Chapter 19: Shocking Info

After thinking it for a few seconds; Venture decides to not work on his [Magical Manifestation] due to the chance of Cope discovering Venture possessing the abilities outside of what he has shown so far. But, Venture will search through all methods to cast [Spells]. Something that could be versatile and ready to be used early on without too much research since Venture won't have enough time for such thing with him doing another job with Gat after this one. Nor could he practice right now under Cope's eyes.

So, Venture heads to the fourth floor for a quick bite before heading back to his bedroom to take a nap. Seeing how it has been a while since he last ate and for the nap. Though, it's just an excuse for Venture to pass the time a bit before training with his guns and stealth.

-LIABG-

Another day, yet no news from the client nor did the next wave from the [Poison Fang Faction] has arrived.

On the bright side, Venture found a special [Spell] among the countless ones for Venture to use and shocked to find it's a basic level [Spell] too. Because in Venture's opinion, this [Spell] is broken beyond belief in many ways. But, on the other hand, Venture can say for sure why it's at the basic level due to the fact, that by itself. Well, it's more useless than the other basic level [Spells] Venture obtained from the [Magical Manifestation] and [Scholarly of Magical Formula].

As for how to cast this [Spell] is through the [Magical Formula: Thought Casting]. Just require the user to think about the effects, cost, and theoretically end result of what happens when casting said [Spell]. Of course, [Thought Casting] is among the most dangerous methods of using [Magic] due to the last step on casting [Spell] for many. Since if someone wrote down a [Spell] or explain it with false info of some main part of the [Spell] would lead to the users' death. Nonetheless, the [Spell] Venture has in mind is the complete version and nothing should be wrong with it as the [Title: Scholarly of Magical Formula] would have long detected the mistakes right away.

Venture had to tweak the [Spell] a bit, something impossible to do early on while studying [Magic], but [Scholarly of Magical Formula] allows Venture to do such a thing. Plus, if he didn't have that [Title]. Then, he can just use [Everything Is A Gamble] to make it possible. And Venture still can, but doing it manually himself, allowing Venture to make more changes to the [Spell] itself.

The [Spell] in question is called: [Mental Simulation Training]. A [Spell] that allows the user to picture themselves training in anything, using mental simulations/imagination, either by themselves, or against others they know well enough to picture in their minds. As a result, the users grow and develop through continued usage of [Mental Simulation Training Spell].

Of course, Venture can easily guess someone also has this [Spell] as a [Skill] out in the world or somewhere in the past/future.

Anyway, Venture modified the [Mental Simulation Training Spell] into something more on the line of those idle video game apps back on Earth. But, with only a single input, thought, to make this modified [Spell] work on its own until Venture's physical fatigue and mental fatigue hit the 70%. Also, to make it more possible, the modified [Spell] itself is linked with [Chance Accumulation] to make it work. Since the modified [Spell] instead of gaining just experience.

Venture will gain the ability to 'discover' new ways to work with what he assigned into this [Spell] to train in while imprinting the experience into Venture after the [Spell] end, which is the result of rising his physical fatigue and mental fatigue to allow the imprinting to work without any side-effects to happen. Therefore, Venture renames this [Spell] as [Idle Simulation Accumulation] since he won't even have to do anything at all nor have to concentrate the entire time while using this [Spell]. However, currently, it will only work with a single assigned subject to train with for the time being. This alone is plenty enough for Venture as this would help him train while not revealing anything to anyone, Cope, watching over him.

The only thing that's worth concerning is whenever Venture cast this [Spell]. Where he will briefly be unable to move due to the price of the [Unique Skill: Chance Accumulation] taking into effect. This is fine for Venture since he won't be using the [Spell] in combat or anything that requires his absolute conservation.

Overall, ever since Venture finished with the [Idle Simulation Accumulation Spell] this afternoon. His fighting abilities skyrocket in no time thanks to this [Spell] and only limit of causing his mental fatigue to go up very fast, where Venture is only able to use [Idle Simulation Accumulation] for only 10 minutes before having to wait for his physical fatigue and mental fatigue to go back to 0% before recasting the [Spell] to train without having to actually do it.

Of course, Venture could just gain another [Unique Skill] to reduce the rate of physical fatigue and mental fatigue going up. To extend the duration time he could use the [Spell]. But, he will do that in the future as he fine with what he has right now and the current rate of how long he could use the [Idle Simulation Accumulation Spell].

Venture estimate that he will reach the mastery in stealth to the point of going unnoticed by everyone in the [Dark Star Faction], but Cope, without having to use [Solitary of Silent] to boost his stealth. So for the time being, either tomorrow or in a week from now. Venture will continue to use [Idle Simulation Accumulation] consistently whenever he is free to cast the [Spell]. But, only if Venture is willing to stay in bed without doing anything else but cast this [Spell]. Then, it's a high chance of Venture reaching the level of stealth he desires, tomorrow at night time.

