41 Black Widow Brotherhood Meeting (2)

--- Black Widow Graveyard ---

[Name - Helena Fireborn

Class - Level 7 Acolyte

HP - 30/30 | MP - 35 / 70

Attributes:

Strength – 2 | Agility – 1 | Vitality – 3 | Magic Power - 7

Status - Healthy

Skills - Magical Knowledge (38), Earth Elemental Knowledge (26), Basic Swordsmanship (10), Litteracy (15)...

Magical Artefact - Frozen Pendant [+30% Ice Damage]

Spell - Ice Spear (18), Ice Shield (15)]

'How interesting...A Fireborn possessing ice affinity. I want her magical artefact...', Arthur thought.

Killing her would not be easy, though. As for purchasing a magical artefact, it was much more difficult than finding the funds to purchase one. There was high demand for magical artefacts, yet little supply. As for high-grade magical artefacts, they were incredibly rare.

'It seems like the Fireborn Count invested quite a lot of money into her third daughter...', Arthur analysed.

"I have heard of your rise, Arthur", Helena said, "To be honest, when I saw you for the first time in Dorian's acquaintances, I pitied you. At the time, you were just a probationary acolyte doing administrative tasks, yet you were working very hard with little success magic-wise. I know what it is to lack talent. My father made me learn every heir of the Porfield Nobility. Others might not know this, but I know that you are not even sixteen. How did you manage to reach the elite beginner acolyte realm with your talent at such an early age?"

Arthur was an abnormal man. Others might not know this, but even Magus Family heirs would find it difficult to reach Arthur's level at his age, even if they possess a lot of resources at their disposal. If they knew that he was not just an elite beginner acolyte, but an intermediate rank acolyte, they would try everything to dissect him and find his secret.

Arthur had found the perfect excuse.

"I can tell you my secret, but I am afraid you won't be able to gain anything from it, besides quenching your curiosity. I won't give it to you for free either", Arthur spoke

Helena didn't expect Arthur to be so straightforward about it. However, she had failed to break through three times in a row already. She was resolute to find another method besides reactive elixirs.

"Tell me. You said you were doing research in your room, but if you don't have anything to show for it, it will make you suspicious. I know that you don't want to break that 'perfect hunting dog' image that you have been feeding Dorian until now. I will share with you all of my research in the past twelve years, my experiments, my failures, everything. But you have to tell me your secret and let me join your Law Enforcement Hunting Squad in exchange"

Arthur considered her for a while. She came from a noble family, she would provide high firepower and more importantly, she would reduce his suspiciousness in the eyes of other acolytes from the tower. There was nothing to lose, really.

"Fine. Can you see this Ice Stone?", Arthur said

[Ice Stone - Low-grade Magical Resource

A stone that has been corrupted with countless ice elemental particles and shadow elemental particles.

Effect upon consumption: +20 EXP, -1 HP]

Arthur concentrated and faked having his mind torn for a few minutes, before opening his eyes in front of the dumbfounded Helena: "One day, I found out that I had awakened a strange physique. I looked into it in the library, and found that it was the infamous [Ice Physique] that was possessed by Frozen Barbarians, a human race that had mutated to adapt to the [High North]. It allows me to consume ice-elemental magical resources, and increase my magic power"

Helena smiled: "This...It is indeed amazing...But even then, how much did you consume to grow this fast?"

Arthur laughed: "Mm, more than a thousand things like this one? Although it is not refined, it's not like I can absorb every ice elemental particles. Still, it has sped up my cultivation speed by several times. I will convince Dorian to put me in your command. Since you suggested it, I don't think you have anything against me becoming your leader, officially that is"

Helena nodded: "I have seen your sincerity, and your leadership has already been proven. I also lack combat experience. Although I am much better than Arcane Faction lazy bastards, I am nowhere near your level. How many acolytes did you kill? I possess a good intuition in things like that, and neither Billy nor Allan have killed as many as you"

Arthur frowned: 'What a terrifying sense...'

Helena smiled at Arthur's silence, it just confirmed her suspicions: "I will show you my research papers later on. When I proposed you to take a look into it, it wasn't out of charity. I am trying to create [Ice Monsters], but I have not yet suceeded. Since you have high mastery of ice magic according to the Old Witch, I suppose that we will both benefit from it. I have invested hundreds of magical crystals into it, so you are definitely not on the losing end"

It was only natural for acolytes to do things that benefitted them.

Arthur was convinced. Creating [Ice Monsters] and taking a look at Helena's experiments would greatly benefit him.