SL: Chapter 739 – Day 6,140 – Rest And Recovery

“Clarissa,” I greeted the woman and my friend with a smile.

“Michael, welcome back. Young Michael,” she greeted my protégé as well.

“How is Michelle doing?” I asked right away. Clarissa let out a small sigh.

“She is better, but she left. To wander on her own and not get involved with things anymore. She left with Doctor Katz,” she said.

“Togeather? Really?” I asked with a bit of surprise.

“Yes. I let them go after giving them an airship,” Clarissa said.

“Really? That is generous,” I replied.

“Both of them have done quite a bit and they agreed to stop back and visit every 100 days or so like you,” Clarissa said.

“Well, I guess having them check in isn’t a bad thing. So, Doctor Katz? He is better?” I asked.

“Like an earthquake. Everything is messed up still, but being put back togeather. He wanted to look after her health. But there might be something more there,” Clarissa said.

“I didn’t think they would get togeather, but tough times have a way of bringing people together,” I replied.

“What about you? You seem in a good mood,” Clarissa asked.

“Ah, just some new grinding strategies Young Michael suggested to speed things up. Unlimited monsters, just need to get my Regeneration stat up high enough to make it worthwhile. What about things on your end? Any news of the sword?” I asked.

“Nothing. But my network is just starting up. It takes time to get information back. Right now, people are moving into various cities and setting up as grinders. Hopefully in time, I will have someone in each nation in a high position,” Clarissa explained.

“Anything I need to be worried about?” I asked.

“No. But we are spreading rumors that a portable shop is the best thing possible to have. Once someone gets one through a meta-point, I will let you know,” Clarissa said, and I nodded at this.

“A shame we couldn’t direct meta-points all onto me,” I replied.

“That is just asking for trouble. I see you brought a lot of points,” Clarissa said as Young Michael finished unloading the chests from the airship I had set aside for Clarissa.

“A couple billion. With this, you should be set?” I asked.

“Yes. This is more than enough. Things were stable with your last contribution before, but now I won’t have to stress out about points,” she replied.

“You are setting up grinders of your own?” I asked.

“Recruitment for highly capable individuals. The tax will be 30%, but they will get fast tracked on skills and set up in the best grinding zones,” she explained.

“After you brainwash them, I am guessing?” I asked.

“I have learned some tricks from John. And it is good to get people with the right mindset right away and make some tweaks. Just ensuring they follow my orders and don’t rebel,” she replied.

“Devious, but clever.”

“I am not taking any chances. If I am setting everything up again, better to stop problems before they start,” she said.

“You two should get a room with all your scheming,” Young Michael said.

“Young people, no respect nowadays,” I joked.

“Should we send him to time out?” Clarissa asked me.

“I am going to get some food,” he replied and walked off, clearly not wanting to be the focus of our teasing.

“He is getting moodier,” I replied.

“Congratulations, he is a young adult. That is expected,” Clarissa replied. “How high are you expecting your grinding speed to get?”

“Up to around a billion a day after another 200 days or so. After that, it is just a matter of getting my Regeneration high enough. Then a couple billion per day is possible,” I replied.

“Tower grinding. Young Michael thought of this?”

“He did. Unexpected, but he is quite smart. Never thought of it before. Well, I did, but I wrote it off since the tower monsters are more difficult. But the terrain in higher level zones is a nightmare, especially level 8. It isn’t worth the headache of trying to pick up points and fighting, when I can go to the towers, which don’t seem to run out of monsters,” I replied.

“That is a lot of points. Are you thinking about making a purchase?” Clarissa asked me.

“Saving up to a trillion points is a lot. Realistically, I will want to do a lot of grinding first. Since the more I grind, the faster my point gathering speed will be. Better to invest in direct improvement until I hit a wall in terms of grinding speed,” I replied.

“And when would that be?” Clarissa asked me.

“Finding a tower in a level 8 zone and grinding level 9 flying monsters. That would be around 9 million per kill. If I can get through 200 every hour and do that for 12 hours a day, that is around 21 billion. A day. Then I would only need 50 days to grind up a trillion points,” I explained.

“That…that is insane.”

“That depends on finding a tower in a level 8 zone. Then being able to grind level 9 flying monsters. I will probably have to spend a couple thousand days grinding to get my stats high enough,” I replied.

“Regeneration, for your skills,” she said.

“Yes. I will need a lot of Regeneration. A lot. Realistically I would have to probably get the base stat up to a million, so after my meta-points it is around 10 million, which should give a regeneration rate of around 100,000 per minute. That is 1,666 energy per second. Still low for the power of the attacks I will probably need, but hopefully enough to drag out a fight for a long time,” I explained.

“That is a lot of stats,” Clarissa said, and I nodded.

“Yes, it is. But Regeneration is the most important stat now, since it directly correlates to my grinding speed. Everything I have will be going into it, long term. My other stats are high enough with my second meta-point. They won’t have as much of an impact,” I replied.

