"They're going to Hedoni again..."
That is the note Zihao leaves for us after returning to the room.
"What are they going there for? Are they going to explore a dungeon again!?" Aldo frowns at the note.
"After breaking free from the shackles of this regime, the first thing Fermos and his friends do is go explore a dungeon like those main characters in those typical Isekai stories?" Aldo raises his voice.
"Calm down! Calm down, Aldo!" Helene fixes her eyes on the material book, trying to calm Aldo with her feminine, sweet, and gentle voice, but then she says with excitement, "We... could go there to meet them!"
Aldo turns around and glances at Helene.
"Don't look at me like that! Anyway, Zihao is busy with the meeting, so we have plenty of time to do other things," Helene continues, now looking Aldo in the eye, her lips slightly curving into a smile, clearly unable to hide her excitement about the upcoming adventure.
"You seem to like adventures, huh? If that's the case, the two of you will go there and 'fetch' them, while I go meet Chun-hei on your behalf?" Aldo says flatly, without emotion.
"Fine! Veritas and I will go!" Helene smiles and responds eagerly.
"I think you and Veritas should prepare armor, a whip (to climb over a wall with something solid on the other side), a knife, Health Potions, and any other items you think of," Aldo reminds them.
...
And thus, we find ourselves riding upon the backs of our horses, galloping through the current pine forest. The wind howls fiercely, tearing at the very fabric of reality itself, sending gusts of energy hurtling towards us. Our horses, with eyes unwavering, embody persistence and courage, charging forward like arrows, embracing the rushing winds in a bold adventure. The grasses bow in reverence, making way for the thundering warhorses, as though nothing could stand in their path. The landscape—oak trees, pine, wild apple trees, and banyans—whirls past us in a blur. They stand tall, serene, immersed in the quiet joy of contemplating life's endless mysteries. Innocent squirrels leap from branch to branch, startled by the horses racing below them, while owls flit into the safety of berry bushes, and curious deer glance up, momentarily distracted by the fleeting shadow passing them by.
The scent of berries, pine, lemongrass, and wild apples mingle with the wind. They are soft, gentle, delicate—not rich or heavy, not sweet, salty, or spicy, but the scent of nature itself. A harmonious blend of the purest essence. They walk beside us on this journey.
Then, suddenly, an arrow flies swiftly past my eyes, striking the front leg of Helene's steed. It lets out a sharp, agonized cry before collapsing to the ground, and Helene is thrown from its back. She curls into a ball, protecting her head as she falls, crashing into a tree branch. She lands hard, groaning in pain. I quickly rein in my horse, dismount, and rush to her side. I check the thick leather armor I had given her earlier, inspect her injuries—no visible wounds, but my cautious nature compels me to offer her a small vial of red Health Potion. She closes her eyes for a moment, then opens them, slowly sitting up with my help.
"So ein Pech!" Helene rubs her now-healed wound.
I remain silent and observe my surroundings. Two arrows fly out from a tall tree, heading toward me. Of course, as a Neo Metaller, the arrows only graze my skin before veering off toward the oak tree behind me. Just as I begin to sigh in relief, appreciating the usefulness of my Steel Skin, which I gained after consuming the corpse of a Metaller and becoming a human with their powers, a sense of unease rises in me for having inadvertently revealed my true nature. I glance quickly, but it's too late—another arrow shoots toward me, this time exploding upon impact, setting my body ablaze and throwing me backward, causing me to fall. I calmly sit up. My body still burns, but I feel no pain, and my flesh remains intact, though, in essence, my true nature has been exposed.
"Veritas, are you okay? Get cover!" Helene, who has found a piece of wood and covered it with bark and branches to mimic a bush from above, whispers and signals for me.
I stubbornly refuse to listen, standing out in the open and continuing to observe the area to locate the would-be assassin.
"Well, it's already exposed..." I think to myself with a sigh.
I leap high into the air, beyond human limits (since I am now a Neo Metaller), reaching for the mysterious figure in the blue-black cloak, and land... not very gracefully. If I were not a Metaller, I would surely not survive that landing. The stranger swiftly escapes my grip and backs away a few meters. But I manage to seize his bow and crush it, ensuring I gain the upper hand. I replay a series of actions that took place in a brief span of time: When I had him in a tight grip around his neck, the stranger remained calm and unpanicked. First, he used both hands to grip my arm to lessen the force. Then, he tried to push with his legs to create distance between us. At the same time, he leaned forward to reduce pressure on his neck and look for an opening to counterattack. Finally, the stranger poked my nose and eyes, distracting me momentarily. Once he reduced my grip or threw me off balance, he quickly escaped.
