Babel

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..."

Though they had procured two different rooms, Linnaeus had everyone gather to discuss everything that happened, starting by explaining Almas' Status.Needless to say, everyone, even Krone, was surprised to learn that the rather unassuming woman was actually a powerhouse over Level 50. While this alone wasn't that terrifying, the fact she had hit the maximum number of Skills, increasing them all to LV99, made her a monster they couldn't hope to oppose without using underhanded means.It wasn't particularly well known outside of the Tower, but, as you advanced to higher Floors, you would quickly learn about the 'limit' placed upon the number of Skills you possessed. Though it was possible to 'store' Skills using expensive items, the maximum number you could have active, with the exception of 'threshold' Skills, was twenty.Generally, in order to become truly powerful, people would focus on obtaining Skills that enhanced the Parameters most suitable for their Blessing and combat style. It was best to sort this out early, as, the longer you waited, the less stable your foundation would become.Unfortunately, while some Skills were relatively easy to obtain, others were notoriously difficult to develop. A good example of this was any type of weapons mastery, as it could take years of effort just to reach a decent level of proficiency. In exchange, the benefits they provided were often far greater than traditional Skills, but, considering how much effort was required to master them, most people only focused on developing a single type.Linnaeus was something of an outlier when it came to Skill development, largely due to his lack of resources, but, due to the amount of effort he put into most things, he had been able to shorten the distance considerably. He was still behind those like Eliza, who had built a strong foundation over a very long period of time, but that was to be expected given the vast disparity in social status...After discussing the terrifying nature of Almas' Status, the most important question on everyone's minds was verbalized by Emilia, who, with a slight frown, asked, "Do you think we can trust her?"Without any hesitation, Linnaeus shook his head, explaining, "I don't think she is an enemy, but it is obvious she has some kind of agenda. Everything lines up too perfectly, almost as if we were being baited into a trap. Though there is a fair chance they simply want to pull us to their side, we have to be cautious. We don't know what kind of backing the Porcello Company has, only that they are able to have conflicts with the Briggs Familia without facing any serious repercussions..."From the information he had gathered the night before, Porcello owned a surprising amount of property, yet, in spite of this, he was unable to obtain any holdings within the inner districts. While this wasn't all that uncommon among competing businesses, the fact he was able to create such a large foothold in the outer district said a lot about the man's power and influence. It was obvious he wasn't well-liked by those within the inner district, yet, in spite of this, he was still able to operate a sizeable number of properties with relative impunity.Based on the Level and Status of Almas', it wasn't difficult to imagine that Porcello had a number of powerful subordinates on his side. There was a fair chance that the man himself was also powerful, as, more often than not, strong people rarely agreed to work for those weaker than themselves.The question then became, was Porcello himself powerful, or did he simply possess a considerable amount of influence and authority? If it was the former, things would be relatively straight-forward, but, if it was the latter, that meant there was someone even more powerful backing him. This was often the case when it came to organizations that had 'uncommon' amounts of power, yet, in spite of that, weren't particularly well known for their strength.If he was forced to guess, Linnaeus would venture to guess that Porcello was actually the 'face' of a powerful criminal enterprise, one with strong ties to the Guild branch office.Assuming the drop rate of Potentiates was higher than average, it wasn't difficult to imagine people fighting to obtain them. This would explain the 'eagerness' present in so many people, giving them a bit of leverage if they were willing to remain 'loyal'.With this in mind, Linnaeus explained his thoughts on the matter, concluding, "We'll find out more in the morning, but I'm beginning to suspect that the person following me this evening had nothing to do with the person targeting me. The fact they allowed themselves to be detected so easily, despite leaving no traces, indicates they wanted me to know I was being followed. If our assumptions about the drop rate are true, I don't think the Guild would just sit idle as our lives are targetted. Everything seems to point toward this truth, especially when we consider the fire and Ms. Renka's behavior..."While thinking about the rather fiery redhead, Linnaeus' face formed into a frown as he added, "It seems like she decided to use me as bait to deal with a personal matter. Someone of considerable status must have been bothering her so she decided to use our protected status in order to deal with them...haaaa..."Though he usually tried to stay calm, Linnaeus couldn't help but release a tired sigh. This wasn't due to the fact Renka had used him, however, but the reactions of Eliza and Emilia. The former had a look reserved for psychopathic killers, and, though it was relatively tame compared to her purple-haired counterpart, Emilia's expression made it obvious she wouldn't mind skewering Renka with her spear.Before either of them could say something 'dangerous', Linnaeus made a pacifying gesture with his hands, saying, "All of this is based on assumptions. Even if it is the truth, we would gain nothing from forming an antagonistic relationship with the Guild. Rather, if our speculation is correct, we would be able to benefit