"So... tell me your plan."

In the dimly lit, exclusive lounge accessible only to Riley and high-ranking members of ExRump, the man of darkness sat comfortably. With a teacup in hand, he sipped calmly with his black skull mask lifted just enough to reveal the bottom half of his face.

Seated before him were Ronald Rumpan and Barron, positioned exactly as they had been at their last meeting. Ronald sat, while Barron stood silently at his side with hands clasped firmly behind his back and his gaze unwavered as he observed the conversation.

Riley had just told them to explain their plan, so Ronald was already placing a large parchment on the center table between them. It didn't take long before he began to speak.

"Things have escalated since the last time we spoke." He said in a grim tone.

He went on to explain what he meant by how countless markets had been influenced greatly, and how the value of certain items had gone up while others plummeted to the ground.

The ExRump Corporation was barely above water at this point.

It was strange to think that such a monolith in the business world could experience a crisis as dire as this one.

"They've taken over more territory, and at the rate they're going, it won't be long until they swallow up our region."

The parchment that Ronald showed Riley was a map of the entire Third Civilization Zone, though this was a bit special from the ones that existed in mainstream libraries or even the satellite imagery from the Austronesia's satellites.

This map marked key locations from global markets, warehouses, and hideouts. It was an artifact known only to the upper echelons of the Business Underworld, intended to maintain the 'Check and Balance' within the Triumvirate. After all, if everyone had dirt on one another, either side would be too wary to make a move.

So far, it seemed to work out well.

Until now...

"Here," he said, pointing to several marked spots. "These are areas they've already taken over. As you can see, they're tightening their hold, surrounding our territory and advancing as we speak. If we don't act, they'll consume our entire region in weeks."

Riley studied the map. "And even with their locations mapped out, you can't risk attacking to slow them down or as retaliation?"

Ronald's face darkened as he nodded. "If we make any aggressive moves, it'll only give them a reason to escalate. They'll see it as an open declaration of war and quicken their assault."

"We do not currently have the manpower to handle their forces," he admitted, "To stand a chance, we'll have to enlist more forces from the Mercenary Gang."

"And are you certain they haven't already aligned with Scyllary and your other colleagues?" The moment Riley asked this, the face of Ronald darkened even more until he had a conflicted expression on his face.

"I'm no fool, I know that is certainly a possibility." he replied heavily, "But this isn't the first time we've had skirmishes as a whole, and every single time the Mercenary Gang stayed out of politics and refused to take a stand."

From a logical and business perspective, it was the best move to make. If the Mercenary Gang chose a side and the skirmish finally died down, they wouldn't be trusted by the people they sided against.

This would make them lose customers, and since the winning team was already on top, they wouldn't have much use for the Mercenary Gang's services.

To balance things out, they had to stay neutral and simply offer their services to those who desired it. That way, anyone could be their customer.

"So you say, but... none of your skirmishes have ever reached this scale before. Am I wrong?" Riley said with a grim tone.

Ronald swallowed hard before answering. "No, you're right. But we still have no evidence the Mercenary Gang has taken a side. Besides..."

At this point, Ronald Rumpan's face turned into a mask of sheer anxiety and fear. "...If the Mercenary Gang has joined them, then all of this, our entire plan, would be pointless. It might be wishful thinking, but we can only make plans like this and have hope for victory if they stay out of this."

Riley finished sipping his tea and dropped it on the table, causing it to make a clicking sound in the silence. A quiet chuckle escaped from behind his mask as he folded his arms.

"Are they really that strong?" he asked with amusement glinting in his tone.

Ronald didn't hesitate to nod his head as he pulled out a photo and placed it on the table, showing a group of eight silhouettes in the image.



"The Eight Heads of Destruction, Executive Leaders of the Mercenary Gang. Each one is extraordinarily powerful."

"How powerful?"

"Each is a Transcendent Tier 1," Ronald replied. "It is said that they've slain dragons with ease. And if they work together, they're said to be a match for the late Elf Queen of High Tarxa, Floria Melian Shelberry, who once admitted herself that she couldn't take them on alone." As Ronald said this, his tone trembled a little.

He didn't have any doubts about his strength, but the Eight Heads were simply on another level.

Upon hearing this, Riley crossed his legs and rested his back as soon as this was mentioned.

"Oho... intriguing." His voice contained hints of amusement.

"And their leader, Fenrir, the Apex Predator... he is said to be twice as strong as the rest combined."

"So that means he can easily take on the strongest people in the Third Civilization Zone? Interesting..."

Ronald didn't know what else to say. The words he was uttering would make any man tremble, yet Riley only found them amusing.

Figures like the Elf Queen of High Tarxa were Tier 2 Transcendent beings of immense power in the Realm of Disasters, and were considered virtually unbeatable.

If there existed other beings who could defeat them, then those would be considered invincible too, especially if there were eight of them.

'I know he dwells in the realm of the [Disaster], but I'm not sure even Sir Ghost could come out of a fight with them unscathed.'

