Babel

Though the 'safest' option was to team up with another Party, documenting each others' kills and determining the average drop rate of valuable goods, Linnaeus felt this wasn't ideal. It would take a relatively large sample size to make an accurate determination, and, while it was possible for them to track down Yorgen's Party, that was the same as wrapping them up in their troubles.Linnaeus felt Yorgen's Party could be trusted, but, with that being the case, he was even less inclined to involve them in the current situation. He felt there were already too few good people in the world, so, while it would help solve the mystery, the potential cost wasn't something he was willing to pay.After discussing it with everyone else, they came to the conclusion that the 'safest' option was to purchase a Debtee. They really only needed one additional person to determine whether or not their hypothesis was true, so, while Eliza wasn't fond of the idea of adding people to their group, doing so for a short period of time had undeniable merits.Unfortunately, even if they wanted to purchase a Debtee, doing so while Linnaeus was being tracked wasn't ideal. Debtees were compelled to obey the people who purchased their contracts, but, unless they got along well with their owners, their 'motivation' could be a serious issue. After all, few people wanted to be treated like slaves, so, while they would ultimately obey, it was challenging to try and force them to make an earnest effort.Ascertaining whether or not their drop rate was increased could wait for later. For now, it was more important to identify the person tracking Linnaeus, and, if possible, reason with them. After all, there was nothing going on between him and Renka. The opposing party would have to be exceptionally petty to continue targeting him if he had done nothing wrong...With this in mind, Linnaeus spent several minutes thinking before saying, "We should find a place to stay. Though there is a chance we'll be attacked, I doubt they will do so openly. Based on how much time has passed since we originally left the Guild, the enemy seems to be gathering information. The actual attack will most likely take place in a couple of days. If we can't determine their identity before then, things will become even more problematic..."Curious about the meaning behind Linnaeus' words, Emilia's wolf-like ears twitched slightly as she asked, "Why is that?"Before Linnaeus could answer her, Eliza briefly interrupted him, elbowing Emilia in the side as she said, "He would have already told us if you didn't butt in...!"Though Eliza's 'attack' hadn't actually done any damage to her, Emilia made a show of rubbing her side, an apologetic mask on her face as she said, "Sorry, sorry, I was just curious. I understand your reasons, Liz, but, aren't you letting this situation get to you?"This time, it was Linneaus' turn to interrupt, saying, "Please, both of you, calm down. Eliza, Emilia is right. You are letting your emotions cloud your judgment. As for you, Emilia, you should know not to rile Eliza up at this point. She is just worried about me, not seeking trouble. Now, let me finish so we can find a place to rest for the evening..."Though both girls looked like they still had something to say, now wasn't exactly the best time to argue amongst themselves. Thus, after exchanging glances for several tense moments, seemingly communicating through nothing more than their gazes, they both nodded in understanding and acquiescence.Seeing the two reach a silent compromise, Linnaeus restrained the urge to release a tired sigh. Then, with all eyes focused on him, he explained, "If the person targeting me is affiliated with the Guild, it would be difficult for them to do so directly. They will have to rely on hiring criminal organizations and mercenary groups, likely targeting us outside of the settlement. Not only would this allow them to continue hiring more people to come after us, but, even without doing so, the chances we would be attacked several more times. Prestige and reputation are two of the most important things in the underground society. If they are a reasonably powerful group, they would continue to try and hunt us, even if the original contract was retracted...the pride of organized groups is troublesome."After being hunted down for several years, Linnaeus was very familiar with the thought process of most criminal organizations. They would not allow their pride to be infringed upon, as, if others did not respect and fear them, doing 'business' would become difficult, if not impossible. They might be inclined to withdraw of their target's reputation was high, but, with Linnaeus and co being relatively new to the region, there was little chance of their enemies backing down.Eliza, Emilia, and Krone didn't have the same understanding of the criminal underworld as Linnaeus, but, based on the severity contained within his tone, they didn't doubt him. Rather, Eliza knew just how far people would go to protect something as 'silly' as pride. Her family had completely wiped out dozens of smaller factions, many for no better reason than paltry misunderstandings and even more insignificant grievances...Seeing that everyone had taken his words seriously, Linnaeus felt slightly vindicated, a very slight smile developing on his face as he added, "Fortunately, we aren't completely without backing. If our speculation is correct, the Guild is likely keeping tabs on us. I don't know if they will go out of their way to protect us, but, if we can prove ourselves a valuable asset, they won't let others target us so easily. The Guild is the most powerful faction due to its affiliation with the Briggs Familia. Even if our enemy is a powerful criminal organization, they wouldn't risk offending the Guild unless their client was also affiliated with the Briggs Familia. If that is the case, discovering their identity shouldn't be an issue..."Understanding what