บท 63: Three people at night
In the depths of the mountain forest, a slender figure swiftly darted through the high branches, her movements as light and graceful as a breeze slicing through the night.
Her steps were quick and precise, each leap making almost no sound, as if she had become one with the shadows.
As she moved, moonlight occasionally filtered through the treetops, casting fleeting glimpses of her outline before she vanished again into the thick forest shadows, like a phantom gliding through the darkness.
Soon, her steps halted in front of a clearing.
The area was surrounded by dense trees, with the open sky above allowing bright moonlight to bathe the ground.
In the middle of the clearing stood two figures, as if they had been waiting for her for some time.
One was tall and thin, his frame so gaunt he appeared almost skeletal, especially with his bald head gleaming coldly in the moonlight.
His eyes were sunken and devoid of emotion, his arms crossed over his chest as he stood rigidly, staring at her coldly.
The other man was large and heavyset, his labored breathing conspicuous in the stillness of the night, sounding somewhat strained.
His gaze held a trace of displeasure and scrutiny.
"You're late."
The large man's voice was deep and heavy, laced with impatience, the words grumbled out from his mouth.
The slender figure gracefully leapt down from the branch, her movements as smooth as flowing water.
She landed steadily in the moonlight, knees slightly bent, her body instantly regaining balance.
She lifted her head slightly, revealing a cold, stern face, with sharp, defined features devoid of any warmth.
Her gaze was as sharp as a blade, seeming to pierce through everything it touched.
Moonlight illuminated her face, highlighting her cold and resolute features. The corners of her lips were slightly taut, and her entire presence exuded the same aloofness as the night itself.
"There were some obstacles on the way, but they've been dealt with," she said calmly, her tone flat and emotionless.
The tall man's gaze lingered on her, watching her intently without saying a word.
The large man kept his hands on his hips, letting out a low, dismissive grunt.
"Our lord seems particularly interested in this Father Raphael, which is why the two of you were assigned to this task."
Her tone remained even.
She casually brushed a few fallen leaves off her shoulder, as if it was an afterthought.
Her short black hair swayed gently in the night breeze, with the moonlight catching the tips, giving them a faint shimmer.
The large man snorted again, his thick fingers rubbing the belt around his waist as he muttered under his breath.
"I still don't understand why the lord is so interested in him."
Her voice took on a sharper edge, and her eyes narrowed, their gaze cutting through the two men like a blade.
"The lord has his reasons, ones we are not meant to question."
She paused briefly, her cold demeanor unwavering.
"I'm planning to launch an attack tomorrow night, to see if Father Raphael is truly as formidable as the rumors suggest."
The large man frowned at her words, a hint of hesitation flickering in his eyes.
The tall man, still silent, glanced at her upon hearing the plan, a faint glimmer of thought crossing his eyes as though he was weighing something.
He finally spoke, his voice low and raspy.
"Is the attack just a probe, or do you intend to eliminate him completely?"
She looked at the tall man, a cold smile creeping onto her lips as she replied icily.
"For now, it's just a test. If he is as strong as they say, the lord will have further instructions.
But if he's not… we'll take care of him while we have the chance."
Both men exchanged glances, offering no further objections, silently accepting her decision.
The tall man hesitated slightly before speaking again.
"Should we arrange for our subordinates to accompany us?
After all, we're targeting the Supreme Commander of the Southern Province Coalition," the tall man suggested.
The woman with short black hair let out a cold laugh, her tone dripping with disdain.
"No need. The three of us are more than enough."
She turned to the tall man, a mocking glint in her eyes.
"After all, you already lost quite a few of your men during the last operation, didn't you?"
The tall man's expression flickered for a moment, his gaze becoming colder.
The large man gave an awkward chuckle, attempting to ease the tension.
"Alright then, we'll stick to the plan. The three of us should be enough to test his true strength."
"The attack needs to be big," she paused briefly. "
We must ensure that Father Raphael takes this seriously.
I don't want him holding anything back. This time, the attack has to force him to show his full power."
The large man chuckled softly, a sly grin appearing on his face.
"Don't worry, since you insist, we'll make sure tomorrow night is as loud and flashy as possible."
The tall man only gave a slight nod, remaining silent and unfazed.
Without another word, the woman with the short black hair turned and leapt gracefully into the dense forest.
Her figure quickly disappeared into the darkness, blending seamlessly with the night.
Left alone in the clearing, the tall man and the large man stood in silence.
The large man stared in the direction where she had vanished, his face darkening as he muttered under his breath.
"That woman is becoming more arrogant by the day…"
His words carried a suppressed anger.
The tall man remained calm, his eyes narrowing slightly, as though lost in thought.
"Don't underestimate that woman," he said quietly.
"She has the right to be arrogant."
The large man glanced up at him, puzzled.
"What do you mean?"
A glimmer of something deep and unreadable flashed in the tall man's eyes as he replied, his tone steady.
"I saw her fight the White Tiger with my own eyes.
That battle was anything but simple," the tall man said, his voice calm but carrying a weight that made the large man pause in shock.
"You mean *that* White Tiger?"
The large man's expression instantly shifted, his earlier lightheartedness gone, replaced by a more serious tone.
"Yes, *him*."
The tall man nodded slightly, a hint of reminiscence flickering in his gaze.
"The White Tiger hasn't been seen for a long time.
I haven't heard any news of him in ages," the large man said, his voice now laced with confusion.
The tall man lifted his gaze toward the distance and slowly replied, "He went to the Northern Province on a mission for the lord.
It's been a long time, but the lord has always trusted him completely. Even I don't know the specifics of his task."
The large man furrowed his brow, even more puzzled, and couldn't help but ask, "What could he be doing in such a remote place?
The Northern Province is practically barren.
I've never heard of anything there that would require the White Tiger to step in personally."
The tall man was silent for a moment before shaking his head slightly.
"I don't know.
The lord never tells us the full extent of his plans.
But there must be something important there.
The lord never does anything without reason."
The large man nodded in agreement, though he still felt some lingering confusion.
He knew, however, that the tall man was right. The lord always had his reasons, and it wasn't their place to question his motives.
The tall man glanced up at the night sky and let out a soft sigh.
The moonlight reflected off his bald head, casting a cold gleam.
With a slight bend of his knees, he suddenly leaped into the air, spinning swiftly.
In the next instant, his figure vanished in midair, replaced by a massive vulture.
The vulture's broad wings unfurled in the night sky, its feathers glistening coldly under the moonlight.
It circled the clearing for a brief moment, letting out a sharp cry before its wings cut through the air, and it vanished into the vast darkness.
The large man sighed as well, then slowly made his way out of the clearing.
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