Chapter 168 Basement And Magic Circle
168 Basement And Magic Circle "Captain!" The guards presented a small compass.
The compass looked like any normal compass, except there was a blue crystal embedded in its center on which its needle hovered.
"This…" Fredric took it into his hands and looked at it closely, trying to use his own appraisal skill.
But a moment later, a frown appeared on his face.
"I can't tell… Caleb, you try." He quickly handed it to the guild master.
The man too tried to use his appraisal skill but failed.
"Looks like this is either protected or beyond our skills," Caleb said before looking at Alchemist Lugan.
"Don't look at me like that. My appraisal skill is specialized for herbs and elixirs." Lugan shook his head.
Arthur though was already looking through the information of the compass.
>Dragon's Insight has been successfully activated!<
——
Target: Mana Tracking Compass
Info: A compass that is enchanted to seek out high concentrations of mana. It also has a protective enchantment on it that prevents it from being tampered with. The enchantment also blocks lower ranked appraisal skills.
—
"Just as I thought." Arthur suddenly spoke. "It's a Mana Tracking Compass and they've put protections on it too." He confirmed.
Hearing his words, Fredric was surprised but then remembered that it wasn't the first time Arthur had managed to obtain information. He had done the same before as well.
Lugan was impressed as well seeing that Arthur was able to figure out what they weren't able to right now.
"Seems like you've helped us once again." Frederic said in a tone of gratitude.
"Our work here is not done though… I think there might be more to this." Arthur interrupted the man. "After all, we still don't know the goal of the incarcerated bandits."
"Of course. We'll get to them too." Fredric said before looking at Lugan. "Alchemist Lugan here has finished his work too."
"I'm 90% sure it'll work." Alchemist Lugan stated.
"That's good enough. Shall we go test it out then?" Arthur asked.
"Let's go." Fredric agreed and took the lead.
Arthur, followed along with the alchemist and the guild master as they all went down to the basement of the building. There. Arthur could see several jail cells located in a dimly lit corridor.
Torches lined the corridor that was longer than the size of the entire building. His passive ability to see in darkness helped a lot, as he didn't need to care about light.
"Is the basement bigger than the surface?" Arthur asked feeling curious.
"Indeed." Captain Fredric nodded his head.
Arthur looked around the area and noticed something peculiar.
"There are runes on the roof?" Arthur pointed.
"Oh? You can see them?" Caleb was surprised along with Fredric.
"They aren't exactly visible…" Fredrick said, showing some shock. "Are you…"
"There is magic in them… I can feel it." Arthur answered.
"I see… it makes sense then," Fredrick muttered. 'His class seems to be able to use magic as well… just as the Hall master said.' He thought.
Alchemist Lugan though, had a glint of excitement in his eyes.
"Can you tell what the runes are for?" He asked with some eagerness as they continued to walk.
"Hmm…" Arthur narrowed his eyes, secretly using Dragon's Insight again.
>Dragon's Insight has been successfully activated!<
~DING~
——
Target: Beast Warding Magic Circle
Type: Barrier
Info: A large magic circle intended to protect a settlement. Its size and power can be adjusted depending on the amount of Mana provided as well as the power of the Magician controlling it. It can be powered by supplementary mana stones as well as other conduits.
——
'So the magic circle runs under the town, huh? They usually do this for cities, as it is rather expensive to do so. But they actually did it for Roran town too… seems like there are more secrets to this time than players knew,' Arthur thought to himself before speaking.
"Those runes… they are protective in nature, so I'm guessing it is part of the Magic circle that protects this town. The Beast Warding Barrier that Resident Mage Hudd controls." Arthur answered carefully.
Caleb and Fredric silently gasped, having not expected a newbie adventurer to understand the magic circle so easily.
One must know that while players with the mage class might be able to understand runes and magic circles, there were limitations to it. Players that managed to reach Roran town and class change to Mages certainly wouldn't have the skill for that.
In fact, they would have to learn for quite a while to be able to understand a magic circle like this.
"Brilliant!" Alchemist Lugan praised out loud. "Your talent in magic is no less than your physical talent!"
"You flatter me," Arthur replied in a polite tone, while internally rejoicing. 'My reputation with them should be rising, right?' he thought.
This was Arthur's intention, after all. Since he could also impress the NPCs while doing this scenario, he might as well reap the benefits for the future. He might not see the progress right away, but he knew it would eventually turn up in the future.
"We're here." Though a few seconds later, Fredric changed the atmosphere by speaking. "There they are." He pointed to three of the cells that stood at the end of the corridor.
In there, Arthur saw a prisoner in each cell. They were chained and dressed in rags, sitting on some straw matting.
"Ptui~ The Guard Captain comes to meet us again." One of the prisoners scoffed at seeing them.
"Have you finally come to try and interrogate us?" the second one asked.
"Hah! As if it would work." The third one chuckled. "You all will suffer greatly after this."
Arthur looked at the three imprisoned bandits and found them to be a little too confident for their condition.
"We have come to interrogate you indeed." Fredric answered openly. "Caleb, hold him."
"Sure." The guild master replied while the captain unlocked the door.
~CLANK~
The chains rattled as Caleb restrained the prisoner and Arthur read an information window floating in front of him.