Vol. 3 Chapter 28: Operation: Sweet Roses (Part 8) (Patreon)

Arnaut arrived at the area where it was said the execution would take place, actually casually, so as not to attract attention. A crowd had already begun to gather in the area, people were of course expected to watch. At least, the ones who were callous enough to be able to watch multiple deaths.

At this intersection, at the center, lay a high platform, and upon it was a wooden object where the prisoner’s head would be placed. A couple of guards were already at the base, keeping watch. But the executioner had yet to appear.

There should be more or around half an hour left before they begin the execution. Arnaut had plenty of time to think about how to do this. The place of the execution was next to the law enforcement’s two story facility, where along with it was a prison. Not that big of a prison, but enough to house dozens of criminals. With that, it should be easy to move the prisoners from there to be executed.

It was likely that Allie would be inside there somewhere in one of the cells. There was no time to waste.

Guards were only at the front and side of the building. Sneaking in would not be a problem. With Arnaut’s beastman senses, it was easy to track an enemy’s position.

He moved away from the crowd and used another pathway with fewer eyes and went around to reach the rear of the building. The rear of the building was in the middle of some small houses, and thus it had lesser eyes Arnaut had to watch out for. Hiding behind a wall, he peered around the area, using his ears and nose to detect enemies.

As expected, but a better case, there were only two guards patrolling the area. And they were apart from each other. He deliberated whether he should kill them all to be done with it. However, if that body would ever be discovered here, and Arnaut being solo, it would complicate things, especially during an escape.

It would be better to keep things normal for the humans. Besides, with his physical traits and speed as a beastman, he could easily sneak past through them with a small opportunity. The minor problem was getting through the building.

For all the years he had been here, Arnaut was familiar with this facility.

On the first floor where the prisoners were being held, the walls were made up of stone and bricks. He could break through them with ease, but that would instantly alert the entire block, making escape more difficult, although not impossible. However, his intention was to carry this entire mission out silently. It was safer considering that the humans were also hunting for them.

Therefore, it would seem he needed to go inside through the windows on the upper floor. Jumping there should be no problem. The cause of concern would be the layout of the inside. Arnaut was not familiar with it. But that should not be a big issue. If push comes to shove, he might need to kill some humans inside, and it should be easier to hide bodies there.

He waited for the guards to turn around, at least until he could move without them seeing him. A few seconds later, an opportunity came, and he made his move. Arnaut swiftly jumped over the wall in silence. He looked up to see a window. It was closed, but it should be easy to open it.

Given that the sight of the patrols he went past was still away, he jumped up quickly and clung to the edge where his hand could hold. There was no one inside the room, perhaps because of the upcoming execution, everyone was busy doing their own work. He forced open the window with ease and promptly stepped inside silently.

Now all he had to do was go to the floor below. He walked through the corridor, hiding whenever there was a human about to walk by.

It was easy.

It didn’t take long before he reached the pathway that led to the prison cells.

However, there was one guarding there, a normal guard. Good, should be easy. It would appear that this guard had no intention of moving away. Arnaut pondered, he had no choice.

The moment the guard lowered his eyes, it was an opening that Arnaut took and leaped towards him. The guard reacted, and was about to shout, but it was too late. Arnaut swiftly covered the guard’s mouth and held his head from the back.

The guard squirmed, but his strength was not enough to budge the power of a beastman. Then, there was an audible cracking sound, and the guard stopped moving in an instant.

Arnaut snapped his neck.

He grabbed the corpse by the collar and dragged him inside the jail room, then cast him aside in the corner. Arnaut looked around. Inside the cells were humans in dirty clothes, perhaps people fated to die. But he didn’t care about them.

He walked further into the corridor, searching closely every cell. The humans were afraid, as one would expect when faced with an impending death. Some humans ignored him, while others curiously stared at him, perhaps not all of them were here to be executed.

He kept searching. Then he stopped right before a specific jail cell. He took a deep breath before calling out.

