"That didn't take too long, did it?", I said, calling out to Laura and Klaus.
They had shifted their position from the gate to the middle of the small plaza that had the statues of the Eisenritter nearby. Beyond that to the left were the docks, allowing Legram's people to spread out on fishing boats onto Ebel Lake. To the opposite of that stood the Inn, a Septian Church, and an Orbal Workshop. Before coming here, we did get the Enigma II squared away. I doubt I will fine-tune it until I learn more of the Second Genesis, and determine why my Quartz Slots become locked again. I doubt I will visit this Orbal Workshop.
If there was one thing to talk about the Enigma II, it was the fact that it has access to what are called Master Arts. Master Arts deploy a field-wide effect that lasts for certain durations until one takes enough actions before it dissipates. It doesn't have a restriction per battle either. Once it's deployed, it remains deployed. You can turn it on and off at will. Quite broken, if I do say so myself. Unfortunately, my Enigma II is locked, and I do not know if the Second Genesis will receive one of these Master Arts.
But if it does, it will likely provide me with "Rune of Benevolence.", which restores everyone's health by a certain amount, and halves all damage received. I could stack that with my current -50% Final DMG Reduction, and truly become a tank. This Master Art belongs to the Water element. The Second Genesis, to my knowledge, developed all healing Arts we know today. So it will either provide me with said Master Art, or "Rune of Tempests", which is the Wind Master Art. We'll see. Healing Arts uses both Water and Wind elements.
I still saw a total of nine slots, with the Second Genesis occupying the centermost one. I wonder how these will get unlocked now. But I can only theorize for now until it happens. To say the least, it was very easy to build your Party in the Trails games to do whatever you want to do. I did not want to rely too much on the Enigma II considering it is an external source of power, so that is why I have set off on this new venture of mine. To further strengthen my foundations.
Coming to Legram here, there was one highly-capable person who was within reach.
Laura's Father, the acting head of one of strongest schools of swordsmanship within all of Erebonia. The Arseid Style. At the same time, he is also the Lord of Legram. Viscount Victor Arseid. That also means Laura is a noble! Many people forget that Laura comes from such a background. She doesn't behave like one during her stay at Class VII. Amongst the strongest people in Erebonia, Lord Victor is one of the strongest. Only a couple people can outmatch him. The Thunder God, Matteus Vander.
The first stop was to visit Legram. In particular, the Arseid Dojo.
From there, I would seek out Heimdallr. Not Vaflame Palace where Princess Alfin resided. No, I was planning to visit the Vander School. Back inside that car ride a long time ago, Matteus Vander was also present. He, too, sent me an invitation.
Unlike certain eastern stories, you could actually study and learn from multiple styles. In fact, many people suggested training in such a way. I plan to mold the teachings of the Sword Fox, the Hundred-Form Military Combat, the Arseid Style, and the Vander Style into a set of techniques I hope to eventually call my own. That's still a long ways away, I'm just starting to tread that path.
Right now, Laura hasn't a clue that she was about to get a fellow disciple of the Arseid Style, haha! No doubt is she currently learning that style of swordsmanship. It was clear as day after observing her fighting earlier in the day.
With that in mind, I saw Klaus nod his head back at me with a smile on his face. His eyes also saw the silvery-white fox still being held in my arms, as well as Toval who was beside me.
"That is right, Your Excellency. You did not spend long inside the Bracer Guild. I took this time to send a message to Master.", Klaus explained. "Though I did not expect that you would bring along a new guest. It is good to see you, Mr. Randonneur."
"Haha. I didn't expect this would happen either. Can't explain too much, but I'm now doin' an escort for the time being. I do apologize for interrupting your time.", Toval responded, only to come to a realization. "And now that I think about it, what's this 'Your Excellency' business about?"
"Don't sweat the small details.", I replied, shrugging the comment off. I do go by multiple Titles now. Wherever I go, I decide what to use.
"Yeah! Can we go already? I'm starving. I could go for some Rainbow Trout!", Tamamo complained. The moment a cute voice spoke out of the fox's mouth, Laura paused.
"Did...this fox just talk?", Laura uttered, feeling shocked.
"Perhaps we now have two new guests, not just one.", Klaus mused, also becoming surprised to see Tamamo speak. She disregarded the two, and just took in the sights around her.
"Haha. Tama's a curious one. Could you set aside some fish later?", I asked.
"Very well. I shall add some dishes to the menu being served tonight. Considering your new escort, you are welcome to join us for the evening, Mr. Randonneur.", Klaus responded, looking toward Toval. "Shall we be off? Master is expecting you, Your Excellency."
"A free meal at the Viscount's place? Ain't no way I'm turnin' that down.", Toval said, and smiled.
"Lead the way.", I said.
"Yay!", Tamamo happily chirped. All of a sudden, she jumped out of my arms, and began to sprint up the steep hills. Before she vanished from sight, I made a decision.
"KeA, make sure Tama doesn't wander too far off on her own. This isn't home.", I uttered.
"Okay, Master.", AI KeA said, and suddenly materialized before us.
"The hell?", Toval cursed, seeing a holographic green-haired girl now before us. She didn't wait for us to react before she sped off after Tamamo.
"That was the little fairy from earlier...", Laura uttered. "What exactly is she? Not a monster from the looks of it."
"KeA isn't. But she is still considered a newborn. I'm having her absorb all the data she can get her hands on while I'm out exploring like this.", I explained.
"Absorbing all the data around us? You mean that thing ain't human?", Toval asked, becoming surprised.
