Chapter 13: High-grade Meditation Technique
Chapter 13 - High-grade Meditation Technique
Following Dorian's return to the tower, everyone could feel that a war was incoming. After all, the acolytes could no longer candidate for missions, and the price of consumables was rising by the day. Hemostasis potions, explosive stones, high-quality armours, enchanted weapons...The Ivory Tower Market floor was overflowing with scared acolytes seeking for ways to survive the incoming ordeals.
Of course, the first thing Arthur did upon returning was giving the huge piece of information he had come accross to the Black Widow Brotherhood, proving his loyalty to its members. Only then did the Old Witch gave him the name of the 7 members belonging to the organization (counting him). It was quite a surprise to see so many members since it was said to have been thoroughly annihilated. Still, out of the seven members, three were still in an injured state, which explained why they did not show up for the rite of initiation.
Actually, if you counted the maiden ghost Ariana Blackhope, there were 8 members in total in the Black Widow Brotherhood. It was almost half the numbers of the second best faction in the tower, the Crimson Snake Clan, not to mention that it possessed an incomplete high-grade meditation technique.
Arthur was breathing and out with satisfaction. Two weeks passed already since they had returned, and surprisingly, he had made a lot of progress.
[You have successfully completed two cycles of the [Black Widow Meditation Technique - High Grade]. You have received 10 EXP]
The difference between and intermediate and high-grade meditation techniques was like heaven and Earth.
'No wonder that most intermediate-rank acolytes come from the Arcane Order. If an incomplete meditation technique is roughly five times more efficient than the one handed by the academy, then a complete one would grant as much as 20 EXP a day for a grade 2 talent, not to mention a grade 3 talent!'
In just two weeks, Arthur had earned 140 EXP from meditation alone. It was only a matter of time before he would reach level 6.
Opening his door, Arthur found that there were four acolytes waiting for him to come out.
"Arthur Landragon...Is that you?", a teenager with glasses asked.
[Thomas Jones - Level 2 Acolyte]
Most likely, Thomas was an acolyte who had escaped the status of a probabotary acolyte a few months ago. With little talent, no spell, and little strength, Thomas was bound to die in the incoming war with orcs. He could not even escape the Ivory Tower, as Dorian Sylvester had made sure to conscript every single acolyte in the tower. Mandatory missions were already issued based on the acolytes' levels. Most missions consisted in patrols.
Thomas knew that they would most likely die if they did not find a way to increase their odds of survival. His companions who also happened to be level 2 or 3 knew it too.
"I heard you were selling...pieces of information"
Arthur nodded.
The name of Arthur Landragon had spread among beginner acolytes. Most acolytes saw the current situation as the eve of doomsday. Arthur, however, saw it as an opportunity to strike it rich. Few acolytes were able to monopolise patrolling missions as much as Arthur did. It required a clear friendship with Dorian Sylvester, which very few managed to obtain.
For two years, Arthur patrolled alongside William. The sheer amount of notes and reports he made far exceeded that of the average acolyte, even if you included old acolytes who had been living in here for decades. After all, once you gained a footing in the tower, it was pretty common to find a safe routine and stick to it. As for William, he always trusted Arthur with reports, since he basically dismissed it as wasting time.
Only now did he realize that Arthur had been incredibly ingenuous by writing all these reports and urging him to go in previously unexplored areas in the past two years.
"What are you looking for?", Arthur asked with a piercing gaze. Clearly showing his superior spirit and strength, the four acolytes gulped with mixed feelings of admiration and fear. Rumours about Arthur joining the Law Enforcement faction as a high-ranking member had already spread throughout the tower.
Thomas, who seemed to have been forced to be the spokesperson of the group, muttered in hesitation: "I want...I want to know more about the blue forest in the west. Our group was assigned a patrolling mission in there"
Arthur nodded, picked up a notebook on his desk, and went to the 158th page.
"Let's see...You were lucky to come speak to me before going in this damned place. The first thing you need to look out for is actually the vegetation. One small cut can make you intoxicated, nauseous or even dillusional. Then, you have groups of demonic boars. In order to deal with them, you can either..."
And so, Arthur spoke for roughly forty minutes, offering practical advice to this group.
The group of four were very happy about their decision, but their goodwill soon turned into anger when Arthur spoke: "It will cost you two magic crystals"
The group froze upon hearing about it: "two magic crystals? This...The mission only offers three magic crystals! How are we supposed to survive if you take all of our earnings?"
Arthur smiled: "Don't you value your life? I think that half a magic crystal for each one of your heads is actually pretty cheap. But perhaps you don't value your lives as much. Anyway, that is my price"
Thomas nodded. He did not even bother hiding the hatred he held towards Arthur: "You seniors...Just because you are older, you think we will agree to everything, don't you?"
Arthur grinned punched the poor teenager in the belly. It was ruthless considering Arthur's standards of strength.
[You have dealt 7 points of damage]
[You have hit a vital spot [Liver]. Pain ailment inflicted]
"How old are you? Because I am only fourteen", Arthur spoke with confidence, "I was lucky to become a proper acolyte at the age of 11. I can only thank my talent for this. I risked my life on a daily basis to get ahold of these pieces of information. I spent countless gold coins and magic crystals on antidotes, weapons and gears to prepare myself every time I explored a new area. The map I sell you, the pieces of information I give you...I did not earn them freely. It cost me blood, sweat and time. Actually, I might even consider increasing the price for you ungrateful bastards"
Strength always was the most effective tool of persuasion.
A girl who had been still until now dropped on her knees and started begging.
Arthur did not speak, and only stared at them with the same gaze he had when he killed Darius Bone. It was the gaze of a man who had killed, rather than frightened teenagers about to confront danger for the first time of their lives.
[Killing Intent Skill created...]
[Killing Intent Skill activated...]
[Fear ailment activated]
After a few minutes, the group gave in, and Arthur received his two magic crystals. Smiling, Arthur put them on his table. Just as he was about to close the door, Dorian appeared. Most likely, he had used a light-based skill to conceal his presence.
"It seems like your business is going well...However, I have a mission for you. Feel free to decline it if you feel it is too difficult"
Arthur smiled. Until now, Dorian had been kind enough not to give him any mission, since he knew about his business. However, two weeks passed and clients were becoming fewer and fewer.
Still, his wealth now amounted to 32 magic crystals, an amount he would not have dreamed of before.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone