We’ve talked for a while, but now it’s time to go. Where should we be going? How is this going to work?

Ai looks up at the ceiling, moving a hand through her hair. She seems a bit absentminded at my question.

“Well, there are several places that we could buy the ingredients at. However, the place that you are likely to find the manual at is at the roadside human market. They should also have ingredients and hopefully dead seeds. One thing to note, is that this is still the poorer side of the city and they are adept bargainers. Though, if Lin is the one negotiating, we shouldn’t have any issues.”

Lin nods, as if this is an established fact.

I suppose if you are the one having to go out and buy, steal, or bargain for supplies for a weakened sister, you’d learn how to get the best deal over time.

Gong speaks up, “I actually know of an alchemist shop that you can go to. He won’t look too into our situation, as long as you seem competent and not a demi-human. There is also someone I have to meet with in the area, to notify about some of the changes of what has happened.”

Wait… is she going to tell them about us?

At everyone’s shocked faces, she quickly responds, “OH not this stuff. I’m talking about the spiders. She knows I’ve been trying to get spiders to obey me. Once I tell and show her, this will make things much easier overall for us, over the next month. I’ll also be able to have spiders patrol the areas around our entrances. Worst-case scenario, we can bring them with us as extra ‘security’.”

She hesitates, before continuing, “We should be ready for there in case there is an attack from gang members near that area. We must be cautious and keep our eyes open.”

Ai and Lin’s eyes flash, but they seem to already have an idea of what she’s talking about.

I guess I’ll have to use my larger scan during this period. They seem pretty serious about that possibility.

“We should get moving soon though, it is nearing midday and we’ll want to get there before it gets dark. You should know though, after we do this, we will need to take the long way back, to lose any pursuers. We’ll likely get back after it gets dark.”

Putting on cloaks that Gong provided, it also obscures our faces, preventing others from easily seeing them.

With this in mind, we actually don’t leave out from the main entrance, but instead head deeper into the caverns.

Before they leave the cave together, Ai stops in place and turns to the wall. She is studying the painting representing the two of them.

“I don’t know why, but I really like this ‘art piece’, as you called it. For some strange reason, it calls to me.”

Gong nervously rushes her out.

I can’t help but chuckle at this sight.

Gong ends up striding ahead of the group, leading us down a tunnel I actually haven’t been down yet. Spaced every few meters are one of the glowing light stones.

I can’t help but to ask, “Where do you find all these light stones? They seem seriously convenient.”

As we continue to walk, she glances at it briefly. “These? These are literally everywhere underground. Not just here either, but all across this land.” Lin, who is walking beside Ai and I, eyebrow raises.

She gives a small chuckle, “It’s easy to forget how much you don’t know. Yeah. This is pretty common knowledge.”

Ah… I’m glad I asked. That would be embarrassing. I’ll have to use my intuitive scan more on things like this.

Lin and Ai seem relaxed and begin chatting. I get the feeling, that they have already seen this part of the tunnel network.

As we continue, I notice using my scan, that behind us is two groups of spiders; the big one and the many small ones. Gong quickly reassures us that they are there for our protection. The local underground creatures usually don’t attack when her spiders are traveling directly in the caverns.

Even without them, it should be somewhat safe, but she wants to make sure there aren’t any ‘grab n go’ attempts.

Apparently, they did that early on to her spiders that traveled alone, but more spiders flowed into the tunnels behind it and killed any creature that did so.

Eventually, they stopped trying. Or maybe all the stupid ones had died by that point.

She is also lifting and dropping the lines of web that cover the floor, as we walk across them, showing us how to do so. The sheer amount of built-in traps around is practically absurd. This… is what Lin and Ai meant by a secure area.

I noticed another interesting thing with my scan. Every once in a while, I could feel the spiders making their own branching tunnels. It appears, this is how she’s been expanding. She’s probably had a good amount of control over them, if this is what she was doing with them. With all of these spiders building this framework, it is easy to see why no one has been able to get through this area.

Eventually, we reach an opening to the surface. It appears to be covered up with some type of debris, with webs all over the underside. Snapping apart the webs that hold it closed, she motions us to move closer. Opening it carefully, Gong has the spiders come out first. Then she does a quick check, before having us come out.

From there, it is actually quite peaceful until we get to a more populated area, after around 15 minutes or so of walking. As before, there is an unfortunately large number of demi-humans in varying states of physical and mental distress. There are many with missing limbs, possibly from stealing. Others just lay there, their eyes dim and unseeing. Following Gong’s original instructions, I attempt to not pay attention to this.

Honestly… it’s difficult.

Nonetheless, I attempt to get used to the feeling of ignoring the plight of my fellow human beings.

What hurts the most… is that this reminds me of beggars in the cities, that I used to visit and live near.

It was so easy to ignore them.

I was used to the idea that it was just life. But now, knowing that I can directly do something to help their situation… it’s easy to see that it’s really not that different.

There will always be an excuse.

Shit.

If I think I can get away with it or am strong enough… I’m going to heal people. Discreetly, of course. I can’t and won’t live like this.

With that in mind, as we walked past various injured people, I extended out my healing aura. With some practice, as we continued to walk around and past them, I think I’m able to make it so the healing does just enough to stop festering wounds and promote natural healing.

I can’t do much… but I can at least do this. This will also help my stats. This is just to get stronger.

*BOOOOOOOM*

A shockwave from an area to our right shudders through us, vibrating the ground and interrupting my thoughts.

Gong, Lin, and Ai rush in, practically lifting me off the ground and hold us against the corner of an alley. They close in together around me, our backs facing each other.

Silence.

Nothing else moves for a moment. Everyone around us is on alert.

Demi-humans and humans alike begin to scatter for cover. Seeing their actions, I shake out of my shock and activate my scan. To get a better idea of the situation, I use the pulse mode for both around us and also in the blast’s direction.

Okay.

Nothing around us. Now for the blast. There seems to be two people fighting… or was. Looks like one person has his hand around the throat of another guy. Looks like the throated guy is saying something.

Ah, pleas of mercy and take what you want. Looks like that’s good enough for the other guy. He’s just taking his bag and tossed the weak guy aside.

And flies away.

I whisper to our group, “I think it’s all safe now, looks like it was a fight of some sort.”

Gong gives me a disbelieving look, but then we can see two kids on top of one of the nearby buildings. One kid points to her and they jump off, running over to her.

Gong immediately heads over to them, clearly trusting them. They each whisper in her ear, speaking quickly. After some nods and some whispered words back, she gives me a quick glance of surprise, catching my eye.

Looks like they might have seen a little of it themselves. From what I can tell, they might be some of her informants.

Let’s see what they’ve discovered.