Babel

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...

As could be expected after such a tense evening, it was very difficult to actually get any sleep. Even after several hours had passed, Linnaeus was still wide awake. The walls of the Hostel weren't exactly thick, so, while most sounds were muffled, it was possible to hear the distant sounds of adventurers and mercenaries still going about their business or enjoying a few drinks after a hard day's work.Of the three in his room, the only person who had managed to fall asleep was Eliza. She was curled up at Linnaeus' side, using his body as a pillow with a defenseless posture and carefree expression on her face. His opposite side was occupied by Emilia, but, much like him, she was still wide awake, her ears and nose twitching as she joined him in absentmindedly staring at the ceiling.As an Assassin and Huntress, Linnaeus and Emilia could stay awake for days on end without their senses dulling too much. They were also the types who were more active during the evening than the day, as was often the case with anyone possessing the [Night Vision] Ability, so neither of them felt even remotely tired, even as the day changed and gave way to the coming dawn.Once the Akashic System showed the time as 0400, Linnaeus wasted little time in extricating himself from the two girls, quickly changing into his equipment as he said, "Help Eliza get ready for the day. I'll go ahead."Though she would sometimes protest when Linnaeus was asking for their opinions, Emilia had been trained to dutifully follow commands since before she could even remember. Failure to obey orders could lead to the death of yourself and other members of your tribe, so, the moment she heard his words, her ears perked up as she answered, "Leave it to me," without further discussion.Hearing Emilia's quick response, Linnaeus gave an appreciative nod before promptly departing the room.Under ideal circumstances, he would have been able to remain active during the evening, collecting as much information as possible. Unfortunately, this wasn't a simple matter when working alongside others, so, now that he had a small window of opportunity, Linnaeus intended to capitalize on it.Eliza, Emilia, and Krone all had their respective strengths, but, when it came to collecting information and observing a target, Linnaeus had an irrefutable advantage. Thus, before they executed their plan from the previous evening, he wanted to confirm a few things with his own eyes...As was the case whenever he stayed anywhere, Linnaeus always made sure to have a general grasp of the building's structure and its surroundings. Thus, he had already approximated the location of the staff quarters, food storage, and wine cellar. While there was no great benefit in knowing these things by default, they were exceptionally important when you were observing people and casing a target.Linnaeus knew, from personal experience, that underground chambers and hidden throughways were exceptionally common, at least within the Slums. He couldn't be certain, but, if there was an active criminal organization, there had to be a network of tunnels that allowed them to move people and supplies without drawing attention.Under ideal conditions, Linnaeus would have liked to sneak around to verify his conjecture, but, after seeing Almas' Status the previous night, it would be incredibly foolish to do anything too shady. The most he could do, at least for the time being, was observe where staff were coming and going. Thus, after reaching the common dining area, which connected directly to the staff quarters, he sat down near one of the walls, allowing his head to rest against it as he closed his eyes and strained his ears.Regardless of what a structure was made of, be it metal, stone, or wood, vibrations would transmit through the material all the same. Linnaeus had learned, a long time ago, that if he sat near one of the main support pillars of a building, it was possible to ascertain the approximate location of the people within by feeling the 'direction' the vibrations came from. If the superstructure was sturdy, it was even possible to hear footsteps from several hundred meters away or deep below the ground...By focusing his senses, Linnaeus could feel people moving around all throughout the building. He could hear light footsteps and dull rustling above, while, echoing in the distance below, a persistent vibration could be felt. He knew this was the sound of running water through pipes, but, if he filtered it out, indiscernible voices and the sound of something tapping against metal could be heard.Though it was impossible to know exactly what was going on, Linnaeus could deduce that the main section of the Hostel did, indeed, connect to an underground network. There was more sound from 'below' than in the staff quarters above, and, while the majority of these