Chapter 26: The Discovery

After yesterday of helping Firm out. Venture begins doing some research into the rules of this world or at least in City N after realizing that the dangers of being attacked by unknown people are still a thing and might be even be something Venture will have to deal with. Since if there such loophole for others to use after the [Faction War]. Then, there might be more loopholes for others to exploit like how the [Poison Fang Faction] did yesterday with Firm. And he wasn't even part of the protection job, but it seems the [Poison Fang Faction] didn't care if Firm was part of it or not. Since he is part of the [Dark Star Faction], making him a target as well.

Nonetheless, Venture learns many things from this. For one thing, there is actually a loophole like Firm said about how many factions are able to use a third party to deal with each other after a [Faction War]. This just made Venture a little depressed because such a loophole would cause unwanted problems. Then again, seeing how this city is still standing. Venture can't do much about it.

So a couple of major rules Venture wished he knew early on, but just glad he knows them now instead of later when it's used against him. Venture just know those evil lawyers are a thing in this world, even as a [Skill]. Won't be surprised if there is such a thing. But, Venture will do his best not to get on a lawyer's bad side if he can help it.

Among the rules he discovered is that anyone could join a faction, but will not be counted on how they quit the faction. For example, Gat is willing to just calmly ask others to leave the [Dark Star Faction] without anything in return. However, for others, it could be nasty, where there are a few cases of people becoming literally a slave to the faction for a long time the moment they quit the faction. It doesn't matter what reason why they quit. That faction can turn any of its members into a slave when they quit the faction.

Venture did a bit more research on this rule and luckily, there is a loophole for this rule. For one thing, the keyword: Quit is what Venture noticed the most when checking the rule. It's always pointed to that word. Therefore, Venture did some researches on his theory, where the faction can force the member to leave the faction instead of making the member quit the faction. And Venture found some proven cases, where these former members won't end up like slaves or required to pay some kind of fee from using the benefits from being in that faction.

Either way, these rules are only from City N. There no info on rules on other cities. Something Venture finds a little concerning. Because if there are some stupid, cruel rules in other cities like anyone could own a person upon defeating them in battle. Luckily, such a rule wasn't part of the rules in City N. Yet, a little disturbing if there a global-scale rule instead of just rules for certain cities only. Nonetheless, finding out about these rules for City N made Venture understand, that he very lucky he wasn't kidnap to be forcibly become a slave to being killed at worst.

Since there is another nasty rule, where anyone from the government area can kill those in the public area within reasons, as in, patrol guards have permission to kill anyone that causes a major disturbance to the public, excluding the event of a [Faction War] in a certain area. While those not part of the government area could fight back, but that just leads to harsher punishment aka aiming victim's loved ones.

Cruel. Yes. Effective? Pretty much, even if it's cruel. Nevertheless, this is to prevent many from trying to overthrow the government and breaking the many rules in the City N.

Luckily, for Venture, he doesn't have any loved ones. Nor would he throw his life away for the people of the [Dark Star Faction]. After all, they are considered still as strangers in Venture's eyes. Since it has only been over a month since he joined the faction, let alone form a strong bond like in those stories back on Earth, where the main characters always challenge the enemy for the safety of their trusted friends when they are in danger.

This might be cruel for Venture, but honestly, even the best of friends could stab each other back in the name of many things, with the main ones due to greed. Therefore, Venture will always make sure to never let his guard down towards the [Dark Star Faction]. After all, he is someone not part of this world.

So for the rest of the day. Venture did deep research into the rules of the City N before resuming in researching on other subjects.

-LIABG-

"Hey, Venture." Firm greets Venture as he sat down in the opposite seat from Venture's while placing down his own meal to eat.

Currently, both Venture and Firm are on the fourth floor eating their lunch.

"Hey, Firm." Venture greets back. "You need something from me?" Venture asks before continuing to eat his meal. While using the physical fatigue to covert to [Energy Unit], then recast [Idle Simulation Accumulation Spell] thrice, with one working on the [Serene Assassination Style], the second being the [Flowing with Time Spell], and the third is to mix the two without any problems to occur when using them together.

Afterward, Venture cast his newest [Spell: Ally or Foe?] he gained last night and didn't think it was a thing, but he found it, and it's extremely useful for Venture.

[Ally or Foe?] is a [Spell] that shows if the target used on is an ally or a foe towards the user aka Venture by lighting up blue or red, with blue is a sign of being an ally and red for a foe. Of course, if it's neither, then the target will just light up as gray. Not to mention, only the user of this [Spell] could see the light, making it more useful as it won't let the target know when someone used this [Spell] on them.

