Book 3: Chapter 46: Nothing and Break

Book 3: Chapter 46: Nothing and Break

The host has developed the passive skill: Haggling Mastery.

Passive Skill: Haggling Mastery

A skill popular among street vendors and conglomerate employees alike.

When haggling, the host is 5% more likely to leave paying a price or being paid a price that they feel satisfied with.

Cost:N/A Mastery:Beginner Level 1

'Basic and beautiful. With how long my lifespan is, what with it basically being infinite, I do wonder... how much money will you save me? How many extra goodies will you earn me? Welcome to the arsenal, Haggling Mastery,' Lone smiled.

The host has developed the active compulsion magic skill: Trade Agreement.

Active Compulsion Magic Skill: Trade Agreement

A basic and extremely common application of the compulsion magic school.

When applied, it will weakly compel any trade participants to honour the agreed upon terms and the spirit of the deal.

Cost:500 MP Mastery:Beginner Level 1 Congratulations! The host has developed an affinity for Compulsion Magic.

"Compulsion magic? So that's what that was," Lone muttered.

Soph nodded. "Yup. It came from an enchantment on the room, by the way. I didn't mention it since all traces of it disappeared when you gave Tayson the money and the gem. I thought it was kind of indirect but I guess not if you earned a skill."

"I guess not indeed. That only leaves the resistance..." Lone said.

The host has developed the passive skill: Compulsion Magic Resistance.

Passive Skill: Compulsion Magic Resistance

A skill that allows the host to resist all forms of Compulsion Magic.

Compulsion Magic used on the host will be weakened by 5%.

Cost:N/A Mastery:Beginner Level 1

"Scary magic type. It's like mind control but more subtle. Glad I got introduced to the magic type in as harmless and peaceful of a way as possible. With the resistance, I should be able to feel more hidden attempts to influence me, so that's good," Lone commented.

Both Soph and Breena nodded at that. Not a moment later, Lone's girlfriend stopped walking and furrowed her brow.

"What's up?" he asked Soph.

She looked at him and replied, "Yulia just left the palace, got into a carriage, and is heading towards us."

Lone pursed his lips. "I don't mind that. I can try to get distortion magic from her via observation since it's indirect. No need for us to stop since she can feel your MP. Let's keep going."

"The issue is that two of the other four people that detected me are also heading towards us," Soph explained.

That made Lone frown. "Strengths and appearances?"

'Hey! You have a gaggle of weirdos coming here just for you. I don't attract 'em, I can just recognise 'em,'Lone replied defensively.

Soph rolled her eyes but she still smiled warmly. 'Well, no matter what, you're my weirdo.'

Guildmaster Brux walked past the two of them and the silent Breena while saying, "You two sure are good at communicating without speaking. Must be young love. Well, my unplanned and soon-to-be heavily punished break isn't getting any longer, so come on, to the lobby we go."

Soph blushed while Lone smiled wryly. Talking telepathically probably did look a bit strange to outside observers.

Yulia was excited. She had reached yet another bottleneck in her research. That wasn't particularly uncommon in her line of work.

The primary focus on her research was trying to find safer and more reliable methods for activating mana organs. The current ways to do so, while consistent, were very, very dangerous outside of the normal natural activations.

Almost everyone pursuing power wanted access to magic since without it, that big old MP stat on their status would remain forever at 0/0. A truly disheartening situation, and one Yulia wanted to make less common, so was her life's goal.

She was currently excited because not three hours ago she had detected a massive radiant sun-like ball of mana appear in the city's noble district, just by the examination-centred store: Mason and Sons.

Of course, Yulia could recognise this mana sun belonged to the ever so interesting Sofia Vladimirovich. The smaller but still impressive collection of mana belonging to Sofia's lover, while hard to notice next to such a powerhouse, it was also clearly present.

Yulia had to make preparations immediately. Sofia's unique magic was worthy of endless studying and Lone had such a brilliantly unique and clever mind that discussing her research with him had almost bore fruit a couple of weeks ago. She couldn't let them just leave the city without so much as a conversation first.

However, single-mindedly focused on her research as she was, Yulia was not rude. She knew there would be more opportunities to talk to the pair at a later date if they were in a hurry.

So, she chose to patiently wait for their business to conclude at Mason and Sons first to see if they would remain in Golden Pass City for a bit longer or if they would leave immediately.

It only took a few hours for her nail-biting wait to come to an end. They hadn't, in fact, left the city, but had instead started walking through it. With that in mind, Yulia immediate arranged a carriage and directed the driver to head straight for them.

'She'll know I'm approaching if she's paying attention but we're on friendly terms, so surely Sofia and Lone won't mind my company for a little while, right?' Yulia wondered as she looked outside of the carriage's window. Just then, the mana sun and smaller mana light disappeared, making Yulia deeply depressed.

Thankfully, they reappeared almost instantly but in the fighter's district this time. And not only that, but right in the guildmaster's room. 'They have business with Guildmaster Brux? Well, I need to tell the driver to change directions. Hopefully they don't teleport around all day... I'll never catch up to them in that case...'

Fifteen minutes later and she had successfully arrived at the strongest branch of The Adventurer's Guild in the city. However, as soon as she stepped out of the carriage, she was slammed with an oppressive and disgustingly baleful aura, threatening to push her to her knees. It wasn't being used at even a fraction if its full power but this aura made her want to be violently sick.

Just outside of the exit she could see two familiar faces in similar situations while everyone else just watched them curiously or with some concern. There were murmurings of how there was 'another one' who had pissed off Guildmaster Brux, likely referring to Yulia herself.

'What are Cuardaigh of the Tower, and Master Mezro'nan doing here? While this whole aura suppression is rather concerning, I would be lying to say it isn't satisfying to see the usually smug and haughty Cuardaigh sweating so profusely while standing on the ground instead of flying in the air. Master Mezro'nan looks mostly fine but that nervousness in his eyes is impossible to hide,' Yulia observed.

"Come in then. Let's get this over with. I don't have all day and you're running into my break time," the powerful voice of Guildmaster Brux boomed through the lobby of the guild out to the entrance where the three were.

The aura suppression lifted and Yulia almost passed out from the sudden weight being freed from her being. "That was... entirely unpleasant."

"I agree," Cuardaigh of the Tower replied, puffing up her cheeks. "Stupid old fogies telling me to come 'investigate the person with so much mana'. You can do it yourselves next time if this is what I need to go through."

Master Mezro'nan ignored both Yulia's comment and Cuardaigh of the Tower's grumblings as he got up on his hind legs, fixed his tuxedo, dropped back down to all four legs, and them lumbered straight into the guild rather gracefully.

Yulia didn't really have a choice now, so while she had no idea why she had been suppressed like that, she followed suit and entered the guild with a very angry and upset winged woman the size of a baby flying alongside her head.