Chapter 498

Chapter 498

"Uh, so what the hell was that?" Skoe was the first to ask, giving voice to what the rest of them wanted to know with Thera also casting her eyes to Ben, more than willing to trust him at the time but wanting an explanation now given that she'd just very publicly committed a crime.

"Nobody worry, Myriad's aware of what happened but long story short that guy has someone chained up in his basement to turn into potions. Given that that's, you know, bad, I just stepped in to stop it."

Both Thera and Sachel's eyes took a much harder look upon hearing that, with the first having to be justifiably worried about that sort of thing growing up thanks to her unique spirit heritage while the second was well aware of her own race's history of being hunted, making that more than enough explanation for most of them, even if that only created more questions for the others.

"How could you possibly know that?" Ralia asked, giving him a confused look.

"In case you forgot, I have this handy dandy mind-reading skill as a perk for believing in Myriad. I'd personally recommend it if you feel like converting."

"Don't you need to touch someone to use that?"

Ah, yeah, guess I have been at least a little successful keeping that a secret in town. At least until now, that is.

"I awakened it and increased the range," He admitted with a shrug. "Do me a favour and keep that to yourself."

"Wait, so you just casually read people's minds?" Skoe recoiled, getting a blank stare in return.

"Yeah, it's part of my skill so I need to practice and as long as I'm just doing it to passing strangers then it typically doesn't matter. People usually aren't thinking anything interesting enough for it to matter if some guy knows what's going on in their heads. Would you rather I didn't and some guy got turned into juice?"

"That's not the point."

"Mmh, fine, but if they don't give us a decent explanation we're leaving to decide which point to offer our services to ourselves," Ralia told her firmly, getting the agreement she wanted as the rest went on their way, even as the Oracle kept looking back at the two who were now waiting a different group until they came across the next set of names.

This time it was Thera who spoke, giving her own reaction to what she saw.

"We're leaving."

They'd found Sachel's name at last, along with one other, Ben's.

They'd expected they might be separated from Sonya, since she and Thera were both awakened life mages it couldn't be denied that it would make sense for them to be at different gates where they might do the most good, but there was no reason for her and Ben to be split. They were still registered as being part of the same party and given that he only had two of his awakened skills recorded with the guild there was no way anyone had looked at his awakened crafting and enchanting and decided he'd be able to manage on his own.

Seeing it gave him the same gut instinct too, but the fact it happened to both himself and Sachel left him wanting answers.

"We will leave but first I want to figure out why they tried to split us. Go find your place and after I talk to the guy in charge here I'll come find you."

She looked uncertain but did as he'd asked, both her and Sonya heading off while he and Sachel stayed.

"Well, let's get to the bottom of this, shall we?"

He started pushing his way through the crowd, Sachel close behind him with the two only stopping when Ben heard something. A small voice calling a familiar nickname.

"Legs, is that you?"

In the hands of an exceptionally well-dressed man sat a ruby crab Ben knew all too well after spending perhaps the worst months of his life trapped with him, but despite the past experience a grin still formed on his face at the sight of Greed again after so long.