Chapter 20: Skill Thief 2

Arthur's Assistant

February 18, 2011

Banco De Reservas

Capital, Eternity

Arthur and I came up with a quick plan to lure the criminal. The plan was to go to the bank, show a great need for money to each suspicious customer service clerk, and wait for a result during the criminal's hours of activity. I would be the bait as my face was little known, and being the bearer of great magical skills and talent, I could be considered great prey. To be more effective, we generated false debts on my credit history using the support of several financial institutions.

I was at the door of the bank. Arthur provided support from the station using a telepathic channel established with my [Group Chat] ability. Being a carrier, when I am on a telepathic channel I can have the functions of a host, without displacing it. In simple terms, I can establish a two-way channel between me and a person.

{It's time to start. Remember to do it as we planned} Arthur said through the telepathic channel.

According to our research, each customer service person handles a specific problem. The 25 year old handled requests for financial products; the 40 year old handled product complaints; and the 60 year old cancelled services that the user no longer needed.

Arthur and I created a script for each situation, raising the issue of debt.

Upon entering the bank, I took a turn and immediately went to customer service. The idea was to apply for a loan in the first instance. I sat in booth 1 and a young man with black hair and brown eyes attended to me.

-Greetings. What brings you today," said the young man as he demanded my license.

-I am here to ask for a loan of 8 gold coins. I have to pay some debts that are frustrating me.

-Allow me a few seconds while I validate your information," said the young man as he checked his computer.

Five minutes passed, and while the information was being validated, he practiced the situation to change stations.

-Sorry for the wait. We can't give you the loaner," said the young man as he handed me my license back.

{Speak out loud while pretending to be indignant} Said Arthur.

-For claims, go to booth 5- Said that young man with a smile.

Reluctantly, I walked to booth 5. There, a 40-year-old lady with blonde hair and red eyes was waiting for me.

-What can I do for you," said the woman.

-YOUR DAMN WORKER REFUSED ME THE DAMN LOAN I NEEDED!

-Miss, please use a more respectful vocabulary!

-8 DAMN GOLD COINS! I'M GOING TO CANCEL MY ACCOUNT AT THIS BANK!

-If those are your wishes, go to booth 7," said the lady, showing discomfort on her face.

{Now comes the final part. Cry as soon as you get to booth 7}

I walked to booth 7, and a white-haired, blue-eyed, round-bodied man attended to me.

-What is the product you wish to cancel?

-My savings account. I have had it since 2008," I said as I pretended to feel sad.

I cried a lot as soon as I finished speaking.

-I'm sorry. It's just that I have a lot of debts. I need money anyhow- I said while wiping my tears.

-I understand. I think I have a way to help you," said the man as he wrote down something on a piece of paper.

It was certainly suspicious, so I concentrated mana in my eyes to check for fructuations in the air or in my senses. When the older man finished writing, he handed me the paper.

-You can go to this address and you will get what you want," said the man smiling.

-THANK YOU VERY MUCH," I exclaimed as I showed happiness on my face.

When I finished, I decided to go to the bathroom to check the content of the paper because it could be an important clue. I locked myself in a cubicle, and opened the paper. It had an address and a drawing of a strange dog. I gave the address to my boss to check in the database.

{That's the address of a hotel called Cupid in the vicinity of the bank} Arthur said.

{The criminal would not invite me to his house. According to reports, the victims were visited at his home}

{Yes. That symbol on the paper is a fox and well.... It's used by a gigolo to hire prostitutes. You've just unwittingly uncovered a prostitution ring}

That means there's one of the cashiers ruled out, though I'll be sure to arrest him after I'm done with this case.

{Go home. Our deputies should already be in hiding waiting}

I left the bank, and started walking. Halfway there, I started to feel numb. I tried to stand up, but fell to the ground. At that instant, I remembered making a mistake. I didn't check if there was any trace of a spell on my license when it was passed to me.

I pulled the license out with what little strength I had, and used mana on my eyes, to notice that there were several magic seals printed on the back.

Moments later, the 25-year-old appeared in front of me and helped me up. The numb feeling turned into a feeling of submission. I walked against my will holding hands with the boy. I wanted to scream but my voice wouldn't come out. I couldn't even send a telepathic message to Arthur.

-Now let's go to your house to talk business," said the boy while smiling devilishly.

This guy was more dangerous than we thought. I'll pray Regulux and Steel maiden can take him on.

Lactura Noir

February 18, 2011

Arthur's Assistant House

Capital, Eternity

In front of us stood Arthur's assistant and a stranger, presumably the criminal. Arthur's assistant was pacing back and forth, looking for a robot-like object. Asher and I were waiting for the right moment to execute our attack, when a telepathic message from Arthur came through.

{My assistant is not responding to my telepathic messages. I fear for his safety}

-To the attack," I whispered to Asher.

Quickly Asher attacked the suspect by propelling himself at high speed with his wings but his strike was stopped in mid-air. A barrier had been activated around the subject.

-Oh, we have company. I'll have some fun," said the man as he pointed his index finger at Asher.

From his fingers, a laser beam was born and hit Asher's costume, sending him flying. Without giving him a chance to breathe, I created a bunch of knives using titanium fragments. I threw them while aiming at the guy's legs and face, but again the shield protected his face.

I chanted a spell as Asher lunged again to strike harder. This time, the criminal dodged Asher's blow and threw it at me. Asher used his wings to brake in midair.

xxxxx Lightning God's Invitation xxxxx

I summoned a huge white bolt of lightning from the sky, which fell at high speed on the thief, causing a lot of smoke to be created.

When the smoke dispersed, we noticed that the criminal's body had turned to rubber, causing the lightning not to affect him in any way.

Our worst fear had been realized, the criminal was able to use all of his stolen talents and magical abilities.

-You guys are amazing. How I wish I had your talents and magical abilities but it looks like I will have to kill you," said the criminal as he smiled.

I could tell two things about his talent of stealing skills. The first is that he needed "permission" from the bearer to steal, which is why he hypnotized Arthur's assistant. The second is that the bearer of the talent must be alive to steal, which makes me assume that he also needs to be alive to use the stolen talents.

The problem is that such a powerful ability had to have a limitation, otherwise it would be against the balance. I tried to think quickly of a limitation but the criminal's assorted attacks wouldn't stop. Worst of all, I didn't need to chant a spell or say the name of the talent to use each ability.

The criminal grabbed one of the many necklaces around his neck, and from his hands a huge fireball was born and headed towards me. Asher jumped in front of the ball, and activating his shield, managed to absorb some of the damage but was thrown back by the impact, destroying several walls.

I concentrated a large part of my remaining mana in my eyes, and focused my attention on the jewelry present on the guy. He had 20 rings, two on each finger; 5 necklaces around his neck; and several accessories in his hair. Each object radiated a unique mana. At that instant, I discovered the secret of the thief's ability.

In order to use the stolen magical talents and skills, one must insert an amount of mana greater than the mana that radiated from the item. Basically it was like having a bunch of permanent magic artifacts. If such items could be shared, it would be a disaster.

Now that I knew the criminal's secret, I decided the best option was to evade his attacks until he used up all his mana. Asher returned from the rubble, and I told him the plan, so he proceeded to create a powerful shield around us using all his strength, to withstand the thief's attacks.

-You are a skilled mage. I'm sure you discovered the secret of my ability. I guess you think it will be over when my mana is gone, and you are right, but there is a problem," said the criminal while smiling.

My body trembled when I realized the reality as I looked at the criminal's body using mana in my eyes. I could see a huge and violent ocean. I had known that feeling long ago at home. I was facing a person with an aptitude for violet mana....