Volume 3 Chapter 108 Infiltration Operation III
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Kian descended into the western area of the ‘Storm Herd’ encampment.
That western part has a makeshift gate as the main entrance ── a place for traders and adventurers to come and go. There’s a waiting area and a small plaza. Compared to other sections, it has fewer tents and less cover to hide behind. But, because of a loud blast from the north-northwest toilet, the whole camp is chaotic. And strangely, there’s less watchfulness than expected.
(This should be easy.)
’Don’t get careless. That bad habit of yours will show up when you’re trying to use this one.’
Kian moves from shadow to shadow, going behind tents along the outside of the waiting area.
In the plaza, soldiers called Wolfmen are stomping around, shouting in common language.
”Wing Cain.”
The 3-layer barrier net above splits into 2, and then Kian gets the signal.
Wing Cain, who’s floating in the last section of the network, moves closer over Kian’s head.
Soon, Ninini, now buff and muscular from body-strengthening magic, drops down.
Ninini deployed something like a parachute, slowing her fall. She finally lets go of the device above her head and lands heavily next to Kian.
”Nya, I go!”
She whispers and then runs northwest.
Kian follows, running after her.
Sarah is on the other side of the camp, so she will join us late.
She’s destroying tents and causing chaos, heading this way.
If we find Vestacia along the way, protecting her takes priority over rescuing Rean. Only Kian and Ninini will handle Rean.
Ninini, ahead, nearly makes no sound with her footsteps.
She leaps gracefully from shadow to shadow, so fast that even Kian, without glasses, would have trouble keeping her in sight.
In just a few minutes, the two reach the northwest area and stop suddenly behind a certain sky tent.
”There it is-nya.”
Ninini leaned against the canvas wall of the tent and nodded toward the corridor.
The corridor was wide enough for 2 carts to pass side by side, with rows of tents tightly packed on either side.
Among the many identical white tents, there was one large, old tent standing out.
Two Wolfman soldiers stood at the entrance, keeping watch.
Both held spears upright and had curved swords, like falchions, hanging from their waists. Their armor, a fine mix of quality leather and Steel protecting vital areas, looked impressive. As the strongest mercenary group in the western territories, their gear was far superior to Maribel’s guard.
The two guards were massive──both over 2 meters tall──without any enhanced physical abilities. Yet, their muscles were thicker than Ninini’s, even in places she would never expect. Their thighs and calves were massive, as if they could leap with inhuman strength.
Their battle-worn faces, scarred from countless fights, marked them as seasoned warriors.
If they fought head-on, there was a real chance of losing.
’Use the Secret Technique. Aim for the neck.’
(No choice, I suppose.)
’I’m sure you know this, but don’t unsheath the sword. Strike with the scabbard.’
(Of course, understood.)
If the neck is severed, the smell of blood will give us away.
Even though the stench of the blasted public toilet is thick in the air, Serena’s sharp sense of smell will likely catch it.
So, use the scabbard to strike.
Just like when he broke Sarah’s neck in the illusion world, he’ll shatter and snap the cervical vertebrae.
”Tch, no way we can take them down-nya. …Hey, Kian. I’ll be the decoy. You slip inside the tent.”
”No, that’s a bad plan. Leave it to me.”
”What are you going to do?”
Kian burst from the shadows, leaving Ninini’s “I’m gonna do it-nya” behind. He activated his Secret Technique ‘Pursuit of the Shadow.’ Moving at super speed, he closed in on the two guards. He drew his long sword from its sheath at his waist and struck without mercy. The first guard’s head was fractured cleanly. The second guard’s neck was shattered by a returning slash.
The first guard’s neck muscles, the sternocleidomastoid, kept his head from snapping off like Sarah. But the impact was enough; he stumbled and fell to his knees. Kian struck again, smashing the living soldier’s cervical spine.
Both guards were taken down in a single leap.
Their necks were swollen and bleeding internally, but their skin wasn’t broken.
