BXBX NOVEL Chapter 136 A Quest For A Herb And Alchemist Lugan
With the Veil of Thousand Skins deactivated, Arthur felt his perspective change again.
\'Hmm… not that hard getting used to it.\' Arthur though.
His height had redyed, thus his line of sight was lowered, but it wasn\'t as uncomfortable as he thought. He also adapted to it quickly.
"Time to head back." Arthur went to the Town Gate showed his ID and passed through.
The first thing he did was to head to the office of the Guard Captain. After all he needed to not only submit the bounty, but also report some information to the captain.
\'At least they don\'t stop me every time.\' Arthur was pleased that the guards standing outside the office were used to him now.
He went to the appropriate section to submit the bounty, where the staff was still hard at work.
\'They look to be a bit better than before. Guess they got some rest.\' Arthur observed.
"You\'re back with a bounty?" The staff member noticed him quickly too.
"You\'re correct." Arthur nodded his head.
He went up to the counter and placed down the hooves of the Rock Stomping Wild Stallion.
"That was fast." The staff member couldn\'t help but be impressed. "Let me finalize this for you." He said before taking out the binder full of bounties and stamping the appropriate one.
>Player Arzhur has completed the bounty \'Rock Stomping Wild Stallion\'<
>Player Arzhur has obtained 70 Silver coins as the reward<
>Player Arzhur\'s reputation has risen<
"Here you go," the staff member counted the coins and gave them to Arthur.
"Thank you," Arthur replied before he heard another staff member talk.
"Ah before you go, we have something to tell you." The staff member sitting at the next desk spoke.
"What is it?" Arthur asked feeling curious.
"This was supposed to go to the guild tomorrow, but since you\'re here we may as well offer it to you first." The staff said before taking out a job sheet.
Arthur took a look and saw that it was a job sheet that one would normally find in the adventurer\'s guild.
"If you feel like it, you can take this right away." The staff said.
"Huh? What\'s the job about?" Arthur questioned.
"It\'s job to look for a specific herb." The staff said before pointing to the picture on the sheet. "We\'re looking for Black Root Hemlock."
"Black Root Hemlock?!" Arthur raised his brows in surprise. "That\'s a potent toxic herb." He recognized.
"Yes, the guard captain has asked for it to be acquired." The staff said.
"Shouldn\'t the town have some?" Arthur asked in confusion.
"There was just a little that has already been used up. And the guard captain does not want to wait till the merchants come to sell more of it. Thus he decided to set a job for it." The staff explained.
"I see…" Arthur replied but had several other thoughts about it. \'The Black Root Hemlock is used in poisons for the most part, but there are some uses for it in alchemy too… are they perhaps… I should confirm with the captain.\'
"So will you take it?" The staff asked. "As far as we know, the Black Root Hemlock grows in Trunel Forest as well. You will just have to go deeper perhaps." He informed.
"Sure. I may as well take it." Arthur replied, as the quest would be finished along with other bounties. \'I know exactly where to find it anyways.\'
>Quest has been issued<
——
Quest: Obtain Black Root Hemlock.
Info: Search and obtain the Black Root Hemlock that grows in the Trunel Woods. Bring at least a single root of it.
Reward: 10 silver coins per root, Reputation.
——
\'They\'re offering higher than the market price at least.\' Arthur was pleased by it as he knew he could obtain quite a lot of Black Root Hemlock. \'I\'ll be able to get at least a gold coin or more from this.\' He thought.
Done with this, Arthur left the room and went to the office of the captain. Though, upon entering, Arthur was surprised.
The man wasn\'t alone there today. An old man was also sitting there talking to the captain.
~Step~
Arthur\'s footsteps were heard by the captain and he looked towards the doorway.
"Arzhur," The Guard Captain spoke.
"Should I come later?" Arthur asked, just in case the man was busy.
"No, it\'s fine. Come in." Fredric said. "Come, let me introduce you to our town alchemist." He gestured to the old man.
"Oh?" Arthur immediately used Dragon\'s insight.
