Chương 50: Chapter 48. Memories

"Originally when we first proposed the idea of setting up safe houses and assigning members of our… faction to live there, I was against it. However, I must say that I quite love what Janine and Amber have done with the place," Bruno said as he admired the bright yellow house which stood out amongst the sea of muted and washed out colors of the other houses.

"Although, that is one shitty repair job on the side of the house…" Gita gave him an unamused look.

"This place is so damned bright. It's like a giant advertisement stating they're begging to be robbed."

"No doubt a few have tried. I'm positive none have survived, though," Bruno said as he slid the key into the lock.

"Janine and Amber aren't the strongest of fighters, but they don't need to be when one's a [Trapper] and the other's a [Arachnologist]." When he heard the click of the front door being unlocked, he immediately sought cover and pushed Gita away. A second later, the door detonated in a small explosion, sending wood fragments everywhere.

"What the fuck! Why couldn't you have told me to stand somewhere else before doing that?" Gita yelled. Bruno shrugged.

"Gotta find the joy in life somewhere, don't you?"

"And who the fuck rigs their door to explode when someone unlocks it?"

"That'd be Janine. You don't become a [Trapper] by being anything less than the most paranoid motherfucker in the world. The door would've blown with or without the key, but with the key, the other traps at the front door are disarmed," Bruno said as he stepped inside.

"I think the key also disarms their glyphs, so any other traps in the house should be disarmed as well. For the time being."

"Great. Let's just get the memory quartz and be gone before we get Home Alone'd."

"I don't understand that one, but alright. Come on, the safe is upstairs in their room." Bruno led Gita up the stairs and found the safe. This time he warned Gita to be prepared for a trap to trigger as he didn't know what would happen when he fiddled with the safe. She activated her [Root Carapace] and stood behind him.

"Okay, it's been a minute since I've cracked a safe like this… [Betray Perception]," Bruno said… but nothing happened.

"What'd… that do?" Gita asked.

"Uh, nothing… I forgot I lost that skill during my class evolution," Bruno admitted.

"Wait… I've been doing some reading on classes and skills before bed from one of the books that Plank gave me. Those books list [Gambler] and [Trickster] as common classes… which is what you said you were. What class are you really?" Bruno cursed at himself for the careless slip.

"I was those classes up until about a little under a two years ago. After hitting level 30 in my [Gambler] class, it merged with [Trickster] and evolved in [Gambler of Fate]. Don't go around telling anyone about that okay? As far as I know, it's a brand new unique class. I don't want people to find out that aren't in our group."

"Damn, we've all got fancy sounding classes, eh?" Gita said smugly.

"Alright, step aside if you don't got this. Lemme see if I can't crack open this bad boy."

"And you think that using brute force somehow won't trigger any traps inside?"

"Do you have a better idea? I have this armor on and that door explosion didn't seem all too crazy."

"Let me try something else before we resort to that," Bruno said, but before he could do anything, Gita went ahead anyway and used [Oaken Fists]. The skill did far less damage than expected. A large dent formed in the center, with only the top left corner folding inwards. Someone with [Enhanced Strength] might've been able to begin the process of prying open the safe's door. Sadly, Gita was not at that level yet.

"No explosion, so that's nice!" Bruno said to a still focused Gita.

"[Seed Blossom]," Gita said and a small seed conjured and blasted itself away from her palm. The seed landed within the safe and then when she closed her fist, the seed blossomed, creating a massive ball of tangled roots which forced the safe door to burst off it's hinges.

"New spell I got from the whole bank fiasco. I think it's intended to ensnare people, but this works just as well."

"Damn, yeah that… that does work. Just so you know, I also got a sick new ultimate skill from my level up as well, so don't get an ego."

"Sort of anticlimactic…" Gita said, ignoring him and referring to the mostly empty safe.

"I'm not gonna complain. What I wanted is there, don't really desire to rob a colleague," Bruno said as he grabbed the memory quartz out of the safe.

