Chapter 114: Mistletoe (2/2)

”Great.” Si nodded. ”With this, we've finally had a runes master in the team. Everyone, you might not know this, but Arthur is a champion candidate in the Runes Apprentice's Cup. That's why,” Arthur could see greed in Si's eyes for a second. ”Don't hesitate to ask him for artificial artifacts, hehe.”

For a second, Arthur could see nothing but a bleak future of endless requests. However, he'd finally have a place to unleash his ability.

After everyone welcomed him, a meeting happened to discuss what they were to do regarding the current situation. In brief, the Ilios Empire was attacking the south-eastern border. As for the Iron Dome, now called Calamity Spider by the media, was making its way to their eastern border.

Arthur also got to know the name of the two new people. The masked person was Li and the tired-looking one was Zas. He didn't know how their personalities were or their abilities, as they jumped into the discussion right away.

As he listened to their discussion, Arthur realized that this wasn't a meeting about how to help the kingdom – an obvious thing that he had missed to consider – but to plan how to benefit from this calamity.

They were planning to rob the palace during the confusion. Arthur had to take double glances at everyone nodding at this suggestion and giving some plans and ideas on how it could be achieved.

”What do you think, Arthur?” Si turned to him when he saw that Arthur was quiet. Being stared at by everyone, anticipating their answer, Arthur didn't know how to react. After all, he never planned a robbery before.

However, he wasn't staggered by morals at this. He didn't think it was wrong, as he has already seen how extravagant the palace was. He also didn't like the king himself, who had labeled his father a thief and tried to read his mind by force.

”For personal reasons, I need to stop the Calamity Spiders.” He could sense some disappointment from the others, as they probably thought he was trying to act heroically. However, Arthur didn't know how to explain this. ”In return, I can create a network of eavesdropping artifacts inside the palace. I simply need to gain access to a warehouse of items that would be shipped to the palace.”

Everyone's eyes brightened when they heard this. After all, who could achieve such a feat? They could probably buy some of these in the black market, but how would they get them to the palace without being found them? If they were able to inscribe such runes on the palace's items themselves, it would be a perfect spying system.

”However, Si should already be able to do this.” Arthur hesitated as he looked at Sier, who had this ability already.

”No! It's perfect. This way we won't have to rely on Sier's ability.” Ivy shot up from her chair as she grabbed Arthur. It seems that as Si said, using his ability too much would result in losing himself.

”I can also create a communication channel this way. I just need several rings for each person… or an earring or something.”

Arthur continued and the crowd's zeal was apparent. Arthur didn't know if this was because it was useful, since he doubted that they didn't have an alternative, or if his ability opened new possibilities for them. After all, artifacts were not that common.

”Why do you want to stop the Calamity Spider, Arthur?” Si, the only person silent until now and composed, asked him suddenly.

Arthur stared back at him and he realized that Si was testing him. He wanted to see if Arthur was someone who would risk himself for others without receiving anything in return. He didn't know what sort of reaction would Si have if Arthur was such a person.

Thinking about it, Arthur was doing it for both reasons. He wanted to keep his legacy and stop the calamity spider from destroying the kingdom. After all, he was not a heartless person. However, he wouldn't do this if he didn't know he had a chance at it. That's why his legacy gave him this quest because he could finish it somehow.

”Well,” Arthur stared at Si. ”Wouldn't it be great if we controlled the Calamity Spider ourselves?” This was a notion he harbored ever since his ability proved to be useful in decoding the Iron Dome's defenses. If he could control the Iron Dome after decoding it all, wouldn't he be safe from the outside world?

”It would be the perfect fortress for Mistletoe.” Arthur grinned.