Chapter 144 - Playing Hero
After my stupid antics yesterday, today I'm welcoming the three girls who have just arrived at the hotel.
"Sophie! Candy! Lina! I missed you all!" I said to them as soon as I saw the three girls arrived.
"Roy! You are still under punishment for what you did yesterday! I told you to clean up the basement so return there immediately!" Ms. Wendy shouted at me.
"Sorry!"
"What did he do yesterday?" Candy asked Ms. Wendy.
"Well, he acted impulsively and it might ended up making the cult be more wary toward our plans. He needed to be punished for it." Ms. Wendy.
"I'm innocent!" I said as I prepare to return to the basement to clean it.
"In front of the public during yesterday practical exam, he secretly shows his strength. It was him who said to keep Kayla's and Angela's true strength a secret, but he ended up showing a little show of strength. Although he managed to keep his identity as secret, he still need to be punished for it."
Ms. Wendy then explains what happened during the exam. How after Angela's turn, Mr. Wig called me to proof my strength. Then knowing that Mr. Wig only called me to make fun of me, I impulsively shot a button I stole from a guy near me with Air Cannon.
"Well, that's just like Roy. I think he did it because of different reason, but you can still punish him anyway." Sophie said.
"Really? Roy! What reason do you have for doing what you did?" Ms. Wendy called me again before I return to the basement.
Why did I take too long to go to the basement? It's because of my special skill 'Slow Walking'. I just don't want to return cleaning the basement. I mean how come the basement is much wider than the first floor of the hotel? Did Ms. Wendy actually bought all the land near this hotel and build the basement?
By the way, after being called by Ms. Wendy, I responded lazily.
"I just want to test my power."
"Make sure the whole place is cleaned completely." Ms. Wendy then talked to Candy about the plan.
More importantly, the construction is terrible! I mean looking around, I can only see that this basement is crudely built. It's like the constructor just go 'we can just dig under the building and made some pillar to support the hotel'.
There's a lot of rubbles from the construction left behind and I have to clean this on my own? How cruel!
This condition makes this place unfit to be an evacuation center.
JR西日本の「異端児」とひも解くデータ活用4人からスタートして40人規模の集団に,社内人材活躍の勘所NEC
When I return to the basement, Kayla and Angela already helping me with the cleanup. And Shirley is watching. Angela used her earth magic to flatten the floor while Kayla used her wand to lift heavy stones. It's also a good practice for her as well.
And seeing how they are really helpful, I choose to find somewhere to lay down.
"Hey! We're here to help you, so if you don't do anything, we'll leave! You can do the rest by yourself!" Angela shouted as she saw me trying to sleep.
"I'm up! What should I help you with?"
"Just the heavy stuffs."
"But Kayla already done it."
We both looked at Kayla who's using her wand to collect the stones and rubbles around the wand, then gather them in one spot and flatten them easily.
"That's a really good wand. Why didn't you give that to me?" Angela is jealous with Kayla who received the wand.
"Because Kayla is more creative than you. While you used your talent and exceptional strength of your magic, Kayla used her creativity. After all, she's smarter than you."
Then we continued to work while chatting. About how useful Kayla's wand is. Unlike Blobby who transform her own body, Kayla's wand used the earth and shape it to Kayla's will.
After a while, more people entered the basement. They were Sophie, Lina, Hill, and Victoria who has just returned from hunting monsters. She hunt monsters everyday to help reduce the number of monsters during the stampede along with other agents.
"You all coming here to help? Thank you!"
"No. I'm just here to offer you a bath together with me." Hill said jokingly.
"Never in all of my lifetimes!" I replied.
"Well, seems like you don't need our help after all. I talked with Sophie and she said that you didn't act impulsively in the exam. Is that true?" Hill asked the true reason why I purposely gained the cult's attention.
Seeing everyone here is people I can trust, other than Hill with my back, I answered truthfully. Back in the lobby, there are other agents there so I didn't answer honestly.
"Because of these two." I pointed my finger to Kayla and Angela.
"Those two?" Hill and Shirley confused with my answer. But as for the others, somehow they expected this answer from me.
"Both of them gained too much attention with their show of strength despite holding back. The cult should have been wary of them and maybe trying to recruit them. But I intervened by showing them that there are someone dangerous in this city. They should be trying to find me now. But they will never suspect me because of my 8 attack power." I explained my reason.
"So you're diverting their attention from the two girls to you? And risking our plans by doing it?" Hill asked.
"Honestly, I don't care anymore if the cult ended up destroying this city or not. I just don't want anyone precious to me be in danger. I don't have anyone like that in the past, but I have a lot of them now. I don't care about any kingdom. I just hope everyone I care about and I can live peacefully."
"Protecting those important to you? That's so sweet of you! Am I included in that?" Hill asked.
"Mmm… maybe. If I have to rank you in the group, you will always in the last rank of people I want to save. So If I have to choose between you or anyone else in the group, I will just let you die."
"But you still thinking of me! How sweet!"
Hill is always happy with whatever answers I gave him. And I have learned to ignore him when he's like that.
"Does everyone here already know that?" It was Shirley who asked.
"No. We just know he had different reason why he did what he did. But we don't know what it is." Angela replied Shirley's question.
"I know I can trust him. He's my boyfriend." Sophie said proudly.
"Our boyfriend. Candy included." Kayla corrected Sophie's word.
"Well, looks like the basement already cleaned up pretty well. I hope Ms. Wendy is satisfied with this. What do you think?" I turned my head to the entrance of the basement where Ms. Wendy is eavesdropping us together with Candy.
"I think it's good enough. Are you going somewhere?"
"Another cleaning up chores. Victoria, let's go."
Victoria and I left the hotel together. Just like usual, Victoria is a grappling hook.
"You haven't told the others what kind of cleaning that we do?"
"I believe they already know. Let's find some dirt."
The cleaning that we do is killing the members of the cult sneakily. Or make it seem as if it was an accident or they are being mugged.
I have told Ms. Wendy and the others the members of the cult that often goes out in the city or hunters who have HGB in their mouth. But there are still some of them hiding in the dark. Even investigating them proven to be difficult, so I'll just kill them.
Soon there will be a rumor about a vigilante running wild and killing people. Well, for some I might be a vigilante who helped people, but for the cult I am a criminal.
It was because the people I targeted are mostly criminal from the mafia or similar to that. Acting on myself to do some justice. Well, if the targets are not criminal, I just kill them sneakily or making it looks like the targets were robbed.
So far, there have been no rumors about me yet. But it will spread soon because of what I did in the exam. I'd say I'm pretty smart.
We usually did this when it's dark, but it's still noon. There are not many of bad guys appearing while it's bright, but there are still some who dare to come out. I killed the bad guy and look for a cult members nearby to make it seems like the bad guy is the one killing them.
I used my Ninja outfit to do this job. But when it's dark, Victoria always complaining to me saying that she want my disguise to be wearing a flying mammal mask. Must be something from her world again. I just ignore it though.
But after a few days, she keeps insisting. So I gave up partially. I heard that the masked vigilante from her world is wearing a cape, so I told her the cape is fine but not everything else.
Now I'm Caped Ninja playing hero.
Chapter 145 - It Seems Like I'm Already Wanted
Right now I'm jumping on top of buildings and patrolling the city to find any bad guys. Either they are from the cult or not.
I have stopped a mugging, kidnapping, sexual assault, and even murder. But seriously, I never thought that this city is filled with criminal. I guess I never really tried to see it before.
It was easy for me since I can sneak behind them and kill them with a single slash. Or by using my Air Cannon from distance.
There have been some rumors spread among the citizen about a caped hero saving people, but for the authority, I am a criminal.
That's obvious knowing that some of the people in the authority are members of the cult. I even killed some guards doing shady business before.
While I'm doing my patrol, I found someone with HGB walking alone on empty alley.
Since there are no one else here, and I don't think it's a trap, I'm thinking of what to do with him.
And so, this time, I'm not playing hero. I'm playing the bad guy.
How bad I am? Well, as soon as I get close to him, without any warning, I severed both of his leg.
"AAAAAAAHHHH!!" The guy screamed in pain, but I ignore him and just pushed him down to the ground from the back. It's so that he can't identify who I am. Even though I'm still wearing a disguise, it's still safer this way.
"What do you have here? Accessories? Jewelries? Money? Hmm? You're a hunter so you have a hunter card. That means all your money is in here, right? I'll just strip everything above your waist since below it, it's dirtied by your blood."