The concept of artificial intelligence is still unknown to most people. Let alone having a fully-developed Holo Core like KeA, even the concept of the Orbal Network is still in its development phase. People need to get used to the internet first before they can even start grasping the concept of AI. That is, unless you're working at the top-of-the-line workshops like the Epstein Foundation. I'm sure they've theorized the concept already. They just like the means to make it a reality right now. It really made me wonder who it was who tampered with the Enigma II. Was it someone who tampered with time? Who knows. I don't even know why they gave it to me either. I guess time will tell, no pun intended? Haha!
Still, to keep the explanation as simple as it can be, I answered Toval.
"Just think of KeA like a really, really fancy calculator. Have you been to Zeiss in Liberl before? It's just like the Capel unit installed there. KeA transmitting data is as easy as breathing air for her.", I explained.
"That sounds like it's way above my pay grade. I'm not a tech wiz. Sure, I transported some back in the day, but I was never on the receiving end. Didn't really care much about its contents. All I was in it for was the Mira. At the very least, this...KeA, was it? I don't think they're a threat.", Toval responded.
"I get the same impression. That little fairy is most curious.", Laura said, also nodding her head. "And that leaves you with us. Are you some noble who Father knows, or something?"
As Laura asked, we followed AI KeA and Tamamo, climbing up the large hill that made Legram into what it is now. The fog earlier in the day had dissipated greatly, allowing us a good view at Lohengrin Castle. It was much more visible now compared to what I saw prior to heading into the Bracer Guild.
While we walked, my eyes remained on Laura.
"What can I say? I am quite high up on the ladder, as far as positioning goes. Even higher than Lord Arseid.", I said, doing a gesture of my finger while we walked.
"Really? But you seem around my age though...", Laura responded, becoming surprised again. "And you seem much more used to being a noble than I am. It's hard enough as it is at the Dojo when others view me."
"It's something that you will just have to get used to, I'm afraid. At one point or another, all of us debut in high society. It's only a matter of when.", I said, and shrugged my shoulders.
"High society eh? All those frilly dresses and stuck-up jackasses who don't know what to do with their money. Count me out. I'd stay as far away from those places as possible. And now that we're on that topic...Shouldn't you know, like not be here in Erebonia at all? Don't you have proper channels to go though?", Toval asked.
"Like I said, don't sweat the small details.", I said, shrugging Toval's comment off. After that, I stopped walking for a moment. We were about halfway up the hillside town. House Arseid was coming into view. I then looked directly at Toval, causing him to come to a halt too. "If danger really were to befall me, my safety is guaranteed. I appreciate the Bracer Guild escorting me, but there are some things you just don't know, Toval. For example..."
Wooosh!
That's right. I decided to turn on my Vermillion Eyes once again. The last time I had used them was during the Emergency Quest.
A bunch of information suddenly appeared within my mind before being converted into a minimap of Legram. I didn't use it during the week of grinding. I wanted to let that all be natural. Thanks to that, I'm Level 85 now. Once I opened my eyes again, its colden color soon welcomed a vermillion hue.
Since I was looking directly at Toval, he felt the brunt of the pressure. I now saw a tag above his head too.
[Toval Randonneur - Level 100.]
Affiliation: Bracer Guild
Title: Zero Artisan
Affinity: Wind
Favorability: (Locked)
Feeling a creeping sensation, Toval felt his blood run cold. It was as if his entire being was being scrutinized. His gaze turned serious.
"The hell is up with your eyes...?", Toval uttered.
I didn't immediately answer him. Instead, I turned my head outward, and overlooked our group. Within Legram's minimap, I saw several green dots lurking in the shadows. My hidden allies that never make an appearance unless ordered to. Courtesy of Father. They didn't even show up during the Emergency Quest raid. I had no need for them.
"You all can come out now. There's no use in hiding."
"Eh?", Toval replied, raising his eyes. Wooosh! Wooosh! Wooosh!
All around us from the shadows, figures moved in blurs. It took no time at all before our group of four were surrounded by people dressed in black suits and shades.
"You really can see us, Your Excellency. His Excellency's warning wasn't empty words after all.", One of the secret service men said. Even Laura remained shocked at such a sudden arrival of these guys. Seeing them act promptly, it earned a smile from me. I then looked back at Toval.
"See? These guys go wherever I go. Simple as that.", I explained.
"I couldn't even sense them before they surrounded us...", Laura uttered, feeling amazed. As for Toval, his eyes turned serious.
"Just who in Aidios's name are you, boy?", Toval asked. "Wasn't that the secret service the Imperial Family deploys?"
"Hahaha!", I laughed. "You sure know your stuff, Toval. But why have me explain it when Lord Arseid can in my stead? He is expecting us. We shouldn't be late now."
"Well put, Your Excellency. We are almost there. It shouldn't be long now.", Klaus said, keeping a smile on his face.
Such a sudden arrival of the secret service guys didn't seem to bother Klaus one bit. As for Laura, on the other hand, she still had surprise in her eyes. While we approached House Arseid, Laura just watched onward. While that happened, I turned off Vermillion Eyes, it was just for a quick demonstration that my present safety is secured. I do still appreciate Toval escorting me. I can't exactly rely on them, you know?
"It would seem I still have much to learn...", Laura uttered to herself while taking a glance at me. Just like that, we made our way up the rest of the large hill. A large mansion soon came into view.
House Arseid.
At the same time, I saw an unexpected Gamer Notification pop in, one that I haven't seen in a while.
[Ding! Laura's interest in Gamer Naoto has reached its peak. She is curious as to what identity you possess, and wants to figure it out.]
[Ding! Laura's Favorability has been unlocked.]
[Ding: Current Favorability: 0%.]
Music to my ears~