"What is the progress?" asked the middle-aged man, looking at the map of Renwell Region, specifically at its thirteen cities.
In front of him is an open scroll, on which are the names of forty-one people. They all belong to thirteen cities; important people. The people who could pose a threat to future plans that will commence after that event.
They did not fear these people, nor he does he think, they and their puny little cities would be able to stop them, but they had learned a lot of lessons in their conquest and didn't want to make the mistake, they had in the past.
Even a little ants could cause a lot of trouble. Finishing these people would make things go smoother.
"Thirteen successful, six failures," replied the man with the white suit.
The assassinations are tricky and expensive, and their result depends on the level of planning and the level of people. For this, they have used very few of their own people; most have been outsourced.
It costs more money, but it will keep them in the shadows.
"68.4%, they are doing good," said the middle-aged man, feeling pleased.
They want a success rate of 60% at the least and till now it is good. In this hour, most assassinations are being carried out or finished. There will be some delays in places like the sea or forest, but by the end of the morning, everything will be done.
"Let's hope, it will be a huge success, especially in the first nine." Said the man in a white suit.
The first nine names on the list are written in the darker ink. They are the most important ones on the list. Some of them had abilities to become a roadblock, some were little stones, but had the potential to turn into boulders.
Crushing them early will smoothen the path for our plans.
…
"Adviser, these people seemed to be professional. I think it would be wise for you to go secure a cabin," said Captain Azalea.
"I understand, Captain, but I will not hide," I replied.
I would have hidden, but hiding would compromise the security of the others, and I can't have that.
Still, I can't understand why they are attacking us. It is extremely risky, so close to the coast.
We have already sent messages, and the rescue will come soon.
There will not only be rescue but will also be a blockade. Every common pirate understood this truth and rarely came so near the coast, but these did, and they have come with all the preparations.
Boom Boom Boom
The cannons continued to ring, both ships got closer and closer. The rate of spells had also increased, and so had the attacks of arrows. Everyone who could attack was attacking, except for Zela, she had stopped after the first attack.
I don't know why; she had stopped, but I hope, she had a good reason because the ship is coming closer and closer every second.
"Captain Azalea, ready your men for battle; there is a high chance that enemies will board the ship," said Captain Perry, and Captain Azalea nodded.
The woman just nodded and looked at her men, who were already in position, before turning to the ship coming at us. It had come quite close than now, less than three hundred meters have remained between us.
I could now see everything more clearly.
The men are packed in the small ship, wearing ceramic masks. Making it hard to discern their identity, but I could see there were not just the humans on the ship, but also orcs.
One or two looked like elves, but it is hard to say, seeing they were wearing the caps that were covering their hair and ears.
BANG BANG BANG
Soon, there are a hundred meters between us, and the mages are finally showing their power, by defending the ship from the cannonballs, that are firing so close.
Their mages also seemed to be quite good.
Not a single cannonball or spell had hit them, but this was just beginning. It is the trailer for the real horror that will come soon.
A few seconds passed when suddenly, the bombardment on the other side stopped and that exact moment. A large amount of water between two ships came up, forming water bridges to our ships.
The same water formed the shields against the spells and barrage of the cannons; seeing that, a surprise flashed in my eyes and the eyes of others.
Zela had also reacted, and a hundred and two lances came out of the water smoothly. She wasn't just standing there, watching.
Hun!
She didn't release them, instead just pointed toward the incoming ship.
"Gentlemen; I am sure this is some misunderstanding. We can solve it with dialogue, rather than the attack," said the captain, under a barrage of spells.
For a second, there was no reply. I didn't think the reply would come, but it did.
"There is no misunderstanding, Captain of the Constance. We have a mission to sink and kill all the passengers and we will do it," replied the masked man in the front calmly.
I had expected it, seeing how they had come guns blazing, but hearing that, my heart couldn't help, but sink further.
The bastards want to kill us, and if I am right, kill me, specifically.
Still, I am having a hard time believing that I am worth such a prize. Yes, I have been useful and done quite amazing things, but killing me isn't without consequences.
There will be a prize to pay.
It is not just the House of Silver, but also the Count and the Prince. You can't just kill an official and expect no reaction, especially at a time like this.
"Aboard the ship!" he ordered and jumped on the bridge. Immediately, the masked people begin to climb it fearlessly, without caring for the huge lances staring at them and cannons and spells shooting toward them.
It seemed like they had complete confidence in their mages. Especially the lead mage, who I fear is stronger than Zela.
I really hope they are not Lv. 30+ Mage or even she would be hard-pressed to survive against them, much less defeat them.
Level 30 is different for the mages; it is where they gain the specialization. From a Mage, they become High-Mage.
They are powerful, and it is hard for those below them to contend against them.
"Show the enemy what we are made of. Kill anyone that dared to aboard the ship," said Captain Perry loudly, first time removing the sword from his sheath and activating many of his skills.
Zela didn't wait either.
Those water lances begin to shoot toward the people climbing on the water bridges, while more lances begin to form the water and shoot toward the target.
The other water mage reacted immediately, and the shields appeared in front of the people. Guarding them against the water lances.
It is not just Zela who is trying, but others too, but the enemy mages are countering, and they are good.
Stone and Captain Azalea moved toward the bridges already. Only Jon and three men of Captain Azalea had remained around me.
Finally, they crossed the bridge and were about to jump on the ship, where Stone Captain Azalea was waiting for them. It won't be easy for them to enter the ship, a lot of people will die.
Hun!
I had just thought that when suddenly, my eyes widened. I saw a huge torrent of water coming at the ship. Its target is where Stone and others are.
Zela immediately put up several shields in front of them.
BANG!
The torrent crashed through the shields, breaking them into pieces. Sending Stone and others a couple of steps back.
The shields had taken nearly all the power from the spell. If the shields weren't there to defend against it; the torrent would have injured, even killed some of them, before throwing them into the sea.
The huge torrent was enough to send everybody back and give the enemies the opportunity to land safely on the ship.
They landed with their leader in the lead, while their main Mage had stayed on the ship.
I was looking toward the enemy's landing when I felt the eyes of an enemy leader on me.
Due to the mask, I could only see its blue eyes; I don't know whether it is true eyes, or those glamoured by the spell, but as I felt those on me, all the hair on my body stood up.
"{Target To Kill: Remus Silver}"
The enemy leader said, and it was a skill as the overwhelming feeling covered me. Suppressing everything, that I couldn't even breathe properly.
With the skill, also comes an understanding that they are here for me.
I had already expected that, even so, hearing it feels surprising. Whoever wanted to kill me had a great intelligence network and money; these people wouldn't kill me so close to the coast, without a good price.
The leader moved toward me, with its people, but was stopped immediately by Stone and Captain Azalea appearing in front of them.
I heard him grin, and two people behind him moved, but at the same moment, a smile appeared on the face of Captain Azalea and Stone. Two people have come from behind them too.
Captain Oliver and Hugo.
It had surprised the enemy.
Of course, given my luck with the travel; I decided not to take the risk.
Hugo and Captain Oliver had been with us since we left the Greltheaven. They acted like a normal soldier from Captain Azalea's team; even soldiers with them didn't know who they were.
They clashed with enemies, while Stone and Captain Azalea attacked the enemy leader, who didn't seem to have any fear in his eyes, seeing two of them coming at him.
Instead, he grinned, and it didn't give me a good feeling.