Letting go of Alfen's unconscious body, I hid with Anna inside her cloak. Two people of the same size wouldn't really fit in, but it's fine because Anna's a head taller than me.
"What are you up to?" Anna asks in a whisper. "For now, let's just observe," I answered. It wasn't that I don't want to help Alfen, in fact, treating him should be our priority right now.
However, I also feel like I should also confirm Lester's agenda on this matter. Why he came here with unauthorized personnel, why he was quiet about it, what is he hiding. "In any case, can you also heal Alfen?"
"I can try, but I don't think it would work," I felt Anna's glance lowered, but it wasn't directed to me.
"They're here," I can feel a tinge of annoyance in Anna's voice as she directed her attention to the sound of footsteps. five figures turned a corner at the end of the hall, including Lester.
I purposely displayed Alfen's unconscious body so that they wouldn't miss him. Using this method, I decided to observe whilst they made their way to Alfen's body.
"Lester, we found him!" Shouted one of his companions. As soon as the information reached the ears of the other three, they all began sprinting towards Alfen.
"Good. Is he still alive?" Lester asks. Surprisingly, I felt a tinge of worry in Lester's words, but it was hidden under an expression of seriousness.
"Yeah, he is. That wouldn't be for long if he continued bleeding, though," his companion reported.
Lester set his sights on the opposite of the hall where the boss floor would be at. "What now, do we still continue going after dungeon boss?" the man who Anna incapacitated before asks with a grin.
"Do you remember that guy's name?" I asked Anna in a whisper. "If I remember correctly, it was Ryan. Don't you have a good memory?" She asks back in a whisper.
Come to think of it, she's been with me for most of my works. From the time where the baron lent me some study materials, to the whole 18 days we spent together in the same party for the dungeon exploration, she seems to have an opinion of me already.
"I don't need to remember those I'll just forget," I replied in a whisper before returning my attention to Lester and his companions.
"That's why we're here for," Lester returned Ryan's grin, "Since it looks like the baron will terminate the contract anyway, then it's just free for all. Besides, we can use saving Alfen as an excuse."
According to the materials I've read, Lester's idea is legitimate. If the contractor decides to cancel a contract, then any progress made during the duration of the contract would also be nulled.
This means that it was all for naught in the adventurer's case. However, that is only if the contract was indeed canceled which the baron has yet to do.
Just as I was thinking of that, Alfen slowly regained his consciousness while being bandaged by one of Lester's men. It didn't look like his other eye was injured as he was able to survey his surroundings.
Feeling a little relieved, I let myself relax. But Alfen suddenly stood up and charged at Lester shouting. "You! I told you I didn't want to take part in this!"
His words caught me off guard as it seems that Lester and his companions have been planning this for some time now. "Too bad, you're already a part of it," Lester said as he pushed Alfen.
From the looks of it, it seems that Alfen was forced to be part of the plan. Although he didn't agree to it, I do wonder what plan they're talking about. I could make a few hypotheses, but I'll only learn the truth once I've actually learned of it, so it would be useless to speculate.
"You'll receive your share, so don't worry. And, I think you'll know what'll happen if word gets out, yeah?" Lester said as he helped Alfen stand up.
I was too focused on the scene before me that I only realized that the girl above me was already grinding her teeth at the display she's seeing. I can't blame Anna since it's similar to watching a scrawny kid getting bullied by a group of thugs.
It looks like they're not going to spill their plans in a monologue, so there wouldn't be a point to continue to just observe. I let myself out of Anna's cloak and activate my own stealth but signaled Anna to remain quiet.
"Since I don't know what will happen, will you fill me in on the details?" My calm voice broke the tension ensuing between Alfen and Lester. "Y-you..." Lester backed out a little and put a hand on the handle of his sword.
His companions did the same whilst sweating, while Alfen just looked surprised at my sudden appearance. "When did you..." Ryan's forehead began to sweat as he muttered those words.
"From the start. But let's not talk about that, I'm more interested in your plan," My face instinctually put on a facade of a calm and smiling prince.
