From there Eldrian moved back to the situation of the defense of the city. They had managed to get enough cannons, but the amount of ammunition was not near enough. Currently, if another battle were to happen then they would likely run out of ammo before the battle is decided.

  "We've shifted our focus to creating more, however, we no longer have the raw materials to make even ten a day. I truly do think we should increase our offer." Solvi said.

  "Elizabeth?"

  "If we increase it even slightly the others will immediately realize that it is more than curious buying. Especially considering the amount we have already bought. They are likely already suspicious, hence why the offers have slowed down."

  "Just like the other bastards!" Someone cursed and silence followed.

  "We shouldn't fight or blame others for their greed. It is who they are and we understood this when we reached out to them. No, our focus should be on finding a new source." Eldrian said, trying to keep the meeting productive.

  "Do you think it is that easy?" Another of the not so helpful nobles scoffed.

  "I doubt it is easy, but I wonder why we have not contacted the dwarves?" Eldrian replied.

  "That……" Sofiera sighed, she was the only one here who had actually been in Pelaros's circle for a long enough time to understand the reason.

  "They have their own worries, and our agreement has always been one of equal trade. In this situation, I fear that they might not consider the trade equal or beneficial to their situation."

  "It is still worth trying." Eldrian countered, "I'll be heading to the Ganalin mountains after today. However, I will need someone to introduce me."

  "I'll go." Solvi stepped forward, "I haven't been home since my apprenticeship. I think it is time."

  "And I will come too." Sanja said, "While you might have been given the role of acting mayor, you are not from the kingdom. We will need someone of the kingdom to represent the kingdom."

  Eldrian didn't quite get it, but since she had been helpful he felt that her reasons should be coming from a good place. With that, the meeting was mostly finished. After talking about a few more topics, Eldrian returned to his study where Maia had tea and a snack prepared for him.

  'It is strange that I didn't receive a quest during the siege.' Eldrian mumbled, having clarified with Elizabeth that the other players had received a guild guest.

  Deciding that it was time, Eldrian called up his quest list to check on his quests and found that his guild function was inactivated. Most likely he had missed out because he hadn't activated it yet, so he made sure to activate it now.

  However, it was still weird that he hadn't received any quests at all. Not when he joined the first battle, not when he started helping in the crafting of the cannons, not when the second assault began nor when he became mayor.

  He also found that his quest as Boran's Apprentice had been removed. The Taurus relief mission was still active, but the reward had changed. He no longer had the option of receiving levels from the quest, actually, he would get no XP either. Just the pay, which hadn't been paid since almost the start of all this.

  'Strange, I've no idea why that would have changed. The most likely reason would be due to how I am now entering this world and no longer completely part of the player system…… I still don't understand what XP is entirely.'

  Eldrian wanted to confirm this, so he sent Elizabeth a message asking whether she had received any quests.

  'So, outside of the guild quest, she also got one when Itireae handed her the list. Then, did I not receive the quest because I didn't take the list, or…… Regardless, it seems XP is going to be harder to secure going forward. Was really looking forward to the level rewards of quests……'

  Luckily, during the siege, he had indirectly killed plenty of enemies -and some allies accidentally- through the three cannonballs. The undead he killed by leading the Vodi didn't count as his kills but the kills from the cannonballs did as they were considered weapons.

  All in all, he had gained around eight billion XP. Shooting his level up to level 41, and thanks to not dying it actually stayed there.

  Eldrian smirked as he realized it was the first time where he had gained plenty of XP without needing to sacrifice himself. Though, it had been close.

  'Let's wait on using the free attributes. Or maybe adding it to spirit will be a good idea?' Eldrian asked the reading Two the second sentence.

  'It will help us keep our cool while constructing the new pathway, but the difference will be minuscule. Right, what have you decided in that regard?'

  'I've been a bit busy, but……' Jumping into his soul, Eldrian summoned a model of his avatar. "I've been thinking that we should make it more like a frame than a network."

  "Why?" Two asked, more to stimulate their creativeness than actually wanting the answer which he already had.

  "If we focus on making a core frame this time around. Solid and modular, then in the future we can add additions without needing to reconstruct everything. I know that was partly the idea last time too, but……"

  "Yeah, it will become too messy too quickly." Two finished the statement as they cleared the simulated model of their current mana pathways.

  "So, I've been thinking instead of trying to follow the veins and arteries, why don't we follow the bones? Or even better, focus the core of the pathways in the bones. Where there is a joint we will make a connection point, allowing smaller additions to be added at those points."

  "As well as runes?"

  "No, runes will be on the main pathways since they require more space. We will add inscriptions to the joints."

  "What about arrays?"

  "In function, they don't apply. Too bulky and requirements aren't the same. However, the principles of formation making should apply."

  Naturally, the fact that they had the same mind/brain was massively beneficial. It allowed them both to know what the other learned and went through. Like they were actually one person, which they were when you think about it.

  They were one person with two distinct consciousness working together. Able to split their focus, but when needed to, basically merge on one topic.

  "I see, interesting blueprint." Two nodded while looking at the framework Eldrian suggested. "There is just one thing, this will focus most of the complexities onto our hands and feet."

  "Yeah, if we were planning to add little else. This is just the start, and just because it is simple in design does not mean that it has to be lacking." Eldrian paused a bit, taking a step back to view the model as a whole. "Good enough."

  "Good enough he says……" Two sighed, "You do realize that this is still an insane amount of work. Do you really think we will be able to make something so complex in one go?"

  "Like I said last time, we have to give it a try."

  AN: A big thank you to everyone who continues to read and support the story on WN.