Babel

After separating from his Party, Linnaeus moved with purposeful intent as he deftly navigated various back alleys and lesser-trespassed roads. He wasn't fond of wasting time, so, while he had the intention of luring out his enemies, his primary goal was to investigate the previous evening's fire.Though it didn't seem to have anything to do with them, the encounter with Khö had rekindled his suspicions. There was no way a Bapho's presence could be ignored, but, more importantly, Linnaeus hadn't heard anything about Khö's existence when he collected information the prior evening.Linnaeus had paid the portly owner of the hostel to provide information, so it didn't make sense for the man to overlook mentioning the fact there was a Bapho working in his establishment. That wasn't something you just forgot to mention, making it seem as though the man hadn't actually known she would be making an appearance during the morning hours...In order to ascertain the truth, Linnaeus wanted to learn more about the incident leading up to the fire. There were bound to be people still talking about the relatively recent event, so, using the opportunity he had been given, Linnaeus decided to take full advantage of his circumstances.Fortunately, whoever had been assigned to tail him didn't seem that competent, causing Linnaeus to feel as if he had lost them a couple of times along the way. While there was no way to ascertain whether or not this was the truth, as he had been unable to identify them, Linnaeus always trusted his instinct when it came to such things. He had spent much of his life being hunted by others, so, even if it was derived from his paranoia, it had kept him alive.Eventually, Linnaeus reached the section of the bazaar that had been burned down. He wasn't surprised by the fact that, even after such devastating fire, there were many merchants still trying to do business in the area. Some even seemed to be playing the part of victims, despite the fact they had no shops affected by the rampant flames...While waiting for his Party to catch up, Linnaeus spent his time profiling all the faces in the area. It wasn't 'normal' for people to linger around the site of a fire, so, while some people wandered out of curiosity, the majority had a 'reason' for being there.If you spent a lot of time watching people, it wasn't difficult to identify patterns that revealed their intentions. This was especially true for criminals and those involved in information trafficking as, compared to normal people, they were simply 'too good' at pretending to behave normally. This was enough to fool pedestrians and those who went about their business without minding such things, but, after seeing the same behaviors hundreds of times, it was almost too easy to notice when something amiss was taking place behind the scenes.By the time Eliza, Emilia, and Krone neared his position, Linnaeus had identified at least thirteen people that seemed to be investigating the area. He had also ascertained that they were part of three different groups, with the largest consisting of eight people. The other five were cautiously observing this larger group, but, based on their positioning and how they proactively avoided each other, it was easy to see they weren't part of the same organization...With a less-than-enthused expression on her face, Eliza approached until she was only a short distance away from Linnaeus before complaining, "We didn't find anyone. Even Emilia wasn't able to pick up anything."Nodding her head in response to Eliza's words, Emilia added, "I followed your scent closely while keeping an eye on the rooftops. We did see a group wandering around, but they weren't going in the same direction as you."Hearing the reports of the two girls, Linnaeus fell into silent contemplation before explaining his own views, stating, "I felt as though I had lost the person tailing me at several junctions. I tried to wait for them in order to reveal their identity, but they seemed to be able to find me again before I could discover their traces. Though unlikely, there is a chance my pursuer has something akin to the Blessing of [Invisibility]..."Though she didn't immediately dismiss the possibility, Emilia lightly hummed before saying, "I would still be able to smell them if that were the case. [Invisibility] only affects the body of its user, meaning they need to be naked to benefit from its use. This makes their scent easier to pick up, as there is nothing to prevent the spread of their pheromones in the surroundings..."As [Invisibility] was one of the better-known Blessings, as many people like to discuss how they would make use of it, even Emilia was aware of its capabilities. This was the reason Linnaeus had said the possibility was slim, stating it was similar to the Blessing of [Invisibility], rather than being one and the same.After bouncing a few more ideas between themselves, all while observing the three groups that seemed to be investigating the fire, Linnaeus and Co were no closer to identifying their enemy.The only things Linnaeus could be relatively certain of was that he had been followed and that the person following him wasn't that skilled, at least when it came to tracking. They were, however, very adept at keeping themselves concealed. This was a curious combination as, more often than not, those with the ability to hide were generally adept at pursuing targets...As this thought crossed his mind, Linnaeus proposed, "The person tracking me may be using an artifact, or series of artifacts, to conceal themselves. That would explain why they seem incapable of tracking me, even when I tried making it easier for them..."Hearing Linnaeus' remark, Emilia couldn't help but snicker, earning her a glare from Eliza. The latter was taking this situation very