Free Web NovelChapter 342: Chapter 191: Saving Ruijia from Fire and Water
Lu Cang held the man’s head down with one hand, twirling a dagger with the other.
The man’s name was Di Lao.
"Don’t... don’t kill me."
"You don’t want to die? Then that’ll depend on your performance."
Lu Cang’s malice coalesced, becoming almost tangible.
「Dread Pressure (Tier Four) (Level 301)」
Spiritual Magic, learnable by a Level 3 Mage.
The Malice Aura Iz had used on him was Tier Four, but the Magic also had a lower, Tier Three version.
Naturally, Lu Cang had learned it as well.
Di Lao looked up and met Lu Cang’s gaze, feeling as if he had been plunged into darkness.
All he could see was a pair of chilling eyes.
"AHHHH!!!!"
Through their contact, Lu Cang’s Magic Power flowed into Di Lao’s body, allowing him to sense the man’s physical condition.
’His gallbladder... actually ruptured?’
’Was I that scary?’
Lu Cang had no intention of healing him. He simply stabbed the dagger into the ground next to the man’s neck.
"Choose."
"I... I’ll tell you!"
Di Lao gritted his teeth, enduring the intense pain.
"Ruijia... Ruijia... yes, we’ve already taken it..."
"Just the King?"
He hesitated for a moment, but in the chilling glint of the dagger’s blade, he saw Lu Cang’s indifferent gaze.
"No! It’s not just the King!"
"When did it start? How many of you are there? Which officials have been infiltrated? What part did you play? And this list of yours—what’s the plan? Your bases, your numbers, and... the reason there are so many Skin Takers."
"Tell me everything."
Lu Cang’s voice was ice-cold, his gaze devoid of mercy.
’He’ll probably kill me even if I talk.’
’I have to find a way to play this!’
’I have to negotiate with this mon—’
SNAP!
The instant the thought formed, all ten of his fingers were severed at the knuckles!
"Perhaps I forgot to mention."
"I dabble in psychology. I can generally tell when a person is lying."
"I also know about your other colleagues planted in the Imperial Palace. The Prince’s uncles—they’re your associates, aren’t they?"
"And I know about the secret chambers beneath the four clock towers, each with one of your Skin Taker colleagues inside."
"If you’re unwilling to cooperate, I’m sure others will be."
"It makes no difference to me if I have to drag your corpse to the next person..."
Lu Cang spoke slowly, no longer holding the man’s head down.
Instead, he sat on the table. With a casual flick of his wrist, the dagger flew back into his hand.
He began to clean his fingernails with the dagger’s edge.
His movements were relaxed and unhurried.
Yet his entire being radiated an aura of unassailable invincibility.
"Of course, if you cooperate and tell me everything, I can swear an oath. I’ll give you two hours. Until you are out of this city, my colleagues and I will not pursue you. We won’t harm a single hair on your head."
"Once you’re out of the city, your escape is up to you."
Lu Cang’s tone was nonchalant, but he had offered the man a chance to live.
"Do you... mean it?"
Lu Cang glanced at the kneeling man. "I swear by the code of combat: If I break my promise, I am a cowardly Warrior."
"If you feel that’s not enough."
Lu Cang raised his dagger. "Then I’ll just find the next person."
Silence.
Quiet.
’That oath really wasn’t enough.’
’But Di Lao no longer had a choice...’
’The worst that could happen was Lu Cang would kill him and move on to the others.’
"I... I’ll tell you everything."
"Good. From now on, I ask, you answer."
Lu Cang asked, and Di Lao answered.
Having a high-ranking member of the Rose of Shedding Skin in his grasp was yielding a wealth of intelligence.
The entire Ailuotis region was under his command.
As for why there were so many Skin Takers... it was because his parents had discovered a special ruin. Inside was a Ritual Array for changing one’s Profession.
With the aid of that Ritual, by chanting a specific Spell, anyone could be converted into a Skin Taker.
No Secret Scroll required.
’A Ritual like that actually exists?’
’Then again, I’ve heard that one of the reasons ancient Professions differ from modern ones is the loss of their corresponding conversion Spells.’
’Another reason is that the conversion Rituals have been altered or have become incomplete.’
’The Ritual Arrays for conversion in the past were completely different from the ones today.’
’So a Secret Scroll is just a portable, single-use conversion Ritual Array...’
"A conversion Ritual for the Skin Taker Profession."
’It’s a shame. The Profession seems powerful.’
’But it actually has a lot of limitations.’
Since he was planning to attack the enemy’s stronghold, Lu Cang had already done his homework on the Skin Taker Profession.
He hadn’t just pried information from the mouth of that other captive.
He had also read through plenty of material on Skin Takers in the White Tower...
「Skin Taker」
Level 1 Professional Skill: Skin Stripping.
This skill allows the user to easily and completely strip the skin from a living creature.
It also comes with the "Skin Wearing" Skill.
This is the core Skill of the Skin Taker Profession, unlocking more abilities as the user’s Level increases.
As for the Skin Taker’s limitations...
One: It is difficult for Skin Takers to multiclass. If a Skin Taker has more than one Profession, the target whose skin they wish to wear must also possess those same corresponding Professions.
For example, a Level 3 Skin Taker who is also a Level 2 Mage can only wear the skin of a target who is also a Level 2 Mage. Otherwise, the skin cannot be worn.
Two: If a Skin Taker wears the skin of a target with a higher Level, they can only wield power equivalent to their own Level as a Skin Taker.
For example, a Level 4 Skin Taker wearing the skin of a Level 5 Warrior can, at most, only display the abilities of a Level 4 Warrior.
Three: Skins require regular maintenance. Furthermore, a skin’s abilities will not grow; instead, they will degrade over time.
Four: A Skin Taker cannot wear the same skin for an extended period. Exactly how long a skin can be worn depends on the Skin Taker’s own proficiency and the level of the skin’s maintenance.
