"So, what's up with this test then?" Lone asked in a soft voice as he and Hazel followed the massive group of people being shepherded by the beautiful woman and her entourage of mages.

Hazel glanced around to make sure that no one's mind was focused on the two of them before she answered, "They inject you with some sort of drug via an artefact. I have no idea what the drug is, but the woman kept calling it 'PL-18'. So it's probably the eighteenth strain of whatever mixture it is."

"I wonder what the 'PL' stands for? Maybe the initials of whoever runs the shop here?" Lone rhetorically thought out loud.

Hazel shrugged and continued with her explanation. "I'm not 100% sure what the drug does, but from that woman's thoughts, it either cripples you or forcefully awakens your mana organs, limiting their potential, but awakening them nonetheless."

"I see... And let me guess, the cripples aren't healed and mind-wiped before being sent home, are they?" Lone asked coldly.

Hazel shook her head. "Sadly, no, they're not. They're used as experimental subjects in a secret wing of the tower - we're in a tower of some kind, by the way - and then they're experimented on to improve the PL strain and to work on some other drugs this place manufactures. This place has a massive underground floor dedicated solely to alchemy and blood magic, it seems."

"Blood magic? That's a rare one. Rarer than necromancy," Lone noted softly.

"Yeah," Hazel replied with hints of disgust and hatred in her tone. "It's the third rarest magic school out there and its also number two on the list of forbidden magics just behind Primal magic."

"I see someone took an interesting theory class, huh?" Lone teased, trying to lighten the mood. "I still think it's retarded that Primal magic is outlawed just because mortals 'don't deserve to use the power of the Primals'. Load of selfish religious shite."

"We're getting off-topic," Hazel said. "Anyway, what should we do? There's no way we can stop the tests and keep them stopped long enough for us to return to our normal power levels."

"Don't be so sure about that just yet," Lone said. "Though, admittedly, I only have 11 daily uses of Mental Destruction and there's no way that'll be enough."

"We could always bring in some reinforcements, couldn't we?" Hazel asked. "We're already in their base, so long as we don't get noticed by the real people in charge, I think we'd be safe to bring in Eolande."

Lone slowly nodded. "I think you're right. For now though, I want to try this test of theirs. If they won't let me take it since I'm already awakened or if they won't let me go first, then yeah, we'll call in our master illusion mage."

Hazel was about to state her acknowledgement when she heard a certain thought coming from Lone's mind. "Really?"

"Well, if possible, I'd like to keep everyone out of this. Consider it a brother-sister bonding experience. If my plan fails then I'll open up The Glade for Eolande, 'kay?" Lone requested with a devilish grin spread across his lips.

Hazel sighed. "You're insane."

"Hiss!" Greed cutely protested.

----------------------------------------

"You wish to go first?" Victoria asked Lone in surprise.

As soon as they had reached the doors to the room where the testing equipment was and not a second after she had announced that everyone would be tested one by one individually, the Amber Foxkin had quickly pushed his way through the crowd and loudly said that he was more than willing to take the test and had even insisted on being the first.

"Yeah. Is that a problem?" Lone asked. "We'll all get tested eventually, right? It doesn't really make a difference if I go first or not."

Victoria smiled warmly. "Indeed, you're correct, however, you are aware that the test is designed to stimulate your mana organs to awaken, yes? Your mana organs are already awakened as far as I can tell."

Lone shrugged nonchalantly. "So? I can't use any powerful magic or anything, so can't this test of yours, like, make my mana organs stronger or something? The way I see it is like this; I ain't got much left to live for as an Amber Foxkin who's not a part of the clan, so what's the harm in taking a risk or two? Assuming there'll be a risk, that is."

The dazzlingly gorgeous smile of Victoria's only extended further, charming all of the other kidnapping victims even more. "You shall make it far here, I can feel it. What's your name, young man?"

Lone grinned innocently. "Darren Yellowtail."

