Chapter 262

Chapter 262 - Navy SEALs (2)

Fitting for a pier, aquatic structures and docked ships were scattered here and there. The shadows they created and the sound of water bumping against them hid the infiltrators even more furtively.

'It is safe.'

'There is no one around.'

Hand signals went back and forth from all over. Homi, who transformed into her Beast-Warrior form, placed her four limbs on the ground as if she had been waiting. The muscle tremors starting from her neck spread throughout her body along her spine.

Pudeudeudeudeuk!

An intense shaking like a completely soaked puppy. Small droplets of water soaked in her dense silver fur were shot in all directions. Homi usually liked water, but she disliked getting wet in her beast state.

"Homi."

Having shaken off her body to the fullest, she hopped and sat in front of Eugene. A posture like a frog sitting, but it wasn't laughable in the slightest. It just overflowed with an alluring wild beauty.

"Find the place the prisoners are housed. Observe them, and take action according to your individual judgment. You remember the location on the map, right?"

"Yes. If I search from atop the roofs, it'll be quick. Plus, I can already faintly feel the stench of the prisoners."

Her cute nose twitched.

Hesed possesses the largest prisoner camp among all cities. It is a place for city criminals as well as various goods supplied from outside.

"They wouldn't try dividing and slaughtering or siphoning them off in the city, but there is no 100%. A fire could also break out. If things go wrong, release the imprisoned mercenaries first and cause a riot."

It's standard in chess for the pawn to move first as well. Releasing the Dark Elves and nobles after the jailers' attention and arrows have been somewhat dissipated would be safer.

"Then see you later."

"I pray for your luck in battle."

Homi kissed the back of Eugene's hand and jumped. As if shooting a silver flash, she hid her presence among the roofs.

The remaining people unpacked the bundles they brought. Their equipment for the infiltration mission was wrapped in waterproof packs. It was a pouch made from the bladder of a monster dire hog caught in the Tollgate Mountains.

- You caught that huge guy and the most useful thing is merely a bladder?

- What are you saying, My Lord! How useful this is. Although stiff, it's waterproof material and very tough.

Eugene had thought of maybe making a soccer ball, but it was a useful material in special warfare where both stealth and durability were needed.

"Any lost items?"

"None."

The female warriors answered while attaching anti-stab pads all over their bodies. They couldn't swim with things like this thickly attached from the start.

Kkirik.

Chalccak.

The crossbows that had been disassembled into several chunks were quickly assembled, and their bowstrings were hooked. Ranged weapons require a small yet strong-tensioned composite crossbow, but these are very vulnerable to moisture.

That is why countless armies wait endlessly after besieging during a siege. Since to infiltrate stealthily, they can only bring around a dagger on their bare bodies.

The loaded bolts were structured with thick tips and grooves dug in to hold a lot of poison. Coagulant poison painstakingly brewed by the tribal witches was thickly applied.

"There are not many defenders. It's a structure that relies entirely on the sturdy castle wall at the front, so if we just open the castle gate, it's over."

"I heard there were ones who revealed their intention to surrender, though."

"A few guild masters and city nobles secretly sent letters. But they didn't seem likely to actively offer up the castle."

Joining hands with allied fOrces within the city would enable a more effective infiltration, but the risk rises as well. Since they might dig a trap and wait for the party.

"My Lord. Except for the remodeling of the sewer, everything else is according to the map."

The female warrior most adept at map reading quickly grasped the surroundings and reported.

"This is the lower-class district. The current Mayor who even does sewer construction using his own money is the strange one. Those with money only care about the pleasure districts in the center."

They hadn't set this place as the infiltration spot for nothing. The city piers existing in a few places were inherently areas not good for living due to noise, foul odor, and vagrants. Furthermore, everyone's attention would be drawn to the outside army preparing for the siege.

"But what are those bastards?"

The place Cassandra pointed to was a pier warehouse temporarily storing cargo unloaded from the pier. There were men working there without even turning on the lights.

"Curfews should be in place right now."

"Loitering in a pier warehouse late at night with daggers worn, it's obvious. They are bastards of the underworld. I suspect they also gave bribes to the sentries we took out earlier."

Flowers blooming in a gutter also harbored their own honey. Criminal organizations eyeing those concessions were endless.

"If we don't pass by that warehouse, we have to detour a long way."

"Deal with them and pass through."

At Eugene's words, the female warriors scattered as if melting into the dark.

'It brings out admiration whenever I see it.'

