Volume 3 Chapter 106 Infiltration Operation I
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”So, the plan is to rescue Mr. Rean and Ms. Vestacia by infiltrating the ‘Storm Herd’ campsite.”
Just past midnight, Kian entered the dream world Priscilla created and was reporting the current situation to Maribel and Priscilla in a small house.
Outside, the weather was clear and birds were chirping.
In this dream world, there was no rain or night.
Across from Kian, Maribel, wrapped in a pale pink negligee, and Priscilla, dressed in a deep blue witch outfit, listened intently to Kian’s words with serious expressions. Maribel worriedly furrowed her brow, while Priscilla anxiously shifted her body from side to side.
After hearing Kian out, Priscilla let out a long sigh and intertwined her fingers on the table.
”I think we should stop the infiltration into the camp. If we’re not careful, we’ll end up as mummies ourselves.”
”We do have a chance of winning.”
”Kian, you mustn’t push yourself. There’s no one who can replace you.”
”Wasn’t it Your Excellency who sent me here?”
”Yes, that’s right. But I didn’t think it would become so important. If I lose you, I’ll lose all hope of living.”
”That’s an exaggeration.”
”Really~ it’s true.”
”Shouldn’t we contact Gonzales and Friedrich first?”
”Gonzales is the guild master of the Adventurer’s Guild in Izerland, and Friedrich is the guild master in East End,” Priscilla continued.
”Well, their mission is to find and rescue the Gray Bear’s Group and Lion’s Companion. The Gray Bear’s Group has been fully protected and turned over to the Guild. They only need to rescue Lyritisse and Ninini from Lion’s Companion. Rean’s location is known too. It should be enough now.”
”But the rescue of Mr. Rean and the search for Ms. Vestacia still haven’t happened. Your Excellency, if we wait for the Guild to step in, Mr. Rean and Ms. Vestacia might die.”
”If the magician of the Storm Herd, the breed called Barghest, fought Lord Kian with the lich, then Vestacia may also have been turned into a thorn monster hatchery, like Lyritisse. If that’s true, it’s very dangerous. But Rean…”
”When he was bound, he was pierced in the belly with a spear. If he’s left lying in a cold, damp camp tent, he’ll die from some disease. Rean is in a much worse state.”
Kian’s words made Priscilla and Maribel look at each other.
”Um, just between us, I don’t really care what happens to Rean.”
”Oh, Your Excellency, that’s not a good thing to say.”
”Yeah, just between us. Honestly, he’s just an East End adventurer. If he dies, it’s no big deal to me. Priscilla, what do you think? Do you need Rean?”
”Châtillon doesn’t care either. I have some questions for him personally, but I don’t really insist on meeting him to talk.”
”That’s just your opinion, you two. Mr. Gonzales and Mr. Friedrich probably think differently.”
”Well, as far as the Guild is concerned, he’s a valuable fighter. How many Rank 1 Adventurers are there, again?”
”In the Franz Kingdom, there are said to be 28 of them. Around East End, the ‘Lion’s Companion’ is the only Rank 1 Adventurer party, you know? For a semi-public Guild, they’re a key card in both political and military terms against the government.”
”Ah, so it’s better if the ‘Lion’s Companion,’ Rean and his crew, just disappear, right?”
At Kian’s word, Priscilla’s light-hearted comment drew a cold, hard gaze from Maribel.
They had always had terrible chemistry, mostly due to Priscilla’s actions, which Maribel seemed to deeply resent.
But did Priscilla know this and do it on purpose?
”With those 2 around, some of Châtillon’s forts would fall in no time. As a representative of Châtillon, it might be better if Rean and Vestacia were to die──”
(Asking these two is a dead end.)
Kian let out a silent sigh in his heart.
”Then, Your Excellency, should I just stand by here?”
”No, I cannot force you. The clients who requested the rescue are Gonzales and Friedrich. I cannot simply order you around. You are not my knight, are you? And you wouldn’t listen to my commands anyway. You didn’t become the Defense Minister of Izerland, did you?”
