Chapter 198: Punishment
Translator: Dess Editor: Efydatia
Kieran came back to his senses after a couple of seconds. It felt like he had been through a short blackout in his mind.
The sore ache all over his body told him what had happened.
"Pain?" Kieran furrowed his brow.
It was not his first time learning skills, but none of the previous ones had shared any similar traits with this one. None of them had caused him pain.
That warm, comfortable stream of energy and the synchronization process from his previous skill learning formed a huge contrast with the [Secondary Elemental Damage Resistance]'s sore pain.
Kieran was impatient to check out the details of the skill and rearrange the knowledge of the [Secondary Elemental Damage Resistance] in his mind.
He was eager to find out what had caused [Secondary Elemental Damage Resistance] to behave differently than the other skills.
[Name: Secondary Elemental Damage Resistance (Unable to Upgrade)]
[Related Attributes: Constitution]
[Skill Type: Ancillary]
[Effects: When facing fire, lightning, or any types of elemental ice damage, you will be immune to Low, Weak and Below Average elemental damages. When facing Average or Strong elemental damages, you will receive Weak or Below Average elemental damage. When facing Powerful elemental damage, you will need to undergo a Constitution authentication. If you pass, you will receive -1 rank from the Powerful elemental damage. If you fail, you will receive normal elemental damage.]
[Consumes: Nothing]
[Prerequisites: None]
[Remarks: You have trained your body using a special method and increased your resistance against elemental damages, but please note that you are not completely immune to elemental damage!]
....
Kieran could not help but take a deep cold breath when he saw the details of [Secondary Elemental Damage Resistance] before rearranging the knowledge in his mind.
He wasn't just surprised by the effect of [Secondary Elemental Damage Resistance], but also by the remark that he'd trained his body using a special method. Each word was imprinted in Kieran's mind.
"If I experienced extremely hot or cold temperatures or was struck by lightning, I would die, even if I used a potion. I need to have an above average physique!" Kieran commented on the knowledge inside his mind and meanwhile made an educated guess about the pain that had struck him.
"The synchronization process always comes after I learn a new skill, but it's not as extreme as the [Secondary Elemental Damage Resistance] process... Too bad this skill cannot be leveled up."
Kieran sighed in regret.
He was not concerned about the pain. If a fruitful reward came with it, he would endure it.
He knew that this was a give and take game, and it would always pay him back in double.
Kieran made another educated guess.
"If my physique was stronger, could I use the [Secondary Elemental Damage Resistance] knowledge to further increase my resistance against all kinds of elemental damage?"
It was theoretically plausible, but if he were put it into practical use, there would be a lot more obstacles to overcome, such as supportive potions and all sorts of extreme conditions.Kieran had all the corresponding prescriptions in his mind for the potions, but he would also need to have the corresponding [Potionology] level.
"So next time I upgrade [Mystical Knowledge], I'll need to look out for [Potionology] as well!"
Kieran filled in the gaps in his mind for his plans in the foreseeable future, although he knew it was not something he would be able to achieve easily.
Two weeks of self-teaching had made him understand that, without proper guidance, it was extremely difficulty to learn a skill from scratch, even at just a Basic Level, let alone an Entry Level.
The [Potionology] level Kieran needed would have to be higher than an Entry Level though. Only a Master Level would do him any good.
"Considering that I don't have any proper guidance, all I can do is earn experience by reading, or..."
Kieran suddenly remembered the [Calming Balm] he had crafted.
After the refining had succeeded, a notification had popped up stating, "You just refined your first potion, You have gained huge experience in Potionology…"
Even though the potions that he wanted to refine could not be compared to the first one he had made, practising would be much better than studying theory from books.
"If it's possible for [Potionology], it must also apply to [Alchemy] and [Astrology]. I will need a huge sum of points to begin though..."
Kieran suddenly recalled his failed attempts at refining a [Calming Balm] and all the ingredients he had wasted in the process.
He could not help but rub his temples when he thought about the cost of the wasted ingredients.
