154 Cook (2/2)
”Of course. Don't you know that injuries that lock stats are the worst kind, directly behind those that kill you? Just look at yourself. Although you look fine, there have to be some hidden serious injuries, that stop you from using your power and increasing your power.”
”Yeah, I know it's bad. But it's not like I can't increase my power and in a year the lock will be lifted anyways.”
”If you are sure about it.”, Greg said, clearly not agreeing with him. ”So do we have to pause our training dungeon runs?”
”No, I don't think so. According to my character screen, I'm still level 200 so I should still be able to do well in the dungeon. And nightmare mode is available anyway since Irena has high stats, and as such a high level, as well.”, he reassured them.
”You are still level 200? How come?”, Greg asked surprised.
It wasn't Ivan but Irena that answered, ”Did you really think that the reason he was so strong was his stats?”, she asked and only got nods in reply.
”That's where you are wrong. If we only look at stats, then I do have higher stats than him. So it has to be something else. I'm not sure how it's named since each alliance has its own way to increase its member's stats, but he should have a skill that should do it, right?”
”Yes.”, Ivan confirmed, ”It's called 'Shadow stats' and it will provide an independent bonus, whenever a stat increases.”, he told them since there was no rule against it.
”So that's it. But wouldn't this skill make the owner much stronger than others?”
”Not really. Usually, the bonus for such skills would be small. There has to be some synergy effect with another skill, for it to have as much effect as in Ivan's case.”, Irena said.
Ivan was astonished that she was able to guess it so well. If not for his 'Reincarnation' skill having a synergy effect with 'Shadow Stats', it wouldn't be that effective. Only through resetting his stats with 'Reincarnation' could he really exploit 'Shadow Stats'.
”Then could we get a skill like this as well?”, Serge for the first time opened his mouth and asked.
”I don't think so. The known skills of this type have already been distributed amongst the strong organizations.”, the girl replied to his question.
”Then how come you know so much about it?”
”From my family library. It contains a list of the known skills of this type and who owns them.”
”This sucks. Having something like this would really help our future prospects.”
”I thought you didn't want to focus on fighting?”, Ivan asked surprised.
”So? Being stronger is always a good thing.”, Greg responded.
”True. But if there isn't an organization that is easy to enter then there is no way for all of us to get our hand on such a skill.”
”That's not quite correct.”, Irena threw in, surprising the others.
”Huh?”
”Yeah. And Ivan you are the one who can make it possible.”
”?”, nobody knew what she was playing at.
”You should either be a duke or you should get the title soon, right?”
”Yes, I should get it soon. How did you know?”
”First of all you are a family head and secondly you are married to a princess. So its only natural that you would get this title.
Anyway, the important point is that a noble of the rank of a duke has three slots every five years, to get a certain skill for a retainer.”
”So you mean if Serge, me and you become his retainers, then he can get us this skill, whichever it is?”, Greg asked eagerly.
”Yes for you and Serge. For me, that isn't necessary since I already have the permit to learn it at my eighteenth birthday.”
”But wouldn't that be too late? After all its still a bit until then?”
”No. The skill can only be used from the eighteenth birthday on anyway.”
”Really? How come?”
”Sorry, can't tell you.”