greatly by using our status as leverage. I understand your disdain for Renka, but there are more important things. Our ultimate goal is to leave the Crucible of Souls, not establish ourselves within the Fifth Floor. So long as we tide through this series of events, gaining a position in the main expedition is all but guaranteed."Eliza was smart enough to see the reasoning behind Linnaeus' words, but, unable to forgive Renka, she stated, "If we really do have a protected status, we should bring up this matter with the Branch Leader. If they were willing to cover up the cause of the fire, I don't imagine they would be happy with that vixen dragging us into her personal affairs. She is unnecessarily exposing us to danger, not for the Guild, but for her own personal gain. If your speculation proves true, promise me you will not just ignore the trouble she caused for us..."Though he wasn't the type that sought trouble, Linnaeus wasn't all that forgiving either. If he never sought some form of recompense against Renka, she might treat their Party like her own personal problem solvers. This wasn't necessarily a bad thing if there were benefits to be had, but, when the only person benefitting was Renka, herself, it was a serious issue.Without having to think about it, Linnaeus nodded his head, saying, "Once we learn more about the current situation, we can approach this matter from various angles. It will be necessary to learn what kind of status Renka holds in the Guild before we take action, but, based on her behavior throughout the day, the Guild Leader must have a lot of influence over her. We might end up earning the ire of Renka, but, if we can gain the backing of someone in a higher position, it will be worth it."Satisfied by Linnaeus' response, Eliza nodded her head with a look of vindication on her face. She knew he had killed 'a lot' of people, but, contrary to expectations, Linnaeus was actually a very kind and gentle person. He wouldn't hesitate to resort to violence, but, more often than not, this was out of self-preservation and a desire to protect others. As contrary as it seemed, he was kinder than the vast majority of people she had met, making him seem somewhat naive and exploitable...Fortunately, while it was easy to take liberties with him, Linnaeus was frighteningly intelligent. While he was prone to paranoia from overthinking things, his deductive reasoning and speculative abilities bordered on clairvoyance. He was able to extrapolate an incredible amount of information from even the smallest context clues, forming connections that left others slack-jawed in disbelief.Though there was a chance he was wrong, Eliza felt Linnaeus' speculation struck close to the heart of the matter. His brain was somehow able to form everything into a logical sequence that was hard to refute, so, while it was slightly unnerving, she, Emilia, and even Krone couldn't help but acknowledge his intellect.Unaware of what Eliza was thinking, Linnaeus went on to explain the plan of action for the following morning. This included waking up early, attempting to gather information from Khö, and, if failing in that, exchanging information with Almas.The fact Almas had revealed her Status said a lot about her confidence, both in her organization and her ability to deal with the consequences of an information leak. At the same time, it also served as an anchor of sorts, preventing them from easily making contact with other organizations.Even if Khö's situation had absolutely nothing to do with them, it would still shed some light on the powers at play behind the scenes. The fact they could protect a Bapho was a testament to the power behind the Porcello company, a power they may very well be a part of in the near future.By obtaining information about Khö, it wasn't an exaggeration to say they would be forced to throw their lot in with the organization protecting her. She was likely used to lure people in as there simply no way an organization would share such sensitive information with unaffiliated people. Thus, unless they wanted to be labeled as criminals for violating their contract with the Guild, their fates would be bound to the organization supporting the Porcello Company...While this was a textbook example of entrapment, the fact remained that the Porcello Company was able to protect a Bapho. They also had powerful Enforcers like Almas in their ranks, alluding to a very deep foundation within the Briggs Fortress City. This was an irrefutable truth, so, until their contract with the Guild had expired, there was virtually no method of escaping the current situation.With this in mind, Linnaeus intended to reap as many benefits as possible over the next six months. He wouldn't simply take this matter laying down, and, if not for the existence of his Party, he would have readily become a criminal. It didn't matter how frighteningly powerful his opponents were, as, from the moment his parents had abandoned him, Linnaeus swore he would never be at the mercy of others unless it was to forward his own agenda.The more people schemed against him, the more determined and focused Linnaeus became. They were like whetstones used to sharpen his senses and develop him into a more lethal existence. Thus, while he was willing to play along, at least for the time being, Linnaeus wouldn't hesitate to kill the people who thought they could freely exploit him.Six months was a long period of time, plenty to gather an adequate amount of information about the structure of forces within the Briggs Fortress City. Once he had a better understanding of these things, there would be very little to stop him from meting out necessary justice. It wouldn't matter if his opponents were Level 30 or Level 50. Life was a surprisingly fragile thing, something that could be extinguished at a moment's notice. This was something he had learned a long time ago, and, if others thought they could take advantage of him, the only outcome was his, or their, death...

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...

Chapter 93: Tremble