The reason why Lester and his companions are wary is that I'm a friend of Sean. From their perspective, even if they killed me, they better hide my body to the best of their abilities or Sean would go after their heads. Of course, he wouldn't do that, but taking chances without knowing is stupid if I was in their perspective.
"So, are you going to tell me?" I asked again, provoking them further. Even if I can't use magic, I doubt I'll lose on swordsmanship especially with Anna still invisible behind me. However, my expectations seem to have been overturned as Lester ordered one of his men to go after me.
With the man's distance closing, I drew my sword from my storage ring. However, although my fighting style wouldn't kill them, it would be hard to incapacitate four men attacking together without ripping a tendon or two with my style. What's more, they could overturn my action against me by saying that I ambushed them.
Instead, I withdrew my blade and enhanced my body. "White?!" I heard Anna exclaim my name in surprise. For her, she has only ever seen me wielding a sword and never delved deeper, so she doesn't know that one of the foundations of my sword style is martial arts.
With giant swords approaching closer, I calmly breathed as I made my stance. As a greatsword swung overhead with great force, I twisted my body as I used my palm to hit the blunt of the greatsword's blade.
With my body's mana and energy constitution, my palm blew the greatsword out of the guy's hand upon contact and sent it flying. With that window of confusion, I controlled my strength as I struck the man's solar plexus, sending him flying a couple of meters backward and knocking him unconscious.
"This kid! Lester!" Ryan exclaimed as he drew his own giant sword. I honestly feel pity for them. Not only am I with Anna, but both of us are awakened and the five of these people here are but normal humans with no magic capabilities whatsoever.
I saw Anna about to aid me from the corner of my sight, but I signaled her to stop. She should take this time to stop activating her attribute and rest.
Ryan slashed his greatsword horizontally, to which I dodged by jumping accordingly. But that was what gave him the window to outstretch his muscular arm to grab for me mid-air.
With little room to dodge, I spun my body mid-air and delivered a kick to his throat, sending him choking out of breath as he squirmed on the ground. Hypothetically speaking, If I made my body's mana fusion stronger, my kick could have probably removed a chunk of his neck.
Obviously not wanting that result, I held back. If there is something that stands out to what I learned from Velxia within a week, it's control over my mana. I'm still far off from controlling the abundant other-reality energy within me, but this is good enough for now.
"I think this is enough, right?" Lester and his other two companions still looked determined, which is above my speculations. I thought that showing off some destructiveness here and there would make them yield, but it seems my childish appearance didn't allow for such thoughts.
Lester clicked his tongue but wasn't able to respond. In the next moment, the last of his companions suddenly disappeared. No, more like he tried to dash and attack me from behind.
The next thing I know, the same person who tried to sneak an attack on me was sent flying by Anna's fist. "Finally," Anna commented as she furiously set her gaze upon Lester. "W-where did you come from?!" Lester exclaimed in surprise.
Two on one. The other side is both awakened, and the other one is but a normal human. If he doesn't yield to that, then I'll go on the offensive.
Fortunately for us, Lester threw his weapon on the ground before prostrating himself. "Please let me explain!" Lester exclaimed. Alfen, confused by the situation, also started to prostrate himself.
But I stopped him, considering his condition. "As I said before, I'm curious about your plan. Would you mind explaining it in great detail?" I asked with an innocent smile, but it's not like they have a choice.
"Y-yes--!" Lester responded, still in prostration. He probably didn't think I would notice, but he was grabbing something from his torso. After responding, he quickly dashed in my direction with a knife in hand.
"This guy's really stubborn," Anna scoffed as she commented. She tried to move to counter Lester, but I signaled her to stop. If they're not afraid of me just because I'm young, then I'll make sure to prove otherwise.
With Lester closing in, I spun backward and delivered a roundhouse to his chin. I made sure to control my strength so that he can withstand that attack and remain conscious.
He staggered and only almost lost his consciousness. Without a moment's rest, I followed up with another kick straight to his forehead, sending him flipping backward then collapsing on the ground.
"Didn't know you were a martial artist," She said with a nonchalant expression as she walked towards me, "but didn't you want to ask him about the plan?"
"It looks like he's not the only one who knows anyway," I responded, shifting my attention to the quivering Alfen.