Chapter 118: A Taste For Luxury

With a primary suspect, it was no longer necessary for Eufemia to sneak into the secret meeting of the miners. She could do so to verify, but the team preferred to use alternative methods, now that they had a main suspect to focus their investigation on.

Sen and Nara headed to meet Kisang Zho. The two of them would head into the mines to inspect them. The town head, his position on the line, had ordered Kisang to accommodate them in whatever way possible. Kisang wouldn’t refuse an adventurer regardless.

“Boss Zho,” Sen said, greeting him with Sanshi’s traditional fist-in-palm greeting. “Thank you for accommodating us.”

“For an adventurer like yourself,” Kisang said stiffly, “just call me Kisang. You are not one of my men; I don’t expect that from you. You are?”

“Sen Arlang,” Sen said, “and my team member, Nara Edea.”

Kisang’s brows raised at the Arlang name. It wasn’t uncommon, so he had no idea if Sen was core Arlang nobility or simply shared the name. But he judged from his impeccable posture, his strong expression and impression, that he most likely was. His discipline was apparent in his movements.

The name Edea wasn’t common knowledge in the villages. It was famous mainly in high society and research circles, as well as high up in the Adventure Society. Nara didn’t warrant any special attention to Kisang besides her status as an adventurer on Sen’s team. Which, to Kisang, was already imposing enough. City folk were a lot more used to interacting with adventurers on the regular while country folk were not.

Kisang was a burly man, tall and muscular. Dark, tanned, almost leathery skin from the time he spent hauling stone and crystal under the sun for transport. Healthy though, as the healer within the town cleansed any ailments away. He was fifty-five, and close to retiring. He was a human, which was the majority race in the town, alongside a few runics and celestines. Despite his strength forged by work, Sen with his enhanced physical strength and high iron rank attributes surpassed him in strength. With Mighty Strength, Sen’s strength was already mid bronze, boosted into the realm of the superhuman.

“The boys are already working down in the mines,” he said. “We start early. Hope you don’t mind.”

“Not at all,” said Sen, “We’d like to be introduced to all of them. It’d help with the investigation.”

“You think the killer is one of my men?” Kisang said, frowning.

“This is standard,” reassured Sen. “My other team members are handling the traders and the rest of the townsfolk.”

Sen had sent Eufemia and Encio to put on an act and do so, in case Kisang asked around.

“You’re very thorough,” Kisang noted, somewhat placated.

Sen played up his background, using it to his advantage. “It’s my duty as an Arlang.”

Kisang nodded to himself. “Of course.”

Kisang was moved. He felt a little hope that with an Arlang, perhaps the killings and tensions within the village could finally be resolved. Where all else had failed, an Arlang would succeed.

Nara was surprised by the organization and stability of the mine. Tunnels were wide and reinforced, with sturdy supports and reinforcing ritual magic applied to the stone. The miners had also left in stone supports from the mountain itself. The miners didn’t use pickaxes, but special, long, sword-like pieces of metal. The ‘blade’ was blunt and rounded, like a large, elongated butter knife. It was specially crafted for normal rankers to use, and the blade only cut through stone and crystal, and not much else, preventing the rejection from combat-focused equipment. The miners cut large, near-uniform blocks with the stone saws, placed them on a specialty skimmer, and drove them back to the entrance of the mine.

“Fetch the boys for me!” Kisang told his second-in-command.

He nodded, running off, shouting through the mines for the miners to gather up in one of the larger caverns which had turned into an underground rest area and gathering room.

“Boys, this is Sen Arlang and his team member Nara Edea,” Kisang said, introducing them; “I better not see anyone of you disrespecting them.”

““YES BOSS,”” The miners shouted back.

“Now, boys, Mister Arlang here wants an introduction to all of you. Be good and proper and get to it.”

The miners did so, each introducing themselves.

“Siyu Hong isn’t here?” Sen asked. He knew he wouldn’t be, but he wanted to gauge the reaction of the miners.

