The next day.
A dozen winged warriors clad in light leather armor descended on the Mine mountain. Their majestic presence draws the slaves and guards attention, everyone stares at them with awe as they walk towards the wooden Mansion of Boss Boru.
"Make way!" A guard shouted to everyone, causing the people to part aside, making a clear path for the Gricks.
Eventually, the group of winged men's arrived at the mansion guess room. Boss Boru, fat and bald like before stood to greet them with a extremely polite smile while rubbing his hands.
"Welcome to my humble residence, kind sir's. Please, take a set." He gestured at the sofa opposite to him.
However, only one person sat down comparably while the other stood behind him. Facing Boru like a dreadful wall with their spear in hand, assuming the same stature in a disciplined manner. Their faces stern, ready for battle anytime.
The one Grick who has the right to sit look at Boru calmly. His a stout Grick with firm build, his hair dyed green, while his sharp hazel eyes stared at Boru. A second later, he said impassively.
"Let me introduce myself first, my name is Astron, the captain of this squad, belonging to the Falcon. I'm here to investigate your report. Tell me, is it true that over a hundred unidentified vampires were found dead in your Mine?"
Boru responded politely, trying to please his guess as much as he could.
"Yes, yes. You heard that right, sir Astron. If you want, I could guide you to the scene of the crime myself."
Seeing no hesitation in the fat man expression, Boru even seems really eager to prove his claim.
Astron denied, and look at him intently. As if his threatening Boru.
"No need... We already confirmed that private assassins from a high ranking nobel vampire were sent here and have yet to show signs of leaving. Us, Gricks had no more ties with Vampires. So whoever they are or whatever their propose may be was none of our concern. However, the mysterious killer are of great interest to us. I want you to tell me nothing more, except facts regarding who the doer of this murder is. And worry not, if your words are proven valuable. We promise to pay generously. Do you understand?"
"Of course, sir Astron. Actually, after hearing about this horrible news. I had my guards investigate the matter immediately by asking those working near the possible routes the killer went through to get there. All of them said the same, even the guards stationed at that time. They claimed that a hooded lady, wearing cloak was running with a young slave. Soon after, men's wearing similar hooded cloaks came after them. Their chase led down to the slowest area of my Mine, and no one knows what happened after that. Some of my guards eventually found the cloaked men's lifeless bodies. I didn't believe it at first, until I went and see it myself. Some of them had their hearts pierced, but the strange thing is. Most of them don't even have wounds! How is that even possible?! The victims Marks are included in the report I sent. So I hope sir Astron understands how dangerous that lady is. Please, get-"
"Enough!" Astron raised his voice.
Apparently, Boru was growing more anxious in his statement. It's visible how fearful he is to the murderer, knowing such dangerous individuals were lurking in his Mine brought extreme unease to him. However, what worried him the most is how near the crime location to the underground ruins. If the murderer flees deeper and eventually discovers what treacherous scheme his attempting there. It would be the end of him! After all, reopening the underground path is a threat to the entirety of Foggy Ring. Therefore, he need to get rid of that person fast. Fortunately, he had a clear lead to who it was. Or so, he thought.
Astron added in annoyance.
"The lady you spoke of was likely the missing princess of Vampires. From what I know, her Mark is still Zeta. Even if she somehow ascend to Eta. It's still isn't possible for her to slaughter over a hundred assassins of that level."
The assassins consist of strong combatants, the weakest being Alpha's, with the majority bearing the Mark of Beta and a few Gamma. Lead by one Delta. Most of their members are well known soldiers, specially the Delta, famed for his relic tracking ability. And with over a hundred of them, a Zeta can't possibly prevail against those many assassins. Perhaps Scarlet could if their numbers are halve. However, it's not. There's only so much one person could achieve.
Furthermore, what the Gricks are looking for does not have the visage of a lady.
Dejected by the results so far, Astron asked again.
"The young slave accompanying her, do you know him?"
Afraid of further displeasing the guess, Baron told everything he knew.
"Yes, according to the slaves. His name is Pert, an Aster. His been in service for more than five years now."
However, the Grick temper only becomes thinner.
"I had enough of your nonesense!"
Astron rub his temples, feeling his head ache in Baron unhelpful talks. Was this perhaps another wasted trip? The Gricks had been searching for clues of the Fallen Knight whereabouts relentlessly over the months in vain. Hearing news of numerous assassins dying mysteriously in the hands of someone unknown got their hopes up. Perhaps the Fallen Knight strike again? Or was it really the doing of Princess Scarlet? The former now seems unlikely, while the latter holds quite the possibility. After all, the Fallen Knight are identified as a male Argon. Someone covered in natural black armor, with a man's figure. But none of the involve suspects characteristics aligned.
