The second night after parting ways with Xia Lin.
Imperial Tribunal, Archives Room, third floor, West Wing.
Sky pushed open the heavy oak door, and among the dark bookshelves, a figure with a green Twin-Tails hair was lying on the table, holding a report in his hand and mumbling something.
"Mina."
The figure shook violently, and the parchment in his hand fell to the ground.
"Oops!" She jumped up and almost knocked over the bookshelf behind her, "Sky?! Why are you here so late?
It scared me to death!"
Mina·Tongling, the fourth-level interrogator of Inquisition.
She is twenty-five years old, with long emerald hair tied into Twin-Tails, a round face, and amber eyes that are always a little curious. She is wearing a Inquisition standard gray uniform, but there is a pink bow tied to the Short Sword hilt at her waist.
She and Sky met during a joint operation three years ago. Although her abilities are mediocre, she has a cheerful personality and loves to gossip. She is one of the few people in Inquisition who dares to joke with "Iceberg" Sky.
"I need your help." Sky looked around to make sure there was no one else in the archives room.
"Help?" Mina blinked and immediately came over, "What's the deal? Could it be about that handsome consultant?"
I'm telling you, the whole institute is going crazy!"
"Mina." Sky interrupted her, "This is business."
"Okay, okay." Mina saw Sky's serious expression and put away his gossipy smile, "Tell me, what's the business?"
Sky took a deep breath and lowered his voice. "Last night, I dropped a Pazuzu Cultist's nest in the sewer. The leader is Priest, who has eight fanatic followers and a nest of mutant monsters."
"Wait wait, you're alone?!"
"No." Sky paused, "There are two adventurers to assist. But that's not the point."
"Then what's the point?"
"The point is----" Sky looked into Mina's eyes, "I need you to report the merits of this operation in your name."
Mina was stunned.
She blinked, then blinked again, and then suddenly laughed, "Hahaha! Sky Are you kidding me? You can actually joke! I----"
She didn't smile when she saw Sky.
"----Are you serious?"
"I'm serious."
"But, but----" Mina scratched his head, and Twin-Tails shook his head, "This is your credit! Why should you give it to me? I'm not----uh---- I mean, although it's tempting to take credit for nothing, isn't it too strange for you?"
Sky was silent for a moment, and then said, "Do you know why I can become Commander?"
"Because you are great." Mina said matter-of-factly, "You are the eldest daughter of the Starcrest Family, you are strong and have a strong background----"
She suddenly realized something and her voice became softer. "----Oh."
"Yes." Sky smiled bitterly, "Because I am the eldest lady of the Starcrest Family."
In the next ten minutes, Sky told Mina all about Calderon's words, his father's pressure, and all the "security tasks" that had been arranged.
Mina was silent for a long time after listening.
Then she suddenly stood up and put her hands on her hips. "I'm just telling you! There was a guy who always said behind your back that you are a vase who relies on connections to get to the top, and I even had a quarrel with him!
Result----The result really depends on relationships?!"
"Mina----"
"No, no!" Mina waved his hand, "I mean, you are obviously working so hard, but they still treat you like a child to protect you! This is really annoying!"
She walked around the file room twice and asked Twin-Tails: "So what are you going to do now? Resign? Run away from home? Or have a big fight with your father?"
"No." Sky shook his head, "I want to continue to stay at Inquisition, but----change my strategy."
"What strategy?"
"I will continue to perform the mission, but all the credit goes to you. You get the credit, get promoted, and enter the inner circle.
Then----"
Sky's eyes became serious. "You are delivering resources and intelligence to me in the dark. I am pretending to be a harmless young lady in the open, but in fact I am getting stronger secretly. When I am so strong that they can't ignore it, I will make a comeback in one fell swoop."
Mina opened his mouth wide.
She stared at Sky blankly, and it took her a long time to realize. "Sky----you, you are----"
"I know this is disgraceful." Sky lowered his head, "I know this is deception and use----"
"No, no, no!" Mina interrupted her suddenly, his eyes bright, "I mean Sky you finally got it!!!"
"What?"
"You don't know how long I've been waiting for this day!" Mina grabbed Sky's hand excitedly, "You know, every time I see you working so hard and being treated like a vase, I get anxious for you! I've long wanted to say that you are just too honest!"
She patted Sky on the shoulder. "That's right! When it's time to use some tricks, you have to use tricks! Do you think those men Inquisitor all rose to the top based on their strength?
I don't know how many connections I have made and how many flatteries I have made behind my back!"
Sky was stunned.
"So---- you want to help me?"
"Nonsense!" Mina rolled his eyes, "The credit comes to you in vain, I'm stupid to not want it! And----"
She put away her smile and said seriously, "Sky, are we friends?"
"Hmm."
"That's right." Mina smiled, "Of course you have to help when your friends are in trouble. What's more, you can't find this kind of good thing with a lantern!"
