Exlor
You know Ves would fit right at home with the unbounders. Tested on dwarves before check Tested on humans before check Do you find brain explosions common? check Messed with Darling expert pilots check Got some illegal life serum check Used illegal energy weapons check Made illegal doom crawlers that committed genocide check
Every time the author brings up the polymath's record for breaking through to master and star designer and Ves states that there is no way he will break through that quickly, it makes me think he will. Either because of the system or some other factor. Of course that also brings up the question of did the polymath become a star designer on her own or did she have the help of a piece of the metal scroll. It would make so much sense if that was the case and give us hope that ves can replicate or surpass some of her feats, especially her mech designer advancement records.
You know... Ves really should hand out LOTS of his spiritual pets. Enough to prove his "augments" are both safe and effective. And I suspect it will help all his "stuck" Apprentices progress to Journeyman. All those sudden promotions will just make that bribe all the more tasty! (After all, promising to help Jovy to progress when he is a "mere Journeyman" himself is a bit... unconvincing. And handing one to Senior Benedict here might make Ves lose his leverage.) Also... why should Ves pay the life serum for Jovy's augment! Let the MTA do that! Even better if Ves uses up his supply before Jovy bites the bait.