Limits
chapter-239

I looked at Harlin, and said "I noticed, that your people seem to be everywhere. No wonder you have access to such information. I'm not even surprised". He replied "You overestimate me. I know what happened, but I don't know everything. You are lucky though. The information that it is you, who killed all the Golems inside the Mercenary Guild, should be only known by us".

I asked "Do you have a specific reason, for wanting to speak with me?". He nodded, and said "The Royals have no idea about this, but there is a chance, they may find it out in the future. I'm here to find out, why you did this? Before they are aware. But don't worry, I myself will do nothing. I still think you are a honest man, and you wouldn't do it without a reason. Whatever the story is, Me and Lazar will never chase you".

I looked at him, and said "I appreciate that, but there is no reason to be concerned. If you know that I fought in the Arena, then you know that I was tortured, to the point I had enough. Scum like that Razor, deserve death". He said "I know, I don't care about that Razor guy, but the Mercenary Guild". I said "The guy called Graver, set up the matches on the Arena, to test my abilities. I don't know the exact purpose behind his involvement, but there was some shady business going on with him. When I returned from the Arena, and headed to the Mercenary Guild for my reward, I told him that I knew about his involvement". Harlin nodded his head, and said "Continue".

I continued "I got no reward. Moreover, he tried to take away my membership stone. I have no idea what this thing records, besides contribution points. My guess is that, this stone is rigged in some way, and records much more than it's supposed to". I then threw the stone at Harlin. He said "We can check that. I have a friend, who can look into this. With her help, we will be able to take a look, at the information stored on the stone. By the way, what you said is true. The membership ID records the Contribution Points, basic details of that member, and the specialisations only. If there is something else on it, then it was rigged indeed, and someone wanted to collect information about you".

He then asked "But why did you still kill all of the Golems?". I said "I gave them the chance to get away. They chose to fight. I also have a suspicion, that some of them might've been onto the same shady business, as Graver was". He nodded, and said "I believe you. Let's go, and check this stone. My friend will take care of it". We then stood up, and left towards his friend's location. Lazar wanted to go as well, but I turned around, and said "Just stay with your daughter. She needs you more than I". He nodded his head, and stayed.

Harlin took me to some old house, in the Lower Area of Olrad. I asked "This is where someone who knows Formations live?". He replied "She doesn't like to be disturbed, and likes to stay hidden". 'Whatever, as long as she can get out the information from that stone, I don't care' I thought. Harlin knocked on the doors a few times, in a specific rhythm. After a while, the doors opened, but no one came out. Harlin motioned for me to enter, so I followed after him.

The inside was rather dark, I could activate my Darkness Perception, but Harlin said "Follow me". I did just that, and we went down the stairs. I could see some light, at the end of the long stairway. A the bottom, we stood in front of a room, that was fully lit. The weird thing was, it was not lit up by fire, but some kind of glowing orbs, that gave out a lot of light. In that room, sat a lone Lizard. She wasn't the usual Lizard, she was grey. 'Weren't these type of Lizards, banished from Obsidian Mountains?' I thought to myself.

Harlin introduced me "This is Alicia. She is a Formation Master, and will be able to look into the stone for us". He walked over to Alicia, who was sitting at her desk, and said "I have something, I would like to get the information out of". She didn't even look at him, and said "You know the price". He took out 5 Black Hals, and passed them to her. She extended her hand, while Harlin placed my membership stone on it.

When she saw the stone, she became a bit surprised, and asked "You want me to examine this? Isn't it just a simple Mercenary ID? Well, you paid for it, so it's your choice". She started doing something weird to the stone, then stopped. After a while, she gave back the stone, and the money, then said "Leave". Harlin was as confused, as I was. 'So, this is not normal? I thought it was weird only for me" I thought.

Harlin replied "What do you mean leave? I paid you the usual price, this stone should not be that difficult, to extract the information from. So what is the problem?". She said "The problem is the information stored on it. Destroy this stone, immediately. Where did you get it from anyway? No. Don't tell me, I don't want to know". Harlin was about to say something, when I stepped forward, and said "It's mine". She turned around, and shock was visible in her eyes. I asked "What is on that stone?".

She shook her head, and said "I can't tell you. Leave, please". I replied "You think, I will just let you know my information? Whatever is on that stone, must be big. I want to know, what they recorded about me". She shook her head, and said "I can't. Please destroy that stone immediately. Don't let anyone else see it. I will never tell anything to anyone". She seemed afraid, but I had no intention of killing her. 'This is weird, she is obviously scared of something. Something must've been recorded there, that should not see the light of day' I thought.

I considered something for a while, then said to Harlin "Give me that stone". He did as I asked, while I turned towards Alicia, and said "How do I destroy it?". She scuffled for a while, then took some kind of bag out. Alicia then said "I will give you this. When you are outside, place the stone into that bag, and throw it as far as you can, then run. The explosion will be quite severe", I took the bag, and said "Is the thing recorded inside, that shocking? I didn't do anything out of ordinary though". She shook her head, and said "It's not…". She shut up instantly, as if afraid to even say one more word. She continued after a while "Please go, destroy it as soon as possible".

I said to Harlin, who seemed to be in daze "Let's go, she will not tell us anything, even if I torture her". Harlin woke up from his thoughts, and simply nodded his head. As I was about to enter the dark staircase, I said "Keep whatever was in there, to yourself. I know where to find you". I heard loud gulp, then left. As we walked outside, Harlin asked "It seems what you said, is true. The stone recorded much more, than it supposed to. The problem is, what did it record? She also never acted like this, I never seen her scared".

I replied "It doesn't matter. If she is afraid, that the information on that stone is too dangerous, then I will destroy it". Harlin was a bit surprised, and asked "You don't want to know, what is on it?". I said "No. I already created a lot of commotion, and I know why Graver was so interested in me. Although everything is on that stone, I don't need to know. Graver is dead. Even if he made a copy of whatever is on it, he didn't make it after the Arena battles. He had no time to do it".

I already had a suspicion what it was. Although it was only a suspicion, I didn't need the stone anymore. 'The name on my stone, is going to be associated with a killer. I don't need that, destroying it, is the best idea' I thought, and went toward the Olrad's exit. Harlin followed after me, to make sure I was alright.