Chapter 244 - Bait

_________________________________________________

[Somewhere in Estel]

[True beastman leader, Dark Lion, Simba point of view]

"I see. Don't be fool, it is an obvious trap set by Princess Diana" [Simba]

"Right! I'll tell the other" [Tiger beastman]

Still, how did Princess Diana procure such a large amount of such valuable ice crystal in short period of time? That's interesting indeed... Perhaps the rumour of her receiving the treasure chest of the goddess from the behemoth slayer hold true

(Whatever method she's using to produce large quantities of the Eternal Ice, I just hope my foolish men wouldn't fall for it) [Simba]

Or perhaps, she's hoping for something else? Or could it be that it's nothing more than a simple lure precisely because she knew of how my underlings started to become more and more disloyal. If that's indeed the case, she's indeed one terrifying foe...

_________________________________________________

[Estel's adventure guild]

[Diana point of view]

"Thank you your highness, to think that my katana can now wield an element of ice itself" [Samurai Jacks]

"It's fine. Plus, you have certain someone to protect. Make sure to protect my best friend from any savage beast!" [Diana]

"Princess!" [Alice]

"Yes, I will! You can count on me!" [Jacks]

"Jacks!" [Alice]

"If only Ash is here with us, he could continue teasing both of you" [Diana]

"Grr...!" [Alice]

Right now, we are going around distributing the Eternal Ice fragments to adventures and knights alike so that they can upgrade their weapon and armour. Of course, those at the orphanage have already gotten their fair share. They don't really have much request, but when I found out that Ash have been saving multiple valuable loots as well this current situation of me giving away the Eternal Ice, I straight up ask the royal blacksmith to forge them some new weapon and armour. It's the least I can do for them (and of course, I ask it to be tailor to their current level. Can't have them wield a powerful tool this early on. It will cause more harm than good)

"Then what about you!" [Alice]

"?" [Diana]

"You choose Ash as your first debutante partner! Surely there are some sort of feeling!" [Alice]

"It was just a spur. The mood was a festive one" [Diana]

"Oh really... I guess your highness the fourth queen was just gossiping around with me" [Alice]

"Grr... You're also the same! Dancing with Jacks at that time!" [Diana]

"Oh my my, someone trying really hard to change the subject" [Alice]

What's with that smirk and tone... It feels like she really insist that there's something going on between Ash and I. And what did dear step mother gossiping around. I know that she's currently giving advice to Alice as the do and don't when managing a school, but to think she found herself a gossiping partner, and it have to be Alice which have rub Kara with her romantic novel obsession. If those three meet up, dear step mother of the fourth queen, Alice and Kara... Well, I don't want to think about it

"Sigh... Let just go" [Diana]

"Want me to call your first dance partner?" [Qis]

"Not you too!" [Diana]

Taking a small open carriage, the boxes inside containing a fake eternal ice are also here. My plan was simple, lure any of the dark guild or true beastman group members who are on dire need of money and those foolish enough to disobey their leaders. It's plain as day that this can be nothing but a trap, and yet I'm sure there will be those who will take the bait.

Dark guild people aren't the most loyal type of person, so I'm sure I can catch plenty of them targeting my bait, and the bait being newly recruited knights or adventures carrying Eternal Ice with them. Those knights and adventures will walk all day, talking about how they got a freebie of Eternal Ice all the while high ranking knights and adventures will be following them from far. And when those foolish enough to take the bait come in closer to snatch the bait, they will then be immediately apprehended. The same can be said to the true beastman members. They're quite loyal from what I heard, but

(I don't know what happened, but their loyalty are starting to sway) [Diana]

The grasshopper beastman trying to kidnapped Farhah at the orphanage, and multiple mysterious regressed beastly transformation which seems sporadic at first, but at a closer look, is nothing more than a miscommunications between timing and places to attack. It shows that they aren't as loyal as the rumour makes them, or their loyalty start to dwindling

"Look! Princess Diana!" [Zerolith]

"Coming back from training?" [Diana]

""Yes"" [Lara, Nara]

Looks like all of them really train hard. I can see how sweaty they are. Must have been an intense training

"Thank you for accompanying them" [Diana]

"It's my pleasure to do so" [Naoto]

"Even you?" [Qis]

"Saintess Rumia told me to take a day off. She asks me to practice my magic with them" [Seo Ah]

"I see. She must've notice how hardworking you're. Guess this is her way of telling you to spend more time with other" [Diana]

"That's her true intentions? I see" ~Jot down note~ [Seo Ah]

As we are walking, a group of ruffian started to encircle us. They're all from the pig beastman group, looking with their greedy eyes to these boxes containing fake Eternal Ice. I'm happy my plan works but they're nothing but a fool. Who would attack a royalty in the first place... Ash will... Alaric will... Nevermind

"Heard you got some valuable ice. Give it to u... Ouch!!!" [Pig beastman A]

"You have the nerve to do this to Princess Diana" [Naoto]

The A rank adventure from Malsia, elemental archer Naoto quickly shoot two arrows, with one striking the left foot of the pig beastman while another one on the right. That arrows look heavy, and it effectively chain him down, and as for the other. She also does the same to other pig beastman

"Not even worth a challenge" [Qis]

"So cool!" [Mara]

"Her slashing speed is incredible" [Rean]

"They're both so strong!" [Singa]

"Guess I should just use darkness rope to tie them" [Elise]

"Earth cage would be better" [Karon]

"How about wooden cage from me?" [Farhah]

"Just combine them. It would be better" [Kara]

"Krakeny can bind them!" [Charlotte]

"Krakeny?" [Diana]

"Charlotte's first water golem. A kraken water golem" [Savel]

"I see" [Diana]

While we are being careless

"Tchh. Pisses me off!" [Pig beastman B]

"If we're going to get caught, we might as well as use "that"" [Pig beastman C]

"You're right! Just consume them now" [Pig beastman D]

(I don't know what they will do, but it feel dangerous) "Sleep spell!" [Savel]

Those ten pig, they swallow something, and their body started to change