Linnaeus was trying to say, Eliza issued a light 'Nn' before saying, "The person targeting you must be famous within the Guild. If they are targeting someone with status, they must have a bit of their own. We should be able to ascertain their identity by gathering information at the Guild itself...right?"Nodding his head, Linnaeus answered, "That would be the most direct method. Unless our enemy is also a renowned criminal, they must have some form of repute to be able to operate without facing repercussions from the Guild. We should be able to learn more by gathering information, either at the Guild or in the surroundings taverns..."Though Linnaeus' words almost made it seem like their nightly venture had been a waste, the person in question didn't believe that was the case. Rather, his curiosity had often gotten him and Saht into trouble that could have otherwise been avoided.Linnaeus genuinely believed that knowledge was a power that allowed the weak to overcome far more powerful foes. As a result, gathering information, observing his target, and make preparations had become second-nature to him.Fortunately, nobody pointed out the time they had 'wasted', as, from the outset, they had been the ones to insist they accompany him. Linnaeus would have been perfectly content with venturing out and gathering information on his own, so, unless they wanted to undermine their earlier insistence, it would be difficult to complain about 'time wasted'...Unbeknownst to Linnaeus, Eliza, Emilia, and even Krone didn't consider the fact their time had been wasted. Rather, the first two somewhat enjoyed getting out of the Inn and skulking around with him. As for Krone, he simply didn't care how they spent their time, as, from his perspective, upholding his vow was of paramount importance. Where they went, what they did, these things didn't matter at all.Unfortunately, it was difficult to understand the thought processes of others, leaving people prone to assumptions and misunderstandings. This included Linnaeus, who, due to his upbringing, actually had an easier time seeing through his enemies, rather than his allies. Some would even say he had a gift for seeing through others, aided by an uncommon ability to extrapolate information from even the smallest clues.The problem with becoming inordinately good at seeing through your enemies, however, was that it left massive gaps in your perception when it came to allies, something he was slowly becoming more aware of with the passage of time...In the hopes of avoiding an argument, Linnaeus quickly changed topics to another important matter, asking, "Should we return to our original Inn or find another place to stay? Though it is impossible to be certain, the likelihood of an attack has decreased considerably since we left the Guild."Realizing Linnaeus was giving them the chance to alter his previous decision, the briefest hint of a smile could be seen on Eliza's face as she answered, "If we're basing our decision on the conclusions you have reached, it may be better for us to take a few steps back. If we assume everything that has happened over the last few days is interconnected, there is another alternative to our current Inn..."Though he was momentarily confused by Eliza's statement, it didn't take long for the gears to click into place within Linnaeus' mind. This caused a small frown to develop across his face, but, instead of refuting her words, he fell into a deep state of contemplation.Seeing Linnaeus fall silent, Emilia turned to Eliza, asking, "What happened...?" in a hushed tone. She already had a hunch about what Eliza was talking about, but, as it seemed somewhat nonsensical, Emilia couldn't help but ask for clarification.To both answer Emilia's question and convince Linnaeus, Eliza explained, "I'm talking about staying at the Hostel with that Bapho girl, Khö. We speculated that her presence there was unnatural, but, even if that weren't the case, her presence all but guarantees external forces wouldn't be able to act freely. To have a Bapho as a pet, you need a considerable amount of power, enough to deter anyone who wants to steal them from you..."Piggybacking off Eliza's words, Linnaeus nodded his head, adding, "Eliza is right. We don't know the full story regarding Khö's situation. Despite that, we can ascertain that the Hostel has some form of protection against those who would try to target her. If she is still there, that Hostel could serve as a temporary shelter against external threats. There is also a chance, however, that there is a powerful criminal organization protecting her...if they are the ones hired to deal with us, we'd be sleeping in a bed prepared by our enemies..."Hearing Linnaeus' reasoning, Eliza felt a little sheepish, but, before she could offer an alternative, he followed up, adding, "I think we should stay there, at least for one evening. If Khö is still present, we would have another lead to make use of in our investigation. At the very least, we can eliminate an unknown variable by learning about her situation directly. Even if she isn't there, that would serve as further proof that something is going on behind the scenes...I think it is a good idea."Happy she had given a suggestion that Linnaeus approved of, Eliza's face blossomed into a smile as she said, "Then we should hurry before it gets too late. We might not be able to enjoy a proper rest once things develop further so we should rest while we can."As there was some truth to Eliza's words, Linnaeus nodded his head in affirmation, albeit with far less fervor than she displayed. He wanted to point out the problems that would undoubtedly arise if Khö had been placed there for a specific purpose, but, as this was largely baseless conjecture, he decided against it. He would know for certain once they talked to the person in question, so, rather than talk in circles all night, ascertaining the truth for themselves would be far more productive...