So the moment Firm light up in gray light, causing Venture to secretly sigh of relief, that Firm wasn't a foe. Because it would make things hard for Venture to stay in the [Dark Star Faction]; furthermore, Venture will have to be always cautious whenever Firm is present too. Also, the fact that Firm has the [Skill: Resistance Control] made it worth concerning too, but thankfully, [The Cunning One] helps Venture out by not showing any signs of being nervous or anything negative towards Firm. Even when not in active mode. It's still powerful even in passive mode.

Though, this just means that Venture would unlikely place his life in Firm's hands, nor would he allow Firm to stay behind him without his guard up. After all, gray light is just on the borderline between ally and foe. 50-50, with Firm either helping me out or stabbing me in the back when the situation calls for it.

Therefore, Venture will be planning to use this [Spell] on everyone else in this faction, because he rather not end up waking up in the middle of the night briefly before dying by someone from the faction for some unknown reasons or just outright abduct Venture to be sold off for slavery. Since slavery is a thing in this world.

"Nothing much, other than just wanted to say hey." Firm smile without any hint of hostile other than it being cheerful. "By the way, thanks for saving my butt back with those thugs." Firm took a bite of his food.

"No problem." Venture replied back, continue to eat his meal while debating on modifying the [Ally or Foe? Spell]. Even though it's a [Spell] good as it already is and doesn't really need changing, but Venture got a few ideas to make it better.

"Not much of a talker today, are you?" Firm asks in a joking manner.

"Just a little tired from training." Venture replied casually, while trying to think about if he should look for any other [Spells] to protect himself, mostly if he alone and have no help whatsoever. Also, planning to check if there any [Cooking Spells] due to the fact, that Venture has no idea how to cook whatsoever. Including surviving in the wildness after realizing how much he became dependent on the [Dark Star Faction] for their shelter and food.

Overall, Venture has now started planning in case of him being forced to leave City N and enter the outside world. Depending on how many foes than allies, he will come across during his time here. Furthermore, Venture knows he won't have the power of friendship, which he could technically get but rather not go into that bullshit path, and will at some point in the future get betrayed one way or another. Paranoia is a good thing to have in this world.

"Ah, I can understand that." Firm nods his head upon hearing why Venture so quiet today compared to the other days. "So, if you don't mind me asking, but why are you training so hard? Are you planning to become a [Defier]?" Firm can understand as someone who needs to improve themselves when having a [Normal Skill] instead of those that are lucky enough to gain a [Unique Skill], so for everyone that is a holder of the [Normal Skill] is aiming to train to reach the realm of standing or surpass those of possessing the [Unique Skill] by becoming a [Defier].

"That and I wanted to continue to improve my methods of using my [Skill] and [Title]." Venture said half-truthfully due to him still haven't figure out all the possible usage with the [Unique Skill: Everything Is A Gamble] and barely scratching the surface, with that [Unique Skill] let alone the other ones.

"You're still haven't found all you need to know about your [Skill] and [Title] yet?" Firm asks in disbelief, because if he recalls correctly, then Venture is one of those people who did everything they could to find the very limits and advantages their [Skill] and [Title] could do, but it looks like Venture hasn't even finish discovering everything.

"Not even close." Venture replied truthfully before starting to lie his butt off afterwards. "In fact, with my [Skill: Assassinate Rate] giving me a better chance of killing the target. I still haven't figure out the rate of success nor did I find out what happens when I learn everything about the target. Would I be able to instantly kill the target? Who knows. That's just one of the many things I still have to figure out." Venture wonder if there is someone with this [Skill]. Because if so, then they will potentially become dangerous the longer they prepare things.

"Hm. I can see that's something hard to test out." Firm folds his arms and leans back in his chair, nodding his head. "It's pretty much impossible to learn everything about the target. This includes the target themselves too, since they won't pay attention to other things that are not worth their attention, making it more difficult to learn everything about the target. I can see why you haven't finished learning all you could with your [Skill]." Firm continues to nods his head, but secretly, he wonders what is Venture's [Title]. Something he needs to find out for Gat to know.

"Yup. Which is why I need to keep on training. So, later, Firm. Nice talking to you." Venture gave his farewell to Firm as he gets up from his seat, then to throw his trash away before leaving the fourth floor and heading to the fifth floor to train physically since people would start asking questions why he hasn't used the training area for a while now when it's there for free to use for all members of the [Dark Star Faction].

"Alright, see ya later, Venture." Firm said to his fellow comrade with a wave, then go back to his meal while planning a way to get at least the name of Venture's [Title] later on.

