Chapter 12 The First Meeting
"Judging from the clothes and faint aura trace, this guy must be an elder-level character. But he was too preoccupied that he didn't even notice we were here," the middle-aged man analyzed.
The old gentleman silently hears his analysis.
Indeed, it was unusual for them, who liked to operate secretly, to run around in plain sight. Coupled with the satellite image of the mountain's explosion, it was difficult to determine what could have happened.
Even if he were to catch any of the members without killing them, it won't probably change the result. As an experienced assassin team, they would immediately commit suicide to protect their secret.
"Well, whatever it is, for someone of his influence to be found here meant something big happened deep in the mountain range," the old gentleman could only give up on finding more clues from the corpses.
"If I'm not mistaken, the reported explosion was almost certainly the reason for this time beast tide."
The middle-aged man nodded in agreement. On the other hand, he was more concerned about the beast tide threat itself.
"Do you want to help stop the beast tide?" he asked.
In response, the old gentleman just shook his head. "No. They had been too easygoing that they lack a proper sense of danger and urgency."
"This would be a great chance to temper their mentality and train them."
"But wouldn't that mean many people would be sacrificed?"
"No battle is won without sacrifice. And even if I keep stepping in now, what happens when I'm not here to protect them? While I have the strength, it's the most appropriate time to train these brats."
"But..."
"Don't worry, I've scouted the area. There aren't any powerful beasts this time. That's why I authorized them to release the Yellow Level warning."
"If you are worried for those brats, train them properly later!"
"As for this time, send out more doctors and medical experts to ensure they have the best possible support. With that many doctors and healers, it would be hard for them to die even if they want to."
Although the middle-aged man obediently listened to the old gentleman's words gnawing at him with cold pragmatism, he was still worried.
These were his soldiers, his responsibility.
Yet, the truth stung – they needed to evolve, to transform into an unstoppable force, forging them into an unyielding wall against the encroaching shadows.
Plus, with the old gentleman around, they could manage and administer rescue operations assuredly whenever the soldiers were injured.
He believed that unless caught in a sudden ambush or facing overwhelming enemy numbers, few of them would succumb to their death. The middle-aged man could only nod, acknowledging the truth.
The old gentleman's presence brought a reassuring certainty: minimal casualties, even in the face of danger.
At this moment, the middle-aged man heard him asking, "By the way, what was the search result of that thing?"
"I've sent people to that location. But besides finding a trace of blood, there's no other trace of someone fighting nearby. Nor was there any traces of aura residue."
"Are you sure what you felt is true?"
"Of course. How could I be joking about it." The old gentleman gave a disdainful glance.
But as he thought about it, he keenly caught the essential point from the middle-aged man's words. "When you say no trace, what does that mean?"
"I mean literally. Besides the blood on the ground and trace of someone leaving the area, there's no trace of its origin."
"It was as if he had suddenly appeared there. And from the blood on the ground, that person was probably heavily injured."
"The weird thing was that the footsteps leaving the area were light and steady, unlike someone who had trouble walking."
"There's no other trace of anyone else walking away. The trace suggested that the heavily injured person and the person who walked away from there were the same."
"But how could anyone recover from such a heavy injury in such a short time? Even with advanced healing techniques, recovering quickly from such grievous wounds is astonishing."
"The sheer amount of blood loss suggests they shouldn't be able to walk, and yet.."
"And in the first place, where did he come from?"
The middle-aged man voiced his doubt at length.
Hearing the middle-aged man's description, the old gentleman's brow wrinkled as various thoughts and guesses flashed through his mind. Soon, he thought of something, though he couldn't be sure.
"Have you checked the nearby area? The evacuees camp? The hospitals?"
"Yes, I've asked them to check every place possible. But until now, there's no report of someone seeing a heavily injured person entering the city."
"Could it be the man went somewhere else to heal?"
"It's possible. Anyway, continue monitoring those who entered the city."
"Understood."
After a final, contemplative gaze at the mist-shrouded peak, the old gentleman retreated thoughtfully towards the city.
His weathered face was etched with determination and worry.
He never mentioned his guess to the middle-aged man.
Regardless of whether or not his guess was correct, it would be a significant turning point for them.
For better or worse.