Bouncing their entire bodies to climb onto a roof using just their arm strength was putting it mildly. When running on the ground, they lowered their postures like spiders to pass by.

Yet that speed was 3 times faster than crawling. A movement imbued with a bizarre yet indescribable eroticism.

- Could you possibly teach me too?

- My Lord. Although my heart is happy, due to skeletal and joint structures, it is a walking method only women can use.

Cassandra had looked with wonder at the knight trying to learn an assassin's secret technique.

As the sufficiently approached female warriors pricked up their ears, the gang's conversation was heard.

"Damn it. I can't search properly since there's nothing to see."

"Endure it. We could bribe the defense fOrce because we promised not to light a single candle."

"But why choose the dark of the moon of all days?"

"We couldn't help it. If we left it longer and the city took the cargo, it'd be over."

"Those Salvatore Merchant Guild bastards. Even when hiding it, they hid it specifically in wheat sacks, putting us through this suffering."

Eugene understood why the gang was taking risks to search the pier warehouse at this time.

'They are drug smugglers.'

Since they couldn't bring drugs in openly, they hid it inside goods meant as cover, but the problem was it was food. A situation where the city was besieged and the city council had issued a requisition order on all food to secure military rations. Thanks to that, the cargo was tied up togAAether.

It was safe for now, but leaving it any longer was dangerous. They had to retrieve the drugs even if it meant being unreasonable.

'In groups of 2, one bastard per team. Attack simultaneously when signaled.'

The previously instructed female warriors approached as much as possible and finished aiming. After a moment, a cat the meow was heard. The special fOrces normally encrypted communications with animal cries during infiltration, and it seemed they chose a cat this time.

Puk!

"Keut?!"

"...!"

Bolts fired from close range pierced through the gang members' necks. Short moans rang out, along with the sound of collapsing everywhere.

"Hieee..."

"Jeoheok... eueubyeok..."

Those whose breaths hadn't been cut off tried with difficulty to scream, but failed.

The one whose windpipe was penetrated leaked wind steadily from the hole in his neck. For the one struck grazing the windpipe, a blood clot turned into jelly by the coagulant poison blocked his throat.

Pyuk!

Peoeok!

The rapidly approaching female warriors unleashed additional shots at vital spots and finished them off.

"What's that sound?"

One of the gang members working scattered inside the warehouse reacted. But what returned was only the annoyance of his fatigue-stained comrades.

"You must have heard wrong. Hurry and pack the drugs. There's not even 1 hour left until the mercenaries change shifts."

"If you're going to pack it, do it properly, what is this? I rummaged it once and the bag popped out right away?"

"That's just how the Salvatore bastards are."

Three gang members walking carrying baskets full of drug bags in the dark warehouse.

"We packed everything here. To Warehouse 4... Huh?"

"A cat?"

A black object rapidly moving while stuck to the floor. The gang members at first considered it to be around a swaying shadow or a cat. But it was coming straight at them, and its silhouette was too big to be a cat.

'A-A ghost?'

Goosebumps erupted all over the gang members' bodies. The few seconds they stood frozen like that sentenced them to death. The female warrior approaching like a spider fired her crossbow.

Peok!

A bolt shot from below pierced the gang member's jaw and penetrated straight to the brain. A sure-kill shooting method possible only when moving in this manner.

After dealing with one person, the female warrior lay down exactly like an overturned bug and loaded a bolt with both feet.

Puk!

The second gang member, who was pulling out a dagger, was penetrated in the middle of his neck.

Kkirik.

Rolling to the side once, the lying female warrior finished loading and aiming, and shot the 3rd gang member. However, he quickly lifted a basket and blocked it.

Warak!

The gang member who was about to counterattack rolled in a lump with the female warrior who pounced from behind. Like a married couple sharing love with both arms and legs, she wrapped around and bound the gang member's arms and legs. She rolled on the floor about 2 times perfectly like that and let go.

"Kkeureureuk."

The man whose neck was stabbed with a dagger desperately tried to stem the bleeding. However, realizing his destiny was already to die, his eyes were dyed in despair.

"Keuk!"

"Uwek!"

"Kkeureureuk!"

From all over the pier warehouse, short groans and sounds of flesh being dug into resounded.

"Yaoong."

The sound Cassandra was making now meant 'Sector Secured'.

"Injured?"

"Miyaong!"

"E-oong!"

"...I'm sorry for doubting your skills, so I'd appreciate it if you spoke in human words now."