sounds likely came from the surrounding streets, the way things 'echoed' was a tell-tale sign that a complex series of tunnels ran below.Whenever people settled in an area for a long period of time, it became necessary to construct both waste disposal systems and waterways. This meant it was relatively common for a network of tunnels to exist beneath a city, but, as there were often strict regulations on who could traverse them, most of the people commonly found within were either criminals or enforcers belonging to whoever held the most power within a region.Without exploring personally, Linnaeus couldn't actually be certain about anything. All he knew was that there was a lot of activity beneath the streets of the settlement. Most pertinent to his situation, however, was the sound of metal creaking and the combination of several voices echoing from the location of the Hostel's wine cellar.Prior to the 'emergence' of the voices, Linnaeus could hear the grating sound of gears and cogs, the sure sign of a mechanism being activated. Then, after a coarse vibration, the sound of voices became far more prominent, indicating a group of people had emerged from a corridor connecting directly to the Hostel.After listening silently for several minutes, Linnaeus heard another mechanism being triggered, this time with the accompanying sound of chains and a dull vibration passing through the underground and slowly 'ascending'. Then, shortly thereafter, he could feel more movement from above, almost as if several people had stepped off a hidden elevator.Thus far, everything was going according to Linnaeus' expectations. He had a lot of time to think the previous evening, so, after considering the matter from multiple angles, he came to the conclusion that, regardless of how much power they had, the Porcello Company would not keep a Bapho in a relatively defenseless location.Almas might be powerful, but, as could be seen from the previous evening, it wasn't as if she was constantly protecting Khö. There would also be times when she needed to sleep or attend to other duties, so, unless they had a constant rotation of powerful figures just to protect one person, there would always be a 'gap' to exploit. Thus, with the Hostel's defenses appearing rather shoddy, at best, the only reasonable assumption to be made was that Khö did not actually live inside. Rather, she was brought out at various locations whenever the Porcello Company was trying to bait people into their trap.Even if rumors of Khö's existence became public knowledge, interest would quickly fade if she never appeared when people went to search for her. After all, a Bapho was a very interesting thing to most people, so, even if most people would steer clear, others would converge just to catch a glimpse of the near-extinct tribe. The fact 'nobody' had appeared when they were eating breakfast the previous day, combined with how 'eager' Khö was to serve them, were pretty major indicators that something was very wrong.Further proving his assumptions, Linnaeus opened his eyes as a pitter-patter of footsteps could be heard approaching the steps leading from the staff quarters to the dining area. Then, as expected, Khö, wearing a frilly waitress outfit and appearing rather sleepy, came walking down the stairs. She acts as though she hadn't noticed him, but, even compared to most of the bestial tribes, the Bapho were supposed to have an exceptional sense of sight, smell, and hearing.After yawning wide enough that it looked like her jaw was going to dislocate, Khö wiped away the residue from her eyes before finally looking towards Linnaeus. Then, in an obvious attempt to appear adorable, she tilted her head to the side in mock confusion.Truthfully, Linnaeus wasn't sure if Khö's behavior was an act or if she was just naturally ditsy. The only thing he could be certain of was the fact she was being used to try and ensnare his Party. This might not be the result of any malicious intentions, but, regardless of the circumstances, their options were being systematically cut off by forces with far more power and authority than they could reasonably hope to oppose.Understanding the disparity between his Party and the other forces at play, Linnaeus knew the best method forward was to gather information and appear cooperative. Thus, with an awkward smile on his face, he raised his hand in a gesture of greeting before saying, "Yo..." in an equally awkward tone.As if she had been freed from some kind of spell, Khö's eyes widened comically before she quickly ran over to his table, bowing at a forty-five-degree angle as she shouted, "Please forgive me! I am a failure as a waitress to leave a guest waiting unattended...gnuuu..."Toward the end of her words, Khö released a frustrated groan, and, though he couldn't see her face, Linnaeus knew she was tearing up. He was honestly a little taken aback by her