Banshee? No, an ogre!

Chapter 14: Beneath the mask

I am a fish.

An electric eel. Ever since I was born, I have been fighting a daily battle for survival against the shrimps and smaller fish.

I hunt them.

If I catch them, I can feast; if not, I go hungry.

Until the day I met a giant.

Something caught me.

Then I was crammed into a tiny space - and it was the first time I had ever seen so many of my kind.

Although it was a bit cramped and difficult to move around, the feeling of being able to eat every day without having to move much seemed pretty good.

Until I encountered that thing that grabbed me again. This time I wasn't going to let it get to me so easily!

I used all my strength and tried to resist with my invincible electric current, but...

I got caught.

Why?

As an electric eel, I can still electrocute myself...

I'm not an adult yet, I haven't left any offspring...

I haven't... become a male yet.

(Note: Cold knowledge: Electric eels are born female and become male when they reach adulthood, but this is not fixed. Electric eels can change s*x due to the environment - when population density is high and food is scarce, electric eels become female and vice versa. )

...

Phew... This memory digestion is indeed much easier.

Og wiped his forehead, but noticed that he didn't even sweat much during this 'memory digestion'.

It seems that his various deductions are valid.

As long as the object of digestion is smaller than himself and alive, the effect on himself will be much less.

The continuous consumption of discharge is indeed a bit excessive, and I actually fell asleep while meditating...

Og clenched his fists and then danced a few punches in the air.

The sound of the fists hitting the air made Og realise.

The strength he had lost before had returned, and even when he felt it carefully, it seemed to have improved slightly.

This was just the result of the first training.

I'm stronger again, I can't wait for the next feeding. Oug pulled back his fist and opened his palm, a blue electric current flickering on the tips of a few fingers.

After absorbing the electric eel's memories,

Oug's mastery of electricity had also improved slightly, becoming more refined.

After moving his joints a little, Ouge began to tidy up the room more carefully and put on his equipment.

Yesterday's clothes and inner armour had become rubbish.

So Ouge replaced them with a set of clothes that were still inconspicuous, and the overall colour scheme was grey - it had the feeling of having faded after being washed many times.

After attaching the sleeve sword and donning the black robe often worn by the ascetics and believers of the Dawn Church, he did feel a little more professional.

It's just that his face is too pretty, which makes him seem less threatening.

'It's about time I met the rich guy I met yesterday...' Og said to himself as he stood in front of the metal mirror, before tying his hair into a ponytail.

Then he opened the secret drawer under the counter and took out a jar of gelatinous substance - his skin wax for disguise, which was even more effective than a homemade human skin mask, although it didn't last as long.

Soon, with skilful application of the disguise,

the 'stunning girl' in the mirror was gradually transformed into a nondescript teenager.

After experimenting with a few expressions in the mirror, Oug was satisfied.

After removing the rest of the equipment and putting everything back in its place, Oug set off, not forgetting to take the gold coins before he left.

...

Oug, what strange equipment are you making this time? The dwarf blacksmith in the gladiatorial arena knew there was work to be done as soon as he saw the mask.

I need a thin iron chain of sufficient strength,' Oug said, taking out the small hammer he had made earlier at the blacksmith's. 'Make it from this standard material, and I want a machine buckle at the end of the chain to attach to the end of the hammer.

Og said, removing the gauntlet from his right hand. Unlike the sword on his left hand, the device hidden in the gauntlet on his right hand was a rope.

It was used to adjust the hammering technique - for example, when throwing a towline.

I would like to replace this device with a chain,' Og took the spirits he had just bought today out of his pocket and handed them to me along with the gauntlet.

Oh, Odin's beard, where do you get such strange ideas? The rope you're using is made from the sinews of a hybrid aroloth, and the chain is not easy to load and recycle, not to mention that it's not so tough...' the dwarf blacksmith thought.

The dwarf blacksmith thought he knew the gourmet's preferences well enough, but he was wrong.

What if I insist on using metal? Ogg really didn't have a good handle on the chain.

But his hammering technique was still good.

So the idea of running electricity through the chain came up again.

Are you thinking of using it as a whip? Or is it just for the strength of the metal?' the dwarf blacksmith asked.

'Well, I have some ideas about both,' Ogg thought, and decided that it was probably a good idea.

But it shouldn't be in the form of a chain, and fine iron isn't a good choice either. It would be better to just fill the dragon sinew with soft silver and soak it in a potion. It would be strong enough, but the flexibility would be compromised," the dwarf blacksmith suggested.

If you fill it with something... will it conduct electricity? Oug asked the key question.

Conduct electricity? You can do that by mixing in some mithril powder, but what do you want that effect for?' the dwarf smith asked curiously.

I want to use it to counter lightning magic attacks,' Oug said casually, making up an excuse.

Dwarf smith: '...'