After a while, Astron let out a heavy sigh.
"Is there anyone else? If not, I'm leaving."
"Wait! there's two more." Sweat runs down Boru's forehead.
Astron said impatiently.
"Then what are you waiting for? State their identity quickly, don't waste my time."
Hitting yet another wall really get to his nerve.
Boru explained hastily, afraid of further displeasing the Gricks.
"Before the lady was chased, some workers said that they saw an elderly man and a young man head in that direction. The elderly slave is my failure of a brother, while the young man was known to have pure black hair and eyes. They're both slaves of no significance."
Cutting Princess Scarlet and the young slave accompanying her off. All that's left is Boru's brother, who's background are clear. Whatever decreased him to servitude doesn't bother Astron, as long as Boru speak honestly. However, the last person mentioned piqued his interest. He fell deep in thought, and muttered.
"Hmm... Pure black, you say, which means his an absolute raceless." His frown deepened. "That's rare. Tell me, how long has he been a slave?"
Boru smiles apologetically.
"I'm not sure, sir Astron, there's too many slaves under me to remember." Seeing his guess glare growing deadly, Boru tried his best to recall. His tone liven up. "However! his particular look are quite memorable. Yes, I remember now, one of my men brought him over in exchange for some coins a few months ago! I even remember how it rained flaming arrows and spears that night! Believe me sir Astron, that's all I recall."
Every Grick knows that was the night the Fallen Knight had escaped, and took their prince life. Staining their honor as a formidable race right at their own territory. No one had ever humiliated the Gricks to that degree and run away freely. Except the Fallen Knight. Their accumulated rage had reached a dangerous point.
Knowing an ordinary slave came at the Mine just before their target disappeared from sight was indeed suspicious. If only his an Argon, then their search would
"I see..." The captain of the Gricks stood up. "Well done. Now, order your men to bring me that slave this instant!" He commanded impassively, simply wanting to get rid of suspicious individuals weather they are truly involved or not.
***
Meanwhile, in Pert's humble home within the Mine. Zyro was studying the metal revolver, making sure all gears function correctly.
It was the gun he meticulously drew in their journey back from Log Wall. Which was then handed over to the sealed sage for manufacturing through magic. It took some time due to the complexity and quantity of the parts, but at last. Depter finished making every piece. Zyro retrieved the gun as fragmented parts yesterday, and assembled it himself. Such a task was child's play for an elite soldier, after all, knowing one's weapon is taught first before having one. And Zyro was exceptionally learned compared to many. Furthermore, revolvers were mechanical in structure, having nothing to do with electronic modules that were pretty complicated to fix without specific tools.
After a quick assembling, the metal scraps perfectly fitted into each part, forming the classic revolver he held like a solved puzzle.
The gun has a medium length barrel, with eight holed cylinder for housing eight bullets. The handle grip was made of metal too. Deeming it cold and uncomfortable, Zyro wrapped it with strips of brown mantle.
He appreciated the beauty of his revolver, the first gun to touch this world. Although, compared to advance firearms of Earth's military, his gun were an ancient artifact. It can't be helped, because this is the best he could achieve with his limited resources. Still, a revolver are fearsome weapon nevertheless. Even though all it could do was shot bullets, the projectiles it sends were greater in speed and lethality compared to arrows. Unlike bows, it's also able to fire eight subsequent shots without delay before requiring reload.
And no simple iron plating can stop its bullets advance, according to reliable research results about revolvers. However, a gun firepower depends on gunpowder quality. Acquiring gunpowder isn't easy for Zyro, because the certain chemicals required to create gunpowder are found in volcanic areas or some other places he doesn't have access too.
In any case, obtaining gunpowder is impossible currently. So, Zyro used an alternative. All he need is something that explode, right? Fortunately, the Mine are specially built to dig those harmful things - Magic stones. All he have to do is melt the explosive crystals down into the bullets holes. Resulting an iron bullet fused with magic stones.
Of course, Zyro made sure the revolvers hammer is powerful enough to crack a red crystal. Causing a small explosion within the trapped barrel, which will then push the bullet out with astonishing force.
Overall, Zyro succeeded in making a gun.
As he was double checking for possible malfunctions. Someone came running towards him, the person steps were fast.
Zyro gazed at his old fashioned gun, feeling nostalgic.
He grip the cold and unfeeling revolver, loaded it's rotating cylinder before knocking it back.
The cylinder produces a rattling sound as it spins, then stopped.
He grind darkly.
"It's you and me again... Old friend."