Excerpt from The Profound and Pretty Princess' Ultimate Guide to Cultivation, Captivation, Cuteness, and Carving Your Way to the Top, English Edition (the worst-selling guide in the history of Putijama)

On AAI Guarantees (BORING!)

While Artificial Assistive Intelligence (AAI) chips are seen as the end-all, be-all for delvers given their many functions in and out of battle – you really need to check out their cooking assistance module; that Struva chicken recipe is amazing! – the creation and enforcement of AAI guarantees may be the most helpful for non-delving life.

We'll call them AAIGs going forward, sound fun?

There are some truly draconian policies around AAIs because if guarantees are allowed to be broken without consequences, it would cause chaos. A large portion of commerce across the Verdant Kingdom and Putijama itself would be at risk.

The owner of an AAI – which might not be the person whose head it's in. YIKES! – is able to offer a guarantee that will be monitored by these wonderful little chips if the agreement is forward-looking and can also be used to verify a statement of what happened in the past, as long as the chip was monitoring the situation. See below for more information on mooches – those who have an AAI chip but don't own it.

What Type of AAIGs are Allowed?

AAIGs are useful for providing testimony after the fact or ensuring someone does not take certain actions going forward. AAIGs are not allowed to be used for something such as feelings that are truly impossible to define and/or monitor. An AAIG may be 'I will not cheat on you' but not 'I will always love you'.

'I won't think about the neighbor's amazing Struva chicken' is another that would not be acceptable, even if understandable.

There are simply impossible AAIGs that are also not allowed or deemed acceptable. 'I will not fart ever again' is just something that isn't going to happen and the AAI will simply reject the guarantee.

People do come up with unique guarantees all the time though!

Many people who are part of certain organizations, such as city guard, the military, and certain government bodies, are not able to give AAIGs without approval in order to prevent blackmail as much as possible. AAIGs are private unless shared by either party. Most AAIGs are able to be freely shared with others unless otherwise specified in the AAIG or, more commonly, in a second AAIG that says 'I won't share the content of the upcoming AAIG'. Secrecy is fun and confusing, right?

As noted more below, most AAIGs with a forward-looking guarantee have a specific time limit. Some of this is simply because it is impossible for an AAI to monitor guarantees for a significant period of time but also to prevent anyone from issuing long-term, exceptionally prohibitive contracts.

AAIs also attempt to assess the fairness of an AAIG in general and may reject an AAIG simply if the wording is too strict or seems over-the-top. These can be appealed to an anonymous council (see below).

Lastly, AAIGs usually will not 'take' if they are initiated under duress. The person initiating them can accept with a flag to review. And even if the AAIG did take, it can be appealed.

There are some unscrupulous people who attempt to leverage this loophole by giving a guarantee they don't plan to keep and then trying to get it thrown out. Estimates say 80% who try it end up dead within a few days. Fuck around and find out.

Monitoring of AAIGs

AAIs monitor the behavior of their user to ensure compliance with any currently active guarantees. Without powerful modules, most AAIs are only able to ensure compliance for three to five years on any guarantee. And significantly restrictive AAIGs usually only last six months. Those powerful modules require mana to maintain so most do not choose to go that route other than merchants.

Most people who offer AAIGs have their AAIs set to alert them should they be about to violate an AAIG. It can sometimes be a life-saving reminder.

Any likely violation of a guarantee is reported to the Planetary AI at the first possible moment, even overriding any settings by the violator, for further assessment. Most assessments are deemed valid by the Planetary AI before a potential violation can go to an arbitrator.

Penalties for Breaking an AAIG

Should a guarantee be broken, the consequences are steep. They usually include all the aspects below unless the guarantee states a lesser penalty:

1) The Kingdom is immediately informed, as is a general council of highly anonymous independent auditors. Each council is set up randomly by the Planetary AI. The council will review the seriousness of the AAIG and the infraction.

