"Are you sure about this information?"
The involvement of the Draconia Empire perks up their interest. Though it is most likely that the armor could be smuggled from its homeland, they also can't deny the possibility of the Draconia Empire's involvement. For years, the Draconia Empire has been setting its eyes on the Arteria Continent. A recent coup d'etat brought the entire Kingdom on Arteria Continent to full alert.
"It is certain, as my children found their hideout as well. But, we should keep this for ourselves since the perpetrator may already leave."
Cress and Kurt are discussing their next plan to subjugate the bandits. While Cress and Kurt discuss the subjugation plan, Reynes and Klendiana train their magic power in the backyard. Frabela also joins the training, as she wants to become stronger.
"Can I train with you as well?"
"Be our guest."
Frabela can sense huge magic power flowing around their body. It's like a river, but it flows steadily.
"If any magicians notice it, they may be scared of you both."
"Why's that?"
"Your magic was… easily noticeable to the [Magic Eye]'s user like me."
[Magic Eye] can make the user use its eye to measure someone's magic, which also serves as magic detection through the sight. Most magicians learn [Magic Eye], while others learn [Magic Perception] to read a nearby magic aura.
"Hmm… I'll take that as advice. We would spar later since we need to mobilize today."
"By the way, we haven't introduced ourselves properly. I'm Reynes Lexington. This is my sister, Klendiana Lexington."
"I'm Frabela Fray Arkun. A pleasure to meet you both. You can call me Frabela."
Reynes and Klendiana bow their head as they continue to practice their magic flow. Klendiana began to open the conversation.
"How did you become the heiress of the Arkun Family? I thought you had an older brother?"
"My brother? Oh. He didn't want to succeed since he wants to become a merchant."
"I hope I can meet him someday."
"I think your big sister will meet my brother. She would depart to the capital in two years, right?"
"Yes. I have to go to the capital when I reach twelve."
"Then. Please take care of me when I become your junior in the future."
"Alright. Then take care of my brother when you become his senior."
Surprisingly, they were only a year apart, and they laughed together, realizing it.
After the War Council, Arkun sets out with one hundred fifty men to follow Reynes and Klendiana. The adventurers won't participate as they receive their respective rewards, but Kurt's quest is not done. Capturing or killing Hiero would mark the end of the quest, and since adventurers can live to do other quests maintaining order around Arkun territory, Cress assigns them to protect the highways.
"We'll follow your instructions, Earl Lexington. Split up our men into four Companies!"
As discussed in the recent briefing, the knights separate into four directions. Their goal is to cut off any possible escapees from the hideout.
"Let's tread carefully. Mr. Hiero has set out bandits on the lookout."
"Me and my brother would go by foot. A horse would be more noticeable."
"Sounds good. Let's dismount and hide our horses somewhere safe."
From twenty-five knights, eight were assigned to protect the horses, and the rest continued to walk through the forest. Using presence detection, they avoid possible pathways that can lead to the bandits discovering their position.
"There's the entrance."
As expected, the entrance was fortified by at least twenty bandits. It seems they need to make their way through inside the hideout.
"There could be hostages, so I expect you to can act carefully, okay?"
"Yes, father."
Reynes chanted some chilling wind spells while Klendiana chanted some lighting spells. Bandits were talking to each other, discussing the recent incident.
"Did our scouts find anything?"
"Only some that were looking for us."
"At least they won't find us here."
"Why do I feel we're getting chilly."
"It's almost winter, lad. Nothing much to worry about."
"Ah--!"
A sudden burst of lighting struck their neck, knocking all of them out instantly. The Knights quickly restrained them with haste, and five were left behind to guard the twenty-five bandits.
"Let's go inside."
Heading inside, Frabela uses her [Magic Eye] to track any magic activities.
"I found two magicians at the end of the hallway. They were likely with Hiero."
"Stop!"
Kurt stops them before advancing to the end of the hallway. There were multiple passages where they would be drawn into an all-out fight.
"Klendiana, did you use your [Search Perception]?"
"Yes, father. There were four separate groups, with a group close to the other group in the second room to the left. The other group is in the right hallway with each individual in their room. A group of three is ahead of us."
"Marquis. I will leave the prisoners to you. I will take my children to capture Hiero. Draft ten men each from three groups to come here. We need to prevent any reinforcements."
"Understood. Take care, Earl Lexington."
Cress goes to the other hallway inside the cave to rescue prisoners while Kurt, Klendiana, and Reynes go to the main hall.
Cress and Frabela went to the room, and they heard some conversation.
"Those Knights won't dare to save you lot! We will use you as a ransom, and we will do it again and again!"
The bandits would release them once they got ransom, but they would track the freed prisoners to the villages and city, as it would serve as their income.
"Don't worry, fellas. We will have you back here when we want to."
Cress and the Knights take their position to breach the door, and Frabela has to recover the hostage as quickly as possible.
"Now!"
CRASH!!
"W-what!?"
"Enemy attack!?"
Cress and the Knights quickly deal with the bandits while Frabela searches for a key, and she begins to open the cage.
"Hey! Stop that little girl!"
"You're not going to get my daughter!"
SLASH!!
"Gah…"
"Oh, lord Arkun! Thank you so much!"
"Let's bring you out from here quick."
As they were running to the intersection to escape, they stumbled because of an explosion somewhere inside the cave.
"What was that!?"
"Enemy attack!"
The explosion brought the entire bandits to alert. The explosion can be heard outside, as Cress leads the prisoners to escape from the bandit hideout rather than fighting.
"Hurry! This way! We will hold them off!"
"Follow me!"
Following Frabela and a few knights, she goes outside the cave while Cress is protecting the rear line. The explosion brought every bandit's attention as they quickly rushed back to the hideout, unaware that the knights stationed to keep the bandits in check were observing them.
"Go! Go!"
"Where do you think you're going, little girl!?"
Forty bandits surround her, but as soon as they are about to attack her and the prisoners, Earl Sylvester rushes in and ambushes them from behind with thirty men as reinforcements.
"Earl Sylvester!"
"Where's Earl Lexington!?"
"T-they're inside!"
"God damn it! This must be Klendiana's doing!"
"Sir?"
"I will lead my Knights inside! The rest of you, hurry and go! We will hold these bastards off!"
How did they know that the explosion earlier was Klendiana's doing? Cress would ask him about the Lexington Family later.
"You brat!! How dare you!!"
Hiero didn't believe what Klendiana had just done. She managed to defeat a magician that was worth a B-Rank class adventurer. On the other hand, he was occupied with another kid from the Lexington Family, Reynes. Just who are these people?
Kurt only stood and watched as Bazba and the magician were tied up.
"This kid! They're not just an ordinary kid! They're monsters!"
"Hey. It's rude to call us monsters, you know. We still have more lessons to receive."
Hiero is getting frustrated as he will make a desperate attempt not to let them capture him.