Chapter 23：Greed that Taints the Soul

'Appraisal'

Cheat Skill: Avarice

Description: Steal anything within sight.

Side Effects: Extreme greed for wealth or material gain. Corrupts soul if the skill isn't satisfied.

'What, his appraisal lets him see skills so that might be the reason he has so many weapon skills. He probably wants to steal more skills which is fine since I have the same type of skill I can't really say anything about it but just based on his titles this guy probably hasn't stopped at monsters or evil people. His name and his cheat skill are both blood red, System is there a reason his skill is in red?'

[The skill is in dark red due to the side effect it gives on the human soul, his soul is most likely already corrupted due to his titles. He seems very dangerous to have around, dispose of him and take his cheat skill, I'll convert it into an upgrade card.]

[Warning! Quest Card has been activated.]

[Quest: Plunder the Plunderer]

[Quest info: The Plunderer wishes to take over the city while stealing everything in sight. Steal the Plunderer's Cheat Skill before he has the chance to go through with it.]

[Quest Rewards: 1 Upgrade Card, 100 System Points]

'That's a pretty easy quest, does the system make him out to be a threat?' I say feeling suspicious of the system.

As I read the quest details again I feel someone looking at me so I look around and notice one of the henchmen in the back starting at me. As the henchmen and I make eye contact I get a notification from the system that brings me out of my staring contest.

[Warning! A Skill has been stolen near you. Please proceed with caution so you won't be targeted next.]

'So he stole a skill from someone huh, fucking bastard. What if I get accused of your thieving because the guild master knows about my skill. If that were to happen I would have to leave this town like a criminal. System, is there any way to have the skill go back to its original owner?'

[Yes, kill the person who has stolen the skill. Doing this will make all of the skills go back to their original owner, if the owner of the skill is already dead then the skills will go somewhere else.]

'Alright, then thanks. I wonder what skills he stole.'

'Appraisal'

Name: Juan Escalera

Race: Human

Age: 32

Titles: Transmigrant, Corrupt Doctor, Murderer, Rapist, Theif, Plunderer

Class: Magic Swordsman

Level: 45**

Strength: 61

Agility: 65

Endurance: 56

Intelligence: 42

Wisdom: 42

Charisma: 8

Perception: 20

Regeneration: 10

Luck: 24

Magic Types: Lightning, Wind, Fire

Skills: Appraisal, Mana Manipulation(Lv.4), Body Manipulation(Lv.2), Presence Detection(Lv.4),

Sword Mastery(Intermediate)(Lv.2), Dungeon Adaptability(Lv.Max), Trap Detection(Lv.3), Stealth(Lv.4), Dagger Mastery(Intermediate)(Lv.Max), Duel-Wielding Mastery(Beginner)(Lv.Max),

Spear Mastery(Beginner)(Lv.Max), Enchanting Mastery(Beginner)(Lv.Max), Enhanced Body(Lv.Max),

Wind Blade(Lv.2), Lightning Blade(Lv.2), Sheild Mastery(Beginner)(Lv.Max), Air-Walk(Lv.1),

Fire Blade(Lv.1), Fire Ball(Lv.1), Magic Eyes(Lv.Max), Alchemy Mastery(Intermediate)(Lv.1),

Charm(Lv.2)

Cheat Skills: Avarice

'What the fuck man, he stole like 4 skills and upgraded a couple in just a minute. Why doesn't he have a limit huh, he is obviously using his skill to satisfy himself but here I am with a limit of one per person. If he had this type of skill steal why does he have so little skills then? Did he get the skill steal recently or something?' as I'm complaining about the unfairness of the situation I start my quest.

'Skill Steal "Avarice"'

[Activating skill... Stealing skill from target... Done.]

[Skill "Avarice" has been collected by the system.]

[Quest "Plunder the Plunderer" has been completed]

[Rewards received, 1 Upgrade Card, 100 System Points]

As I steal his skill I feel a rush of intense greed for anything and everything but after a few seconds, I feel a cleansing feeling wash over me as the system took the skill. Looking at Juan he seems frustrated and angry that he can't activate his skill. Luckily he didn't think anyone else would have a cheat skill of the same type. As his eyes start showing annoyance he finishes talking to Silvia and it has come to the conclusion that they had to stay near the guards that will escort them while they stock up on supplies.

'Well, that was easy. I don't really feel like I accomplished anything but I got an upgrade card out of it so why not.' as I am deciding how I'm going to deal with this bastard I say looking at the plunderer Juan who was being led into the city gates by some guards who were off duty.

[Warning! A continuation fo your quest has been found. Do you wish to continue?]

As I'm contemplating about what I should do I get a notification from the system so I read the details.

'Yeah sure'

[Confirming continuation of the plunderer quest line... Done]

[Quest: Defeat the Plunderer]

[Quest info: The Plunderer has been stripped of his ways but the side effects on his soul are still remnant defeat the plunderer and help the stolen skills return to their rightful owners.]

[Quest Rewards: 1 Random Skill Ticket, 1000 Experience]

"Bell, we're going to the adventurer guild so with the guards to report the situation. Follow me so we can keep an eye on those guys, they seemed very suspicious and I have a gut feeling that they might be trying to do something and when I called you over when you looked him in the eyes you were repulsed by him immediately." Silvia says as she directs all of us towards the guild so we can report our rank up test as completed.

"Did we pass our rank up test?" I ask Silvia trying to pass on explaining my skills any more than I have to.

"Yes, all of you passed, for what happened after that though we'll have to make a separate report to the guild master." she said as she sighs just thinking about all the extra paperwork.

'Alright then let's find a way to kill him either quietly or make him look like a thief.' I say as I follow Silvia and the others to the guild while keeping track of the area the guards took Juan earlier.