In Sea-Mist Plane there are 3 major path for cultivation. Mage cultivates the mana and his or her mind and explore mysteries of the vast Universe.
The Martial Path is the most popular path and is mainly divided into two,
Qi Cultivation and Body Tempering.
Right now everyone takes body tempering as the minor path and almost no one cultivates after attaining the first realm of higher realm in body tempering.
In most places we call those who practices qi or body as Warriors or Knights.
Warriors is the popular word but in Roselern Continent they are mostly called as Knights.
The third path is the Path of Spirit where you cultivate your mind palace and people cultivating them is generally called Shamans.
Shamanic arts are varied and no complete unified system is available till now. It is the most unpredictable and dangerous path. Practice itself may lead to death if wasn't careful.
Diviners, Prophets, Animist all belong to the path of spirit.
Lucas was astonished and it was directly shown on his face when he found out that the man acting as a shopkeeper was an apprentice shaman, according to what Lucas knew shaman profession is a very mysterious profession. But the shaman have insignificant battle power in the lower realms.
"I believe he may have some kind of signal transmitter to summon backup, the mental fluctuations coming from him indicating that right now he is not calm."
Due to training in spirit, apprentice shaman are very sensitive to anything related to spirit so that explains how he found out the state of mind of Lucas by studying the mental fluctuations emitted by his spirit.
Leader gave an understanding smile and nodded to Lucas, " Uhh, I can understand now, but sorry to break your dreams."
The skinny guy took a disk from his backpack, it was engraved with many kinds of arrays, right now many arrays were dim.
Array disc : A disc in which arrays are inscribed. The array disc produces a specific function according to which arrays inscribed, usually an array disc is used as a control panel to the overall array.
"This is an array disc. An one time consumable disk. In it the inscribed array is Space Locking minor array. Before entering the shop, we had activated the array disc. For half an hour no signal will escape from out of here."
Lucas face paled and gave a resigned look. Lucas instantly thought of the disturbing memories of his previous life and tried to somehow fool the apprentice shaman.
Fortunately the shaman thought nothing of the weak mental fluctuations.
"I will tell you all I know, but first tell me how you found out I was a fake guard."
The two fighters looked at each other and then turned to look at the apprentice shaman, it would make their job easier if the captive cooperate, after nodding the apprentice shaman spoke.
"It wasn't much difficult. Before killing Saddik our Captain contacted the Grey Hall's backer and gave an appropriate compensation and captain also contacted the relevant authority of Arsln Guards and Underhood Market they helped us and settled it as a private grudge."
Lucas looked unconvinced, he shook his head.
"It's too much of a coincidence, someone will look into it for sure."
"No one related Antonio to Saddik's death, because if someone looked into this incident they will find irrefutable evidence regarding Saddik offending our Blood Hawk Mercenary Group."
"Antonio have no friends in the higher up so he will not know of this. We intentionally did not spread the death of Saddik, we never expected to see someone to come and ask for Saddik."
Lucas was dumbfounded, "I may have been a frequent customer of Grey Hall or some friend of Saddik."
The Apprentice Shaman shook his head, he raised three of his fingers and said.
"Three reasons."
"First one, You have come in as a guard.
Second one, During these days, patrolling guards came and went in pairs. You came in alone.
Third, when you asked me about Saddik you were really interested in that piece of information, your mental fluctuations told me that and it was not some mere curiosity."
Lucas put his hand behind his back and in an expert manner sighed ruefully. "There are lot of things to learn, and I believe the two nearby stores were controlled by those two."
"Yes." The shopkeeper replied.
Lucas stealthily took another pill from the storage ring and pinched it between his fingers.
The skinny man became impatient, "Now since we have satisfied your curiosity, tell as where he is."
Lucas calmly stood and spoke. "When Fedr- sorry when Antonio was escaping, your people called him with a fake name, the Blood Hawk didn't want others to know his name. Similarly Antonio didn't dare to shout Blood Hawk too, most likely he is afraid of something or something is holding him back."
"And right now you have revealed your face and told me your affiliation, I am not expecting any mercy from you guys."
All three of the their faces turned serious and cold. Since negotiation breakdown the last way is battle.
"Talk and you will have a painless death."
Lucas chuckled, "Don't you feel getting weaker and weaker, don't you want to sleep right now."
At the next moment, all three of their face changed, they swayed and fell like puppets whose strings were cut.
"What sorcery is this?"
Panicked leader cried out in a low voice, even shouting loudly was not possible.
"Don't worry it's just a poison."
Lucas slowly walked towards them and squatted down.
"This is a famous combination poison called 'Unseen Touch of the Phantom Snake' I'm sure people in your line of work have heard about this."
Unseen Touch of the Phantom Snake is a silver grade paralyzing poison. It was created by the Terrorist Assassin Deadly Sickle, he was famous for killing his targets without making any noise or resistance. This poison is not famous for it's toxic nature but for its paralyzing effect. Once inflicted by this poison you will be paralyzed for more than 5 hours. If help isn't given in 8hrs he or she will die and in a extremely slow manner.
All three of them was overcome with despair, they were now a meat on the board anyone can effortlessly kill them.
"I can give you a way out, you haven't seen my face nor do you have any relevant information about me." after pausing for a bit Lucas continued.
"In exchange for your life, tell me why you are chasing him, the Pseudo Unreal Flower is already in the Sky Imperium Palace's hand, don't tell me it is a personal grudge, I know it isn't that."
The leader stuttered and said, "H…..He...ki…killed..captain's…brother."
Lucas gave out a long sigh and stood up.
"Was it the Realm Crystal?"
At that instant the leader's eyes shook, his eyes clearly showed a clear and deep desperation filled with fear. But only confusion could be seen in the other two.
'It seems not everyone was aware of what they were chasing for."
"How….do..y..you...."
Lucas eyes shone with a brilliant light.
"So he does have the Realm Crystal."
Lucas with a gentle smile pulled out his sword from the scabbard.
"Since you gave me lot of information and proved my speculation I am very happy, so I promise you it will be painless."
For those mercenaries Lucas's smile was truly a smile from the Abyss Devil.
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With the cover of darkness, Lucas swiftly weaved through the busy streets of Free Market.
While walking Lucas looked at the blood red token in his hand.
"It seems like Antonio having the Realm Crystal is not known to many." Lucas faintly smiled, his eyes brightened as stars in the night sky.
"At worst I will just inform Uncle Merlin and they will get the Realm Crystal, if the Arsln Family decided to get something in City of Datura then no one could stop them."
Lucas quickly put the token inside the storage ring and joyfully looked at his wrist.
"This Pluto is amazing, as expected of black technology. Now I know where they are."