"Hmm, so you're telling me there's a suspicious individual who confronted that abomination in battle?" Aldelio mused, his chin lifted as if pondering the situation deeply. Yuz nodded in acknowledgment, with Alexei maintaining a protective stance at Aldelio's side.
"Is there any distinctive features you can share about this individual? Perhaps details about their attire or other identifiers?"
Yuz crossed his arms, deep in thought as he tried to recall any relevant information for Aldelio. While the conversation between Yuz, Aldelio, and Alexei unfolded, Drake remained in a state of shock, his gaze fixed on Galina. The unexpected turn of events and the presence of these formidable newcomers had left him momentarily stunned.
"She's so... w-...wow..."
Drake's stuttered words conveyed more than he might have intended. While it was undeniable that the newcomers possessed formidable combat skills, in Drake's case, it seemed that he was also entranced by Galina's appearance. Her long blonde hair exuded elegance, her demeanor was composed and calculating, and her eyes held a glint that contrasted with her calm exterior. This encounter seemed to have awakened something new within him, a feeling he didn't realize he was capable of experiencing. The unexpected attraction added another layer of complexity to the already intense situation.
"Hey! Drake!"
"Huh?"
Drake's attention was forcibly redirected as his brother gave him a shove to the chest. Confusion and bewilderment painted his features, unsure why Yuz had intervened so suddenly.
"!!!"
Yuz acted swiftly, grabbing Drake by the right ear and yanking him away toward the villagers. He appeared to ignore Drake's cries of pain as he dragged him along, the scene resembling something out of an anime with Drake's repeated "ow"s echoing in the air. Yuz seemed determined to keep his brother from getting too engrossed in his fascination with Galina amidst the severity of the situation.
Drake's View:
"He's quite funny."
As if fate was smiling upon him, Drake managed to catch a glimpse of Galina flashing a teasing smile and heard her light-hearted musings. His heart skipped a beat, and he found himself captivated, a heart-shaped arrow metaphorically piercing his chest. In his own mind, Drake had fallen head over heels, though he was well aware that this was likely just a romantic daydream.
Reality:
"Your Excellency, who are these uncouth individuals?" Galina inquired, a hint of disdain in her voice as she observed the knights' behavior.
Aldelio was momentarily taken aback by Galina's portrayal of the knights. He let out an exasperated sigh and cleared his throat.
"Galina, you do know what knights are, right? You had history lessons, didn't you?"
"..."
"Wait, did you?"
It suddenly dawned on Aldelio that they were beings summoned from another world, which could complicate matters, but then...
"I couldn't help it; I never attended those lessons when I was younger," Galina admitted with a blush, her hand gripping her scarf as she tried to hide her flushed face. Meanwhile, Aldelio comically flipped over in surprise at her response, their exchange mixing confusion and comedic moments amidst the supposed urgent situation.
"You should've mentioned that sooner! I was already pondering 69,069 alternative scenarios," Aldelio remarked, his tone a mix of relief and mild exasperation.
"69,069? Isn't that way too many?! And how creative could you be to come up with that many?" Galina countered, her sarcasm evident, causing Alexei and Vera to exchange confused glances before dismissing it as a playful exchange.
"Alright, enough with the jokes. Based on my conversation with the knights earlier, it seems very likely that a member of the [Black Dragons] is responsible for this chaos," Aldelio stated, his chin held high as he contemplated the situation. His gaze drifted to Yuz and Drake, who were assisting the surviving villagers. There were only two survivors, a mother and her daughter, clinging to each other for safety.
"What about them, Your Excellency?" Alexei inquired, seeking orders from his commander.
"Leave them be. The knights will tend to the civilians. We've agreed to continue pursuing that suspicious individual they mentioned earlier," Aldelio declared, making it clear that their primary focus was on tracking down the responsible party and resolving the situation.
With unanimous agreement among his subordinates, Aldelio led them down a path outside the village to retrieve a Willys Jeep from the {Storage Skill}. This was a strategic move to keep his true strength concealed from the knights. Although the knights had already witnessed firearms in the hands of Vera and Galina, it seemed Aldelio was intent on not revealing any more information than necessary.
"Hey, where are they going, brother?" Drake mused to Yuz, pulling the reins of a horse from a nearby stable, his gaze fixed on Aldelio and his group.
"Leave them be, Drake. They will be the ones pursuing the suspicious individual we saw earlier," Yuz replied calmly.
"What?! Why didn't you tell me? We should be the ones to bring that bastard to justice!" Drake's frustration burst forth as he snapped at his brother.
Yuz paid Drake's outburst no mind, instead turning his attention to a mother and daughter pair nearby, his expression solemn.
"Though it is true that it's one of our duty to bring the perpetrator to justice, have you forgotten the most important duty of all?"
"!!!"
Drake's words faltered as he realized his lapse in perspective, his thoughts drifting back to his apprentice knight days alongside his brother and master. However, his frustration remained palpable.
"But even so—"
"Enough, Drake! Our first priority is to tend to the villagers. That's my order as your senior knight!"
Before Drake could voice his concerns further in anger, Yuz's firm command cut him off. Left with no choice, he ground his teeth in frustration, forced to set aside his personal desires and focus on the greater responsibility at hand.
"Furthermore, we're not even certain if he's truly the one responsible for this. Moreover, remember how effortlessly he handled that abomination compared to us earlier?" Yuz's voice carried a note of reason. His recollection of their initial encounter with the mysterious individual fighting Cain was crystal clear. The man had dispatched the abomination without visible strain, almost as if he could end it at will, yet he chose to depart instead.
