Chapter 113: Sweet Business Method XII
Chapter 113: Sweet Business Method XII
“Really?.. that’s what happened…”
“Yeah, I’m sorry, leader. If only I had thought a little deeper…”
“No. No need to blame yourself. It’s hard to resist such a tempting offer.”
Sighing, Echid comforted Ken, who was clearly regretful. Despite her outward calm, Echid was disappointed by the news Ken had brought from Milan.
“I couldn’t trust the girl’s story right away, but it was worth considering if the conditions were right,” Echid thought. “It’s a shame; I nearly risked my life for nothing.”
Echid, who had made a living from assassination by maximizing her efficiency, found this particular situation particularly disappointing. To her, taking lives without gain was simply unprofessional.
“Some people kill for pleasure, but that’s the mark of a lunatic,” she mused. “If I can settle down and live comfortably, there’s no need to risk my life for such tasks, especially with the current tough conditions.”
Pushing aside these regrets, Echid focused on the matter at hand.
“Let’s stop discussing work. Have you prepared everything for our next task?” she asked.
“Yes, I’ve made the arrangements. I know where they’ll be staying and the surrounding terrain,” Ken replied.“Good. Remember, the priority is to complete the job and ensure everyone’s safety. If it becomes too dangerous, we should abandon it. You can always find another opportunity, but you only have one life.”
“Understood, leader.”
“Great. Make sure Mino is informed of the situation… Oh, and have we received any news from Mergon and Nemea yet?”
“Not yet. They should be back soon if they haven’t run into any trouble…”
Echid’s face tightened slightly at Ken’s words. Despite knowing the skills of Mergon and Nemea, she worried about their safety. They were not invincible, and the stakes were high.
“What if something went wrong? If my plan is causing them trouble…” Echid’s anxiety grew.
At that moment, her worries were interrupted.
“Ah!”
The shadow of her anxiety was lifted as Nemea and Mergon entered the room.
“We’re here!” Nemea greeted energetically, while Mergon apologized for their delay.
Echid, masking her relief, greeted them calmly, “It’s quite late.”
Nemea and Mergon collapsed into their seats, exhausted.
“Are you hurt?” Echid asked.
“Yes? A little… But I’m alright now,” Mergon replied, though he winced slightly.
Ken, intrigued, remarked, “So someone actually hurt Mergon? I wonder who it was… If it was me, I’d be in trouble…”
Nemea and Mergon exchanged glances before Nemea spoke up.
“Actually… we have something to tell you.”
Echid and Ken looked at them with curiosity.
“What’s going on?” Ken asked.
Mergon and Nemea began recounting their encounter in Rhome, where they had faced a formidable opponent.
***
“… That’s nonsense…”
Mino, who had just arrived, looked deeply anxious after hearing their account. Mergon and Nemea had battled a highly skilled woman, an escort for the Beden Merchant Company, and barely escaped with their lives.
“I’m sorry, but it’s true. I’ve never faced anyone with such skill,” Mergon said.
“It’s not just skill. She replicated my dagger manipulation magic just by observing it once,” Nemea added, shivering at the memory.
The others shared her concern. Imitating magic was nearly impossible for most, indicating an enormous latent capacity in their opponent.
“What do we do? Honestly, facing her again seems like a death sentence,” one of the members said.
“I agree. However, abandoning the plan is not an option. We’ve invested too much in preparation to stop now,” another member added.
Echid, who had been silent, finally spoke.
“I need to confirm something. Among the upper-tier escorts, the only one with such skill is that woman, right?”
“Yes, probably. If there were more, we would have heard by now. She seems to be the strongest member of the guild, trained in secret.”
“Understood. Proceed with the plan but make some adjustments.”
The members, reassured by Echid’s decisive stance, began to focus on the modified plan.
***
The Beden Merchant Company’s caravan arrived in Benessa, the final stop on their long journey.
Relief and joy filled the air as they prepared to return home.
“Finally, we’re almost done. Just a few supplies here, and it’s over,” one merchant said.
“Yes, these trips are always challenging, but Bahamut-sama’s special escort made it easier this time,” another added.
While the merchants relaxed, Isolda and Ophelia, in charge of the procession, remained vigilant. The recent incident in Rhome had made them cautious.
“How is the security situation?” Isolda asked.
“No major issues so far. Both Yuria and Prince Robert are resting in the courtyard, with bodyguards stationed around them,” came the reply.
“Good. Keep a close watch. You never know when trouble might strike.”
At that moment, Ophelia’s expression hardened.
Bang!
She drew her greatsword as a loud explosion shook the air, followed by a cloud of dust. As the dust settled, Ophelia stood with her magic barrier intact, and Isolda’s eyes were cold and focused.
“This might be a little dangerous,” Ophelia said, her grip tightening on her sword.
Before them was a woman floating in the air, radiating immense mana.
The sight confirmed that their opponent was no ordinary person.
“I don’t know who it is… I don’t think there will be an answer unless I step forward myself. I would like to handle this one.”
“..okay.”
The idea that it might be a trap suddenly came into their minds, but neither of them mentioned it.
Even so, if Ophelia didn’t step forward at this moment, there was a high possibility that enormous damage would occur.
In response, as soon as Ophelia sortied, Isolda immediately began to order the waiting adventurers as best she could.
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