seriously, causing her to properly consider Linnaeus' words before saying, "If that is the case, the person tracking you has a lot of wealth to squander. That will help to narrow down the number of suspects quite a bit, but it also presents other challenges."Understanding what Eliza was trying to get at, Linnaeus nodded his head, adding, "If they have that kind of power, there is little reason for them to associate with a branch office. This means the person pursuing me has a fair amount of influence...they may even be involved directly with the Guild's internal affairs. I need to learn more about the hierarchy of the Guild, as everything stems from Renka as the source..."If it turned out he was being targetted by another influence within the Guild, Linnaeus knew their best option was to simply move to another branch. The person targeting him undoubtedly had a fondness for Renka, so it didn't seem worthwhile to continue operating in the same area, even if it drastically decreased their chances of joining the main expedition.Linnaeus was willing to do whatever it took to leave the Fifth Floor and exit the Crucible of Souls, but that didn't mean he wanted to get in between some kind of lover's spat. He had absolutely no tender feelings towards Renka so it was more than a little annoying to be targetted due a mistake committed by the careless Receptionist. There was a chance he could reap various benefits from staying the course, but, in the grand scheme of things, getting involved in someone else's drama was never a good idea.With this in mind, Linnaeus gave a curt nod before saying, "I'm going to spend much of tonight collecting information. Depending on what I'm able to discover, we may move to another district. There are too many strange occurrences in this area so it doesn't seem wise to stay..."Though she was also aware of the fact this was actually an opportunity for them, Eliza wouldn't pass on the chance to distance Linnaeus from Renka. He might have no interest in her, but, based on everything that had happened, it was transparently clear that Renka had an interest in him. This might have little to do with personal feelings, but that didn't really matter when she was willing to get them involved in matters completely unrelated to them.Linnaeus might consider Renka's faux pas an honest mistake, but Eliza wasn't foolish enough to believe this was the case. If that had been the case, she would have at least warned him of who he should be wary of, rather than leaving him to gather information for himself. With how things had developed, Eliza was all but certain than Renka had decided to use Linnaeus as a way to dodge one of her own problems, disregarding the trouble it would bring their way...In response to Linnaeus' proposition, Eliza nodded her head several times, saying, "I am all for leaving this area and moving to another. The Guild contract didn't stipulate which branch we operated out of, only that we accept and report Quests through them. Our encounter with that Bapho, alone, is enough reason for us to move far away from this area."Though he didn't disagree with her, Linnaeus knew he wouldn't be able to relax without learning exactly why he was being targetted. Trouble seemed to follow them wherever they went, so, while it was tempting to just move around to evade trouble, establishing themselves would be virtually impossible. He imagined this was a difficulty every Potentiate Party faced during their stint on the Fifth Floor, so, rather than run away, he wanted to at least understand their situation better.After deciding this, Linnaeus turned his gaze toward Emilia, asking, "How many have you been able to notice...?" in a subdued tone.Hearing Linnaeus' question, Emilia made a rather theatrical, yet convincing, show of yawning before answering, "I'm kind of sleepy, but I can still handle seven or eight more drinks before calling it a night. We should look for a tavern. The smell of burnt wood is unpleasant."Going by Emilia's words, Linnaeus was pretty sure she hadn't noticed the two groups that were moving about along the periphery. This indicated she still had a lot to learn, but, as he had spent years mastering this particular skill, it wasn't like he could blame her.Seemingly nodding his head in agreement with Emilia's previous statement, Linnause said, "I know about three places nearby. Try not to order more than two or three drinks, though. We're a little tight on funds these days so we'll have to be more frugal in our spending."Understanding what Linnaeus was trying to convey, Emilia scrunched up her nose, eyes darting to the surroundings for a brief moment as she answered, "You're the boss, Lin. Go ahead and lead the way."Following Emilia's remark, Linnaeus began to lead the Party through the area, eyeing the remains of several burnt buildings while discreetly pointing out the location of all thirteen people he had been able to discover. In the process, a fourteenth individual also made an appearance, but, as they only stopped to check in with the main group, it was easy to deduce they were nothing more than a messenger.Even after Linnaeus had pointed them out, Emilia wasn't able to understand why he thought they were spying on the main group. It wasn't until one of them looked toward her for a brief moment, causing the hair on the back of her neck to stand on end, that she knew he was telling the truth...Fortunately, as she was accustomed to being stared at, Emilia didn't show any sign that she had identified the man as a spy. Instead, she offered an awkward smile before rolling her eyes at him, seemingly dismissing his attempts to flirt with her. This left the man slightly gobsmacked, earning him a few teasing remarks from his companion, who, for a brief moment, looked over with a hawk-like gaze...

