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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: selkie
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“Siadin, are you sure this is the meeting place?”
Sylvia Platier, whose short platinum hair left a strong impression, asked as her green eyes glimmered in the darkness.
Siadin of the Platinum Grass Tribe, who had come out from the forest to serve as her bodyguard and guide, scratched his chin and double-checked the map.
“It’s correct. This is the rendezvous point.”
“Then why is no one here?”
Sylvia murmured in a small voice. There were two possibilities to consider. First, that they had come to the wrong place. But Siadin had checked the map again, and Sylvia didn’t believe they were lost.
After all, she had brought along the best guide of the Platinum Grass Tribe, even risking the Second Prince’s hostility toward the World Tree.
[The One Who Walks Ahead.]
This would later become the great title she earned fighting by the protagonist’s side. It was proof the Second Prince had a better eye for talent than the Third.
“So, this must be the second case…”
She hoped it wasn’t.
“I give up. Please stop teasing me and come out now.”
Sylvia’s eyes trembled. It was a humiliating declaration. But it worked.
Figures clad in black began to emerge from the darkness one by one.
Though their faces were covered with masks, Sylvia knew who they were. They were the Second Prince’s subordinates.
“You can’t even sense something this minor?”
“I really wonder why His Highness favors such a weak elf.”
The assassins mocked her right to her face.
“Please hold it in.”
There was so much she wanted to say. She was furious. But she couldn’t say anything.
As she bit her lip hard enough to draw blood, Siadin stepped forward two paces and whispered softly, just loud enough for her to hear.
His voice was filled with concern, and the storm of emotions threatening to explode inside her calmed down rapidly.
She couldn’t lose her temper here.
For the sake of the World Tree, she had to endure. Right now, the only one holding the key was the Second Prince.
‘I’m a doll with no emotions.’
Like casting a spell, she whispered it to herself. For the World Tree. For her tribe. For the forest.
She had to become a puppet, one that could be controlled.
“You’ve been briefed, right?”
Amid the rain of mockery, a man stepped forward. He wore a dark badge on his leather armor, marking his rank as commander.
Sylvia wanted to nod without hesitation, if only to avoid the mocking gazes of the other assassins. But she couldn’t.
She had barely received any information.
She was only told they were heading to the Black Mountains to strike the Fifth Prince. That was all.
“If you could explain the plan, it would help greatly in guiding you.”
Sylvia asked humbly. She had no choice since the Second Prince held the leash of the World Tree.
Siadin bit his lip hard. Watching the noble descendant of the High Elves bow to someone as low as an assassin commander was unbearable. But he kept his eyes fixed on the scene, taking it all in.
He engraved the consequences of weakness deep into his mind.
“How much do you know?”
It was a blatant display of condescension. Sylvia’s smile faltered for a moment. But she had lived this kind of life for a while now.
She quickly regained her faint smile and lowered her gaze.
She was used to humbling herself.
“I only heard that we are heading to the Black Mountains to strike the Fifth Prince.”
“Hmph, that’s all you need to know.”
“Are we really going after the Fifth Prince? I heard the Blue and Red Tower Masters are by his side.”
The two towers weren’t quite as famous as the Ice Tower of the Haifel Empire, but they were still renowned within the Philios Empire.
Moreover, though he had only one arm, the commander of the elite guards was a former high-ranking knight. The Fifth Prince’s strength was not to be underestimated.
“That’s none of your concern.”
An assassin beside the commander snapped irritably.
But how could she not be concerned?
If they were annihilated, Sylvia, who was in charge of guiding them to the Fifth Prince, wouldn’t escape unscathed either.
“No, it’s better if this elf knows.”
The assassin commander spoke calmly to his subordinate, then turned his gaze to Sylvia.
“There will be others joining us in the Black Mountains. With their help, assassinating the Fifth Prince isn’t impossible.”
“I see. Thank you for letting me know.”
Though he hadn’t said more, Sylvia could easily guess who the ‘others’ were. They had to be the High Assassins of the Edryger Kingdom.
