League Principality, Near the Shore, Out of The Nuclear Submarine, Amphibious Inflatable Landing Boat

1st Year of God, Monday, 4th Week, Month Of Noah.

The cold wind howled loudly as the ocean waves splashed aggressively against the speeding boat. Specialist Sergeant Riley felt a wave of nausea rise in his stomach, as the up-and-down motion of the boat they were strapped on making him slightly green.

The brisk air offered some relief, helping to suppress his urge to vomit. Riley and his team which are now named as “Team Epsilon” were bundled in simple homespun clothes and thick jackets, a necessary defense against the biting cold as the boat sliced through the night waters, guided only by the faint light of the twin crescent moons.

They had traveled for two weeks, and fortunately, they had encountered no attacks from the Sea Monsters. The few they did see were smaller, seeming to mistake the submarine for a larger predator and keeping their distance.

Furthermore Riley and Team Epsilon were not alone in the submarine as they were accompanied by another presence, though not a human one.

The third passenger was an elf, one of Melian's supporters and a survivor among the fleet that were captured by the Austronesian. His name was Polities.

When Polities was first captured by the humans, he expected the worst, knowing how his kind had treated them. But to his surprise, they spared him and the other elves who had been taken, despite the elves having been the first to attack. Polities silently thanked the Goddess Rasera that he had to follow only rules and laws rather than strict orders or a one-sided pact.

The humans offered him a deal that if he work for them, he would be paid, given proper housing, and cared for, but should he negate the agreement, all that was offered would be removed.

With his first payment, Polities treated himself to a delicious "Chiz-Berger,".savoring every bite.and throughly enjoyed it. He had heard that if he saved up enough credit chips, he could get someone to build a house for him like the ones owned by the wealthy! Not to mention, he also dreamed of getting a "tee-vee" set to watch all those "moo-bees," "dra-maas," and, of course, listen to music!

Eager to secure his place, Polities volunteered to support the human soldiers on their mission.

Though he isn't a skilled fighter, but Polities was a Level 9 Mage. But the most useful thing he has is that he is a mastery of Illusion and Spatial Magic, two extremely rare Magic Attributes that made him a valuable asset among Melian’s group.

However, the only Spatial skills he possessed was only storing objects in a small Pocket Dimension that could only hold a hundred people, but his Illusion magic was top-Tier, powerful enough to deceive even a Transcendent Tier 1 being for just a moment

Right now, their mission is to infiltrate the Free Trade City of Aquarius, one of the largest and most densely populated cities in the Third Civilization Zone. It is very-well known as the central hub of commerce for the entire Zone and generated over twenty percent of the total revenue that they used to sustain operations, making it a hotspot of all kinds of trade and commercial activity.

Their objective is just like any other teams. Establish an intelligence network and identify potential rebellion groups rumored to be hiding withing the city.

Gathering basic information wouldn’t be an issue, thanks to Polities, the elf traveling with them. His unique abilities would prove invaluable on this mission.

The major problem they have is entering the city. As the most prominent city in the region, Aquarius was heavily guarded, especially along its waterways.

Polities had briefed them on the city’s formidable defenses. It was surrounded by thousands of ships from various nations. While many of these were wooden vessels, the true danger came from the Merfolk among the security forces.

Not only do they specialize in Water Magic that could threaten even to their Submarine, they even commanded countless tamed Sea Monsters, some of which had the power and strength of a Transcendent Tier 1.

The mission seemed nearly impossible for the special operations team, but Polities had a plan. He advised them to head first to the closest city, which is called the Coastal City of Hollowfall within the League Principality, another nation close to High Tarxan.

"Alright, boys, we’ve reached our destination," Riley announced.

His soldiers looked up ahead and could see the dark shapes of the trees looming before them and in the distance, pinprick spots of lights by the fires and lamps from the city could be seen in the dimly lit terrain.

Moments later, the boat reached shoreline, stopping a few kilometers from the city.

“Keep your eyes open. We’re in enemy territory now and dangers could be anywhere,” Riley ordered as he turned to his men. “Tavish, Price, Woods, Belinski, Mason, check your gear!”

The men of Team Epsilon immediately snapped into action, making sure their gear and carabiners were properly secured.

"One Ready!"

"Two Ready!"

"Three Ready!"

"Four Ready!"

"Five Ready! All clear! Good to go!"

Nodding his head, Riley gazed at the young elf, and his face suddenly flickered with a silver of envy, “You, elf, scout the area and find us some shelter.”

“Alright, chief!” Polities replied, giving a quick nod before bending his right leg as a faint light enveloped his legs.

Boom!

In an instant, the ground quaked as Polities shot forward like an arrow, dashing into the forest at a speed that sent water splashing several meters into the air.

Witnessing this inhuman feat, some of the soldiers, seeing it for the first time, couldn't help but gulp in astonishment.