There was a reason why the Mercenary Gang was so well renowned despite having hardly any political influence or business power. They had earned these fearsome reputation not through political or financial clout, but through sheer, unrestrained violence

They followed no rules but their own and simply did whatever they liked, making violence their sole occupation.

Those were the most dangerous kind of men and women.

"Don't worry, I understand the situation now," Riley said with a slight shrug in his voice, "I'll respect your judgment."

"Thank you, Sir Ghost."

"So, what's your plan?" Riley asked, his amusement subsiding into curiosity. "You've identified the problem, so I believe you've worked out a viable solution."

Ronald straightened and nodded. "The plan is quite simple. We're currently outnumbered, yes, but so are our competitors. If we can bring the two other members of the Obsidian Council into an alliance and you assist us with your strength, we should be able to stop the advance."

"And that's all? Just that simple?" Riley's tone held an edge of doubt.

"No, not simple at all. We'll also need to contract the Mercenary Gang and enlist enough of their strength to spread our forces effectively. If they see us working together, and you demonstrate your power in defense of our position from their current undertaking, we can halt their progress."

"And then... the counterattack?"

Ronald smiled and nodded. "Exactly. That's the plan, in a nutshell."

------------------------

Later, the rest of the discussion with Ronald went smoothly as he elaborated on the strategy he intended to implement. His plan was meticulous, and despite his reservations about trusting the Mercenary Gang, Riley found himself agreeing to all of it. While much of the intelligence on the Mercenary Gang remained dubious, he trusted the words of the more experienced man in the room.

As the meeting wound down, Ronald Rumpan made one final request.

"Since we desperately need funds to carry out these plans, especially with the Mercenary Gang's involvement," Ronald explained. "To raise the cash, we're organizing one last major trade. We'd like you to guard our caravans as they pass through our trade route."

Apparently, interference with their merchandise shipments had become a costly issue. It was becoming a bother at this point, and the company was securing heavy losses as a result.

"With your protection, our artifacts would safely reach their destination," he added.

It was a sensible plan, and Riley agreed readily to it. But he was curious about one thing, though.

"What about the goods you planned to sell to the Fairies? Weren't they stored in a warehouse on the western edge of the Third Civilization Zone?"

"Ahhh..." Ronald's troubled expression was answered enough.

"Still no contact?"

"None." Ronald shook his head and sighed. "In fact, we have confirmation that those goods have practically fallen into the hands of the enemy. That is like a third of our entire company stocks in there."

Until they could turn the fight around and reclaim some ground, there would be no chance of accessing that warehouse anytime soon.

"Isn't there a likelihood that they'll try to contact the Fairies and sell the goods themselves?"

Ronald nodded with deep lines of concern etched into his face. "It's possible. No one outside ExRump's top executives and you know about our dealings with the Fairies. We also have a secret place where we conduct business with the Fairies, one they don't know of."

If that was all Ronald had to say, though, he wouldn't have made such a bitter face.

"However, if the Fairies get desperate, they can just reach out to the enemy side, and we'd lose the sale."

In short, they were looking at an imminent loss. With some form of interference, likely a barrier, blocking surveillance around the warehouse, they could no longer monitor the goods. That was what alerted them that the place had fallen into the hands of their enemy.

If they didn't act fast, they would lose so much money. If they acted too fast, they could lose everything.

Ronald fought very hard to maintain a balance.

'If I recall, Price is stationed on a nuclear submarine on the western side of the continent. Maybe I could have him check out the warehouse with an elite squad from High Command,' Riley considered.

"While I'm guarding your shipment," he proposed, "would it be acceptable for me to send one of my subordinates to check on the warehouse? He won't engage if it's too dangerous, I promise."

Though Riley assured Ronald about the safety of his intentions, the man still wore a doubtful expression on his face.

'Does he not trust me?' Riley wondered.

"I don't doubt your word, Sir Ghost," Ronald replied, seeming to read his thoughts. "In fact, I'm certain your subordinate is capable. But... if he engages our enemy in the warehouse, it could provoke a retaliation, maybe even escalate to the war we're trying so hard to prevent."

Riley could see where Ronald was coming from. The situation was precarious, and Ronald was handling it cautiously. Still, Riley felt that ExRump's stance was almost too restrained, especially with his support on their side.

'Nothing I can do about that.' he mused, suppressing a sigh beneath his mask.

'Nothing I can do about that.'

"I understand. Rest assured, he'll remain hidden and won't take any significant action unless absolutely necessary. And if he does, he'll make sure that there's no connection to you."

Even if Riley's team acted independently, the opposition would likely pin the blame on ExRump or another Obsidian Council faction. Still, he gave Ronald a reassuring nod, watching the man's shoulders finally relax.

"I understand, Sir Ghost. Thank you," Ronald said, visibly relieved.

"It's fine."

Both Ronald and his companion seemed pleased by how the entire discussion had turned out. With the meeting finally over, it was time for the most immediate action to be taken.

"When am I needed to protect the goods?" Riley asked.

"We plan on departing under the Canopy of Darkness, so you should be ready in a few hours," Ronald replied.