“Guide us well. Do that, and you’ll live long enough to enjoy that lengthy elven lifespan.”
The assassin commander’s cold words made Sylvia smile as she nodded.
Her smile hid a ruthless blade, but the man in front of her didn’t notice.
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“Elite guards, assemble!”
At Gestain’s command, twenty elite guards gathered around their lord, the Fifth Prince Raymond Philios, with fierce energy.
“The Blue and Red Tower’s forces are also ready.”
The Red Tower Master, Berenus Kyle, spoke calmly. Once the deployment to the border had been decided, the two Tower Masters had provided thirty-two magic knights and mid to high-ranking mages for the Fifth Prince.
Originally there had been thirty-nine, but seven had died in the Black Mountains.
“The Imperial Army takes the vanguard!”
The Imperial Army Commander, Cassias, shouted with a booming voice. One hundred Imperial Army troops stepped forward. They were ready, just awaiting the order to march.
Raymond slowly raised his right hand. Then he turned his head slightly to look behind.
At the end of his gaze stood Marquess Crayer and the nobles of his vassal family, all gathered outside the central city gates to see him off.
“Your Highness! You must return safely!”
In the solemn atmosphere, Crayer’s heir and eldest son, Cron, shouted at the top of his lungs. Hearing his son’s heartfelt plea, Marquess Crayer chuckled softly and spoke.
“The Crayer family awaits Your Highness’s safe return.”
Then he drew his sword and brought it to his chest.
“Knights!”
“Draw swords!”
The knights arrayed behind the Marquess drew their swords in unison. The nobles of the vassal family did not hesitate to draw their weapons or place their right fists over their hearts in salute.
“We stand behind you, Your Highness! Please remember that!”
“I will not forget your loyal hearts.”
He turned his head again to face forward.
“All forces, advance.”
His voice was calm, yet filled with vigor. The journey toward the dangerous Black Mountains had begun once more.
But among the elite guards, the Mage Tower Alliance fighters, and even the Imperial Army soldiers, not a single person uttered a complaint.
“Imperial Army, forward.”
The Imperial Army took the lead. After about an hour of marching, the sound of a horn reached them.
It started from afar but gradually grew closer. Soon, five hundred cavalrymen appeared, led by the flag of Marquess Crayer’s territory.
“I am Rank, commander of the 11th Cavalry Unit of the Crayer family’s forces. We will escort the Fifth Prince safely to the border.”
No mention had been made about territorial forces providing an escort. It seemed to be a small courtesy arranged by Marquess Crayer.
Refusing would be impolite. Raymond smiled and joined forces with the 11th Cavalry Unit.
As promised, they safely escorted Raymond’s group to the border.
After the territorial forces withdrew, the escort to the Black Mountains was taken over by the Border Army cavalry.
However, even the Border Army cavalry turned their horses around at the entrance of the Black Mountains.
“May boundless glory follow the path of the Fifth Prince!”
Had they heard of the Fifth Prince’s recent exploits? Even as he turned his horse, the commander of the Border Army cavalry looked regretful as he repeatedly wished for Raymond’s victory.
“I didn’t think I’d come back to the Black Mountains again.”
Blue Tower Master Lysfield spoke as if complaining, yet a faint smile lingered on his lips.
Raymond silently nodded and pulled out a map from his coat.
“It takes about two days to reach Base 7…”
“You plan to make your move there, don’t you?”
“Has the old man’s memory already gone so bad? We discussed this back at Crayer’s fortress.”
“I asked just to confirm.”
Leaving the grumbling Lysfield behind, Raymond called Cassias and designated the route. The Imperial Army led the way, clearing the path.
It took two days to reach Base 7. Just as Raymond had predicted. Along the way, they encountered a group of orcs twice and engaged in battle. However, thanks to the presence of two high-ranking mages, the Imperial Army suffered minimal losses.
“We’ve arrived at Base 7.”
“By order of the Fifth Prince, we will camp here.”