Nara’s purpose here was to read all of their auras. Eufemia could play this part too, but when Nara wanted to be, she was far more indiscrete. Her comparative plainness benefited her, and she became a wallflower among the crowd.

“Why’re looking for brother Hong?” One miner said, clearly defensive.

Kisang shot the miner a glare and began to yell at him, “What did I just say—"

Sen held a hand up, stopping him, “Your brother Hong is an iron ranker. We thought he may be a great asset in our investigation. We’ve heard that he’s a son of the mines and dedicated to these depths. Dedicated to his brothers,” He cast his gaze approvingly across the crowd, “He could help us identify who’s sneaking through the tunnels and attacking the townsfolk.”

Eufemia would be proud; Sen couldn’t act any role, but he could certainly play the part of an earnest leader seeking competent help.

Murmurs spread within the crowd.

“Someone’s sneaking through the mines?”

“Some secret cult, you think?”

“I think I’ve heard about Undeath actin’ up.”

“What’s going on?”

Sen raised his hand again, hushing them, the miners now his captive audience. “We’ve heard your brother Siyu Hong is a skilled ritualist. I was hoping to borrow this knowledge of him for our investigation. Your brother Hong has many useful skills. I’m impressed. I think he could make it in the city, but it's clear his heart is here. His loyalty is commendable.”

It was a lie, of course. Sen had been personally trained by Aliyah in ritual magic. He wasn’t a researcher or the expert she was, but he could cast most basic ritual magic. Sen wasn’t ordinarily the type to use his words and position to sway a crowd, but he now saw value in the methods Eufemia utilized.

Sen had previously been only focused on tactical complexity. While their team came together through circumstance, Eufemia’s ability set is what drew him to her. Eufemia had not had many chances to utilize her stage presence nor way with words, but in the meeting with Zinnia over Aliyah’s and Nara’s abducting her intuition and observation of people were accurate and astute. His older sister Maya had regularly chastised him for his simplicity in handling others. He saw it now; leveraging his large stature, his straight posture, his name, and his rank, he became the focus. In battle there was flow, in emotions too, there was strategy, Sen discovered.

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Praise from an Arlang had served to lower their defenses.

“That’s right, brother Hong is skilled.”

“The hope of the miners!”

“Even the Arlang recognizes his talent.”

Sen didn’t even need to raise his hand for them to quiet. A sweep of his gaze caused the miners to straighten themselves and settle down, practically jumping to be at his attention.

“I understand it is your brother Hong’s day of rest,” Sen said. “I regret that I must disturb him now, but his expertise is that important to me. Where can I find him to enlist his aid?” Sen’s tone was commanding, but with just a dash of earnest imploring. A famed son, asking for one of theirs to assist them on a quest to save the town. Siyu Hong would be a hero that helped the Arlang, a hero to the people of Crystal Quarry 6.

Nara felt that her whole team was a band of actors, charlatans, and tricksters.

There’s not a single honest one here…

*****

Nara and Sen were led into a tunnel that branched off the main shaft.

“Why’s he down here?” Nara asked.

“Brother Hong really likes the caves,” The young miner said, now more than happy to guide them. “He stays here in his spare time, working on his ritual magic.”

“He doesn’t go back to see his mom?”

“He goes to see his ma at sundown,” The miner explained. “Every day. Ain’t he sweet?”

“His mom would probably rather he meet some young ladies,” Nara mused.

“True that. But Brother Hong is picky,” The miner nodded. “He should be.”

“Waiting for Miss Perfect?” said Nara sarcastically, but it didn’t register to the miner.

“Yeah. Brother Hong is a romantic!” he exclaimed, sounding like he’d like to be romanced by Brother Hong.

Nara didn’t think that was romantic. There was no such thing as a soulmate, a perfect match, or love at first sight. Either that was an excuse for something else, or Siyu Hong was a narcissist.