Small giggles reached the ears of the bewildered Eugene. It was something he always felt, but it was embarrassing in many ways being the sole man among these tough women.

* * *

As they neared the castle gate, commercial buildings appeared. There were various street vendors, pawnshops, lodging establishments, errand centers facilitating dirty requests, restaurants, and more. Cassandra pointed to a tavern among them.

"If we throw a grappling hook rope from the roof of that building, we'll probably be able to climb the castle wall."

It was a building with 3 floors including the attic, but the roof was high and it was also close to the castle wall. Hooking the rope, they could sufficiently cross over.

Going straight to the castle gate via the central road was dangerous. Because the open terrain was strictly guarded with several tOrches and sentries, an alarm would ring even before they approached.

"But why are the lights on only in the tavern?"

"There is no mercenary who hates alcohol. I suspect they are off-duty."

Just then, a mercenary staggered out of the tavern, pissed out on the roadside, and went back in.

"Looking at the level of discipline, they probably aren't the Mad Dog Mercenaries. Looks like people additionally hired in the city."

There were no mercenaries willing to join a battle with low odds of winning. In a situation with no applicants, to simply fill headcount if picking just anyone, they had to take such guys too.

"We take care of those bastards, occupy the building, and climb up the castle wall."

Hiding in cover and shadows, the party approached and surrounded the tavern in teams of two. Some at the windows, some at the back door, and some made a human ladder, finishing preparations to breach onto the 2nd-floor balcony.

Eugene and Cassandra draped the helmets and armor stripped from the sentries they killed earlier and entered through the front door.

"Wahaha!"

"Since everything is free, grab as you please!"

Just on the 1st floor alone, dozens of mercenaries were excitedly eating, drinking, and enjoying a banquet.

"Uweeeek!"

"A bastard with weak tolerance gulping it down, I knew this would happen. Go sleep."

"Uuub... I, I threw it all up so I'm gonna drink more."

"Wow. This is a real potent bastard, eh?"

"When would we taste such expensive alcohol if not now?"

During a war, not only food but even wagons and buildings are requisitioned. The city side, experiencing difficulty hiring mercenaries, provided the requisitioned buildings as a sort of welfare.

Since these mercenaries were scheduled for the guard platoon in two days, their chance to enjoy free food and alcohol was coming to an end.

"Eumm? Hey?"

The mercenary near the entrance who noticed Eugene and Cassandra's entry frowned. The captain had accepted more rookies to establish a contract with the city, so they hadn't fully familiarized themselves with each other's faces yet.

"Thankfully, even if there are some screams or shouts, it shouldn't be an issue. Since they were already partying loud."

"Indeed."

Cassandra and Eugene strode closer.

"Wanna have a drink too? Eh? A woman? Oh! Where did the captain get such..."

The moment the drunk mercenary offered the cup.

Seogeok.

The blade of Last Autumn flashed. The cup the mercenary offered was cut diagonally and slipped down.

Jjaenggeurang.

Following that, fingers snipped from the second joint and the head as well fell to the ground.

"???"

"Huh?"

Being sliced so instantaneously, no one could process the change in situation.

In that gap, Eugene dashed towards the mercenary wearing the best armor. Just from his radiating aura, he was likely in a position around an assault captain.

"You bastard!"

The mercenary kicked as he overturned the table. The liquor bottles, jerky, and cheese placed on top flew in all directions. A good improvisation to obscure the enemy's vision while serving concurrently as an attack. But the opponent was bad.

Kwang!

Eugene kicked back the flying table. The mercenary who was trying to draw his sword was hit by the table returning at a tremendous speed.

"Kueok!"

Flung to the wall and crashing, he struggled to push the table away, but Eugene had already arrived. As a silver flash passed by, the table and the mercenary were amicably split into two.

"Seup..."

"Everyone..."

The daggers Cassandra threw one in each hand accurately lodged into the mercenaries' necks and eyes.

"Hide!"

"Why leave the table there, you idiots!"

By the time 6 people were sprawled out, all the mercenaries on the 1st floor had grasped the situation. Hurriedly overturning the tables to use as cover, Cassandra ceased attacking too. Eugene charged forward past her.

Seupat!

Beyond the sliced tables, mercenaries spewed blood and collapsed. The mercenaries were horrified at the sight of armor, flesh, and even the cross-sections of bones being cleanly hacked apart.

"It's a monster!"

"A magician! A magician invaded!"