1a) For non-commercial infractions, there is usually a fine with a minimum of 25 gold. If the person is unable to pay, they are sentenced to hard labor, usually helping to clear resources from rifts and/or mining. The general idea is that if someone has an AAI, they should have enough money to pay off a fine.

1b) For breaking an AAIG related to commerce, politics, or anything in a similar vein, they are almost always deemed a 'serious' violation. There is a minimum six month sentence of forced hard labor up to the death penalty depending on the severity.

1c) There are some commerce-related AAIGs that can be violated without penalty. There is generally an implied understanding that while a merchant may attempt to deliver goods, something can happen that is out of their control. Even if the wording isn't perfect, there is a contract for determining what happens rather than throwing someone in jail if their shipment was attacked by bandits.

1d) For cross-Kingdom violations, the penalties are far steeper. If it is a serious offense, it almost always results in a large bounty – as broadcast out by the violator's own AAI – for their capture or death.

Tidbit!: A very cocky former monarch of the Kingdom of Verdant Earth thought he would face no consequences for breaking an AAIG with a minor noble house. He was dead within three minutes. His brother was far wiser.

2) A general 'field of distrust' is created for at least six months around any violator of an AAIG; their AAI broadcasts out to anyone in range that they should not be trusted; anyone with visual guidance turned on will see a big red circle with a slash through it over their face. It's like a Scarlet Letter but not horribly sexist!

3) All people who have previously engaged in a guarantee, either receiving or giving an AAIG, with the individual who violated a guarantee are informed and, based on the rulings of the council, may choose to dissolve their own guarantees with them.

Tidbit!: A merchant that violated an AAIG immediately had hundreds of contracts cancelled, some for goods he paid for but hadn't received yet. That did not go well for him.

3a) In many cases, the AAIGs that are cancelled on someone breaking an AAIG are heavily scrutinized to look for foul play. Some people try to trick people into breaking any AAIG to get out from underneath an existing AAIG but that rarely works. Anything suspicious and the independent review council requires an AAIG that they didn't have a hand in the counterparty breaking the other AAIG.

4) If an AAIG is deemed to be broken, the AAI itself enters a 'super-critical' state and will explode should someone try to remove it before it reports the violation. This is to prevent anything in rifts or someone staying in some kind of array that blocks AAI signals from removing their chip.

4a) There is also an 'assassin' protocol that, should someone violate an AAIG, if the chip is going to be removed by force, it will not explode. How it's able to monitor things that closely, who knows!

5) Depending on the severity, the violator is prevented from issuing any new AAIGs for at least six months but even minor infractions usually result in a two year ban. They may still accept AAIGs from others.

Of course, should someone permanently stay in an AAI-blocking field, their AAI will never communicate a violation back to the Planetary AI. Someone who stays permanently in a blocking field should never be trusted.

There are even small sniffer devices in large cities looking for permanent AAI-blocking fields. Nobles are not allowed to set their AAI restrictions to prevent AAIG violation communication.

Those Without AAIs and Mooches

Should the receiving party of an AAIG not have their own AAI, a guarantee can still be put into place through a tablet equipped with software specific to the task. The person with the AAI will still be beholden to the agreement.

When someone does not own the AAI in their head, they are legally called a loanee, but more colloquially referred to as a mooch. AAIs are often owned by guilds or the military as part of a payment plan with the mooch, either through money or service.

In a situation with a mooch, the 'owner' may not attempt to coerce the mooch to create or accept a guarantee against their will. Doing so immediately means ownership of the AAI transfers to the mooch and they are a mooch no longer.

There is a much higher degree of scrutiny on AAIGs involving mooches. A mooch may attempt to initiate an AAIG but there must be approval by the owner. This can be tricky if someone is trying to assert they are speaking truthfully.

AAIGs are not to be taken lightly! Enter into anything forward-looking at your own risk!

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

As Gema walked with me down the hall towards the spell testing area, I had to turn and ask what this was all about. "I don't really get what the plan is here. Is it really just people get to cast spells at me? That sounds so petty and childish."

