Then, with a faint shimr and a soft pop, the 5 specialized skeletons materialized before Karl. They stood taller, their bone structures more refined, their movents already hinting at a purpose beyond simple labor. Above each of their heads, a glowing UI elent displayed: [ Level 10 ].
Karl’s eye sockets widened, a genuine flicker of awe passing through them. "Hoooo... now that’s a skilled worker," he murmured, his dry voice betraying a hint of admiration. He ordered them to stay at the top floor for now, a ntal command that sent them clattering away in unison. Their steps were fluid, almost graceful, a stark contrast to the clumsy shuffle of the basic workers.
As they moved, Karl’s thoughts shifted. He checked his System status. Command Limit: 12/12. He frowned, or the skeletal equivalent. "Hmmm... that didn’t solve my problem though," he mused. "How do I increase my command limit?" He needed more hands, more specialized labor, if his industrial empire was to truly flourish. He opened the System Shop again, his eye sockets scanning the categories, already envisioning the complex, automated factory of his dreams.
The System Shop interface glowed, presenting its wares. Karl scrolled, his gaze quickly locking onto the "Personal Upgrades" and "Specialty" sections.
[ 🧱 STRUCTURE UPGRADES ]
[ Lumber Yard Efficiency Mk. I - Cost: 50 NP ]
[ Builder’s Yard Upgrade – Multi-Task Protocols - Cost: 70 NP ]
[ Storage Bay Expansion - Cost: 40 NP ]
[ Workshop Auto-Sorting Tool Bench - Cost: 60 NP ]
[ Mine Depth Booster I - Cost: 85 NP ]
[ PERSONAL UPGRADES ]
[ ntal Bandwidth Expansion (Lv. 1) ]
[ "Process more minions without the nosebleeds." ]
[ 5 Minion Slots ]
[ Cost: 100 NP ]
[ Command Efficiency Protocols ]
[ "Reduces micro-managing. Skeletons get creative. Scary, but productive." ]
[ Cost: 75 NP ]
[ Crafting Intuition ]
[ "You now instinctively know if that sword design is hot garbage." ]
[ Enables Passive Design Quality Rating ]
[ Cost: 55 NP ]
[ 🎁 SPECIALTY ]
[ Atmosphere Module: Dungeon Aroma Vents - Cost: 30 NP ]
[ Golem Janitor Protocol - Cost: 45 NP ]
[ Skilled Blue-Collar Worker Pack I (x5 Units) ]
[ Includes: 2 Miner, 2 Hauler, Builder ]
[ Cost: 120 NP ]
His eye sockets imdiately fixated on "Skilled Blue-Collar Worker Pack I" and "ntal Bandwidth Expansion (Lv. 1)." These were imdiate necessities. He didn’t spend another mont weighing options. He ntally tapped both, confirming the purchase. A sharp, almost physical pang shot through his ethereal form as 220 NP vanished from his balance, leaving him with 810 NP. Poverty, he thought, a dry, bitter taste in his non-existent mouth. He let out a dramatic, rattling sigh, a phantom ache in his chest. Oh, tycoon god, grant rcy, that soday I would be free from this digital destitution.
He shook his skull, dismissing the fleeting self-pity. No ti to waste. He scrolled down, adding the remaining prerequisites for the Mine to his cart: 2 Wooden Wheelbarrows (60 NP) and 10 Iron Spikes (30 NP). Another 90 NP gone. Now he was down to 720 NP. The phantom pain intensified. Investnt, he repeated like a mantra, it’s an investnt. He confird the purchase.
With a series of soft pops, two sturdy wooden wheelbarrows and a glinting pile of iron spikes materialized on the cavern floor. Simultaneously, another 5 sets of specialized skeletons appeared, their bone structures more robust, their movents more purposeful than the basic workers. A System notification flashed, confirming the increase in his command limit, from 12 to 17. He learned that buying these packs was different from a usual summon; they were specialized and, unlike his previous boss who’d made him work overti and do others’ jobs because he was "too kind," these minions couldn’t be reassigned.
