Despite the happy sounds of my teammates unlocking their cuffs and slicing through the tal bars of the cell behind , there's still a major issue to still be solved.
Lydia is missing.
The other presence on this floor that was masked by the cuffs happened to be this bald and bearded old man, not the white-haired katana-wielding mage I expected to see.
My mind races and I activate my enemy detection skill along with my other perception perks to scope out the floors above . There isn't any sign of her, only more enemies.
I scoff and curse under my breath. The old man speaks as I start to turn away.
"Please, if you would be so kind as to free too young man."
I look him in the eyes and he stares back with the sa cold eyes, now with a glimr of hope at the back of them. His wrists are bloodied and bruised, but it seems they've healed many tis over. There is food and water near the back side of his cell
I respond.
"Why do they keep you around? It seems like you've been locked up for quite a while."
He gulps, giving the hint of a thin smile.
"Wrong place at the wrong ti I suppose."
I scrunch my eyebrows and tighten my lips, questioning his statent.
A loud clang sounds behind as the last portions of tal bars crack the cent floor and my teammates start walking out. White and green light casts a glow that reflects off the old man's face. Abby is restoring everyone's wounds. I respond, intrigued by the old mans words.
"What for? There's a lot of things that aren't quite adding up here."
He replies.
"I was doing research on the Abyss. That's all it was, unfortunately. A northern section of the city links to the source, a man nad number 1 found while I was doing a few tests. He wanted my data, and I- well- I believe you can infer the rest."
I try to activate my Lie Detector skill, but it doesn't give any readings. My eyes shift down to the magic-blocking cuffs that must be the cause of the interference. I want to believe what he has to say, but the easy thing to do would be leave him behind and not carry any extra baggage.
My teammates are the only people I care about right now.
Before I make my decision, Maria hugs from behind.
"I knew you'd co. I knew you'd find a way!"
She's half crying and half laughing. I forget about the old man for a mont and turn around to hug her back.
Abby gives a smile and mouths a thanks but is still busy working on Fisher's wounds. Arie walks up stretching his arms with a calm expression.
"Thanks for the save, but this is no ti to celebrate. You know better than I do, we have a lot of work ahead of us. Not a single one of us is safe, and I don't even know who the enemy is."
I grit my teeth, holding Maria even tighter.
"It's everyone. The Association. Solara. Who ever this damn Inner Circle organization is. Plus... where is Lydia? Could she be tangled up in this ss too?"
Silence fills the room.
Maria steps back, catching her breath and putting a more serious look on her face.
"No. You may not know her as well as , but Lydia wouldn't betray us. I'm sure of it."
I nod slowly, not wanting to doubt her words, but the passive perks of my lie detector skill activate, and a soft green light envelopes her body.
It fades soon after, and based on everyone's lack of reactions it seems I'm the only one that can perceive it. It isn't blue text like my other skills, but I can instinctively comprehend that these words are the truth in Maria's mind.
I nod.
"I believe you. I'm just... laying out all of our options here."
A muttered tone escapes fishers lips.
"S-She's right. Lydia is as loyal as they co. That woman puts up a cold front, but I've tead with her for years. She'd die before selling us out."
He coughs blood as Abby continues to restore him. The sa faint additional green glow confirms these words are the truth.
My thoughts start racing.
Every second that passes in this escape plan of mine is making things more and more complicated. I don't necessarily care for her as much as my teammates that I've grown with, It's just that I hate not knowing the full truth. It makes very irritated.
Being manipulated and deceived left and right by higher-ups and organizations that are supposedly stronger than is not sothing I can put up with any longer.
I grit my teeth, trying to think things through. Before I can piece anything new together, the locked-up old man's voice echoes through the silence of the cell.
"Your white-haired teammate. I believe I know where she is."
All 5 of us turn his way, and I raise an eyebrow.
"Okay. Go on..."
He lifts his hands again.
"Please, help out of here and I can lead you to their boss' room. The man with the pin labeled number 1 on his suit. I've been there a few tis in the past, and I saw a young woman with white hair being brought in as I left just a few days back. She was yelling about how they;d regret this when her teammates ca to save her. I thought it was a hopeless threat, but it seems what she's said will co true."
I look down at his cuffs, then back up at the man.
"Fine. Uncuff him. We'll give this guy a chance."
I'm sure I could make it to the Boss' lair myself, but just to make sure it wouldn't hurt to have soone lead the way. Plus, he definitely holds resentnt toward this organization sa as .
"For now, the enemy of my enemy is my friend."
Abby throws the keys into his cage and I use sharp mana-imbued earth magic stone fragnts to slice an opening in the tal bars, I use my perception skills to watch closely as the man's black tal restraints fall to the floor with a clang.
_________________
[Lv. 89]
Active Items:
[NONE]
Active Skills:
Appraisal
_________________
I activate my conceal skill imdiately, changing my status to read that of an average level 350 hunter with only swordsmanship and the earth summoning skill that I've shown already. I'm almost positive Appraisal skills not of the special grade can only identify item stats, but its better safe than sorry.
I speak.
"Any suspicious movents and you're dead. Got it?"
He nods as I continue.
"Now, confirm everything you've said to so far is true."
I point an earth magic imbued index finger that just cut through steel bars at his forhead, but all the man can do is smile.
"Of course it's true. Please, let lead the way."
His deanor flips from hopeless to joy-filled and helpful despite the deadly weapon pointed straight at him.
He walks out of the cell and begins making his way to the door at the back of the room. The sa light green glows around his body then dissipates just as fast.
The man is no more than 150cm tall, just a bit shorter than Abby. He walks with a limp on his left leg, but the speed at which he hobbles toward the door makes it almost unnoticeable.
He doesn't speak another word before making it to the exit. The 5 of us stand in awkward silence as well. He speaks again while turning back to .
"The na's Chester by the way. You've saved a stranger's life on a gamble, now I must do the sa to pay you back. Please, allow to help you find your friend."
His eyebrows shift up and down as he is clearly thinking deeply about sothing while struggling to keep eye contact with . His attention darts around the room, but the genuine smile stays on his face.
Technically from his perspective, this is true. In reality, I saved him because I'm curious about a few things. What kind of loot this Bossman may be stashing in their office is first on the list... A close second is finding and saving Lydia. Third is one other thing that won't stop lingering in the back of my head. It's the question of what research this old man was doing on the so-called abyss that was so important that he was locked up for not sharing his data.
If I had to make an educated guess, the abyss is the blank energy reading that stretches out from the northern border of the city. This is what I sensed days ago upon our arrival, but haven't gotten a chance yet to check it out.
As odd and awkward as this man may be, he holds the key to many answers I seek.
I reply with a smirk.
"I'm Jay, nice to et you too."
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