"I would definitely appreciate that." Valyr chuckled in response.
"I like that you're so straightforward." Nodding, Jekyll let out a bit of chuckle as well. After that, his expression became solemn. "Knowing that you've inherited the legacy of someone like me, what is your opinion of the skill I've given you?"
"Are you talking about [Gambler's Discerning Eyes]?" Seeing the man in front of him nod in response to the question, Valyr pondered over his answer for a bit before opening his mouth. "First of all, I would like to say that the increase to my perception is definitely helpful, though it doesn't really change anything significant."
"If anything, the part about [Gambler's Discerning Eyes] that would be considered truly useful would be the hyperfocus ability that comes attached with it." Hearing these words, Jekyll nodded in agreement.
Valyr continued, "Thanks to the hyperfocus ability, I could see things in far finer detail than they would normally have, which I tend to use often whenever I have to smoothen out imperfections in the items I forge."
"Oh? You took a blacksmithing subclass?" Raising his eyebrow in slight surprise, Jekyll nodded in understanding. "Learning a production subclass while having a combat class as your main will definitely help you out in the long run. In more ways than one at that."
"It's the other way around, though?" Wryly smiling, Valyr went ahead and clarified to Jekyll that his production class was actually his main class. Unsurprisingly, that more than surprised the man, considering that the young man had achieved a level of strength exceeding the norm with a production class as his main class.
"Well, that makes sense." Though, after Valyr mentioned that his blacksmithing class was of a high rarity, it did not take long for Jekyll to accept things, nodding a few times in understanding as he proceeded to ask the young man before him a question.
"Since you often use the skill's hyperfocus ability in forging, I won't ask you anything about the ability from that perspective," said Jekyll to Valyr. "However, have you tried using the hyperfocus ability in combat before?"
"I... have not?" Pondering over the question for a bit, Valyr ultimately shook his head in response.
"You're missing out on quite a lot if that's the case," replied Jekyll, slightly grinning as he looked at Valyr. "From a blacksmith's perspective, the hyperfocus ability allows you to see imperfections on items."
"Uh huh." Valyr nodded in agreement.
"Then, from a gambler's perspective, the hyperfocus ability would allow you to see the dealer's tricks and sleight of hand, giving you higher chances of winning."
"That makes sense."
"Now, if you were to give such an ability to a fighter, what would they see?" Asking this question to the young man, Jekyll looked at Valyr with a calm smile, waiting for him to respond.
"Hmm..." Scratching the back of his head for a bit as he thought over the question, as if a switch had been flicked on in his mind, an answer arose to the surface of Valyr's mind as he responded.
"Would they be able to see... weak spots?"
"Exactly." Jekyll nodded while grinning. "As I am currently an owner of a gambling den, I've portrayed this skill of mine as a skill that would allow potential gamblers to gain an edge over their competitors."
"However, the true nature and power of this skill does not lie in gambling."
"It lies in hunting." At these words, the edge around Jekyll's irises turned a faint red as he began to intently stare at Valyr.
In less than an instant, Valyr felt like all of his weaknesses had been exposed in front of Jekyll, making him think that if Jekyll decided to make a move on him at this instant, he would have no way to retaliate.
"Do you see what I mean now?" Retracting his gaze from Valyr, Jekyll let out a bit of laughter, to which Valyr responded with a nod and awkward chuckle of his own.
"I really thought I was going to die there," said Valyr, to which Jekyll nodded in agreement.
"It's a type of side effect that comes alongside the eyes I use. Though, the intimidation it instills into enemies is generally a good thing."
"Anyways..." Taking in a deep breath, Jekyll stood up from his chair and proceeded to head to a deeper part within the gambling den, beckoning for Valyr to follow him. "How about we change those eyes you have that's more suited for gambling..."
"...to one that's more suited for hunting?"
...
"Well, getting here took a bit longer than I thought." Eventually arriving at the place where he wanted to bring Valyr, Jekyll let out a low sigh of relief as he looked at the young man behind him.
"Out of all the things I'd expected a gambling den to have, a training ground would definitely be one of the last things I'd expect." Gazing at the sight before them, Valyr was left at a slight loss for words.
In terms of area, the training ground before them spanned at least ten times larger than the portion of the den that was dedicated for gambling. Normally, a gambling den covering such an area would stick out like a sore thumb in the streets of Anadhar City.
Thus, Jekyll had the training ground be made underground.
"Alright, let's begin the process of transforming those eyes of yours." Walking a bit into the gravel floor of the training ground, Jekyll made his way to a nearby weapon rack and grabbed a wooden staff.
Getting a feel for its balance and weight, he then faintly nodded to himself before proceeding to do a series of basic movements with the staff. Naturally, this sight left Valyr watching with his mouth wide open, not expecting the man famed for his usage of the bow and arrow to be well-versed in the staff as well.
"Huuu..." Letting out a drawn-out sigh as he held the staff horizontally, Jekyll then called for Valyr's attention as he began to instruct the young man on what to do.
"For the first step of this transformation process, what you have to do..."
Thwack!
"...is land a single hit on my body."
