Chương 57: New Mission
"Sigh…"
With swift motion, the door swung open, revealing Triss's retreating figure.
"What's the deal with the mission?"
Apart from the gentle patter of her feet against the ground, Leon heard no other sound. Triss moved forward with her head bowed and shoulders slumped, progressing slowly.
"I'm sorry, alright?"
Her pace slowed to a crawl, even slower than that of a snail.
"I was just having a rough time. So, I'm sorry about that, Triss."
"Well... Do you really mean it?"
"Yes, I do."
"Truly?"
"Truly."
"Well... Then, as part of the apology, I'll ask something from you, alright?"
"What will you ask?"
"I'll tell you later, okay? And you'll agree to it."
"So, I have no choice, huh?"
"Yeah, something like that."
"Fine, whatever."
Contrary to a mere moment ago, when despondency seemed to consume her very being, Triss now wore a wide, triumphant smile across her face.
"I'll take that as a promise."
"Sure."
'She can't ask for much anyway. If she does, I'll just utter some sh*ts and make her give up on it.'
Once Leon regained his composure and Triss found herself in high spirits once more, they hurried back to their customary spot for such discussions: Leon's room. As always, Triss settled herself atop his table while Leon reclined on his bed, a hint of excitement stirring within him.
"So, I was in the cafeteria a little while ago and overheard some talk about the mission."
"You've been eavesdropping on this mission stuff quite a bit."
"It's only the second time, though?"
"Well, twice in a row. So, it feels like a lot. But go on."
"I overheard Claire and old man Porna's conversation. They—"
"Did you overhear it or practically shout, 'Let me in, let me in!' at them?"
"Well..."
The rolling of Triss's eyes toward the corners of the room provided more than sufficient response.
"At the end of the day, it doesn't matter, right?"
"Yes. But do you think they'd take us with them?"
"Why wouldn't they?"
"Why would they?"
"Haven't you proven yourself enough by now?"
"So, you'll use me as your ticket?"
"Yes."
"Zero shame, huh?"
"It doesn't matter for this mission."
"Why?"
"Because," she paused briefly, imbuing her next words with added weight, "They're heading to Grewol."
At that very moment, Leon's eyes widened in astonishment. This time, the situation had become as intriguing as it could possibly be.
First of all, he had never ventured beyond the borders of his homeland in his entire life thus far. Secondly, Grewol was renowned for one particular aspect—the very history he had been grappling with just moments ago.
"Country of Werewolves," exclaimed, his smile stretching wide.
Grewol served as the homeland of the Werewolves, where they had been clandestinely governed from the shadows a century prior.
It was the birthplace of all Werewolves, making it the ideal location to hone one's skills against them—considered among the most formidable beings in terms of physical prowess.
In his fight with Axel, Leon had merely sought to gain a fleeting understanding of the shadow element, a goal at which he spectacularly failed. However, had he known Axel's true nature as a Werewolf, he might have utilized every resource available to him to flee from the confrontation.
A futile struggle it would have been indeed, facing off against a Werewolf from a renowned clan—someone honed Werewolf Style Close Combat Arts from a young age under the tutelage of the very best.
In addition to his formidable combat skills, he also possessed mastery over the shadow element, elevating his threat level to unprecedented heights. Such an extent that if Mike had been aware of Axel's Werewolf lineage, he wouldn't have dared to assert with confidence that Leon stood a chance against him.
Faced with an adversary boasting at least double his physical strength, coupled with mastery over a special elemental power and the ability to shift between human, Werewolf, and even wolf forms, the challenge would undoubtedly be daunting for anyone.
Fortune seemed to favor him, one might say. However, it was not solely luck; his opponent's disdainful demeanor toward others and the vigilant nature of his guard also significantly contributed to the stalemate. Nevertheless, regardless of the circumstances, Leon couldn't capitalize fully on the opportunity presented by the fight.
Embarking on a long journey between two countries would only serve to further enrich his experiences and deepen his understanding.
"We should go to the leader first."
"You agreed quickly, huh?"
"Why wouldn't I? We're talking about traveling to another country."
"Right? I knew you'd agree."
"Yeah, it is what it is. Let's head to the leader's place after breakfast."
"Should we ask Mike if he'd like to come?"
"We should ask the leader first."
"Alright. Have a good night."
"You too."