Sky looked at her and suddenly smiled.
"Thank you, Mina."
"Don't thank me too early." Mina sat back on the chair and picked up the quill, "How should I write this report? You can't write that I challenged Cultist alone? I don't believe it myself."
"Of course." Sky took out a diary from Space Bag, which Cultist found from Cultist's box, "This is physical evidence. I have written down the specific battle process in the draft, you only need to----"
Half an hour later.
Mina looked at the draft report in his hand and frowned, "So, when I was inspecting the files, I found suspicious clues. Then I went to the sewer late at night Investigation, and happened to meet two righteous adventurers to assist me?"
"Yes." Sky nodded, "You can't say summons. That would appear that you are prepared in advance, which is not in line with your personality."
"My character----" Mina muttered, "What about the identities of these two adventurers?"
"Obfuscation. Complies with informant protection regulations."
"What about the seized Gold Coins?"
"Write one hundred." Sky said, "I will give you an extra one hundred. I will use gray channels to cash in and buy you equipment."
"Equipment?" Mina was stunned for a moment, "I don't fight much----"
"If you want to make a name for yourself now, you must behave like one." Sky took out a money bag from his arms and put it on the table, "This is the down payment. Buy a good set of armor and a good weapon. Then find an instructor and learn some practical skills."
"You don't have to be very good at it, but at least you should not be unable to draw your sword when you meet other Inquisitor in the corridor."
Mina looked at the money bag and suddenly smiled, "Sky, you have changed."
"Huh?"
"You would never have said such a thing before." Mina picked up the money bag and weighed it, "It seems that Mr. Consultant had a great influence on you~"
Sky's face turned red slightly. "Don't talk nonsense."
"I'm not talking nonsense." Mina blinked, "A while ago you two went to investigate a case together, but today you have become like this----
Hmm----cunning? Yes, cunning! What is this if not influence?"
"Mina!"
"Okay, okay, I won't talk anymore." Mina smiled and waved his hand, "But to be honest, I'm quite curious about that consultant. He must not be an ordinary person to be able to melt an iceberg like you, right?"
Sky thought of Xia Lin's face that always had a smile on it, and what he said last night.
"He----is a very special man." she said softly.
"Oh~~~" Mina protracted his voice, his eyes full of gossip.
"Don't think wrongly." Sky stood up, "The report will be submitted to Calderon tomorrow morning. Remember, act confident, but don't be too proud."
"Don't worry." Mina put away the money bag, "I'm better at acting than you."
Sky nodded, and when he walked to the door, he suddenly turned back. "Mina, thank you."
"I already said you're welcome." Mina smiled, "Even if it's just to continue listening to gossip in the future, I have to help you."
Sky shook his head, opened the door and left.
The corridor was empty except for the flickering candlelight in the distance.
She took off the Evilbane Eye Badge and held it in her hand.
(Xia Lin----You are right. The feeling of a bad girl is indeed good.)
In the archives room, Mina looked at the draft report in his hand, then looked at the bag of Gold Coins, and suddenly grinned.
"You can get promoted while lying down, and you still have money to take——"
She hummed a little tune and began to copy the final version of the report carefully.
The quill rustled on the parchment.
Early the next morning, inside Kade's home.
Xia Lin was sitting cross-legged on the carpet in the living room, with the trophies from his trip to the sewers in front of him.
"You look like you're in a good mood."
Sera walked downstairs carrying a cup of tea. She was wearing a loose silk nightgown and leaned lazily on the handrail of the stairs. "That brainless woman Inquisitor didn't bother you anymore?"
"She is probably busy changing her appearance." Xia Lin smiled and played with a ring, "By the way, how about Kade and Celia?"
"A message came from Temple." Sera took a sip of coffee, "Their prayer ceremony will end at noon tomorrow. Especially Celia. It is said that because of the characteristics of the two souls, Temple's officiant is very interested in her and stayed for a while. But don't worry, she will definitely be able to return to the team tomorrow."
"That's good." Xia Lin nodded, "When everyone is here tomorrow, we should get down to business. Mage Tower can't delay it any longer."
"So, this is what you gained this time?" Sera's eyes fell on the few items on the stall that emitted weak magic waves. "It looks like the family fortune of those birdman believers."
"Yes, three good things."
Xia Lin picked up the first ring. It was an iron ring inlaid with rough rubies. The workmanship was slightly rough, but there was something hidden on it.
About floating runes of power.
[Strength Stone(ring)]
[Quality: Fine+]
[Effect: The wearer's Strength attribute gains +4 Enhancement Bonus.
[Active skills: 3 times a day, can cast Bull's Strength.]
[Note: Who can say no to bigger muscles?]
"This is for Kade." Xia Lin put the ring aside, "With this, we can save a lot of money on potions."
o
"Wise choice." Sera nodded, "That big guy really needs it."