If practice made perfect, he would need a lot more ingredients than he had used the first time. The number would be ridiculously big, and the refining cost would definitely exceed any results.
"No! I'd lose more than I would gain this way!"
Kieran ultimately shook his head after he calculated the pros and cons of his plan.
Suddenly, he came up with another theory in his head. He could sign a Selling Contract.
However, the fact that he'd have to be bound to someone had him furrowing his brow hard. He eventually shook his head again. The results would be the same as the previous plan's.
"[The Shaman's Partner II]..." Kieran looked at the upcoming Special Dungeon.
If nothing worked out, [The Shaman's Partner II] would be his last line of hope.
Inside the Special Dungeon he would get the chance to access things related to [Potionology], [Alchemy] and [Astrology] and learn about them.
Kieran was standing stiffly on the spot, carefully calculating what he would have to do to achieve his goal in [The Shaman's Partner II] and not fail the Main Mission of the dungeon.
Before he could come up with anything solid though, his message tab was spammed by Lawless.
...
Lawless: How are the preparations going?
2567: I'm doing my best.
...
Kieran answered seriously. He had already received his deposit for the mercenary mission, so he would give it his best. Lawless would do the same as well.
Hanses was the employer, so it was a given that he would.
The three of them got together and started to discuss the upcoming dungeon, what potential threats they might face there, and ways that they could overcome them.
Hanses gave his best description of the dungeon and what he knew about the ongoing situation inside it. He even drew out a rough map of the Morko Principality.
The discussion lasted for hours and finally ended when all of them were satisfied with the briefing.
...
Hanses: Shall we?
Lawless: Let's go!
2567: Let's do this!
...
[Entering Team Dungeon…]
[Categorized as Special Team Dungeon...]
[You will receive the same authority and be on the same side as the initiator of the dungeon. As their teammate, you will also receive a specific Main Mission corresponding to your dungeon entry difficulty.]
[Authenticating Special Team Dungeon members…]
[Number of Participants: 3]
[Difficulty: 3rd dungeon difficulty]
[Background: You were originally one of Grand Duke Morko 's elite infantry troops, but you and your accomplices stole the Grand Duke's treasure from his treasure vault during times of war. This infuriated Grand Duke Morko, who sent out his best men and captured you and your accomplices. All the stolen treasure was confiscated, and you were thrown into prison! Grand Duke Morko is planning on executing you once the war is over, but you have already suffered a punishment for your crime…]
[Main Mission: Escape Morko Principality]
[Temporary Language Pack, Disappears upon exiting the dungeon.]
[Clothing, backpack, weapons, items, and attributes remain unchanged. Temporarily different look, Disappears upon exiting the dungeon.]
[Hint 1: This is a Special Dungeon. You can fail the Main Mission, but you will have to pay 300 Points as a penalty, and your highest attributes will drop by 1. If your points are insufficient, the system will deduct from your equipment. If your equipment is insufficient, you will fail.]
[Hint 2: Because of your theft, all your items are running a risk of being confiscated. Please choose your equipment and items carefully]
...
"Already suffered a punishment?"
When Kieran saw the new description, a terrible feeling rose in his heart.Chapter 199: Prison Cell
Translator: Dess Editor: Efydatia
As the blinding light dissipated, a foul stench assaulted Kieran's nose mercilessly.
Pain rose from his chest suddenly as he furrowed his brow harder.
Kieran tilted his head downwards and saw that his chest was filled with intertwining lash-like wounds. Blood was oozing out. He didn't even have to look at his back to know that it was in the same state.
Blood was smeared all over his body, and his flesh was hurting more and more by the second.
[You have been whipped and tortured, Your HP has decreased to 220!]
[Moderately Wounded Status...]
"So this is the punishment the system was talking about?" Kieran said under his breath.
When he'd read the background description of the dungeon, he had already had a terrible feeling.
However, the situation before him had exceeded even his wildest imagination.
If he, as an accomplice, was being tortured and whipped, then what was happening to Lawless and Hanses?
