A Hidden Inheritance <Current Latest>

After the two introduced themselves, Alicia continued the conversation.

"Well, Shui, since you managed to enter this establishment, you must be well-versed in an auxiliary art. Would it happen to be forging?"

"?! Actually I took the puzzle for arrays."

Shui wasn't sure if she was just lucky when she guessed he was well-versed in forging, but it would be easy to find out which test he took, so he stuck to the truth.

"I see. May I ask what's the highest tier array you can construct?"

As her eyes only showed pure intentions, Shui wasn't sure how to answer. Based on his self-evaluation, he would be classified as a tier 4 array grandmaster, but he didn't know what kind of reaction that would cause. And it would be especially annoying if she asked for proof, so he answered vaguely.

"Actually, I haven't been certified, so I'm not sure."

"Aw, I guess it can't be helped then," said Alicia with a sigh.

Shui thought he had successfully avoided her question, but then he noticed Alicia's expression suddenly brighten.

"Oh, I know! Why don't you come to my room and set up your best array? You can tell me if you need any supplementary materials."

Shui was shocked that the suggestion came to her mind, and even more shocked that she actually said it. He tried to dissuade her, but she seemed set on the idea.

"Um, I don't think it would be good for me to go to your room."

"Then, should I go to yours?"

As Alicia cocked her head in a playful manner, Shui was left speechless while Alia snickered.

[Kukuku, looks like you caught a determined one.]

[It's not like I came here to fish.]

[You could have fooled me. Ah, what a lustful partner I have.]

[Oh, shut up.]

"You see, I'm actually really busy, so I don't have the time to set up an array right now. Maybe another time."

Shui tried to walk off without waiting for her to follow up, but her response grabbed his attention. 

"Is that so? Well, I suppose you would be worried about the female friend you arrived with."

"...Why do you think I'm worried?"

"That's simple. Who wouldn't be worried when their friend's life is in danger?"

"How do you...?"

"Who knows? Perhaps we can have a discussion once you're not as busy."

This time, Alicia walked away and Shui didn't have the words to keep her in place.

[Looks like you've lost this time, boy.]

"I guess so."

Shui doubted that Alicia could have gathered much information during the brief period since their first meeting, but she obviously knew something. Shui had originally planned on looking at his room, but he changed his mind and left the inn to meet with his information source instead. He hadn't known that he would need information about Emily, but he had contacted this source at a previous city and they agreed to meet at an antique store. The store was marked on a simple map of the city, so Shui didn't have an issue figuring out where to go. He considered taking a tram, but he didn't want to end up too distracted to realize that he was at his stop like when he was with Emily and Adrian.

By using the roofs of buildings as platforms, Shui could quickly travel through the city. This behaviour was discouraged, but Shui was so fast that no one was able to see him. Once he reached the antique store, Shui approached one of the appraisers. 

"I'd like to have a book appraised. It's a family heirloom from the Palace."

"...And what's the name of your family?"

"Arnon."

"Follow me."

The appraiser then brought Shui behind the storefront and into a room where a middle-aged man in a dull golden robe stood waiting. After the appraiser left, the middle-aged man sincerely greeted Shui with a bow.

"Sir Protector, I'm overjoyed to see that you're doing well. I serve as the manager of this branch of the Artisan Palace."

Vaguely, Shui recalled that this was one of the men present when he defeated Darino and the Darino Gang was reborn into Artisan Palace, but he didn't know his name.

"Yes, you as well. I know I originally asked for an update on what's happening in the Five Cities region, but there's a matter I need you to give higher priority. There's a girl named Emily of the Valet family who's the apprentice of Nikolai Nien of the Staile clan. Find out everything that's happened to her and her master since they left the Five Cities region."

"Very well, we will work on it immediately. If it's Nikolai Nien, then we should already have some information on him, given that he was on Alterna Array Master Minor Ranking. Please relax while I retrieve it."

"Thank you."

"This is only my duty."

After the man left, Shui took a seat and started eating one of the fruits gathered in a basket on the table in front of him. All the fruits prepared held enough nature energy to be used as cultivation resources by an ordinary Soul Realm cultivator, so while they wouldn't be able to improve Shui's cultivation, he appreciated the gift.

'Now that I think about it, I have done little for the Palace since becoming its 'Protector'. It's a good thing that they don't need my help, but even I'll start feeling uncomfortable getting help from them without doing anything in return. Once everything is settled, maybe I should pay Rufus a visit.'

"This isn't half bad."

Before he noticed she had left his pocket, Alia returned to his shoulder with a half-eaten fruit in front of her. 

"I don't really mind if you get seen here, but I thought spirits didn't need to eat."

"We don't, but that doesn't mean we can't. You fleshy beings always look so happy when eating, so naturally we grew curious and wanted to try it for ourselves. Unfortunately, we can only taste things with a significant amount of foundational energy in them. The energy in these is weak, but I can still taste the sweetness. Food tastes better with more energy though, so make sure to buy something like that later."

"If I have the chance, I guess."

Treasures that could satisfy Alia's tongue would likely benefit him as well, so Shui didn't mind getting them if he had the chance. Shortly after, the Paraj branch manager returned with three jade slips, but he didn't notice Alia as she made herself invisible to him. One of the jade slips contained a recent summary regarding Nikolai's status, and another detailed the current situation in the Five Cities region, but Shui didn't know what to expect from the last.

"What's recorded in this one?"

"Just think of it as a local anecdote."

It was hardly an answer, but he wouldn't suffer a loss either way, so Shui accepted it. After the branch manager told him that he could return the next day for more details regarding his request, Shui thanked him and then left. Once he returned to the storefront, Shui intended to exit the building, but a conversation happening between a customer and an appraiser attracted him.

"I'm telling you, this is an ancient inheritance. There's no way it's worth so little."

"I can tell that it has an ancient origin, but age alone does not indicate value."

When Shui turned towards the two, he didn't recognize either of them, but he could tell that the customer's appearance was fake. This reminded him of a recent encounter he had in a mining town, so he approached the pair and got a look at the item at the source of this dispute. It was a torn piece of a faded yellow map. 

[I thought you were just chasing skirts again, but this thing might be useful.]

Checking the map with spiritual sense wouldn't provide much information, but that was only if you weren't able to detect the signs of a concealment array. This wasn't to say the appraiser was bad at his job, but without having a great understanding of the art of arrays or the perception of a Master, it would be nearly impossible to see through the camouflage.