She may be a pessimist on the topic of love. Her parents divorced marriage, her own experience with relationships, and the struggle for rights had jaded her to the idea of love. The close friendships teams formed already warmed her heart, as well as the constant companionship of her familiars. Moreover, the revelation that she would live a long time complicated matters. How do diamond rankers deal with inevitable loss? How does Sezan deal with it? His wife was gold rank, not diamond rank.

A wooden doorway had been installed, blocking the next part of the tunnel.

“Brother, you’ve got some visitors,” the young miner called out, giving a polite knock.

“Let them in,” said a voice from within.

Siyu Hong stood, greeting Sen and Nara, outwardly polite. Fair skin that was unusual for the miners, black hair and dark brown eyes. A human, like most of the miners. He was muscular, but slimmer than Boss Zho’s sturdy and stout build. He could have been called handsome (if Nara hadn’t had her meter of attractiveness shattered by Encio, Sen, and Eufemia), with a strong jaw and sharp eyes. He wasn’t up to par with her teammates, but handsome for his rank.

“I’m Siyu Hong,” he said. “What brings the two of you here?”

“I’m Sen Arlang,” Sen said, “and this is Nara Edea.”

“Hello.” Nara said nothing more, letting Sen take the lead.

Siyu offered the two of them a seat, which they accepted, settling into the room.

“You are aware of the ongoing contract regarding the unusual circumstances within this town?” Sen asked him.

“Ah,” he said, his smile widening, “The two of you are adventurers?”

“Yes,” Sen confirmed. “We were told you were an iron ranker yourself. We thought we’d ask for your assistance and expertise.”

“I have my commitments during the day,” Siyu said, folding his arms. “But I’m more than happy to assist you later in the day. We all want to resolve this…issue. I can’t stand to see my brothers so anxious.”

“We’d appreciate it,” said Sen. “The culprit likely acts at night, so your assistance during the night is timely.”

Siyu nodded, agreeing with Sen’s analysis. He turned to Nara, “How do you serve on Sir Arlang’s team?”

Serve? Nara thought inwardly, but she maintained a pleasant expression. “I’m a utility adventurer,” she lied, a spur of the moment decision.

“Utility adventurer?”

“I have spatial storage powers, an ability that will become a portal power at bronze rank, mild scout abilities, and a cooking ability too.”

If Siyu was the culprit, he already knew Nara had a bronze rank aura. He’d be able to recognize that they were the same person. It was best to pretend she was the utility scout member of the team, which wasn’t inaccurate. It’s just that her racial abilities provided that, rather than her essence abilities.

“Did you just call me a ‘cooking ability’?” Chrome telepathically shot back, indignant.

“Hush. And what are you doing right now, sir chef?”

“…”

“That’s what I thought.”

“You keep a cook with you at iron rank?” Siyu said, looking towards Sen.

“I’m ashamed to admit,” Sen said, completely straight-faced. “I cannot shake my taste for luxury even on a contract.”

Siyu chuckled, “The cooks here can’t compare to the ones in the city. They must disappoint your refined palette.”

“It is not that…” Sen explained awkwardly, thinking of an excuse. “I’m a picky eater.”

“A picky eater, is it?” Siyu said, misinterpreting. “The food available here is…lacking.”

The entire conversation, Nara was watching Siyu’s aura. For an iron ranker, it was too controlled. A provincial miner should have shown something when he heard Sen’s last name, like the rest of the miners. The lack of any aura reaction was telling—if he was iron rank, Nara should have been able to detect something.

Nara wasn’t trying to probe, she didn’t want to alert him to their suspicions of him. She let her aura suffuse the surroundings, detecting changes like detecting ripples in the surface of a pond, which belied the movements beneath. Something in Siyu’s aura was abnormal, an unnaturalness she recognized—a sign of an incomplete technique, and his lack of aura training.

“I’d like to ask, where can we find you in the next few days for your assistance?” Sen asked.