As the most experienced player, Lawless would definitely have it the worst. According to Special Dungeon rules, dungeon entry difficulty would determine the Main Mission.
Hanses had been the mastermind behind the theft, so he would also get a thorough treatment.
Kieran instinctively popped in at the team chat and tried to send a message out.
[Special environment, Communication is restricted!]
"Damn it!" Kieran sighed helplessly.
The three of them had already anticipated that their communication would be cut off.
Fortunately, they had been prepared for it.
Even though the situation before them was not ideal, it was still within their expectations.
Kieran started to check his surroundings.
His cell was no bigger than three square feet, and the wet dark box was filled with a foul stench.
It had been built with hard rock, and any corners and nooks were all covered with a thick layer of moss.
The cell door was a huge wooden door, and on top of it there were raw iron bars and a bolt. Even though all the metal parts were rusty, the whole structure still looked as formidable as ever.
At the bottom edge of the door there was a little window that was shut tight. It made Kieran think of the prison cells in Alcatraz.
No matter the time, place or universe, there were things that would always share similar traits. Kieran pondered this silently before he raised his hand and knocked on the cell door.
The heavy noise proved that it was even more formidable that it looked. He was not concerned about it though.
His main concern were the chained cuffs on his hands and feet and the giant steel ball at the end of the chains.
The steel was completely solid. Kieran tried to lift the ball, but it had to weigh at least 50 kilos.
"Ordinary men would not even be able to shake this steel ball, let alone break out of this prison," Kieran thought.
Despite his extraordinary strength, the steel ball would still weigh him down and cause him unwanted trouble if he tried to break out.
That ball was the first obstacle that he needed to overcome.
He looked carefully at the steel cuffs on his limbs.
Then he opened his mouth and put his fingers in, reaching for the strand of hair inside the slit at the back of his teeth. It was the [Deceiver's Key].
The dungeon description might have stated that all his items were running a risk of being confiscated and he had to choose his equipment carefully, but that was just a warning.
The truth was that no items would get confiscated if they were hidden well from his enemies.
The [Deceiver's Key], for example, was extremely easy to hide. It was like a hair-like wire on his body
To make his plan foolproof though, Kieran had tried his best to hide it. He had tied it on the end of a strand on his tooth and swallowed the rest.
With his tongue blocking it, no one would ever discover the strand unless Kieran's mouth was forced wide open and someone shone a flashlight in it.
If Kieran still had access to his key though, Morko Principality Prison must have never performed a thorough search.
Kieran tagged at one end of the strand and pulled the rest out slowly from the inside of his stomach.
It was horrible. When the strand touched his uvula, his gag reflex made his stomach twitch sourly.
As Kieran dragged the [Deceiver's Key] completely out, his saliva ran all over the floor and he vomited helplessly.
He unconsciously bent down as his stomach turned upside down, the motion affecting the wounds on his chest and back.
The burning sensation caused Kieran to clench his teeth hard as he choked on his vomit.
He quickly forced himself to calm down when he heard footsteps coming towards his cell.
"Prison guards!" Kieran guessed who the footsteps belonged to.
He paid attention to the sound as the footsteps walked from left to right at a moderate pace.
After around two minutes, they finally got weaker and the sound eventually faded away.
Five minutes later though, the footsteps returned from the right side. When they reached Kieran's cell door, they stopped.
The small window on the door was opened halfway, and half the face of a prison guard was visible through the tiny space.
Thanks to the torch in the prison guard's hand, Kieran could see the man's filthy, ruthless face and the disdain in his eyes.
"You dare steal the treasure in the Grand Duke's vault? Do you have a death wish? Relax, I will take really good care of you during your stay. Oh yes, and both your friends as well! It's the warden's orders!" The prison guard dragged his finger across his neck as he talked.
Before Kieran could utter a word, the small window was closed again.
He was not even bothered by the guard's threats. His mind was filled with thoughts about the prison guard's footsteps and what they meant.
