Rowan didn't dismantle the traps as Sera expected him to. Instead, he merely flicked his hand, and both traps reacted instantly from his mana. The first trap, a needle embedded in the door handle, plucked itself and disintegrated into black dust. In contrast, the second one was a paralysis rune hiding beneath a massive rug, writhing and dissolved as if consumed by the shadow.
The system immediately analyzed his actions.
[ABILITY LOGGED: "VOID CONSUMPTION"]
» Target does not dispel magic; he nullifies it by erasing its existence from the local mana field.
» Classification: Tier 4 Abyssal Magic. Previously thought theoretical.
» VP OPPORTUNITY: [+400 VP] - Blackmail target with this knowledge.
[IMMEDIATE THREAT: NONE. Target shows no hostile intent... for now.]
Sera was stunned into silence. This was a power on a level she didn't know Rowan possessed. As she looked at him, her mind tried to comprehend the implications of what she'd just witnessed. Even she wasn't capable of utilizing Abyssal Magic at that level.
Rowan had always been enigmatic, a person whose background and extent of power Sera never had a chance to fully understand in her previous life. He was known as the cold, silent, and analytical prodigy of the magic tower, and perhaps Sera was lucky she never had to cross paths with him in a battle.
She remembered their countless conversations, their debates about the strengths and weaknesses of their magic, and the way he often downplayed his abilities and acknowledged his strength.
Sera had hated how rigidly righteous and principled he was. Rowan always obeys the rules, always being the one who keeps everyone and everything in order. To her, Rowan's adherence to rules and principles felt stifling, as if he were more concerned with maintaining the order than allowing changes that life sometimes demands.
In her eyes, life wasn't always following a strict code of conduct. Life itself wasn't perfect and full of constant changes. While Rowan sought stability, Sera craved freedom to explore the unknown, challenging the norm at the same time, even if it meant challenging the status quo that Rowan was so dedicated to upholding.
Rowan turned to her, his expression unreadable. The dim light of her quarters cast a shadow over his handsome features, making it difficult for Sera to discern his thoughts. His light blond hair, which was usually vibrant and lively in daylight, seemed to lose its luster as he stood in the middle of her quarters.
It was also at that moment that Sera noticed that he was wearing the colors of the de Lys family.
"Satisfied?"
Sera recovered from her shock and smirked at Rowan.
"Almost. There's a third. In the wardrobe. A listening enchantment. Be a dear and crush that one for me, too, Sir Ashgrave."
Of course, she was lying. The system only mentioned two traps set inside the room. It was just yet another test of how familiar he was with the traps made by the Argenthals.
[BLUFF INITIATED: "THIRD TRAP"]
» Success Hinge: Does the target have prior knowledge of Argenthal involvement?
» Target's Physiological Response: Heart rate steady. Pupils unchanged. He already knew.
Rowan glared at her. He turned to the wardrobe and repeated the gesture. A faint spider-web crack appeared on the wardrobe door as the non-existent enchantment was "erased."
» CONCLUSION: TARGET IS AWARE OF THE ARGENTHAL PLOT AND IS COVERING FOR YOU.
[REWARD: +150 VP] - For successful extraction of critical intelligence.
Rowan looked at her, and for the first time, not with hostility or confusion, but with a grim annoyance at her audacity. He knew she tricked him into revealing his knowledge.
"Your room is clean," he said, his voice low. "Try not to burn the house down. The curtains are new."
He then left Sera without another word.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
ENCOUNTER: "THE ASHGRAVE AUDIT" - COMPLETE
» Void Consumption Analysis (Tier 4 Abyssal Magic Identified): +400 VP
» Critical Intel Extraction (Bluff Successful - Confirmed Argenthal Awareness): +150 VP
» TOTAL VP GAINED: +550 VP
» CURRENT VP: 900 (350 + 550)
» ASSESSMENT: A masterful display of tactical deception. You have quantified a previously unmeasured threat (Ashgrave), confirmed a key ally's intelligence network, and exposed a layer of the Argenthal plot without lifting a finger. Efficiency rating: 98%.
[TRAIT EVOLVED: "MASTERFUL DECEIVER" → "SHADOW WEAVER"]
» Your proficiency in manipulating high-intelligence targets has surpassed expectations. You now understand the value of information as a weapon sharper than any spell.
» New Passive Unlocked: 'Calculated Risk" - The system will now pre-calculate the success probability of bluffs against targets whose psychological profiles you have partially unlocked.
» VP BONUS UPGRADED: Successful high-stakes bluffs now yield a 15% bonus on top of the base VP reward.
Sera had not expected that her interaction with Rowan would give her a massive boost to earn points. It didn't occur to her that exposing one's ability or secret would also lead to the system acknowledging one's success.
She moved to the massive window, its glass cool beneath her fingertips as she discreetly looked outside. She could see several guards roaming the area, probably trying to secure the perimeter to ensure she wouldn't leave the premises.
It was only then that she felt exhaustion settling upon her. The adrenaline that had kept her alert from the moment she regained her body began to wane, replaced by an overwhelming sense of fatigue that slowly reminded her of the next obstacle awaiting her.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
SHOP INTERFACE: [ERROR]//DELAYED SYNC
» ANALYSIS: User accrued Vengeance Points at a rate exceeding initial protocol forecasts. Buffer overflow detected in the reward allocation matrix.
» CORRECTIVE ACTION: Retroactively unlocking feature upon threshold recognition.
REWARD UNLOCKED: [BLACK MARKET WARES]
Access Granted at 900/1000 VP (Tier 1)
A new resource is available. Trade your vengeance for power, secrets, and ruin. Browse our... unique inventory.
NOTICE: A backlog bonus has been applied for missed early-tier access.
>> ONE-TIME "FIRE SALE" TOKEN AWARDED <<
Use it to claim a 50% discount on any one Tier 1 or Tier 2 item.
WARNING: The Shop deals in bloodmarked wares and demonic favors. Frequent use attracts... attention.
Sera was startled for a moment, surprised that the system would divulge such important information at such a time. However, as she looked at the interface of the shop displayed before her, her curiosity won over her exhaustion.