reaction, as, if it was an act, it was one of the better ones he had seen. Considering he had dealt with streetworkers, gang members, and conmen, this was terrifying in its own right.For a brief moment, Linnaeus was almost tempted to pat Khö's head as her bowing brought her well within reach. He had previously developed the habit of stroking Saht's head, so, with Eliza and Emilia both being fond of petting, it had nearly reached the point of becoming muscle memory.Making a mental note to discuss the matter with the women in question, Linnaeus retracted his hand and said, "It is a small matter. I came here to rest for a moment before my companions show up. You haven't failed in your duty, so don't let it get to you."As if she had been given leniency from her own execution, Khö's showed an expression of extreme relief as she wiped away her tears and sobbingly stated, "Uuuue...thank you..." in between a series of sniffles.Though he was still shocked by how convincing her presumed act was, Linnaeus didn't show it on his face. Instead, he adopted his most genuine apologetic smile, raising his hands in a placating gesture as he said, "It's fine...no need to thank me. Rather, my friends should be arriving soon...you should go and get yourself cleaned up."Showing no apprehension toward being told what to do, Khö bobbed her head in understanding as she continued to wipe away at her tears. Then, before retreating to the kitchen, she gave another low bow, repeating, "Thank you..." before turning tail and scampering away.Assuming he was being watched even prior to Khö's arrival, Linnaeus maintained an awkward smile even after she had vanished through the kitchen's doors. Then, as if all the tensions in his body had been released, he exhaled a tired sigh before reclining in his booth, closing his eyes, and 'listening' to the surrounding vibrations once again...---While Linnaeus was seated within the dining room, Almas had been sitting quietly within the kitchen, a distant look in her mesmerizing purple eyes. The teardrop-shaped gemstone in her forehead was releasing a very subtle glow, and, while it seemed as though she lacked any kind of focus, the truth of the matter was that she had been spying on Linnaeus and his Party the entire night. Now, she was watching his interaction with Khö from start to finish, trying to ascertain whether or not he would be a boon or a bane to their group.The unfortunate thing about her ability was that it didn't transmit sounds, only visuals, so, while she was adept at reading lips, it was difficult to keep track of everything said during a conversation. Thus, rather than focus on what was said, Almas focused on the subtle shifts in a person's body language and facial expression.With more than two hundred years of experience working as a specialist at gathering information, Almas was more than capable of seeing through Linnaeus' act. He was a bit of an awkward boy, so, at least from her perspective, his thoughts were completely transparent. She could tell he was a little afraid, but, more than anything else, he seemed intent on protecting his allies. He also possessed an intelligent glimmer in his eyes, which, if nurtured, would blossom into an incredible talent.Though she was one of the people assigned to protect Khö, Almas' main duty was to profile others in order to ascertain whether or not they posed a threat to her organization. This involved analyzing the motivations and character of their targets, as, even if a Potentiate provided exceptional benefits to any organization, recruiting people who would disrupt the organization from the inside was how the majority of factions collapsed.From what she could deduce, Linnaeus was the type that would expose himself to danger in order to protect his companions. This was an admirable trait, but, depending on the circumstances, this trait was exceptionally dangerous, much like a double-bladed sword. If he began to suspect that his allies were in danger, there was a very real chance he would turn against them...As this thought crossed her mind, Almas blinked back into awareness just as Khö entered into the kitchen. A motherly smile spread across her face when she saw the adorable Bapho, who, even after departing the dining room, still had a few tears building at the corners of her eyes.Opening her arms slightly, Almas adopted a gentle tone as she muttered, "Oh, you poor thing...come here, let me give you a hug..."Hearing the kind words directed toward her, Khö practically leaped through the air, burying her face into the buxom chest of the motherly woman. In response, Almas gently wrapped her arms around the sniffling girl, an affectionate yet sad smile on her face as she muttered, "Now, now, it's going to be okay. You're not going to get into any trouble, I promise..."

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..."

Chapter 94: Uncommon Intellect