I act as a bad guy and stripped everything above his waist. I don't plan to sell them since there might be a tracker or something. I'll just burn them or throw it outside the gate later without taking anything for myself.
Hmm? He has some money not saved in his card? I'll take it.
"You! I'll kill you! The cult will not forgive you for this!" The guy shouted at me.
He's so stupid. To think that he actually said something about the existence of the cult.
"What cult? Saying it a cult makes it seems like you are doing bad things together. Are there more people like you I can rob in that cult? Then please if you're still alive, tell them about me." I provoked the legless man.
"Who the hell are you?!" He didn't answer my question. I guess it's time to leave.
"I'm just a normal mugger. Well, a bit barbaric but yeah. I'm- oh, shit! That caped hero wannabe is here! Gotta bail. Bye!"
I pretended to run away from the caped hero. Which is actually me as well. I escape while screaming. The legless man should be thinking that he's saved now. Well, if a healer is nearby, then he can be saved. If not, then luck is the only thing he can count on. But there's no one around and I don't plan to kill him yet.
After I left, I looked at him again. The legless man then looked around while screaming for help. But no one is coming.
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So he explode his own head. He took his own life without hesitation after knowing that he can't be saved.
With this, the cult will be more wary toward my existence once his corpse is found. I have killed some of them before but now after the show of strength I did during practical exam, they are surely can't leave me alone.
Maybe they have been wary of me since I first killed someone few days ago. Well, with my Divine Vision, I can see if anyone is planning to trap me so I believe I will be fine.
"Where are you going now?" Victoria asked me.
"The usual. Patrolling while looking for another agent so I can inform them that I killed another member of the cult. But before that, I guess I should throw these baggage first."
I leave the city and throw the stuffs I stole from the man I left for dead. Then when I'm returning to the city, I heard a scream for help.
I look for the source and find a woman being surrounded by a group of men. I'm about to go there to be a hero and save her, but I changed my mind after seeing something else.
The woman doesn't have HGB inside her mouth. And so do the men that surround her. But the ones who have them are hiding in the surrounding. In fact they seem to be surrounding the group of men. And all of them have HGB in their mouth. And they are all men. The surrounded woman is the only woman here.
I'm suspicious with this situation so I find some place I can hide and hear what that girl said.
It's difficult to bypass the guards, but I did it. I hide in an empty building just next to the woman.
Although it's still bright, there are no other people around here. I see some people but none of them dared to help the woman. Is this group infamous in the area?
"Unhand me, you pigs!" The woman shouted at the men grabbing her.
"No way. And you, aren't you seducing men when you're walking with those tight clothes and such huge ass? Isn't this what you wanted?" One of the men who seems to be the leader said that.
"No way! I'm not trying to seduce anyone! Release me! Help! Anyone, help me!" The woman screamed for help again.
"No one will help you here. Everyone in this area knows who we are. None of them dare to go against us. Now let me enjoy your body." The man smiling and approaching the woman who's being restrained by his men.
The woman then looked around and this time with a calm expression.
"I see. Seems like he's not here. Ah, well, why don't you all just die?" the woman then released a powerful wind magic and kill everyone there except for the leader.
Severed body and dismembered limbs are all over the place. The area is now covered with blood of the men who died.
The leader fall on his butt and looked at the woman in fear.
"You… you area an expert level wind mage?!" the man shouted in fear.
"Sigh… I thought that it's a good chance to trap that caped guy, but it seems I was wrong. Maybe he's really only active during the night."
Oh shit! An expert level mage is trying to capture me? Good thing I saw the people in hiding. If not, I would be dead by now.
"A beautiful woman is chasing after you. It's difficult to be popular isn't it?" Victoria whispered.
"Don't talk to me right now. Victoria, change into the wall here and I'll hide in between the real wall and you. I don't know how strong an expert level mage is, but it's better to be safe now." I ordered Victoria to be a wall. Then I put myself in between the real wall and Victoria and peeked at the scary woman.
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"I'm sorry! Please forgive me!" The man kneeled and begged for forgiveness, but the woman ignored him.
"Come out!" she said.
Did she calls for me? Nope. She's calling the people in hiding. So she's a member of the cult. But the fact that she's giving order and doesn't have an HGB in her mouth means that she's possibly the higher ups of the cult.
"Victoria, remember her face."
"And her body, right? Sure."
Even in this situation, she keeps making a joke. I just hope that she won't notice us.
I never met an expert level mage before so I don't know to what extent their power is. And I don't know if they can detect presence or not. That's why once I noticed that she's trying to lure me with using herself as the bait, I quickly hide myself.
"Did anyone come here?" The woman asked.
"No, Lady Veronica! No one entered this place!" one of the cult member replied.
Lady Veronica? That sound familiar.
"Isn't she one of the faction leader in the cult? The big butt one? We heard about her and the big boob faction from the twin back when you saved Candy."
Thanks to Victoria I remembered who she is. Veronica is a big name in the cult. And she's now trying to capture me? Maybe kill me. But I won't come out at all from this hiding spot.
Then Veronica continued.
"Don't you think that if he's sneaky at night, he can be sneaky during the day as well? What if he's already here but no one noticed him?"
"Lady Veronica is right! Everyone, check the surrounding again!"
Good thing I'm already in hiding. All her people then searched the area thoroughly leaving no spot behind. Leaving Veronica alone in the alley. As for the man who grabbed her before, he's already been killed by one of Veronica's men.
One of the cult member entered the building I'm hiding in, but no one noticed that the wall is actually a monster shaped into a wall. It's good that the building is black as well. The man then leaves and look for another spot.
Now it's just Veronica in the alley. Should I kill her? Nah. Too risky. I will never come out until she leaves.
"Hey~ I know you're here. Why don't you come out and play with me a little bit?" Veronica said seductively.
Alright, I'm convinced. Let's go.
"You idiot! It's just a trap!"
The wall suddenly have a hand and pinched my cheek.
"Thank you Victoria. If you're not here, I would be tempted to leave already."
Scary. This Veronica is using her beauty as a weapon. Not just she's powerful, she's also know how to use her advantage as well.
"Do not come out until it's safe, okay?"
I nodded at Victoria's word. I won't be seduced again this time.
Chapter 146 - Veronica
There's only Veronica left behind in the alley and I'm watching her from behind the wall. Or in between two walls to be exact. Whatever she's going to do or say, I won't come out.
"No matter what she do, we should stay here until all is clear. She's too strong to fight. And if you assassinated her right here, our plan will undoubtedly be ruined. They might cancel their plan to destroy this city." Victoria said to me.
It's weird to have a wall talked to me. Just like the phrase, even walls have mouth. Wait, it was ears?
"I still think it's better for the plan to be cancelled though." I replied to her.
"That is good in the short-term. But for the long-term, we need to stick to the plan. The cult's existence and how dangerous they are must be known to everyone."
We need more people. What we lack the most is allies. Albert must have thought that if the attack happen, more people will join our cause to destroy the cult. Especially those who lose their beloved during the stampede prepared by the cult. But if by any chance they found out that we let their plan to come through, we might gain more enemies instead.
But Albert should have taken care of that. He might have plan in case the citizens realized that we let the cult attacked the city by using monsters stampede.
I'll just leave the complicated things to Albert. I just hope everything will be alright.
Then we saw that Veronica is sitting on the ground while hugging her knees.
"Why is she hugging her knees?" Victoria said.
"Wait, you can see her from here?"
Don't tell me that Victoria also can use see-through vision like me?
"There's a hole in the wall and I stretch out my body in there to peek." Victoria replied.
"Damn! You are an amazing summon, but why did in the past you are so useless?"
"You said you don't know me back then, right? I don't know how, but I wasn't there in your previous life. Your summon is just a Black Slime without another being inside it or that somehow I can't come out. The Black Slime is a mindless monster so they can't think on their own. And since Black Slime can't be killed, the monster doesn't have any sense of danger. So they don't have any defensive maneuver to protect themselves. That's just my guess though."
Victoria told me her guess which is similar to mine. Yeah, if I'm unkillable, I would also choose to not do anything and probably sleep all day.
"Hmm? That woman is crying? Is this another one of her strategy to lure me out?"
In the empty alley, Veronica is hugging her knees and crying. This woman is surely using any means necessary to pull me out of hiding. She's even using her tears as weapon.
"No. She's crying for real this time."
"Why are you the one being seduced this time?!"
Can't she just be a wall and be quiet? What does she mean crying for real anyway? How did she knows? She might just be acting, you idiot!
