Chapter 78
Chapter 78
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: Distant Scouting
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Jerumi.
As expected of a dungeon city, the streets were bustling with adventurers and mercenaries today as well.
Some were stocking up on supplies before heading to the Demon's Lair.
Others were off to the job guilds to learn exclusive skills.
Still others stopped by the blacksmiths or clothing stores to craft missing gear.
Their purposes varied.
And one more.
A level 69 priest, ByulAnKkeum, was also out on the streets for similar reasons.
'Should I get my gear repaired before heading out.'
Dungeons, hunting grounds, and the like naturally wore down equipment durability with frequent visits.
Of course, there was the portable Equipment Whetstone, but it had its limits all the same.
So every now and then, they'd drop off their armor or clothes at the blacksmith or clothing store for repairs.
To fully restore the damaged durability.
Her current robe's durability had dropped quite a bit too.
Best to have the clothing store mend it now.
ByulAnKkeum made up her mind and turned toward the clothing store.
She strolled along leisurely.
But.
'Hm?'
For some reason, an uneasy feeling kept nagging at her.
Like someone was staring right through her—this sticky sensation.
She wondered if she was just overreacting, but even trying to brush it off, it stuck in her mind.
Unsettling.
The gazes of others slowly creeping into her awareness.
Maybe someone nearby was watching? But looking around, no one seemed to be.
'...Then maybe behind me?'
ByulAnKkeum cautiously turned her head.
But.
"......"
All she saw were people naturally going about their business on the street.
Not a single one met her eyes, just passing by without a glance.
Utterly disinterested.
Embarrassed, ByulAnKkeum stood there scratching her head blankly.
'Was it just my imagination?'
Meanwhile.
One user was looking down at ByulAnKkeum from atop a building.
The user who had rechained into Great Thief.
Luke.
And the skill Luke was currently using was none other than Scout.
Level 3 Scout, newly upgraded this time.
'Holy shit, it stays locked on even from this distance.'
That's right.
Skill level 3.
The upgraded Scout's new effect: increased range.
Look at this cheat effect.
The range hadn't jumped to hundreds of meters, but it was enough to scout someone walking the streets from a rooftop.
This greatly reduced the risk of eye contact breaking the skill.
Why?
Because he could just maintain distance from a spot like this where she wouldn't easily spot him.
Of course, he'd still need to close in to actually steal the scouted items, but hey—this was progress.
Knowing what items a target had from afar.
'It's a bit slower though.'
Probably a penalty for the extended range.
Max range fixed, but speed varies by distance.
Luke figured it was something like that.
'Well, skills have always had penalties.'
All skills in Agas had some drawbacks.
Steal, Scout's partner skill, was no exception.
Penalties he'd learned from heavy use: two main ones.
First: Repeated Steals on the same target reduce EXP gained.
Meaning?
Simple.
'Can't level up by focusing Steals on one user.'
No farming EXP by trading items back and forth with a willing partner.
And not just that.
EXP varied by item type and grade stolen.
'Thought Steal would carry me everywhere at first.'
But apparently not.
Still more efficient than killing folks one by one, but leveling wasn't broken-fast.
'Stealing's the core merit of this job anyway, so gotta accept it.'
Right.
Damn straight.
Luke thought so as he slowly stood.
'Plus, it's not just Steal anymore.'
Scout.
Steal.
And the new Corpse Plunder skill.
Full three-pronged farming now.
'Kinda sucks I skipped spots good for Corpse Plundering.'
Especially battlefields.
NPCs dying left and right.
Bodies everywhere.
Having passed through the Damian and Kaum territories' war already, Luke regretted it deeply.
'Cities have NPC deaths too, but not in droves.'
Unlike Parten, Jerumi's doors and windows were securely locked—no house raiding possible.
Sneaking in needed lax security or house keys.
'But Scout never shows resident keys here. Village chief back in Starting Village had one right away.'
Maybe only special NPCs like the chief show keys.
If so, skill level irrelevant—regular residents' keys invisible to Scout.
'Unlock's a last resort, but...'
Sadly, Jerumi buildings were lock levels 3 or 4.
He'd tried grinding fails like at the First Hunter German's tomb.
Proficiency gains too pathetic—he'd quit ages ago.
'Raiding the lord's castle? Bigger scale than Parten's, way higher risk.'
Viscount Ballag Chainver.
Unlike Parten's Baron Regull Valkins, he held two cities.
Lived in a mansion-sized castle.
Guards and security at least double.
'Guardian knights aplenty, soldiers higher level too.'
Near level 110 stats might let him force entry, but risks too high—even if accepting losses, limits loomed.
'Chance of capture or death mid-run.'
Luke pulled up his skill window.
'If poison were easy to stock, I could try Paralysis Poison.'
But poison flasks weren't easy via normal means.
He'd lucked into some Regular and Paralysis Poison from the Lycan trio before, but restocking?
No methods available.
'Can't breed venomous snakes myself.'
A shame.
So naturally, the poison user Kenny from the battlefield came to mind.
'Ah, if that guy popped up whenever I wanted.'
Kenny would've freaked on the spot.
"Hmm, maybe hit the lawless zone sooner."
"Poko?"
"Eh, worrying now won't help."
"Poko poko."
Poko in the bag nodded in agreement.
"No point brooding."
Luke started walking.
Prey spotted—time to hunt.
The thief's hunt continued afterward too.
Scout from a safe distance first.
Close in and Steal the scouted goods.
The Steal moment was the same, but pre-spotting prey was a leap forward.
One more change too.
"Kyaaak! It's a murder!"
"Someone call the guards, quick!"
Hunting NPC or monster corpses.
Luke himself had arrived at a murder scene in the city right now.
'Can't pass up incidents like this.'
Especially ones leaving bodies.
Deserted alley.
Corpse riddled with stab wounds.
Ambushed by someone here, it seemed.
"Another murder, huh."
"Tch, too late. Guards take over now. Who's the first witness?"
"That guy over there......"
"Alright, then......"
Guards arrived.
Scene quickly controlled.
One guard piecing together from witness statements.
Another herding curious residents.
'Now.'
Luke wouldn't miss the chance.
Shadow Step silenced his presence and footsteps as he scaled down the wall.
Parkour to the scene.
Guards distracted, he rifled the corpse fast.
'Oho, 5 silvers?'
What luck.
Luke grinned at the pouch and slipped away.
"City's been tense lately."
"What murder number is this?"
"Why's the lord ignoring it? Guards aren't even quick."
"Hush, walls have ears!"
"What, did I say something wrong......"
Slipping through the crowd casually.
'Locals are right— these incidents are frequent lately.'
Not a huge slum like Parten.
'Bandits or gangs setting up nearby?'
Plausible.
Criminals usually holed up near villages or cities for hits.
'Whatever, more bodies for me.'
Just game NPCs.
Their plights? Not his problem.
Luke left the scene behind, hopping buildings to roam the city.
Continuing the thief's hunt.
'Hm?'
Then.
Scanning from a high rooftop.
Something floating down the city canal caught his eye late.
'A person?'
Limp form.
Water turning red around it.
Unconscious or dead? Hard to tell, but definitely human-shaped.
'Two murders at once?'
In a viscount's domain, daylight killings back-to-back?
'Not a lawless zone.'
Though those were worse.
Anyway, Luke headed to the canal to confirm.
Checked the floater's status quick.
'Dead.'
No need to look more.
Luke hopped in, started plundering the corpse.
'Wonder what this one's packing.'
Anything but junk would be nice.
He checked the results.
'...Secret map?'
Unexpected haul.