"Well, Darren Yellowtail, please, follow my associate here. He will bring you through these doors and test you. It shouldn't take more than a minute or so," Victoria softly said as she gestured to one of her robed companions.

Her eyes lingered on Greed who was wrapped around Lone's arm for a few moments before she mentally shook her head. 'I sense no magic from it. I do wonder how he found and tamed such a rare-looking animal though. Perhaps it's a monster based on its strength? It certainly isn't one that I'm familiar with. I'll have to ask him later assuming he survives the procedure. For now, it should be fine to leave it with him. I don't want to seem unkind here and risk breaking a few of the charm bindings.'

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"Please, get inside the artefact," the man asked Lone.

In front of him was a machine covered head-to-toe in gears and runic inscriptions. It looked almost like a bed though there were a lot of copper pipes with needles sticking out of them near where both the head and the heart would rest.

"That doesn't exactly look safe," Lone noted cautiously. 'I want it. How much could my steamforging improve if I could disassemble a massive machine like that? It's on a whole different scale from the trinkets Frodley trades to me.'

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"Please, rest assured, it is incredibly safe. You have nothing to worry about," the man said in a calming tone.

"Huh... Well, if you say so," Lone replied before he settled himself inside the contraption of pipes and gears.

The robed man smiled then moved to what looked like a magical interface of some sort on the side of the artefact that seemed to be mimicking that of the system's screens. His fingers moved wildly and just as he was about to begin the operation, he peered over the edge of the device to look at Lone. "Ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be," the foxkin jokingly replied.

"Lovely," the man responded then returned his attention to his screen.

At that moment, Lone signalled for Greed to start. The snake's eyes glowing with glee as her mouth opened up and a portion of the steamforged and magically-infused machine disappeared. Of course, she was a smart snake, so she had only eaten a chunk from within the machine, not an external piece, making the damage difficult to locate.

Greed's unique skill was very special. She could, in essence, consume anything and directly turn what she ate into levels and stats.

It was a skill similar to Lone's Growth Accelerator though far less versatile since it didn't allow her to gain anything beyond levels and stats unlike Lone's ability to learn almost any skill after seeing it being used a few times or after experiencing it directly.

What was even more unique about Greed's skill, however, was that she could use it at a distance. She could either enlarge her body and eat things directly, or she could telekinetically consume anything she desired that wasn't living within a range of 20-meters.

So, if the tiny albino snake desired it, she could forcefully put the entire room - machine and all - directly into her stomach and convert it into stat points and levels.

The mage operating the bed-like contraption frowned when he tried to start up the device. He slapped the side of it in anger a few moments later when it didn't begin working for a second time.

"Is everything okay?" Lone asked as he added some worry to his tone.

"A-Ah. Y-Yes. There's only a minor issue with the testing artefact. Could you please come with me for a moment while I arrange for the issue to be solved?" the man requested in a clearly falsely-patient voice as he failed to hide his annoyance.

"Wasn't I suppose to get tested though? Aren't my mana organs meant to get stronger?" The scepticism in Lone's voice added a lot of substance to how unsure he seemed. "Is this really an artefact to do that? Why isn't it working? A-Are you really trying to help us?"

Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Acting] has levelled up! It is now Advanced Level 10.

'Heh, good job, Lone. One more level for a rank-up,' he praised himself.

The mage cooled down immediately upon seeing Lone's agitated state and after hearing his words. "Don't worry, this happens occasionally. It's nothing to worry about. Please, follow me again."

"Ah, it happens from time to time?" Lone asked then nodded. "That makes sense... Something as powerful as an artefact that can boost mana organs and awakened them can't be perfect, hahaha."

"R-Right," the robed man answered.

----------------------------------------

"So she's the only one that can use space magic to teleport like that?" Lone asked his sister.

As soon as he had been led out of the testing room, the mage had informed Victoria that the steamforged device had stopped working. Needless to say, she was beyond enraged though she hid it well. Hazel had been able to skilfully pick apart her jumbled and chaotic thoughts to see just how unusual this kind of situation was.

