Chapter 445: Search for Our Prey.

Chapter 445: Search for Our Prey.

Wait, hold on, we shouldnt? I raised a brow.

This isnt Shaturein, Vangrim answered. In our undercity there are plenty of relatively innocent people; even those who steal to survive would be innocent in my book. However, the Hirsana Marketcircle isnt the same. This is a black market, where the only innocents are all slaves. Urchins? Dead, escaped, or enslaved; if theyre lucky, they are working for one of the gangs here and can survive as a free person, however their hands must spill some blood first. There is order in Shaturein, but here? You will find it even worse than Gleisvales slums, for the only law here is only that those who survive can do business.

And you dont want to get involved when the best thing you can do is join up with somebody, Vifi commented. There are protection gangs running these kinds of places, and those people earn money by extorting others for protection or having them join their gang forcefully. You do not encroach in somebodys territory without expecting a fight. They dont need some vigilante tipping the balance against their favortheyll just see you as a potential rival to be put down.

Gael turned his head around, raising his head as he tried to take a peek at Vifis face. You know your stuff, lass. Who are you and when did you join up with the young lady? Pretty sure Ive been kept updated on Auroras members and allies, but youre a newbie?

Dont bother. Saori tapped his shoulder.

He shrugged, before turning around to the loud noises. Well, shes right, you know. Its like what Mr. Vangrim said, we dont need any attention on us. People mind their business here, do what they need to do, and then leave. This market doesnt want to lose outside customers, so dont worry about them annoying you, so long as we dont annoy them first. In fact, they will protect you to make sure you come back with more money.

He dropped that quickly. Once again shows hes a professional despite being a drunkard.

Question then, what happens when we find some enslaved kids? Grimnir brought up, causing everybody but Vifi to turn their eyes at me.

What? I shrugged. Last time one of Hamils scumbags kidnapped Abi and the other kidspeople I know and have bonded with. Do you really think I would go out of my way to save everybody as if I was some ultra altruistic person?

Yes, Saori replied, looking horrified at something. You nearly went berserk on some lizardmen for kidnapping Rajahs siblings, you nearly killed Hamil and were planning on burning a whole section of Shaturein down, and I heard from my Haruka-chan how you sent Grimnirs birthplace into chaos for falsely imprisoning them. Just saying, I have nothing against you, but we do not need to repeat this discussion again.

[Rajah remembers!] Rajah slipped his head out, followed by his two siblings. [Master was amazing!]

[Yes, yes! Thank you for saving us!] his siblings said. Cute.

I shrugged again, although I couldnt hide my smile from seeing them. Rhetorical question, sheesh. No need to be that worried, Saori But, yes, I dislike criminals. I dont like black mercenaries. I dont like how any of this crap is even allowed, even if I know from a realistic standpoint it is inevitable and most is done for necessity. This is impossible to change.

Right you are. Vangrim nodded. Just if you have to burn something down, warn us? I do have some friends here.

Gale raised his hand. Same.

They lived in a different world from me and mine, even if I had to visit it here and there. Trying to judge them would just be narrow-minded, especially after I tried to recruit Vifi to help me stop the war between the humans and the demonkin. As they say, sometimes you have to get your hands dirty to reach your goal. This was why allying with Shaturein and Reajaen were necessities.

[Humanize (Major)] inflicted on [Young Sunfang Dragon, Hestia Atsuko Kargryxmor]

As such, I accepted their requests and ignored the monster attack, simply having one of my parallel minds keep an ear out for anything. Once Neill and I transformed into humans to hide our draconic features, we snuck out of the water tunnel and entered the main street. To my surprise, it felt calmer here than I expected. It felt almost like Shaturein with its wild screams and roars happening in the distance while people were talking, hacking meat on the streets, or just eating, unhindered and unbothered.

Similar to Shaturein, most of the buildings were made from earth or rock, probably since it would be easier for earth mages to mass produce buildings from the surroundings than to import wood for a proper house. It also smelt worse down here, as I saw some farm animals walking around and even getting butchered right in front of a crowd. Blood splattered, hitting a few people as they raised their coin pouches, bidding to get the best parts of the animal before the others.

I noticed Vifi turn her head to the side for a moment, before noticing two men speaking in an alleyway. As I was about to turn my head forwards again, I caught sight of one of them stabbing the other in the stomach multiple times before punching them in the face. As the latter was growling in pain, dropping down on the ground and smearing the wall and ground red, I couldnt help but want to help him.