She laughed deeply. "There are many, many, many that are still mad at Cornelius. He broke oh so many hearts, bank accounts, and beds."

Yet again, the man who was summoned from another world like me, and whose body was essentially the same as mine, caused me trouble. Trouble that he was able to slip away from and all fell on me. I was getting very tired of dealing with the messes left in his wake, especially since he was basically a high-end prostitute.

His line of work left far worse messes than most.

"Oh great, so I'm a stand in for them to vent their rage? I guess I don't understand why this is so valuable to you."

She laid a hand on my arm like I was a simpleton. "They're rich."

Fair… Rich people want to vent their anger and will pay top dollar to do so. It's like a rage room but I'm the cheap pottery.

"Did they pay to get in? I'm curious of the logistics."

Gema laughed, a slightly creepy noise. "Thinking of setting up your own show? These are my best clients and they will be trying out a few new spells. Some of our team's best new experiments, creations, gems."

Didn't answer the question.

I stopped just outside the doors. "Wait, are these Tier 5 spells?" I wasn't exactly comfortable with being the target for someone casting something quite that powerful.

"A few. Though no attack spells above Tier 4. I expect mostly Tier 1 to Tier 3 attacks. Each has a mana allotment. And it's quite small, insignificant, tiny. Of course, should they wish to purchase another allotment…"

I asked her to go over the safety precautions a second time so I was comfortable.

After an AAI-backed guarantee that no one had ever been seriously injured in the spell testing area since she'd taken over the establishment, I felt satisfied. There was also a rather large fine of 500 gold should it happen to me.

As I opened the doors to the spell testing area, I was anticipating the haphazard setup of the previous visit, small tables strewn throughout the large facility.

Instead, the entire room, as large as a school gymnasium, was essentially cleared with a small raised plinth for me to stand on. An easy and immobile target as angry, rich people cast their spells.

I shuddered involuntarily.

There was a large crowd waiting, milling around a table of refreshments, drinks in hand. Gema had made it seem like it wouldn't reach two dozen but there were nearly 50 people. A few had on domino masks to protect their anonymity. However, I saw a pile of the masks on the floor near the tables with the refreshments.

Not sure how to feel. On the one hand, if they don't care about their identities being known, they likely won't act out of turn. On the other, if it's a mob that all know each other… I think it will be fine.

Some cheersed at my entrance, glasses held high. Others gave me a determined look like they were facing off with me in a fighting arena. A few shot winks my way, much to my consternation.

And front and center was Selim Koval, a sneer across his face and a flush across his cheeks. Clearly, he had been partaking of the provided wine. He crushed the domino mask in his hand.

The man who had ruined my first trip to Pitola, putting me in significant danger, looked like he might start yelling.

Luckily for me, he didn't say anything. On a second glance, I saw there was a deeper hurt there instead of just anger.

Glad I changed my hair up. Maybe people will go a bit easier on me since I don't look exactly like Cornelius.

Gema placed a firm hand on my back and guided me to the wide pedestal. I agreed that the setup would at least make it even more of a show.

"Hello all, I hope you are enjoying the refreshments, the libations, the wine," Gema said in a firm voice. "As promised, we have a large number of new gems for you all to test. And of course, you need a target." She gestured vaguely in my direction. "Use your mana allotment wisely."

I stepped up onto the plinth as staff members brought in table after table stacked with wands. Tabita, the woman who had acted as my bodyguard the last time I was at Gema's, also walked out to stand by me.

"Glad it's you and not me," she said with a smile before retreating away a few paces.

A rather drunk woman grabbed a wand and swung it my way. Gema's hand raised with lightning speed and a barrier formed in the way. The fired beam dashed harmlessly against the green shimmering wall in the air.

Two staff members grabbed the woman and dragged her out. She wasn't allowed to return.

"This is a demonstration, not an execution. Any more like that and we're all done," Gema called over the murmurs of the crowd. All her previous mirth was gone and her face was flushed in anger. She flicked her hand at me.

