We Hunt Monsters 2, page 10
“It’s in my mouth. I can taste it!”
The hatch clanged shut with an echoing boom, the light winking out entirely as it did. Keith continued to descend the ladder while Bob complained about the horrible smell. In the monkey’s defense, it did smell horrible, but that wasn’t going to stop him.
They finally reached the bottom, Keith dropping into calf-deep sewage with an echoing splash and looking from side to side. It wasn’t nearly as dark as he’d thought it would be down here. Small pinpricks of light filtered down from the street above, and while it wasn’t much, in the complete absence of light, it was the equivalent of someone handing him a flashlight.
“Which way do we go?” Bob whispered.
“You’re the guide,” Keith said. “Pull up the map.”
“Oh, yeah,” Bob said, sounding a bit embarrassed. “Go right.”
Keith’s splashing steps echoed down the tunnel, and he winced at the volume. If anyone at all was listening, they would be discovered.
“Go left,” Bob said when they reached a junction. After another few minutes of hiking through waste, he said, “I think this will be opening up to a main area soon.”
What Bob said proved to be true, the tunnel beginning to brighten further until they exited into a large underground space where nearly a dozen tunnels connected. Keith had expected to see many things down here, water, human waste, and rats being foremost among them.
The very last thing he expected to see was a house. In the center of the runoff, where a big lake of nastiness collected, was a stone island. A pair of walkways led from two of the tunnels, connecting to it and giving access to whomever it was that lived down there.
“Please tell me you’re not going to jump,” Bob said as Keith eyed the distance to the water below.
“Hold your breath,” Keith said, then leaped out over the edge.
“No!” Bob screamed. “I don’t wanna-!”
They hit the water, and the monkey’s protests cut off. Keith kept his lips sealed tight, despite the pain of his ribs flaring. His feet hit the disgustingly soft ground below before he pushed up with all his strength, bursting to the surface.
He didn’t want to know how badly he smelled right now and was thankful that he couldn’t see himself. Bob started spluttering, but Keith clamped a hand over the monkey’s mouth, signaling for him to remain silent.
If someone were inside, they weren’t likely to have heard him jump over the constant splashing. Voices, however, were a completely different story though. Those would stand out like a sore thumb.
Keith quickly swam over to the edge of the island, having to bite back yet another grunt of pain as his ribs protested. If he did any more strenuous activity, he was liable to injure himself further. All he could do now was really hope that Chuck would help him when he showed up on his doorstep, covered in sewage and smelling like he’d bathed in skunk musk.
Moving in a crouch, Keith moved swiftly up to the side of the small house, feeling for any chinks or cracks where he might be able to peer in. Unfortunately, whoever had built this place had done a good job, and he couldn’t find so much as a single seam.
He’d gotten a view of the house from above, so he knew the roof would be no good either. However, there were two doors, meaning that he might be able to open one. The problem was that a closed door likely dampened sound, meaning that the moment he opened it, it would alert anyone inside.
Still, Keith knew there had to be a way. If there was a house down here, then whoever the owner was, they clearly were up to no good, and seeing as he had a golden opportunity, he wasn’t about to waste it.
“What are you doing?” Bob hissed as Keith pressed a hand up against one of the doors, testing to see how strong it was.
It was solid but not so strong that a good blow wouldn’t break it. If the door was broken, the owner would ignore any noise from the outside. The question was how he could do it without arousing suspicion.
The answer came to him in the form of a rock that came sailing down from one of the tunnels and splashed into the water. Keith still hesitated, not sure if this was a common occurrence, but after a couple of minutes, another one came sailing over the edge of a different tunnel.
Now that he had his answer, Keith waited, his eyes flicking between tunnels to see where the next rock might fall. Bob leaped off his shoulder as Keith dove back into the water, swimming for the spot he’d seen the rock land. It only took a few seconds of searching before he emerged with the fist-sized stone and made his way back to the island.
He took a minute to wipe himself down, once more ignoring the filth clinging to him. He then took a few extra seconds to examine both walkways, seeing which was used more. It would be the one the owner was likely to use, and in case they weren’t home, he’d like a solid barrier between the two of them. A second or two would make a big difference, especially if he had to run.
After making his way around the small island and discovering that one was used far more than the other – which was good news for him – Keith moved to the lesser-used door and hefted the rock. Then, in a single, smooth motion, he slammed it into the door with an echoing crack.
Wood splintered beneath the stone, Keith allowing it to slip from his fingers and clatter to the ground, even as he moved to the side of the house and waited. Sure enough, the door burst open just a second later, and Keith tensed, preparing to duck behind the side of the house should the owner decide to come looking.
However, just a second or two after, the door slammed. His ruse had worked.
16
Keith moved quickly to the broken door. He hadn’t had time to see how much damage he’d done, as he’d had to move the second he struck. Now that he could look properly, he could see the cracks around the point of impact, one of which was just wide enough to peer through.
