“Before I make the payment, could I perhaps offer you any of my wares?”
Heh... I’d started thinking he’d never ask.
“A sphere of temporary growth?” I asked with hope in my voice.
“Alas,” the gnome shook his head. “I’ve never heard of such an artifact before.”
Not especially hoping for success, I still sighed in disappointment.
When I asked about an iridescent tablet, the gnome just laughed.
“Then how about you show me everything you have for my level,” I said with sadness in my voice.
A minute later there were four items on the table. Three large mana crystals and some unsightly rag belt.
“Slim pickings,” I sighed and reached for the crystals.
- Large mana crystal:
- Mana: 0/1600.
- Large mana crystal:
- Mana: 0/1600.
- Large mana crystal:
- Mana: 0/1400.
My mood improved appreciably. Considering the bonus from the ephemeral belt of the twilight mage, these could give me a boost of five thousand five hundred mana points! I’m afraid to even imagine how much he’ll want for all these riches.
As if having read my thoughts, the gnome declared:
“Two thousand gold a piece. I’ll tell you right away, you’ll never find them for less.”
“One of the crystals is two hundred points smaller than the others,” I made a pitiful attempt at negotiation.
And the gnome unexpectedly answered:
“I’ll drop the price by a hundred. I really can’t do more. For the three crystals – five nine.”
“I’ll take them,” I nodded.
Then I turned to the unremarkable belt.
― Ephemeral Sash of the Twilight Mage.
― Type: Magical objects.
― Rarity: Epic.
― Effect:
― + 20 ephemeral inventory slots.
― Preserves magical effects/characteristic figures of items placed in its slots (other than weapons).
― Note:
― After equipped, becomes part of wearer until death.
“Am I understanding correctly that, if I remove a ring and place it in this sash, my characteristics will be the same as if I were wearing it?” I asked with a parched throat.
“Exactly right,” Haldaf nodded.
“And how much do you want for the sash?” I asked, my heart skipping a beat.
“Before naming my price, I’d like to clarify something,” the gnome said unexpectedly. “Would you permit me to ask a question?”
“Interesting. I’m listening.”
“The thing is, when I showed you that artifact...”
“The dark sphere that will give me a headache for the whole next week?”
“Yes,” the gnome nodded, apologizing. “When I showed you that artifact, I noticed you were familiar with it... Don’t get me wrong... It’s just...”
“I’ve never seen a sphere like that before.”
My answer disappointed the gnome. But not for long. I said more:
“But I know what it is, and I know what to do with it. As a matter of fact, I am the only person in this world who could use it.”
I was intentionally trying to come across as a bigshot. I wasn’t afraid he’d go running his mouth – he’d sworn an oath of secrecy. He must have had a reason to ask about the sphere before telling me the price of the sash. Maybe he’s going to give me a discount.
The gnome’s face went white again. His mouth was wide open. His eyes were unblinking.
“Are you trying to say you are a member of the dead order of monster hunters?” Haldaf asked, stunned.
“If the Great System is to be trusted – it’s only member,” I clarified and looked with intrigue at the merchant. “How do you know about the order?”
“Every subject of the undermountain sovereign knows about the hunters that safeguard our world against otherworldly beasts!” Haldaf exclaimed. “My ancestors fought side by side with your brothers-in-arms!”
A-hem... Now this is getting interesting. I’m reminded that the foxman told me how their gnome allies really treated the hunters.
As the years passed, the order started gaining power. And the bigwigs naturally didn’t like it. They started painting the hunters black in the public eye. Inventing wild fables. It reached the point that they stopped letting the hunters enter cities and, after a few assassination attempts, Gunnar decided to leave the surface... The order helped the subterranean folk exterminate some Horror of the Depths, and in return the King under the mountain gifted them that cave and sent craftsmen to construct the city that later came to be called Stonetown. The hunters didn’t realize what those little jerks stuck them with until it was too late. The cave came with a surprise in the form of that portal.
“It’s nice to hear that your kin still remember ancient allies,” I started improvising. And it seemed the now deep-red gnome liked my little improvisation. “But let’s get back to business...”
“Yes, of course,” the merchant hurriedly agreed and asked: “You said you can use the Orb of Darkness. How exactly?”
“I am a Vanquisher of Darkness.”
Haldaf then gave a noticeable shudder. He must have had a bit too much for one day.
“That means you can create Sparks of the Otherworld as it says in the description?”
“Exactly.”
“And what exactly are these sparks?” he asked with a shivering voice.