“Captain, this…”

“Shut up. There are some things you shouldn’t question,” Riley snapped in frustration. His eyes lingered on the spot where Polities had vanished into the trees.

‘If we’d had this kind of help sooner, maybe my family wouldn’t have…’ Riley's thoughts trailed off as he shook his head helplessly. He glanced ahead just in time to see Polities emerge from the forest and gives a thumbs-up.

“There’s a cave over there,” Polities called out, and the group moved toward it, where they could seek shelter.

"Urgh, Captain, is there a very good reason why does command want us to work with these... knife-eared aliens?" one of the soldiers, Tavish, grumbled, glaring at Polities with disdain.

“Tavish, will you—”

"Oh, I guess your leaders have doubts about your little monkeigh skills," Polities interrupted with a smug look, clearly enjoying himself.

“You little alien basta—”

Suddenly, another soldier, Price, tensed up, cutting Tavish off mid-sentence.

"Something’s here with us."

"Positions, people!" Riley barked, drawing out his rifle and spreading to the side of the dark cave. "No lights till my order!”

“Did you even check inside the cave?” one of Riley’s squadmate growled at Polities.

“Silent, Belinski,” Riley commanded sternly. “ Now get ready... lights on my mark!" He waited until everyone had taken up positions, using whatever cover they could find in the large cave tunnel. "Three... two... one, LIGHTS!"

At Riley's command, the soldiers turned their heads away, only keeping one eye open, including Polities, who had rehearsed this tactic with them before. The under-rail mounted 200-lumen white lights from.six pairs of rifles blazed to life, illuminating the interior of the cave as brightly as day.

A cry of pain and surprise suddenly screamed out as the creature with a head of an eagle and body of a lion with featured wings and pitch-black fur was blinded by the sudden glare of lights.

“Enemey conta-”

Shing! Spurt!

“FUCK!!!”

Before anyone could react, an extremely piercing and painful scream echoed when a [Wind Slash] whooshed through the air and a soldier’s arm flew into the air.

“FUCKER TORN MY FUCKING ARM OFF!! SHOOT THAT MOTHERFUCKER DOWN!!!”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Immediately after, a spray of bullets poured out like rain as muzzle flashes flickered in the darkness i. Rapid bursts. An instant later, a pained screech echoed through the cave as the Griffon, riddled with bullet holes on its body, pounced toward one of the soldiers in fury.

What was even more hair-raising was the green glow surging in its claws, amplifying the destructive power of its claws which is enough to split a human in two.

“Stay back!”

With a roar, Polities, his body radiating with surging Magical Energy, decisively pushed away one of the soldiers beside him and followed up with a powerful whip kick.

Bang!

With a deafening bang, the force of the kick send the Black Griffon crashing against the stone walls of the cave, the impact resulting in shaking the entire cavern and sending rock dust and fragments raining down from the ceiling.

Polities took the opportunity that the Black Griffin was disoriented and pounced on it again, going straight for the neck. With a sharp jerk and a bone-snapping crack, he snapped the neck of the griffin and dropped the limp carcass on the cave floor.

"Dinner is served! HAHA!" Polities quipped, grinning wildly.

"You little bastard! You trying to bring down the whole cave?" Riley shouted, his anger barely contained.

"Sorry," Polities chuckled, settling down with exaggerated care. "I got a bit excited."

"Yes, yes, we know!" Riley muttered, shaking his head as he dug into his backpack to unload supplies, including lamps and a vial filled with a white liquid, and moved toward the soldier who had lost an arm. "Stay still, Mason.”

“Y-Yeah…” a soldier named Mason stammered, watching in awe as Riley poured the substance onto the stump of his arm. Before their eyes, a new arm began to grow, seamlessly regenerating.

“Well, I'll be damned. That potion's gonna spark a war between pharmaceutical companies when it gets out,” Woods, another soldier, remarked in awe.

“Yeah, good thing its only known in the military,” Riley murmured, then turned to Polities with a stern frown. “You can't just rush at a beast like that very recklessly.”

“You underestimate me, human,” Polities boasted with a smug tone. "You think my specialty is just being a Level 9 Mage, but my combat skills are equivalent to a Level 6 warrior, which is still enough to kill these creatures pretty easily."

"Yeah, sure," Riley grumbled, setting up lamps at several locations and lighting it up the cave fully. "Found anything else back there?" he called out to Price, Belinski, and Woods, who had been checking the rear of the cave for any more surprises.

"Oh, yes!" Woods yelled back after a moment. "Found some treasure!"

Everyone paused what they were doing and hurried over to see what had been discovered.

"Look, the griffin's hoard."

At the rear of the cave, a massive bird-like nest woven from tree branches sat nestled against the stone, and glitters of gold could be seen shimmered among the tangled wood. Riley shone the light from his rifle into the nest and reached in to dug out a gold nugget.

