Author's Note: Thanks for waiting patiently.

---------------

'*sigh* Still nothing.'

Null has been searching for clues of the robots for days. Most of his time has been spent doing miscellaneous things such as going to restaurants and acting like a typical tourist. Sometimes when Null is walking, robots would come out and attack somewhere in the city. Null decided the best thing to do would be not to engage with them unless in close proximity. He doesn't want anyone to know that he's actually searching for the robot maker. The less people that are on guard against him the better.

Null soon makes it to what seems like another battle place. There is debris everywhere.

'From the markings I've seen, there isn't just the spider type and humanoid robots. There seem to be multiple types. Where can all these robots hide? My information finder only works on written information. If the written information is enclosed inside a place with no windows, I won't be able to see it.'

Null has kept doing Essence of Mana trying to sense the underground, as he thinks that's the most likely place to keep things hidden. Since mana travels far better through air than through earth, Null was having problems. Not only does mana flow slower in earth, but each type of mineral has mana flow differently through it. When Null first started trying to sense the underground, everything was a jumbled up mess. After a long while of using essence of mana, he starts getting a clearer and clearer picture of the underground. It takes few days for his mind to completely adjust.

Null soon stops and starts walking away.

'I'm being followed.' Null thinks, wondering who it could be.

Null has used his Essence of Mana and pretty much knows about all the guards who are supposed to be watching him. Those people are not what he is concerned about.

'Three people. Judging by how faint two of their mana signatures are, those two people should be one or two of the rogue classes. I'm sensing two types of mana signatures that don't belong to humans. The mana is also of a different quality. Highly likely those two mana signatures are the robots I've been searching for. Damn. And I was so careful.'

*********

“Target is currently surveying another battle site. Chances are high that he's searching for us.” A tracker says watching Null.

There are currently three people looking at Null in the shadows. They are all dressed in black. Even their faces are covered.

“Do you think he has a chance to succeed?” An assassin class asks.

“Highly unlikely.” The only non rogue class who is manipulating the two robots chimes in. “According to our data, he's just a librarian with better than average monk techniques. This city has plenty of librarians, and none of them have managed to figure out what's going on.”

The two robots he has with him are miniature helicopter drones. They aren't good for fighting, only observing. The tracker then notices something.

“Target has suddenly started walking in irregular paths.” The tracker says. “Have we been discovered?”

“He shouldn't have discovered us. Your assassin's stealth skill should be active masking all three of us.” The robot controller says.

Only sufficiently advanced locator skills would be able to detect them when the assassin's stealth skill is active. There is an arms race between hiding skills and finding skills. When one is higher leveled or has sufficiently higher skill mastery, you can hide or find one or the other. It was then that the tracker was taken by surprise.

“I've lost the target!” The tracker says.

“What!?” The assassin yells out in surprise.

“Impossible!” The robot controller yells in disbelief.

Null had pretty much vanished. Due to Null being bullied, he found ways to give people he doesn't want to see the slip.

“What do we do?” The assassin asks.

“We search for him. If you find him, do not engage.” The tracker tells them.

They head towards the direction Null was last seen in. The helicopter drone slowly starts surveying the area, searching for any hint of where Null could have gone.

“I'm not picking up his foot tracks. It looks like we have been discovered.” The tracker says.

It was then when one of the helicopter drones was shot through with an arrow. There was an attempt on the second robot, but due to knowing it was being attacked managed to dodge the arrow. The three people there also get attacked by needles, but they manage to dodge them in time.

“You guys were looking for me? Well, you've found me.” Null says appearing as if he's come out of nowhere. He's wearing different shoes than the ones he had on before. “I also happen to be looking for you guys too.”

The three people don't even bother answering him back. They chose to retreat.

“Fine then. Be that way.” Null says, running after them. The three try to shake Null off of them, but Null is persistent.

“It won't be long before he reaches us.” The assassin says.

“Plan B?” The tracker asks.

“Looks like we have no choice.” The robot controller says.