Hazel nodded. "At least she thinks she's the only one who can."

"We'll have to bank on that then," Lone said as he took a swig of his drink. "Kinda sucks that there're so many eyes watching me."

"You can feel them?" Hazel asked in surprise.

Lone shrugged. "Foxy senses. But yeah, after my time in Milindo, I kinda learned how to tell when someone was staring at me, whether obviously or not."

"I'm surprised you don't have a skill for that," Hazel said.

"Probably cause I haven't focused on getting one or because no one's used a skill to watch me yet. Anyway, I was really hoping I could let Darkness take control of me and move through this place's shadows all to way to whoever is running the shop, but I guess we just have to sit tight and hope they can't fix that machine in the next 12-hours," Lone said softly and with a light sigh.

"It should take 2-days minimum to repair if that woman's mind is anything to trust," Hazel replied.

"Then we relax and eat. Feel free to sleep if you want, Greed'll keep you safe if you do. I'll be sitting here all night as well," Lone said casually.

Hazel yawned softly and replied, "Yeah, I think that'd be nice. I'm getting sick of hearing over 400 voices and filtering them, after all. Night, Br-... Lo-... Uh, Darren."

Lone smiled awkwardly then got up and put his hand behind Hazel's head and kissed her forehead. Greed took that opportunity to slither from Lone's bicep to the girl's. "Night. You can call me 'Bro' you know? I don't mind at all."

Hazel's face went beet red as her expression turned blank. "Uh, um, okay. Night... B-Bro."

"Mmm, night... Sis," Lone answered.

The girl stiffly walked away and curled up in one of the many beds housed in the massive feasting and resting hall.

Seeing that he was no longer occupied with another person, Joseph approached Lone and sat down next to him. He grabbed a mug of mead that was still fresh by means of which only the Primal's would know.

"She your lover? I don't mean to pry, but I saw you kiss her head and whatnot," the burly man asked.

Lone chuckled faintly. "Nah. She's not. She's my sister."

"Ah. Used to share the same master did ya? I don't see slave collars, so how'd you escape? Your master grow a heart and let yous go?" Joseph asked casually as he sipped his mead then picked up a chicken wing and began devouring it.

Lone smiled weakly. "Something like that... We... We were never very... intimate. Now that we're both free, figuratively speaking, I want to get closer to her, y'know?"

Joseph nodded. "I've got a son like that. Daft lad joined the army. Never once sent a letter he did. One day, 5-years after he'd enlisted, he came home with a missing leg and a blind eye. His squad got done in by an ambush. He was the only survivor."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Lone said.

"Don't be. He's a D-ranker, so he's plenty healthy. He's got a perfectly fine pegleg and can do farm work like the best of 'em, but ever since he came back... he's been different. The war changed him, and while I love him to bits as his pa, we just can't connect. So yeah, I feel your struggle. The girl seems to want to be close to ya though if her reaction was anything to go off of, so keep at it, Pal," Joseph said with a laugh as he slapped Lone's shoulder.

Lone flashed a genuine smile. "Thanks, I'll keep that in mind," he replied. "So, Joe, you're a farmer then?" he asked, changing the subject.

"Aye, on my off days. I'm actually my village's chief, so often I find myself lickin' some stuck up nobles arse to get some better taxation deals or grants to expand the village. It's tough work, but someone's got to do it," the burly man answered with a tired expression on his face. Clearly, he wasn't a fan of his responsibilities.

"Well, almost every noble I've ever met has been a real piece of fucking shit, so here's to a better life, eh?" Lone suggested as he raised his glass.

Joseph happily clinked his mug against it then grinned. "I'm not too sure about this place, mind you, but aye, I'll raise my mug in cheers to the mockery of nobles any day!"

His loud announcement was heard by many people who all concurred and raised their glasses and mugs as well in joyous agreement.

Lone smirked. 'Why are poor people always the most fun to hang around with?'