Spider finds it curious. Why only now?
It has been a year since the 'Moonlit Rain' incident, the brutal attack of the elves, yet only now is the empire finally giving its orders relating to them. As a member of the Imperial Agency, Spider is not someone who questions his superiors' commands, but lately, he is getting more liberal in his thinking.
The elves for example are existences he deems to be dangerous for the empire. Such danger must not ferment further, and he makes it clear in his reports, however, the empire deigns to ignore his suggestion. In his opinion, it is necessary to suppress the elves immediately, yet the Empire chooses to wait a year before finally making a move.
Spider can only assume that the Empire is looking down on the elves.
"Hello there, handsome." Flirting with Spider is none other than the 2nd imperial princess, Maize Lana Ezelea. Spider nervously gives a salute controlling his emotions so that he will not reveal what he is feeling surprise, confusion, and worry.
Inside the luxurious manor of the Imperial Agency headquarters is none other than the 2nd imperial princess. From this, it is safe to assume that she must be the newly appointed 'Chief' of the Imperial Agency.
From the buzzes of the [oliticking in the imperial court, Spider hears of the possible changing of the 'Chief' of the Imperial Agency, and now that he is witnessing it in front of his eyes, he feels a sense of dread. Under normal proceedings, the new chief should be showing her face to her subordinates and give a little speech. However, what Spider is experiencing is totally a different matter.
He is alone with the 2nd imperial princess.
"Don't be nervous, I am just teasing you." Maize playfully calms Spider while she crosses her legs. "I think highly of your abilities, Mr. Spider. I am thinking of appointing you as my deputy chief."
At the mention of 'Deputy Chief'. Spider resists frowning. The organization structure of the Imperial Agency so quite simple— there is the chief, and then the agents. A deputy chief is unheard of, but not totally an outlier idea either.
Spider without hesitation, and only with loyalty to his empire, kneels down on one knee. "I accept your appointment…"
Without wasting time, Maize stands up from her seat, draws her sword, and recites the words of knighting. "I declare you now, Sir Spider… And I confer to you the right to wield this mythril sword." And just like that, Spider becomes a knight.
Immediately after, Spider departs with four more agents on his team. They are heading straight to the Allied Kingdoms to investigate the sightings of the silver-haired elf. Spider touches the Mythril sword by his waist with complicated emotions.
The Mythril sword is a strategic weapon of the empire capable of unimaginable sharpness, and mystical powers of enlightening its wielders. Anyone who wields a mythril sword will be able to attain the achievements of a 'Sword Master' inevitably with time.
More than just a sword, the Mythril sword is also a teacher, thus explaining the now heavy responsibility on his shoulders.
"Sir Spider, what are our mission details?" Moth, a young woman asks their deputy chief. The other agents also look on their way curious about the mission details.
The news of Spider becoming a Knight, and Deputy Chief of the Agency quickly spreads among his colleagues. There are all kinds of reactions mostly of admiration, and while it is burdensome, Spider can only deal with it as maturely as possible. He looks back at his colleagues who are with him on this mission.
"We are going to the Allied Kingdoms to investigate the silver-haired elf. For some reason, rumors of the self-proclaimed King are quite prevalent in the Allied Kingdoms. The stories are mostly positive and is encouraging the Elf King's deeds as heroic, especially in the north. It is said that the 'silver-haired' elf is coming and going to different places to preach his word. We are going to the Allied Kingdoms to catch a 'preacher' or maybe the Elf King himself who might also be doing the preaching."
No matter how plainly it sounds, the proliferation of the 'stories' are extremely suspicious.
Squirrel, a rookie of the agency with a baby face comments. "Is this an assassination mission sir? A kidnapping perhaps? Surely, we aren't merely there just to investigate these rumors, are we? Or… are we expendables to test the water?"
Silence.
Inside the spacious wagon, the agents fall into suspicious silence, their eyes landing on Spider with scrutiny. There are five of them, yet they must tread foreign lands with just these five under a seemingly vague mission. The agency doesn't impose missions as vague as 'investigate', and this is reason enough for them to be suspicious.
If an agent is to receive a mission, it will entail the desired objectives and prohibitions of what must not be done. In other words, an imperial agent's mission is so comprehensive, the only thing an agent needs to do is follow.
Their current mission of 'investigate' is vague because they do not even know where to start. They do know that it is in the Allied Kingdoms but where? Usually, the mission details include the specifics of the where, when, and what… Except for a vague 'where', the agents don't even know the deadline for this mission, not to mention what they actually have to achieve, and not just some vague instructions to investigate.
"Squirrel is right, we agents do not act on rumors… This is the first time agents have to 'investigate' rumors. We have inside spies responsible for verifying the rumors, so it is kind of peculiar we have to go to this lengths…" Wolf, a burly man with scars on his arm and cheeks voices his doubts.
Spider does not even bat an eye as he gazes at all of them. He didn't retreat even once from their prickling gazes. "It is true, we are here purely for investigation. You can trust me in this. Just know that the elves are not to trifle with."
The agents of the empire work alone, but here, there are five of them. As Imperial Agents are loners, and most often only do solo jobs, it will be difficult for them to ease with each other in a short period of time. Spider understands this as he himself is an agent too like them.
"It is rare for us agents to go on cooperative jobs like this. It is because the empire desires utmost secrecy from us… Squirrel, the day you become an agent is when you start becoming expendable. And this is the same for all of us. If you want to live long in this job, you must have a mindset that you will survive. That is all." Spider softly reprimands Squirrel, the only rookie on their team.
Squirrel awkwardly laughs as he scratches the back of his head.
Spider's words ring true as the agents fall into contemplative silence. The agents of the empire have always been expendable from the beginning. Maybe, the senior and more veteran agents have become numb to the danger and forget that they are actually expendable. It is reasonable as they possess amazing unhuman powers that separate them from common men. They have the ability to be arrogant. However, despite that, they remain true to their ideals.
"Ha ha ha! Stop being so tense already, guys!" A woman, also refers as Centipede, with tanned skin and dark red hair laugh in the midst of silence. She peers from the coach and looks at the people inside the wagon "It is not like we will certainly die. We are the shadow and dagger of the empire. Know that the 'Stalkers' inside of us are what makes us special. Instead of being expendable, we are simply indispensable for this job knowing that the 2nd imperial princess deems it so, we can only trust her imperial highness. The tasks we do, only we can do it."
Arriving at an outpost that is still far from the Allied Kingdoms' borders, the small contingent of humans get down from their wagon. Spider leads them to the outpost where the 2nd imperial princess is waiting for them.
Spider nods to the guard while subtly flashing the 2nd princess's symbol, a hawthorn flower blooming white on a branch. They easily get inside the outpost. Waiting for them is the stable coach dragging mighty beasts with two horns on their head— Bicorns, truly vicious beasts between a horse and unicorn.
The agents except Spider gasp at the sight of the beast.
"These are Bicorns, the latest product of the Tower of Fire, and is the result of their chimera technology. The princess' resources are for us to use. Know that our task is not so simple are so readily giving us the best of her resources." Spider explains to them. And with this, they confirm, they are not merely expendables.
With the Bicorn, the month-long travel reduces to merely weeks. This speaks of how much their princess hopes for their success.
Spider mounts the Bicorn with a single leap. "Let's ride!"