"You've never used one of these before, so this might be a little… much. Just stay calm as I dig through for the last recording." As Bruno pulled the memory quartz out of the safe, he gestured for Gita to place her hand on the quartz as well. The moment she did so, he activated it by pouring some of his minuscule amount of innate mana inside the contraption. The moment he did so, his vision became overloaded with the vision of both nothing and everything.

Memories of Janine's life over the past few years flooding his brain. Unless he actively stopped and let the memories play out, it wouldn't last within his own memory. All he had to do was skip until the end and replay the final recording.

"Alright, Gita, this is the end. Are you holding on fine?" Bruno asked, hoping that she hadn't fainted from the overwhelming sensation. He heard her groan and let out a congested cough.

"…Yeah, I'm good. Janine's maybe gonna need a cleaner, though…" Not wanting to question further, Bruno mentally reached out and replayed Janine's last recorded memory before being abducted down into the Depths.

I felt Amber's soft lips press onto my cheek, her delicate hand wrapping around my face, pulling me to face hers as she woke me up.

"It's time to get up. I'm sorry… you looked like you were having such a nice dream, but we got work to do." I rubbed at my eyes, dismissing the sleep that still lingered as well as any minor frustrations I had at being woken up.

"Are you sure? We can leave the city if you'd like. Edwane isn't forcing me to live and die for his cause…"

"I know, but this is something we should follow up on. If we're right, Edwane is going to want to know. After we get definite answers, then we leave. If we leave now… then Romulus is free to do whatever."

"He's free to do whatever right now as well, Amber," I said as I got out of bed and picked out an outfit from my closet.

"You and I both know he has a soulstone. We saw the damned thing on his finger, did we not?" Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Amber gave a noncommittal shrug.

"Darling, I study spiders, not rocks. Just because I didn't recognize the stone doesn't mean it was a soulstone."

"Ah, fuck…" I cursed.

"I forgot to record the memory of the dinner into the quartz…"

"Well… perhaps that's for the best. I'd hate for your peers to see the end of last night." My cheeks flushed at the memory.

"You're right, and besides, the only thing of note was seeing that ring. Romulus couldn't be fucked to stay at that dinner for more than ten minutes, anyway."

"It was a nice dinner, too," Amber said dreamily.

"A shame we can't sneak up to the upper city every day. We should give Kiera a tip for helping us secure such nice disguises."

"Yeah, maybe," I said.

"Feed your spiders before we go, okay? Today might be a long one after all."

"Yes, mother," Amber jokingly singed.

"I take it you have an idea of where to investigate next?" I tried to reply, but a yawn overpowered my voice.

"…Perhaps. When I snuck off for the bathroom, I spotted a peculiar man that most certainly wasn't of upper city origin. That damned palace is massive, so I can't be sure… but I think he was being led into the basement."

"Could he just be some like… I don't know, a [Repairman]?"

"No, he had on this strangely nice-looking suit." Amber cocked her head to the side and narrowed her eyes onto me.

"What aren't you saying, Janine?"

"One of the [Royal Guards] stopped the suited man and told him that Romulus would be a little late."

"Janine! Why didn't you tell me this before?"

"Because I didn't want to add anymore fuel to this investigation! I want to leave with you and be done with this corruption business!"

"…You know who that man in the suit was, don't you?"

"No, not his name, just who he works for. Do you remember way back when I told you I saw some deranged killer while looking into the Reissi's?" Amber gave a slow nod.

"Well, that was him… and he might've seen me that night, as well as at the dinner…"

"Did he recognize you?"

"I don't know! It didn't look like it, but… I-I don't know!" Amber finally stood up and draped her arms around me, bringing us into a tight hug. Her perfume from last night was still faintly there. I drank in the scent, allowing it and her embrace to calm me down.

"Okay, so what do you want to do? If you want to leave the city, then let's pack up and go. We can personally visit Edwane ourselves and tell him. Is he still living in the Cerulean Atelier?"