“A magical substance extracted from orbs of darkness, which I can use to enchant objects. I have an ability that uses sparks to confer a random characteristic on an object or significantly improve a pre-existing one. Under very rare circumstances, the object can also receive a special magical effect.”
* * *
I walked the whole way from Madi Belvokrut’s office to Gino’s house with a happy smile plastered on my face. A few passers-by even gawked at my happy countenance in surprise. Fine by me! My joy knew no bounds! From this day forward, I am a free man! My debt with Bardan has been paid off! A whole new stage of my life has begun! I was raring to share my happiness with my friends as fast as possible! I had enough money to treat them all to a meal in an expensive restaurant to mark the occasion!
Being totally frank with Haldaf had several positive effects. I was given a significant discount on the mana crystals and the sash. The gnome only wanted twenty-five thousand gold coins for everything. He also offered to let me defer payment, but I surprised him again. I showed him a vial of black armorbug spirit, and it made up the difference and then some. I even came out ahead. I had fifteen hundred gold in my coin purse. And after all, I had another eleven vials and several highly valuable tablets. I decided not to sell all that just yet. There’s no rush.
After that, I offered to make a Spark of the Otherworld out of the Orb of Darkness for Haldaf. And when, thanks to my level, that generated not one but two sparks, the gnome just about had a conniption.
Before we said farewell, Haldaf spent a long time shaking my hand and invited me to have lunch at his house the next day. By that time, he promised to pick out some items that might catch my eye. I accepted the respected merchant’s invitation with glee. I would need to make these kinds acquaintances for my new life as a free man.
I tried on my new acquisitions before so much as leaving Madi’s office. I placed the crystals into the ephemeral belt, then my button, ring, Ava’s bracelet and Gunnar’s amulet went into the sash. Now I was calm. Nobody could rob me anymore. And at the same time, the artifacts were still working unhindered.
Cyrus led me to the door and, having received double payment in honor of my excellent mood, ran out to get about his business.
Before crossing the threshold, I carefully cleaned the snow off my boots. Gino’s home, just like yesterday, greeted me with mind-blowing aromas from the kitchen.
Before going up to my room, I decided to pop into the kitchen and say hi to Leonia.
<
br /> The door gave easily, and I wanted to walk inside but instead froze like a statue.
Gino was sitting at the kitchen table with his head drooping. There was a man standing a step away from him. He winced in disgust, dressing the old lanista down for something.
When I showed up, the man fell silent, but I managed to hear his last words. Gino was getting told off for not telling someone he had arrived yesterday evening.
“Eric Bergman?!” the man asked me in a commanding voice. His tone and level forty-three inspired unwitting awe.
“Yes,” I answered in distress and unexpectedly sensed that someone was behind me.
“You’re under arrest!”
I felt my shoulders squeezed in on both sides as if with a vice.
Chapter 19
A LARGE BULBOUS DROPLET broke away from the gray stone ceiling and fell to the floor, shattering into dozens of little spurts. In the dim light coming through the crack of the door, the puddle on the floor looked like a dirty broken window.
My pillow, stuffed with rotten poky straw, gave off an unbearable putrid smell. The cot gave a plaintive creak with my every move, emitting aromas of moldy wood and damp. But I was glad to have even a bed such as that. Otherwise I’d have had to sleep on the bitterly cold stone floor.
Yesterday, it occurred to me that when I got out I’d have to throw away my clothes – they’re absolutely saturated with these smells. I considered it and gave a nervous laugh. Today is the tenth day of my imprisonment, but I still don’t know the reason for my arrest.
At first, when I was led out of Gino’s home, I thought it was because of the search Skorx announced. I tried to explain that a few hours ago I’d paid the debt and all associated fines and that I had the documents to prove it. But they didn’t listen.
The arresting agents fully ignored my explanations. They didn’t even look at me. They treated me like empty space.
I didn’t even think of resisting. There were five of them. All over level forty. Based on the telltale eye color, three of them were mages.
Other than Gino, who stayed sitting at the table, I didn’t see anyone either in the house or outside it. As a matter of fact, as I was loaded into the cab of a black carriage, I formed the impression that the street where the lanista’s house was located was basically deserted.
Before I left, I caught a short gaze from Gino that stuck in my memory. It said a lot. I could tell that the people who arrested me didn’t know about Mee. And evidence of that was that in the carriage were only myself and the three mages. By the looks of things, nobody was planning to arrest the gremlin. Thank the gods!
And in the old man’s eyes I also saw guilt and remorse. As if he was the reason for my arrest.
There were no windows in the carriage, and no sources of light whatever. It felt like we spent thirty or forty minutes underway.
