Around noon, the Nobles started showing up for the garden party, and Mary had good news. Her parents were at home and willing to talk with Cain. Her slightly nervous appearance said Mary was hiding something important from him, but he could sort that out later, once it came time to negotiate.
After breakfast, Cain had taken some time to bring out his inscription desk and fill in Cyrene's Totem abilities since she could now use Shaman books. He also added an [Area Healing] Totem to his own skills. Just in case he ended up somewhere without his summons handy, it couldn't hurt to take a little precaution and expand his abilities.
The last item he wanted to create was a book for Mary. The one that began his path to greatness, [Summon Cloning]. The inscription desk was the only way he could get it done since it was an S Rank book. He had borrowed Guru level inscription from merging with an Inscriptionist Summon but didn't know or likely have the materials needed to make the book in permanent form.
They weren't officially allies yet, but Cain liked her attitude, so he was willing to help Mary along the way and give her the advantage. For some reason, the Elf made Misha territorial, a notion which he would have to correct later, but Cain was sure that Mary would make good use of the help he was willing to give her.
He slowly completed the textbook that a Rank S skill comes from, spending the rest of the time between breakfast and the party making a single copy before calling Mary over.
"Mary, I have a gift for you. I hope you'll appreciate and make good use of it; it's one of my most precious skills. [Summon Cloning]." Cain handed her the heavy tome, and Mary stared at it in awe.
Such a gift was worth more than her family's ship. She wasn't lying about being poor merchants; her parents weren't great at business to begin with and had recently lost almost everything to pirates.
They had managed to keep their vessel afloat, but they'd been hauling mostly small margin herbs and food between Continents for years, kept out of the Armor and valuables markets by stronger Guilds that controlled the ports.
Now, Cain was giving her such a valuable gift, and they'd have to explain that they hauled food between Continents and weren't going to help make the Guild rich.
"I am not sure I can accept this. It is far too valuable, I mean, a skill book that doubles summons? That's crazy. No wonder you're so overpowered, and it explains why you chose Lord as your first tree."
"It is yours now; use it quickly since that copy will decay if you don't. It's a form of security to keep the book from falling into the wrong hands." A small lie; it's just a feature of the Inscription Desk he uses that is intended for students making their skill books.
It was more likely designed to prevent students from cheating and sharing their successes.
Mary uses the book before Cain can change his mind, then turns and grabs Paige in a bone-crushing hug. "Did you see? He made me an S Ranked skill. I've got an actual S Ranked Summoning skill."
Mary spins the elegantly dressed Princess in a happy circle while Cain tries not to laugh.
"Even happy tears smudge your makeup, ladies. Hope about we join the garden party? There are a lot of Nobles here already, and it looks like my Companions are having a grand time."
That's an understatement. Nemu plays along with a band that Cain recognizes as locals from Long Fang City. Mythryll and Nila are dancing, and Vala is animatedly talking about something with a group of Knights, while Laura and Evangeline play tag with some of the flying Beastkin.
"You've got a good thing going here, don't you?" Paige asks, looking at the celebration.
"It was a bit of a mess at the start; I'm sure the cook told you about the succession wars. But things are settled now, and Skyview is slowly becoming more stable. We've even mostly dealt with their most troublesome neighbor."
"Oh, the slave merchants that were mentioned at the party. That bit was your doing as well? The Nobles at the party said you'd hired Mercenaries, but I didn't believe you could afford such a strong force." Paige answered, looking deep in thought.
"A unique skill from my newest class. Third Advancement Summoners are no joke. I've sent a clone of myself there to cause chaos. Even if they kill it, they haven't won; I can simply send another." Cain explains, and the Elven Princess shakes her head.
"No wonder there are rumors about you putting half the continent under your protection. It's like being everywhere at once. But what sort of insane skill lets you give the ability to Summon to everyone you know?"
Misha, who had just come over to see what they were up to, burst into laughter. "It is a Guild Skill called [Benevolent Leader]. It sounds simple, just sharing a single class skill with your guild. It has to be gained from a class change or skill tree, nothing that came from a book or quest. But for a Puppet Master, that includes all their basic summons."
"That makes sense. I've seen a Guild with something similar; they use it so they can all have healing auras, which stack when they're close together, so they can send just Rangers and Warriors out into the jungle to hunt."
That's a perfect way to use the skill for a Guild that's short on healers. Plus, it would make any hunting party or raid happy to have their members. A healing aura on a front-line warrior is ideally placed to help those who take the most damage.
The chef has just brought out trays of chocolate-filled baklava when Mary's parents arrive, heavily scarred and dressed to go sailing, along with one more young Elven man.
"Sorry for the delay; Manuel here was at the new clinic in Munan; the doctor there made space to sneak him in between Nobles." Juan, Mary's father, explains, making everyone laugh.
Mary runs forward to hug the group. "They're not laughing at your misfortune. The Doctor you went to see is a Puppet Created by Duke Cain. I take it the attack was bad this time?"