"Most likely so, yes. But you're also right… I mean we don't have much to present. Sure, I saw a Reissi man head towards a meeting with Romulus, but what does that really say?"

"It confirms that it's the crown that is empowering Arturo. Arturo gets the Desire from his sources, he peddles it to the [King], and from there…"

"He gives it back to Arturo? I just can't figure out what's going on here, Amber. What's the goal here? Why would Romulus seek to make his people addicted..."

"Maybe he's looking to export it outside of Dynarus? I don't believe anyone has moved it outside of the city, so maybe he sees a potential profit?" Amber mulled on this for a long while, while I did the same. I was right that the increase in Desire on the streets was tied to something abnormal, but no matter how hard I thought on it… I just can't seem to connect the pieces. Romulus was already immensely wealthy as he was royalty, so exporting the drug to other cities didn't make sense.

As for Arturo, he showed no signs of seeking to expand his sphere of influence either.

"What about the church? Didn't you follow that one Reissi man and he met with the [Archbishop]?"

"That's what I was thinking. That man clearly was a [Drug Dealer], and his meeting with the [Archbishop] was far too quick. We can try and snoop around the District Five church since that's where he usually holds his sermons… but I really don't feel like we'll find anything."

"If Romulus Hargrave is a soulstone holder, then there's nothing we can do about that. I think what information we do have is enough for Edwane to bring in reinforcements. So, let's briefly check out the church and leave the city even if we find nothing." I sighed and rubbed at my temples.

"Yeah… yeah, okay. Fuck it, Edwane can sic one of his other hounds on this city. Feed your spiders and let's be gone."

"They'll be fine, I overfed them before the dinner last night," Amber suddenly became solemn.

"I can't bring them with me… maybe I should actually just let them go."

"Oh… right. They aren't dangerous, right? You didn't get any imported yet, so it'll be fine to release them."

"Um... Yeah, I know… but I'll miss them…"

"Amber, you attract the fuckers so easily thanks to that skill of yours. You'll have no problems finding more to raise."

"I know, I know. Alright, I'm going to release them and then I'll be ready to go," Amber said.

"Oh, dang! I should check and see if Teddie has returned!"

"Uh… who is Teddie?" Amber froze up and gave me a fake smile.

"No one… definitely not a nyxil spiderling that I crossbred with a… never mind!"

"Imma pretend I didn't hear that and grab a quick bite of bread to eat. I'll meet you outside," I said as she headed for her creepy spider room.

"Hey, I love you… soon we'll be able to enjoy a nice vacation away from this ugly city." Amber stopped and blew a kiss my way.

"I'm already thinking of where to go. Love you, too." I finished dressing up and headed to the kitchen. We didn't have much to eat aside from bread and some fruit. I figured we could just stop at a stall and grab something to eat on the road, so this would suffice for now. As I was making my sandwich, I heard Amber curse as she dragged one of her spider habitats out of the house. The sound of Amber yelping and a loud crash caused me to drop my plain bread sandwich.

I kicked the door open and saw the man with the suit standing over Amber. One muddy boot was on-top of her head, pushing her down. The spider habitat was shattered, its inhabitants missing.

"Mornin' ladies, how was dinner last night?"

"How did you…" With a kick to Amber's stomach, the suited man took one step towards me.

"Why don't you and your lovely wife come with me. I think the [King] personally wishes to speak with you." There was no time for me to arm the houses security glyphs aside from the ones at the front door. I threw myself back inside and slammed the door shut. I figured he'd try and pursue, detonating those traps. Amber was far enough that she'd be fine from anything except for stray debris, but that wouldn't threaten her life. From the side of the house, the suited man busted through.

His hands were shaking and his hungry eyes betrayed the calm demeanor he was exuding.

"Don't be mad about the house, I'll have someone fix it later. I'm under strict orders to bring you in alive… which is so boring. Nonetheless, I'm to invite you down to a tour of the Depths so that you can learn firsthand what's going on." I cursed as he headed my way. Edwane hadn't been able to make me all that great of a fighter. So far, I hadn't needed to do much physical fighting.