>Dragon\'s Insight has been successfully activated<
——
Target: Alchemist Lugan
Race: Human (NPC)
Class: Alchemist
Level: 55
***
HP: 100%
MP: 100%
Stamina: 100%
***
(more information is available to expand)
——
The old man was something Arthur had heard about, but never actually seen. He wasn\'t really talked about much in his past life and only offered a couple of normal quests.
Thus, there wasn\'t much interest in him.
"Oh? So you\'re the new adventurer." Lugan also seemed to recognize Arthur. "I am Lugan."
The old man spoke in a slightly grating voice as if he had been smoking for years. But then again looking at the pipe hanging on his waist, it was probably true.
"Greetings, Alchemist Lugan." Arthur replied while shaking the old man\'s hand.
"Come sit," captain Fredric said.
Arthur took a seat and the captain spoke again.
"I reckon you have something to speak to me about?" he asked.
"Yes… a couple of things, actually." Arthur replied while taking a look at the alchemist, who was listening with an eager ear.
"You should explain to Alchemist Lugan too. He\'s a crucial part of our plan." Captain Fredric stated. "He\'s been trying to figure out a new method to interrogate the infiltrators we arrested."
"Oh? Is that what the Black Root Hemlock is for?" Arthur realized that his guess might be spot on.
"Hoho! The young adventurer is rather bright." Alchemist Lugan showed an interesting expression. "Do you have an interest in alchemy, young man?" he asked.
"A little. Being an adventurer, one needs to know a little about everything if they wish to survive after all." Arthur answered the old man.
"Good, good." The old man nodded his head. "I wish others have the same mindset as you."
"Did you take the job?" Captain Fredric questioned.
"Yes, I was informed of it just now when I went to submit a bounty." Arthur answered.
"I see… guess it does save us time." Fredric said with a hint of relief. "Let me tell you more, then. Alchemist Lugan has been trying to utilize the Black Root Hemlock to synthesize a drug that might be able to make the suspects speak the truth." He explained.
"Mmm, it is a difficult thing. But I\'m getting close to the right ratio. Too much and it\'ll kill them, not enough and it just might trigger the curse." Lugan said, while stroking his beard. "I used up all the stock of Black Root Hemlock in the town already and we need more now."
"I\'ll get it, don\'t worry," Arthur assured. "As for the bandits… I have more information, Captain." He revealed.
"Oh? Please speak freely." The Captain was certainly eager.
Arthur then narrated his experience of meeting the exiled bandits, as well as the bandit captain that was searching for them on the way back. Of course, Arthur omitted the parts which were sensitive, but just the parts he told the captain were enough to make him agitated.
"So that\'s about it. I think the Cultists are possibly using the weaker bandits for something too." Arthur stated his hypothesis.
"Hmm… It wouldn\'t be unusual. From the curse we saw, it is clear that the cultists are targeting in a specific way." Alchemist Lugan replied. "The curse even reacts to several kinds of potions and elixirs. This is why I need to make a new one."
"If it really is like what you said, it means there is some distrust among the bandits... Conflict even." Captain Fredric spoke.
"Indeed. That, coupled with the letter I gave you earlier, I think the bandit Chief Dozla might be using the bandits under him sacrifices or experimental subjects." Arthur gave him his best guess.
"That is probably correct. It would fit Dozla\'s personality. He\'s done things worse than that anyways. Giving into some cultists is expected." Fredric said with a frown.
"We cannot let that happen for long though. Even if it is just some bandits, them getting sacrificed for the use of evil cultists is a matter of great concern." Alchemist Lugan replied.
"I understand. Which is why I already have a plan for us." Arthur said with a smile. "I just might be able to draw out the Bandit chief for you to kill, captain."
"Are you sure?" Frederic asked in doubt.
"Of course. Let me explain to you…" Arthur then narrated the plan that he had developed.
While he would still need to level up a bit more for the plan, it was now a lot more manageable due to the Veil of Thousand Skins he had obtained.