Though, Venture finds out that he can only currently cast only a single [Spell] at a time and so, Venture will require to use [Idle Simulation Accumulation Spell] to be able to do multiple [Spell Casting]. But, that's for the future as his present fighting style requires more focus than anything else for the time being.

"Hey, Venture!" Gat called for Venture's attention, where he just finished eating his meal for lunch.

Venture look up, to see Gat heading to over his table and decide to wait for Gat to come over before speaking. "Do you need something from me, leader?"

"Not really, just came here to get something to eat before I head off to training." Gat noticed the empty dirty plastic box. "And I see you've finished eating already. Mind staying behind to have a quick chat with me before leaving?" Gat decide to get to know Venture a bit more. As every time she speaks with Venture, Gat finds herself interested in all the responses she gets from him whenever she questions him about common things that many would know and even about combat-related topics as well. Those are one of the best conversations she likes to have with Venture.

"Sure." Venture didn't really have much to do other than recast his [Idle Simulation Accumulation Spell] after resting for a bit.

"Great, I'll be right back." Gat quickly head into the kitchen to grab one of the many plastic boxes in the freezer with multiple different types of food in them to be reheated in the microwave before heading back out to sit at the same table as Venture. "So, want to resume our previous topic from before? I'm still curious about how you're able to hide your guns and among many other things on your person without any signs of it showing." Gat is still baffled on how in the world Venture manages to hide away so many weapons on him, that he literally a walking armory in many people's eyes.

"What was the topic again?" Venture didn't comment on Gat's words towards his [Hidden Arsenal]. Something that is very handy and with it being merged into the [Unique Skill: Solitary of Silent] had made Venture change his methods on how to use the [Hidden Arsenal]. As of now, Venture created a pocket dimension to store his stuff. Pretty much an inventory in those video games. Out of all the things Venture worked on the most when he only had the knowledge and instinct of a master assassin. It's the [Hidden Arsenal] he worked on the most and the experience of working on it has transferred over to the [Solitary of Silent].

So, if anyone strip Venture of his clothes. They won't find anything, but Venture can just bring out a gun by bringing his hand behind his back to access the [Hidden Arsneal] and deal with the people once their guards are down. Though, Venture really hopes there won't be a time where he is captured and be stripped of all his clothes. The thought alone would cause Venture to have some nightmare later.

"The last topic we were talking about is the job, remember?" Gat rolls her eyes, as she realizes that she won't get much out of Venture towards his method of storing his gears on his person. Making her once again, wonder what is Venture's [Title]. Though, she isn't going out of her way to find out it as her main priority unless she wants to have the same treatment in return. So, Gat will drop this idea for the time being.

"Oh!" Venture remembers now. "Sure, we can talk about that to pass the time." Venture didn't see anything wrong about using the next job as a topic for the conversation.

-LIABG-

So for the entire meal; well, while Gat is eating her meal. Both Venture and Gat came into a conclusion. That Gat will get the [Modifier: Inhaling of Life] while Venture gets the [Modifier: Forced Body-Refining].

However, secretly, Venture would rather just use [Everything Is A Gamble] to get a better version of [Forced Body-Refining] or even grabbing the [Unique Skill: Defying The Heaven], but really, Venture didn't want to go on that path. Since Venture knows that with the [Everything Is A Gamble]. The whole thing about getting resources to increase one's fighting power in the shortest time wasn't something Venture would do. After all, the [Everything Is A Gamble] can do the same thing and gaining instant results without any side-effects from doing so. Not to mention, Venture won't even need the resources to help him out other than finding something to be used as the medium to pay for the price to use the [Unique Skill].

Afterward, Gat said her farewell and left, while Venture decides to stay and relax on the fourth floor. Of course, he kept casting the [Idle Simulation Accumulation] as Venture knows that stealth is the main key to his survival. Also, something he would need at the time to escape the area as well. This is pretty much what Venture going to do most of the time for the day until he heads to bed when it's night time.

-LIABG-

It has been exactly 2 weeks now, with just a week left before the client arrives. However, that didn't make this good news for Venture and the others. In fact, this is pretty much as bad news. since Gat got a call from Note just last night, that the [Poison Fang Faction] is planning to launch an attack soon. Furthermore, Note informed Gat that she has no idea how many [Unique Skill] holders will join in this attack this time. But, the [Gu Master] will surely be in the attack. Note made sure to check if this info is real or fake, and Note got back it is 100% real before reporting.

So, not only everyone will have to face the [Gu Master], but maybe another [Unique Skill] holder, but no one has any idea of how many they will have to fight with.

"This is pretty big." Bout frown, for this, is one of those times, where everyone's life is put on the line. Furthermore, this time, it's a [Faction War] with the [Dark Star Faction]'s main base being the battlefield. "Hey, leader. I got a question that has been on my mind lately for the past few weeks now."