The assassin throws throwing knives at Null. Null knows that the knives are most likely poisoned, so he chooses to get out of the way. The person controlling the robots puts his hand on the ground, and a pattern appears out of ink that quickly gets covered up.

'A transmutation circle? Then that means this person's class or subclass is calligraphy.' Null thinks.

When the transmutation circle is complete,it glows brightly, and a giant humanoid robot appears out of nowhere. The people in the area familiar with this know that another robot has been summoned. They start panicking and running away. The three Null was chasing after used the robot as a distraction and chose this moment to flee. Null couldn't do anything due to the robot in his way.

'Damn. Lost them. Just when I thought I had a lead.' Null thinks disappointed.

Null sees the robot that's heading for him. Last time he fought this type of robot, he had help from Gnosia's fighting force. When he was trying to lose the three tailing him, he also inadvertently made the guards that are supposed to watch him lose sight of him as well. Null right now is currently alone.

'Right now I can't fight this thing. I have to retreat.'

Null is about to run when the robot does a charge at him. Null does his best to manipulate his mana for dexterity, but the stat manipulation is moving too slowly. Realizing that won't work, he fires multiple arrows from his crossbow, but the arrows only makes dents on the robot.

'Damn! Not enough time for a mana shock wave!'

He braces himself for impact and crosses his arms in front of him. The robot smashes into Null and runs through multiple buildings. When the robot stops moving, Null's momentum keeps him moving forward like a rag doll. He collides with the wall. Null feels a painful sensation in his everywhere. When he opens his eyes. He sees he only has 13% of his health left.

'A single casual move. A single casual move and I almost died.' Null thinks finding the whole thing ridiculous.

Null had forgotten that the gaps of power between levels only increases as you go higher. Null barely survived a casual attack from that robot. The civilians in the area upon seeing the robot, started to yell and flee. The robot was about to attack Null again, but Null put out a smoke bomb. The robot's sensors couldn't see Null through the smoke, so it fired madly through the smoke cloud. By the time the smoke cleared, Null was long gone.

********

Null is resting in an old collapsed building, trying to recover his strength. Null knows that right now, he can't do anything to the robots. Mana attacks work slightly, but right now, his mana attacks move far too slowly to do any good.

'I need to find a way to destroy the robots more easily. I can't spend all my time spending hours going against one robot when the enemy potentially has thousands.'

After Null's health gets filled, he continues his search.

'Was I close to something which is why they chose to follow me? I think I'll continue on that path.'

Null makes it to where he was before, constantly emitting mana waves through the ground. After a while, he notices something peculiar when he uses mana manipulation on one section of ground. There is a type of earth that's a lot different from earth surrounding it. It's a lot more uniform than the earth surrounding it. That different type of earth has a pattern of a winding tunnel.

'They must have made a tunnel and then filled it up when it was no longer needed. These people have teleportation, so it makes sense to fill it up. Don't want anyone discovering your secret lair and whatnot. Hmmm... I wonder if their teleportation has a maximum range.'

Null writes various things in many obscure places. Since he doesn't have a map, this is the next best thing. He can use Information Finder to find what he wrote, which would lead to this location.

'I should tell the others about this place, as I do not have any earth techniques that can dig through this.' Null thinks planning his next move.

Null asks a person for directions to the police. After getting them, Null thanks him and heads inside.

A secretary greets Null. “Hello sir, would you like to file a-”

The secretary seeing Null looks frightened. Null notices this.

'Why is she so afraid of me? I haven't even done anything.' Null wonders.

She rings the silent alarm under her desk.

'Something is not right. Where is everyone?' Null thinks.

It was then that around 50 people come out in formation surrounding Null. Their rifles and melee weapons are pointed at Null. Null squints.

“What is this all about?” He asks the people who's weapons are pointed at him.

It was then that the tinkerers had also arrived.

“I knew you foreigners couldn't be trusted!” Claris Joyce yells out angrily pointing at Null.

“To think it was you.” Winford sighs shaking his head.