He whistled in admiration, "Damn, this is pure gold."

"Yup, nothing but gold here," Price called out from another part of the nest. "Seems like griffins have a thing for gold."

Woods snorted dismissively. "Amateurs! A proper hoard shouldn't just be gold! You need jewels, coins, and all kinds of treasure!"

"Woods, you don't even have a hoard, and you’re not even a griffin," Mason pointed out, prompting the rest to burst into laughter.

"Mark my words! I will have one... someday!" Woods declared, tilting his head high with a haughty harumph.

"Sure you will," Riley said with a smile, before returning his gaze to Polites. "You guard the cave’s entrance and keep any enemies out for now. Oh, and by the way, I heard that High Command is offering a quarter share of any treasure found during military operations. So, part of this haul is ours!"

"Holy shit!" Tavish exclaimed, eyes wide. "Seriously?"

"Yup. When we retire, we’ll be set for life!" Riley grinned. "So make sure you guys pick up every piece of gold here and record it down."

"Fuck yeah! We’re gonna be rich!" Woods cheered, breaking into a little jig. The others couldn't help but join in, their spirits lifted by the unexpected fortune.

After the excitement had died down, the men cut up the griffin and roasted the choice portions, most of which Polities eagerly devoured, and everyone settled down to sleep as the sun came up.

They woke up again, close to late afternoon with the sun hanging low and started their preparations to infiltrate this world's society.

"Alright," Riley said, gathering everyone’s attention. "Before we can enter the Trade City, Polities, you mentioned you had connections with someone in this kingdom who can get us there, right?”

Polities nodded. "Yes, the city we’re heading to is called Hollowfall. It’s part of the League Principality, a neighboring country to the Kingdom of High Tarxan. Both nations are trading partners. Hollowfall is a coastal city, bustling with merchant ships that sail to other countries, mostly to the Free Trade City. My contact there can help us blend in and reach Aquarius."

Nodding in acknowledgment, Riley looked around his gathered men.

"Alright, you heard the elf. Our first stop is Hollowfall before heading to Aquarius. Once we arrive, we'll split into two groups and disperse into the population." He pointed to Polities and Mason. "You two are with me," he said, then addressed the entire squad again. "High Command has given us one month to gather as much intel as possible. I want stockpiles, military strength, routes, the latest maps, marching orders, and even the general sentiment of the population toward their leaders."

Riley’s gaze hardened as he looked around. "I want everything recorded down in code, and above all, don’t get caught. We’ll rendezvous at the edge of Aquarius after one month. If you don't make it, we’ll assume you’ve been captured or killed."

He continued, "If chances of being captured are very high, make sure all information and weapons are disposed of properly. The locals might not understand our technology, but let's not take any chances. There will also be a very low chance of rescue should you be captured, so make sure you don't get caught!"

"Alright, gear up. It’s about time to move out." With a sharp clap of his hands, Riley signaled the end of the briefing and headed toward the cave entrance. Standing at the edge of the opening, he looked down the sheer drop of the cliff and pulled out a walkie-talkie.

"Epsilon Actual to Thunderchief, do you copy over?" he transmitted. Earlier, they had mounted a relay device on the cliff wall, establishing a communication network with a previous resting site to maintain long-range radio contact.

[-underchief, what's your situation report, over.]

"Team Epsilon has arrived within their designated location. We’ll begin Operation Dagger in one hour, over."

[Thunderchief, copies that. Stay safe, and God bless.]

“Epsilon Actual, Roger and Tango Yankee, out,” (*Tango Yankee means Thank You)

The squad had changed into simple homespun clothes and trousers, with plain leather sandals. Each carried an unadorned short sword and dagger, with a concealed holster for their silenced Glocks. Slung over their backs were leather cases holding either a shotgun or an automatic rifle, while pouches carried explosives and grenades. A small sling bag held other basic necessities for each men and foraged traveling documents, forged with Melian's group’s help, were carried into simple scroll cases.

However, most important detail was their appearance. But thanks to Polities’ illusion magic, they all have pointy ears, blending in seamlessly as elves… at least to the untrained eye.

However, their true test would be evading detection by anyone with significant magical sensitivity. Illusion or not, anyone who are Mana Sensitive won't be fooled of a human disguised as an elf even with illusion magic. To solve this problem, each man wore a small amount of Mana Crystals embedded in their clothing, helping them blend in with the magical crowd.

With everything perfectly set, Riley, his squad, and their elven companion Polities set their sights on Hollowfall, the first city in this world they would infiltrate, with the ultimate goal of liberating their kind.

"Alright, men, eyes front! We’re in enemy territory now."

————————————————————

League Principality, Outskirts of the City of Hollowfall, In the Farm Fields

1st Year of God, Monday, 4th Week, Month Of Noah.

