"Hehe~~ Clara, it looks like I've won again!"
"You fat jerk, you always bully me!" Clara, the short-haired girl, pouted as she shook the arm of the punk man beside her, "Edwin, look at Olsen!"
"Alright, alright, sweetheart, I'll win the pieces back for you!"
Edwin shot a glare at the fat man across the table, then turned to the white-haired girl leaning against the wall, arms crossed.
"Kay , lend me three Tel Stones."
Kay, with her ever-present disdainful expression, snorted, "No."
"Why not?"
Edwin stood up abruptly, his demeanor aggressive, and walked quickly towards Kay.
Kay merely tilted her head slightly to look at him, her eyes filled with contempt, clearly uninterested in engaging.
"..."
Edwin opened his mouth, but no words came out. He deflated immediately.
"Okay, okay, I know I've borrowed six Tel Stones from you already, but I didn't bring any today…" He grinned, revealing his signature roguish smile, "I'll pay you back double when we get back!"
"Just lend him the stones, Kay. Otherwise, it's no fun," Olsen chimed in, baring his teeth in a grin.
Kay: "..."
Edwin glanced at Clara's teary face, then leaned closer to Kay, whispering, "Three more Tel Stones, and I'll pay you back double when we return!"
Kay: "..."
"Fine!" He gritted his teeth, "Triple it, alright? No more than that..."
"Deal." Kay arched an eyebrow and pulled three Tel Stones from her pouch, "These are the last three. After this, I won't..."
She abruptly stopped speaking. As Edwin reached for the stones, she pulled her hand back.
"What are you doing? Trying to renege?" Edwin's expression turned anxious, "You can't do this!"
"Shut up!" Kay snapped, her face turning icy, her crimson eyes scanning the surroundings, "We're being watched!"
"What?!" Clara and Olsen immediately stood, alert, and huddled closer to Kay and Edwin.
Though Olsen and Kay were both novice blood magic users, his experience paled in comparison to hers.
In other words, despite Kay's aversion to trouble, she was the backbone of their small squad.
"Demacians?" Edwin whispered.
"No, those cowards would be too scared to approach us. Could it be that useless prince's scouts?" Olsen wondered.
Edwin sneered, "Our forces have already set up an ambush at the Silent Lake Plains. Even if scouts got past the line, we'd have been notified."
"Could it be the Dauntless Vanguard or the Silverwing Legion?"
At Clara's cautious question, Edwin and Olsen exchanged a silent glance, then looked at the youngest of their group as if she were foolish.
Noxus had sent an entire regiment as bait to cut off the Demacian prince's retreat, aiming to capture or kill Jarvan IV with their elite Gray Militant forces.
If the Dauntless Vanguard or Silverwing Legion were here, it would mean Demacia knew of their plot and had prepared a countermeasure.
In other words, if that were true, it would mean there was a traitor in Noxus… or the Black Rose.
Impossible.
"Stop arguing!" Kay snapped, her eyes signaling Clara, "Go inform Lady Noladi, my mother, that someone has infiltrated the Gates of Mourning."
Edwin and Olsen gasped, their eyes widening as they scanned the small outpost.
"Someone really infiltrated?" Clara was stunned.
"What are you standing there for? Go!"
Clara glanced at Kay, who, despite her usual cold demeanor, was very protective of her juniors. Yet, in battle, she transformed into a bloodthirsty beast, especially against Demacian soldiers.
"I-I'm going!"
Leaving the words behind, Clara hurried through a passage into the building.
Now, only Kay, Edwin, and Olsen remained, along with a few soldiers training nearby.
Relieved that her troublesome yet immature burden had left, Kay's expression softened.
"What's going on, Kay? I didn't smell any stranger's blood," Olsen questioned.
"I told you to practice magic more and spend less time with those blood-drenched women, but you never listen!" Kay glared at him, her crimson eyes flashing ominously.
Olsen scratched his head sheepishly, falling silent.
Kay refocused, her gaze sharp, "The intruder used a strange magic to conceal themselves… but I still sensed a hint of arcane magic."
"Should we alert the guards and seal off the area?" Edwin suggested.
"No need. They're useless anyway," Kay scoffed, "If not for mother's orders, I wouldn't have bothered with this mission."
She closed her eyes, concentrating, and unleashed her sensing power. A blood-red glow emanated from her, merging with the cold wind.
Edwin and Olsen knew this was Kay's usual hunting technique. They held their breath, afraid to disturb her.
After over ten seconds, Kay's lips curled into a rare, sinister smile, her eyes glowing red as she locked onto a spot above the southeastern gate.
"Got you!"
Kay suddenly transformed into a crimson storm, moving with incredible speed and precision.
Edwin and Olsen quickly conjured blood magic spheres, following the blood-streaked girl.
At that moment, a woman in Noxian armor and red cloak, with white hair similar to Kay's but more mature, emerged with a serious expression.
This was Faris Noladi, head of the Noladi family and leader of the Gray Militant forces.
As a loyal subordinate of Vladimir and LeBlanc, she was also known within the Black Rose as the "Lady of Blood."
Behind her were Clara and an old man with spectacles and a white beard.
Now, all six Gray Militant elites were present.
"Lady Noladi, over there!"
The old man pointed to where Kay, Edwin, and Olsen had headed.
Noticing her daughter's frustration, Faris transformed into a blood mist, reappearing beside Kay within moments.
"Lady Noladi."
"Mother…"
Seeing Faris, Kay, Edwin, and Olsen saluted in Noxian fashion.
"What happened?"
Faris had barely spoken when she sniffed the air, detecting a faint trace of living blood.
"So, there was an intruder." She looked understanding.
Kay clenched her fists, "Sorry, mother. I couldn't catch them."
Faris said nothing, stepping towards the spot where Kay sensed the arcane magic. She formed a small blood-red array, revealing lingering blue particles.
"Arcane magic… but different from what we usually see." She looked grim, "This isn't your fault, Kay."
Faris continued, "This uninvited guest is far stronger than we imagined."
(End of Chapter)
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