“Null... Why?” Aldan says nearly crying.

“Will someone please tell me what this is about?” Null asks irritated.

“Null, you are now a prime suspect for being the one responsible for the robot attacks.” The police chief says to Null sternly.

“What?”

“We came across some papers detailing plans of the robot attacks for the past two months and next 6 months. Your finger prints are all over them. The attack that had just happened is almost definite proof that you are responsible, or are somehow involved. There is an exact location and everything detailing the attack. We also came across your footprints being near most of the battle sights of the past two months. The age of the footprints corresponds directly with the robot attacks.” The chief says to Null.

“There were also remains of teleportation circles by the use of Ink Hand techniques. Only someone with a high level in calligraphy could make detailed transmutation circles like that, and according to a report from an ally in Palperroth, your calligraphy is at intermediate!” The police chief says.

To the people listening, this proves to them that Null is somehow involved.

“I'm obviously being framed.” Null says. “I found a probable hideout of the real attackers, and they are trying to frame me because I am their only threat. Don't be stupid.”

The reason they all don't jump on him now is because they know how powerful he is. Sure, if they all jump on him at once, they could take him down, but there would be many casualties. Right now, they're trying to buy time for their mages to make it here. The gunmen are trying to seal off Null's possible exits. Null then senses two people that makes his eyes open wide. When he was using his Essence of Mana to sense around him, he felt that those two people's mana felt familiar.

Null squints and says, “Who are those two behind you?”

“Why do you want to know? I see no reason to tell you.” The police chief says.

“Oh! I know this one! The one on the left is leader of our Investigation Squad! He's one of our top trackers, Frederick Richardson! The other guy is leader of the Deployment Squad to gather information on the outside world, one of our top assassins, Bernardo Barrow!” Aldan says excitedly amidst the talks for him to shut up.

“Idiot!”

“Stupid crackpot!”

The people there say at Aldan yelling at him.

“Was I not supposed to say that?” Aldan asks confused.

The realization makes Null's eyes open wide. The two behind the police chief start smirking slightly just enough so that only Null would notice it.

'How high does this conspiracy go?' Null wonders.

It's obvious to him that he will have to escape now. He senses the gunmen trying to block his escape.

“Now will you come quietly?” The police chief says.

“Come quietly? Heh. The only way humans learn of consequences is by leaning through examples, so I ask you all.” Null's eyes open wide, getting a crazed insane look. “Who will be my example?”

Null releases his killing intent. That killing intent spoke of unspeakable horrors for anyone who would be dumb enough to try and attack him.

For causing extreme terror and for making that one guy soil himself, your Killing Intent has increased to Beginner Level 2.

Killing IntentSkill typeActiveSkill ProficiencyBeginner level 2Cause fear and terror to your foes.

Cost: 200 mana per second

Null uses this chance when they are disoriented to throw down a smoke bomb.

“Stop him!” The police chief says.

Smoke fills the area. People are noticing that they are feeling a little stiff. The smoke bomb also had a paralysis aspect to it, but due to most there having a high level, it barely affects them. By the time the smoke clears, Null is long gone.

“Shit!” The police chief yells out.

**********

'These smoke bombs are the most useful thing I have ever created.'

When Null escapes from that encirclement, the gunmen try to intercept Null. Null throws several cluster bombs in one spot in order for them to make way. The snipers among the gunmen constantly try aiming for Null's vitals, but he keeps moving around randomly so that they miss. He eventually makes it out of their range. Null keeps running until he makes it to a safe place.

He takes out an odor bomb and covers himself with it. He then changes his shoes. All this is so that the trackers would not be able to track him.

'So now what's my next step? Should I try to figure out the sides of this conflict and work with the ones opposing the robots? No. People are stupid. Why would they trust a suspect over their leaders? Looks like I have to do this on my own. What can I do though? I'm not strong enough to take on those robots by myself. First things first. I have to show people this hideout.'