Shadowy figures silently moved crept along a long irrigation trench by the swaying stalks of native grains. The tall stalks of yellow-green crops swayed gently in the early morning wind, masking the presence of the seven figures as they reached the cover of a row of wooden fences.

"The sun will be up in about an hour. We'll wait for the gates to open and then enter the city in groups," Riley instructed the team. "Stay hidden until then."

As the sky lightened, the clouds blushed with the first hints of dawn, and the thin fog began to lift. The city gates gradually became a focal point for small groups of people arriving to start their day. The three-story wall, festooned with arrow slits, encircled the city of roughly 200,000 inhabitants together with a protective moat surrounding its base.

"Let's move," Riley ordered, signaling the group to rise from the grain field and join the forming queue at the gates.

Riley's boots squelched as the morning dew and water from staying hidden in the irrigation trench had seeped into his boots, but he ignored the cold and wet feeling, joining behind a couple of chatting gatherers with a large pile of firewood tied to their backs.

Mason moved up beside him, his hand instinctively gripping the pommel of his sword.

"Hey, human. Relax," Polities whispered with a smile, glancing back to see the rest of the team joining the queue behind them, “I know you soldiers are used to wars and bloodshed. But sometimes, life can be amazing when you greet them with open arms.”

Polities stepped forward, positioning himself just behind the two wood gatherers, and gave a polite cough to draw their attention. The two elderly men, dressed in coarse woolen clothing, turned to him with curiosity.

"Greetings, good sirs," Polities greeted them with a warm, disarming smile. "I've been on the road for quite some time and was hoping you might share any recent news from the city."

The gatherers exchanged a hesitant glance before their faces softened into smiles as Polities flipped a silver coin into their hands.

"Well, kind sir, what would you like to know?"

"What's the latest news and happenings around here?" Polities asked. "My friends and I have been out of touch for weeks, so we are lacking news of the area."

"Oh, well, a month ago, we lost the Duke down south to a large Magic Beast tide," one of the older gatherers whispered. "His wife is now the Duchess here, but be careful talking about it in the city, they'll take you away, or worse!" He made a throat slitting motion in a silent warning.

The trio nodded in understanding. "Anything else of note?" Polities asked.

"Well, I've heard Orc pirates are causing trouble southeast of here," the gatherer continued. "And there are more Magic Beasts roaming around than usual." He scratched his head as he pondered further.

"I see. Anything more?" Polities pressed.

"The army has left," the other gatherer added. "Things have been quieter since they pulled out." He gave the two a closer look, frowning slightly before whispering, "Are you deserters from the army?"

"Heavens no!" Mason blurted out. "What makes you think that?"

"You've got the air of a warrior about you," the gatherer admitted, rubbing his head in embarrassment. "But be careful, the guards are checking and arresting any army deserters."

"I see," Polities grinned, placing his hand firmly on the shoulders of Riley and Mason. "We used to serve in the Principality Army, but now," He gave a shrug and continued, "We are working as Adventurers and problem solvers."

"Ah, I see! My apologies!" The gatherers quickly bowed, only to be stopped by Polities’ gentle hands.

"It is alright, it's all in the past," Polities assured them, "No need to bow."

"We just want to thank you for your brave efforts against many enemies that this kingdom has been facing," the old man whispered, casting a wary glance at the looming city walls. "But watch out for the guards, they might mistake you all for deserters!”

"We'll be fine, we have traveling papers," Polities said with a sincere smile, touched by their concern. "But could you recommend any good inn for us to stay at?"

"Hmm, try the Prancing Pony," the old man advised, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "It's down the left side of the main street, just past the market stalls. You can't miss it, there's a sign with a prancing pony. Tell the owner that Old Raggins sent you, and he'll give you a fair price."

"Thank you, kind sirs!" Polities dipped his head in gratitude, then pointed to the front. "Look, the gate is opening."

A thick wooden drawbridge was slowly being lowered and groaning under the weight of two sets of iron chains at each end. It came to a stop with a crash and the gates of Hollowfall swung open, and a metal portcullis was lifted up slowly, revealing several guards standing vigil behind it.

The waiting crowd began to stir. Some rose from where they had been sitting, while others shouldered their bundles and goods. Cart drivers nudged their Land Dragons awake from their naps, preparing to move. A voice called out from across the bridge, announcing that the queue could now advance.

The drawbridge barely creaked as Riley and his men shuffled forward with the crowd, edging closer to the gate. The guards meticulously checked the identity papers of each person entering the city. Soon, the two gatherers ahead of them were waved through, and Riley, Mason, and Polities found themselves standing before the guards. The guards, growing impatient, gestured for their papers.

The trio handed over their scroll cases containing the forged travel documents, all while discretely observing the gatehouse, finding dozens of murder holes lined the ceiling above them, and a stout, metal-reinforced door stood to the side, most likely leading to the control room for the drawbridge’s windlass mechanism.