Last Autumn had a lower usage rate than large weapons like Blackout or Predator. However, the sharpness possessed by the ultimate AAAether-alloy sword could not be matched by any weapon.

Peoeok!

Those hurriedly retreating backward were struck by bolts flying from the flanks and rear and collapsed.

"The windows! They're at the windows too!"

"Escape through the back door... Kaak."

The female warriors who had scattered and surrounded the tavern breached simultaneously. Mercenaries bled and collapsed from all directions.

"Supporting the 2nd floor."

Eugene took the lead, and the female warriors holding crossbows followed behind.

Kudangtangtang!

However, the corpse of a mercenary tumbled down the stairs. A special fOrces dagger was embedded behind its neck.

"2nd floor secured. It was simple because most were sleeping. We've secured the 3rd floor as well."

"Secured this side too. Lily. Barricade the exits. Even if we clean up the corpses, there are a lot of blood and battle traces everywhere, we'll be discovered immediately."

The female warriors locked the 1st-floor entrance and moved heavy tables and furniture to block it.

"From now on, it's a battle of speed. We climb the castle wall immediately. Wear these bastards' armor and helmets. It will draw even 1 second less suspicion than your current outfits."

"Understood."

The party that slipped out onto the 3rd-floor roof crouched in a line like a flock of crows on a branch.

"Captain Cassandra. Isn't it a bit borderline? They built it considerably high."

The female warrior with the best throwing power held the grappling hook rope and looked up at the castle wall.

"Give it here. I'll throw it."

"Yes!"

Eugene took the grappling hook and threw it without even spinning it. He didn't seem to exert much strength, but it flew in a straight line and firmly fixed itself onto the edge of the castle wall.

Because the end part had been treated with sponge, there was barely any sound. Eugene threw one more as insurance, hooking two ropes.

Kkwaak.

He gives it a slight pull to check if it's hooked well.

"Please be gentle. It will snap."

"I know."

"Really gently."

"..."

After firmly fixing the ropes to the pillar on the 3rd floor of the tavern, the party quickly crossed over.

Hwiooong.

Upon climbing the castle wall, the winter wind welcomed everyone. Inwards, the panoramic view of the city, and outwards, the army of the Mayer family entered their eyes at a glance.

"Looking at it like this, it is indeed quite spectacular. Makes sense not being able to hire mercenaries in the city."

Everyone looked at the plains with proud faces. The majesty of the army they belonged to was the first reason, and the great achievement they would soon boast to everyone being the second.

"This is the eastern castle wall. The central tower is over there. We're almost there."

Eugene pointed to a place about 300m away. Inside there are pulleys and mechanisms to open the castle gates. The terminus of this mission.

* * *

- If we simply move along the top of the castle wall, we will be easily discovered. We will go ahead and handle the sentries, so My Lord, please follow from behind.

The female warriors pioneered the way. The castle wall protruding with angles at certain sections was effective for capturing and attacking outside enemies, but disadvantageous for noticing a sneak attack from within.

"Two sentries ahead."

The female warriors sometimes stuck to the wall, sometimes ran like dogs, and sometimes crawled, concealing themselves to the maximum to catch the sentries' backs.

If approaching via the floor was difficult, they didn't hesitate to do dangerous acts. Draping from the stone wall, exposing only their fingers to approach.

'Aren't they scared?'

Even the fearless Eugene would have a sweaty armpit if imitating that without safety gear. Below their swaying feet was merely tens of meters of thin air.

The female warriors, who hung their bodies over the city-side castle wall with one arm, aimed their crossbows at the backs of the necks of the sentries surveying outside the castle.

Ping!

"Keuk!"

The Mad Dog Mercenaries were simply eliminated by a sneak attack they couldn't even imagine.

'My Lord. Please come.'

The female warriors signaled. Having disposed of sentries four times in total, they finally arrived at the destination, the central tower. Before entering, Eugene swept a gaze over his army deployed on the plain.

Fully armed warriors were on standby within countless tents. However, on the outside, they looked like they were peacefully sleeping. The horses and goats lying fully sprawled on their bellies here and there took big credit.

At that time, Eugene felt a gaze staring at him from a hill away from the army. A pair of purple will-o'-the-wisps piercing even the darkness.

'Might.'

The guy spotted Eugene atop the castle wall at once. Did they face each other for about 2 seconds? Might, having confirmed his partner's safety, turned his head and returned to the campsite.

Those footsteps, unlike usual, were quiet as if a shadow was brushing the ground. As if he didn't want to interfere with Eugene's plan even slightly.