Chapter 29 - Catch Alive

Catch Alive

The instructions were enough to tell what could save them however telling it directly to the team members might create suspicion. There were whole bunch of caution and notifications from the system. They were supposed to collect three shingles from the three eyeless serpents. 

[Shingles: the designed tool and helpful in absorbing the poison smoke spread by the powerful poison creatures.]

[Eyeless serpent: the unique creatures made of poison. They were created by the Hidden Python and work under the Cobra Lord]

[Caution: dangerous creature.]

[Warning: stay away from their direct attack.] 

[Instructions: catch them alive and get the shingle first before killing. The attack in the middle of the head can break open the vessel. The vessel is the hidden spot for the shingle.]

Jake read the secondary instructions as well before purely sighing. Eyeless serpents could not kill the players without the help of ogres however the purpose of the system was different. The shingles gotten from the eyeless serpents can help the team against the Cobra Lord. 

This was the reason that they should get those shingles if they want to defeat the Cobra Lord. Now the problem was much simple. None of the game guide or the instructions gave them such clear cut instructions and if Jake told all this plainly without explaining the source of information, he would be center of attention for everyone. 

"Oh, I think the increasing Exp would add up benefits with the grass roots. I can feel it is giving some aid in repelling the effects of the poison." Jake finally exploited the hint of the system. They had been killing ogres and gaining hp and it kept maintaining their health level against the poison. After clearing two colonies they were lot better if compared their first appearance in the game. 

Junan nodded and understood. In fact he patted his hand on his forehead and chuckled, "I am overly occupied by this game ignoring simple fact of any level." The others also comprehended and felt relaxed. Jake saw their relaxed expressions and felt relieved. 

The most important was to collect the shingles or create some scenario where he could indirectly make them understand the importance of something valuable that could help them in fighting against the bosses. This aspect was easy to instill their minds. 

Jake murmured asking for clue from the system. As if system already knew, there was big notification, [Catch them alive] 

Those three eyeless serpents were given many groups of ogres to handle the players. The third colony was divided in three layers. Junan and his team were able to reach the upper surface by killing the fourth serpent. Among the various cottages, they could find the rest of hidden ogres and the serpents. 

The division of the colony was done with the help of street numbers. No matter what part of the entrance they use, they were bound to reach the upper layer and the first street. The Cobra Lord was hiding in the fifth street which was at the end of the colony. 

Jake was about to ask for the third clue when Junan gestured them to move toward the near cottage. "Compared with the number of the cottages, our pace is slow. We have two more colonies ahead and the second day has ended. With remaining four days we are tight on the limited time." Junan reminded them. 

Jake was sneaking at the various weapons of the team members. He might not be able to use bullet for getting the first shingle. Bullet would damage the shingle along with vessel. The weapon must necessarily tear apart or cut off the vessel so that the shingle fell off from it. 

The vessel was not part of the head directly and damaging vessel would not kill the serpent. Getting it from the breathing serpent was tough. They entered in the second cottage. Again two team members were guarding the entrance. 

It was smaller than the previous one. It did not take much effort and they killed all ogres coming in their sight. "At least we confirmed that bigger cottages bear bigger enemies waiting for us." Orin spoke. He was itching to read the book of detection. After clearing the cottage he opened the book and got slightly surprised. 

"If I correctly remember the previous two pages were grey in color. This one is silver. Does it indicate something important?" he looked toward Albert and asked. "Well I don't know about your Detective profession. May be it specify the level of information or guidance." Albert shook his shoulders as if deducing his opinion. 

"Your words worth let me read description." Orin praised the opinion and read through the page, "Collect three Shingles if you wanted to save your life." He read it out loud. The others heard and halted. They turned toward Orin questioning him. Jake also heard and now understood what was the purpose of the Detective profession and the book of Detection. 

It could leave some clues without pointing direction or instructions, similar of blind chase without getting concrete hint. At least it gave some initial points for Jake to carry it further. He could hint the accurate things in the meantime. 

"What do you mean by 'save the life'?" Sashi asked worried. They were struggling and barely fighting for life already. They wanted to know what was coming to them. "There is nothing else written on it and I don't know what meaning it carries." Orin saw the questioning eyes of the team members. 

He was at loss to explain anything. The book of Detection was created just to get rid the possible blames of the players. This book could hint the upcoming troubles or give some clues merely, not the clear one though. "I think I know the interpretation of this clue." Jake cleared his throat and spoke before the team head could scold Orin. 

They shifted their attention toward the young player. "It must be something that could help us against the poison of higher level creatures if I am not wrong. I am saying this because the poison is the only threat for us apart from the ogres and their bosses.." Jake tried to sound as logical as he could.