I ran west as fast as I could, following the direction of Casper. My speed had increased a little with my agility being at 8 Points. Through Casper, I could see Bale nearing the Elu mountains.
[Is he going to the abandoned temple again? But last time, after the fight with Raven gang, we found nothing suspicious in there. I thought it was a temporary meeting place, was it not?] I wondered. Very soon, I saw Bale reaching the base of the mountain, and what Bale did next made me stop in my tracks.
Bale stopped near the base of the mountain, placed Renault on the ground, and started pushing a big boulder that was in front of him. The boulder moved easily, revealing a hidden door on the mountain surface. The rusted red iron door had three wheel-like circular structures fixed to it in a vertical straight line, each having a thin pointer emerging from the wheel's center. Bale started turning the middle wheel to 90 degrees, then the third wheel to 20 degrees, and then the second wheel in reverse 45 degrees... like this, he did 12 combinations with the three wheels in sequence. I memorized all the combinations carefully with my photographic memory. I was lucky that Casper got a good view, as there were many trees near the mountains from which Casper could watch Bale from a close distance, hiding himself well. Soon, the rusted door opened, revealing something like a dark cave. Bale entered the cave with Renault without any hesitation. It seemed like he had used this place many times before. The wheels and the boulder restored to their original position soon after.
After 15 minutes of running, I reached the location of the hidden door. When near, the place seemed so natural that one could not believe such a mechanism existed here. Even I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes. I wondered if I could move the big boulder with my current strength, so I decided to give it a try. Contrary to my worries, the boulder moved so easily, as if it had wheels below it. Now I could understand how Bale, who was unawakened, moved the boulder so effortlessly.
Now the actual hurdle presented itself in front of me. Of course, it was easy for me to remember the combinations for turning the wheels. It could have been so easy if I could reach them. However, I was too short, and my hands could only reach the bottommost wheel. The top two wheels were still too high for me.
[The heck! Being short has its demerits] I muttered to myself, then searched for a long pole or branch that could turn the wheels. I was lucky to find a branch that had a hook-like bend on its end.
I started with the middle wheel, just like Bale did. But not everything goes the way one wants. The wheel was so smooth that it turned swiftly, missing the exact 90 degrees and ended up at 92 degrees. Suddenly, the boulder that lay on the side came rushing to block the hidden door. It was so fast that if I didn't have enhanced senses and quick reflexes, I could have been crushed into a blood pudding. I reacted fast, just missing the boulder by a hair's length.
"Gulp... OMG!" I didn't think I would encounter such unexpected trouble. One needed two hands to control the wheel precisely, or else it may turn less or more, activating the defense function.
[What do I do now? Go back? Bring help? But whom do I ask? At least I could have asked Herald if he was alive. I can't trust others. Moreover, no one will believe me. What if Bale escapes or kills Renault before I bring help? Not that I care, anyway couldn't you guys have reincarnated me as an adult? Now see how I am struggling for such a simple task. Casper is so small, he doesn't have control to turn the wheels precisely. And I can only conjure mana balls, their aim is also half-assed. What should I do?" I started biting my nails in frustration. For 10 minutes, I guessed many ways like climbing a tree or rock, using tree vines, etc., but nothing seemed to work. [It would be ridiculous to give up now after reaching the target so close.]
"Verily, he jests... haha... haha... haha... verily... I cannot contain myself... haha...haha... I heard a heartfelt laugh suddenly closing on me.
"Who is that?" My face turned to all seriousness and at the same time the laughter stopped. There was nil silence.
"I asked who laughed just now?" I said, raising my voice a little.
"So thou canst hear me, canst thou?" said the voice pleasantly surprised.
"Show yourself, don't play hide and seek games," I said cautiously.
"Hmm... thou wishest to lay eyes upon me? Boy, thou art truly fortunate to catch a glimpse of my majestic visage. I shall grant thee that opportunity, if thou art worthy."
"What, you're gonna test me or something?"
"Such is thy aim, but I need not devise a separate test for thee. Thou hast come to save thy friend, hast thou not? How about this? I shall aid thee in turning the wheels and opening the door. If thou and thy friend can emerge alive, then I shall reveal myself to thee. What sayest thou?
How does showing yourself to me be advantageous for me? Moreover, not only will I save my friend, but I will also kill the mastermind behind this. So what will you do for me then?"
"Hahaaahaaaa... the voice laughed once more. Thou art too amusing, child, too amusing" After some time it said.... Thou dost indeed overestimate thyself. Nevertheless, since thou hast something in mind, speak it forth."