"Purpose?" The guard with a green cloth slash draped across his half plate asked snobbishly as he glanced at their traveling papers.

"Work," Riley replied truthfully. "We are Adventurers and problem solvers,” He offered a slight bow, hoping to diffuse the guard’s suspicion.

"Oh?" The guard’s eyebrows lifted. "You look more like soldiers than Adventurers."

"Kind sir, we’re just looking for honest work to fill our bellies," Riley said, flashing his best smile as he discreetly clasped the guard’s hand, slipping him a small pouch of coins.

“Hmmm…” The guard stepped aside and quickly peeked into the pouch, where a few gold coins glinted. Seemingly satisfied, he nodded, returned the scroll cases, and handed them back to Riley with a grin. "Welcome to Hollowfall. A word of warning, stay out of trouble, or we will throw you in the dungeons! Next!" He turned his attention to the next in line, waving them to come forward.

Riley exchanged glances with Mason and Polities, who shrugged in return, and they stepped into the city of Hollowfall.

——————————————————

Austronesia Empire, Imperial Maharlika, Luzon, Manila, Malacanang Palace, Conference Room

1st Year of God, Monday, 4th Week, Month of Noah

"At ease, people," Emperor Maximo waved everyone to their seats after entering the conference where all the heads of departments rose and nodded to Amelia, a member of the IDAC. "Let's start."

The blonde American woman continued standing and patiently waited for everyone to settle down in their seats, "A quick report on our current situation." she began, activating the main display screen and a series of graphs and charts appeared.

"As of the start of the year, almost two months after our arrival, we finally have some positive trends to report," she noted with a stern expression. "However, several key areas remain in the red."

She tapped the screen, highlighting each point. "Food, population, education, transportation, production, mining, ammunition, and military sectors have shown positive growth over the last month. Unfortunately, medicine, technology, and magic research have either declined or stagnated."

"We need to focus on the areas that are lagging, especially technology," the Emperor interjected. "I'll be dividing you all into sectors to address these challenges."

"There will be five key sectors, Military, Production, Transportation, Magic, Science and Technology, and finally, Civil Affairs," the Emperor outlined. "Imperial Governor Awang Budiharto Ghazaar and Ahmad Fadhlan Abyasa will lead the Military sector, covering all external security and threats. With the loss of Imperial Governor Julian Vincent Roman in the New Year Tragedy, we will need a new Imperial Governor for Maharlika."

He turned to one of the officials. "You will oversee Production, managing all factories, mining, and construction efforts." He then looked to another. "And you will head Transportation, ensuring our network is efficient and resources are distributed properly."

"For Magic, Science, and Technology, I want the Science Department to handle all aspects, including medicine and research."

"Finally, the Civil sector will encompass education, housing, agriculture, fisheries, healthcare, public works, and law enforcement," Maximo finished outlining his plan. "I expect each of you to recruit the best talent for your sectors. Any questions?"

"What about the budget?" one official asked. "We need funding for salaries and operations."

"The Accounts department will collaborate with each sector to allocate budgets and handle special requests," Maximo explained. "Any other questions? No? Good. Moving on."

Amelia spoke up, "The next agenda will be for 'Your ears only', and is classified as top secret," she warned everyone in the meeting. "Failure to comply and leaking of top secret information will be met with severe consequences."

Everyone in the room, including the elves present, nodded seriously, all their expressions grim.

“Now, two weeks ago, we launched Operation Dagger, a top-secret mission to gather intelligence deep within enemy territory."

She continued, "The teams, each members considered the absolute best of the military has were designated as Team Alpha, Team Beta, Team Charlie, Team Delta, Team Epsilon, and so forth, successfully infiltrated their assigned locations. These locations were carefully chosen for their lower Mana Density, as identified by the Mana-Monitoring Satellite, to increase the chances of survival. But one of them is accompanied by Melian's most special member as the place they were heading is the most dangerous among the Third Civilization Zone," Her gaze swept over the room, ensuring everyone understood. "The timeline for Operation Dagger is set to last one month, though this timeline may be extended if necessary. The teams are tasked with blending into the local populations of our enemies."

Amelia outlined the mission's objectives. "Operation Dagger primary objectives involved gathering intelligence on enemy dispositions, supply depots, stockpiles, weapons manufacturing, troop strength, morale, and marching routes. A secondary objective is to explore the potential for alliances and the possibility of recruitment of local supporters or rebel groups."

"So basically, it's a spying mission?" a scientist pointed out.

"In simple terms, yes," Amelia confirmed with a nod. "Additionally, we want to assess whether it's feasible to project our forces into these areas."

[You mean an invasion?]

The room fell silent as all eyes turned to the Elf Queen Melian on one of the television displays, whose delicate eyebrows arched in surprise

[Are you suggesting we occupy these nations?] she asked, her voice laced with incredulity.

