Babel

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..."

A few minutes after Khö alighted from the room, the relative silence was broken by the sound of Eliza, Emilia, and Krone passing through the front doors of the dining room.As could be expected, Eliza wasn't too happy about the fact that Linnaeus had gone ahead, but, instead of saying anything about it, she adopted a pouting expression, asking, "Were you able to discover anything?"Nodding his head, Linnaeus explained, "It's hard to talk about it, but I was able to confirm some of my suspicions. It doesn't look like we have a lot of options until our contract with the Guild has expired."Hearing Linnaeus' response, Eliza released a tired sigh before plopping down next to him and letting her head rest on the table. She wasn't all that surprised by Linnaeus' words, but, knowing she couldn't escape the machinations of authoritative figures, even after death, she couldn't help feeling a little annoyed.Seeing how frustrated Eliza was, Linnaeus hesitated for a brief moment before lightly patting her on the back and saying, "It's going to be okay. Didn't we already agree to protect each other? I'll do my best to keep you safe, so don't let this get to you..."Chiming in, Emilia nestled next to Eliza, adding, "Lin is right. We're all one tribe. Even if the enemy is much stronger, I won't be afraid. I'll protect all three of you, even if it costs my life~."Towards the end of her statement, Emilia hugged Eliza's body tightly, nuzzling against her in an affectionate manner that caused the petite purple-haired girl to groan in mock frustration.Deciding to leave Eliza to Emilia, Linnaeus looked up at Krone, noticing the latter's steely gaze had been focused on their surroundings. It wasn't difficult to guess what was going through his mind, so, when their eyes met, Linnaeus gave a curt nod of affirmation.Though it could still be a coincidence, this was the second time they were the only guests in the dining room. This wasn't too abnormal, but, when you considered the relatively cheap yet high-quality food, it was strange for the hall to be completely barren two days in a row. The most likely scenario was that every other tenant was already affiliated with the Porcello Company, protecting its properties from internal and external threats while disguising themselves as normal groups of Adventurers and Mercenaries.As if to prove the veracity of this assumption, two figures emerged from the double-doors leading into the kitchen: Khö and Almas. The first was pushing a tray filled with similar dishes to the ones they had previously ordered. Linnaeus noticed her eyes were still somewhat puffy, indicating she had only recently stopped crying...Linnaeus wasn't the only one who noticed Khö's state, but, due to the presence of the motherly woman with glimmering purple eyes, even Eliza remained silent. They all knew just how powerful Almas was, so, unless they were left with no other alternative, it was best to avoid inadvertently offending her.Pulling a seat from the nearby table, Almas sat down next to the booth occupied by Linnaeus and Co. She sat with her back straight, patiently waiting until Khö finished handing out all of the food before saying, "You do not need to worry about paying for these items. They are my gift to your Party. Now, I believe you have already reached a consensus...?"Before answering, Linnaeus made eye contact with each member of his Party, earning small nods from the two girls and a light shrug from Krone. Then, without beating around the bush, he asked, "What are the intentions of the Porcello Company? Even if its to entrap people, I can't understand why you would use a Bapho as bait. What are Khö's circumstances? Why is she here, pretending to be a waitress...?"Rather than answer, Almas pulled out a parchment from her Inventory, unfurling it to reveal what appeared to be a contract. Only after handing it over for Linnaeus' perusal did she explain, "You are a clever boy, Linnaeus...almost dangerously so. If you want answers, you will need to sign that agreement. Don't worry, it is little more than a contract of non-disclosure. Even if you want to walk away and pretend like this was all a dream, the Porcello Company won't pursue the matter~."Though he was listening to Almas' words, Linnaeus' eyes were focused on the relatively simple document. As she mentioned, the terms primarily included protecting the information that was exchanged between them. At the very end, however, there were some troublesome clauses that immediately brought a frown to his, and everyone else's, faces...Staring back at Almas, Linnaeus had a serious glint in his eyes as he asked, "What is the meaning of these clauses? You expect us to become Debtees to the Porcello Company if we fail to exit the Crucible in the next four months? Is this...some...kind..."Linnaeus was originally going to lambast Almas for the ridiculousness of the contract, but, before he could finish, a sudden realization hit him. This caused his eyes to widen noticeably, a feeling of panic surging through his body as Almas smiled and mused, "You really are a clever boy..."With Almas' words being the only confirmation he needed, Linnaeus balled his hands into fists beneath the table. He felt a considerable amount of indignation but forced himself to appear as calm as possible on the surface. Eliza, however, could feel his body shaking slightly, causing her expression to turn dour as she glared at Almas with hostility.Before Eliza could do something that got them all killed, Linnaeus startled her quite a bit when he placed his hand on her thigh. Her angry expression immediately transitioned into a flustered one as she instinctually smacked away his hand, a slight blush coloring her cheeks.Taking advantage of Eliza's distracted state, Linnaeus further surprised his Party solemnly stating, "We will sign the contract..." with a deathly serious expression on his face.Needless to say, Eliza wasn't too happy about Linnaeus' decision, but, knowing he must have a good reason, she begrudgingly pricked her finger after seeing him and Emilia do the same. As for Krone, he remained silent for several long seconds before saying, "I have no intention to leave the Crucible. I will accompany my Party to the top floor as promised before spending the rest of my days repenting for my failures in life. I have no interest in the private affairs of your Company, so I will not sign away my freedom over something so nonsensical."Hearing the usually taciturn Krone speak so much, even Linnaeus was slightly taken aback. At the same time, however, he couldn't help but feel slightly