When Euralle woke up, the alchemist felt sore all over her body. As she opened her eyes, she was met with Ian's blue orbs, which seem to twinkle with mirth.
The shy girl let out a yelp as she duck into the cover. Unfortunately for her, the mage was also in the cover, allowing him to move his hands underneath it to capture her, bringing her into his embrace.
Once Euralle was brought in into his embrace, she tried to squirm away, but failed. While Ian is not as strong as Ana, or gods forbid, Kell, he is as strong as Lisa, which is far stronger than Fiona, not to mention Euralle.
So, despite her best attempt, she could escape the confines of his arm, forcing the smaller girl to accept her current state and allowed herself to be hugged by the mage.
As the two left the bed, Euralle was princess carried to the bathroom, where Ian took the opportunity to 'wash' her body. When Fiona entered the bathroom soon after, she joined Ian 'washing' Euralle, moan of pleasure filling the bathroom.
-x-
"I will not ask what happen, mostly because I am afraid to find out," Kell said with a deadpanned face, staring at Ian and Fiona, who sandwiched the red-faced Euralle.
"But now, I want to talk about the gathering point," the fighter took out the map that had been marked by the grunt the day before.
"All the mark spot is where the grunts and lower level gang members of the Dark Hound gathered. Either to relax or to get their next missions. The plan is to infiltrate, or at least get close enough to hear what they are planning, or better, the main hideout of the gang.
So, we shou-" Ian raised his hand, causing Kell to stop and looked at him.
"Do you think it will work?" seeing the confused look on his best friend, Ian elaborate.
"Do you think, any of us, can get close enough to the gathering point, without raising suspicion. I have look at each one of them, and all of it are taverns and inns that belonged to the Dark Hound. So, anyone aside from the gang members that went there, would look suspicious.
So, it will be near impossible to spy on them," he explained.
"He is right," Lisa said, agreeing with what Ian said. "If the gathering place is just the regular inns and taverns, it would be fine. But if it is an establishment owned by the Dark Hound, we won't be able to get far before they attacked us, or kick us out,"
"So, the spying plan is a bust," Kell exclaimed.
"Unless we have a spell that allow us to make familiars and have them infiltrate the place, then yes, it is a bust. But that does not mean we don't have a way to investigate the places," the others looked at Ian as he said those words.
"How?" Kell asked, relieved in his voice at the fact his best friend seem to have a way for them to investigate the so-called gathering point.
"We are going to use force and be unsubtle about it," the other take turn to look at one another before looking at him.
"Waaaaah?????"
-x-
Euralle, with her hair and eyes turned blue from one of her homemade potions walked towards her supposed spot. It is a table nearest to the gathering point, allowing her to see the coming men who entered the place, each member of Dark Hound.
She turned her head, looking at Lisa, who was on top of the roof, her body blocked from just about anyone who looked up, unless they are at the spot she was at.
She then turned to another table, Fiona and Ian using it. Both taking the same potions she took, except of different variations. Ian now have golden-blonde hair as well as yellow eyes, while Fiona now sports a black hair with brown eyes.
While their body shape is the same, unless someone able to remember something like that, it would be hard to compare their disguised form with how they look, allowing them to get as close as possible without sounding the alarm.
The three of them are at the cafe near the taverns so they can observe and inform the others of the current whereabouts of the members of Dark Hound. Ian had learned a nifty spell that allow them to talk telepathically, the only downside being the mana he has to expend to do so.
[ The preparation is in place. How about you, Lisa, Kell? ]
[ We are also in position. The only thing left is to wait for them to leave, or as much Dark Hound members could leave as possible. ]
[ It may take sometime, but that just mean we can make sure the 'present' we have for them will be an extra large one. ]
[ They will hate your present, no doubt of it. ]
[ That is what I am hoping for. ]
[ Ana here. And I already finish with my part. The only thing left is to start this whole thing up. ]
[ Patiance. We likely have to wait for few more hours. ]
[ Urgh, can we play a guessing game or something? ]
[... Yes, as long as someone keep watch over them. ]
[ Great! Who want to join? ]
-x-
The wait goes on for nearly 2 hours, before the members of Dark Hound excited the tavern, likely heading to their supposed mission. Ian, being the only one that did not join the game, sent warning to the others.
[ They begin to leave! ]
[ What?!.. You are right. Are we going to make our move now? ]
[ Wait until they get further away. We don't want some to able to get back when they spotted the explosion. ]
[ True. Let's wait for 10 more minutes. ]
-x-
After the 10 minutes pass, Kell gave the signal.
[ Go, go, go! ]
[ On it. Let the firework, began. ]
Explosion of varying degrees occurred all over the place, most of it happened near the gathering spot. This cause some of the people inside the taverns to come out, to see what the commotion is all about.
At the same time as the explosion began, both Lisa and Kell entered the tavern through the window, making it look like a break in.
This is the plan Ian come out with. Instead of making things hard for them by trying to spy on them, it is better for them to kidnap one of the more important members, or search for important documents, or both if possible.
It use misdirection as the opening phase, followed by force in the next and final stage. That is the reason for him saying his plan used force and unsubtle. The whole plan is to be as unsubtle as possible.
If they are lucky enough, the Dark Hound would think this is the work of a rival gang, weakening them and allowing them to take them down if possible.