I felt a rising buzzing sensation as a barrier formed, tight against my body. I poked the mostly transparent flickering yellow magical construct at my wrist, receiving a small shock.

Gema gestured to the first table. "Standard Tier 1s. Just to get a feel. Throw as many as you can, he can take it," she said, trying to inject a bit of levity but failing.

At least ten people picked up a wand and turned towards me. Before everyone could start casting at once, Gema called out again. "One at a time. You can watch the outcome of your specific spell. More fun that way."

A line formed and the pelting started. Balls of fire, spikes of ice, sparking beams of electricity, and more started smashing against the barrier.

I stood there, letting the spells splash harmlessly against the barrier. After the fifteenth spell, the barrier broke and Gema recast it before letting more spells fly my way.

[Incoming Message from Gema Raila: You are boring. Put on a show. If they don't believe the spells hurt, then I'll need to turn down the dampening on the barriers to make it true. Yes, I'll make it worth your while.]

[In exchange, I want a meeting with Selim Koval. Guaranteed safety but no one else in the room. Tonight.]

[Incoming Message from Gema Raila: That is two of your favors called in.]

It was steep but worth it.

I nodded to her and received a message of [Consider it done.].

When there was business to be done and when an ethereal nature didn't suit the goal, Gema was quite straightforward.

I started hamming it up, grunting and groaning as each spell struck my barrier, even acting hurt on the few spells that weren't attack oriented.

I received another message to tone it down after Gema made a show of tuning the barrier as if she'd put it down too low.

Surprisingly, despite the ridiculousness of the situation, I started to have fun.

When the crowd moved on to the Tier 2 spells though, I didn't need to act quite as much. The barrier stopped anything magical, so the spells didn't exactly do damage, but some of the kinetic force still transferred through.

A particularly well-aimed spear of stone hit my knee and my leg slipped out, knocking me off my small raised stage.

If anything, that just egged a few people on that much more. The more sloshed they were, the more they seemed to aim for my crotch, knees, or face. One woman kept trying to hit my chest with a spell to freeze opponents and swearing when it didn't seem to work.

A few of the people seemed to have a competition for the cheesiest lines to shout while casting at me. My favorite was probably 'take that, you mangy cur!'

I started dodging as well, mostly just trying to sway out of the way if I could, which a few took as a challenge.

All throughout, Selim seemed to be getting madder and madder, staring me down but very rarely taking up a wand himself. His companion for the evening had ditched him to his sulking corner. Instead, the companion was one of the most active casters, aiming exclusively for my crotch.

[Incoming Message from Gema Raila: More anger than I anticipated. Good opportunity. Draw more spells and I'll pay you handsomely. Contract]

I looked over the contract Gema sent me while trying my best to maintain my balance. It was pretty difficult to do while getting pushed around slightly by the spells. A few people noticed, aiming for my distracted face.

[Current Mana Usage for Group: 26,186/44,000 initial allotment

Additional mana purchases: seven total from six people

If total mana purchases in the next two bells reach or surpass 40, you will be entitled to one purchase of any Tier 1 skill in Gema's possession for 100 gold.

Deal offer expires in <seven minutes>.]

I quickly set a clock in my AAI to count down as I considered what she'd sent. Clearly, this event was a money maker just from casting the spells, not only the sale of skills afterward, and she wanted me to try to extract more from the drunk, rich assholes.

It was sneaky of Gema to send it while I was being pelted but I wasn't born yesterday. For either life.

I debated back and forth while spells continued to hit me. I knew when I made the original agreement for [Hasty Retreat] with Gema that 'help us showcase our spells' was likely to be at least a bit misleading of wording.

However, I couldn't have imagined anything quite so crazy.

But the more I thought about the night, the more it felt embarrassing for everyone but me.

Definitely for the people so furious at someone that looked like me that they wanted to spend a significant amount of money to flick their hand repeatedly to address that.

God, do I need to invent therapy here? Is that a trope?

