Dance with the Nightingale-Chapter 82 - 77: Infiltration I

[Upper city of Lueurre]

While a storm was passing through the shopping district of lower city, the atmosphere of upper city was a stark contrast.

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It was silent. Silent and empty.

So silent that even the rustle of the Atlas’s leaves from above could be heard if one concentrated enough.

Of course, there was no one to hear that, except for the few figures in shining armors patrolling the streets. Alas, they too were too busy to spare a though for something as insignificant as the rustle of the leaves; all their focus, on the orders the Baron gave them – the orders to lockdown the city.

Though, if they did pay attention, then as accomplished magic users they would notice it too, a sudden change in leafy symphony, that would mean quite a few things, especially in this situation.

Well, they didn’t.

And now, the consequences would be dire.

***

[Above the Upper city, Atlas’ topmost branches]

[A few moments ago]

<Look out team here, the Baron is finally moving.>

A communication amulet rang above the Atlas’ canopy, as a whisper of delight leaked out from the receiver’s mouth.

"Finally, that damn fatty is moving…"

The figure clad in black whispered, as a hint of a smile appeared on his pale face. It disappeared quickly though, his face taking on a stern expression as he issued a couple of orders through his communication amulet.

"Ground team, your mission is completed. Now, get out of there."

"Look out team, your task is over too. Go, now pacify those cowardly wimps that call themselves nobles."

<Roger>

<Yes, sir.>

Nodding, he dismissed his amulet as he turned around, looking at the three shadows clad in similar black robe, waiting for his command.

"Time to move."

He said with a slight smile, as he moved first, moving through the leafy foliage with considerable ease, leaving the three in dust.

"Someone is in a good mood~"

One of them, a man with petite but muscular build and red hair chuckled in amusement.

"Though, that’s gonna change if you don’t move soon, Nadol.", One of the other two, a girl with the same pale face and dirty blond hair commented stoically.

"Yeah, yeah. Still, it doesn’t make sense for Lekas, of all people to be excited about it."

"Is that so?", she replied simply, before rushing after Lekas, their leader, along with the other guy in tow, who was a strange beastman of sorts.

Strange cause he a lot of horns growing on his head instead of hair, that made him look like he was wearing a crown.

Left with no choice, the redhead, or Nadol as the lady called him, chased after the gang, albeit reluctantly.

The group of four moved through the canopy of Atlas as silently as possible, their target already decided and ahead of them.

What was their target?

Well, Baron Marek was no fool, as the only B-rank magic user here, his senses were the most sensitive in the whole city. So, before even the first explosion took off, he knew something was amiss due to the unnatural flow of mana.

With that in mind, Baron deployed his forces, ordering the C ranks under him to handle the chaos in the district while his knights moved to lock down the upper city to prevent any unwanted complications.

The only thing he didn’t read correctly was the severity of the attack. He didn’t expect the conflict to escalate this much...enough to disturb the upper city...

So, when it did, he gave another subtle order.

An order to get a person, um, a very important person… *cough, his mistress… in his mansion while he himself went to save the day.

Well, that wasn’t the only reason that he went in person, but it was a major part of it.

As for saving his mistress, he couldn’t openly do that, cause his wife would kill him if she found out. So, he ordered a bunch of his loyal knights to disguise themselves and escort her to the estate.

Back to the question, what was their target?

It was those exact bunch of knights, that were going to the Baron’s mistress’ house.

Without being constrained by roads and such, the party of four moved quickly reaching their target within minutes.

It was an empty alley which the knights would have to cross to reach the mistress house, if they wanted to be inconspicuous, which they surely wanted.

And right now, the party was just above that spot, according to the navigating device they had. Now they just had to slip past the canopy and enter the upper city.

"Do it, Nefa.", Lekas said, to which the girl with dirty blonde hair, Nefa, just nodded.

Standing on a thick branch of the Atlas she kneeled and placed her hand on the same branch before closing her eyes.

A magical light shone dimly on her open palm, which then flowed into the branch and travelled downward. For the next few seconds, Nefa was silent with her eyes closed as she worked her way with her attribute [Gardner].

It was a handy attribute especially in this environment as it gave her the ability to do anything a gardener could do with a plant but on a much larger scale while also bending some rules.

So, when she opened her eyes and told everyone to keep direct contact with her while holding a deep breath, no one objected.

[Grafting], she muttered and they vanished, a branch of the Atlas of the same volume taking their place.

***

[In the Alley]

The ground shook a little in the empty alley, the small pieces of rocks and dirt shaking on the paved roadway, before a sword suddenly pierced through the ground. The sword twisted, retracting a little before it was thrusted forward again. This time with a little more force as the thrust created enough space for a person to pass through.

-Cough, cough…!

-Cough, cough…!

A series of coughs were heard as a petite but muscular body climbed out of the hole, complaining amidst coughs, "Cough, cough, So this was your brilliant idea! Cough, Getting us buried alive!?"