Yet, I stopped myself when I focused my hearing, listening to the stabbed man cursing his attacker and telling him how his gang would rip apart yer son and sell yer wife and daughter off. I wrinkled my brows at this fact, only to see the stabber kick the other in the head, killing him before stealing a pouch of coin and some green powder? He sniffed it, looking high before running into the darkness.

I took a deep breath. I took another. I looked forward and kept following Gael and Vangrim, sighing.

After making our way through the crowd, we finally ended up at a shady-looking bar. Gael went up to the bartender, intending to order something out of respect while he sent us up to meet our contact. There, we met a woman, whom Vangrim introduced as one of the girls from the Heartful Dance, one of Shatureins three pillars and the one responsible for information.

Vangrim then asked me to cast an [Air Shield]. Noticing other tables had people doing the same, I assumed this was par for the course.

The Madam greets you, my lady. Once nobody could hear us, she bowed her head slightly in my direction before noticing Neill and doing the same. The two injured spies were disposed of here and thrown out to be eaten by beasts. Two of the assailants departed back to Aureolis, using the upper routes to make it faster. Three others decided to move south, either continuing their work in the Lecartiglio duchy or going to Atadoro. One stayed here, forced to deal with the Hirsana gang itself. I presume it is the continued support of their spy network in the south.

Quick and to the point. She didnt distract us with anything else.

Vangrim then had her go into detail, asking us about the information that got leaked, to which she affirmed it was mostly about the dealings between Duke Olivus and Cardinal Theodore. Quite some secrets were exposed about how the priests of Artorias were handling themselves after the previous cardinal was executed. The underground also knew everything around the pastry recipe, my dealings with House Helvas and Greenveil, and that Artorias and Shaturein were both my subordinates. That I had everything in my grasp.

It isnt completely true, but it practically is, Vangrim said.

The Hirsanas leader is worried Kargyx is finally expanding, choosing to send their youngest daughter out to conquer everything from the shadows. The rumor is that Kargryx is trying to take revenge on the Empire for Saelariel for the War for the Faefolk. They are calling you the Shadow-Light Tyrant in the Atadoro kingdoms underworld, I heard, the informant continued.

What bullshit! Neill clawed on the table. In the shadows? If we want to take over Altrust, well do it front-and-center! What do we Kargryxmors have to hide, huh? We would rain down dragon breath and we wouldnt blink an eye! Fathers horns, where is that bastard! Im not letting him blemish our clans name!

Calm down, Saori stated, grabbing Neill to push her back into her seat, but was unable to. This is not a reason to go out there with this sort of mood.

Neill pulled her hand off her shoulder before sitting back down. Saori, my sister gave you her blood to evolve. That means that, thanks to your Belzac blood integrating it, you are now part of the Kargryxmor clan too. Would you feel good if somebody insults your family like this? Why exactly are we waiting around like this? Heres the thing, I dont understand why we are doing this whole under the cloaks thing, anyways. We have the information, lets go get our man. If those little rats try to defend him, then well show them what dragons will actually do if they want something crushed!

Sis just wasnt the sneaky type. Everything she did was pretty bombastic, for example, how she just destroyed a gigantic dwarven statue cause she couldnt control her [Battle Frenzy (Major)].

I agree, Grimnir stated. The monster is still destroying this whole place from the sound of it. Lets take advantage of it. Nobody can outspeed us with these four ladies around.

Neill, Vifi, Saori, and I all had ways for superspeed or to outmaneuver somebody, even without our agility. Grimnir did make a good point.

[I suggest not to waste anymore time in this pithole,] Belzac chimed in, only sending his thoughts to Neill and us Aurora members.

Name: Grimnir Luedbrumdar Distance: 54 m

Name: Fargryneill Qilinus Kargryxmor Distance: 60m

Theyre in the same area? Why is that wolf so far away when we need her here! Why hasnt she just grabbed that bastard yet? Vifi complained, but her brows suddenly wrinkled when she saw the distance of all three suddenly moving up and down. Wait, theyre fighting some

Boom!

And just when Vifi finally realized the truth, a massive explosion appeared to our right, looking far enough to count as 50 meters. There, I also saw somebody flying through the air with flames flaring behind him like a rocket booster. As they came closer, I noticed they were a beastman with a staff on their left hand and a giant greatsword in his right and that they were flying right at us!