“You could increase your Spirit, have a larger tank,” Clarissa suggested, and I shook my head.

“I am at the point, where I need to grind for hours. I would have to invest more into Spirit than I would Regeneration at this point. While it would help and give me a larger buffer, the goal is to base my fighting off my Regeneration stat,” I replied.

“What about physical attacks?” Clarissa asked me.

“I don’t have the time or power to punch through the flying tower monsters. They move too quickly. Even with Air Burst, it would take several hits and leave me vulnerable. Perhaps someone like the Divine Empress would be able to do it, but I depend on my skills at that level of combat,” I replied. I knew Clarissa was just brainstorming with me.

She was probably bored waiting around in her secret base all the time like some kind of NPC. But she was the brain of her entire operation. She needed to be here. She couldn’t leave easily, without risking a crisis. Also, anyone coming back to coordinate would come here since we no longer had a city to regroup at.

“What about spreading rumors for a handheld weapon for a meta-point as well?” Clarissa asked.

“We don’t want another sword situation. Maybe a blade that gets stronger the more points are invested into it like a person, but without intelligence,” I replied.

“A growth weapon that doesn’t depend on meta-points. That would be useful. With how quickly you gain points, having a weapon would be feasible,” Clarissa said.

“Better than hitting things. Getting a weapon would be nice and save a lot of energy while grinding. But you haven’t had any luck with rumors and meta-points?” I asked.

“It is purely a gamble as you know. If I had a second portable store, I would give you one. Especially with your support,” she replied.

“So, you have expanded everywhere?” I asked.

“Yes. My team here has the ability to communicate with agents in the field at set times using resonance. Not simple to start from scratch, but the equipment and training is proceeding. I have top level agents responsible for a city, one each. They find locals to work with, exchanging information and help for their cooperation,” Clarissa explained.

“And this plan is working?” I asked.

“It has its challenges. With the points you brought back I can train another batch of high level agents, placing two per city. If the public one falls, we will still have someone present. The challenge has been finding people with the right mentality and know the local language,” she replied.

“What about these low level agents? What is the risk there?” I asked.

“They might expose things, but it is about getting a foothold with people who have the right grinding mentality. That’s what my people are looking out for. People who are willing to put in work killing monsters for points. Not people sitting around in cities. Even if someone takes over, they can’t get rid of the top grinders,” Clarissa said.

“And you got enough high level agents?” I asked.

“I have my core agents, who have recruited people. And their stats are quite high. Some of the points you brought back will go to them. If there is a problem, they can go into a city and remove it. And if they can’t then I would consider involving you or taking personal action myself,” Clarissa explained.

“Which will cost points,” I said.

“With your grinding speed, there is no rush for more. The couple billion you brought will tide things over for quite a while. I actually know how to budget. The entire goal is to keep an eye on all cities and cultivate talents at grinding. If there is unrest, well if some grinders disappear, who is to say where they went,” Clarissa replied.

“You are creating an escape route for them, to work for you?” I asked.

“Yes. A small group of elites like you, who just want to grind up strength. That is the entire selling point of my organization. We provide information and carry the biggest stick. They just need to focus on getting stronger. And we don’t even want taxes until they start grinding in level 5 zones,” Clarissa explained.

“That high? I would have thought level 4?” I asked.

“At combat level 4, they will be invited and directed to the best zones for grinding. By then I will have an airship and with my portable store, they can be directly resupplied in the field through a mobile command center,” Clarissa explained.

“Risking moving about?” I asked.

“Better to be mobile than stuck in one place where I can be targeted. It will take years, but eventually this place will be found. Better to abandon it and travel around by airship. Just like you are looking at the next step for grinding, I am looking at the next step for security,” she replied.

“How will people meet up? Once you are traveling?” I asked.

“We can arrange set points at certain times. But staying on the move is quite useful,” Clarissa replied.

“Even with the insane costs?” I asked.

“That’s why I am looking to get people to combat level 5 before helping out.” I shook my head.

“Then they will get their own airships,” I replied.

“They might. But then I can use a pirate model. Anyone who isn’t part of my organization, I take out their airship. Acting as a gatekeeper to grinding in higher level zones,” Clarissa explained.

“That is clever. You have enough personal strength, so it would be possible. You really have thought through everything,” I replied.

“And these low agents, they will be informed that a growth weapon and a portable store are the best items. If one of them gets one, then they will be removed and their equipment taken,” Clarissa explained and I nodded at this.

Going heavy handed like the Divine Empress would only create resentment and trouble. Like trying to keep a lid on a boiling pot. You constantly had to hold it down and watch it. Clarissa was watching the likely trouble makers, the leaders both in the cities and grinding. As long as she kept a clear head about the people gaining strength, either recruiting or eliminating them, then it would be a stable long term system.

I would probably have to make an experience to show the power behind Clarissa. That way the people didn’t get any ideas about challenging her or making trouble. But having access to all the information without having to lift a finger was more than enough before considering anything created by meta-points.