After venturing a few blocks from the site of the fire, Linnaeus entered a small tavern called 'The Laughing Cow', a relatively popular location despite its small size. This wasn't due to their food and alcohol being especially delicious or inexpensive, but due to the fact that the Proprietor only employed women who weren't afraid to show a bit of skin in order to loosen their customer's coin purses.Eliza wasn't fond of Linnaeus' choice of location, but, as such places were often the best locations to gather information, he insisted they enter. Though this required they pay a fee before entry, the fact several bodyguards were posted around the premises guaranteed a certain level of privacy.After securing a booth that allowed them to see the entrance, everyone placed their drink orders with the relatively buxom waitress, a woman with small horns, drooping ears, and a cow-like tail.Seeing the woman's outfit, which showed off her ample bosom, Eliza couldn't help but glower a bit. Fortunately, she kept her comments to herself, waiting until the woman had gone to take the order of another table before muttering, "Stupid Kyrie woman..." in a hushed tone.The Kyrie were a self-proclaimed warrior tribe that, in spite of their claims, were more often found on farms than battlefields. They had a high affinity with nature, and, though their men were often large, muscular individuals, their women were relatively popular for their short statures, gentle dispositions, and well-endowed, perpetually lactating, breasts. This last quality made them exceptionally popular as wet nurses, to the point that even Eliza's Governess, the woman who had educated her, was also a Kyrie woman.Though it wasn't really necessary, Linnaeus reminded Eliza, "We are here to gather information. It will become troublesome if you offend the staff members, so try to withhold such remarks...I'll be approaching the bar and see if I can't loosen the Proprietor's lips. Emilia will keep an eye on the door for anyone suspicious. I won't be gone long."Eliza was briefly tempted to follow Linnaeus to the bar, but, understanding he wanted to try and gather information on his own, she obediently remained. Though she was skilled at negotiating prices, her looks provided her very little benefits when it came to raw information gathering. Thus, while it was more than a little annoying, she decided to leave things to the inordinately cute and unassuming Linnaeus...Unaware of what Eliza was thinking, Linnaeus made his way over to the bar, his eyes scanning the other guests before settling on the 260cm tall wall of muscle wearing a traditional barkeep outfit. Like many of the barmaids and waitresses present, he was also a member Kyrie tribe, possessing great physical strength, large curved horns, and a short beard that connected seamlessly into his mane-like hair.Seeing Linnaeus approach, the man threw crooked an eyebrow at him, asking, "What can I get for you, young lady?"Though he knew some races had difficulties distinguishing the gender of other tribes, it took a fair amount of willpower for Linnaeus to avoid glaring back at the mountain-like man. Fortunately, he had never been the type to let his emotions show on his face, allowing him to appear calm on the outside as he plainly stated, "I may not be a wall of muscle, but I'm still a man..."Hearing Linnaeus' words, the barkeep issued an awkward laugh, finishing up wiping down the glass in hand before saying, "Sorry about that, lad. Now, tell me, what can I get for you? If it isn't top-shelf, I'll pour you something light, free of charge."Though the most expensive liquor was often kept locked away under the bar, there were often many pricey alcohols visible on the various shelves lining the back wall. As you went down the line and moved to lower shelves, the prices gradually decreased, but, if you were just looking to whet your palette, they also served cheap mead on tap.Accepting the man's gesture of goodwill, Linnaeus asked for a plain glass of mead before taking a seat at the bar. He wasn't particularly fond of drinking, but, as it was a chance to build rapport with the barkeep, refusing wasn't really an option.After taking a few large gulps, much to the amusement of the Kyrie barkeep, Linnaeus