Her words were the same as Allen but her actions were a bit different. Instead of a salute, she folded her hands together, interlocking her fingers while letting out a smile on her face.
"Eh? Smile?" Mark was stunned once again. He thought she was expressionless like Allen but that was before she got activated. However, once she was activated, even Mark had trouble believing that she was an android, not a sweet girl from the next door.
"Is it because I named her Alina?" For a moment, Mark couldn't help but wonder considering the name of the word means bright, beautiful.
He proceeded to inspect her to check the details.
Name: Alina Spencer
Spirit Path: Assassin
Rank: 6-circle (Intermediate)
SKILLS:
Active:
Shadow Cloaking: Turn invisible for 60 seconds. In this state, the Android can also attack the enemies but can only escape the senses of 6-circle and below spirit warriors or beasts. CD: 30 minutes.
Short Teleportation: The Android can teleport a hundred meters away. CD: 30 seconds.
Shadow Daggers: The Android can absorb the natural energy and manifest twin energy daggers to slice the enemy at any time of the day. CD: 0 seconds
Twilight Shackles: The Android can absorb the natural energy and manifest three chains with a blade at their respective edges and pierce the enemy to inflict heavy damage. The enemy who was pierced by the chains will also lose their movement speed by 50% for five minutes as long as they are of 6-circle and below realm. CD: 10 minutes per chain.
Passive:
Aegis of Night: The Android's strength increases by 1 rank after the sunset and is immune to all curses.
Interrogation: The Android can openly bewitch the minds of any spirit warrior of 5-circle and lower realm with a simple talk and extract the needed information.
***
"No wonder I was attracted to her, despite knowing that she isn't human." Mark was obviously amazed by Alina's skill list. They were a lot different from Allen. The only thing that's a letdown is the passive skill. Allen may be weaker but he has a better passive skill.
While Alina's passive skills are something that everyone would want to have, according to Mark, Allen's passive skill of being immortal during daytime is superior.
"Big Brother, I'm waiting for your orders." Alina once again spoke in her usual sweet tone, making Mark extremely uncomfortable. For a moment, he regretted letting her address him as Big Brother.
But, then again, if she addresses him as Master with such a sweet yet seductive voice, it will be even more uncomfortable. Mark can't do anything to do with her personality but what he can do is to get used to her presence.
"Ah, Yes. Let's see..." Mark thought for a bit and asked, "Alina, do you have a distinctive map function?"
Alina nodded and proceeded to scan the place around. After ten seconds of silence, she spoke, "Big Brother, we are at the place called Tangxun Lake, 725 km from Imperial city and at the border of Jin Province. There's a village named Xingtai nearby, six kilometers away from here if we walk towards the south and cross the woods. But, if we go west and enter Sui Province, there's the town of Daqing, thirty-nine kilometers away. We can take rest in an inn."
Mark was surprised by the information she gave him. It's not that she managed to find the place names but it's more like she only spoke the necessary words, unlike Allen who will continue to blabber unnecessary things like at what latitude and longitude their position is, how many animals there are around, what types of animals are they, what types of trees they are, etc…
As for returning home, she never suggested it because Mark didn't want to go yet. After seeing the notifications popping up and how Allen was able to use his inventory despite being far away, he was confident that Allen could operate the store in his absence.
Mark wants to take this opportunity to take a few days of break and visit different cities and if possible, explore a dungeon.
"Let's go to Daqing." He walked towards the west as the Imperial city is also in the same direction.
And that's how both of them started to make a journey together. On the way, in order to make sure the stock was full, Mark continued his work of creating bullets and various types of firearms.
He also didn't forget about the new 20mm and 30mm ammunition. The former costs 2 gold coins per each with a 70% success rate and the latter costs about 3 gold coins with a 65% success rate.
Like with the machine gun of the Battle tank, there's also a mass creation option for both of them. The only thing that's an issue is the price. 20mm had a 250 round option with 500 gold coins of cost. As for the 30mm ammunition, it only had a 450 round option with 1350 gold coins of cost.