And finally, the carriage came to a stop. When the door opened, I realized we were underground. After that came a series of narrow corridors I was led through with a bag over my head. Periodically, plaintive cries, shrieks of pain and pleas for mercy reached my ears. I’d already realized where I’d landed. Seemingly, I was in the secret chancery’s torture chambers.
After yet another turn, I was stopped brutally, and the bag was yanked off. The bolt clanged. The rusty hinges creaked. A short push to the back and I was in a small chamber with a narrow cot and a filthy hole in the corner of the wall.
I was warned I’d better not even think about escaping. And furthermore, there was a magic shield on the walls, ceiling, floor and door. After activating Sixth Sense, I realized this underground prison in some way reminded me of Fort Stout. Getting through a shield such as that with my modest abilities would be simply impossible.
All that time, I was trying to behave in a disciplined manner, praying for a mistake. But by the end of day ten, I had realized that I must have stepped in shit of some kind.
The feeling of impotence and resentment made me want to wail. I’d only just gotten free – and then...
The more I analyzed my current situation, the more distinctly I realized that Gino had given me up to the secret chancery. But why?! Greed? Didn’t want to share the money from selling the beast? Or was something else at play? What did that mage’s last sentence mean? There was something Gino hadn’t run off to report straight away... But what?
Most important is that Mee is safe. Although I also wasn’t certain of that. At the very least, I wanted to think my friend had avoided arrest.
When the grim thoughts that had been tapping through my brain like the drum of a barrel organ for all these days started on another loop, the door into my slammer cell finally opened. In the doorway appeared a familiar mage guard.
“Up!” he barked angrily. “Out!”
I complied.
Bag back on my head. More pushing my back to show me the way. Although inwardly I’d tried to remain law-abiding for the first few days, by now every shove was thrusting more rage and fury into me. But I kept my cool, even though it took effort.
Finally, we stopped. I heard the sound of a door opening
“Prisoner Bergman has been delivered!” I heard my guard’s obsequious voice.
“Take him in,” I heard an authoritative woman’s voice.
Another shove. I took three steps and stopped. The bag was yanked off my head and bright light struck me in the pupils. I squinted. Then I rubbed my eyes and quickly took a look around.
“Don’t turn your head!” Another shove from the guard.
“If you touch me again – you’ll regret it!” I hissed through my teeth, losing my temper.
Our gazes met. The dark blue eyes of the guard mage turned into narrow slits. His lower jaw jutted out forward menacingly. His jaw muscles started to twitch.
At that instant, I didn’t give a damn about his fury or level thirty-eight. I was ready to summon all my spirits at once and unleash an Earth Tremor. Let the chips fall where they may.
These people had locked me up for a long ten days in a damp dark cell without explanation and given me no water or food in hopes of breaking my spirit. But the effect they’d achieved was the exact opposite. I am a free man! And I am prepared to make my life come at a high cost!
“Cool it, Glair,” the woman sitting at the desk said calmly, making a note on a sheet of paper.
Level forty-nine. Eyes burning a magical blue. To look at her – thirty to thirty-five years. Although it isn’t hard for a mage of that level to adjust their age. I wouldn’t be surprised to find out she’s already well over a hundred.
The woman’s calm tone cooled my guard’s ardor in an instant. Just the way he shuddered. This guy’s afraid of her!
“Bu the way, I thought I gave a clear order that this prisoner was not to be given food or water,” she continued, leafing through some papers.
“Master Betrinna, your order was carried out to the letter!” Glair reported, stretched out at attention.
“Then why does he look like he’s just left an Atrian spa? He’s even showing teeth!”
“I have no way of knowing!” the guard shouted and stretched out all the higher.
The woman raised her head and our gazes met.
“Who’s been feeding you?”
— Attention! You have been subjected to mental magic!
― Attack repulsed!
I shuddered.
“Now this is getting curious,” Betrinna set her quill aside and pulled away from her papers then crossed her slim pretty arms on her chest.
I was no less surprised! A level forty-nine mage, who clearly had high level mental magic, was unable to get past my Will! Just what kind of amulet had I been given?!
“Leave,” she ordered the guard. When the door closed, the woman took a small lens from her pocket and pointed it at me. This artifact must have worked the same way as Master Chi’s little mirror or, for that matter, Haldaf’s monocle. After all, the gnome must have had a reason to look through it at me while going over my loo
t.
A second later, her brows shot upward. Her lower jaw, on the other hand, crept down. And by the way, the gnome reacted approximately the same way. Seemingly, the magess’ lens, just like the merchant’s monocle, was not working the way it was supposed to.
The Dark Continent (Underdog Book #3): LitRPG Series Page 18