---
The hurried breakfast they devoured at the secret base betrayed their bubbling excitement. Despite the uncertainty surrounding the exact date of their journey, the prospect of visiting the realm of the Werewolves filled them with an exhilaration unmatched by any previous adventure.
Their excitement manifested in their brisk pace as they swiftly reached the door of their leader's quarters.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Come in!"
"Hello, Leader."
"What do you want?"
"Well... I wanted to talk about Claire's mission..."
"And?"
'Is this guy having his period or something?'
"I wanted to ask if we could join them..."
A hushed silence enveloped the room as the leader pondered, his gaze fixed squarely on Leon.
"You've raised our expectations. You know that, don't you?"
A single nod served as a profound response.
"Then, keep it up in the air," he said, then turned his head to Triss, "You, too. I expect great things from you."
"Yes. Thank you, leader," replied while fidgeting. "And..."
"Say it."
"Can we take Mike with us?"
"Which Mike?"
"Mike Fortune, leader."
"No."
"B-But..."
"No means no, understood?"
"U-Understood."
"Good. Now, go fetch Claire and Porna for me."
"Understood."
Thanks to Leon's accomplishments, their path forward seemed surprisingly smooth. Not a hint of trouble had arisen thus far, making their current situation a dream come true.
Their first stop was the gym, Claire's usual haunt. Without fail, she could always be found there whenever they visited. It was their best bet, and as expected, it proved to be fruitful once again.
Afterward, they made their way to Porna's room and discovered him in deep meditation.
The energy color of a Zeta was undeniably the most ominous of them all. Despite their race being renowned for their generally good to neutral traits, the hue of their energy core told a starkly different tale.
The matte black aura emanating from him rivaled that of Laima and Belenus. It was ominous yet undeniably captivating.
Perhaps he wasn't entirely immersed in his meditation, or maybe he simply sensed their presence. Porna slowly opened his eyes. After a brief explanation, he nodded silently, grabbed a regular cigarette, and joined them, puffing slowly as they made their way together.
"Looks like everyone's here. I'll go over the mission once more."
"It could pose a danger to the youngsters, Markus," the Zeta, referred to as the old man by Triss, the mist escaping from his mouth as he uttered his concerns.
"It was dangerous last time, but they handled it brilliantly. No more questioning, understood?"
"Huuff… Having two minds living in the same body must be hard for you."
"What are you talking about, Porna?"
"Nothing. If Claire is okay with bringing them, then I am too."
"No problem. We can take care of them."
"Then I'll explain the mission now."
With a gesture, he beckoned them closer to his table, clicking a few things before the blue screen displayed their country's map. Then, he clicked on the Stone City, swiping all the way to the end of the border until he reached the beginning of Grewol's borders.
"Your mission is to deliver a cargo to the border city of Grewol, Clawor."
The mention of the cargo prompted both Leon and Triss to exchange a quick glance and smile. It was an expected reaction; after all, they were the ones who had recently brought in a cargo themselves. With that in mind, Triss decided to inquire about it without delay.
"Is it the cargo we brought?"
"No, it's a different one."
"I see..."
"It's a much more important one," stated, casting a glance at Porna.
"We will use a car."
"Car!?"
Claire, "Is it your first time riding one, Triss?" Sporting a smirk on her face
"Yes. What type of car?"
Porna, "The kind that can be invisible."
"Invisible car!!"
"I've never ridden one before, either."
"Now, you understand the importance of the mission."
---
In the subterranean depths of the perpetually snow-clad continent, a man quietly donned his attire. As if preparing for a wedding ceremony, he meticulously groomed himself to the best of his ability. His jet-black hair matched the color of his suit perfectly.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Come in."
"Excuse me, leader. I have a matter to discuss with you."
"How important is it, Iris?"
"Well..."
"Can it wait a bit longer?"
"Yes, leader."
"Then, let it wait."
"Are you heading somewhere, leader?"
"Yes, I'm off to a rather significant destination."
"I'll summon a few of God's Bane then."
"No need."
"Arslan, don't venture alone."
"That's quite an abrupt shift. But remember, I'm still the leader."
"Sigh…"
"See you later, then."
And he vanished from there, his speed akin to that of teleportation. The velocity of a man at the pinnacle of the level system surpasses even the speed of sound.
The location he vanished to lay deep within the snowy mountains, a subterranean palace reminiscent of this desolate expanse. Ten strides into the frigid chamber, where the purest of ices formed, elevating the throne at the highest point of the room.
"My Goddess, I've come to report."
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