”Well, if I became the Defense Minister, I’d sprout horns. I’m an Azraelian, after all.”
”Race should not matter.”
”Even if it doesn’t concern Your Excellency, the bureaucrats and nobles around you will care.”
At Kian’s words, Maribel’s face tensed up, and she fell silent.
She used to keep these feelings under wraps, but lately, she’s been showing them more and more openly, especially in front of Kian.
It’s becoming a problem, and she wishes she could stop.
”I also can’t stop Lord Kian if he thinks he has a good chance. Honestly, I want him to stop, but… well.”
”Sorry. Once I take on a job, I give it my all—that’s my principle.”
”I understand. That’s why elder brother also likes Lord Kian.”
”Anyway, keep investigating Owl’s movements, Kian. The monster with thorns that Kian claimed to have met is suspicious, but we haven’t fully doubted Owl yet. Find solid proof that Owl isn’t draining the townsfolk’s blood──proof that he’s not the one causing the Bloodsucking Kind fuss.”
(Sounds like she’s basically telling me to solve this entire case…)
”LordKian? Are you sure? Gaining points in the Guild is good, but next, show me some results. If you think Maribel will just smile and forgive you, think again. You might have to make it up to us in other ways.”
”Understood. I will do my best.”
”‘I understand.’ Make sure you give us your word.”
”Yes, I’ll deliver results. You can count on me.”
”Then I have nothing more to say. I trust in your skill.”
”Ah, ah… someday I’ll really become Defense Minister, huh.”
Hopefully, that won’t happen.
If he refuses, he probably won’t get stuck in some weird position.
”Lord Kian, if you encounter the thorn monster again, bring back a sample. Also, keep investigating the corpse that rose again.”
”Yes, Ms. Priscilla.”
”Our side just handed over the ‘Gray Bear’s Group’ safely to the Guild. For Lyritisse, it turns out some monster cells are still inside her, so we’re treating her with medicine to remove them. Progress is going well. She should be able to return to East End in a few days.”
”Are Natra and Rufna working properly?”
”Thanks to them, we can sleep soundly. But if you need reinforcements, just ask.”
”No, this will do. Please tell them not to let their guard down.”
Maribel and Priscilla haven’t been told, but since the spirit of the Black Onyx sealed Count Cain’s domain and this world are somehow connected──or were at some point──it’s not certain that the thorny creatures won’t appear near the ancient temple where Priscilla is.
Plus, with the possibility of Rich’s attacks, the ancient temple remains a dangerous place.
”That’s all the report.”
”Thank you for your hard work, Kian. It’s a tough mission, but I believe you can handle it since you managed to break Oswald.”
”We’re cheering for you, Lord Kian. Take care, then.”
Kian stood up, gave a warrior monk-style bow to the two, and touched Priscilla’s necklace.
The dream world quickly faded into the distance as Kian was pulled back into the real world.
* * *
When he opened his eyes, Kian was in a dark, small cabin.
It was a rough storage shed borrowed from the village head.
He climbed down from the straw bed and opened the cabin door.
The village was quiet, with not a single light on.
Kian walked towards the river and approached Sarah and Serena, who were doing something by the riverbank.
”What about this distance?”
”Can’t smell it.”
”Not even at this distance?”
”Still can’t smell it.”
Sarah nodded once and dropped the brown bag she was holding at her feet.
”How about this?”
”If I focus, I can smell Ms. Sarah’s scent.”
”Impressive sense of smell, Ms. Serena.”
”──Sarah, Serena”
”Kian”
Sarah ran over to him, her hands still wet from the river.
Serena approached as well.
”What about Her Excellency Maribel?”
”She’s going through with it. Permission for the rescue operation was granted.”
”That’s right. We’re doing this.”
Serena said with a determined look on her face.
”Yeah. Let’s plan the details. What were you two doing?”
”We were testing the wolfmen’s sense of smell.”
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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