After nearly an hour of travel, Linnaeus and his Party found themselves outside the same Hostel they had stayed at the previous night. It was already pretty late in the evening, but, just like the preceding evening, they found the Proprietress dutifully manning the counter.Seeing the somewhat familiar faces, the Proprietress, a motherly-looking woman with dark-purple hair and a peculiar teardrop-shaped gemstone embedded in her forehead, offered a polite smile as she said, "Well, if it isn't Linnaeus and his friends. I didn't think you would be back after leaving so quickly this morning."Offering his best version of an apologetic smile, Linnaeus approached the counter, proffering a few extra Soul Kindling as he said, "We need a place to stay for the evening, Ms. Almas. Sorry about this morning...we were a little spooked..."Though he tried to appear bashful and uncertain, Linnaeus was closely observing the Proprietress' facial expression. He noticed there were no discernible signs of perturbance, rather, her immediate reaction was to smile in a completely natural manner as she said, "I can understand your concerns. Khö tends to have that effect on people."Seeing how natural Almas' response was, Linnaeus felt a small amount of panic in the back of his mind. Her behavior indicated that Khö's presence either wasn't a big deal, but, while they may not have as much value in the Crucible of Souls, it didn't make sense for a Bapho to simply be ignored.Since she had already accepted his payment, handing over two brass keys in the process, Linnaeus decided to be more direct, 'sheepishly' asking, "Is it okay to ask about Khö...?"As if she had been expecting the question, Almas' eyes squinted almost imperceptibly as she leaned forward, her rather large breasts on full display as she mused, "Well, that all depends? After you ran away so quickly this morning, are you certain you want to know? I'll have you know that, after your Party left, Khö brooded in the kitchen for nearly twenty minutes. That girl is sensitive to how others perceive her, you know?"Instead of Linnaeus answering, Eliza stepped forward in response to Almas' 'uncouth' display, doing her best to keep her composure as she stated, "It was never our intention to hurt Khö's feelings. Our reaction, if anything, was the normal response to such an unexpected encounter. Rather, due to the circumstances our Party as faced of late, it would put our minds at ease to gain greater insight into the events transpiring around us..."Hearing Eliza's remark, Almas gave her an appraising look before smiling and saying, "You are a well-spoken young lady. A little overprotective, perhaps...but I can tell you aren't a bad person. Since you seem to have a story of your own, how about we make a trade? Information is a coveted commodity within the Crucible of Souls. While I don't mind answering your questions, I fear the price is beyond the means of your current Party."Though there was a fair chance she was just inflating things to take advantage of their curiosity, both Linnaeus and Eliza got the impression that Almas wasn't trying to scam them. Rather, her expression had turned serious towards the end of her statement, her eyes reflecting an intelligent and insightful light...Rather than acquiesce, Linnaeus decided to lead the conversation on a tangent, asking, "How much will it cost us to learn your true identity and purpose...?"The moment she heard Linnaeus' question, Almas began to chuckle in a rather elegant manner, the aura around her changing slightly as she supported her smiling face with her hand and answered, "In the Crucible, everything has a price. You are an amusing young man, Linnaeus. Do you expect me to part with my personal information without charging a premium? Even something as basic as a peek at my Status would cost you around 5,000 Soul Kindling, you know~?"Despite Almas' words sounding like the price was inflated, Linnaeus felt that 5,000 Soul Kindling was actually very cheap to view a person's Status. It contained their most sensitive information, exposing their affiliation and allowing others to form countermeasures against them based on their Blessing, Skills, Abilities, and Magic.As it stood, Linnaeus had around 8,300 'expendable' Soul Kindling, a far cry from the one-million he intended to gather over the following months. He didn't doubt that Khö's information was beyond their means to purchase, so, unwilling to reveal