“I will just be here,” Siyu said. “The next few days are not my shift. I’m more than willing to assist you during that time, as long as it’s within the caves. I want to keep an eye on the tunnels here.” He gave a fond sort of smile. “I’m always concerned for my brothers.”

“That’s very kind of you,” Nara said, not believing her own words.

“It has piqued my interest,” said Sen. “I’ve heard you were working on array magic?”

“You’re not experienced with it yourself?”

“I have minor training,” said Sen so plainly, that no one would suspect what a massive understatement it was: He didn’t even consider that to be a lie. Compared to Aliyah, his skill was minor. To any other adventurer, he was selling himself short.

Siyu went over some of his materials with Sen, while Nara looked over their shoulders. The magic was mostly related to stone reinforcement, earth quality detection, detecting the size and location of ore veins, air cleansing, and the upkeep of their magic tools.

“You’re quite an expert in your field,” Sen threw out some casual praise. “I have a team member who can use some ritual magic, but she doesn’t know have this much expertise in earth and stone related ritual magic. I suspect the answer to these killings and body thefts lie in these caves.”

If Siyu was the culprit, then he would know about Aliyah’s ritual magic usage.

“I still have a long way to go,” Siyu rebutted. “I want to find magic that will relieve the burdens of my brothers and ease the difficulties of their lives. He shook his head, sadly, “Not everyone has essences to repair their bodies. My brothers need to take care of themselves.”

Sen straightened, thanking Siyu for his time. “We’ll return tomorrow, Mister Hong.”

“Please, an Arlang like yourself? Just call me Siyu.”

“Very well. Siyu, I look forward to working with you tomorrow.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

He escorted them to the main tunnel, where he bid them farewell.

“Nara,” Sen said through voice chat, “We’re out of his aura range now.”

The stone of the tunnels would obstruct Siyu like they obstructed Nara.

“What did you sense?”

“He’s not iron rank, Sen. He’s bronze rank. Something else is off about him, but I can’t place it.”

“…Did my suspicions show on my aura?”

Or my rage, he thought silently. Siyu’s careless degradation of his teammate to servant had hit a nerve that Sen struggled to keep down at the time. If it were any other situation, he would have challenged Siyu, either verbally or physically. Thankfully, aura control was drilled into the scions of adventuring families. Aura control became an important part of adventuring culture at higher ranks, where untrained auras were annoying to everyone around and was a mark of mediocrity. Sen didn’t want to admit their table games had refined his ability to keep his emotions out of his aura, else Encio and Nara could call it ‘training’ and badger him in the future. He wouldn’t be able to deny them.

Thankfully, while Siyu was adept at controlling his own aura, he fared poorly in reading other auras. Against the normal and partial essence users of Crystal Quarry 6, there was no need to practice and no one to practice on. Eufemia, in contrast, was constantly honing her ability to read others. There was much she was limited by, like aura strength, but the art of reading body language was one she excelled at as well. If one method didn’t work, she used another. If another method didn’t exist, she made it, slapping one together with spare parts like a DIY project then refining it into something special. That was Eufemia’s way, and why she was the best aura and physical reader of the team.

“You were fine, Sen. Kind of gave off the feeling that you wanted to work with him, but also were suspicious. Stern and straightlaced too.”

“A balanced reading?”

“Yeah, nothing unusual for an investigator. You could leverage it to pull him around the next few days. He’ll do his best to dispel any suspicion upon him.”

“And also convince me nothing is going on around here. Dispel our doubts and send us back to Sanshi like the rest of the teams here.”

“He’ll make the implication, for sure.”

Sen was starting to see what may have happened with the previous investigative teams if they had even gotten this far. He was no Encio, but Siyu had his honeyed tongue, filled with kind words and compassion towards his fellow brothers. To anyone else, he may have been a slightly eccentric but compassionate (and classist) iron ranker of a provincial town, with little motive to upset the town hierarchy he stood at the top of. Nothing that should have raised suspicions.

Sen was reminded of Eufemia’s wisdom: “We wouldn’t put on an act if it wasn’t effective.”