Chapter 213 The Grand Plan

There was certainly a lot he was curious about when it came to the cat woman who he had found as a new companion, especially in regards to the style that very closely resembled the ruthless ‘Godless Style’ that Vandread wielded.

Yet, he knew asking directly would hardly get him anywhere close past that stone-cold exterior of Yuna’s.

If I’m nosy, I might find that dagger pressed against my neck…I’ve had enough of that for a lifetime, he thought.

“So, what now?” Everett asked after successfully shoveling down a large portion of the stew, “I mean, you guys were talking about there being some bad guys lurking ’round here, right? I say we find ’em and take ’em out.”

“That’s easier said than done, though,” Melisande responded.

“Yeah, you’re right about that,” Everett breathed out.

There was merit to taking the initiative, at least that’s what Emilio thought, as it was tangible how on edge they all were with the looming threat of murderous recruits around. Still, he found it might be better to avoid Amon altogether.

“…This valley is huge and somebody like Amon seems to be experienced in moving quietly and unseen,” Emilio said, “I think tracking him down before he finds us would be difficult, unless…”

“Unless?” Everett looked at him.

The young mage looked over at Yuna, who was still wiping down her dagger before glancing back at him.

“Unless we had somebody who was just as capable as Amon–somebody great at stealthiness themselves,” Emilio said in regards to the demi-human.

Yuna pulled her hood down as her cat ears flicked, “That’s what you’re getting at, then? What do you have in mind, exactly?”

Emilio grabbed a stick, beginning to draw figures to represent the group in the dirt, “Well, when it comes to stealth and reconnaissance, I think I can safely say we would just slow you down, Yuna. So, we’ll move in two separate groups, with you staying hidden and on our flank.”

Drawing the representation of this into the dirt, it was made clear for Everett, who wasn’t particularly the best at grasping the words leaving Emilio’s mouth.

“I see. So, you want me to get the drop on Amon when he gets the drop on you?” Yuna asked, “How does that help us find him?”

Answering the pragmatic rogue’s question, Emilio raised his hand, uttering a soft incantation of “Salamander. Undyne. Gnome. Sylph.”

Above his hand, the four elemental lesser spirits manifested, bouncing in the air slightly as they blinked.

“Spirits?” Yuna raised an eyebrow.

The young mage nodded, “They can cover a large amount of ground. Once they spot Amon, two will return to our group, and two will go to you–both will alert us.”

Melisande watched, leaning closer, “…I’ve got a question.”

“Yeah?” Emilio looked over at her, stopping his inscriptions on the dirt.

“How is Amon going to be lured over once the spirits see him?” Melisande asked.

A smile crept on Emilio’s lips as he found the question leading to the core of his impromptu plan, chuckling to himself as if he were some sort of mad scientist.

“Once the spirits find Amon, they’ll attack him and immediately flee. We want Amon to be wary, make him explore–that way, he’ll surely find us, however…” Emilio led his words.

“However?” Yuna squinted at him.

Emilio was looking straight at her, “Earlier you showed some proficiency at creating traps. I’m sure Everett can attest to that.”

The bumpkin shielder scratched his head out of shame, “Yeah, yeah. I guess that was pretty crafty–I won’t fall for that again, though!”

It was starting to come together as Melisande and Yuna both scooted in closer to the drawing that Emilio made in the dirt, though Everett seemed to be a step behind.

“Traps laid around the campsite? I can do that. I was already planning on setting up new traps, seeing as how easily you all infiltrated,” Yuna said, folding her arms over her chest.

“So, we lure him towards the camp then get him trapped, then we…?” Melisande lingered her question.

They all knew what she was implying, and there were clear differences in opinion right off the bat between the shielder and the rogue.

“We give him a good poundin’ then tie him up,” Everett said.

“We eliminate him,” Yuna said.

The difference in approaches caused the two to immediately look at each other as Everett’s tone shifted, “Killin’ ain’t the solution.”

“We’re dealing with somebody who has killed by the dozen,” Yuna told him, “It’s us or him. I think you know the obvious answer to that.”

Emilio already knew going in that there would be a similar reaction from Everett. After all, there was no doubt that the shielder had a heart of gold and a kind soul, though in this environment and path, the young Dragonheart knew that such things could only lead to pain.

“I ain’t a killer,” Everett adamantly said.

“That’s fine,” Yuna replied, “I’ll handle that part.”

“That’s…!” Everett stood up.

Immediately getting up to step between the two before anything escalated, Emilio found the intensity to be tangible with the large-built man clenching his fist and the swift