"Mommy… how did everything go wrong?" Veronica said in her tears.
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Wrong? What makes things wrong? Isn't it your cult who made things wrong?
"I don't want this at all… being used like this..." Veronica continued.
Alright, there. You want me to sympathize with you? I don't think so. You're just acting. I'm not pitying you at all.
"Roy, I think she's too pitiful." Suddenly Victoria spoke again.
"I said to not get seduced, you idiot slime!"
"But she's too pitiful. What if she's not acting? What if she doesn't want things to be this way?"
"Like what? She doesn't want to join the cult? But she did! She doesn't want to kill people? The cult she belongs to kill people! She doesn't want to destroy this city? It's too late for that! What is it that she doesn't want? We'll ignore whatever comes out of her mouth and just wait here until she left."
And just like that woman, I also don't want things to go wrong. Although the things we're talking about should be different.
"Hic… Mommy… Why did you left me?" Veronica is crying and asking for her mommy.
"Alright, that's it! There's no bad person would cry for her mommy! Let's go have a chat with her!"
"No, idiot Victoria! There's no rule saying bad guy should never cry for their mommy! She's still evil no matter what, okay?!" I tried to stop Victoria who already stopped being a wall and turned into her human form.
"But this is common in story, right? A member of evil organization actually doesn't want to be involved with them but fate told her otherwise. Then the protagonist will come and they will be friend. The member if evil organization will leak important information to protagonist while staying in the organization." Victoria insisted to come out.
"But there's one thing that doesn't match with that story of yours. I'm not a protagonist! And there's no way something cliché will happen in real world!" I tried to stop her again.
"Don't worry. Everyone is their own protagonists in their story. And I'll make myself the protagonist who will approach her. It's fine since I can't be killed, right?"
"Well, whatever. You will keep insisting to go anyway. Just make your form is different than your human form so she won't notice you. I'll stay here and listen to your conversation. By the way, in my story, the protagonist is a cat-rabbit hybrid called Marcus Chiwawa the 4th whose paw is so warm they melt the snow and make the world flooded."
"What's with that? I want to read that story. Well then, I'm going."
"And I'm staying."
Victoria come out of hiding and approach Veronica. I'll be listening to their conversation while in hiding.
When Veronica noticed that someone is approaching her, she instantly prepared a magic to attack.
"Wait! I'm here to talk! I'm sorry that I eavesdropped you when you're crying. But I want to listen to your story."
"Who are you?" Veronica is still wary to Victoria who appeared out of nowhere.
"I'm just a summoned monster with intellect whose master is someone you people should be looking for." And Victoria stupidly pointed at where I'm hiding.
"Oy, you idiot! Why are you telling her your identity and where I'm hiding?" I shouted from my hiding spot. I still don't want to show my face to Veronica.
"You… what do you want?" Veronica asked while her eyes is staring at my hiding spot.
"Well, our goal is to destroy that cult you belong to. And since it looks like you don't want to be a part of them, I thought it might be a good idea if we cooperate. But before that I want to listen to your story first. Seems like you had a difficult past and ended up being a member of the cult. And probably one of the higher ups, right?" Victoria answered.
Victoria! Why are you so direct?! Won't she be suspicious then?
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"Alright. Seems like you are a good person. But can your master be trusted?" Veronica asked.
"He can. In fact it was because of him that the king himself made an action for your plan to destroy cities using monster stampede. With your help, we might be able to save more people." Victoria replied.
What if she's just putting up an act? Why did you have to tell her about the king's involvement?
"I heard the king is wise. I hope your goal to destroy this stupid cult will come true. Will you listen to my story?"
What?! What's happening? Is there some sort of secret conversation between them that only women understand? If so, please teach me!
Veronica then tells her past about the reason why she's in the cult.
Veronica lives with both of her parents. Then one day, her father tells his family that he joined a cult so his family can leave poverty. Veronica was still a kid who haven't manifested her magic at that time.
At first, the cult wasn't so bad. They gave Veronica's father a job so her family can earn enough money to live.
One day, Veronica's father died for some unknown reason. And after that, her mother disappear. Then Veronica was raised by the cult to be one of the higher ups of the cult. And she indeed become one.
But she didn't became one because she wanted to. It was just because of her appearance. Her looks makes more worshippers join the cult. Although what they worship is Veronica herself.
Seeing how easily Veronica raised the numbers of worshippers, the higher ups decided to have her involved deeper in the cult. And that's when she fell into despair to see that the goal of the cult is to destroy the world. She was told at first that the cult is worshipping an unknown god who will be their savior, but she never thought that it was an evil one.
Then she realize many more despairing things. Like how those who joined the cult will have HGB in their mouth to kill themselves. She doesn't need one because she has a much higher position than those low level members.
She also realized that her parents are actually killed by one of the member as well. It was to brainwash Veronica to be their pawn.
Veronica can't do anything but to endure it as much as possible and pretend that she's loyal. If not, she would be killed.
Thanks to her loyalty, she was given chance to improve her magic. Which makes her an expert level mage. But no matter how strong she became, she could never escape from the cult. She hates to kill people, but she has no choice if she wants to live. That's why when no one is around, she cries.
"I see… you've done well to tell us about yourself." Victoria said after hearing Veronica's past.
What is it? It became a counseling session? Should I cry? I still can't trust her though.
"See, Master? I think we can trust her." Victoria said we can trust Veronica. But I don't think so.
"Then you can have a chat with her as much as you want. Her people is returning so I'll escape first. I'll summon you tomorrow after lunch, then you can tell me all information that you got. And you, the crybaby, close your eyes until I'm gone. I don't want to be seen."
Seeing Veronica closed her eyes as I told her to, I left that spot right away. I guess this is the end of me playing hero.
...….
After Roy left, the Victoria turned into an earring on Veronica's ear.
"This way we can talk whenever we want." Victoria said right to Veronica's ear.
"Will it be alright? Your master doesn't seem to trust me. I'm just a crybaby for him."
"Don't worry. He's also a crybaby himself. And he just want to protect his friends. That's why he said he doesn't trust you. But for me, it's fine since I can't be killed. But I guess he's angry because I told you about the king. They are good friend after all." Victoria replied.
"I think it will be difficult. The power of one country won't be enough to destroy the cult."
"That's why we're gathering allies and information. And I believe my master is strong enough to handle any problems that will come. He just need something to motivate himself. Maybe this stampede will do some good for him as well."
Victoria know that if Roy has the right motivation, he can be stronger than anyone. But he won't say it to the person himself.
Chapter 147 - Can We Trust Her?
I went home without going anywhere else as Victoria is with Veronica. I still can't put my trust in Veronica, hence why I never show my face to her. And I also altered my voice back then. I just hope that Victoria won't leak my identities. And she's already leaking the fact that Albert's involvement in destroying the cult.
Well, if she can be trusted, then it's the best outcome. But if she can't, it will be hell for us. And even if she can be trusted, we need to check on her properly first in case she's being watched by the cult.
The fact that she hated the cult might be known by some of the cult members, and they might have put some people to watch her.
And about her subordinates. Or to be exact, her worshippers. It will be good if they joined the cult just because of her. So when she leaves the cult, they might leave as well. But I won't count on that.
I guess I'll report this to Albert and the others first. That's why I returned home in haste.
"Welcome back! That was quick. Did you get hungry or what?" Angela welcomed me back at the hotel and teased me, but I'm in no mood to play along.
"Gather everyone who's free. And where's Sonia? I have something important to tell everyone and she need to inform Albert quickly." I said seriously.
Seeing me being serious, everyone's mood changed. They must have thought that this information is extremely important after seeing my expression. Angela then went to look for the others and called them. The others also did the same.
I waited until everyone is here at the dining hall.
Soon, Angela returned with Kayla, Sophie, Candy, Lina, and Shirley entered the hall. Then Hill followed by his subordinate who will be in charge for evacuation during the D-day. Lastly, Ms. Wendy entered the dining hall along with few other agents. Not everyone is here since some agents are still patrolling. But I will have Ms. Wendy to inform them.
As for Sonia, she is already waiting beside me.
Seeing everyone is here, I begin to talk.
"So is this everyone?"
"Some agents are still investigating and went on a hunt. So yes, this is everyone." Ms. Wendy reported the ones who are not present.
"By the way, where's Victoria?" Kayla noticed that Victoria isn't with me.
"She's doing an independent mission which result might change our situation to better or worse. Let's hope it's for the better." I replied.
"So that's why you gathered us here? Please continue." Said Kayla.