“Allie.”

***

Allie took a deep breath while trembling slightly. This room here, this jail cell, reminded her very clearly of the time she had in that dungeon. It was disturbing. She didn’t want to be stuck here any longer. But this was the cost of her failure. She would be executed later on.

It terrified her.

Her clothes were ragged. Her trousers and shirt were dirty, and her hair was starting to mud ever so slightly. She wanted to leave, but she could not. It was almost like she was reliving a nightmare.

How long am I going to stay here?

In several minutes, she would be brought out in public, and everyone would see her face and remember her name as the one who tried to kill a royal. She wondered how the public would treat her. How much she didn’t want to end up there — facing the crowd was the last thing she wanted right now. The prospect of being executed in public was almost making her cry.

A sound of faint footsteps suddenly echoed in the room. She raised her head, and when she saw the person on the other side of the bars, her eyes widened.

“You came for me…?”

On the other side, standing there with a smile, was a person she was hoping to see. Happiness grew in her heart, and she unconsciously smiled.

“Arnaut.”

“Allie… I’m getting you out of here.”

Arnaut grasped the lock and gave it a single push, breaking it with ease. With the way open, he gently approached her. “I’m sorry for what I did… I shouldn’t have done that.”

He gently patted her head before pulling her into his embrace. Sudden as it was, Allie was in shock at what he did. But his embrace and warmth were so pleasant and comforting. She was indeed happy. In the end, the most important person in her life came back for her. And she wept with a smile.

“Thank you…” she whispered.

In her happiness, she began to doubt her role in all this.

“Let’s get out of here.”

He carried her, each of his arms on her back and under her knees. Concerned about falling, Allie wrapped her arm around the back of his neck. Now secured, Arnaut moved out of the cell. On the way out, however, Allie saw something.

Huh?

There was a guard, a common guard, lying in a corner, unmoving. Almost as if...

“I-Is he d-dead…?”

“Hm? Yes, I had no choice. I had to be quick.”

But… But… No… This shouldn’t…

It shouldn’t have happened, it shouldn’t have been necessary. How could Arnaut be capable of such a thing? He didn’t even sound genuinely remorseful. He could have at least only knocked him out.

Allie glanced at his face as he moved to find a way out.

The princess’s words then came to her mind.

‘It would be best if no one on our side dies. At least that way… no one will be sad.’

Allie looked away, a bit frightened. She didn’t know how to take this. And another kind of doubt grew.

Before she knew it, they were already outside. It was quicker than she had expected, but perhaps she failed to notice her surroundings' progress because she was lost in her own thoughts.

“It should be safe for now,” he put her down. “No one seemed to have followed us. Let’s go, I’ll take you to our safe place.”

Allie nodded.

They began walking, and on the way, Arnaut bought her a hat for the time being. Just to cover her head somewhat. He held her hand as they made their way to their hideout. As they got closer, however, there appeared to be more guards walking around, patrolling.

Arnaut and Allie stopped as they watched one guard make a person pull down their hood.

“This is unexpected. This way.”

Allie followed him through a small pathway, circling and avoiding the guards scattered on the streets. But they faced no difficulties as Arnaut was moving as though he knew the surroundings and the people’s movements.

Eventually, they arrived at an alley where the rear of buildings were facing. They stopped at a particular two story building. In front of them was a door. Arnaut slowly opened it. Surprisingly it wasn’t locked.

When Arnaut stepped inside, suddenly a sword was pointed at his throat. Allie froze for a moment.

The bearer of the sword, a beastman, instantly realized who he had just pointed his sword at. “Arnaut. You’re alright!”

“You didn’t leave?”

“It’s easier said than done. Guards are everywhere, making everyone show their face. We decided to stay low for now. Come in.”

Arnaut came in and when the beastman saw Allie, he nodded.

“Allie, I’m glad you’re alright.”

“Evry…” Allie smiled a little.