"Oh, okay, sir majestic. It's so sudden, and I don't know about you. So please tell me things you can offer so this naive one can choose a gift."
"What is this sudden display of respect? "Though I bear no heed. Very well, I shall become thy teacher for a day, shouldst thou come out alive. I shall teach thee the art of combat, or thou may choose to receive 100,000 gold coins. What sayest thou? Verily, I am generous, am I not?"
[Generous my a**! If you are such a great teacher and also rich, then I will take everything from you. But how do I do that? Wait there is that right? I heard in this world slavery is normal. If this guy becomes my slave won't all of his become mine. Will he accept? Hummm..i must be careful just in case. Let me bait him first.]
"Oh is that so? then what if your Majestic self win the bet? What do you want? I asked.
"Ha haaaaa... haaa... child, thou art shrewd indeed. Very well, I shall not beat around the bush any longer. I sense that thou dost possess something related to souls. Wager on it. If thou shouldst perish, I shall claim it from thee."
[Gotcha, so he wants my spirit pavilion. Considering how he uses only voice for communication, he must be a soul. Fine, let me play with him a little. System, can you turn the deal I make with the voice into a mission]
"Please wait a moment, host... Yes, I don't have any restrictions about it. I can do it."
"Ok, then do it for me."
System: "But I don't want to."
???? [why in the world I get a system like this!!!]
"Hey, whose side are you on? Look, that person is loaded, okay? Money, knowledge, or power, I don't know what that is, but seeing him talk so confidently, I can definitely tell he's a bigshot. Leaving him will be a waste. Moreover, if I get stronger, won't you become stronger too?" I said, trying to reason with the system.
After some silence, the system finally replied, "Okay, host, I will do this for you. But this will be the first and last time."
"Great, no wonder you are so reliable," I praised the system shamelessly.
[Come, let me make you my eternal slave and suck you dry. Wait. a peson must know his opponent well before making a bet. He must have been so confident reading my current strength to bet on my death. Anyway I am happy it ended up in my favour.]
"Oh, are you talking about this?" I took the spirit pavilion from my space bracelet, showing it off to the mysterious voice.
"This... this... astonishing..." I could feel excitement in the voice. Suddenly, something like a force tried to grab the spirit pavilion out of my hand, but the pavilion disappeared and went inside my space bracelet again.
"What? A bounded object?" The voice was surprised. I understood what happened just now. The person behind the mysterious voice tried to take the spirit pavilion by force, but because it is given by the system, unless I wish it, it cannot be taken by others.
"Boy, where didst thou obtain it? 'Tis a precious treasure, even to me."
"Oh, you want to know? I can tell, but we must change the deal."
"Aaah... a lowly being like thee attempting to bargain with me?"
"Fine then, forget our meeting today. I can take care of the hidden door myself."
"...wait... wait," the voice got agitated and impatient. "Very well, what is thy proposition?"
"If I die, you can take the spirit pavilion, because it won't have an owner anymore. But if I kill the person inside the cave and come out alive, you will become my slave and teach me everything you know..."
"Pffff... oh... haaa... haaa…. By my word, thine jests have reached their limit, young one," the voice replied.
Suddenly, I was grabbed by the throat and pulled up in the air. I struggled to breathe, almost choked to death. "So... cough... cough... now... you... are scared?" I managed to provoke the voice somehow.
The force left its grip, and I landed forcefully on the ground with a thud. "Ha... insolent brat. Thou shalt learn thy lesson ere long." The once-jovial voice now turned menacing, weighing heavily upon me.
"Cut the crap. Are you in the deal or not? Why bet if you're not confident? A man must take risks!" I shouted furiously. [It's the only way I can escape from this person now. common! accept the bet.]
"Very well, impertinent child, as thou dost wish. But remember this. Shouldst thou perish, I shall not only claim the soul artifact but also thy body and wreak my vengeance upon thy loved ones. None of thy kin or friends shall be spared. Such shall be the punishment for thy greed," said the voice, and immediately the wheels on the hidden door spun automatically in the required sequence. Soon, a dark cave welcomed me.
"I shall await thee here, child. Let us meet if thou dost survive."
*Ting side mission triggered – STAY ALIVE FOR ME!
-The mysterious owner of the voice has made a bet with the host. If the host stays alive after the first target kill, the owner of the voice would become the host's slave. No system reward, as this mission is requested by the host himself.
-Penalty for failure of the mission: Host body possession, new owner for spirit pavilion, and death of host's relatives and friends in the world of Grime sphere.
With a small smile, I entered the cave, already making some plans to torture my first slave. Of course I must, How dare he threaten to kill my friends and relatives. Just see when I come back from the cave.