Chapter 494: The Cult’s Hiding Spot

“The tournament is a few days away, but you’re going to take us on a raid mission tonight?”

As I told the others about the cult’s secret meeting in their hideout in the forest later tonight, Kayla asked.

I’m the one who said that it’s best for them to rest, but I’m also the one assembling everyone to come here.

Right now, we’re in the palace in the capital of Consenza. We’re in a meeting room arranged by Lynn and Claudia as I reported what I found.

Just like the palace in Tatrama, this imperial palace is also filled with people that we can trust. Lynn, Claudia, and also Celestine have investigated fully about everyone who works here, and those who have the permission to come and go to this palace, to see who we can trust. Even if none of them has the ability like Albert to detect lies, I should believe their effort.

Still, unless Lynn leaked something stupid like before, I think it’s going to be fine.

“Kind of. I will go there soon to check the place. If I see any kids who noticed my presence, I’ll assume that they are artificial master level children. And if that’s the case, the mission will be changed from destroying them to identifying them. And then, we will defeat them one by one when they are separated. It should be easy since we can tell from their hairstyle,” I said.

.....

“Master! What if they choose to have mohawk as their hairstyle and not because of the experiment to turn them into master level mage!?” Jewel asked.

“They need to be killed as well so that no one will ever think that having a mohawk is a good idea,” I said resolutely.

“No! If you don’t know that they are with the cult or not, don’t kill anyone!” Lynn protested.

But I’m doing it for the sake of the world. What if there’s a child who sees the mohawk and think that they have an amazing hairstyle? If a city is filled with people with mohawk, that would be scary.

Just imagining it makes me shudders.

It will be like: Hey, I’m a mohawk. You no mohawk? When will you be a mohawk? How is your mohawk? Where is your mohawk? Why not mohawk?

...that will be too scary.

Maybe if they wear leather jacket and pants, it will suit them. I’ve seen some with mohawk that actually suit them in my past life.

Wait! Were they from the cult back then? Well, I was too weak, so I can’t tell.

“So, basically, kill the mohawks. But not all mohawks are bad. Some are bad, so they are allowed to be killed. Some are not bad, so don’t kill them. Is that it?” Jewel asked.

“Oh, you’re getting smarter again every day. That’s amazing!” I praised my disciple.

“Sigh... she’s started to becoming more and more like you. I think that would be nightmare,” Kayla said.

“Why? Her explanation is easy to understand though?” Angela said.

Now, all eyes are on Angela. Seems like she’s the only one who didn’t realize that Jewel and I are just playing around. It’s scary how she can easily get influenced by other people.

“...Angela, no matter what, if you are in doubt, trust us. That’s easy to do, right?” I said as I put my hands on her shoulders.

“I don’t get it, but I just need to trust you, right? That’s easy.”

As long as she won’t trust strangers easily, it should be fine.

“Let’s continue with the plan. So, they will have a meeting tonight about recruiting people? And they will be most likely to be criminals? Am I right?” Kayla asked.

“Probably. I was just thinking of wasting time today by bounty hunting, and accidentally encountered someone from the cult is recruiting the criminal. Since they are criminals, I don’t think they will have any problem in destroying the capital or harming the innocents. That’s why the cult is recruiting criminals. It’s just a guess, though. But I think I’m right,” I said.

“If that’s the case, then not just the criminals. The people who are dissatisfied about the Empire will gladly join the cult if they are recruited. Even if they are just weak mages,” Claudia said.

“I think you’re right. Well, I’ll go visit their hideout right away. As for you guys, I think it’s best if you stay here and ask Claudia if there are any people or group that she thinks are dissatisfied with the Empire. You can watch them closely later. Once the cult members approaching the hideout, I will open a portal here. Those who wants to come can stay here later tonight,” I said.

After we finished discussing on what to do, I left the palace from the window and run directly to the forest where the cult is hiding.

Since I have killed and captured those who were going to the underground meeting room, there might be a slight disturbance in the cult’s hiding spot. Since I heard that they are going to recruit someone, but that recruiter won’t be able to attend, the rest members of the cult who will be attending the meeting tonight will be confused at first for the absences of several important people.

Well, I can use that to my advantage. What’s important is to see that there aren’t any kids in the meeting tonight. I hope the kid I captured and bring to Varadis is the only kid who is already here at the capital. The rest, they won’t be coming until the cult’s plan started.

So far, from what we found, we know that the cult will attack Consenza with a huge army. It’s because we gathered all the kings and powerful figures in one place. The cult won’t let go of this chance.

I don’t know why they didn’t attack the kings when the four kings had a meeting where they realize that the Harold at that time was a fake. Probably because they don’t think that Albert and the others won’t be a nuisance in their plan as they are confident that they can take over each country one at a time.

But now that they realize it would prove to be difficult, they will attack the kings at once when they are in one place, while also taking care of powerful mages who will come. Probably, they are also trying to recruit those powerful mages.

Not only the participants from each country. The guards of the kings will be approached as well. Also, there will be a lot of famous A or S ranked hunters who want to watch the tournament and will come to see who is crowned as the strongest.

If the tournament progressing normally, I have no doubt that Angela will be the one crowned as the strongest even if it’s a team battle. She will have a lot of trouble in the future as the strongest, but for her, it will be a good way to train as well.

For an A or S ranked hunter, reputation is important. Being dubbed as the strongest should be their goal. Maybe I’ll ask Albert to make a tournament where everyone is free to enter in the future. Well, I’ll think of it later. We need to stop the cult from killing Albert and the others.

I finally reached the forest, but I don’t see any place where the cult should be hiding. I should have followed that woman to this place.

It’s already dark and the gate is closed. Which means, anyone who is walking around near this forest is suspicious. Let’s find someone and follow them.

After looking around, I finally found a group of suspicious people. They are not the woman or the man that I saw before. But as they are suspicious, so I followed them. If I’m right, they are going to the hideout.

I followed them quietly as I use Divine Vision to see the surrounding area. Seems like the place they are going is quite far. And they can’t run since it’s dark.

Oh, I can see a light source over there. Is that where these guys are going? Let’s check it out.

As I get closer to the source of the light, I see many people are gathering there. Some have explosive devices in their mouth, some don’t. And as I am bringing the wanted poster with me, I can see that there are many people with bounty in their heads.

The woman I saw at the capital today is here as well. I’m right. this place is where the cult is gathering. But it seems like the event hasn’t started yet.

Is there a kid in this place? Let’s see... so far so good. At least those who have come here are not children. I guess that’s to be expected since no one is willing to join an organization in which a child younger than them is their boss. They are mostly criminals after all.

Well, now that we know there’s no children, let’s kill them all. And maybe capture some, but that’s not important at the moment. Killing them is much easier.