Then there were people there for a novel time, just something weird to do. It felt like they were laughing with the event, like I was. But they still participated.

I sent Gema a reply. [Reset the timer for negotiation, we're doing tiered rewards. At 20 mana purchases, I get one purchase of a Tier 1 skill for 50 gold. At 30, I get two purchases for 50 gold. At 40, I get one purchase of a Tier 1 and one purchase of a Tier 2 for 50. Every ten mana purchases beyond that, I get an additional Tier 1 purchase for 50 gold. I can trade two Tier 1 purchases for a Tier 2 purchase. And the purchases are transferable. Lastly, 'in Gema's possession' is vague. It needs to be worded so it is anything the company, not just you, can sell.]

We went back and forth and I caught her trying to sneak terms past me like it only covered incremental mana purchases after we agreed, not including those that had already happened.

In the end, we settled on a purchase of a Tier 1 skill at 75 gold for every fifteen additional purchases starting at 25 and if we hit 75 in total, I would also get a free Tier 3 skill.

I even sent a little table for us to make sure we were aligned. [25 = 1 purchase; 40 = 2 purchases; 55 = 3 purchases; 70 = 4 purchases; 75 = 4 purchases + free Tier 3 spell]

She clarified that purchases were only Tier 1 spells and I laughed since I wasn't trying to sneak anything past her.

It wasn't perfect, but it might mean I could give both myself and Steve a skill if I just leaned into the joke of the crazy event a bit more, really drawing as many spells as possible.

This might backfire if anyone here is important. I hope they see the humor in it too.

Gema absolutely refused to give me a guest list so I could see just who had a potential grudge with my 'twin'.

If my AAI allowed recording I probably could have run their pictures by people like Alexandra Podlipa, the former Pitola noble now on the Velez Council, but Gema's Grand Gems didn't allow recording at all for anyone but Gema herself.

Before agreeing, I added a final clause: inform everyone after the event I was told to put on an act. She seemed surprised and refused at first but acquiesced once I said it was an all-or-nothing clause. Her only stipulation was that the message be sent the next day. She wanted to leverage the drunken stupor to sell as many skills as possible that night and thought letting them know it was a joke might dampen the mood.

My thinking was if I started acting like a fool, these people – clearly those with means – might actually start to dislike or even hate me instead of my body double.

Given my desire to round out my kit, and especially Steve's, with a spell or two, I hearkened back to my storied acting career, a few bit parts in a friend's terrible horror and comedy movies.

I tested the barrier to see if it would protect me from damage if I fell to the floor. The answer was 'at least a bit'.

Thus began a show of immense fatigue, pretending like each incremental hit was sapping me that little bit more, going down to one knee before rising back up defiantly.

A few of the people showed at least a modicum of concern so I started trying to challenge them, to show them I was arrogant like Cornelius. One woman seemed angry enough that she rushed me, looking like she wanted to throw a punch, only held back by my guard Tabita.

Okay, a bit too far. Rein it in.

Once we graduated to the Tier 3 attack spells, things started to devolve quickly. I was pelted repeatedly with spells flinging everything from bullets made of ice, to conjured daggers, to dinner plates hurled with telekinetic force, to small meteors.

It went on and on, though it was slightly mesmerizing to watch the spells materialize something from nothing.

A few of the wands were duds, the newly created spells not functioning exactly how Gema and team expected.

My barrier shattered after about every third cast of an attack spell. That was apparently a massive precaution: if the barrier couldn't easily withstand two hits from the most powerful attack spell of whichever Tier spell it was currently tuned to, it would shatter to make sure a fresh barrier was applied. I was comfortable with that margin of error.

Gema was giving me a live total of mana purchases and we were at 37. Three more and I would have another spell to buy on the cheap.

We took a short break after the Tier 1 through Tier 3 attack spells for everyone to read up on what they'd just been casting at me and to retune the room to deal with Tier 4 attack spells while I was given leave to go and relax in another room.

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