I knew perfectly well that she didn’t need my help; she could have easily landed with the grace that befitted her. However, her intent was obvious and it was not to land as effectively as she could. I smiled amusedly at her adorable antics while pushing both of my arms outward and turning my palms toward the sky. She landed into them smoothly with a soft thud sound accompanying her arrival. Her weight had barely registered in my brain as I caught her in a bridal carry.
Her beautiful eyes gleamed up at me with a playful glint shining through. She suddenly brought her face close to my head and kissed me. <Blossom loves Master!> She announced with a fond tone right into my mind.
Though we both wore masks, thus her kiss was only two masks hitting each other in reality, it was still an incredibly sweet act on her part.
I raised a questioning eyebrow at her, but she merely giggled with her tail wagging against my body repeatedly. Even in the middle of enemy territory, surrounded by danger, Blossom’s needy antics shone through. Although I could be mistaken, I would be willing to bet that she not only did this because it simply felt right in her mind but also to ascertain the fact in my brain that she was my first woman and that she was not to be forgotten or put into the background no matter how large my harem may end up becoming in the future.
Naturally, that would never happen. Explore more at empire
I set her down gently before slapping her inviting behind in a chiding manner. We were deep in hostile territory, though I didn’t have it in me to lecture her properly for I loved her actions too much. Blossom yelped cutely for a moment before she was back to scanning the area with a sharp focus.
It quickly became evident that the outside layer that was only guarded by the wooden wall was for the ‘unwanted’, the lower caste of this settlement. Like my five low-level guards who were guarding the labor slaves, their purpose was to be as cheap as possible and if an enemy were to attack, they would be the first casualties instead of the more important members, namely the strong in the case of this place.
Sadly for them, we had no plans to invade in a conventional manner, so such precautions didn’t amount to much. Well, if they were competent then it could notify them of the presence of a malevolent force, but it would be all too late unless they’d already noticed us five minutes ago.
The guards we encountered inside the much better built wall’s embrace were at least a tier above the previous ones if not more, so much so that I no longer felt that repeating my earlier kidnapping play would be a smart decision. It’s not that they were so strong that I would struggle to take them, but that I would surely be found out much quicker.
From atop the wall, I could see numerous buildings flanking the biggest one in the complete center. It was like everything revolved around that one building. Not only was it in the center but was a luxurious mansion that contrasted greatly against the other, uglier buildings. <Let’s get close to that one.> I said, being pretty confident that the leaders were situated there. I didn’t wish to eliminate everyone in an all-out brawl since due to the balancing of the system, or rather the Soul Records, people at my level barely gained any XP from those below level 15 or so. This ensured that people who were on top of the food chain like Black Fang and her disciples couldn’t ‘farm’ the weaklings, just like how Ayame barely gained any XP back when she helped me clear the first floor of the Aldoria labyrinth.
Indeed, I had better plans for the lower-level combatants than becoming ineffective XP packs, therefore cutting the head of the serpent off seemed like the most ideal method to reach the outcome I wanted.
…
“Sir Blackjack! Sir Specter! There’s something wrong! We can’t find numerous pairs of guards in the outer layer!” A man suddenly rushed into their private quarters and began speaking so swiftly that he could be mistaken for a rapper.
“Have you checked the pleasure quarters and the inns? Bunch of nobodies might’ve thought they could have fun while on the clock.” Specter grumbled while not pausing his hip movements even for a second.
“I checked! They’re nowhere to be found! Based on my initial counting at least thirty guards are missing!”
“Thirty?!” Blackjack shouted. He was shocked. This number clearly meant that they were doing something other than simply relaxing on duty.
“A revolt or…” Specter murmured as he came to the same conclusion. “An invasion!” Blackjack finished for him.
The man and his aide quickly dressed themselves and reached for their weapons. Blackjack then barked his order, “call the boys!” Thinking the command to be severely inefficient, Specter took over the mantle. “Wake everyone up! It’s an emergency, all should be prepared to engage in combat at a moment’s notice! I want the inner ring to be locked down until we sort everything out. No one comes or leaves!”
The bringer of the alerting news gulped audibly and began shaking. This had never happened in the history of the Wraithclaws – or at least since Blackjack and his crew took over the mantle of leadership. They had a positive relationship with the Blackthorn family who owned the lands they were operating in, and the Consortium saw that as a nice pocket money since for them, these few villages were too small and irrelevant to even exert the effort to supply their drugs to them.
Thus, who would have the reason to mess with them?
As for a rebellion, that seemed even less likely. Even if the numbers were on the side of the peasants, that mattered little in this world where a single high-level, fragile-looking little girl could potentially solo an entire nation with enough stats on her side. While Blackjack and his loyal lackeys were severely outnumbered, the power scale was tipped in their favor heavily, thus a rebellion was destined to fail and the losers should know it painfully well.
“Y-yes boss!” He shouted while saluting just before he rushed out of the quarters toward the rooms of the strongest members. He then heard the alarm go off – Blackjack held an artifact in his possession at all times which he could use to alert the entire camp. Loud siren-like sounds began enveloping the stronghold.
However, the man only had time to explain the situation to the strongest ones before he came face to face with a harrowing sight. A dozen or so armed and robed combatants strolled lazily down the halls of the mansion. They were lax as if they were here on a picnic, but he knew every person who had permission to enter the boss’ home, and none of them were included in this ominous group!
‘Invaders?! And they’re already in here?!’ He screamed inwardly before turning around and running for his life.
“[Mana Arrow].” was the last thing he heard. At least the sound of the voice was incredibly smooth and relaxing. It rang in his head continuously as he succumbed to his wounds.