This guy is no ordinary foe. I glare at him, heightening my guard. He pulls out a dagger. Well, that's not too dangerous for me. I charge at him aggressively and grab his back. He struggles and tries to stab me with the dagger. Of course, it has no effect. I brace myself, lift him off the ground, spin, and throw him forward with all my strength. He flies for a moment, then regains his balance, secretly chanting a spell. The winds conjured by his magic help him float in the air. From that point, he moves in a spiral pattern, continuously casting spells to send strong gusts my way.
If only I had bothered to learn some magic, I could have handled this fight much more smoothly. Helene is still hiding, waiting for the right moment.
I dodge the powerful gusts he sends at me. They are meant to lift the victim high, causing them to crash down at high speed. I know the aftershocks aren't fatal, but the sheer amount of potential energy affecting me makes it hard to withstand, even with my strength. Of course, I've tried leaping as high as before. And every time, I fail.
The first time, I jumped onto a high branch and was shoved down when he noticed and used wind magic to push me hard to the ground.
The second time, I picked a better angle. I jumped to another high branch, and when he shot out a gust to knock me down, I grabbed a branch, using the potential energy to spring back at him from behind. But he was too quick and moved out of my reach.
The third time, I used the same method as the second. This time, I failed, but I managed to stab a sharp piece of bamboo into his shoulder, causing it to bleed. But he didn't pull it out or cry out. This guy is truly difficult to defeat.
The fourth time, I tried the same method as before. This time, I failed spectacularly. He had figured out my tactic.
The fifth time, he used lightning magic to shock me with high-voltage electricity. Although I didn't die, my body becomes paralyzed, and I fall to the ground, unable to stand.
He slowly floats down, even using electricity to shock me 20 more times to make sure I am down.
In movies, allies usually arrive just in time. We're on our way to find companions, but this is real life, and only we can save ourselves.
While Helene is hiding, she suddenly steps out, struggling to hold a large, heavy branch and swings it at the stranger's leg. He falls to the ground with a crack. He tries to endure and uses wind magic to rise, pushing both me and Helene away. I grit my teeth, pushing myself to stand. Helene is only human, and she doesn't even have combat skills. And my prediction turns out to be right. He releases powerful winds, and Helene hides behind bushes and ancient trees. The trees stand tall, blocking the strong gusts that the stranger conjures. But the stranger is no fool. He moves like lightning, circling back to attack Helene. Thus, for several minutes, it becomes a "cat-and-mouse" game between Helene and the stranger. He grows increasingly frustrated with the fruitless chase. He releases a spiral gust, throwing Helene into a tree trunk with a loud thud.
She sits still, a wound bleeding from her head, staining her forehead red. Her arms, legs, and body remain motionless. I am completely shocked, wide-eyed. The stranger approaches without hesitation, but from a safe distance, raising his hand to finish her off. Suddenly, Helene, with lifeless and smug eyes, swings her whip, wrapping it around his arm and into the open wound on his skin. He tries to break free but it's too late. A surge of electricity is released, shocking both Helene and the stranger. So the whip has copper wiring, which explains its copper color, and copper is a great conductor of electricity. The stranger falls freely to the ground, unconscious. Helene does too. I hope she's okay.
So... Helene... a girl with no special strength or magic... has... defeated him, or at least tied with him!?
But then, three more dark figures slowly approach us. They won't let us off...
Tentacles jab and pierce my back. They work by embedding themselves into the surface, allowing tiny fibers to penetrate deeper. Something is being injected into my body. A moment later, I stand up. It's Aldo. Why is he here?
Aldo says nothing, but moves towards Helene, using the same method to revive her. Then, he transforms the tentacles back into hands. Helene slowly opens her eyes, rubs her head, and sits up.
"I thought you were heading towards Chun-hei?" I raise an eyebrow.
"That piece of paper wasn't written by Zihao. And Zihao never left the conference building," Aldo responds.
I widen my eyes in confusion.
"We've been set up," Aldo continues, handing me a short sword.
I look toward the three figures.