his own information so easily, he clenched his hands into fists for a few seconds before resolutely saying, "I will pay..."Hearing Linnaeus' response, Eliza showed an expression of panic and surprise as she said, "Lin! What if she is just messing with us!?"Having already made his resolve, Linnaeus' expression didn't change in the slightest as he plainly stated, "Then I will be at a loss of 5,000 Soul Kindling. Compared to remaining in the dark, this is a cheap price to pay."Without waiting for Eliza's input, Linnaeus extended his hand, offering a relatively large yellow gem, its interior twinkling with five motes of golden light. Soul Kindling started off Red, but, as you refined them into higher grade gemstones, they transitioned to Orange, Yellow, and Green. From this, it was possible to conclude that Blue, Indigo, and Violet gemstones also existed. Linnaeus had never seen these for himself, however, as the higher tiered gemstones required ten of the preceding gemstones to refine. Thus, to make a single orange gemstone, you needed 100 Soul Kindling. To further increase its grade, you would require 1000, 10,000, and 100,000 for each successive upgrade.After parting with more than half of his remaining 'fortune', Linnaeus stared directly at the smiling Almas with a resolute expression. She seemed to find this somewhat amusing, her smiling curling up at the sides ever-so-slightly as she said, "How bold. It makes this aunty feel vindicated to have such a handsome young man so eager to purchase my Status, ufufufu~."Following her teasing remark, Almas made a small gesture in the air, causing a ping to sound within Linnaeus' mind. The Akashic System then showed him a small notification, stating 'Fraux Almassa has given your permission to view her Status'.----------------------------------------[Status]Name: Fraux AlmassaTitle: Motherly Protector(+2 Str, +5 Con per Level), Enforcer of the Porcello Company(*hidden*)Race: Hume(50%), Bindi(50%)Age: 337Gender: FemaleLevel: 58Health: 14,970Soul Power: 4,210Strength: 203+214.5Constitution: 251+403.5Agility: 119+18Dexterity: 125+23Intelligence: 142+35Wisdom: 166+66Spirit: 158+86Charisma: 133+73.5Luck: 41+2Free Attributes: 0Skills: [Kinu Comprehension:(-)], [*Blessing of the Earth Goddess:LV99*], [Brute:LV99], [Herculean Strength:LV99], [Titanic Might:LV69], [Healthy:Lv99], [Vital Spirit: LV99], [Immortal Body: LV85], [Heroic Spirit:LV99], [Natural Charmer: LV99], [Martial Arts:LV99], [Sense Danger:LV99], [Acrobatics:LV99], [Flexible Body:LV99], [Footwork:LV99], [Cooking:LV99], [Iron Stomach:LV99], [Pain Tolerance:LV99], [Abnormal Status Resistance:LV99], [Perception:LV99], [Sex Techniques:LV99], [Dancing:LV99], [Flute Mastery:LV99], [Lyre Mastery:LV99], [Singing:LV99], [Accupuncture:LV99], [Massage Hands:LV99], [Trap Set:LV99], [Trap Disarm:LV99], [Charm:LV99]Abilities: [Eye of the Mind:LV99], [Strength Amplification:LV99], [Body Hardening:LV99], [Trap Detection:LV99]Magic: [Gaia's Grace:LV99], [Gaia's Fury:LV99], [Earth Bullet:LV99], [Earth Spike:LV86], [Fissure:LV89], [Tremor:LV53]----------------------------------------The moment he saw Almas' Status, Linnaeus' mental faculties, for a brief moment, seemed to cease in their entirety.Not only did she have the highest Level he had ever seen, but most of Almas' Skills, Abilities, and Magic were at LV99. This was, for lack of a better descriptive, 'horrifying', causing his body to begin shaking against his will.Seeing Linnaeus' reaction, Eliza and Emilia both showed expressions of concern, the former asking, "What is it, Lin...?" in an uncertain tone. As for Emilia, her instincts had started to trigger the moment she saw Linnaeus' reaction, her ears flattening atop her head as a strong desire to protect her 'family' welled up inside her.Fortunately, before Emilia could make the biggest mistake of their lives, Linnaeus came back to his senses due to Eliza's words. At the same time, Almas' Status disappeared from his vision, no longer able to be viewed...Reaching out to grab both girls' hands, Linnaeus muttered in what he hoped to be a soothing voice, stating, "It's okay...she isn't our enemy. Rather, we aren't even qualified to be her enemy..."Though they hadn't seen Almas' Status, it was easy to deduce that she was 'very' powerful based on Linnaeus' reaction. This caused Eliza's face to pale slightly, but, before she could say anything, Almas herself stated, "There is no reason to show such