Xia Lin looked at his hands again.
At this moment, he had three rings on his ten fingers. "Speaking of which, this thing is really strange." Xia Lin shook his fingers, "I tried it just now. Although I wore three rings, only two of them seemed to be able to trigger the passive effect? And they were random."
When he put on [Strength Stone] just now, he found that the [Ring of Swift Wind] he originally wore was invalid.
And when he takes off [Ring of Swift Wind], the effect of [Strength Stone] takes effect. But strangely, the active skills that come with the ring, such as [Bull's Strength], are not affected and can be used at any time.
"A greedy person swallows an elephant." Sera sneered and looked at him as if he were a fool, "Do you think magic items are just cabbage on the street stall, and you can hang them as much as you want?"
She walked over, stretched out a slender finger, and waved it in front of Xia Lin: "The magic circuit of the human body has a carrying limit, especially the hands, which are nodes where magic gathers. The passive force fields of the two rings are already the limit that ordinary people can maintain stable resonance. No matter how many you wear, the magic fields will interfere with each other and cancel each other out, and finally turn into a pile of scrap metal. This is called Law of Magical Interference. This is common sense, my big Captain."
"But----" Sera changed the topic, "Active skills are stimulating spells and do not occupy the permanent magic circuit, so as long as you have enough fingers, you can use them casually."
"That's it----" Xia Lin suddenly realized. This explains why there are only two ring slots in the game, but in reality, although ten can be worn physically, they are still restricted by rules.
He regretfully took off several low-level attribute rings, leaving only the most useful ones.
"This is next."
Xia Lin picked up the second ring.
This ring is dark purple in color, and its surface is engraved with a twisted and roaring demon head.
[Ring of Summoning(only)]
[Quality: Rare/Curse?]
[Possessor: Former Pazuzu High Priest (Dead)]
[Passive aura: All allies (including the wearer) within 30 feet gain a +2 profane bonus on weapon damage rolls: When fighting against order creatures or order spells, Saving Throw gains a +2 bonus.]
[Active skill: Once a day, summon Soul-Eating Demon (Lv.12 alien creature). Lasts for 10 minutes or until killed.]
[Note: Although this thing is strong, that Soul-Eating Demon has a bad temper, so be careful not to get backlashed.]
"This one is much more evil." Xia Lin handed the ring to Sera, "It can also summon Soul-Eating Demon."
"Soul-Eating Demon?" Sera frowned, "That is an evil alien creature that lives by devouring souls. The cult leader actually has such a thing - it seems that his status with Pazuzu is not low. You'd better be careful when using it, don't let it be eaten as a snack."
"Don't worry, I know it." Xia Lin chuckled.
Finally, there is a Staff.
It was a black wooden staff about one and a half meters long, with the top carved into an eagle spreading its wings and about to fly, with two inlaid eyes in the eagle's eyes.
An obsidian stone.
[Black Eagle Staff]
[Quality: Rare]
[Attribute: +2 refined Staff (can be used as a melee weapon)]
[Spell Charge: 3 times a day]
[Optional spell 1: Fatigue Wave (applies fatigue status to enemies in the cone area ahead, no saving throw)]
[Optional spell 2: Ray of Weakening (remote contact attack, reducing the target's strength by 1d6 + caster level/2)]
[Caster level: equal to the current level of the holder]
[Note: Make your enemy soft, both physically and mentally.]
"This is for Celia." Xia Lin said.
"Celia?" Sera was a little surprised, "Won't you give it to me?"
"You already have a good Staff. And----" Xia Lin smiled, "Celia is Priest. Her Spell Slot is already nervous. This Staff can give her three more opportunities to control the field."
"Moreover, Fatigue Wave and Ray of Weakening are both spells that weaken the enemy. Combined with her healing and buffs, the team's
Survivability has been greatly improved."
Sera thought for a while and nodded, "It makes sense. And Celia is really short of good equipment recently."
"Then it's settled." Xia Lin put Staff aside, "Kade takes the power ring, you take Summoning Ring, Celia takes Staff."
"In addition to the more than two thousand Gold Coins found in the box----" Xia Lin clapped his hands with satisfaction, "Although I smelled a lot of stench during this trip to the sewer, I made a lot of money."
He put away his equipment and stood up.
"You want to go out?" Sera asked.
"Well, let's go Hive Tower." Xia Lin patted Space Bag on his waist, "I have prepared those fresh livers, as well as the materials I obtained before. It's time to upgrade my equipment."
If everything goes well, when he gets the piece of Meteoric Iron Enchantment Stone, his Defense will go to the next level.
"Then go ahead and remember to bring lunch back." Sera yawned and turned to go upstairs, "I'm going to catch up on my sleep. Studying that old diary last night used up a lot of my brain cells."
"You're too lazy to forget it."
Xia Lin smiled and cursed, pushed the door open and walked out of the mansion.