Chapter 17: Misty Veil

At the very front of the army, there were several guys in light gear, including Alvins. Most likely, they were the so-called monster hunters, but it was clear that these people were not the real decision-makers.

The leader was a young woman, quite distinctive, and it was easy to tell she held a commanding position.

She wore the dark blue light armor of a senior officer in the United Kingdom. Her long black hair was tied in two ponytails that cascaded down to her waist. Her starry eyes were bright, and while her features were delicate and cute, her expression was rather cold. Her gaze gave off a subtle sense of fierceness, like a little female leopard that had locked onto her prey, ready to pounce.

This little female leopard… cough, not that, the female officer had a huge, unusual long sword slung across her back. Vilyric couldn’t find the right words to describe it, but its shape reminded her of a weapon called a “katana” from “Illusory World,” which, while not entirely standard, shared at least seventy to eighty percent similarity in overall design.

Was it a coincidence? Or was there some kind of connection?

Lester, who was blocking the path beside the young female officer, seemed to want to say something further. However, with Vilyric and her companions suddenly appearing, the entire army came to a halt, and the team leader seemed to sense something as he turned around, meeting the playful wink of Vilyric.

“…”

An instant look of surprise and confusion flashed across his face. Lester’s expression changed several times until he finally forced a few bitter smiles, and without continuing to speak, he slowly walked over to the side of a few girls and the one with bangs.

The leading female officer made no comment on his behavior; she simply raised her eyes, scanning Vilyric and the others before looking back at Alvins, who seemed to shyly want to admire the petite black-haired girl’s figure but dared not meet her gaze.

“Is it them?”

“Not a single one missing… But, my lady, I think…”

Before the monster hunter could finish speaking, the young girl raised her hand and drew out the slender katana from her back, pointing the blade forward.

“I am Lan Tuls, captain of the Third Special Team of the Demon Town Internal Guard. You have assaulted and killed law enforcement personnel and escaped afterward. I am now apprehending you on charges of obstructing official duties and serial murder. Anyone daring to resist with force will be shot on the spot!”

Vilyric expressionlessly raised her hand.

“Um… Is it alright if I say a few words before we start fighting?”

“You have the right to a defense, but that will be discussed once you’re at the trial seat. Right now, any excuses are meaningless. Surrender!”

The girl named Lan had a cold demeanor, clearly not interested in listening to Vilyric. With a wave of her small hand, the formation of soldiers behind her aggressively encroached forward, surrounding the central group, while the staves in the mages’ hands started to glow with various colors.

The Little Dragon Daughter snorted softly, ready to strike, but suddenly, several strange sounds resembling flapping wings echoed, and the area was filled with thick white smoke!

“Wha… Everyone, cover your mouth and nose! Be careful, it might be poisonous! Mages, blow this smoke away!”

Lan’s expression changed drastically as she instantly jumped back, leaping out of the smoke’s range, directing the mages behind her to change their previously planned binding and attack spells, summoning a strong wind to clear the obscuring smoke.

But when visibility returned a few seconds later, the girls who had been standing in the center were nowhere to be seen, leaving only the ones with bangs and Lester staring at each other in bewilderment, eyeing the army.

“Tsk… Letting them get away. Just now, those…”

“Lady Lan, this isn’t human magic; it’s closer to the innate abilities of magical beasts.”

Alvins approached where the girls had vanished, cautiously avoiding Lester and the one with bangs, who were pretending to whistle as they laid down their weapons due to the lack of a reason to fight, pulling out a magic crystal capable of projecting light at night, searching around the ground for a moment.

Finally, he pointed at a cluster of inconspicuous silver powder.

“Magical beast methods? Are you sure? But didn’t you say those girls were all humans?”

Ignoring Lester and the others who had slipped to the side, following the monster hunter’s lead, Lan bent down to examine the scattered silver traces as well.

“Uh, those women should indeed be human, but whatever that was definitely has the abilities of a magical beast. Unlike our mages, those guys don’t need incantations; many powerful abilities are directly driven through certain parts of their bodies.”

“Like this, look, if I’m not mistaken, it should be powder secreted from the surface of a magical beast, using some special ability to whisk those women away.”

“…”

Lan stared at the traces on the ground, pondering silently.

Just like Lester, she didn’t like these crafty individuals, including Alvins, and she was quite annoyed with the upper echelons for enlisting poachers to serve in the army. However, Lan had to admit that at least in terms of knowledge and experience regarding the magical beasts of the Mountains of Ten Thousand Demons, the monster hunters certainly had a rich storehouse of information.

Since Alvins was so certain, there must be some truth to it. However, just to be safe, she had the other accompanying monster hunters investigate the nearby traces one by one, and the conclusions were largely the same.

Since those lawbreakers had escaped, there was nothing to be done; they probably already had planned an escape route when they appeared so unrestrained in front of them.

She stood up, returning the long sword to its sheath on her back.

“Hmph… Dismiss the squad, post notices and images, and search the entire city for these women. Their strength is probably not trivial; if spotted, do not act impulsively. Report before taking action, understood?”

The deputy captain beside Lan nodded in agreement, but he cast a cautious glance at the mercenaries who were gradually gathering in the distance due to the commotion and hesitantly said in a low voice.

“Captain, how do we deal with the Black Knight Mercenary Corps? Their leader openly shelters criminals and stands in opposition to the authorities…”

After also glancing at Lester and the others, Lan pondered and shook her head gently.

The Black Knights hold significant power in Demon Town, and their members are crucial to the Adventurers’ Guild. Though they had only been established for a little more than a year, they had already gained considerable status in society, especially their leader, Black Shield Lester, whose strength should not be underestimated; even she didn’t have complete confidence in victory.

Moreover, the legendary adventurer team, Grim Reaper’s Scythe, had just fallen out with the military, and given the current internal and external troubles, there was no need to stir up infighting with a large adventuring group like the Black Knights right now; it would benefit neither side to escalate the situation.

Thus, the girl spoke up.

“The Black Knights haven’t truly clashed with the military. Black Shield and those women probably aren’t on the same side in a true sense. Since that’s the case, let the previous matters go. As long as they don’t overstep further, let’s consider tonight like nothing happened… Understood?”

“Yes, Captain.”

…

Just as Lan felt secretly frustrated for letting the target escape right under her nose, Vilyric and the others had already appeared in another special place.

A remote, misty deep mountain.

It was nighttime, and the light of the three moons faintly illuminated the surroundings, casting silver ripples. Unknown insects chirped in the thickets, creating a scene both tranquil and beautiful.

   

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