-LIABG-

Venture sighed in relief, to find no one using the fourth floor at the moment. Since there is a chance of someone wanting to have Venture train with them. Something Venture doesn't want for the time being and would even make up a bad excuse if that someone was Cope. Venture would rather have anyone else than her as his sparring partner.

Now, to test out how well his shooting is now that his body gains the experience and instinct of using the [Serene Assassination Style] thanks to [Idle Simulation Accumulation Spell].

So entering the [Battle Arena Augmented Reality] and with the help of his phone, to customize the place into a shooting range practice room. Afterward, Venture pulls out a single handgun first to test his accuracy first before going into dual-wielding two handguns.

Upon finishing the setting for the practice round. Venture put his phone away after he hit the start button on the screen, where it counts down from 3 to 0, beginning at the moment it hit 0 for the targets to appear.

The first shot went and follow by 6 more, emptying the handgun within a second. And Venture can say, that compared to before he faced Note and now. Venture can say, that he should be able to at least injure Note without any problem within 7 shots. Seeing how he has taken down all 7 shooting dummies to the head easily. Something Venture knew for sure he wouldn't be able to do a month ago.

Ironically enough, Venture got the feeling he could still do the same just that his body still needs some time to adjust aka practice to merge with the master assassin's experience and instinct.

Pulling out his phone, to restart the practice round, but doubling the number of targets as Venture pulls out a second handgun to use after reloading the first one.

The moment the targets appear, Venture already has his right handgun pointed and fired while having his left handgun pointed in a different direction, where another target appears.

Once again, within a second. All 14 targets are shot down. Making Venture almost scratch the side of his head if he didn't remember he is currently holding a gun.

"Huh..." Venture watches the target dummies disappear before his eyes, not that it matters to him right now. Since at the moment, Venture is thinking that maybe he was underestimating himself this entire time and thought it was because he was lucky with those thugs from before thanks to having to practice the [Serene Assassination Style]. Nonetheless, this is fine for Venture as this meant, that the [Idle Simulation Accumulation Spell] is doing a great job, including the factor of using [Energy Unit] to bring the best result of the [Spell].

Putting away the two handguns, Venture brings out his phone to turn the [Battle Arena Augmented Reality] as he did what he needed. The rest, he could test out in life-combat, hopefully not too soon, and head off back to the basement since Venture got a few things to do he been putting off some time now.

-LIABG-

Upon coming back to his bedroom; Venture took out his katana, two handguns, shotgun he has stolen from the [Poison Fang Faction] during the protection job/[Faction War]. Along with the dozens of throwing knives as well. All placed on his desk that came in with the bedroom along with the bed as well.

Right now, Venture is planning to do lots of changes to his katana and the rest of his weapons. Now, that he has the means of obtaining powerful weapons to protect himself compared to his first few days in this world. Ironically enough, Venture wouldn't have dared think about getting weapons, let alone use them to kill other living beings. But, Venture knew that it either adapt to this world or end up being taken advantage of before being killed off later on.

Pulling the katana out of its sheath, then place both in the middle of the desk. Venture switch his [Titles: The Cunning One & Scholarly of Magical Formula] to active mode. Since he will need them for this or risk destroying his katana, which Venture rather not happen.

So, the first thing is that Venture is going to use the [Magical Formula: Imprinting Casting]. A [Magical Formula] that allows Venture to imprint [Spells] into an object in mind and give the said object the same effects of the [Spells]. For example: Imprinting the [Spell: Fireball] onto a wooden staff would make it so, that if the wooden staff is thrown would turn into a fireball. But, this would in the result of the wooden staff being burned away. This made it into a one-time used item. However, this is just one of the usage of [Impriting Casting] as there are some [Spells] that support this [Magical Formula] to make it so the medium won't become a one-time used item.

"Emergency! Emergency! Emergency! The natural disaster: Burning Life is about to appear! All residents of City N, please enter the shelters! The arrival of Burning Life is 10 minutes!"

Venture covers his ears with his hand at the sudden loud announcement. This is repeated thrice before it became silent again.

Using [Thought Casting] to use the [Spell: Flash of Deep Healing], where a flash of green light cover Venture's body and Venture's ears no longer ringing, nor does his head hurt anymore. This [Healing Spell] is pretty much flashy, but at the same time something very helpful due to how effective the healing is. Since it can even regrowth back or reattach limbs in a matter of seconds.

"Fuck, that hurt." Venture is glad he picked out the [Flash of Deep Healing] this morning before doing any research on the rules of the City N. However, that wasn't important to Venture right now.

Quickly, Venture took out his phone to check what this Burning Life is.