Chapter 170 – The sisters gambled?

Noticing the webbed design, he knew it was an intermediate rune. It consisted of many smaller runes. Complex-ruins could have many triggers, and he did not want them to activate its other function. Therefore, Aile immediately knocked the younger sister out and placed a needle similar to Two's technique on the older sister. This would prevent her from talking or any other thing that could trigger the ruin accidentally.

The needle prevented her from talking or moving. Aile studied at the rune and its design and noticed that a fire user placed it as it required fire to function. Aile was not sure of all its capabilities. But from his basic understanding of runes, he concluded it was a sort of sealing rune with some other functions embedded in it. It probably had a trigger, which prevented them from telling him directly. So Aile thought of how to counteract it. As a person who had mastery of the beginner level of runes, Aile could get rid of it. It would be easy, creating an imbalance will make it crumble.

However, Aile decided against removing them completely.

The first reason being that if it gets destroyed, whoever placed it would be notified. It would mean that next time, a more elaborate plan would be put into motion.

The second reason was that the runes could be used to learn about intermediate runes. Aile has been looking everywhere on knowledge of how to link many runes together. So far, he has only managed to connect two runes very crudely so that they could work together at the same time. Finally, Aile had an example of a complex rune in front of him. So why should he destroy it? However, he had to find out who did this and for what purpose and he would need the rune to not function temporarily to find that out. Doing this was simple.

The basis of runes is that it needs a form of energy to function. This one requires fire energy to function, so if the source of fire energy is blocked, it will not operate. It would not dissipate or crumble immediately.

If the source of energy is restored quickly after, the rune will maintain its function. The creator will not know that it was compromised. Therefore once the runes run out of fuel to operate. Aile will have some time to talk with her without its interference. He could investigate and try to find who placed it and what happened to them.

To prevent this rune from operating, Aile needed to place runes around it, sucking the fire energy it required. Aile drew 10 fire converting rune around the intermediate rune absorbing the fire energy from the surrounding, preventing it from finding fuel. After 30 seconds, it got dim and no longer functioned. Aile removed the needle from her back and said, "You can speak freely for a little time, tell me what happened quickly."

She looked at the new runes around the previous one and understood, and said, "The bandit leader was notified of the vice leader's betrayal, he came here to check on Aurelius. But was somehow aware of you and got interested. Since we are close to you, he gave us a mission, it is for both me and sister to use our energy in a certain way allowing the rune to transfer to you..." Ehem, "He promised to heal Aurelius so that we can remain safe and he promised to not hurt you. He wanted to extend his friendship to you."

Aile was surprised, she was serious when she said that he just wanted to extend his friendship and she believed him. Noticing his gaze, she said, "He has never broken a promise before as he has a reputation to keep." Aile knew that a bandit leader that kept his word all the time was only found in fairy tales. This could only mean that he never got caught going against his promise. Aile realized that perhaps he was targeted and the ruins were a test to probe his strength. If they succeed and runes damage him, then they have nothing to worry about, and if he fails, the blame will fall onto the sisters as they cannot defend themselves.

"So why did you not take his deal..."

She blushed and said, "We want to earn your trust... and we do not want to let your efforts into helping us go to waste... We are not convinced of such underhanded means either." It was clear that this was only part of the reason, and she was concealing something. But knowing that they meant him no harm was enough for Aile.

"And do you think this is enough to earn my trust? Plus did the both of you not spread a rumour that you are my concubine to save yourselves once. Haven't you already made your intentions clear that you would not mind using me to get to your goals?"

"Sorry..." She looked down and said, "Maybe... with... this... I can earn your trust... I know your name is Aile, and we have not told anyone about it. Perhaps these two things will earn us a portion of your trust?"

Aile gaze turned sharp and was wondering where or when he made a mistake. She came closer and lifted his mask and observed his face. At the same time seeing his attractive face made her more self-aware, and she used her hands to cover and hide her body.

While she was somewhat impressed that he was not ogling her. She got those lecherous eyes when people look at her with clothes and seeing his calm gaze impressed her a little in the current circumstance.

Aile was keeping his eyes on her and using the light energy to prevent making the dark side of his soul from intensifying his emotions. Therefore, he kept his eyes on her face to prevent himself from losing his poise and enhancing his desire. She got a somewhat better expression of him. But she was well aware that he was always surrounded by women, so she did not buy this side of him immediately.

She said with a red face, "Do not worry, you did not make a mistake. Due to a circumstance, we observed Aile on the side and noticed that every time shadow appeared in the town, so did Aile. Similarly, they disappeared at the same time. Then we confirmed our find not long ago. We have not told anyone, and I am sure you have a way to check that, please go right ahead, I wish to establish trust between us." He indeed could use a fate seal to ensure that she was telling the truth.

Aile was caught off guard and did not know how to respond, so he changed the topic. "Don't you want revenge? What about Aurelius?"

"The bandits should already be dead with the leader here, as they broke the rules. Aurelius will not be healed with his current state, The bandit leader will not use a heavenly pill that can fully restore him. If he heals without power... He will be subjected to a cruel fate. Plus just the minor healing you can do for him too with your merchant union.

We rather owe you than him, as for going against the royals that is impossible for us now. Not to mention the bandit leader cannot touch them either with his influence, and I recommend you to not do something major to them either. Even the bandit leader is scared of them for some reason." Aile got another piece of information from her. She did not seem to care about Aurelius.

As she was not concerned about him at all. But the fact that her eyes were puffy from crying was clear. Aile wondered if it was for Beshoy, but he also knew that she hates him very much. There was a piece of the puzzle that he was missing, and he knew that she would not tell him. If she wanted to, she would have done that by now to earn his trust quicker.

"Tell me about the Rune Seal?"

"All I know is that we cannot talk about it if it is active, or it will explode... Otherwise, it is not lethal, that is all I know. Also, once it transfers or gets destroyed, the bandit leader will know. That is all I know and what he told us. What else do you want to know?"

"Tell me why you chose to gamble your futures with me, rather than following the bandit leader, the force you are a part of?"

"As if we wanted to be bandits...Humph... We have seen both sides of you, and we rather be in your debt. You have been nice to us and treated us well, that is good enough for us. We feel safer here."

Aile gave her a neutral nod and thought, 'Have I really been good enough to them? Is the distant treatment enough to make them trust me with their lives?'

He wanted to know why they sided with him and questioned her, "What do you want? I am sure that there will be some request for telling me all this and since you gambled everything on me, it means you think I have a better chance of fulfilling it. Now tell me, what do you want to do and what do you want from me?"