Regardless, he couldn't ignore this incident.
Maybe I should contact those old farts, the old gentleman lamented with a sigh.
-
In the city's suburbs, bathed in a flickering streetlight, a weary figure shrouded in shadow walked along a lonely path hidden between buildings.
Unaware of her pursuer's demise, Ayda continued walking forward.
Each of her ragged breaths fueled her desperate attempt to hide from her pursuers.
Ayda's stomach growled again, its guttural growl echoing the empty street
Hunger gnawed at her like a thousand starving spiders, its teeth sharper than any beast she'd ever encountered.
Every step felt heavier, and her vision blurred from exhaustion.
Had it been days? Weeks?
Time has lost all meaning in the relentless chase of her pursuers. Stumbling, she leaned against a wall, the weight of her weary body mirroring the burden in her heart.
Had it been worth it?
The vengeance she so desperately lashed out had released her suffocating foul breath and pain.
While it provides a fleeting moment of satisfaction, but at what cost?
This endless flight, the gnawing fear that lurked around every corner, the suffocating loneliness – was this the price of her "justice"?
If it were the right path, she wouldn't need to run and hide, right?
She stumbled forward, fueled by the primal urge to survive. She was so hungry and tired that hope, once a vibrant flame, flickered like a dying ember.
Suddenly, a glint of light caught her eye. Driven by the faint but irresistible aroma, it gave a whisper of hope.
When she cautiously approached the lone beacon in the desolate landscape, her heart was thumping with a mix of trepidation and anticipation.
Amidst the encroaching darkness, the faded awning fluttered above was a silent invitation to a haven.
-
The lock, rusted and neglected, offered little resistance. With a creak, the door yielded, revealing a treasure trove of forgotten memories. Spices, their aromas long faded, hung heavy in the air.
Once laden with treats, the shelves were bare except for a lone, half-filled bag deep inside.
"Dried fruit and nuts," Ayda whispered, her voice hoarse from disuse.
Relief washed over her, warm and unexpected.
As she gingerly lifted the bag, memories flooded back – laughter shared under the sun-dappled canopy of ancient elven trees, the sweet taste of summer berries picked fresh from the vine.
Tears welled up in her eyes.
But tears wouldn't fill her stomach. She opened the bag with trembling hands, inhaling the sweet, musty aroma.
The first bite was pure heaven – a burst of forgotten flavors igniting her taste buds.
As her hunger sated, strength slowly returned to her limbs.
"I have to keep moving," she murmured, wiping away the tears that stained her dusty cheeks.
But where? Time was of the essence, yet the unfamiliar terrain offered no answers.
Suddenly, in the distance, a six-story building caught her attention.
The building was bright as the construction lights sliced the night sky as workers hammered and clanged.
Under the azure shade, the building was magnificent under the dark backdrop.
Albeit hesitantly, curiosity, fueled by desperation, propelled her forward.
Maybe... just maybe, someone is there who can help. Please, let there be someone who can help.
-
The door of the azure building stood ajar, beckoning like a half-opened secret. The construction workers were busy working non-stop and didn't notice her arrival.
As she reached the entrance door, hesitantly, Ayda pushed it open.
Boom! Clang! Clang!
Inside, the spacious lobby echoed with the rhythmic clang of construction tools and the muffled voices of workers. Dust specks danced in the beams of light, filtering through the windows, revealing a scene in progress.
Suddenly, a loud voice boomed from above, echoing down the stairwell.
"Alright, lads, that's a wrap for today! Grab some rest. We'll continue tomorrow."
Ayda froze, her heart hammering against her ribs.
She immediately hid among the boards and construction materials.
Her mind raced, calculating her options. Retreat? But where else could she go?
Or could she explain her situation and come clean? She only needed a place to stay for the night. If she pleaded sincerely, it might be possible for her to stay for the night.
As she was entangling and measuring her options, the construction workers began leaving the building one after another.
When she was still conflicted, a pair of eyes peered down at her from the landing above.
On the first floor, a tall man, framed by the dusty light, descended the stairs. His sun-kissed blonde hair and piercing blue eyes seemed to penetrate through the shadows, landing on her with unsettling intensity.
"Who are you?" he asked, his voice laced with suspicion.