Dungeon Raider System
Chapter 714 - 714: The souls conundrum Part 2

Nika's statement was met with Uriel's skepticism, not only because she wasn't interested in archaeology, but because the book of the dead was an enigmatic artifact that had puzzled Uriel ever since he acquired it.

Abilities aside, its content was obscure and although he could understand the ancient glyphs that gave birth to all modern languages, the contents of the book were a mystery. The same applied for its origin and history despite Uriel dedicating a long time to research about it in the library.

The closest thing he had found were the dead sea scrolls, though he deduced they were inspired on the cursed book that now rested in his museum.

"Why are you giving me that look?" Nika asked offended.

"I don't intend to be mean, but..."

"Here we go with the patronizing tone again." Nika scoffed.

"Put yourself in my shoes, would you believe me if I told you I knew more than you in... in... what is your field of study anyway?" Uriel asked in genuine confusion.

"I'm not a nerd, okay? I just kick ass while looking pretty in my shorts." She crossed her arms and puffed her chest out in pride.

"I knew you were cold, but I never expected you to be so callous about someone's suffering. Is it really okay for you to disregard Nika's contributions just because she isn't smart?" Alice said in disbelief.

"See? The new girl knows what she's talking about...," Nika nodded, then continued once her last words sunk in. "What do you mean I'm not smart."

"You're very pretty Miss Nika." Alice's empty flattery worked like a charm and Nika completely forgot why she was mad in the first place.

"Yeah, she's cute when she acts like that," Uriel followed on Alice's obvious scheme. "but I don't see how you can help with this research."

"I have contacts." Nika stated with sharp eyes, suspecting foul play but failing to put her finger on it.

"What kind of contacts?" Uriel had his interest piqued realizing that they did spend a long time separated and Nika meeting someone more capable or with privileged knowledge wasn't impossible.

"The kind of contact who you don't want to deal with. I can arrange a meeting, but you will have to promise me you'll behave. This means no killing, no torturing and being polite."

"Fine..." Uriel grunted because that left him almost zero negotiating tools.

"Also, you won't punish me if things go wrong, if you don't like my contact or if it doesn't help." Nika said with a grin.

"You're pushing your luck too far." Uriel's eyes glinted in blue for a brief moment, but Nika knew he was bluffing and she had won the negotiation the moment Uriel declared out loud he didn't even know where to begin.

"Take it or leave it."

"Alright, who's this person." Uriel lifted his hands in surrender.

"You'll know when you have to know," Nika tapped on her cellphone a couple times then started texting someone. She kept a serious expression the entire time and remained focused, which told Uriel whoever this person was it had to be a big deal. "He says he can meet us tonight at the 'Moody Trudie' and to bring cash."

Uriel was already wary, but asking to meet at a bar located in the slums told Uriel all he needed to confirm his suspicions of the shady character of the person they were about to meet, yet instead of making him second guess his decision it actually made him believe there was a chance it could be helpful.

Despite most of his knowledge about ancient artifacts coming from his studies, the past few months made him aware that people who dealt with artifacts weren't usually law abiding citizens and it was most often than not the opposite.

Throughout history the most valuable artifacts had made their way into rich people's hands only thanks to looters and smugglers. Art pieces, sacred figurines and even mummies were considered as luxury items by the wealthy families even before the arrival.

"Tonight as in... past curfew?" Alice stuttered.

"It's fine if you don't want to come." Uriel shrugged.

"I think it should be a good experience for her to come with. Besides, I think she will want to meet my contact." Nika said with her typical mischievous grin.

After a day making preparations among which was to draw a suitcase's worth of credits in cash from the bank, the three hunters went to the appointed location. They sat on a table and a tough looking waitress with a no nonsense attitude came up to them.

"If you're not going to order, then scram." She scoffed.

"The usual." Said Nika to the waitress who after recognizing her immediately shifted her attitude.

"Of course, I'll be right back!" The woman rushed in and out of the bar coming back with enough beer to put down a horse.

"Nika, we're not here to get drunk." Uriel said through gritted teeth.

"We need to blend in, you're drawing too much attention." She said as she merrily poured herself some of the beer.

Uriel was anxious as he didn't know what to expect. It was almost curfew and after that, anyone who remained inside the bar would be forced to remain inside. This meant that Nika's contact was either already in there or about to enter, but no matter how hard Uriel focused on his mystical sense there weren't any powerful hunters nearby other than the two sitting on his table.

However, things changed at the exact time of the curfew when a tall muscular man wearing a long silver embroidered black cape with shoulderpads walked in. He was a heavenly rank hunter and a powerful one at that, he was also handsome, but more importantly, it was someone Uriel knew.

"Fuck off!" Uriel said as tipped the table in front of him and grabbed his revolver ready to open fire should the newcomer take one step more towards them.

"Hey, you promised!" Nika said as she attempted to keep Uriel under control.

"Yeah, but you didn't tell me your contact was Soul fucking fire!"

"Evening." The handsome man said with an awkward smile.