Terra Wall!

Vifi ran and jumped away as I cast an earthen spell to send myself flying away, just before that person crash landed right before us, sending flames flying around like a volcano. As the dust settled, magic surged through my hands as I fully buffed myself, ready for the battle as the man growled in laughter.

<[Various Spell Buffs] inflicted on [Young Sunfang Dragon, Hestia Atsuko Kargryxmor]>

Ahaha! Finally, weve found you, traitor! Traitor and thief! Pitiful blessed led astray by the blinding light, instead of accepting the soothing flames to warm your body! You stole our lords power, causing his downfall by Plesias hands! You are responsible for his punishment!

The beastmen stepped out of the crater as flames gathered around him like moths fluttering around a light. He cracked his neck, smiling wildly as his full figure was revealed.

A pantheon beastman with the fur and stripes of a tiger, only that black stripes were flaring red, looking a bit like flames. Burn scars covered his two forearms, having turned his fur charcoal black. He was wearing a robe but had armor on as well, looking like a proper battlemage as he directed his greatsword at me.

I can smell your blessing, mhmm, that searing hot flame! That grandiose power behind your figure! A blessing directly from the Inferno God and you dare turn your back on him, you dare let the White Scourge bring him down, you dare let the Abyssal Witch punish the most glorious and important Origin God? The tiger roared, baring his fangs at me. I am Saint Sierras, Saint of the God of Trailblazing, Askaino! The Fire Pantheon has revealed your sins, your crimes! I feel you behind that mask, Saintess Hestia! You dare fight in the name of the White Scourge when your inferno powers came from Danterno? Today you will

SHUT UP! I shouted. I knew it. I knew it when I heard Askainos name! A Saint, huh? So my intuition was right. There really was another pyromaniac around, and I had a feeling this day would come. Shiterno Shiternos little posse of fading embers. Those gods finally sent somebody to attack me, huh?

It was just as Crustacia and Bleidla said. His Church really was just a bunch of misguided fools, especially those subordinate gods of his. Did they feel threatened by me? Did they actually blame me for usurping Shiternos blessing unwillingly? Or, were they using this chance to off me for some plan of theirs?

It didnt matter. What mattered was this couldnt have been a coincidence. What was the chance of some fire Saint being exactly here to ambush me? Yet, it didnt make sense in a way, as only the gods and my party knew about me usurpring Shiternos blessing. From the sound of it, this Saint knew about this truth, probably from his god.

As such, could he have possibly told somebody the information? It wouldnt do him or the Church of Dantereno any good if he were to reveal his god got demoted by Plesia. It would only cause more religious issues when the religion was already the worst.

HERETIC! Do not wield the Infernos name in such a distasteful light! White Scourge whelp! You and the rest of the Church of Aurena deserve destruction, for oppression of our race and the glorious Carmaniate! I shall drink blood wine as you die in ashes as the Church of Aurena burns into the ground!

The Prince of Envy. Of course.

Then there is little left to speak of! I announced, pulling my glaive out from my storage.

Oi! Vifi snapped her head around. Are you sure about this, weHey, look!

Grrwwr!

My eyes glanced to the side, only to see the salamander crash into the ground, nearly crushing our target, barely saved by the two earth mages. The man flew into the sky and landed roughly on the ground, crying out loud as it looked like he broke something.

You gotta beWoah!

I dodged to the side as [Foresight] warned me of a fire attack, seeing a flame slash flying right past me. I snapped my head around, seeing the tiger roaring at me.

Fire consumes fire! You will nourish us!

You!

Valeria! I called out Vifis human pseudonym. You take care of that salamander and the guy! This guy is toast!

Either one doesnt matter to me, but you sure? Dont you need to turn back? This is a Saint, not your ordinary mage or somebody from Aurena. Danternos religion promotes strong Saints and Champions.

Yeah, dont worry An idol should hide herself when off stage, but this was one right now. The Fire Pantheon has front-row seats as I show them what I can really do. Theyre too late! I called out as mana surged around my body as [Aerokinesis] began to play. Fire consumes fire? Ill show what a real inferno is! Ive had enough of assa

My [Foresight] and [Danger Perception] both activated, causing my head to snap to the side as I saw an arrow fly right at my head. A chill ran down my spine.

I couldnt dodge it.

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