frustrated. He already knew the Krone took his vows very seriously, but, despite rarely speaking to each other, Linnaeus had come to believe that he was very trustworthy. Knowing Krone still intended to remain was like a punch to the gut, especially given the circumstances...Surprisingly, Almas didn't seem to mind Krone's statement, nodding her head as she said, "That is perfectly reasonable. Please step out of the room until we finish our conversation."Rather than immediately follow Almas' instructions, Krone looked toward Linnaeus, waiting until the latter gave a curt nod before rising from the booth. This was giving a considerable amount of face to his Party Leader, something that made Linnaeus feel even more regretful about their future separation...Once Krone had left the dining room completely, traveling well out of earshot, Almas smiled in a practiced manner, stating, "If there is nothing else, please sign the contract. As you are no doubt aware, this is a time-sensitive matter. The sooner we can reach an accord, the smoother things will go."Taking the initiative, Linnaeus left a bloody imprint on the paper, cursing the fate that had led him to this moment. This situation was turning into something bigger than he had anticipated, but, so long as they were able to leave the Crucible, nothing else really mattered.Seeing everyone sign the contract, Almas adopted an expression that could only be described as predatory amusement as she explained, "It is fortunate that the two of you trust Linnaeus enough to sign the contract without a fuss. If he had tried to explain things, well...I'm sure he'll explain it to you..."With Almas' words serving as further confirmation, Linnaeus adopted his usual neutral expression, explaining, "They want someone to take Khö up the Crucible...if we didn't sign the contract, our lives would have been forfeit..."In response to Linnaeus' words, Almas clapped her hands a few times, her smile becoming more natural as she exclaimed, "That is correct! My, my, did I mention how clever your little Party Leader is~?"As could be expected, Eliza and Emilia had hateful expressions on their face as they glared back at Almas. Neither seemed to realize the significance behind Linnaeus' words, their minds clouded by the fact that the purple-haired beauty had been fully prepared to kill them moments prior.Shattering the building tensions, Khö had an extremely apologetic expression on her face as she bowed at a steep angle and exclaimed, "I'm sorry! If it wasn't for me, none of this would have-"Before Khö could finish, Almas lightly pat her back, saying, "There is no need for that, Khö. These people inquired about your situation by choice. If anyone owes them an apology, it would be me. However, this was something that must be done...I'm certain you understand that, don't you, Lin?"At this point, Eliza could no longer contain herself, saying, "You don't have the right to call Lin in such an informal way! You...you vile temptress...!"Hearing Eliza's outburst, Almas just stared at her as if she had no idea what the girl was talking about. This caused Eliza to appear even more upset, but, before she could say anything further, Linnaeus explained, "Calm down, Eliza. I already explained their intentions and I'm pretty sure I can guess their reasons. In fact, I'm almost certain..."After observing Khö closely, Linnaeus had started to realize that she wasn't actually putting on an act. There as little reason to keep pretending when she was out of sight, so, based on the fact she still had puffy eyes when first appearing, it was easy to deduce she had been crying. This implied she had an uncommon amount of dedication to acting, or, infinitely more likely, her reactions had been genuine.With all eyes focused on him, Linnaeus explained, "Khö is a potentiate, just like us. She must have come into contact with the Porcello Company after reaching the Fifth Floor. She must have struck a deal with them, earning their protection in exchange for becoming their future property. Since she is still a Potentiate, however, they can't keep her here unless she fails in her trial...is that it?"Though there was more he wanted to say, Linnaeus felt like he would be stepping on a landmine if he mentioned it too soon. It would be better for Almas or Khö to reveal the truth, allowing him a small amount of breathing room in case his conjecture proves incorrect...Much to Linnaeus' surprise, Almas shook her head, her expression turning somewhat melancholic as she said, "While not exactly wrong, the way you explain things leaves a bad taste in my mouth. It might be difficult for you to believe, but we're actually trying to help Khö. Most people do not understand the true nature of the Bapho tribe. Once you learn the truth, you will understand why we needed to take these measures..."As he could already see where the conversation was headed, Linnaeus nodded his head, taking a bit of the wind out of Almas' sail as he said, "So long as the Porcello Company is willing to provide us with adequate protection and supplies, we will escort Khö to the surface. I'm certain you have your reasons, but, before any of that, I want your promise that others won't harass us while we're cooperating with the Porcello Company."Hearing Linnaeus' words, Almas got the feeling he was behaving a little too opportunistically, but, as his Party was one of only two groups suited to the task, she ultimately nodded, stating, "So long as you were willing to agree to our terms, we intended to protect you. We already have numerous allies within the Guild so there will be no problems. In exchange, you will have to temporarily join our Company, fighting alongside our other Parties in order to make proper use of your Potentiate status. By the time the Main Expedition has come to an end, you will have more than enough Soul Kindling to purchase your life back from that mischievous cat..."Almas' words basically confirmed the fact that their Drop Rate was much higher than average, so, without further ado, Linnaeus nodded his head, stating, "We are in agreement. Now...I suppose it is time you tell us about Khö's situation...?"Seeing Linnaeus look toward her, Khö suddenly became very sheepish, using her notepad to hide her face. It was a rather adorable reaction, earning her a deadpan stare from Eliza and an amused smile from both Emilia and Almas. The latter, however, quickly fixed her expression, turning more serious and professional as she stated, "Well...it all began around forty-thousand years ago..."

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...

Chapter 95: Experience, Assumptions, and Reality