How did Arthur discover such information?
Well, through subtle clues. As an inexperienced player not well-versed in the art of masking her movements, she was quite easy to discover. Her experience–although immense in terms of life–couldn’t compare to Arthur in terms of basic survival.
Covering one’s traces was the most basic aspect of survival.
It was already a surprise that no one had discovered her true identity for years… but then again, the village was full of naive teenagers and adults who only wished to be the protagonists of their own stories.
They were unbeknownst to even the most basic of chores. When faced with danger at every turn, they were unaware of how to react. However, Arthur was free from such stupidity when considering his struggles during the initial stages of climbing the tower.
Firstly, Isabella’s aura often leaked and was inherently similar to what Arthur sensed near the inheritance ground.
Secondly, her change was sudden, resulting in Arthur conducting a thorough examination of her daily routine and the places she visited. It might’ve been creepy, and the crimson-eyed man understood that.
But frankly, he didn’t care. His objective was not related to such vulgar tasks.
Thirdly, an interrogation of other residents of Gargo Village. It wasn’t easy to procure information about a trusted clanmate, but it also wasn’t impossible. Using a few of the tokens he received after completing the First Floor, Arthur was easily able to bribe them.
When he completed the First Floor, he also received an Aquarius Token, but that was for later.
“How did you…”
“Kneel,” said the crimson-eyed man. Isabella’s expression crumpled, and she glared intently at Arthur. However, as she gazed into the radiant, crimson eyes of his, her will to resist shattered immediately.
His words were authoritative as if he were absolute. He was supreme.
“Do I have to repeat myself?” Arthur asked, cocking his head while pointing at the floor before him. Isabella gritted her teeth, tightening her muscles as she resisted the urge to explode into anger.
She contemplated killing Arthur. But, having witnessed his performance during the battle against Cassius, that was utterly impossible.
While muttering profanities under her breath, Isabella approached the crimson-eyed man, dropping down to one knee while clenching her teeth. She then glared at the floor beneath, refusing to raise her head.
Arthur smiled internally.
Manipulating her into submitting was not difficult. And, he had also managed to achieve the perfect scenario.
When planning to trap Elder Gabriel and Elder Feyright in a battle that would certainly end in a massacre, he changed an aspect to force Isabella into a position where resisting was practically impossible.
As soon as Luc killed Greg, Arthur’s plan was rendered immaculate.
Isabella was planning to use Arthur as nutrition to unlock the inheritance further, but the plan had backfired.
When Gabriel called Arthur to his room, Isabella quickly realized the potential the latter held. Once she realized that Arthur’s power was much greater than she thought, her greed rose to an unhealthy amount.
She was planning on striking once Arthur got injured during battle. Although her plan did somewhat work, she was unaware of the existence of [Judgment Regeneration], resulting in her miscalculating the time she had.
During the buffer Arthur received, he immediately expended most of his mana healing his wounds. Although his combat strength had decreased, his appearance portrayed him at his peak.
Sometimes, looking like you could do something is more beneficial than actually being capable.
When Gabriel and Feyright engaged in battle, Isabella quickly rushed to Arthur’s room, hoping to murder the crimson-eyed man and absorb him as nutrition. However, she had vastly underestimated him.
Suddenly, Arthur placed his hands on Isabella’s head.
[Judgment Regeneration has been used.]
[The Sins and Virtues of the target are being examined.]
[Target has 75% Sin and 25% Virtue.]
[Mediocre de-buffs are being applied.]
As the strength escaped Isabella’s body, she turned pale. With a crazed scream, she inspected her body, attempting to locate the origin of such a phenomenon. How could she simply lose all her power?
Why?
Suddenly, a thought appeared in her mind. Trembling, she raised her ashen face, locking eyes with Arthur. The crimson-eyed man’s presence seemed so vast, like an unscalable sky she could never reach. 𝘰𝑣𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮
Arthur smirked. Isabella was previously equal to–or maybe even stronger than–him, but now, she seemed so small; so fragile. She was like glass that would shatter on impact. And that was exactly what Arthur planned to do.
“Hand over the key, Isabella,” said Arthur, extending his arm. Isabella was powerless before him. The former’s face contorted to represent the face of a devil. He had achieved victory after so long.
The inheritance was his!
He wouldn’t have to leave empty-handed!
Isabella dug in her pockets, retrieving what seemed like a black orb. Arthur gazed intently at the orb, recalling that the hole in the altar was of a similar shape. He grabbed the orb, observing the grey striations on it.
The orb was not entirely spherical and had grooves and uneven edges. It seemed to have been refined by an amateur, which caused Arthur to wonder whether it was the real key. He glanced at Isabella.
The woman was petrified and didn’t dare to even squeak before the crimson-eyed man. Observing her tiny, trembling body, Arthur dispelled all doubts. Perhaps this was the true key… but not the orb.
Perhaps the material was the key.
He willed his mana forth, consuming the orb in a thin layer of energy. Before his eyes, the orb began shedding its darkness, mixing with the mana. It was as if the orb was melting before Arthur’s eyes.
Eventually, the orb became nothing but a pool of liquid blackness.
However, as Arthur withdrew only the mana, the material quickly became solid again. The crimson-eyed man raised an eyebrow, realizing the properties of the material that lay in his hands.
When in contact with mana, it became liquid.
When exposed to air, it solidified.
It was quite interesting.
But most of all, it was the key to success.