“Hmm…” Emperor Maximo spoke up in an measured tone. "Well, if we determine that it's possible to take and hold these areas, then yes. I'd prefer the enemy to fight on their own land rather than ours. This way we can minimizes the destruction of our infrastructure… unlike last time, and gives us more room to maneuver if necessary." He admitted frankly.

[But what about the civilians?] Melian half rosed from her seat, her fists clenched tightly as she glared angrily at Maximo through the screen. [Their homes and livelihood?]

Maximo met her glare calmly, "It is war, but of course we will do everything we can to avoid civilian casualties and evacuate them to safety beforehand."

[And what if they refuse to leave?] Melian shot back. [Are you just going to let them die?]

Amelia gave a cough and interrupted, "Please, your Majesty, we are committed to ensure the safety of non-combatants. Besides, this is just one of the options we are exploring. If the information given to us states that some towns or cities are not suitable for a long defensive battle, then, of course, we will not commit to them."

Melian exhaled sharply, then sank back into her seat, murmuring, [I apologize for my unslightly outburst. Please continue.]

With a nod, Amelia continued the brief as though there had been no interruption. "By identifying key supply depots, stockpiles, and enemy staging areas, we can predict their movements and disrupt their plans."

She concluded, "Once these locations are confirmed, Phoenixes will carry out long-range bombing runs to neutralize the threats, preventing the enemy from approaching within a thousand kilometers of our territory."

——————————————————

League Principality, City of Hollowfall, Inside an Inn

1st Year of God, Monday, 4th Week, Month Of Noah.

Criiii—!

The creaking of the wooden floorboards woke Riley up, as someone's heavy footsteps could be heard moving up the staircase. He instinctively dug under the wyvern feather pillow and pulled out his silenced Glock. Flattening himself against the wall beside the door, he waited, every muscle tensed.

A knock on the door soon followed.

"It's me."

Riley quietly lifted the wooden latch, and the door swung open, revealing Mason, who slipped inside and quickly shut the door behind him.

"Whew, it’s scorching out there," Mason muttered as he removed his leather armor and sword belt, placing them on the room’s small table before pouring himself a drink.

"What did you find?" Riley asked, glancing out the window as he returned his pistol to the safe. The sky outside was a mesmerizing blend of purple and red as evening began to settle over the city.

"The streets out there stinks, and I mean that literally," Mason replied, downing the cup of water in one gulp. "I bribed some city rats and cutthroats, but they tried to ambush me on my way back."

"You dealt with them?" Riley asked, sitting down on his bed.

"Yup. But damn, these guys have the strength of bodybuilders despite their fragile appearance. Fucking magical superhumans. I would've been overwhelmed if not for my military training kicking in. But we lost some contacts because of it," Mason sighed, fanning himself with his large-brimmed hat. "On the bright side, I picked up some chatter at the local Adventurers Guild. Seems the Kingdom of High Tarxan is offering a reward for retrieving Queen Melian's corpse somewhere near where our nation is based."

"That could be a problem," Riley murmured as he got up, picking up his outer garments and began dressing quickly, transforming from a disheveled sleeper to a well-to-do merchant. "But no matter, they’ll be blown to oblivion if they even try to get close to our Motherland. Anything else?"

"Yeah, there are more jobs for gathering medical herbs than usual," Mason recalled. "Also, there are a few contracts are up for mercenary work, up to three months."

"What's the job scope?" Riley asked, now fully dressed.

"Mostly convoy escorting work, but the job’s out at the city named Woschester," Mason said, adjusting his seat. "I checked with the girl at the counter and she said it’ll take roughly three five-days on foot or two by land dragon."

"And the pay?"

"A deposit of 10 silvers, and a gold coin upon arrival in Woschester," Mason explained. "The girl didn’t know what the cargo is, but she suspects it’s military supplies. Apparently, the nation’s military is building some kind of outpost south of here, saying there is a sign of Orcs roaming in that area."

Riley nodded thoughtfully. "Got it. Get some food and rest. Polities and I are heading down to the Gentlemen's Club to gather more information."

"Got it, Boss!" Mason grinned as he leaned back in his chair and stretching. "Watch your back, streets aren’t so safe, especially at night! Man, you get to have all the fun!"

"Rank has its privileges!" Riley gave a wink and left the room, making sure Mason latched and locked the door before heading downstairs.

He was dressed in a finely tailored gray coat over a high-collared white spider silk shirt that were all the rage in this world's fashion with a pair of black breeches and knee-length boots. In his left hand, he held a sword cane topped with a piece of blue mana stone, and his Glock rested snugly in a concealed shoulder holster while he held a top hat in his right hand.

He gave a polite bow to the Inn motherly matron, who smiled back at him, and he left the inn, stepping out to the stone-paved streets of Hollowfall, where he was greeted by Polites, who stood with his arms folded near the door.

“Are you sure your old friend is in there?” Riley asked.