The door closed, and Arnaut asked Evry a question. “Didn’t expect you to hold a sword here and be at the back door.”

“Was supposed to be a misdirection for intruders. And… I was expecting you to pop up here at the back, so I waited.”

“I see… thank you.”

“Come, everyone’s inside. We’ve been restless since you left.”

Allie mentally noted what he said, that everyone was here. The three of them then made their way to the lobby. Allie grew nervous as she looked around the place.

They arrived at the lobby.

“The leader’s back!”

“Allie too!”

Most of the beastman had smiles on their faces at their return.

“It’s a great relief that you returned safely.”

Then, the elf Elivar, with hostility, stomped in front of Arnaut. “You’re not followed, are you?”

“No, I made sure of it.”

“You complicated this because of your selfishness! This is unbecoming of a high-ranking officer.”

“... Yes… that is why I’m stepping down as leader, as I said.”

“This is not about you stepping down,” Elivar turned his glare at Allie. “It’s all because of this measly human!”

Allie yelped in fear and stepped back frantically.

“Stop it Elivar! Don’t direct your wrath at her.”

“Such foolishness. To think you would jeopardize our mission for this human!”

“Everything is fine, I was careful.”

“You don’t know that!”

Allie looked at everyone. A few were holding back the elf, in particular the other elves. Some beastman tried to get in between them as they argued. Indeed, everyone was here. Bearing in mind the number that was discovered dead, their number should have been reduced to eleven. And there were a total of eleven in this room, not counting herself.

She gazed at them, one by one, she could not hear the loud noises anymore. Her mind was racing as she took a step back. It was hard to be here, so hard.

She inserted her hand in her pocket.

How many times she had pondered what to do when it came to this situation? It pained her heart to even think this.

She took another step back.

But now, she has made her choice.

She abruptly turned towards the window behind her and quickly opened it. The slam of the wood was so audible that Arnaut and everyone else turned to look at her.

“Allie…?” Arnaut called in confusion.

However, at that moment, Allie had already extended her hands outside, grasping a small wooden cylinder. Its cap had been removed, revealing a small gemstone at the tip.

Then she pressed the button.

A burst of golden light emanated from the stone, and then it rose high in the air. A ball of light lit up the day right above the building where she and the rest of the targets stood.

“What did she do?!”

“What?!”

Confusion spread throughout the room.

Arnaut slowly made his way towards her, his eyes wide. “Allie… what have you done?”

Allie turned towards him, tears welling up in her eyes, and she said. “I’m sorry.”

She recalled the last time she was in that dungeon, when she agreed to help the princess, and that the princess would not kill her friends. Further discussion after that, Allie heard of what lengths some of the people here in this room would go. How the elves were willing to kill their own allies.

That was why Allie understood that elimination of some people would be necessary, as there would be no other choice but to take them out, or it would be more of a problem if nothing was done about them. More death.

In truth, she couldn’t call the elves as friends, they were never kind to her.

Not everyone can be saved. That was why she had to save as many of them as possible from being killed. Especially those she considered friends.

***

In the city, people were having their leisurely day. Everything was normal, from their outfits to their actions. People walking around, conversing, eating at the stalls, on dates, and laughing. Some standing by stores, some drinking their coffee and eating breakfast at cafes and restaurants.

Indeed, everyone appeared to be doing normal things.

But then, a ball of golden light appeared, rising in the sky, leaving a trail of light that directed its origin. Every person looked up at the bizarre and sudden sight. The light went so high that everyone in the city could see it, and where it rose from.

Then, some civilians, those that were seemingly normal, dropped their activities. Some lowered their coffee, some left their food on the table, and some began to run towards the light. They grabbed their weapons, whether they were already hanging on their waists, or hiding it somewhere.

Then there were some that ran into small alleys, from where after a moment later they emerged wearing black robes, and their faces covered with a mask.

The agents of the princess that were blending within the normalcy of the city were finally on the move to fulfill their mission.

With the light to guide their way, they begin the hunt.