placed the glass back on the counter, wiping away the excess from the edges of his mouth before saying, "I want to purchase some information."As it wasn't uncommon for people to come into his establishment for the same purpose, the man wasn't surprised by Linnaeus' words. Instead, he eyed the other customers at the bar, making sure none of them were trying to flag him down, before answering, "Sure. If it's just local rumors, I'll be glad to share for the price of a few mugs. If you're looking for anything more sensitive, you'll have to go in the back. That'll cost you a bit, though, as my girls ain't so keen on sharing secrets without proper compensation."Linnaeus knew the man was basically telling him to rent a private room with one of the barmaids, a rather common service among businesses that brokered information on the side. Unfortunately, while this would have been a viable option if he was alone, the presence of Eliza and Emilia made it a lot more difficult.After ordering another drink, leaving his previous glass half-full, Linnaeus asked, "Hear anything interesting about the first that started a few blocks over? I heard a woman from the Guild started the blaze..."Hearing Linnaeus' words, the man stroked his beard for a moment, a thoughtful look on his face as he muttered, "Oh? I wonder where you heard a rumor like that? The information circling in the markets tells a very different story."In truth, Linnaeus hadn't heard anything about the fire being related to the Guild, but, after seeing the three groups investigating the area, he had a hunch they were involved. Unfortunately, while it seemed like the barkeep knew something, based on the look in his eye, the price of a single glass of mead didn't seem to cover the cost.Since it would hurt his position to slowly increase the offer, Linnaeus pulled out a small gemstone, equating to precisely 100 Soul Kindling. This wasn't an exceptional amount, but it was enough to earn a small smile from the barkeep, causing him to pull out a small pad of receipt paper, writing a few quick scribbles before handing Linnaeus a small bottle of whiskey.Based on the man's behavior, Linnaeus could tell he wasn't willing to openly discuss the matter, indicating there were likely people from the three groups keeping an eye on the local businesses. This, alone, was an important piece of information, causing him to return a small nod to the Kyrie man as he accepted the bottle and returned to his table.Before Eliza could ask how things had gone, Linnaeus shook his head slightly, stopping her words until he sat down and said, "There didn't have the drink we were looking for. Do you think this will do as a substitute...?"Though it took her a moment, Eliza was able to realize what Linnaeus was trying to say after Emilia lightly nudged her before answering, "I don't know. Maybe we should search a few more places to see if they have what we need?"Seeing how quick Emilia was to realize his intentions, Linnaeus couldn't help but smile slightly as he shook his head and answered, "It's already getting pretty late. We should find a place to stay before everything fills up. There is time to finish our drinks, but we shouldn't stay too long."Understanding that Linnaeus was basically telling them the place was being watched, Eliza gave a small nod before finishing her non-alcoholic drink. She had promised to watch her intake earlier that same day, so, while she had been tempted to order something much stronger, she settled on a somewhat bitter apple cider instead.Once everyone had finished their drinks, Linnaeus was the first to rise from the table, tossing a tip to their waitress in passing. Then, once they were finally outside, he waited until they had traveled a full block before pulling out the slip handed to him by the barkeep. He had glanced at it earlier, but, as there was a chance someone had been spying on him, he elected not to read and discuss it while they were still inside.Though it appeared to be gibberish, understanding the context behind the words was enough for Linnaeus to understand that, according to actual rumor, the Guild was proactively concealing the reason behind the fire. Other than that, the only other information on the receipt were the