[Unearthing]

Ignoring the complaining Nadol, Nefa used another spell which simply took rest of the gang out on the surface.

"Wait, you could do-"

’…that!?’

The words died in Nadol’s mouth as a large hand wrapped around his neck from behind, gripping it with so much force that Nadol knew his neck would snap if he uttered another word.

Sweat ran down Nadol’s forehead as he turned his face a little and he looked behind.

-Flinch...!

Unfortunately, for the boy, what he saw made him turn his head without a moment’s indecision. For what he saw was his leader’s expressionless face burning with absolute fury.

"Listen here Nadol, we aren’t here to play.", Lekas whispered so slow and calmly in his ear that is was scary.

That calm was scary.

"I said it before the mission but let me repeat it for you. Whoever messes up in this mission will do the blood ritual along with me."

-Squeeze

Feeling more pressure on his neck Nadol gasped for air but didn’t dare to struggle as he choked.

"Congratulations Nadol with your current stunt not only did you elect yourself as the prime candidate of that, but your attitude is also making it hard for me to hold back right now."

Finally, releasing his hold, which caused the petite boy to collapse on the ground while gasping for air, Lekas asked in a kind tone that had an edge which a kind tone shouldn’t have, "Please Nadol, just don’t make me kill you right now, okay?"

-Gasp

-Gasp

When Lekas heard no answer, he asked again, "OKAY...?"

"O-okay! Okay! Okay!", Nadol squeezed out amidst gasps.

"Hmm, that’s more like it.", Lekas praised, before turning to Nefa, who meanwhile had filled the hole in the ground with another spell.

"Where are they?"

"Not that far, 140~150 meters away."

"Okay, then Formation 3 it is. Ah, also keep them alive.", Lekas said as he went into hiding, followed by the beastman into the darkness of alley, leaving Nadol on his own.

But not as uncaring as the two, Nefa lingered for a bit, before she sighed.

Whining, she picked up Nadol who had deep red gashes on his neck, and said, "It’s your fault for jumping the gun when I was still checking for enemies."

Before they too disappeared in the darkness.

***

"Why do you think the Baron does it?", One of the disguised knights asked the other two.

"Does what?", one of them asked, while the other complained as if he knew where the conversation was going, "Not again!"

"Hm? You know what he is saying?"

"Yeah, he has-"

"HEY! You are supposed to keep that a secret!"

"Only if you don’t start with that story again? God knows how many times I have heard it? My ears will rot if I hear it again."

"But-"

"No buts! Just shut up and focus on the job!"

"Okay…"

"That’s too harsh man, cut him some slack and it’s not like we can talk like this when we escort our guest-"

That was the last conversation the trio of knights had as they entered the alley…and it was also the last conversation of their life.

Without a second’s delay, as soon as the knights entered the ally, the three shadows moved.

The first came from above, falling on the first knight with such force that it pinned him on the ground. Using the short moment, the knight was unable to move, the perpetrator made his move.

A magic circle appeared in each of his palms as thick white horns rapidly grew out of them, and with those same palms he stabbed four times. Jamming thick white horns in the knight’s joints crippling his limbs.

The knight screamed, excruciating pain assaulting him as he slowly felt crimson strength leaving him.

He tried to move his limbs, but that caused even more pain as his bones grinded against the horns.

In a last vain attempt, he even tried to cast a spell. Nothing fancy just a distress signal, but even that failed as he heard a gruff voice say, "Damn persistent knights!", followed by a heavy kick striking on the back of his head, giving him a concussion that almost made him faint.

Almost.

With the last bit of his strength, he turned his head, looking back at him friends for a trickle hope.

Hope, that was crushed the next second as he saw one of his friend limbless, blood gushing from each of his appendage followed by other one who was already unconscious, his body tangled by thick vines, whose thorns were stabbing into his body.

He lost hope and he lost strength.

With nothing holding him, he fell into slumber just like his captors wanted.

"Nicely done.", Lekas praised as he came out of hiding, his supervision was no longer needed, after all.

They did carry out formation 3 very well after all, each of them handling their opponents while he supervised them in case things went south. Not only that, they captured people while keeping them barely alive, just like he said and he liked that.

He liked it when people did as he asked without asking questions, or using their own brain.

"Now, collect their blood and clothes."

The group did as instructed. They stripped the knights, fixed their clothes with simple magic, wore them and collected their blood. Then using an artifact, the three men took on their respective knight’s appearance with blood pouches connected to their fingers that would let them pass through the security in Baron’s Mansion.

With that done they were ready.

"Nefa, hide and keep them alive till we are done.", Lekas said before leaving, then turning to the other two he seriously said, "We have faces, we have the blood, now we have to get our hostage. And I’m saying this again, I don’t want any trouble, just do what you are told, nothing less nothing more. Am I clear?"

"Yes, sir!"

"Yes."

Lekas, nodded in acknowledgement before saying, "Then let’s go. Time to make that fatty pay."