"Judging by the window's height, the guard has to be at least 175 cm tall, and every step he took must have been around 70 mm wide. It took him around two minutes to walk from left to right, and after around 100 steps, he headed down. It took him about five minutes before he came back. If I add the time he used to climb down the stairs… Then the prison has to be a two-storey building, and every floor has to be around 7 meters tall. Judging by the cell's width and the security concerns, plus the thickness of the walls, if this is a one-side cell area, there have to be around 15 to 18 cells on this side!"
"Although this is a principality, the population must be around 100,000, so the prison cannot be this small. This place has to be the Grand Duke's private confinement facility. It can't be outside the castle, so it must be underground! That explains the cold and the humidity!"
Kieran's lightning speed calculations were all thanks to the information he got from his [Tracking].
While the gears in his mind kept spinning, his hands did not stop working with the [Deceiver's Key].
One end of the key was already inside the lock, and Kieran was fingerpicking inside it.
The metal cuffs on his limbs were all easily opened, but suddenly footsteps were heard from outside again.
They sounded messy and they belonged to more than one person. It was definitely not the prison guard from earlier.
.Chapter 200: Accidental Kill
Translator: Dess Editor: Efydatia
The light footsteps stopped right in front of Kieran's cell door.
With a turn of the key, the heavy door was pushed open, producing a screeching noise from the outside.
The light of the torch barged in fast, making Kieran squint.
Three people entered his cell.
The person who was holding the torch had good manners, and he was holding the keys. He had to be one of the prison guards, but he had an exceptionally clean face and outfit.
"Is he the prison guard chief? Or perhaps the warden?" Kieran tried to guess the identity of the man.
The other two men beside him were easier to identify.
One of them was wearing a deep blue armor, and a long sword was hanging from his waist. His stern face had a killing intent to it. No doubt he was the bodyguard of the third man.
The third man was wearing a fancy, luxurious dress with a girdle, and his sleeves and collar were decorated with black silk. He had a white wig on and a pair of brown brows, and the part beneath his eyes was covered with a handkerchief, hiding his heavily powdered face from Kieran.
He was obviously the person the bodyguard was protecting.
"This filthy, rotten place! If this matter wasn't important, I'd never set foot in here!" the fancily dressed man ranted behind his handkerchief.
His rough voice sounded distorted, because he was holding his nose with his finger. It sounded a little higher than a normal man's, and the noise it produced was very unsettling. It was like a fake, girly voice.
"Your Grace is here because of your honorable family name. I'm sure My Lord will understand your bitterness!" the man that Kieran speculated was the warden said delightedly after taking a bow.
When he turned around to face Kieran, his face became ugly and vicious.
"His Grace here is the youngest son of Grand Duke Morko, the brave hawk of the Morko Principality, the best and strongest swordsman there is, Reedrall! Now tell us, where did you filthy bastards hide the Legacy?"
The warden kept kicking Kieran as he ordered him to reveal any information he had.
He was not worried about Kieran resisting because of the steel cuffs around his hands.
The warden tried to please the "brave hawk of Morko" by kicking Kieran even harder and being even more vicious to him.
His kicks were nothing more than an itch to Kieran though, even though the warden looked very fierce and strong.
The strength of his kicks was nothing for him.
Kieran's attention had been focused on the "brave hawk of Morko" from the moment the three of them had entered the cell.
He had come up with an idea. He would take him as hostage and escape from his cell.
Kieran's idea was solidified when he discovered the identity of the man.
He was the youngest son of the Grand Duke, so if he took him as hostage, the others would hold back for fear of harming His Grace.
Kieran's idea was not an easy one to execute though. The guard beside him was quite a formidable opponent, and Kieran would have to kill him off with one shot before he could proceed with his plan.
It was the only opportunity he would get. Kieran secretly stretched his hands and legs.
Reedrall was not the best and strongest swordsman there was. That was total bullsh*t. It was just a flattering comment from the warden. Anyone who believed it would be an idiot. Kieran had never seen a swordsman without a sword.
He had also noticed that Reedrall's body was flabby. There were no signs of any sort of training on him.