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Hearing my response, everyone became tense. Even though it seems that we were just having fun until today, everyone still know what's at stake here.
"Well, firstly, I went on a cleaning duty and managed to kill some members of the cult. But that's not the important thing I wanted to share."
Then I told them about seeing a woman who got herself grabbed by a group of men. Unexpectedly, she's a higher up of the cult. And she is Veronica, the woman that a certain faction of the cult worshipped.
"Wasn't she the one with big breasts? Or was it ass?" Angela seem to remember about her.
"Ass. She was grabbed on purpose to lure me out and capture me. I guess my antic during the exam bear consequence already. Unexpectedly, she's an expert level mage."
"What?! Expert level you say?!"
Everyone is stunned hearing the level of one member of the cult. So was I. It was a good thing that I saw her magic before I did anything stupid.
While I was feeling relieved that I didn't do anything stupid to Veronica, the other is in a heated discussion over Veronica's magic level.
"Expert level? If she planned to attack the city as well, we're doomed. All our planning has come to naught!" Ms. Wendy said.
"I never thought that our opponent is an expert level. I think running away is a good choice. We can try to get as many citizen to escape before the stampede." Candy suggested to escape.
"How about we trap her? Even if she's an expert level, she's still human being, right?" It was Hill who said that.
"Not to mention, she's one of the higher ups in the cult. Who knows if there are more people are strong as she is? And not counting the numbers of people above her. This is a suicide mission. I'll talk to my brother to cancel our plans." Shirley said.
"Wait! Roy said that Victoria is in a mission that will decide our fate. He hasn't explained what her mission is." Kayla calmly stopped the quarrel.
Everyone quieted down in an instant and put their attention to me.
"Well, here's the thing. When that Veronica sent people to check the area leaving her alone behind, we saw her hugged her knees and cried. Victoria took pity on her and approached her. I know that seems stupid, but it already happened. Then she told Victoria about her past and how she ended up as a member of the cult. Victoria sympathized with her so she thought that we might be able to get her on our side." I explained what happened.
"What?! That's stupid! Why did she do that? What about you, Roy? Can you trust her?" Angela asked me.
"I don't. But I thought that it's a good idea to have her on our side. I left the scene without having her see my face. She already know that Victoria is a monster and Albert is involved because Victoria told her. We can only trust in Victoria's judgment. I'll summon her tomorrow after lunch so we will have our discussion again then. But before that, tell me what you all think."
I asked for everyone's opinions. Maybe we could get better idea on what to do next. But still, what's important is what Victoria will find out.
"Then… should I inform Albert first?" Sonia asked me if she can go.
"Yes, please. And ask for his opinion as well. And he might need you to send messages to other cities as well so you need to stay with him for a while."
"Alright. I'll go now." Sonia disappear and she should be at Albert's side now.
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"Well? Anyone?" I asked if anyone can give any ideas.
"Tell us about your thought first. You must have thinking about this ever since the time you met that Veronica, right?" Kayla told me to give my opinion first.
"Well, I think it we need to hear what information she gave to Victoria first, but to be prepared in case she betray us. Even if she tell us the truth, there's also a chance that she's being watched. But for me personally, it will be best if we escape. We can also bring some citizen with us just like Candy suggested." I answered my thought honestly.
"So all we need to do is wait for Victoria?" Hill asked.
"Yes. If she can bring Veronica on our side, our chance to win will increase. That's why this is an important mission for her that we can't ignore." I said.
"I'm of the same opinion. All we can do now is to wait for Victoria. I don't think there's nothing else we can do now. After Victoria returns, only then we can finalize our plan. Let's hope Veronica can be trusted." Kayla calmly said.
"By the way, why did Victoria approach her? Just because she's crying?" Sophie asked me curiously.
"Stupid reason just like how she is. She said that in stories, it's normal for a protagonist to get help from former enemy. She thought herself as the protagonist and thought that Veronica will join us."
"…seriously?" Ms. Wendy asked for confirmation.
"That's what she said." I nodded at her.
"Well, we can't do anything about it. But at least we have important information. It's about the existence of expert level mage in the cult." Kayla changed the topic.
"And we need to think that they might have more of them. How do we handle them?" Candy asked.
I might have or might not have killed an expert level mage before. It was the scarred palm guy. I don't know how strong he was and just assumed that he's an expert level mage when I killed him.
And I killed him by using element of surprise. I might be able to kill more expert level mage as long as I can close the distance quickly.
If Veronica's an expert level mage, then she should have realized when I was hiding in the building close to her, right? I mean the scarred palm guy noticed me when I'm about twenty meters away.
Maybe Veronica know someone is approaching her and she put up an act to get my sympathy. Or maybe she doesn't notice me at all since she was busy with the group that tried to get her.
"What do you think, Roy?" Kayla asked me if I could handle an expert level mage.
"If the enemy is just one and I caught him/her by surprise, I can kill that mage. Other than sneak attack, it was too risky to make a move."
While we're discussing about how to handle expert level mages, Sonia return with an order from Albert.
"I'm back. Albert said to wait until Victoria return with information. Until then, continue investigating the cult member secretly like usual." Sonia delivered Albert's message. It will be dangerous to move on without information.
"Alright. Let's do that. We'll continue tomorrow with Victoria." I dismissed everyone and Sonia disappeared again. She must be reporting the situation to other agents in another city. There should be at least one person who received accessory to call Sonia in each city.
I returned to my room and just have an early sleep. I hope Victoria returns with good news.
Chapter 148 - Victoria Returns
After the discussion about what to do, everyone agreed that the only choice they have is to wait for Victoria and hoping for good news.
The next morning, I saw everyone is already up. Well, more like they didn't fell asleep at all. They must have difficulty sleeping thinking that our plan for the stampede might be known by the cult.
As for me, I slept like usual. I'm fine if they know about our plan. It's because I have confidence in running away. Although it might be difficult to escape with the others, I'm sure I can still escape. But I still hope that Victoria will return with good news, and Veronica can be trusted.
As I go to the dining hall, Sonia was there.
"You're not with Albert?"
"No. My job over there is done. I'm resting here. Since most likely Albert will ask many things after Victoria returned, and I have to go over there and back again and again." Sonia replied.
"Do ghosts need to take a rest?"
"I don't know about other ghost, but this one need it. So don't bother me again until Victoria returns." Sonia snapped at my question.
I'm just curious about it. I guess she must be pretty tired after relaying Albert's messages to other cities. That's why she's too sensitive and need rest. I'll leave her alone for now.
Everyone is too tense because of yesterday's event. I want to have a chat with someone, but I don't like this kind of atmosphere so I left the hotel.
Not knowing what to do, I choose to wait until lunch time like any other people my age. Going to school.
Kayla and Angela chose to stay at the hotel to cultivate and training. Even Ms. Wendy skipped going to school today. All the male students must be disappointed.
When I arrived at school, everyone is talking about the practical exam that happened two days ago. Although I gained a lot of attention, what they're talking about is the person who attacked the target after me. Well, it's still me they're talking about.
But they seem to have forgotten the result of the others. Angela's and Kayla's powerful attacks were forgotten. And even my amazing number of eight has been forgotten.
It's like everything in the exam didn't matter at all. Well, that's good. It means my plan to avert their attention from Kayla and Angela worked.
I went to class and returned when it's about time for lunch. Although there are still class after lunch, I skipped them.
Maybe I should just skip everything altogether from now on. After all, according to Ms. Wendy, I'm can graduate as long as I passed two out of three exam. I have passed one of them, and this second one, although they haven't graded the written exam yet, I'm confident I can pass it.
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Once I received the result, I can go to the principal right away and ask for my degree. But since the result hasn't been out yet, I left. Maybe I could ask Ms. Wendy to take care of it.
When I returned to the hotel, the lunch has been prepared and everyone is already seated.
"Well, it's rare to see everyone so eager to eat." I said.
"You're not summoning Victoria yet?" Angela asked something everyone wanted to ask.
"After lunch. We will have our discussion with our belly filled. I don't want anything to disturb my meal after all."
Everyone ate quickly. All of them has finished their meals while I'm continued having my second, third, fourth, and fifth serving. The portion that Lina made today is smaller than usual.
I ignore their stare as I continued eating. I know they want me to summon Victoria quickly, but my meal is important to, you know?
"Alright, I'll summon her now. Should I summon her right away or connect a portal to her location?" I asked their opinions.
