They all call me Great Master

The masks on the top shelf of the display cabinet were all too familiar to Arthur.

Their overall appearance resembled a human face, pure white in color without any patterns or decorations, save for two hollow spaces at the eyes—those could only be vessels meant to contain a "Death Hound".

Having acquired one Death Hound already, Arthur didn't mind getting another.

After all, Pendragon would probably like to have another dog to ride, wouldn't he?

Besides, Pendragon didn't have any pants to worry about getting ruined.

With these thoughts in mind, Arthur didn't rush but instead lifted his right hand and stroked his chin.

"What's wrong?"

Marinda, who was constantly watching Arthur, immediately noticed this gesture.

After spending a considerable amount of time together, the lady had come to recognize some of Arthur's habits.

Such as rubbing his brow when thinking, tapping fingers on the table or chair armrests.

And when he discovered something interesting, he would stroke his chin.

"Nothing much.

Just found something interesting."

As Arthur spoke, he didn't leave Marinda in suspense like she would have done but instead asked softly—

"Do you know Geppetto?"

"Geppetto?

The crazy master alchemist?"

Marinda blurted out almost without thinking.

The Master Alchemist Geppetto had an enormous reputation on the Mystic Side, but it was all negative. Anytime his name came up, people immediately thought of madness.

Moreover, most people believe that the Holy Court made the right choice in burning the Master Alchemist and his creation 'Pinocchio' at the stake.

At least, compared to the eleven masters who were burned afterward, it was the right decision.

After all, among those eleven masters burned later, there was one accused of 'being unable to create the sun at night'.

"Yeah.

This is one of his laboratories.

I'm a bit surprised to find it here in South Los, according to the records this mad alchemist was more active in Seberlin."

Arthur nodded in agreement.

Marinda's brows furrowed in response.

"This place is Geppetto's laboratory?"

The lady murmured to herself, her eyes betraying an undisguised sense of loss.

'As I thought, he has grand ambitions; even a master alchemist's laboratory isn't enough to satisfy him!

Then...

Where did she think this place was before?' Arthur speculated silently.

Without a doubt, Marinda placed great value on this place.

Her vigilant stance was such that, if not for the accidental cooperation of the 'Storm Sword' squad, he would never have managed to trick her.

So, upon seeing that "Nidhogg" was a pet and experimental creation of the mad master alchemist, Arthur was curious if it was really worth it for Marinda for this mad alchemist.

It wasn't that a master alchemist wasn't worth Marinda's efforts.

But this mad master alchemist wasn't worth it.

You have to understand, this particular mad master alchemist was one who was burnt by the Holy Court in the past.

Simply put, most of his wealth had been 'confiscated'.

Even if there was some property left, it couldn't have been much.

With this in mind, Marinda's guardedness seemed rather superfluous.

Unless Marinda had misunderstood something, mistaking it for a place left by another important figure.

And that was exactly what Arthur needed.

Not the misunderstanding itself.

But to make Marinda realize the truth about this place.

Arthur wanted Marinda to understand that this wasn't the place she was looking for.

Only then could he take the lead in making a selection.

According to the previous agreement, they would split this place sixty-forty.

Marinda, forty.

Arthur, sixty.

However, there was no agreement on who would choose first.

So, for that priority in choosing, Arthur opted for 'honesty'—given his own performance just now, he was quite certain that with Marinda's personality, once she confirmed that this wasn't her intended target, she would generously give up the right to choose first.

The lies of a 'Spirit Medium' are not to be feared.

For they are the skills they have to survive.

The honesty of a 'Spirit Medium' is what's truly terrifying.

Because it suggests they have an ulterior motive.

And faced with an honest 'Spirit Medium', few would 'refuse' them.

In fact, that's how it was.

The lady had already gestured with her hand.

The meaning couldn't be more apparent.

You go first.

Arthur shrugged and walked straight toward the display cabinet.

There was no point in pretending.

Anyone with eyes could see that this was the most valuable part of the entire ruins.

Arthur didn't immediately pick up the container mask that held the "Death Hound," but first looked at the dagger below; he was a bit curious about this dagger—

[Name: Bone Dagger]

[Type: Weapon Type]

[Quality: Epic]

[Attributes: 1. Skeleton Summoning; 2. Wail of the Dead]

[Remarks: At the end of the Empire, when the 13th Squad of the 13th Legion went to explore the land covered by Shadows, they were besieged by Shadow monsters. The captain 'Dallas' chose to lure the monsters away to give his teammates a chance to survive. In the end, all members of the 13th Squad, except for the captain, safely evacuated. They remembered their captain, and then they saw him, transformed into a Corpse Ghoul on the battlefield—The 13th Squad, at the cost of their annihilation, killed their own captain, believing that their captain needed rest, but their bones ended up in the hands of the Tower of Mist...]

...

[Skeleton Summoning: Summon a 25-man Skeleton Squad led by 'Dallas' to fight for you; Captain 'Dallas' is of Arcana Level, with the remaining 24 members comprising 12 strong archers, 4 Scout Cavalry, 4 pikemen, and 4 greatsword fighters. All of them possess their own skeletal warhorses, and besides their own proficiency, are skilled with various cavalry weapons]

[Wail of the Dead: When resolved to battle to the death, the 25-man Skeleton Squad can choose to burn themselves to significantly boost their attack and defense, or pour all their power into their captain, at the cost of their own deaths, to temporarily promote Captain 'Dallas' to Great Arcana Level]

(Note 1: When the Skeleton Squad 'dies', they can be resurrected with Gold Coins, regular members for 200 Gold Coins each, and Captain 'Dallas' for 2000 Gold Coins)

(Note 2: After resurrection, the Skeleton Squad needs to bask in Moonlight once to fight in their prime condition)

(Note 3: When possessing the Bone Dagger, the Skeleton Squad will completely obey orders)

...

'This item isn't bad at all!' Arthur praised inwardly, then, without hesitation, picked up the "Death Hound."

The Skeleton Squad was indeed impressive, especially when activating "Wail of the Dead," which would suddenly bring a Great Arcana Level ally—it could have the effect of a surprise weapon.

But compared to this large number of skeletons, having a 'highly loyal, unbetraying, with a physique like an Arcane Creature, extremely balanced in attack and defense, tireless, with unparalleled keenness of smell, able to live without air, somewhat immune against sulfur and flames, feeding on the 'Aura of Death', and able to spit 'Deathly Fire', and automatically becoming invisible in darkness and shadows' Death Hound was more suitable for Arthur.

Just as Arthur picked up the mask that contained the "Death Hound," unexpectedly, more text appeared.

Arthur's eyes narrowed slightly, and a glint of pleasure flashed across them.