An officer of the Imperial Army reported. Cassias nodded and relayed the Fifth Prince’s command to his subordinate officers. The Imperial Army soldiers moved with precision.
The garrison stationed at Base 7 had suffered severe losses from an attack by the Free Isiria Kingdom’s forces and had withdrawn. As a result, the base was currently unoccupied.
To stay here even for a few days, minimal repairs were necessary.
“How long do you think the repairs will take?”
“Most of the facilities are intact, so it shouldn’t take long. With support from the mages, we expect to finish all work within two hours.”
Cassias responded to Lysfield’s question.
Magic is truly mighty. Without the aid of mages, the repairs done solely by the Imperial Army soldiers would have taken three to four times longer.
Once the repairs were complete, night fell. Raymond summoned his closest aides to his tent.
“As I mentioned back at Crayer’s fortress, we’ll soon have uninvited guests.”
Raymond spoke with a cold voice. Though he didn’t specify who these guests were, it was clear that everyone gathered in the tent understood.
“It won’t be ‘soon.’ I believe their ‘visit’ will happen tonight.”
“Oh? Red Tower Master, do you have a reason to think that?”
Raymond’s curiosity showed.
“After a long march, we’ve finally arrived at our destination. A sweet rest is now our reward. Although we’ve set up a watch, the tension within the army is bound to drop.”
At the mention of the army’s tension dropping, Cassias shot a sharp glance. But Red Tower Master Berenus Kyle didn’t pay much mind to the gaze brushing his cheek.
“Go on.”
“They won’t let this opportunity slip.”
Already, in the darkness, the eyes of uninvited guests gleamed with murderous intent. Berenus’s prediction was spot on.
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Leading the way was Sylvia Platier. She used the power of the spirits to guide the assassins safely through the Black Mountains.
Though it would normally take two days to reach Base 7 from where the Second Prince’s forces met with Edryger Kingdom’s High Assassins in the mountains, Sylvia found a shortcut and got them there in just six hours. However, the assassins’ gazes toward Sylvia remained cold.
“There’s the Fifth Prince’s flag.”
A High Assassin squad leader, who had joined them in the Black Mountains, was the first to spot the flag fluttering above the central and largest tent of Base 7.
A royal flag. It was not something anyone could bear. The Fifth Prince was surely here. The eyes of the assassins watching the base sharpened.
They gleamed like those of predators who had found delicious prey.
“Move in silently. Surround the base.”
The High Assassin squad leader whispered and signaled the others. The High Assassins moved first, followed by the Second Prince’s subordinates, who swiftly spread out around Base 7.
“What should I do?”
The assassins were moving. So, what was she supposed to do now? Sylvia asked an assassin standing nearby. If only someone would say, “You can leave now.” But that was just a distant wish.
“When this is over, we’ll need to secure a swift escape route. So stay here and wait.”
It seemed like they intended to keep her under watch. Three assassins stayed behind. Sylvia let out a short sigh at how nothing seemed to go her way, and Siadin bit his lip hard enough to draw blood.
“Take out the sentries first.”
Now that the Edryger Kingdom’s High Assassins had joined, command had passed to them. When the High Assassin squad leader spoke and gave hand signals, the Second Prince’s assassins threw their weapons at the sentries posted on the palisades.
“Ugh!”
“Aaargh!”
The Imperial Army soldiers in red uniforms fell. That signaled the beginning of the assassins’ deadly dance.
“Move in!”
The High Assassins and the Second Prince’s assassins leapt over the palisade, infiltrating the base. Their shadowy figures flitting through the night were both stealthy and lethal.
But something was wrong.
After taking down fifteen more Imperial Army sentries, the High Assassin squad leader realized something was off.
“This is…”
The fallen Imperial Army soldiers scattered into the air like mirages.
“They’re illusions!”
It was clearly a trap. As he opened his mouth to sound the alarm, a white flare shot into the sky, illuminating the dark night.
“To think the Fifth Prince was this formidable…”
The High Assassin squad leader clenched his teeth. A shiver ran down his spine at the Fifth Prince’s terrifying cunning.
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