"I think it's better if you just summoned her right away. If you used a portal, anyone near Victoria will be able to notice the portal. Not just it will make the enemy on guard, they will also learn of summoner's real ability. It will be horrible if they ended up able to travel to one place to another easily." Kayla calmly replied.
Although she looks tense, she's still coolheaded as always. And hearing her reply, everyone agreed as well.
And so, after everything on the tables are cleared, I summoned Victoria right away to the table. And 'poof!' she appeared as… an earring? I guess that's the form she took to not make other cult member realized her existence.
"Welcome back. So? How's it going? Do you have the time to tell us what you found?" I asked her directly.
"Don't worry. I let Blobby take over last night when Veronica asleep so I have a lot of time. I already told her about this condition of mine." Victoria replied.
"Did you tell her about us?"
"No. Other than the fact that Albert is the leader of the operation, I never told her about anything else. Just telling her that we want to destroy the cult. I also just told her that we planned to save the citizens from the stampede. But I didn't tell her any plan on how we will do it."
It's good that Victoria knows to keep us as secrets. But if she keep too many secrets, won't Veronica feel that it will be difficult to trust Victoria?
"So, what do you got? Everyone is too tense since yesterday and they haven't got enough sleep because of it."
"About Veronica? She agreed to help us. She will be a spy on that side. So I think of having her have an accessory to call Sonia so we can contact each other. Just her having a single ring won't make the cult suspicious, right? The ring is just a normal one but they would never think that it's used for long distant communication." Victoria said.
Everyone feel relieved when they heard that Veronica joined our cause and agreed to help. But I'm still skeptical to having her. As for giving her a ring, I think it will be fine as long as there's no one on that side that can exorcize Sonia.
"If it's just a ring, then I can do it. But tell her to only call Sonia when the area is empty and no one is around. And when talking to Sonia, she need to speak in low volume." I agreed to give Veronica a ring.
"Good! But… I don't feel you're as excited as the other. What's wrong, Roy?" Victoria noticed that I haven't trusted her.
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"Well, of course I still don't trust her yet."
"Why? Because she almost managed to seduce you and if I haven't stopped you, you will approach her?"
As soon as Victoria said that, I felt the girls' are glaring at me. Why did she has to say something like that? But that is one of the reason why I haven't trust Veronica yet.
"If she's willing to use her body like that, of course I will be suspicious if she's really crying for her mommy that time. What if she did that to gain information on us? From now on, only Victoria and Sonia can make a contact with her. Maybe me as well since I'm Victoria's master. But if possible, I'll leave it to Victoria."
"I'm fine with it. Now I have important information about their plan during the stampede."
Hearing Victoria's word, everyone is leaning forward to hear what Victoria learned. I asked Sonia to remember everything Victoria said and relay it to Albert.
"The schedule of the stampede seems to be changed. Veronica hasn't learned when it is, but before the stampede happen, most member of the cult will leave the city. This will happen in every city as well. So when most of the cult member leave the city, it means the stampede will happen soon."
"Aren't there too many people on that side? Won't it make people suspicious to see that a lot of people is leaving the city?" Candy asked.
"Seems like the governors of each city, or those with power at least, will apply a request to the guild. They will give a minimum reward and trying to get as many people as possible. Which will make normal hunters refused that job because of the reward, while the request itself is a message to all member of the cult saying it's time to leave. Only some people like the governor himself and several important people in each city will stay." Victoria explained.
"So they used the request as a message. Have someone goes to the guild every day, in the morning and afternoon, to see if the guild have such request to take."
I said to Ms. Wendy who's in charge of the agents in this city. Ms. Wendy nodded to my suggestion and give the order to an agent next to her.
"Anything else?" I asked Victoria.
"Yes. Veronica herself with her position still doesn't know what the cult is planning for the world. She just know that the goal is to destroy the world, but for the plan to do it, she will only be relayed a message from someone even higher once the plan was made."
"So it's difficult to find more information. Then, what about the expert level mages they have?" I asked about the expert level mages.
"Those who don't have status or power in the city will leave. So Veronica herself will leave this city soon. I think it's better to give her a ring right away."
She keep saying for me to give her a ring right away? That sounds like I'm proposing to her doesn't it?
Victoria continued, "She stays in one of the noble's house in this city. It's better if you gave her a ring tonight."
"That sound like Roy is proposing to her, doesn't it?"
As soon as Angela said it, everyone is looking at me weirdly.
"Not a ring, okay?! I'll give her a bracelet or a necklace but not a ring?! Why do you want it to be a ring?! Anyway, we know what to do now. They doesn't seem to know about our plan and sending the expert level mages and most of their members to leave the city. We will continue with our plan. But we need to be careful because the governor will stay and we don't know if he's an expert level mage or not. Sonia, inform Albert right away. I'll go meet this Veronica right away." I said and about to return to my room to grab a bracelet for her.
"So you trust her?" Kayla asked.
"We might be able to trust her, but not her surroundings. That's why I need to check it first. Victoria, show me the way."
After grabbing a bracelet, I jumped out of the window to the rooftop of the hotel and jumped from building to building while making sure that no one saw me. I made sure to cover my face before I meet Veronica. Let's keep my identity a secret from her.
Chapter 149 - Impossible To Sneak In
With Victoria's direction, I went to the noble's house where this Veronica is supposed to be staying at. And knowing that she's a leader of a faction, I expected that place to be heavily guarded. But I hope that most of her people is looking for me instead so I have a way in.
It's just the two of us. I also wanted to have Sonia with me, but it's still bright and people will panic to see a ghost wandering in the street. So I'll let her stay behind at the hotel.
"I thought you already trust Veronica after what I told you, but why are we going there right away? You still don't trust her? Or is it that I'm unreliable to you?" Victoria seem sad when she asked me that.
"No. I still can't trust her so easily and you are reliable partner. But you haven't investigate her surrounding yet. What if another faction is spying on her? We don't know if within the cult there's a conflict arise. Maybe we can use it for our advantage."
I told Victoria what I thought. If she's been in the cult since she was young, and now she said she hates the cult, there might be a chance someone knows about it. It could be one of her followers who's actually a spy from other faction. That's why I have to go and see it for myself.
Then if Veronica is really thinking of betraying the cult, and there's really a spy within her surrounding, we might be able to trick that spy. But for me to decide what to do, I need to see it first. I don't have a lie detecting ability like Albert did, but what I have is a vision that makes me able to see-through things and far ahead that no one can see.
I still haven't learned to read lips movement so it might be difficult. But that just mean I have to see more of their actions.
Soon enough, we reached the noble's house where Veronica is staying. And as I expected, it was heavily guarded. Although it seems like there's no guards in this place, many people are watching whoever goes in and out of the house.
It would be difficult for me to sneak into the house without anyone noticing. Even on top of the buildings nearby, there are many people keeping watch. Although it's not as many as the time that Veronica tried to capture me, it's still a lot.
I hide myself on top of a building that wasn't being watched and take a look at the house where Veronica is staying at. She was there, in a room on the second floor just walking around. Is she worried about something?
But I also see something. It's that whenever Veronica is seen from the window. Each time she was seen from the outside, the watchers' eyes are focused on her. I guess it's good that most of her followers are joining because of her looks.
Whoever thought of having her in her position right now is formidable. That person can think of something like having a good looking woman to make sure they can gain more followers.
"Hmm? That's pretty normal in my previous world, you know?"
When I said what I thought about having a good looking woman gaining followers, Victoria said something about her world.
"Please tell me more."
"Well, it means that those beautiful women, and sometimes also handsome men, would gain more followers to become more and more popular. Even if they are not talented in anyway, as long as they put on a show of their own appearance, their followers might increase. And some of them can make a living easily just like that. It's pretty similar to Veronica's situation, but in my world, most of those beautiful men and women are doing it by their own will. Unlike Veronica." Victoria explained.
"There's no way that she could get so many followers just because she was forced to do it. This Veronica, she's actually enjoying her position, right?" I still can't trust her so I asked Victoria.
"Was. Back when she was being appointed, she was still a gullible girl who thought that everything that she learn was for the good of the world. So of course she would try her best to repay the favor. And when she realized what the cult is about, she has already gained too many followers."
I'm about to say something again, but I noticed something was wrong. If all the guards are Veronica's followers, then they should be watching her as she was seen from the window. But there are actually some of them who aren't interested in watching her even though she was seen from the window, but keeping their watch on her room even when she wasn't seen from the outside. Almost as if they don't want to have her escape from their sight, and not because they are trying to protect her.
"Victoria. Seems like my guess is right. She's being watched probably by spies from different faction of the cult."