He pressed his eye to the crack and peered in. The single-room house was made of bare stone on the inside, just like the outside. Several pieces of furniture were littered about. There were a couple of wooden chairs, a table strewn with parchment, and a bed in the far corner. In the other corner was a cage with a small person inside – a woman, if he wasn’t mistaken.
Keith took everything in, fixating on the two people sitting in the two chairs he’d noted earlier. A light chime sounded in his mind.
Task complete: Track down Cane’s exact location without being caught.
+500 XP
1 small gold bar has been added to your inventory
Quest Update: Undead Alliance
Looks like you’ve landed yourself in yet another mess, and this time, it’s smack in the middle of a full-blown guild war! However, there’s more than one player involved. Let’s see if your detective skills are up to the challenge.
Marj has given you a task. It’s a pretty simple one, but I’m sure you’ll find some way to mess it up. Good luck, and try not to die!
Difficulty: SS
Current Tasks: Free the captive
Task Bar: 10%
Current Task Rewards: 750 XP, Information, Next task
Current Objective: Investigate Cane
Current Rewards: 7,000 XP, 1 legendary item, 5 large gold bars
Bonus Objective: Steal Cane’s Life-Gem
Time Remaining: 34 days, 9 hours
Keith dismissed the notification, the eye pressed to the door firmly fixed on Cane, the man responsible for stealing his legendary title and the prize for killing Sola. He still wore his cloak, so his features were obscured, but there could be no mistaking who it was. Keith would have liked to analyze him, but he had no way of knowing if the man would feel it or not, so he couldn’t take the risk.
Sitting next to him was another man, though Keith didn’t know who it was. He was thin and wiry, and his bare arms were covered in curly red hair. Keith couldn’t exactly hear with his eye pressed to the crack, so he looked away, pressing his ear to the door instead.
“…don’t understand why you keep coming to me,” Cane was saying. “The Necro-Beast Guild has no interest in the Glutton’s plans. We have our own goals, ones that differ greatly from your master’s.”
“You know he won’t take this well,” the other man said, his voice rumbling and deep. “Keep refusing the sage’s wishes at your own peril.”
“I do not take threats kindly, messenger boy,” Cane hissed. “Besides, our guild master and the Glutton are old friends. They grew up together, and they’ve already agreed to stay out of each other’s ways. While they want different things, they can both fulfill their desires without upsetting the other.
“Knowing that, I’m led to believe that you’re not here under the sage’s orders but someone else’s. So, who sent you?”
Keith could sense the danger in the air as the man hesitated, clearly unsure of what to say. Although he couldn’t see him, Keith imagined the man was squirming in his seat.
“Fine,” the man said. “Tragger is getting a bit jumpy. He’s convinced someone is onto us and doesn’t want to fail. We heard you were in town, and he thought he could get you to help us with our mission.”
“Tell your boss that he’s hearing things,” Cane replied. “We have allies in the city. If anyone was sniffing around where they shouldn’t, they wouldn’t be sniffing for long. Now, unless you have anything else to say, you’d best be on your way. I have business to attend elsewhere, and you’re wasting my time.”
The sound of chairs scraping on stone was followed by boots scuffing and a door opening.
“Just what is it you have planned here?” the man tried one last time.
“If I told you,” Cane said, his voice oozing with menace, “then I’d have to kill you.”
The house shook as the man slammed the door, leaving Keith with a bit of a conundrum. Did he wait here until Cane left to save the prisoner, or did he follow the second man to complete the first step of the Glutton quest?
Keith moved away from the house, silently gliding into the tunnel and following the sound of the man’s echoing footsteps. This part of the sewers, it seemed, had dry land to walk on. The decision had been made based on a single piece of information – he knew where the woman was. Seeing as there was no time limit on rescuing her, he could afford to wait. The messenger, on the other hand, could be an opportunity he wouldn’t get again, especially with the timer counting down.
Keith followed the man at a distance, careful to match his walk so he wouldn’t notice the second, echoing set of footsteps behind him.
It didn’t take long for the footsteps to stop, Keith waiting for the scraping of the sewer cover to stop before moving up to the ladder. He ascended quickly, noting the dimmer light through the small holes. It meant they were either inside a building or it was dark out.
Moving the cover aside, Keith discovered that it was the former of the two as he climbed out and into a small shack. However, peering out the door, he could see that darkness had fallen while he’d been down there. Now that he was out of sewers, he could smell how badly he needed to wash off, but at the moment, he had a trail that was going cold.
Footsteps were highlighted in his vision, small traces of water that had gotten onto the walkway below. Keith exited the building, finding himself in a narrow alleyway littered with trash.
“Air,” Bob groaned. “I can finally breathe again.”
He was careful to keep his voice down, but Keith still winced at the volume, hoping they wouldn’t be overheard. They moved swiftly through the alley, and upon reaching the end, Keith found himself back on the main street. However, it was in a part of the city that looked distinctly run down.