If Reedral could be considered "the best and strongest swordsman", then Kieran would be the "saint of swords", even though he had never used a sword before.
"Talk! Start talking right away! Where did you filthy scum hide the Legacy?"
The warden kept pushing Kieran for an answer. He didn't stop kicking him, even though he was already panting from the effort.
Morko's youngest son was still holding his handkerchief up to his nose and looking down at Kieran with an arrogant expression. Reedrall was waiting for an answer. He was confident that if this kept on, Kieran would eventually spill the truth.
Keeping that confidence in mind, Reedrall got extremely terrified when accident happened.
Reedrall tilted his head downwards and saw a long sword pierce through his chest. The handkerchief covering his face fell to the floor, revealing his big mouth.
The brave hawk looked as if he wanted to say something, but the words did not escape his mouth in time before he died.
He just stood there, empty of any signs of life, like a little bird being crushed to death.
The warden was stunned. He wanted to scream out instinctively, but before he could, his mouth was covered by the remaining guard's hand, and the dagger that had appeared in the guard's hand was driven into his chest, stabbing his heart.
The dagger was plucked off, and fresh blood started gushing out.
The guard did not avoid the blood as it splashed all over his armor.
He just turned around and pulled the long sword out of Reedrall. Then he turned his killing gaze towards Kieran without the slightest intention of talking.
He plunged his sword towards Kieran's neck swiftly.
Kieran was surprised by the incoming stab.
The moment the hare went out of hiding, the falcon swooped down to catch it. Both the warden and Morko's youngest son had been killed in an instant.
Kieran had been about to take Reedrall as hostage, but before he could, Reedrall had been killed by his own bodyguard.
"What the hell happened?" Kieran asked himself.
The doubts in his mind did not slow down his reaction though.
The metal cuffs that had originally been tied around his hands were lifted within a fraction of a second, blocking the sharp tip of the sword.
The tip of the sword collided with the metal cuffs, producing a bright spark.
The guard was struck by panic when his sword was blocked. He had the same incredulous expression as Reedrall when he'd died without knowing what had happened.
He did not understand how Kieran had freed himself.
Unlike Reedrall though, he was not useless. When his first attack was blocked, he quickly turned his wrist around, swinging his sword towards Kieran's chest and getting ready for another stab.
The guard displayed considerable swordsmanship through his swinging technique, but this still did not alter the final outcome.
Kieran slid sideways, avoiding the second stab and kicking the guard's sword-wielding hand. After quickly disarming him, he landed another kick on the man's chest.
The guard was sent flying backwards before he collided hard with the wall behind him.
Kieran extended his hand and grabbed the man's sword, which was falling from mid-air. He pressed the sharp tip of the sword against the guard's throat.
"Don't move!" he shouted in a heavy voice, ready to probe more information out of him. He wanted to clear the doubts in his mind.
"Who are...." Before he could finish his sentence, a line of black blood oozed out of the corner of the guard's mouth. His face gradually lost the radiance of life.
"What the hell?" Kieran was stunned.
Kieran had held back when he kicked the guard on his chest as he wanted to probe for more information, it wouldn't be lethal by any means.
Still questioning the situation, Kieran went over to the body for a quick check.
As soon as he approached the guard's body, a spicy smell assaulted his nose.
"Poison?"
Kieran knew what it was, even without a Master Level [Medical and Medicinal Knowledge].
The guard had committed suicide with poison. As soon as he'd realized that he would fail his mission, he had taken his own life in order to prevent being taken as captive.
"Men of sacrifice!" The words popped up in Kieran's mind. There was no other explanation for the incident.
"A man of sacrifice became the Grand Duke's youngest son's bodyguard and chose this time to assassinate him?" Kieran said under his breath.
A terrible theory took form in his mind. Trouble had descended upon the three of them.
The difficulty of the Main Mission had just gone up a bit.
"I need to contact Hanses and Lawless right away!"
Kieran picked up the dagger and the keys from the floor and left his cell.