Mark knew that he couldn't afford them. So, he didn't dare to create bulk and so, he proceeded with normal.
By the time he reached the town, he made over a thousand of them each, increasing his overall debt to the system to 300 low-grade ether crystals (10 carats), and 873 gold coins.
Thankfully, the system only charges 1% monthly interest. It wouldn't hurt Mark even if his debt piling up. So, he too decided not to pay it.
"Big Brother, we are here," Alina informed him as they stood before the entrance of the town. There's no proper entrance like the Imperial city. The towns and villages weren't protected with walls and they don't have any security at the entrance. The public doesn't need to pay the toll fee too.
So, it was a free entrance to anyone whether he is a noble, commoner, or even a dacoit. Even inside the town spread over 10 sq. km, there are no patrolling soldiers. Whether it is the prefects or the soldiers, they were comfortably sitting at the law and enforcement building. If there's a crime registered by someone, they go and investigate, apprehend the criminal if the person is still in town, and then, go back.
In places like these, which are ruled by a minor noble clan, the crime rate and the corruption are sure to be high. The standard living of commoners here would be lower than even the poorest family living in the Imperial city.
Naturally, Mark and Alina attracted the attention of the passersby as they were walking in the streets while looking for the inn. Their outfits which are above average at best in Imperial city, here at Daqing city, they appeared wealthy. So, it wouldn't escape the eyes of the thieves living around.
After asking around, Mark found out that Xiong (Bear) Inn is the best place to stay. Meanwhile, a 19-year-old young man named Pan Tao, who looked decent by appearance, offered to take them to the place without asking anything in return.
As a cautious person, Mark did find such a noble act suspicious but with Alina on the side, he wouldn't care about petty tricks. Worst comes to worst, he'll kill him and leave the town. It's not a big deal.
On the way, Pan Tao tried to probe their intentions as they appeared to be wealthy commoners, "is it the first time you are here, Lord Lu?"
Mark nodded in response, "Yeah, is there anything we would like to be careful about?"
Pan Tao answered truthfully, "aside from big stores located in the town center, all the others will try to overcharge the outsiders for every good despite the low quality. There are a lot of thieves in this neighborhood. It's best to avoid the regions that are far away from the Meng Mansion.
But, then, it's not their fault. We live in such a world where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer every single day. So, the poor cannot afford to live by the morals."
Mark doesn't know whether he's a good person or if he's just putting up a façade to dupe him but at the very least, he knew that Pan Tao is a learned man.
Pan Tao continued, "Meng clan is also the absolute ruler of this town and they have connections with Sui clan, the rulers of Sui province. So, unless you have the strength or backing, it's best to be careful with them."
Mark stayed silent. He wasn't intimidated the least.
The three of them continued to walk forward for a couple of kilometers while looking around and reached a two-story inn. It was as big as a mansion.
"We are here, Lord Lu." Pan Tao bowed to him and excused himself.
Mark was surprised that he left just like that. Once the guy was out of sight, he turned around and walked forward, "let's go, Alina."
She nodded and followed him inside.
Meanwhile, Pan Tao continued to walk forward in silence without turning back or changing his pace. However, he wasn't going in the same direction he just came. Instead, he was taking several turns before reaching a secluded place that is full of rocks, trees, and little wild animals.
He stopped and closed his eyes, then, spoke out loud, "what are you guys, waiting for?"
In the next instant, four men in assassin outfits and masks landed on all sides, surrounding him.
The young man then commented, "That cousin of mine is really a fool to send low-level experts like you. He should have sent at least one 4-circle realm assassin."
One of them replied, "For a trash like you who can't even cultivate, even one of us his enough, Meng Tao."
The young man suddenly opened his eyes. Instead of black pupils, they were amber in color. All of a sudden, two handguns slide from his sleeves and come to his hands.
Letting out a grin, he replied, "We'll see."