*******

Null does things that draws people towards the hideout. He gets fire works, makes a general racket, and just becomes a huge nuisance. The people chasing after Null start noticing that some of their members are acting strange. Some are trying to dissuade them from going there. Some say that we should think of some plan before going after Null. Now, doing that would be fine, but these members have never acted like this before, even when going against extremely powerful robots. Why are they acting like this now?

They make it to the location Null was making a racket in. Null isn't there anymore. There is only a note.

It says, “Dig here. I'm at the end of this tunnel. Come get me if you dare.”

The track prints also end there, so some feel they have no choice but to go along with his games while some are opposed. A few people are vehemently opposed to digging. However, most vote to dig, so they go along with it. The earth mages among them start moving the earth around, and they start moving through the tunnel. The people acting strange have only started acting stranger and stranger, as if they're hiding something. When they're almost at the end of the tunnel, giant robotic centipede comes out. However, thanks to the narrow space they're in, the gunmen and mages can attack and not worry about aiming. What's really suspicious is that some of the long range people started fighting as if they were purposely trying to miss.

One of the people slowly make it to the police chief and whispers, “Chief. Have you noticed that some of our people have been acting very strange?”

The chief was one of the first who noticed. He thinks back to the words Null had said before.

*********

Flashback:

“I'm obviously being framed.” Null says. “I found a probable hideout of the real attackers, and they are trying to frame me because I am their only threat. Don't be stupid.”

Flashback end:

*********

'The more I think about it, the more it makes sense.' The police chief thinks.

The earth mages make it through the final stretch of tunnels. It was then that Null decides to show himself.

“Kill him!”

Hurry up and kill him!”

Some are ready to kill Null right then and there.

“Stop!” The police chief says.

“Sir, what are you doing!? We have to kill him now!” That person says as he's about to pull the trigger on his gun.

“Are you disobeying my orders!?” The police chief yells out.

The guy grinds his teeth and puts his weapon down.

“Null, I take it there's a reason you took us down here?” Winford asks Null.

“There is. As some of you may know, I'm a librarian whose class just so happens to be at intermediate. Also know that my book repair is also at intermediate.”

“Okay, so what?” Someone asks.

“Watch carefully. Don't take your eyes off of me for even a moment.”

Null raises his arms in the air like he's Moses.

“Book Repair!”

All the ashes on the floor start moving and coalescing into multiple tornadoes. Those tornadoes then condense into multiple papers with written information on it. Null's Book Repair is at intermediate. Even if burned down to ashes, as long as its on paper, Null can still repair it. He can also repair multiple books and papers at a time.

“Read them.” Null says.

Everyone reads through the papers and is shocked. The information on the robot attacks. The interval of the robot attacks, and even the mastermind behind the whole thing is written here. It was then that everyone understood. The people who were once unified split in two. 10% of people were separated from the others, and had weapons drawn on them.

“Winford... Why?” Claris Joyce says with tears in her eyes.

Winford was the last person people have suspected. He was always kind and treated everyone with respect. He helped whenever someone asked for help. He maintained Gnosia's infrastructure and contributed greatly to the creation of the city. Why would he do something like this?

“Don't believe Null's lies! He's using some sort of trick!” Winford says trying to pin this on Null.

Null shakes his head.

“Most of you should be familiar with the librarian class. You should all know that the librarian class's Book Repair can only bring back what was lost. You all were also watching me closely the whole time. You all can confirm that I didn't do anything extra.

They nod.

“The papers from before blaming you was falsified. We had simply taken Frederick's words at face value without checking it ourselves, and for that Null, we apologize. We will learn from this so something like that never happens again.” A tracker says to Null. “Frederick was trying to frame you from the start. These papers here however are filled with all the information of attacks and orders of the attacks, that hit this city in the past 15 years. We trackers have all confirmed that Winford's fingerprints are all over them. It looks like Winford is the mastermind. What do you have to say for yourself Winford?” The police chief says.

“Looks like the jig is up.” Winford shrugs unconcerned.