words, 'Orcus Merchant' and 'Anti-Magic King'.After memorizing the contents of the receipt, Linnaeus shredded it into tiny pieces, ensuring it was impossible to reassemble and read. Then, turning to his Party, he explained, "I don't think this has anything to do with the person pursuing me, at least not directly. It seems like the Guild came into conflict with a group of Merchants containing a member of the Orcus tribe. Considering how they look...I can't imagine there are too many successful Orcus Merchants. If we can find one who has the [Anti-Magic King] Blessing, we'll be able to determine the original cause of the fire..."Hearing Linnaeus' words, Eliza frowned slightly, saying, "That's well and good, but it doesn't do much to alleviate our current problem. Investigating the people behind the fire might not have anything to do with the people targetting you. If we continue looking into things that aren't our business, we'll just draw more attention to ourselves."Though he understood Eliza's concerns, Linnaeus released a small sigh as he explained, "Even if it isn't directly related, we know the fire involves the Guild. Based on how Renka was behaving this morning and this afternoon, I have a hunch she was directly involved. From what I know, all of the Guild personnel stay within the same residential district. Since Renka seems to work shifts in the morning and afternoon, her being anywhere near our Inn during the time of the fire indicates she would have been there on official business. This could have nothing to do with us, but I can't rest easy until I know for certain that is the case..."As Linnaeus' words were rather convincing, Eliza couldn't help but frown as she muttered, "I knew that bitch was up to no good...why don't we just move to another district?"Shaking his head, Linnaeus explained, "Renka wouldn't have needed to investigate us personally. The Guild has personnel specifically assigned to gather information and conduct investigations so she must have been there for another reason. If she was the one who got into a fight, we need to find out their identity and why they were skulking around our Inn. Given the circumstances, there is a fair chance Renka was there to protect us..."Hearing Linnaeus' final statement, Eliza's frown deepened as she asked, "Why would she go out of her way to try and protect our Party? You don't think..."Before Eliza could finish, Linnaeus shook his head, saying, "I don't think she has any feelings for me, at least, not in the way you're thinking. If I had to guess, it would be our Potentiate status that is garnering us so much attention. Even when I went to investigate Debtees, the brokers seemed to pay a lot of attention to my Potentiate status. There are also various laws in place to protect the rights of Potentiates. While this could just be the result of an arrangement between Tenebrae and those in power, I wouldn't be surprised if there was more to it..."To prove his point, Linnaeus pulled out two pieces of paper, one listing the Quest given to them by Renka, the other pulled from the Quest Board. As for the difference, Renka had tasked them to collect 10 mandibles that were 30cm, or greater, in length. The other Quest, however, only listed mandibles that were between 20~25cm, with a bonus offered for any over 30cm in length.Seeing the two Quests, realization donned on Eliza, causing her to ask, "Are you saying that Potentiates have a better drop rate for valuable items..?" in a very quiet whisper.Though he had various thoughts on the matter, Linnaeus felt this was the only real answer that could explain everything that had happened to them. Even the previous ambush, it seemed that the other party was intending to forcibly recruit and make use of them, despite the fact it would have been much easier just to kill and rob their corpses.Linnaeus had always felt there was something strange about that encounter, so, from the time they had set out from Central City, he had been observing how others treated them. Renka was just the most obvious indicator that something was up, so, if it turned out she had actually been in the area to deter others from trying to approach them, it would greatly increase the leverage they had in future negotiations...