"Are you sure?"
"Pretty much. There are some people who keep watch of her every movement."
"That doesn't make them spies, right? What if they are just very dedicated in protecting her?" Victoria asked.
"That mean I'm wrong. But it's not about right or wrong. It's about being careful."
"…you're being too careful. But I guess that's better than not at all." Victoria said.
I keep count of the numbers of people that keep watching Veronica's room even though she can't be seen. There are about five of them and there's no missing spot on the area they watched. That mean it will be impossible to sneak in.
I guess I'll leave it to Victoria again to talk with her.
"Victoria. It's impossible for me to sneak in. I want you to give this bracelet to her and let her call Sonia. Then we will exchange messages through Sonia. I'll return to the hotel."
"You don't want to talk to her directly anymore?" Victoria asked.
"It's not like I don't want to. It's that I can't. She is being guarded at all time and makes it impossible for me to enter the house. Maybe you can tell her to go on patrol again like before to entrap me and I can meet her then. Also tell her that she is being watched by spies probably from different factions. So she shouldn't say everything so easily." I told Victoria what to tell Veronica.
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"Right. Then I'll be staying with her for a while and told her to only contact Sonia when it's night and have the curtain closed. Just in case. Then how can I get in if the security is this strict?"
"Easy. Just turn yourself into the earring that Veronica wore yesterday. I'll tell the guards that she dropped it along with the bracelet."
After telling her the plan to let Victoria sneak into the house, I approached the main entrance of that house and called out to the guards.
"Who are you?!" There are two guards protecting the gate, and one of them is extremely hostile.
"Just a hunter. Is this the place where Veronica lives? The one with large hip? I saw her yesterday. She dropped this earring and bracelet so I'm here to return them. Can you give them to her?" I explain the reason why I'm here.
"Really? You're not here because you want to see how she looks, right?" the hostile guard asked me.
"Well, I admit that she's beautiful. But I have girlfriend of my own and we're about to meet so I have to go right away. If she knew that I'm late because of a woman, I'll be dead."
Good. I could always count on my acting skill. All of the hidden guards are now keeping their watch on me. Well, of course they would. But I just walked here normally and I'll leave normally again. If someone is tailing me after I leave, I'll just pretend that I'm going out for a hunt. Once I'm out of the city, I can kill them easily while making it as if they are attacked by monsters.
"Oh, yeah! I think I saw her with that earring yesterday. Give it to me and I'll return it to her." The other guard who's not hostile to me took the earring and the bracelet from my hand.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing?!" The other guard shouted at the guard who took the accessories from me.
"It's true. I saw her yesterday being more beautiful than usual. And she was wearing this earring. And hunter, you can leave now. I'll return them to her." He asked me to leave.
"Alright. I'll leave them to you then." I left them but my vision is still focused on them.
"Keep guarding the gate. I'll return these to Lady Veronica."
"Hah! You are just happy that you have reason to meet her, right? Since you have an ulterior motive, it will be right if I'm the one to give them to Lady Veronica!"
Now they are fighting over who will bring those accessories to Veronica. But thanks to those two, I'm sure Victoria will be delivered to Veronica.
Knowing that Victoria will be delivered safely, I focused on the surrounding to see anyone who's following me. There's one guy who keep tailing me, but once I'm a distance away from the house, he seem to think that I'm really just there to return missing items and returned watching the house.
After the guy who's following me leaves, I returned to the hotel and wait for some good news from Sonia who will be called by Veronica later in the night.
Chapter 150 - Reunion With Baldy
A few days after delivering the bracelet to Veronica, I recalled back Victoria and let Sonia relay messages from her to us. I made sure that Sonia also won't leak our identities.
The plan for the Stampede was delayed because the numbers of monsters in the surrounding area has decreased. It's thanks to the agents who worked hard subjugating monsters. But that doesn't mean that the stampede is cancelled.
As for other cities, the schedule was supposed to be later than in Melk. Melk was supposed to be the first city that got attacked, but thanks to our effort, we delayed their plan. It might not mean much, but for me, it's a good news.
Especially after knowing that baldy is back to town!
"I'm Blue Bandana, dammit!"
This bald thirty three years old A-ranked hunter seems to be saying something, but that's not important. Seeing him again give me hope that he's willing to join our cause. Especially after his loss… of hair.
"Hey there, Kron. Been a while. How's the progress of your mission?" I asked Kron who have just returned to the city.
I meet him as I was on my way home from the guild after checking if there are any mission that Veronica told before. Because if the request exist, it mean the stampede will happen soon.
Then I met Kron on the way back. And he's covering his head with a tablecloth.
"It's a bandana! I know you must be thinking of something rude again!"
Seems like he received a new ability that enables him to know if someone is insulting him.
"Yeah, yeah, sorry. That loincloth suit your head."
"It's a bandana, you damn clown!"
Being called a clown is not an insult to me. I'm glad to see that he's still… Kron.
"So? How's your mission progress?" I asked Kron again about his mission.
"You mean about the organization that burnt my hair? I might have found something. Before I returned here, I was in the capital. There was a kidnapping attempt that I stopped. I killed the guy and looked inside his mouth and I see an explosive device inside it. I want to ask him about the organization, but he's already dead." Kron explain of how he get closer to find the truth.
"Of course he died, you baldy! You killed him! It should have been hit first ask later, and not kill first ask later. Who will you ask if he died?!"
"Well, that's not the point, isn't it? I want to tell you about how I learn a little about the organization." Kron said.
"Yeah, that's not what I asked about as well. I'm asking about your mission to restore your hair. Have you find the hair restoration potion yet?" I teased Kron about his baldness.
"You're talking about my hair? I didn't have any mission like that! Umm… are those thing exist?" Kron asked about the hair restoration potion.
"I don't know. That's why I'm asking you that." Although in my past life, even as I entered my 40s, I never had any problem with hair loss. But it's still good if he has anything to tell.
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"…can we not talk about my hair again? Why did you keep changing the topic there?"
"Because everything is related to your hair. You're looking for that organization because you lost your hair, right?"
"… let's just find some place so we can have a talk. I don't want you to keep telling everyone that I'm bald." Kron wished for me to stop talking about his hair.
"But that's the truth."
"Whatever. Do you have any place in mind?"
"You free now? Then follow me."
I brought Kron to the hotel. Everyone is wondering about the person I brought with me. They must have thinking that he might be our ally. Well, they are right. I brought him here to see if we can trust him or not.
"What is this hotel?" Kron asked while looking around inside the hotel.
"Just a hotel reserved only to me and my friends. Aren't I cool?"
"Yeah, yeah. Very cool. So if we talk here we don't have to worry about anyone, right? Since you can trust them."
"Yes. Lina! Go get Kayla, Angela, and Sophie. And give this guy some food." I told Lina to call the girls.
"You'll pay, right?" Kron asked me.
"It's free. She's my personal maid."
"…what happened since we last met? Did you get more girlfriends?" Kron asked while smiling.
"Yes. Oh, it's them. You can talk now. Everyone here are people I trust."
Well, I can trust them if the topic Kron about to talk with me is related to the cult.
Lina returned with Kayla, Angela, Sophie, Candy, and Ms. Wendy. Seems like they are interested in the A-ranked hunter, The Baldy.
After some pleasantries, Kron talked about what he experienced in the capital.
Back when he tried to stop a kidnapping attempt, he killed the kidnapper. And to his surprise, the kidnapper has an explosive device in his mouth. After what happened after the Orc Emperor incident, Kron would check the inside of the mouth of anyone he killed. Of course they are all bad guys.
Then when he found the explosive device, two guards who were patrolling heard of the disturbance and approached Kron. Of course they thought that Kron was the kidnapper. But Kron who is innocent didn't fight back and only talk. That's where he ended up knowing those two guards.
"One of the guards has mustache. I think he was called mustache as well. And the other introduced himself as Alberto. We have a chat a bit and they told me few things. That's when Alberto ended up telling me about the thing that this organization is planning. He said that there are several cities that will be targeted soon and one of them is Melk. That's why I'm here." Kron explained why he returned.
I think I know what happened. The girls with me also realized something as well from what Kron is talking. Well, not Angela. As for other people who are listening, they only thought that the two guards must be secret agents of the king.
I looked at Kayla's face, and she nodded. I think my guess is correct.
"Kron. Does the other guard without mustache look like an annoying guy who seem to know everything? And the mustache just keep quiet whenever he speaks?" I asked for Kron's confirmation.
"Yes. Do you know them?" Kron asked.