Oh, Odin's beard, I really can't understand the minds of young people. All right, just leave the equipment with me and come and get it tomorrow. I'll have my friends at the Church of Truth modify it. It will cost you 17 gold and 46 silver. Do you want to pay now or sign a contract and have it deducted from your wages?

The dwarf blacksmith knew that the gourmet was making excuses, but since the other party refused to say, he couldn't ask.

Is it that expensive? The tools I have in my hands are not that expensive. Soft silver is not expensive, I'm not well read, so don't lie to me.

Because he had spent so much money last night, Oug wanted to save money.

I swear to Odin, I'm not lying to you. This is a fair price for the wine. It's just that the mithril powder is a bit more expensive. If you don't mind the so-called conductive effect, it can be even cheaper...'

No, no, no, I'll pay the full price. Oug looked at the dwarf smith's worried expression and understood that the other party was not trying to rip him off.

'No bargaining... It seems I'm not cut out for this. Fortunately, Oug had brought enough money with him before he left: "Pay now, I'm not used to being in debt.

When the dwarf blacksmith saw Oug taking out the money, the look on his face, with his moustache tucked in, immediately became flattering: "I knew it, you have the capital for that, you must have made a lot of money recently - that's preparing for the impact of a professional, isn't it?

Watching the dwarf's expression change, Oug thought for a moment he was looking at a gnome, if it weren't for the other man's trademark orange-red beard.

Forget it, I got ripped off by a black merchant yesterday. Fewer and fewer people are challenging me these days, so I have to go out and make some extra money.

Oug's job in the gladiatorial arena is to guard the ring and occasionally stage exhibition fights - against monsters, for example.

He usually only works in the mornings, and if he doesn't get a job, like today, he just leaves.

After all, Ogg is a free man, not a slave.

When Ogg first came to town, some people tried to sell him as a slave because he had no one to rely on, but those people are all dead now.

I wish you a speedy promotion,' said the dwarf blacksmith, taking the flask of spirits Ogg had delivered earlier.

'I hope so. Ogg straightened his armoured hand, pulled up his sleeve and pulled the hood over his head, then left the equipment area of the coliseum.

...

'Wait, Gourmet!' Just as Ogg was about to leave the coliseum, the fat former ringmaster caught up with him, panting.

'What is it? What's the matter?' Ogg asked sternly.

'The authorities intend to send you to the great city of Meteor, where the apprentice coliseum is no longer suitable for you...'

'I don't want to go.'

Ouge refused without hesitation. What a joke. He would have to wait here, at least until the priest taught him the secrets of the Heart Imager.

Even if he went out, he wouldn't go to a Meteor City. Ouge still had to go to Seris to get the f*******n potion.

Don't be so quick to refuse. The Organisation just wants to train you better. If you agree, the organisation will arrange for a senior martial artist to help you balance the three qi...'

The words of the fat person in charge were indeed very tempting to the former Ouge.

But things are different now. Ouge has given up his martial arts career.

He knows that his Three Qis cannot be successfully tempered with simple tempering.

You mean I don't have to fight here anymore? Ouge asked in return.

'Well, sort of. After all, you'll be leaving soon...'

The fat leader's words were interrupted by Ouge: 'Let me think about it. I still have some unfinished business here.

What a joke, Oog would never agree to such a condition.

He could be made to work, but he would never sell himself!

A contract of this magnitude would definitely be signed, and if he signed this thing and then broke the contract, he would not be protected by the laws of the city.

How long will it take? The fat leader asked unconsciously.

'A month or so at the most,' Oog said, straightening his mottled mask.

'No, that's too long, we have to sign it quickly...' The fat leader's voice sounded a bit hurried, as this was a task assigned by his superiors...

Then I'll give you an answer within a week, but I'm sure I'll be here for more than a month. Oug's voice under the mask was as calm as ever.

Okay... that's fine.

Seeing that, the fat leader also understood that he really couldn't force him - the boy was a popular figure and he didn't know if Oug would look good if he got angry, but he definitely wouldn't get off lightly.

Then I'll come and see you in a few days, I've still got my equipment here.

Og turned and headed straight for the edge.

In his heart he already knew the answer.

It seems I can't use this identity here, and I can't use this face either.

Og had used a false face so that he could escape at any time. The people in the gladiatorial arena could certainly find out about Og's identity in the city and his relationship with Yade.

But they would never have guessed.

A guy wearing a mask, and underneath that mask, there was another mask.

It was too easy for Ouge to disappear. A quick trip to the Demon Forest or the Black Market's teleportation array would get him out of there. If necessary, Ouge could leave everything behind.

But it wasn't time yet.

What to do now, well...

That was also very simple - make money.

Whether it was buying the f*******n magic potion or preparing for the next step in his career, it all required money.

Thinking about it, Oug looked in the direction of the Association of Professionals, and a rare smile appeared at the corner of his mouth under his mask.

It is time to meet the rich noble young master from the outer city.