Polites nodded confidently. “Absolutely.”

With that, the duo set off down the dimly lit streets as their footsteps echoing softly in the night.

The street lamps, fueled by glow moss, cast a dim but sufficient light across the cobblestone streets, enough to navigate by foot during the night. However, as Mason had earlier complained, the smell of the streets was pretty bad that prompted Riley and Polites to call for a carriage instead. Polites whistled sharply at a coach parked along the roadside, and the driver quickly brought it over to them.

They climbed into the enclosed coach, and the driver shut the door behind them.

"To the Clubs and Royals," Polites instructed. The driver nodded, took his seat, and snapped the reins of the Land Dragon, which look like a Velociraptor, harnessed to the coach. The Land Dragon snorted in irritation before pushing off the pavement with its powerful hind legs, pulling the coach forward with a slight jolt.

Riley leaned closer to Polites, keeping his voice low. "So, you’ve made contact with someone there?"

"Yeah," Polites replied. "Don’t worry, he's more of a close friend to me."

Riley nodded but remained wary. "I hope you’re right."

As the coach rattled along the uneven streets, Riley’s thoughts drifted to his home city, a place of cleanliness, smooth roads, and bright lights. The contrast was stark as he glanced out of the small window, taking in the grimy, dimly lit surroundings of the unfamiliar city.

After a bumpy ride, the coach came to a halt in front of a large row of imposing stone and brick buildings. Polites handed payment to the driver while Riley stepped carefully over a pile of dragon poo, grimacing at the pervasive smell. Together, they made their way toward a three-story brick building surrounded by an ornate wrought-iron gate. Two footmen in green uniforms stood at attention by the entrance, giving the pair a scrutinizing glance before bowing and opening the gate.

Polites, with his usual nonchalance, sauntered up the walkway leading to the building. A bronze plaque on one of the pillars by the door read, "Clubs and Royals Gentlemen's Club."

As they approached, a doorman greeted them with a polite nod and held the door open, welcoming them into the warmth of the club’s interior. The soft glow of candlelight bathed the richly adorned hallway, where the scent of polished wood and tobacco replaced the foul odor of the streets. A servant approached and offered to take Riley’s coat, but he declined, preferring to keep it on. The servant then guided them toward the main hall.

The hallway they passed through was richly decorated with paintings of battles and adorned with the trophies of slain monsters, a testament to the club’s distinguished members. Riley barely spared them a glance, his focus already on the task ahead as they entered the large, opulently furnished hall.

Inside the hall, dozens of reclining chairs were arranged in clusters of two or four, each accompanied by a small round table. The air was thick with smoke from various pipes, and the scent of rich liquor filled the room. Polites scanned the crowd, his eyes locking on a particular group engrossed in conversation. Among them was a fat man in the group, who's attention was divided between the conversation and the grilled wyvern leg he was gorging away.

“I'll do the talking here,” Polities whispered to Riley, who nodded his head. Turning back to the fat man in the distance, Polites approached him.

"Hello my friend," Polites strolled straight to the fatty, who paused at eating the leg, and his greasy mouth broke into a wide smile as he recognized who it was.

"Polites Lodess!" the man exclaimed, pausing mid-bite. His greasy lips curled into a wide smile as he set down the wyvern leg and hastily wiped his hands on a napkin. "As I live and breathe! How are you, and what brings you here?"

"Arther Etororio," Polites greeted, grinning as he gave the big man a hug. "I am fine, my friend. It has been years since we last met. How have you been?"

"Oh, it’s only been one year, two months, and... four days since we last met each other," Arther replied, his grin widening. "I’m doing quite well, as you can see!" He gestured to his sizable belly and let out a hearty laugh.

As usual, Polites was amazed by the mind of his fat friend, who seemed to have a memory unmatched by any other.

"Yes, and you’ve grown even more since the last time," Polites teased, eyeing Arther’s round, cheerful face, double chin, and bald head. The man’s tailored shirt was so large it could probably serve as a tent for two to sleep in.

“And who’s this?” Arther asked, turning his attention to Riley.

“This is Simeon Riley, a friend of mine,” Polites introduced.

“Nice to meet you, dear sir,” Arther said, extending his hand. Riley shook it firmly.

“Likewise,” Riley replied. “So, how do you know about Polites?”

Arther laughed, slapping Polites on the back. "We went way back, worked together in the army before it disbanded."

"And these," Arther continued, gesturing to the others at the table, "are my partners in crime. The skinny one is Lyo Yonder, next to him is Qoum Bishop, and that is Cesta Blackwind."

"The four of us run the North Star Trading Company," Arther said proudly. "A simple, modest trading business." He paused, looking curiously at Polites. "But wait, how did you find me?"

"Well, I was just in town, and was looking around, and found out about you from the merchant district," Polites explained, he didn't really expect to find someone he knew before, and Arther used to be his unit's quartermaster. "I found out that you like to hang out here, so here I am."