Monts later, a chi announced:
[ Mine has finished construction. 25 NP ]
Karl imdiately assigned the 2 specialized miners to the new Mine entrance. He then summoned 2 more new basic skeletons and assigned them to the Mine as well, filling out the remaining slots. The two ore slots – the iron and coal veins from the caves, now part of the Mine – automatically filled up on his UI, glowing green, as long as they were accessible. Karl’s skull tilted. He’d nearly forgotten they needed tools. He hurriedly purchased 4 Iron Pickaxes from the shop (40 NP total), and handed them to the miners. He sighed, a dry, exasperated sound.
Now, he ntally assigned the specialized hauler. He designated a "temporary storage zone" – just an open area on the opposite side of the cavern from the Builder’s Yard and Lumber Yard. The hauler’s task was simple: haul resources from various locations to this storage zone and vice versa. He then bought 2 Leather Backpacks (40 NP) and 2 additional Wheelbarrows (60 NP), which set him back another 100 NP. His NP balance now stood at a asly 580 NP. It’s an investnt, it’s an investnt, he repeated, the mantra feeling less convincing with each dwindling coin.
The haulers, particularly well-built skeletons, imdiately got to work. They donned the backpacks, their bony fingers expertly adjusting the straps, and pushed the wheelbarrows, their bony legs moving with surprising speed as they began efficiently moving resources. The remaining specialized skeleton, the specialized builder, he assigned to the Builder’s Yard, where the sounds of construction had already begun to pick up.
Well, all that was left now was to give the builders sothing else to build. Karl ntally tapped on the structures list. He selected:
[ Basic Blacksmith Forge ]
[ Skeleton Smiths can make simple weapons, armor and slowly refine ores. ]
[ Initial recipes: dagger, short sword, iron plate, helt and iron ingot. ]
[ Unlocks blueprint customization ]
[ Accepts ores from Mines ]
The transparent forge outline appeared in his vision. He walked to the top level, choosing an ideal location, eventually settling on a room right beside the Builder’s Yard. It was a perfect spot for synergy. As he placed the outline, Karl’s skeletal fra slumped, his bony shoulders dropping as he looked at the extensive requirents panel that popped up.
[ 🛠️ Basic Blacksmith & Forge (Starter Tier) ]
[ 🔧 A foundational building that allows the crafting of basic tools, weapons, and armor, as well as tal refinent. ]
[ 🪨 Raw Material Requirents (for Construction) ]
[ 60x Stone (Raw Blocks) – For walls, foundation, and forge bed ]
[ 40x Logs – Structure framing, roof, support ]
[ 20x Clay – Used to create fire-resistant inner lining for the forge ]
[ 20x Coal (or Charcoal) – Initial fuel reserve for slting ]
[ 10x Raw Iron Ore – For crafting starter tools and installing basic fittings ]
[ 10x Plant Fiber Bundles – Binding ropes, insulation ]
[ 🧰 Required Tools & Equipnt (Prerequisite before construction): ]
[ Anvil ]
[ Used for shaping and forging tal parts. ]
[ 2x Blacksmith’s Hamr ]
[ Essential tool for forging. ]
[ 2x Tongs ]
[ Used to handle hot materials safely. ]
[ Crude Bellows ]
[ Optional: Improves forge efficiency. ]
[ 🧑🏭 Recomnded Laborers: ]
[ 1x Blacksmith Minion (or Skilled Worker) ]
[ 1x Assistant or Carrier (Hauls fuel, ore, water, etc.) ]
Karl groaned, a dry, rattling sound deep in his chest. He had no choice but to spend a significant portion of his remaining NP on raw materials and tools he couldn’t produce yet. He sighed, a sound of utter despair, wanting to cry as he weakly purchased every required tool. The NP count on the screen climbed relentlessly. Anvil: 150 NP. Blacksmith’s Hamrs: 40 NP. Tongs: 30 NP. With the last item, the Crude Bellows (25 NP), added, the total purchase ca to 245 NP. He leaned and slumped further against the cold stone wall, his bony fingers trembling as he pressed "Confirm Purchase." His NP balance now stood at a paltry 335 NP.
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