After departing the Guild, this time without having to carry Eliza on his back, Linnaeus led his Party until they reached the edge of a high traffic area. Though it wouldn't afford them much privacy, it was a lot harder to stage an attack amidst a large population, as, depending on the circumstances, your actions could quickly draw the ire of various hidden figures.Without beating around the bush, Linnaeus explained, "There is someone within the Guild who has their eye on the Receptionist, Renka. Her previous outburst has brought unwarranted attention to our Party. I want to gather information so I need the three of you to return to the Inn, find a way to sneak out, and then secure a second place to stay. I'll use the Party System to track you down after learning more about whoever is targeting me..."Hearing Linnaeus' words, Eliza had a dour expression on her face while Emilia outright stated, "I'm not going to let you run off on your own when there are enemies targeting you. Our Party is like my pack. No matter how dangerous things get, the pack always sticks together...!"Though he could appreciate Emilia's sentiment, Linnaeus didn't hesitate to shake his head, saying, "I have no intention to fight. I'm only going to gather information, something I can't accomplish easily with others present. I'm not good at measuring my words and actions around others so I need to be alone if I want to avoid detection. I need you to trust me, Emilia, Eliza, Krone..."Emilia's frown only deepened in response to Linnaeus' words, but, before she could say anything, Eliza beat her to the punch, saying, "You ask us to trust you, but when will you start trusting us? It might be better for you to gain information on your own, but what happens when you overestimate yourself and end up falling into an enemy's trap!? There are several strong people on this Floor, Lin. You couldn't even sneak around undetected at the Southern Settlement so how can you expect us to just leave you alone when someone might be targeting your life!?"Due to how Eliza's voice had risen towards the end of her outburst, several people from among the surroundings had started to pay attention to them. One, a tall man with large horns on the side of his head and a ring through his nose, even commented, "Oi, get a room you brats. Everyone is still tense after the fire yesterday so you're bound to get arrested if you make a scene."Hearing the man's warning, Linnaeus just gave a curt nod, saying, "Thanks..." before pulling Eliza's hand. This was enough to get her to momentarily calm down, but, despite the minimal skin contact, Linnaeus could feel her pulse beating rapidly...Though he would never say it aloud, moments like this were what Linnaeus hated most about the idea of forming a Party. He felt like his judgment was being clouded by sentiment, as, while he was able to understand Eliza's concerns, it was unbelievably frustrating to have his movements constantly limited by the wants and needs of his Party members...After moving far enough that they would be able to discern whether or not anyone in the previous locations was following them, Linnaeus turned to Eliza, his usual calm nowhere to be seen as he said, "You..." before finding himself at a loss for words...Seeing Eliza glaring at him with tears streaming down her face, Linnaeus' brain completely stalled, like a wrench between through into a series of gears. It was a sudden and violent cessation, leaving him without the ability to form even a single syllable.Truthfully, Eliza wanted nothing more than to slap Linnaeus across the face, but, seeing his face contort into a stupefied expression, she felt slightly contented. She didn't want to risk sending him off in a fit of rage, so, instead of escalating things further, she stated in a sobbing tone, "I want to go with you...we can collect information together...we can protect each other...aren't these the reasons we formed a Party in the first place...are we nothing more than pawns to fight the battles you choose for us...?"Hearing Eliza's question, Linnaeus' mouth flapped open a few times as he stated, "I just...that isn't..." while looking between her, Emilia, and Krone. The latter had his usual expression, but, while not to the same extent of Eliza, Emilia was staring at him with a look full of blame...Seeing the looks on their faces, Linnaeus was momentarily reminded of a past incident with Saht. It was when they had first started working together, and, due to having been alone for a long time, he was still used to acting on his own. This earned him a rather severe beating, and, if not for the fact all wounds would generally heal after returning to full health, several parts of his body would still have bite marks...As this memory resurfaced in his mind, Linnaeus realized he hadn't exactly been treating his current Party as a 'permanant' fixture in his life. Though he would never outright abandon him, he was fully prepared to move on if they ended up deciding on a different path than the one he had set himself upon.No matter what happened, Linnaeus was determined to leave the Crucible of Souls, reunite with Saht, and track down his sister. This was something he had decided for his own selfish reasons, so, from the start, he had always expected that, at some point in time, their paths would diverge...Though this belief hadn't changed, the look of blame visible in the eyes of Eliza and Emilia made it apparent that, at least for the time being, they had no intention of separating from him. This would undoubtedly bring him trouble in the future, but, much like the decision he had previously made regarding Saht, Linnaeus resolved himself to deal with them as they came...After releasing an exasperated sigh, Linnaeus lightly complained, "What is it