"They seem to be from different organizations..." I grip the short sword tightly, lowering my brows.
"This is bad, three more of them? The last guy was super hard to beat!" Helene sighs, firmly holding the copper-wrapped whip.
Aldo says nothing but quietly observes.
I recognize one of them: the tomboyish girl we met with Chun-hei, now wearing medieval armor (Not full armor, no helmet, and the chest armor is larger than her chest, as standard armor should be); a Chinese man in Hanfu, similar to Zihao but in shades of blue; and an adventurer (seemingly Indonesian). Judging by their faces, they're not here to make friends...
"There are enemies behind us, a few more on the right, a few more on the left, and some above, a total of 20 people," Helene whispers to me and Aldo, her face turning serious.
"Then we'll negotiate. It's unlikely we'll win, and our team policy is to avoid conflict," I respond to Helene, then put down my weapon and walk toward the three people with a serious expression, though deep down... I'm scared.
"Wait..." Helene frowns at me, about to step forward to stop me, but Aldo raises his hand to stop her, "We're not a combat-focused team..." Aldo reminds Helene.
Helene grinds her teeth, glaring at Aldo, but after a moment, she understands. She lowers her head, her face sad and helpless.
"Joking... reinforcements arriving is like nothing..." Helene says, frustrated.
"Please, Helene... the enemy's reinforcements outnumber ours..." Aldo responds.
I walk up to stand in front of the three leaders of the opposing group, trying to stay calm. The man in the blue Hanfu, with a composed demeanor but sharp eyes, is the first to speak:
"Zheng Li, from the An Guihui group," he says, his voice firm. "There's no need for introductions for those with me. They belong to other groups, but that's not relevant to what we're discussing."
I nod slightly, my eyes locked on him. Even though he reveals nothing about his teammates, I'm not surprised. A slight sense of caution rises within me, but I decide not to show any sign of insecurity.
"Lương Anh Trường," I reply, using my real name, which is rare for me. "We are a small, unofficial group, led by Zihao. Initially, we were just escaped slaves from the brutal camps of the Mikhland Empire. When we first escaped, we scattered without a clear goal. But thanks to Zihao – his leadership brought us together. Since then, we've not only survived but started building plans, using the political weaknesses of the empire to find a way back to Earth."
Zheng Li's eyes flash with a brief interest, but his tone remains mocking:
"Zihao, huh? The one who refused to join An Guihui despite our repeated invitations. Then he went and formed his own group, causing us no small trouble with the plans he carried out. Some people in the community refer to you all as The Strays – the lost ones."
As soon as he finishes, the tomboyish girl standing next to him, wearing medieval armor, gives a sharp smile and mocks:
"That fits. A disorganized group that refuses to be bound by any rules."
I narrow my eyes slightly but don't respond to the mockery. Instead, I calmly say:
"We've never given our group a name. If you want to call us The Strays, feel free. But for us, names don't matter. What matters is the goal and the actions."
My frankness seems to surprise all three of them. Zheng Li blinks but quickly returns to his calm composure. He crosses his arms and continues:
"We didn't come here to argue about names or the past. There's a more important issue. We want you to refrain from interfering with political plans related to Earth-born slave uprisings. Here are the five terms you need to abide by."
He pulls a small digital tablet from his sleeve, a device from the empire, and begins listing:
Do not abuse political power to meddle indiscriminately in other rebel groups, especially those not related to you.Do not interfere with any political strategies of the empire related to security, whether directly or indirectly.Do not disclose any information about the activities of An Guihui or our allied groups, whether intentionally or unintentionally.Do not recruit or approach members from groups already allied with us.Do not use force or coercion against other independent Earth-born slave groups.
Zheng Li finishes and gives me a cold, sharp look:
"These measures are necessary to maintain order between the groups. If you agree, we can avoid many unnecessary conflicts."
I fall silent for a moment, then nod slightly.
"I understand. We don't want to cause any more conflicts. Part of our group's involvement in the empire's political system is to gather useful information for returning to Earth. We have no intention of abusing our power to interfere with your plans."
Zheng Li narrows his eyes, as if considering my words. He doesn't hide his doubt:
"Is that so? You all are quite skilled at hiding your true intentions. But fine, we'll tentatively accept this promise."
He signals to the other two, then looks at me one last time:
"Don't make us regret this decision. And don't forget, The Strays are still being watched."