Arther gestured for Polites and Riley to sit down, and servants quickly brought over additional chairs.

"Drink? Food?" Arther offered.

"I’ll take a mulled wine," Riley said to a nearby servant, who nodded and went to fulfill the order.

"So, how’s business?" Polites asked as they settled in.

"Not bad, not bad," Arther replied. "What about you? What are you up to these days?"

"Oh, just working as an adventurer and problem solver," Polites answered casually. "Got any jobs for me?"

"Hmmm," Arther exchanged a glance with his partners, who remained impassive. "Maybe," he said thoughtfully, "But let’s not talk about work here! Come, drink up!" He raised his glass of wine, and the servant returned with the mulled wine for Riley and Polites.

The night was filled with laughter and old war stories as Arther and Polites reminisced about their past, recalling funny moments from their time working together. Riley, content to let the two friends catch up, quietly sipped his drink, not minding or even bothering on talking with the other three people beside him or offering only the occasional nod or smile.

As the evening wound down, Arther gave Polites his address and insisted they meet again soon. "Come and find me at my company next time," he said with a wink. Polites assured him he would, and the two friends parted ways.

Back at the inn, Mason greeted his captain at the door. "How was it?" he asked, stepping aside to let Riley in.

"We are meeting him tomorrow with the elf to talk business at his office," Riley replied as he stripped off his coat and boots. "Damn, I am tired."

"I will take the first watch," Mason offered. Riley nodded, already half-asleep as he collapsed onto his bed.

The next morning, after a simple breakfast of bread, soup, and sausages in the inn’s dining room, the group split up. Mason headed for the Adventurers Guild to gather more information, while Riley and Polities made their way to Arther’s address in the bustling merchant district.

They soon arrived at a large store with an equally large warehouse behind it. The storefront was busy with activity, and the two men entered, making their way to the clerk inside.

"Hi, we’re here to meet with Mr. Etororio. I have an appointment with him this morning," Polites said in a casual tone.

The clerk hesitated. "Please wait a moment... Sir?" he asked, clearly unsure.

"Polites," came the reply, as he casually began to take a look around the goods offered by the store, while the clerk headed upstairs to inform someone.

The store was well-stocked with many different items, offering everything ranging from household items like cutlery and plates to traveling supplies such as crystal lamps and camping gear. There was even a section dedicated to buying mana stones and monster materials.

A few minutes later, the clerk returned to Polites’ side. "Sir Polites?" he said in a more formal tone now. "The Master will see you."

"Master?" Riley raised an eyebrow, but Polites only smiled and followed the clerk upstairs and were led into a large, well-appointed office where Arther sat behind a sturdy desk that looked built to support his considerable weight. The room was tastefully decorated with paintings of sailing ships and fierce monsters, while a plush sofa and tea table occupied one corner.

"Good morning!" Arther cheerfully greeted them warmly as the clerk bowed respectfully and quietly exited the room, closing the door behind him. "Please, have a seat." He waved them to the sofa, where Polites settled comfortably. "Tea?"

"Thank you," Polites replied, accepting a cup of tea. Riley politely declined, choosing instead to stand beside the sofa.

Arther took a sip of his own tea before cutting straight to the heart of the matter. "So, what’s your true purpose here? You didn’t just coincidentally appear here, did you?"

Polites gave a small shrug, smiling wryly. "Honestly, I didn’t expect to find you here, but since I did, I could use your help with something."

Arther leaned back in his chair, curiosity piqued. "If it’s within my means, I’ll help. What do you need?"

Polites took a thoughtful sip of tea before answering. "You know you’ve been traveling to a lot of places to trade, right? We need you to take us somewhere."

"Oh? And where might that be?" Arther asked, his interest growing.

Before Polites could respond, Riley stepped forward and spoke in a direct and serious tone.

"We want you to take us to the Free Trade City of Aquarius."

Arther's jovial expression dimmed slightly, and he placed his cup down carefully. "Aquarius, huh? That's no small request. What business do you have there?"

Riley exchanged a glance with Polites before answering. "We're looking for information that’s crucial to our mission. Aquarius is the best place to find it, and we need someone with your connections to get us in and out without attracting too much attention."

Arther considered this for a moment, his fingers drumming on the armrest of his chair. "Aquarius is a hub of all sorts of activity, some of it less savory than others. It won't be easy, and it won’t be cheap."

"We’re prepared for that," Polites replied calmly. "Name your price."

Arther leaned forward, his eyes narrowing shrewdly. "I'll take you there, but in return, you’ll owe me a favor, one that I can call in whenever I see fit."

Polites and Riley exchanged looks again, this time with a silent agreement. Polites turned back to Arther and nodded.

"Deal."

Arther’s smile returned, wider than before. "Excellent. We leave in two days. Be ready."