about the tears of a girl that makes them so unbearable...?" Then, before either of them could respond, he made eye contact with Eliza, saying, "Fine. We'll go together, then. You'll have to follow my lead and avoid causing any trouble. Don't let your emotions dictate your behavior so easily. There may be times when I have to use words I don't mean in order to obtain information. It will be troublesome if you get jealous over meaningless dialogue..."Eliza took exception to Linnaeus' words, but, knowing it was his inexperienced way of compromising with her, she ultimately chose to nod in affirmation before saying, "Just try to avoid anything overtly sexual and flirtatious. If you end up cheating...I'll tell Saht all of the details..."Though he knew she only tacked on the final few words as an afterthought, Linnaeus felt a shiver pass through his body. Saht might not actually care if he got involved with other women, but, if he did so without her knowledge, there was no way she would let him off easily.While he wasn't afraid of her, as she was actually pretty easy to manage, Saht could quickly get out of hand when she was in her [Demonification] state. He also cared about her quite a bit, so, unless someone took him by force, he would adamantly refuse any meaningful relationships before their reunion. This was something he wouldn't compromise on, as, after growing up in an environment where trust was a rare commodity, he and Saht had become a family...After returning an affirmative nod, Linnaeus said, "You don't have to worry about that." while turning his gaze toward Emilia for a brief moment. She noticed his gaze, rolling her eyes in spite of the fact she was the principal offender when it came to testing his abstinence.Truthfully, Emilia didn't really understand the sensibilities of tribes beyond her own, as, among the Vanargandr, it wasn't rare to have multiple partners. They would even, at times, exchange partners between each other when an especially virile male existed, spreading the strongest genes to ensure the survival of the next generation.While Linnaeus was far from the 'strongest', he had a few commendable qualities that, with a bit of polish, would make him a competent leader. She had already come to recognize him, but, much like how other women of her tribe would help to shape their men into suitable partners, she intended to continue pushing up forward to see how far he could take her...Unaware of Emilia's 'scheming', Linnaeus addressed his entire Party, saying, "I'm certain we are being followed. If we return to our Inn right now, there is a chance we will be attacked in the middle of the night. If we want to rest properly, we need to learn the identity of our would-be attacker, confirming the reason we are being targetted and the extent they are willing to go to..."After reaching this point in his explanation, Linnaeus paused for a brief moment, looking between Eliza and Emilia as he explained, "Don't jump to conclusions, but we're going to temporarily split up in order to try and discover who is targeting me. You'll follow close by with the Party system, taking the main roads while I stick to side paths and alleyways. I don't know this area as well as I'd like so if we want to lure them out in the shortest amount of time, this is one of the faster methods."Eliza didn't like Linnaeus' plan, as it still required them to split up, but, as it was better than letting him go off completely on his own, she said, "Okay, but if you move too far away from us, I'll come running to your position. If anyone attacks you, send a ping and rush towards us as fast as possible. It doesn't matter how strong the enemy is, we can take them down if we work together. They won't be able to resist my [Crush] magic, and, if they can be suppressed, Emilia can easily drown them until they lose consciousness."As her words coincided with his own thoughts on the matter, Linnaeus nodded his head, adopting his practiced smile as he said, "I agree with your plan. The moment I feel like I'm being followed, I'll try and cut a path towards the three of you. If I can get ahead of you on the same path, you should be able to see if someone is following me. Once we lure them out, incapacitating them and finding out the reason why I'm being targetted is our main objective."Though he had already made the association with Renka, Linnaeus still didn't know the intentions of his enemy. If it was just to cause a bit of physical harm or threaten him, it wouldn't really be that big of a deal. He wouldn't even mind taking a beating if it meant he had some leverage to use against Renka in the future, so, hopefully, things could be settled without him having to resort to his unique skillset...After organizing his thoughts, Linnaeus gave a brief overview of his plan before walking around with his Party, loudly discussing a false itinerary. He had no doubt they were already being watched, and, though their earlier actions had undoubtedly risen some suspicion, it would require someone with a Blessing related to hearing or sound to ascertain what they had been discussing privately.The vast majority of Blessings had little effect on a person's six senses, the main exception being any kind of transformative ability. This made those that possessed them outliers as, more often than not, Blessings that modified one of the six senses were exceptionally weak. Though they had the benefit of being perpetually active, making them easy to train, only those who put in an exorbitant amount of effort could bring out the full potential of such Blessings. Thus, while he was alert for anyone with rabbit-like ears or horns framing their jaw, Linnaeus wasn't particularly worried about their original plan being overheard...

Chapter 90: Astute Observation