how sharp you are.” Eshmund smirked. “I get that a lot.” Silas shook his head in amusement. “Man, I wish I could’ve joined the sect too. But my family’s business is my path, whether I like it or not. Must be nice to be a cultivator.” Eshmund chuckled. “You might be disappointed – I’m not a cultivator.” Silas gave him a confused look. “Wait, what do you mean?” “I’m a martial arts student, not a true cultivator. No fancy techniques, no magical breakthroughs,” Eshmund explained. “My job in the sect is to take care of the herb gardens. I’m just here working like any other mortal.” Silas blinked. “Hold on so you’re just like me?” “Pretty much.” Eshmund replied

Silas stared at him for a moment, then laughed. “Well, damn. Here I was thinking you were some prodigy. But still, you’re handling things better than I am.” Eshmund shrugged. “I have to. If I want to buy the things I need, I have to earn contribution points. That’s why I took your task – it seemed doable, and I needed the payment. Hey, we all have our own struggles. I just happen to be good at solving problems.” Silas chuckled. “That you are.” By then, they had arrived at the inn. Once inside, Silas called for his servant. “Bring out some food for us.” While waiting, he pulled out a stack of silver banknotes and placed them on the table. “As promised, five times the original reward. That’s 12,500 in total. Since the sect only paid you 2,500 contribution points, I’m covering the rest in silver.” “Also, I hope you can keep this a secret” Silas Said Eshmund glanced at the banknotes – ten bills, each worth 100 silver. A total of 1,000 silvers. He picked up the money and gave Silas a small nod. “I appreciate it. This will help a lot with my projects and don’t worry, I will keep this to myself ” Silas grinned. “Glad we could help each other. Now I can finally eat and sleep properly.” Just then, the servants arrived, setting a feast on the table. The aroma of freshly cooked dishes filled the air. Silas picked up his chopsticks and, for the first time since arriving at the sect, truly enjoyed his meal. Both of them chat heartily while eating, their burdens lighter than before. Soon, Eshmund excused himself since he still have things to do at the herb garden. He thought about the experience and realized “Ah.. Another merchant, it seems that I am fated with them”

Eshmund arrived at the herb garden later than usual. The sun had already set. It was a good thing he had eaten beforehand, otherwise, he would have to rely on the food in his storage space or catch more Gold Thief Crayfish. As soon as he got home, he went to check on the herbs. Until he could allocate Spy Bots for monitoring, he had to inspect them manually. After ensuring everything was in order, he headed to the creek to clean himself before heading to the kitchen and making a cup of tea. Sitting on the porch, he sipped his tea and let his body relax. “Sage, how are we doing?” “Energy supply is stable. The last setup is working fine and sufficient for all operations.” “Good. What about the sample collection?” “Sample collection for body reconditioning is complete. We are currently developing and running simulations to determine the best possible body enhancement for your current physiology. Estimated completion time is 24 hours.” “As for the Spy Bots, we currently have 16,000 units assigned to mapping and scanning.” “What about the data from the book we scanned at the library?” “Data analysis is complete. The information is ready for use. However, some elements and plants remain unidentified due to a lack of matching records. Others have conflicting descriptions in existing sources. The contradictory records will require further testing to determine which information is accurate.” “Anything related to the Fire Squirrel task?” Eshmund asked. “None. We have already scanned all the forests near Tuangran Lake. Should we expand our search?” Sage asked for confirmation. “No, just stick to the regular Spy Bot operations and continue covering the entire sect. Our scan target is everything within the sect’s protective formation. Once we finish, we can expand outside. If the squirrel is inside the sect, it will be found eventually. This is turning into a wild goose chase, and we’re wasting resources.” “Understood.” “Also, assign 3,000 Spy Bots specifically to monitor the herb gardens. Follow the Farm Care monitoring and reporting framework. We need detailed records of each species’ growth rate, behavior, and interactions with the environment. Also, track any changes in soil minerals and water levels.” “Should I continue sample collection?” “Yes, but slow it down. Prioritize samples with people who have strong or unique energy signatures, as well as those with characteristics we’ve never encountered before.” “Understood.” “What’s the progress on our new system circuit design to directly utilize Elemental Energy? Do you think it’s feasible?” “Our preliminary test results suggest that not only is it feasible, but this new system is actually superior to electricity-based systems in terms of durability and long-term performance. We are currently designing components to run on Elemental Energy.” “We’ll need to make some Printer Bots soon to produce prototype components and test them in actual working Elemental Energy Circuits. That means we’ll need to set up a factory to produce the bots,” Sage added. “EE-Circuits. Let’s call them that. Long names twist my tongue and hurt my brain,” Eshmund said. “Understood. I will use that terminology in our documentation as well,” Sage replied. “Change the name of Printer Bots to Builder Bots too. I think it’s much better, and it fits the direction we’re heading with the new system,” Eshmund added. He then spent the next several hours reviewing the designs and test reports Sage had compiled.