Several people leaned up against the side of a decrepit building, talking in low voices. Keith ignored them, following the footprints to another building, where they moved around back to a bolted door. He pressed his ear to the door but heard nothing, so he broke the lock with a Steelstance-enhanced punch and made his way inside.
He paused as he entered, taking in the massive warehouse loaded with hundreds of crates. Keith was curious about what was inside, but he knew the trail was going cold and continued to track the man. He wove through towers of stacked crates, weaving in between and around on a well-trodden path through the building. Finally, the tracks stopped rather abruptly.
“What is it with this city and trapdoors?” Bob asked as Keith crouched, hooking his fingers beneath the false floor.
He pulled it open half an inch, then paused and listened. Heavy breathing sounded from below. Someone was waiting for him. It seemed that the man had realized he had a tail and had decided to set a trap. Keith wasn’t exactly in the best condition, but he was confident he could take a single thug who’d set such a horrible and obvious trap.
If this man was strong, he would turn and confront the one following him directly. He also wouldn’t be so scared.
In a single motion, Keith yanked the door back, moving to the side and avoiding the sweaty man as he lunged upward, a half-rusted knife stabbing into the ground where Keith was supposed to be.
Metallic, steely hands wrapped around the man’s neck, yanking him off the ladder and out of the hole. In a single motion, Keith slammed him into the ground, knocking the wind from the man’s lungs and stunning him. Keith then dropped a knee into his chest, pressing down hard, while he read the man’s status.
Name: Clint
Race: Demi-human
Class: Sneak
Level: 10
“Hello, Clint,” Keith said, bringing his face down just inches away from the terrified man. “I have a few questions, and you’re going to answer them. If you don’t, I’ll start breaking things. Do you understand?”
Clint nodded quickly, eyes wide as saucers.
“Where is your hideout in the city?”
“D-down by the docks,” Clint stammered. “Third warehouse, left of wharf eight.”
“How many of you are there?” Keith asked.
“F-five.”
“Who’s in charge, and how do they look?”
“A man named Tragger. He’s big, a demi-human with orc blood. You can’t miss him.”
“What are you planning?”
Here, Clint paused as though thinking about if he wanted to answer the question. Keith tightened his grip on the front of the man’s shirt, lifting his back off the ground. Clint quickly made up his mind and began to speak.
“We’re supposed to infiltrate the Royal Guild and leave something there. That’s all I know, I swear!” he yelled when Keith drew a fist back.
“One last question,” Keith said, lowering his voice. “What is the Glutton planning?”
Clint shook his head.
“I’ll give you to the count of one,” Keith said.
Clint kept his mouth shut, so Keith dropped his full weight, driving his knee into the man’s ribs. A series of crackling pops echoed in the empty air as a message flashed before Keith’s eyes.
-60
Clint has suffered internal damage.
The man screamed as Keith rose again, staring mercilessly down at the man. He had nothing against him personally, but he needed the information and valued his own life far above this wretch’s, especially if he was planning something that likely involved mass murder.
“Don’t make me ask the question again,” Keith said.
To his surprise, Clint kept his mouth shut and shook his head once more. So, Keith broke something else.
-45
Clint is crippled.
You have no mercy, do you? I really think this would suit you, given your psychotic track record.
Skill available!
Monster in Disguise…
Keith ignored the message, rejecting the skill once more. However, this time, it seemed the system wasn’t going to be silenced so easily.
Are you sure you want to just dismiss the skill without even reading it? If you do, who knows what might happen? Ignore this message at your own risk.
“Alright, Clint,” Keith said. “I’m going to need you to hang tight for a few seconds. I want you to really think about what will happen if you refuse to answer again.”
His eyes unfocused then as he read the skill – not that he wanted to. But, the system had basically threatened him if he didn’t, so he was going to take it seriously.
Monster in Disguise
Level: Intermediate - I
People think you’re an upstanding guy. You give everyone presents for their birthdays and always accept invitations to annoying dinner parties. But what they don’t know is that you’re a brutal savage who has no mercy or compassion whatsoever. You would kill your own mother if it would serve your purposes.
+50% intimidation, +65% terror, +100% damage to immobile targets, +100% chance for targets to wet themselves
Would you like to learn this skill? Yes/No
“Oh, come on! This can’t be a real skill,” Keith complained.
He very rarely lost his temper, but after the last few hours, he was reaching his limit.
“Yeah,” Bob said. “I have to agree. That’s an interesting skill. You can still reject it though, seeing as the system did give you the option.”
Keith mentally selected ‘No,’ and the skill description vanished. He waited for a few seconds, expecting another message, but when nothing came, he let out a sigh of relief.
“What the heck was that about?” he asked.
“ARK can be temperamental at times,” Bob said. “When stuff like that happens, just go with it. The system never does anything that will result in an impossible situation leading to your death.”
“Good to know,” Keith muttered, turning back to his captive, whose HP was already two-thirds gone.
“Alright, where were we?” Keith said.
Clint shook his head once more, his lips sealed. However, this time, his eyes flicked to his hand, the one Keith had broken.