Surprisingly, the two had started to dodge as soon as Kian took a step with ‘Pursuit of the Shadow.’ Maybe they saw his sword technique, but they couldn’t escape the warrior monk’s skill──the essence of ‘Leap’ in the Secret Technique.
If not for the stench of feces or the brightness around, they might have evaded even his Secret Technique, just like the Rich before.
(These guys’ Future Sight is something to fear.)
Supporting the body of the man he killed first, Kian thought to himself.
(They react to Secret Techniques and ambushes. Their physical abilities are incredible, as expected from one of the strongest races in the Western world.)
”Drag them inside-nya.”
Ninini had already moved next to Kian and was pulling the body towards the tent. She must have been puzzled by Kian’s Secret Technique, but she dealt with it calmly.
Kian nodded and opened the tent’s entrance with his back. Ninini pulled the corpse through the gap, followed by Kian stepping inside.
”Roll it to the side. No need to hide it-nya.”
The body was thrown out right inside the door.
Ninini tossed the body before Kian could, then quickly moved toward the n*ked man chained to a thick pillar in the center of the large tent.
It was Rean.
A beautiful young man with shining blond hair and fair skin, the picture of a noble prince.
But now, the hero once called the champion of East End had no trace of his former glory. His golden hair was dirty, stained with grime and what looked like vomit. His shoulders, arms, and legs were wrapped in filthy bandages.
His wrists, stomach, and legs were firmly shackled with strong mithril chains.
The chains on his wrists were fastened to the rafters, while his leg chains were hammered into iron stakes in the ground. The chain around his stomach was connected to an iron ball behind him. They weren’t just tied to a post──they were bound with a level of care that showed serious caution. He must’ve put up quite a struggle.
”Rean…”
Ninini slapped the young man’s cheek.
”I came to help-nya.”
”Ugh…”
”These wounds-nya… Vomit and piss all over you… Damn it. I won’t forgive them-nya.”
Torture of prisoners is forbidden under international law.
Mercenaries may not always follow it, but there are no real consequences for breaking it, so many don’t care. Still, I’d expect at least basic treatment from a group like the ‘Storm Herd,’ given their status and honor in the Western world.
Kian was completely wrong about that. But at least Rean was still breathing, barely.
If they’d been a few days later, he might’ve starved to death. They barely made it in time.
”Should I cut the pillar?”
”No-nya. If the tent collapses, we’ll all end up in a rat trap-nya. I’ll unlock the chains-nya.”
(You’ve got to be kidding.)
The mithril chains had so many locks on them, it looked like something out of a bad comedy play.
Mithril’s magic resistance means magic won’t work, and I left the Windsong Blade behind, so cutting the chains is impossible. It’s clear the only way is to pick the locks, but it feels like a complete joke.
Kian approached the guard’s body and searched his pockets, but found no keyring. Meanwhile, Ninini had already started picking the lock.
”Give up, nya. I’ll handle this side. You take the other side, nya. Hurry.”
(Guess I have no choice.)
With snake-like agility, Kian climbed the tent pole and leaped onto the wooden beam. The mobile tent was surprisingly sturdy—a special custom-made structure.
It was so well-built that it was hard to understand why it needed to be special.
’It’s a tent for prisoners who should be treated with respect.’
(Sarcasm?)
Amid the chaos outside, Kian worked on the lock in the pitch-dark beam. It felt like harassment. Despite wearing ‘glasses,’ his hands trembled with anxiety.
If the enemy noticed the guard’s disappearance and entered now, how could he escape?
This sturdy tent was a complete cage.
If the entrance was blocked and more enemies—stronger than the two soldiers he’d defeated—rushed in, even Azrael’s Dance Swordsmanship wouldn’t be enough.
He had to unlock it before they were discovered, or they’d die.
Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his breathing grew shallow.
(It’s over.)
After unlocking the two locks on the beam, he moved to the opposite side to free the hand restraint.
”Vest has been captured.”
Below, Ninini struggled with the chain wrapped around his abdomen.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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