Chapter 255 Ether Powder
Below the wheel, there was a spin option with 1000 credits cost. Thankfully, there was no cooldown timer.
The eight metals are Adamantium (200 gold coins), Mithril (100 gold coins), Celestial Bronze (500 gold coins), Neosteel (60 gold coins), Orichalcum (20 gold coins), Trinium (28 gold coins), Plutonium (15 gold coins), and Radium (180 gold coins).
Compared to the mining of these rare metals, 1000 credits cost was too cheap but the problem arrives after it lands on something.
For example, once the arrow landed on Adamantium, the mining will start with extracting 1gm of metal per hour continuously, which means Mark would be able to earn more than 8.7kg of Adamantine if he doesn't touch the mining system for a whole year.
However, he can't mine them for free. Each metal has a price written on it. Adamantium costs 200 gold coins per gm. So, even if he patiently extracts 8.7 kg, Mark still has to pay more than 1.7 million gold coins. Every time he mines something, he will get charged in the form of debt. And every debt has an interest attached to it.
"Oh, there are radioactive ones as well? But, there is no uranium? Depleted uranium would be very useful for making great ammunition. Anyway, I should worry more about the debt rather than the availability of those items.
Of the metals, I worked with plutonium and radium. I could make radium bombs but it is a bit of a risky project. Plutonium is easier to work but to work with them, I need the proper equipment. As for the other metals, I might have to study them properly in order to use them in weapon manufacturing. When my business is done here, I will start my research. Until then, let's keep it away.
Anyway, let's see what I will get."
Depending on his 7 points of luck, Mark proceeded to click on the spin.
The wheel spun for a while before it stopped on a cheap one.
*Ding! Congratulations, you unlocked Trinium ore. Proceed with the extraction or spin again with half the price (500 credits)?
"Proceed with the extraction," replied Mark.
The section with Trinium metal was painted sky blue, indicating that the process started in the background.
Mark closed down the window and shifted his attention back to the weapons. He then asked, "System, what is your offer for the weapon's prototypes?"
The system responded immediately.
*Tigon 1 – 1000 credits
*Tigon 2 – 500 credits
*Tigon 3 – 5000 credits
*Tigon 4 – 10000 credits
*Tigon 5 – 2000 credits
*Tigon 5A – 8000 credits
*Tigon 2A – 800 credits
*Tigon 1A – 2000 credits
"So, a total of 29300 credits, huh! It is less than what I expected." Mark was a little bit unsatisfied with the offer but the system was ready to give its explanation.
*Ding! Credits are offered based on how unique the innovation is compared to normal weapons, how complex its design is, and how powerful it can be.
Mark readily understood what the system was trying to tell but he didn't mind it either way. After all, he designed those weapons for only one purpose, which is to finish the main quest-III and receive an ether weapon. Considering how the system had recognized gunpowder as a type of weapon, he now had completed those ten weapon designs.
However, he wouldn't sell them to the system, right away, as the mandatory quest of getting the second spirit path will require him to sell one of each type of weapon in the gallery except for exclusive ones.
Why should he add eight more and make the quest more difficult? Thinking that way, Mark quietly kept all of them in his inventory and decided to sell them at a later date.
After exiting the testing ground, Mark's spirit returned to the factory where the other two robots also joined the third one in mass-producing the bullets.
Until now, about two boxes were filled (~3000), and it will take a few days for completion but Mark also knew that 100 kg of lead will not be enough for 200,000. He only placed less amount of lead as an order because he doesn't know the price. Now that he knew that Lead slabs come very cheap in this world too (42 silver coins per 1 kg slab), mainly because of its usage for nothing but paintings to everyone else, he decided to make a big order, soon enough.
"Okay then, let's finish the main quest, right away." Mark proceeded to take one of the 9mm bullets and let the system analyze it too.
*
Lead bullet
Type: ammunition
Caliber: 9x19mm
Description: A cheaper version of the system's tungsten/lead bullet. The 9mm bullet is powerful enough to kill a civilian and can injure a 1-circle realm Spirit Warrior.
System's rating: 9.1
And to test the bullet, he doesn't need to go to the testing grounds. He just took out the ether pistol and placed one bullet in the cylindrical chamber and shot at his whole hand from point-blank range. With 5 points of defense, he wasn't worried about getting injured by a 9mm bullet.
*Bang*
Because of the black powder, a bit of smoke escaped from the gun while his hand stung slightly. As for the bullet, it bounced off and fell on the ground just like the cartridge.
Looking at his palm where a slight ting of redness appeared, Mark nodded in satisfaction, "alright."
*Ding! You successfully invented the Lead bullet (9x19mm). You received 100 experience points.
*Ding! You completed the main quest III. Go to the quest list to claim the rewards.
*Ding! Do you wish to sell the prototype (copyrights) to the system for 100 credits?
"And how much the system will sell it to the public?" asked Mark in response.
*Ding! 8 silver coins per each.
"No," Mark rejected it right away upon reading the recommended price. He knew that the system gave a higher price because a bullet is rare in the world and only he can make it properly unlike gunpowder, which can be created by any alchemist out there that figured out the right ingredients and ratio.
At the same time, he should also fulfill one of the conditions of the mandatory quest where he should sell a weapon that isn't designed or manufactured by the system. If he sells the copyright, then, it will no longer be his.
Why bother for a mere 100 credits when he can mass-produce without doing much work?
After rejecting its offer, Mark placed one of the boxes in his inventory and opened the Quest list.
**
MAIN QUESTS:
Main Quest I: Sell a total of 10000 firearms (In progress: 947/10000)
Reward: Submachine gun (All models)
*
Main Quest II: Become Rank-6
Reward: Host's share increases to 70% permanently, and 16000 credits.
*
Main Quest III: Create ten types of weapons at the factory. (Completed)
Reward: A random ether version of the host's designed weapon
**
SIDE QUESTS:
Side Quest I: Earn a total of 1 million gold coins from selling the weapons created by the system excluding ammunition (In progress – 1.4%)
Reward: Ether sniping rifle (silver grade), Ether assault rifle (silver grade)
*
Side Quest II: Expand the business to 10 cities and sell atleast 1000 weapons through each branch excluding ammunition. (In progress – 0%)
Reward: Upgrade crystal (superior)
*
Side Quest III: Spend a total of 500000 credits (In progress: 126900/500000)
Reward: Amulet of Diyu
*
Side Quest IV: Tame ten monsters (4/10)
Reward: Taming skill
**
He clicked on the quest. Only after that did he suddenly realize something. He didn't even register the weapons with the system, yet. How could he get an ether version of the weapon?
"Wait…"
*Ding! Only two weapons designed by the host were registered in the system.
Upon seeing the notification, Mark realized that he fucked up because those two are none other than gunpowder and Chimera SGM. If he earns the latter, he will be fortunate but what if it is the former? But then again, can there be an ether version of gunpowder? Even if there was, will it be any use other than being a substitute? He wondered. And just as he feared, he received the product right away.
*Ding! You unlocked ether powder. Check out the gallery for details.
"Sh*t" He slapped his forehead for not being able to turn lucky and also making a bad choice. "If I only realized it before, I would have sold a couple of prototypes."
As he can't change the past anyway, Mark chose not to blame himself and move forward.
"System, Open Gallery"
He scrolled for a bit and stopped on the image of white powder that is next to gunpowder. "This must be the ether powder."
He clicked on it. Immediately, his eyes widened, "What the…"