"Consider this: we, Tier 3 Knights, struggled against that abomination. Now, envision the challenge of pursuing and apprehending him if the situation escalates." The weight of Drake's words hit him like a revelation, making him realize the depth of his impulsive frustration earlier.
"Additionally, let's not forget that they're also adventurers within our kingdom, and their strength is undeniably apparent. Can you now grasp their capabilities?" Yuz's voice interjected, driving the point home further.
In the world of Reinhart, classes were categorized into tiers to denote strength, expertise, and mastery. Tier 1 was for novices, Tier 2 represented experienced individuals, and Tier 3 signified seasoned experts who had reached a formidable level. However, all of these seemed inconsequential in the face of Tier 4, those who had pushed their class mastery to the absolute limit. While Drake and Yuz's achievements as Tier 3 knights at such a young age were commendable, when confronted with a threat like Cain, they were mere distractions.
Drake's realization washed over him like a powerful wave, making him fully comprehend the enormity of his earlier recklessness given the immense challenges they were confronted with. Yuz sighed, a tired expression settling across his features, as he scratched his head in exasperation.
"Just follow my orders, will you?" Yuz's voice carried a mix of authority and weariness.
"Yes... sir..." Drake responded with a grumble, gripping the reins of the horse tightly as he begrudgingly acknowledged his brother's command. The weight of the situation was not lost on him, and he understood the necessity of unity and discipline in times of crisis.
"Good, now let's get a move on. I'm sure our captain is already on his way here. Let's meet him halfway," Yuz instructed, his tone firm and resolute as he urged Drake to focus on the task at hand.
=================================
"Who would've thought that the direction the knights mentioned, leading to the suspicious individual, would also take us to the same location as the secret base that our late friend Gastov informed us about?" Aldelio remarked sarcastically as they sped through the forest in their vehicle, Alexei pushing the pedal to the metal.
"But it's truly surprising that he had a map on him. That's rather sloppy work," Aldelio sighed, contemplating the lackluster discipline of the people in this world. After all, it was a significant oversight to keep something as crucial as a map to your organization's secret base on your person, especially when you've been captured. It was a security lapse that could spell disaster.
"But I can't deny that I benefited from it, so I suppose it's not a total loss," Aldelio replied, shrugging off his concerns about the world's way of handling matters. However, as Aldelio made his statement, Alexei, who had been driving the jeep, shifted his attention to him.
"Your Excellency, while it's valid that the people of this world might have shown carelessness, we shouldn't dismiss the possibility that this could be a decoy or, even worse, an ambush," Alexei mused, his tone carrying a note of caution.
"!!!"
Aldelio was taken aback by his subordinate's statement, his eyes widening in disbelief. Meanwhile, both Galina and Vera nodded in agreement with Alexei's cautionary remark.
"Mhm, that's correct, Your Excellency," Vera confirmed.
"Even though he might appear foolish, I have to agree with him this time, sir," Galina chimed in, not holding back her belittlement of Alexei's appearance and demeanor.
"What?! Are you trying to pick a fight with me just because you got promoted?" Alexei's voice rose in anger, even though he was the one driving the jeep. The exchange between them held a mix of seriousness, humor, and a touch of lighthearted banter amidst the tension of the situation.
"Huh? But isn't that the truth? I could've sworn I got promoted because I'm more useful than you," Galina retorted with a smirk.
"Is this some kind of joke?!" Alexei shot back, not one to be outdone.
"Guys, cut it out," Vera intervened, caught in the middle of the lighthearted banter between her companions.
While Aldelio contemplated the words of caution from his subordinate, Vera attempted to mediate the exchange between Galina and Alexei.
"He's right... That was indeed too arrogant of me... This isn't like me at all," Aldelio mumbled to himself, reflecting on his past life and the decisions that had led him to his current position. He knew that climbing the ranks in an elite covert force required caution and humility, qualities that had served him well.
However, their banter was abruptly interrupted by a mage hidden in the woods, who cast a powerful spell, transforming the road into quicksand with their {Lvl. 4 Earth Magic, Terraform}.
"Hah! Fools, did you really think this place is one of our hideouts? You were wrong! I wonder which fool would guess that they would put a fake map into their possession, yes?" a man taunted, revealing himself alongside a group of swordsmen and mages.
"...Looks like you jinxed us, Alexei," Aldelio remarked calmly, assessing the situation as they found themselves trapped in the altered terrain.
"Dammit..." Alexei's inner voice echoed his alarm at the sudden turn of events. However, his swift and composed actions spoke otherwise, as he deftly drew his Tokarev TT-33 pistol from its holster, ready to face the danger head-on. And he wasn't alone in his readiness. Vera swiftly armed herself with her dual PPSH submachine guns, while Galina positioned her Mosin-Nagant rifle with a chilly focus, her breath forming a visible mist.
Aldelio remained calm in the midst of the chaos, pulling his Winchester Model 1912 Trench Gun from his {Storage} skill. He readied the shotgun, prepared to use it at a moment's notice. The situation had escalated rapidly, and he couldn't help but think to himself, "This won't be pretty."
As the enemy issued their command, Aldelio's senses sharpened, and his gaze locked onto the assailants before them. Tensions ran high as the impending clash loomed, setting the stage for a fierce battle in the unforgiving terrain.