The Gene of the Ancients (Rogue Merchant Book #2): LitRPG Series by Roman Prokofiev (top books to read TXT) 📕

several seconds, Dargesh crushed most of the sturdy furniture in the inn. I was fast enough to run up the mountain of tables, chairs, and benches and in a truly catlike somersault, move aside, blocking the Steel Guard from the exit.

“Don’t aggro, Dargesh! Fall back!”

Dammit. They were smart. They didn’t attack me, knowing that in ten seconds, that would trigger the appearance of NPC guards who would slice them into little pieces. Truth be told, that’s what I had counted on when I started the fight. As it was, lack of aggression, even despite the red nicknames, meant that the guards would take their time getting there.

I aimed the tip of my flaming sword at the retreating couple. Fiery Lightning! A stream of blue flame sprang at the target, but they seemed to have been waiting for it, as they immediately dodged with the true fire only burning a huge hole in the wall. The second lightning was reflected by the ogre’s black shield. Suddenly, he propped it against the floor and stopped, Roa hiding behind his back. A strange dome enveloped them, and I saw my reflection in its mirrored surface. A moment later, it faded away, the shapes of Roa and Dargesh growing dim. I had already seen that animation. They were escaping with the help of Soul Stones, and I had less than ten seconds left to interrupt the casting.

One more Fiery Lightning came from the sword, hitting the ogre head-on. Before I could understand anything, a flash in front of me slammed me back across the entire room, smashing me into the opposite wall. I crumpled to the floor, wincing with pain, and the sword in my hand twinkled, shrouded in an acrid cloud of powder fumes. The Pandas, still unharmed, finally faded away, having fled via Soul Stones. What in the damnation had just happened? Why didn’t the Fiery Lightning work?

Frowning, I got up and opened the combat log. A red line immediately drew my attention.

“Fiery Lightning” was reflected by “Mirror!”

 

“Mirror.” So that was that dome animation. Apparently, that was a scroll or an ability of the ogre’s equipment — a spell reflecting magical attacks. I had heard about it. It wasn’t especially popular: the maximum chance of reflection was around 60-65%, and that’s for the most powerful water mages. It wasn’t nearly enough. So they were simply lucky to have Mirror reflect my Fiery Lightning, and I was lucky that the retaliation was aimed not at me, but at the sword that I had reflexively held in front of myself. Otherwise, I would have been blinded by my own skill...what a shame. Kirana’s voice drew me out of my stupor.

“So you’re a wild sort, Sir Cat!” the innkeeper’s daughter spoke up with a hint of admiration as she surveyed the destroyed room. “I hope you’ll pay for the damages?”

The first floor of Karn’s tavern was completely demolished. The furniture was broken and sprawled around, pieces of kitchenware crunched underfoot, and curious onlookers were already peeking into the smoldering hole created by the Fiery Lightning.

“Me? But I haven’t broken anything!” I objected.

“But it was you who started the fight,” Kirana retorted reasonably. “And then, the ruffians are gone, and you’re here. That means you’re the one to pay.”

That was some airtight logic. Looking at my long face, the girl laughed, dived into the pocket of her apron, and pulled out a small sealed envelope.

“Oh, I’ve almost forgotten. There’s a letter for you here.”

It was sent by Weldy: I immediately recognized her round childlike handwriting and the painstakingly drawn vignette serving as her signature. The girl from the magic shop was asking me to come as soon as I could.

Merciless Karn counted down the damages at five hundred and forty gold coins. Grudgingly, I paid it and went outside. The Pandas’ visit left a bad taste in my mouth, and I really needed to feel something nice. Maybe I should go to Weldy, if she was inviting me? Especially since the deadline for her quest had long since been over.

* * *

 

Upon entering the magic shop, I saw a crowd of customers — mostly NPCs and newbies drawn in by word of mouth. When they left, Weldy barraged me with a pile of news. She looked tired, but her eyes shone like two emeralds.

Quest completed: Business Plan for Weldy.

 

You receive 10,000 XP!

 

Your reputation with Weldy Nialit increased by 500! Current value: 40/3000 (Revered)

 

Everything was fine. The shop’s weekly revenue was more than a thousand gold, buyers came in droves, and shipments of elixirs got delivered to the castle without fail. Moreover, Weldy had managed to get the herbalist from Davna to brew rare potions just for her.

“Imagine, HotCat, I will be the only one to sell them!” she was telling me, fire in her eyes. “In the entire city!”

“I’ve no idea how you talked down that old hag,” I couldn’t help but say. The ill temper of the herb-wife from Davna was a well-known fact.

“Don’t say that, she’s a good woman, in her heart. She just doesn’t have a family,” Weldy replied with a sigh. “But I found a way to connect with her! I have an aunt just like her in Ardat. I know how to approach old maids.”

She laughed, clear as a bell, revealing cute dimples on her cheeks. Weldy was truly an amazing sight, even if she wasn’t exactly my type — short, not especially thin, and a blonde to boot. Usually, I preferred tall, willowy brunettes, yet somehow, I still liked the girl from the magic shop, whether for her sweet voice, huge green eyes on her adorable face, or those dimples that always showed up when she smiled.

“You’ll be her exclusive representative in Eyre,” I said.

“Ex...what? Oh, Sir HotCat, stop scaring a poor girl with such confusing words. I’d