"Go ahead." Gat wave her left hand, that she gave Bout permission to ask his question.

"Who is the client anyway? I mean, the [Poison Fang Faction] is known for killing others and whatnot. But, even they wouldn't go out of their own ways to attack a startup faction like ours." Bout looks at everyone before looking at the child, who he has been guarding for 3 weeks now. Yet, the child barely talks to him other than the time he needs to go to the bathroom, eating, and sleeping. Most of the time, the child would be quiet throughout the day, even when Bout has tried his best to get the child to open to him.

Gat hearing this, look at the ceiling, debating to reveal who the child's parents or not, then decide her faction needed to know. Not that they won't find out sooner or later, after this job is finished.

Venture noticed how Gat seems to not want to talk about the client, causing him to be curious about why.

Edify didn't say anything, but she can say that whoever this child's parent is. It must be big to make the [Poison Fang Faction] taking lots of effort into killing just a single child.

Bout waits for his leader to speak, because this curiosity has been getting to him for a while now. Not to mention, he barely got to do anything while everyone, excluding Edify, has been fighting to stop the enemy from reaching the child.

"The client is Havoc, the [Touch of Devastation]." Gat decides to reveal who the client is. And she wasn't disappointed by the look on Bout's face. Though, she would be surprised if Edify and Venture knew who Havoc is.

"The [Touch of Devastation]?! As in the holder of the [Unique Skill: Avatar of Chaos]?! The headmaster of the Elite Academy in the government area?! The one that many feared and also hate due to his past deed, with his infamous one being able to kill a squad of [Unique Skill] holders just because he didn't like someone's face in that group?!" Bout begins to pale in terror, to think that the child he protecting is the very same person that many people fear. Furthermore, the very same person that made countless enemies as well. "No wonder the [Poison Fang Faction] is out to kill this child! The [Touch of Devastation] had recently killed one of their important main core members while they're visiting in this very city!"

"I feel like this job is completely out of our league." Venture said to Edify in his casual tone, with the [Title: The Cunning One] in active mode. Since Venture rather not starts panicking right away. He will do that later when things are safe and also being alone too.

"I'm sure... we'll be fine." Edify tries to cheer Venture up, but even she is starting to have doubts if all of them will survive the last week before this Havoc person arrives.

"Good thing, I cover the apartment in traps." Venture rethinking if he placed enough trap instead of too many already. Since with Cope's permission last week. Venture managed to cover 90% of the apartment with traps. All controls over the traps are handed over to Cope, of course.

"Oh yeah, I actually forgot about that." Gat look at Venture with an awkward smile. "I think I'll speak with Cope later about this." Gat cough in her right hand. "Anyway, we will have a hard time during the last week. Because now we might not have any time to rest. So, Edify, I'm giving you permission to give everyone the [Booster Fatigue Shot]."

"[Booster Fatigue Shot]?" Venture asks with curiosity in his voice. Then, a sudden idea of what the [Booster Fatigue Shot] is and what it does pop into his head, thanks to [The Cunning One] providing Venture a rough answer to his question before anyone could answer.

"The [Booster Fatigue Shot] is something I made in my free time whenever I'm not treating anyone. Just a single shot would make the person's physical fatigue and mental fatigue stay 0% for a certain amount of times. I made different versions over the years, with the latest one I have made this year is making the duration last near an entire week. I haven't fully finished testing how long the shot really lasts. But, this one is the best out of the rest, with the finished version of the previous latest one, where it will last 3 days." Edify pulls out a vial from the left side of her lab coat. Inside the vial containing a red liquid, almost the same shade of red as the human blood.

"And what're the side-effects of taking this [Booster Fatigue Shot]?" Venture wasn't too far from guessing right. Where he thought the [Booster Fatigue Shot] would just increase the cap percentage or lowering the rate of the percentage rising.

"No side-effects other than the ingredients to make these [Booster Fatigue Shot] are uncommon. So, I can only make a few of the most of the time. Also, it requires a long time to make a single vial too. Almost 6 hours really." Edify explained as she pulls out a small box, that contains her syringes. "Going by price for the ingredients alone. It would cost me 4 gold coins for a single vial. Of course, it's 4 gold coins for the ones I have right now."

"So expensive?!" Venture made a mistake of switching [The Cunning One] back to passive mode after thinking he really didn't need it active at the time. Nope, it looks like he should have kept it active for a bit longer.

"That's right." Gat nods her head, delighted to see the shocked look on Venture's face. Something she eager to see what other reaction Venture will make when he learns about the other stuffs the people in the [Dark Star Faction] made over the years. "Now, it's time for everyone to get their shot and I'll escort you to Cope later Edify, to give Cope her own shot as well."

"Got it." Edify raises a syringe, that seems to shine for a brief moment the moment Venture glance at it, causing him to shiver a bit.