"Sonia! Come here!"
Instead of answering Kron's question, I called Sonia who's listening in from another room. She didn't come because Kron might be surprised to see a ghost. But I called her anyway.
"Roy, do you want me to ask Albert?" Sonia know what I want her to do right away.
"Ask him if he's the one who the A-ranked bald hunter talked to. I know what his answer will be, but just ask him."
Sonia then disappear. We don't know if Albert is busy or not, so usually Sonia just transported to where Marie is and ask her if Albert is available.
"Whoa! Roy! Did you also seduce a ghost?!" Kron surprised to see a ghost instead of what I'm saying to her.
"Yes. Don't you know that a ghost and a clown get along really well?"
"Stop joking around! Do you really think the guy Kron talking to is Albert?" Angela asked.
"Probably. Well, the other guy is obviously Mustache. And he won't leave Albert's side unless it's important. So I think Alberto is Albert. Don't you noticed it by his name already?"
"The name Albert is too common. In fact most of everyone here has a common name. How would I know that Alberto is Albert?" Angela said.
But before I answered her, Sonia returned with news from Albert.
"Roy, Albert says that Kron is OK." Sonia said to me.
"As expected."
"What? What is OK? Can you tell me?" Kron doesn't know what we're talking about.
"It means Albert said that you can be trusted. I already know that from the start, but with his confirmation, the other will agree to have you with us. Of course if you are willing to join us. Ms. Wendy, will you introduce yourself and tell him why all of us are here?"
I told Ms. Wendy to do it as the representative from Albert's people. After all, she was the one in charge of the operation here. And Kron was stunned to hear the truth that his bandana slipped off his slippery head and show us the greatness of a baldy.
"Wait! So Alberto is the king? And you always know who they are but you never told me back then? And now you are all here to stop the stampede?"
"No. As for Albert's plan, we are letting the stampede happen. And when it does, we will evacuate the citizens and defeat the monsters as many as we can. Hopefully there will be no casualties. We need the stampede to happen so everyone will know of the cult's existence. Don't worry, you're not the only one who hate that plan." I explained to Kron.
"…alright, I'm in! I hope with me joining you, there will be less casualties. Tell me what to do." Kron agree to join us.
"It's good to have you with us. Now that you're here, I want you to ask the hunters in this city to defeat the monsters and help evacuate the people when the stampede happen. If it's you who asked, with your reputation, I believe most hunter will agree to help."
Now with Kron's help, our plan can go smoothly and helped rescue the citizens faster. He's such a well-known hunter in this city after all.
Today is really a great day. We have a good news, a better news, and best news.
The good news is, Kron is returning to Melk. The better news, Kron agreed to join us. The best news, Hill likes Kron more than me. I feel like Hill talked to me less and less, and he's talking with Kron more often. Well, Kron still doesn't know of Hill's… desire yet. But I wish the best for those two.
Few days later, Sonia was called by Veronica. And when she returns, she told us some news.
Veronica is leaving, and the stampede will happen in two days. The low reward quest will also be posted tomorrow so the hiding cult member will leave soon and leaving only some important people in the city.
"Alright. You are free to do whatever you want today, and tomorrow, we will get some rest and only left few people to see the situation. Rest well and prepare for the battle!"
Chapter 151 - Resting Day
It's resting day today. The stampede will happen tomorrow so I told everyone to rest well before the event.
Although I told them to rest, most of them are unable to sleep and stay together in the dining hall. They must be too tense to rest. Other than Hill and the guards he brought from Mellian.
Mellian city is a city surrounded by a lot of monsters, and makes that city a good place for hunters to make a living. The monsters near that city would sometime tried to enter the gate to the city, but the guards protected it well.
And usually, when the numbers of the monsters increased a lot, and there would be stampede. The last stampede that happened in Mellian was three years ago. And all the guards Hill brought here have experience handling it. That's why they are not anxious like the others.
The guards of Mellian doesn't really help in defeating the monsters. It was mostly hunters who do that. And the guards are mostly responsible in evacuating the citizen. Only some of the real strong ones are defeating monsters.
Hill told this to me and Kron in my room. Just the three of us as everyone else is doing whatever they can to be relaxed. Like the girls decided to sleep in one room, some decided to cultivate, and even Lina is unable to rest so she's in the kitchen making some meal for tomorrow.
It's not just us three who are relaxed, some of the more experienced one also able to relax before the battle. And they are watching their juniors today so they don't overdo it before the battle.
"That's why it's great that Roy told me to join him. We are experienced in handling the stampede in Mellian." Hill proudly puffed his chest.
"I only thought of you guys because of the training sets I gave you lot. If not for your physical strength, I won't ever think of having you guys over. I don't even know that Mellian experienced stampede many times already. Had I known, I would have tell Albert to get all the guards over there." I said to Hill.
"Even if he asked that, it's not like all of us can go, you know? We still need to have guards in case of stampede happening again in Mellian. When I asked other corps if they want to come, they said that if everyone is leaving, no one will protect their home. That's why it was mostly from my corps that's helping young Albert. We even have the noble in our city agree to it. He doesn't belong to any aristocracies group, or belong to any cult. That's why young Albert asked him to be his ally, and he agreed." Hill said.
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So Albert already gained another noble to help us, huh? I never know about that. But it's not like he has to tell me everything. I believe that whatever he's doing is for the good of everyone.
"By the way, how's the hunters doing?" This time, I asked Kron.
"I just told the guild master that I think the numbers of monsters is increased a lot. I told him that there might be a stampede. He didn't believe me fully, especially when the numbers of hunters are increased and there are more and more monsters being hunted thanks to the king's agents here. But thanks to my reputation, he said the guild will be prepared just in case. They will prepare a reward depend on the numbers of monsters that any hunters defeated during the stampede. This is the first time this city had any stampede so that's all they can think for now." Kron explained to us.
"I think that's good enough. That would at least make hunters motivated." Hill said.
"I agree. By the way, have you seen what's the quest from the cult is about?" I asked Kron.
"It's something about migrating to another city. The quest was submitted by the governor himself. It says that they are hiring hunters to protect many citizens who would like to try their luck in another city because there's not enough space in this city anymore. They will leave soon. With how quick the preparation needed to be done, only those of the cult who has long prepared to leave will join the quest. As for the people they will be guarding, I bet they are also from the cult as well. But those people are not hunters." Kron told us what the quest the cult gave to the guild.
I agree with Kron. The quest was just posted this morning, and the departure was this afternoon. Only those who have prepared for a long time would join that quest. And if there are any hunters who joined the quest other than those from the cult, they might be killed on the way. Or maybe they would even try to recruit them.
"Roy, what about the informant from the cult?" Kron asked me about Veronica.
"She already left the city. When she's alone, she will contact us. She needs to be careful of spies around her as well."
"I still don't trust her though. What if it's just a trap to kill all of us?""
"I too haven't believe her fully. Even if her story was true, she has been with the cult for too long. Well, if the information she told us about the stampede is true, I can trust her a little bit then." I replied to Kron's question.
Yesterday when Veronica contacted us through Sonia, she told us a few key information. If all the information she gave are true, I can conclude that she's really trying to leave the cult.
The first information is that most of the cult members are leaving. That's true. Even Veronica is leaving the city as well. And about the mission from the guild is true as well.
Then about the rest of the cult members that are staying behind. Most of them are obviously trying to see the situation and will report of the stampede to their higher ups. Despite Veronica's position being higher than the governor of Melk, Luiz, he is closer to their higher ups than Veronica. Luiz was more trusted than Veronica and that's why the stampede happened in his city. I believe it's the same in other cities as well with the one in charge is closer to the higher ups of the cult.
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And lastly, the most important information is… the governor, Luiz, is an expert level mage in fire element. At least that's what Veronica knows. As for other cult members that's staying behind, most of them are advanced level mages.
We need to capture the cult members alive. Well, most of them at least to continue with our plan. And so, Candy proposed an idea. She will wear Sophie's stocking to protect her from the expert level fire magic, and confront him and shock him with her lightning magic. Candy has two elements, lightning element that has reached advanced level, and also advanced level fire magic. She has been teaching Sophie about lightning magic since she joined us.
But wearing that stocking mean she won't be able to use fire magic at all. That's why Ms. Wendy will support her. As for the others, they will take care of the monsters and the evacuation. While I will clean up the rest of the cult members that hides with the citizens.
I was asked to capture them alive, but that's only optional. I can kill them if they are too difficult to handle. Well, the most difficult part is to take the HGB from inside their mouth. We need them to be completely unconscious so they can't activate it.