expressions. When you've lived as long as I have, it isn't that difficult to increase your proficiency to the limit. You know about the Mastery Bottleneck, correct...?"Nodding his head, Linnaeus answered, "It is the unsurpassable limit imposed upon every resident within the Crucible. I just never realized the influence time could have on a person's Status..."Finding Linnaeus' honestly amusing, Almas' giggled elegantly before explaining, "There aren't too many people who have reached my degree of proficiency, but they do exist. I can't give you an exact answer, but there are at least twenty people within the Briggs Fortress City who would give me a bit of trouble. As for the number I wouldn't dare to fight...well, I'm afraid that bit of information is a little too expensive for your current finances~."Though he was normally able to keep a perfect mask of calm, Linnaeus felt like there was a knot in his throat, forcing him to swallow. Almas' Status had been an eye-opening experience, causing him to rethink everything he had been doing from the moment they arrived on the Fifth Floor. He didn't doubt her words in the slightest, and, considering 337 wasn't even that old, it was easy to guess each faction had unbelievable powerhouses in their ranks...Seeing the understanding present in Linnaeus' eyes, Almas' couldn't help default to her patented 'motherly smile'. She had been tasked by Scarlet to try and pull him to their side, so, while she would normally never reveal her information so cheaply, Almas felt the overcautious youth would protect it properly.Capitalizing on the moment, Almas lightly tapped the countertop, saying, "It's getting pretty late. If you'd like to purchase additional information, allow me to at least pour everyone something warm to drink. The nights are cold this time of year..."Though it was certainly cool outside, Almas' words were intended to bring attention to the fact that, with the exception of Krone, everyone else was shaking slightly. If she could get them to relax their guard a bit, obtaining additional information would be a simple matter. This would allow her to build rapport with the Party, and, in the most ideal circumstances, it might even be possible to convince them to accept her 'protection'. She was well-aware of the fact that Linnaeus was being targetted, as, since the moment he left the Guild, she had been tracking him with her [Eye of the Mind]...Seeing Almas' disarming smile, Linnaeus couldn't help but feel something was wrong. This wasn't as impactful as her Status, however, so he wasn't able to determine the source of the unease. Rather, if Almas wanted to harm them, even Eliza wouldn't be able to restrain her for very long. The only way they could achieve victory was if they managed to surprise her, but, with her [Blessing of the Earth Goddess], her durability had to be through the roof...Despite 'reason' telling him to abide by Almas' proposal, Linnaeus ultimately decided to follow his instincts, saying, "We've had a stressful evening...for the time being, it is better for us to rest and sort our thoughts. By the time morning comes, we'll have come to a decision regarding the exchange of information. Thank you for revealing your Status to me, Ms. Almas...we may have met with tragedy if not for the service you have provided tonight. For that, you have my sincere gratitude..."Though she squinted her eyes slightly, Almas' was able to conceal it due to her broad smile. She was actually somewhat impressed by Linnaeus' ability to calmly make decisions, even if it was a moderate inconvenience.As it would only draw their suspicion further, Almas gave an understanding nod, musing, "I can see why you were made Party Leader. To possess such wisdom despite your age...quite promising. Well, don't let me keep you. I may be moderately powerful, but I'm a Proprietress before anything else. If there is anything I can do to make your stay more pleasant, feel free to let me know~."Feeling his sense of incongruity slowly fade away, Linnaeus felt like he had successfully evaded a dangerous enemy. Though Almas didn't seem even remotely hostile to him, she was far more than a simple Proprietress. Her Status all but confirmed his suspicions, but, as it was, indeed, starting to get late, he offered a polite smile in return, saying, "I hope you have a pleasant evening, Ms. Almas..."

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...

Chapter 92: Speculation