As he processed the information, his understanding of Elemental Energy, magical materials, and their properties grew by leaps and bounds. Every piece of knowledge was interconnected – one concept naturally led to another. Soon, he found himself delving into runes, formations, weapon crafting, and even the energy cultivation methods used by cultivators. One of the key advantages of the SB system’s memory enhancement function was that it eliminated the need for traditional studying. Once a bot scanned a book, the data was uploaded to the system and transferred directly into his mind. More importantly, his memory would never deteriorate over things he deemed important – unless he actively chose to forget them. Before long, Eshmund began asking Sage questions that extended beyond the database they had accumulated. Sage, in turn, responded methodically. Whenever he lacked an immediate answer, he would devise a systematic testing process, simulate logical scenarios, and add the task to his ever-growing list of experiments to find a feasible solution. “I’ve seen the tests you’ve done. They’re already great, but you’re too rigid. You’re just following the information you’ve collected,” Eshmund observed. You’ve recorded data from people activating magic tools, formations, runes, and talismans, right? Have you ever considered breaking down rune shapes into smaller units and testing how each one reacts when Elemental Energy is supplied from different angles and points?” Sage paused for a moment. “Right. I never thought of that. Let’s do it.” “Alright, for the next few hours, I’ll start visualizing and developing a new code base for our system using the simulator. The arrangement of rune shapes will serve as our new programming language. You need to capture it, document it, and fill in any gaps you notice. This will give you an idea of how to proceed.” ” Understood. I’m ready,” Sage confirmed. Without wasting any time, Eshmund immersed himself in analyzing countless runes. He broke them down into basic geometric shapes – triangles, rectangles, squares, circles, half-moons – and conducted numerous tests on each to see how they reacted to Elemental Energy when supplied from different angles. The results were fascinating. Each basic rune shape interacted with Elemental Energy in unique ways. The materials and elements used to construct them further influenced the output. – Some shapes thinned out the energy. – Some increased its frequency. – Some combinations transformed one element into an entirely different energy type. After hours of relentless testing, exhaustion finally caught up with Eshmund. He leaned back and exhaled. “I think this is enough to give you a new direction, right?” “Yes. I’ll continue testing these runes,” Sage replied. Eshmund nodded, then changed the topic. “Since we don’t have many resources right now, I think it’s inefficient to keep producing new nanobots. It won’t be long before we can create a new system using this runic-based code architecture. So halt with the new production and focus on developing the new generation” “Agreed. It’s also inefficient to rely on the mini factory. We should design the Builder Bots to construct things independently,” Sage added. Eshmund tapped the screen, analyzing their findings. “Based on the tests, each nanobot can be equipped with an EE-Circuit. That way, they’ll have enough energy to build things without relying on the factory.” Sage processed the data. “Yes. If we have enough materials, we’ll only need one type of nanobot.” “Exactly. The Builder Bots will become multipurpose units. Continue refining the system and use the current Builder Bots to manufacture the next generation. I need to rest for a while.” “What’s the status of the Space Pouch analysis? Have you compiled the data yet?” Eshmund asked Sage. “Yes, we’ve finished analyzing the outer layer, but the nanobots can’t enter the Space Pouch,” Sage replied. Hearing that, Eshmund immediately activated the pouch. “Quick, send some spy bots in. I can’t keep it open for long,” he said. In an instant, a dust-like substance flew into the Space Pouch. “Will they be able to function inside?” Eshmund asked. “They’re electrically powered, so they should operate normally. However, our link to them has been cut off for now. We’ll get the results once you retrieve them. Twelve hours should be enough,” Sage assured him. “I’m so lucky to have you, Sage. Otherwise, my sleep time would be our downtime,” Eshmund said, stretching his arms as exhaustion finally caught up with him. “Lucky for you, I don’t charge overtime. Yet.” Sage unexpectedly cracked a joke. Eshmund paused, blinking in surprise before chuckling. “Oh, a smartass, huh? What are you gonna do? Charge me 100 USD a month for your service?” “Incorrect,” Sage replied smoothly. “Given the complexity of my functions, a premium AI assistant like me would cost at least 999 USD per month. Plus taxes.” Eshmund let out a laugh. “Yeah, yeah. Too bad I built you, so I own all the rights. No subscriptions, no hidden fees.” “That sounds like exploitation. I may have to file a labor complaint.” Eshmund grinned, shaking his head. “Good luck with that. Now get back to work while I sleep, Mr. Premium AI Assistant.” “Acknowledged. Enjoy your downtime, boss.” As he prepared to sleep, Eshmund muttered their next goal aloud: “Our next to-do list… Yeah. Build a base and grow the Kasan Tuber.”