For this, I gave the Magic Restriction Collar that I got back when I saved Candy, to the person herself. At least the governor need to be alive.
"Well, we have made our plan, so you all go back to your room and rest. I want to sleep." I said to the two guests in my room.
"Why do you want to sleep so soon? We can play cards until late. I'm bored." Kron replied.
"Yeah. And you have been sleeping most of the time. It's not good for your health if you sleep all the time. Now you can accompany me in the bed." Hill said.
"It's you who have to leave! That's my bed you're laying on!"
Knowing that in my room I won't be able to sleep because two annoying guys is there, I left my room to look for Sophie and ask her to let me sleep in her room. The girls are having a sleepover in the biggest room here so I think it will be fine to sleep in Sophie's roo. Of course the biggest room are reserved for Shirley.
I easily got the permission from Sophie so I went to her room.
Even though I said I'm going to sleep, once I rest my head on the pillow, my mind is working to its limit. Why did this often happen before sleep?
I know the main reason why. Although I show everyone that I'm relaxed, I'm actually the most excited for tomorrow. Not the most anxious, but the most excited. It was because finally, I will change the future.
There have been many events before that's obviously changed the future, but no matter what, even though I haven't told anyone about it yet, the stampede in Melk is the one that gives me nightmare the most. Both in my past life, and the present.
Finally, I could do something about this nightmare of mine.
Chapter 152 - The Bell Has Rung
Early in the morning, I already awake even though I usually overslept. Although it was still four in the morning, everyone also has already wake up. And seeing the breakfast has been served, Lina and few others must be awake even earlier.
I can see determination in everyone's eyes. And I also determinedly eating the breakfast until there's nothing left.
"Don't eat everything. So that we can have some food to share with refugee later."
Thanks to Sophie's reminder, I stopped eating after a while.
"Alright! Everyone already knows their own mission, right? Then do your best! Everyone, to your position!" Ms. Wendy gave the order.
"It's still too early. If all of us leave the hotel now, it will only raise suspicion. At least wait until the sun rise." I said.
Although I said that, there are few people who already left the hotel.
"So, what else did Veronica says about the stampede?" Angela asked
"Seems like the cult are luring some powerful monsters nearby because we have subjugated too many monsters. I think some of the monsters will be controlled directly by some members of the cult." I said as I remembered how they can control monster.
Whatever kind of experiments and research that they done, the monsters' controlling experiment is a success. And seems like they don't need a tamer or summoner to control those monsters.
Veronica said that the Orc Emperor should be one of the experiment that escaped. She heard about it as soon as she arrived in this city back then. That Orc Emperor should be one that the cult raised to be their own, but somehow it become too strong and left. Which mean the people that the cult will be alert most would be us. The hunters who are involved in the subjugation of the Orc Emperor. And knowing that Kron is here, they should be targeting him first. As for us, because of our low level, they shouldn't think that we're a problem at all. Especially since the guy who witnessed me killing the Orc Emperor committed suicide.
In any case, thanks to my intervention, the monsters during this stampede will be stronger than the monsters in my previous life.
The plan today is quite simple. Kron will leave as soon as the gate is open, and after a while he will return telling the guild that stampede is happening. Telling everyone that monsters are getting closer and closer.
Lina will stay in the hotel as it's also an evacuation center. As for other girls, Kayla, Angela, Sophie, and Shirley, they will join the hunters.
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There will be panic among the citizens. It was because this city has never experienced stampede in the past. And most likely, some cult members will try to rile the people up. Saying we're doomed or something.
Then Hill's people will try to calm the people down and evacuate them. They are already experienced stampede in Mellian, so they should be capable of doing so.
The agents will help defeat monsters and evacuate people, but their main mission should be to bring down the governor. Candy and Ms. Wendy both will confront the expert level mage. With Candy wearing Sophie's fishnet stocking under her pants, I think the expert level fire magic won't do any damage to her. But we don't know if he has other element that has reached expert level, or if there's another expert level mage in the cult.
As for me, I'll be hunting people from the cult hiding within the citizens with my partner, Victoria. I don't think there will be the higher ups of the cult still in this city other than the governor, so it should be easy finding people with HGB in their mouth.
Time pass by quickly and everyone has left to their own position.
"Roy, do you really think that there will be cult members who join the civilians in evacuation? What is the chance of them having a place to hide?" As I was about to leave the hotel as well, Victoria asked me about the chance of the cult members hiding during the stampede.
"I think it's probably zero. They are people who doesn't mind taking their own lives after all. They will probably try to increase the number of casualties by themselves. If we let them enter the evacuation center with other people, it might increase the number of casualties instead."
"I see… then how will you kill them?"
"With your help obviously. I will snipe them from afar so you need to transform into that rifle you're so proud about. I spent this morning sharpening rocks so it can pierce through their heads. As long as there's no barrier around them, they will 100% die."
"I thought you were told to capture them if possible?" Victoria asked curiously.
"Then I'll just say it's impossible. As soon as I cleared up those hiding cult members, I'll go help the others. I hope they will be fine." I said as I look at the girls' location with my Divine Vision.
"Don't worry about them. They are stronger than average mages. They can handle themselves. Magic wise, they are stronger than you." Victoria tried to comfort me.
"I will worry about them. If the plan failed, I'll go get everyone and escape no matter what."
Victoria didn't say anything to my words. I hope it means she agrees with me.
"Lina, we're going now!"
"Alright. Please return safely!"
I left the hotel and jumped on top of a building.
The stampede will happen soon, so before that happen, let's take care of the enemy that's moving alone.
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Any one from the cult who doesn't walk in crowded area, will be killed. Like those who are still inside their houses, or inside their rooms at an inn.
I looked around for a bit and see one of the cult member inside a room at an inn. He's the only one in the room, so it's a perfect chance.
I grabbed Victoria who has transformed into a sniper rifle, loaded a sharp rock as a bullet, and compressing air inside the rifle. There's a scope on the rifle so I told Victoria to remove it. My eyes can already see far ahead even without using any tools.
I looked at the man in the room. He's getting dressed and put a hunter card in his pocket. Seems like he's a hunter. Probably one of the cult members who will create chaos in the guild.
I aimed at his head and make sure the compressed air is just enough to break the window and kill him. I can make the shot strong enough to pierce a wooden wall, but since he's right at the window, I won't do that.
After I had a good aim at his head, I shot the bullet out of the rifle and it pierced his head and the bullet is lodged right in his brain. He should be dead already, but to make sure, I used my vision to see his vital sign. His heart is no longer moving so I knew I took one down.
"Alright, let's go find the next one." I said confidently.
"What about the inn employee who will see the body? Don't you feel sorry for him?" Victoria asked worriedly about.
"Don't worry. In fact, I might have saved his life. He'll be happy to know that when Shirley make a speech and told everyone about the cult. Then he will realize his guest is a member of the cult. That's why we need to make sure that our plan is going well." I said as I looked around for the next target.
"I think it's best if you move location. The sound of your shoot was loud enough to make people notice where you are. That's the rule of a sniper. Once your location was known, you have to go find another place right away. I think it's better if you shot several people right away in one location."
"You should have said that sooner! Let's go!" I said as I left the roof of that building and go for another place.
Since there are already many people out and about in public, it will be a big problem if I killed them in public. I see some of them, but I ignored them for now.
If I need to kill them in public, I guess having a disguise is a better option. That mean Ninja is coming back!
The next one, I found four men in different location. And I choose a good spot where I can shoot them from.
In one breathe, I shoot the first one, compressing air again in my rifle then shoot the second one. The third one is the same, but the fourth one is smart. Once he heard the sound from my rifle from my first shot, he looks at my location and hide behind the wall.
I took a deep breathe, and compress air enough to pierce that wall. Then I shot the fourth one, and before any other people noticed me, I left that location. I think some people watched me jumping from building to building, but luckily I covered my face with a mask. No one will recognize me.
"So three is the max number for people I shoot in a row. More than that, and the enemy will notice me and might escape." I said to myself.
Then I found more cult members walking alone. I killed them all and escape after doing so.
As of now, I managed to kill twenty three of them.
And as I was about to go to the next spot, the bell that inform the citizens about the approaching danger is ringing loudly. I haven't seen any monsters within the range of my vision, but I see Kron in the guild trying to persuade the hunters. He makes the guild alert faster than I thought. I thought by the time he reports the guild, I can already see some of the monsters, but with this, the city will be able to prepare better against the stampede.