This causes Claris, who was still in denial about Winford to finally let it sink in. She collapses on her knees.

“Please tell me why?” Claris asks with tears in her eyes.

“My research was at a standstill. I had just found a way to create the robot tech. In order to advance further in my research, I needed true mage abilities to study, and not this cheap knockoff transmutation crap. However, in this city that is impossible. I was so angry. Why do I have to suffer for my ancestor's mistakes? That's when he approached me.”

Null feels something super important coming, like this is some annoying bullshit that will affect him later on.

“This man's power was something I couldn't even begin to understand. If he wanted to, he could have easily destroyed this city and everyone in it with but a thought, but he chose another way. He is the man in the red cloak, the only person in the world who holds the Deities' Emissary class.”

This causes everyone, including Null, to pause. They may have lost their history, but they all know how the librarian founder died. It was due to the man in the red cloak. He had the Deities' Emissary class. There can only be one Deities' Emissary at a time, and there hasn't been one that powerful since him since. The librarian founder was one of incredible power, and yet he still fell.

“Red cloak? Impossible! You won't get out of your crimes with that stupid bluff!” The police chief yells out at Winford.

“Everyone knows he died more than a thousand years ago!” Someone else yells out.

Null is the most shocked of all, thinking, 'God dammit! I might have to fight that OP son of a bitch that I saw in the flashback! I won't! I refuse! Things won't go the way you want them to go Ptah!'

“You still haven't said why you did what you did!” Claris yells out.

“At first I attacked him. I wanted to know how he found and got into this city and I tried to ask him by force. When I realized that wouldn't work, I asked if he is here to kill us. He said no! He said he sympathized with my suffering! He also thinks that its unfair for us to get punished with the mistakes of my ancestors, so he said he'll give us a chance. Naturally I didn't believe him, but with a wave of his hand, he said “Try shooting fire from your hand.” It worked! It really did work, however with another wave of his hand, my newfound powers were gone.”

'Can't this guy get on with it?' Null says bored out of his mind about to fall asleep.

“He said all I have to do in order to once again get accepted by the gods is to denounce the ideals of the librarian founder and have everyone in this city do the same. That way, not only me, but everyone can get blessings by the elemental gods again! Naturally, I found others to join my cause. That red cloaked man was also very clear. Everyone would have to renounce the librarian. I used the robots to kidnap people. I told them that they had freewill to join or leave. Those who refused to join were killed!”

This causes others there involuntarily flinch.

“You... You're a monster!” Claris yells out.

“Sticks and stones Claris. I would've taken you in as you're very talented, but you wouldn't shut up about how much you like the founder! Now my offer stands to all of you as well. Do you choose to denounce the first librarian and his ideals?”

Some of the people were intrigued, especially a lot of the mages. They can't improve and make new techniques automatically. Some choose to side with Winford.

The people being surrounded started to change.

“Null, you really know how to make a mess of things. All I had to do was destroy this city and anyone who sympathized with that heretic librarian. Around 10 more years or so and I could've gathered enough data for my robots to destroy this place easily. Looks like the second phase will have to start early.”

Winford takes out something. It's a robot, but this robot is small. The robot then transforms and covers Winford. He has high tech armor covering him with Tron-like glowing lines covering that armor. Null can sense that those lines have electric mana running through it. He gains a visor that scans things. He also gains a high tech big sword the size of Winford himself that makes shock waves when hit against a surface. He transformed his right arm into various assortments of long ranged weapons. Metallic tentacles grow out his back.

“Everyone.” Winford tells his allies. “The operation begins now!”

One guy teleported away to the surface. He then launches a red smoke signal into the air. It was then that thousands of transmutation circles show up around the city at the same time. Multiple robots of many shapes and sizes show up. Null could hear the rampaging and screams from even down there.

'Well then.' Null thinks. 'Things escalated waaaay too quickly.'

-----------------

Author's Note: Those silly robots and their hi jinks. They just conveniently forgot Asimov's laws. Pranksters.