With that, the three of them turn and leave, walking away with firm, decisive steps.
Helene sighs in relief, though her face still holds dissatisfaction:
"They came here just to give orders, without leaving any chance for resistance. Who do these people think they are?"
Aldo, who has remained silent the whole time, frowns slightly:
"They are a potential threat. But at least we've had time to prepare. The fact they didn't attack today is a good thing."
I watch Zheng Li and his teammates disappear into the distance, an uneasy feeling stirring within me. However, one thing is clear: the power struggle between the uprising ex-slave groups has begun.
All three of us remain silent for a long while after Zheng Li's group disappears from view. The desert wind gently blows, carrying fine sand that seeps into the seams of our clothes. Helene is the first to break the silence:
"So, what do you think about being targeted like this? I mean… we don't have a symbol, a name, or a real leader. We're just a loose alliance of people with economic and military objectives, right?"
Aldo frowns, his voice soft but weighted:
"Right. No one in the group is truly a leader. Zihao could be considered the head, but we've never officially acknowledged that. Instead, everything operates based on connections and agreements. Whoever is good at something does it. We don't have a common specialization, and that's why I don't understand why they're targeting The Strays."
I cross my arms, taking a deep breath to shake off the uneasy feeling:
"Maybe it's our lack of structure that caught their attention. A group with no specific system but still operating effectively, with strong financial backing and wide influence… That could attract attention."
Helene nods:
"Could be. But I think the bigger possibility is that we're being targeted from multiple sides, not just by An Guihui. Zheng Li is just the spokesperson. Other slave uprising groups may also see us as a threat."
Aldo raises an eyebrow, his tone serious:
"That's a theory, but not certain. Let's analyze it more deeply. I think the issue lies in our economic power, which is far greater than that of other uprising groups. Those groups usually specialize in one field – espionage, ceramics, swamp warfare… But our group is completely dispersed. We don't have a shared specialty, but we control many key areas within the empire. Think about it, Veritas. We have stakes in many stores across the empire, not to mention specific businesses like these:The company producing bamboo fabric, bamboo paper, bamboo liquor, and agricultural products – all managed by Zihao.The enzyme manufacturing company that I manage. We currently have a complete monopoly on the empire's enzyme market, thanks to seizing opportunities and technological advantages.And, of course, the hidden company that you and Helene co-manage – which I don't need to name, right?"
Helene raises an eyebrow and responds sarcastically:
"Oh, it's easy to blame the economy. But let's not forget, Aldo, it's the chemical weapon stockpile you've been hiding that's the real issue."
Aldo chuckles softly, but his eyes are filled with resolve:
"If you want to know, Helene, that stockpile is so secret that even I don't know where it is. I carefully delegated its storage to someone the group doesn't know. That's my new strategy – minimize risks in case I'm betrayed or captured. Even you don't know, right?"
Helene looks at Aldo, stunned, then quickly regains her composure. She crosses her arms, her eyes flashing with irritation:
"So, you made the decision on your own without informing us? Really, Aldo. We're a group, no matter how loose we are. Anything related to the survival of the group needs to be clear."
Aldo remains unflinching, replying calmly:
"Helene, I did it to protect all of us. If that information falls into enemy hands, we'll be wiped out instantly. The fewer people who know, the safer it is."
I raise a hand, signaling for both of them to stop arguing:
"Enough. Aldo has his reasons, but I think the chemical weapon stockpile isn't the main issue. Look at the reality. A group of former Earth-born slaves, not only escaping but also joining the Mikhland Empire's government as Landless Nobles. This goes beyond anything other slave groups have ever done. That's why we're being targeted."
Helene furrows her brow, but doesn't counter. Aldo ponders, his gaze thoughtful:
"Makes sense. As Landless Nobles, on paper, we don't have much power. But in reality, we're using that title to access information no other group can reach. That's what may have raised suspicions."
We all fall into silence, each lost in our own thoughts. In the distance, the lights of Tarif City – an oasis in the desert – begin to glow, bright like a gem amid the golden sands.
I slowly speak, breaking the stillness:
"Maybe everything we've just said is true. Economic power, the secret weapons, and the Landless Noble title – all of it makes us a target. But the real question is: what will we do to protect ourselves?"
No one answers immediately. Only the wind and our footsteps echo on the sand. Tarif City gradually becomes clearer, but inside me, the unease doesn't fade.