"So be it…" I said as I threw a punch at the man. He caught my fist and backhanded slapped me across my cheek. I spat blood onto his face, but some sort of aura skill reflected it back at me.

"Disgusting! Don't try and spread your filth onto me!" He tried to punch me in my stomach, but I sidestepped and landed a blow on his jaw. Apparently his aura didn't ward on physical attacks, which was odd. I didn't relish in the sight of him reel from the blow. I sprinted up the stairs and stopped midway to set up a trap.

"[Stun Step]," I said as I laid my hands down onto the stairs. A bright yellow sigil appeared on the ground which I made invisible with the snap of my fingers. With my trap set, I returned back to my room and opened my safe. A moment later, I heard it detonate. I needed to record a message as quickly as possible.

"Bruno, I'm sorry for not replying to your message a few weeks ago about you being in the area soon. I just really hate you and Amber thinks you're annoying… but if you somehow make it to Dynarus and find my memory quartz… you better fuckin' save me and Amber!"

"Hmm… rude," Bruno remarked as he shutdown the memory quartz.

"You really don't have any friends, do you?" Gita asked. Bruno ignored the jab.

"Unfortunately, nothing of much value in that memory. Seems like we've uncovered more information than she did. Which means that unfortunately… I don't see any value in saving her and risking our lives going into the Depths."

"We have to go down there to save the Lamenters anyways."

"It's sad what happened to them, don't get me wrong. But do you really want to go back and face off against Aurelia again? She had one of Vythe's skills without having her class! Who knows what else she's got?"

"Ah, right, right… You're just scared? That's it? The gambling man no longer wants to gamble?"

"I'm just being logical! We go down and rescue those Shiftlings and then place the [King] on high alert, which makes my mission of retrieving the soulstone even more difficult," Bruno said as he threw the memory quartz onto Janine's bed in annoyance.

"Maybe if this had yielded any new information, then I could justify it. As it stands, we learned nothing of value!"

"Yeah, okay, so this was a bust. Not everything is going to go your way, Bruno," Gita replied.

"There's things that we don't know, though, and as someone who says it's their job to snuff out corruption in the world, shouldn't you want to go down to the source and see how corruption is being placed into Desire?" Bruno chewed on the inside of his mouth.

"Fine, we continue the plan. However, I'm not risking my life for those Shiftlings should it prove impossible to save them. The main mission takes priority, but… if you want to help that Oz fellow… go ahead." Gita seemed content with that answer and stuck her hand out for him to shake. He eyed the hand as if it were the plague itself.

"Whatever, fine," he grumbled as he shook her hand.

"See, you can be trained. Good boy!" Gita said with a smug grin and left the bedroom.

"Sorry, Janine… for your sake, I hope you're dead already. If I'd been a little bit quicker…" Bruno said wistfully as he looked around the bedroom. Gita's yelp from outside snapped him out of his thoughts.

"This feels… familiar," he remarked and ran outside. On the ground with a foot on her head was Gita. The foot belonged to a man draped in wispy and flowy orange robes that featured a faint black trim. He had the hood pulled over his head, but Bruno didn't need him to lift it to know who this was.

"Been a long time, s'hika! Why did you never mention you had such a large bounty on your head?" Shamic asked, his smile still as welcoming as it had been all those years ago.

"Oh, did I forget?" Bruno said, tapping his chin.

"Usually thats the first thing I tell people… how peculiar."

"Still just as jovial as ever!" Shamic said with a genuine laugh.

"I don't suppose you're here to catch up on old times, are you?" Shamic, the [Bounty Hunter] and [Nyxil Slayer], the pride and joy of the people of Relvika, dropped his smile and looked upon Bruno with sincere apology in his eyes.

"I'm here so that I can restore the old times… but not the ones with you, s'hika." Bruno felt his heart drop as he watch his old friend—perhaps the last one he'd ever made—reach into his dimensional storage skill and pull out his famous dual scimitars... and charged.