Riley nodded as Ronald provided more details on the route. They'd move first by ship, then by carriage, and a route that would be taken was unconventional in order to avoid the compulsory tolls and inspection conducted at major travel paths.

To ensure secrecy, they'd travel through the Canopy of Darkness, a notorious forest shrouded in perpetual darkness. It was a dangerous route, teeming with night creatures, monsters, and magical beasts.

That meant the journey would be a tad more dangerous than usual transportation of goods.

'So, a little more risk than usual,' Riley thought. Not that he minded as he and his team had the equipment to handle the dangers of the forest.

"While we aim to keep the caravan small to avoid detection and speed up travel, we'll also be sending one of our own with you," Ronald added.

Riley had expected this. ExRump would naturally send an insider to oversee things.

"Is it Barron?" he asked.

"No, Sir Ghost. Barron is needed here to execute some aspects of the plan. Instead, I'll be sending someone equally capable in combat."

Riley was curious as he heard those words. For a man like Ronald to praise someone's skill alongside Barron's spoke volumes, he wanted to know who they were.

'Maybe a cool big strong intimitating magician?' he speculated.

"Mind if I ask who?"

Ronald smiled. "Of course, she is our strongest warrior. She will be the one accompanying you."

Riley raised an eyebrow. "She?"

Creak!

At that moment, the door eased open, revealing a new face.

Ronald's expression brightened instantly. "Ah, speak of the devil. Sir Ghost, please meet Yuri. She's a very capable fighter, even among the ranks of the ExRump combat force."

Standing in front of Riley and Ronald, which the latter gestured towards her with an air of pride, was a young woman with a friendly smile.

Her pink hair was cut short, barely reaching above her neck area, contrasted strikingly with her bright green eyes, which sparkled like emeralds.

She had clear skin, and her bright smile made it impossible to tell that she was a warrior.

Adding to the surprise, she had a pair of bunny ears, marking her as a bunny demihuman.

Instead of the expected armor, she wore a casual outfit, oversized shirt and baggy trousers that could almost pass for a skirt unless one really took a closer look. Her overall demeanor was positive, so much so that Riley was momentarily taken aback.

"Hiya~... er, greetings, sir!" she said in an energetic but uncertain voice. "My name's Yuri, uh... well, I've been introduced already! A-anyway, I'm pretty capable, so you can count on me whenever you need! :3"

The young lady raised both her hands as if trying to flex her muscles, but only managed to stretch out her baggy shirt, revealing no muscle to speak of.

Riley: ಠ_ಠ

'What's this?' Riley thought, a bit perplexed. 'She seems like a klutz...'

This girl, Yuri, appeared barely twenty at most, and her personality told Riley that she wasn't the best person to be trusted when it came to serious matters like this.

But based on his experience, Riley knew better than to judge by appearances. He had encountered foes who'd seemed harmless or dim-witted, only to find out they were formidable opponents.

'I hide my true self under a mask of mediocrity. Also, many enemies I've encountered are pretty retarded... yet extremely strong.'

Associating people based on how they talked or behaved was a rookie mistake that Riley knew he couldn't be found guilty of.

"I'll do my be-... owww!"

Just as he considered this, Yuri slipped and fell to the ground the moment she tried to take a step forward.

It seemed her baggy trousers were too much for her, so she accidentally stepped on the edge.

'She's making it awfully hard not to judge her, though...' he thought, resisting the urge to sigh.

Yuri had a very cute face along with a bright and innocent expression, more fitting for a civilian than for a top fighter he expected in an establishment as powerful and wealthy as ExRump to be proud of.

But knowing Ronald was seeking every chance to impress him, Riley had to assume this girl had to be undoubtedly strong, but...

"She really doesn't look like she belongs in this line of work," he mused internally.

Still, Riley pushed aside those distracting thoughts and focused on the mission.

"Let's leave straight away." he finally said, and Yuri rose to her feet while Ronald was maintaining his straight smile, acting as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened.

'Does this sort of thing happen often with her? Is she a natural klutz? The hell...?'

Pushing aside the dissonant thoughts, Riley focused on the mission at hand. Whatever quirks she had, they weren't his concern. But still, he couldn't hold back a deep sigh.

"Damn..."

------------------------

Night had fallen, casting a deep shadow over the Canopy of Darkness, a forest shrouded in perpetual darkness. Moving quietly through this shadowed world was a caravan of goods trailed in single file as they navigated the dense underbrush, with the ones responsible for them, the drivers of their respective carriages, and the watchers of the goods, performing their duties with absolute precision.

Their mission was simple and straightforward, yet enough to cause crippling anxiety.

A simple transportation of goods from one position to another. Something the ExRump Corporation had overseen hundreds of similar shipments.

They already had their specialized routes, and their transportation network was flawless.

At least, that was what they thought until recent disappearances had cast a heavy cloud over these operations. Goods started going missing without a trace, and communication with couriers had gone silent, a disturbing pattern that had forced ExRump to halt transports entirely until they could resolve the issue.

Tonight, however, the current couriers felt no fear of ambush or vanishing cargo or anything of that sort could happen to them now.

After all, confidence ran through their ranks, rooted in the presence of one woman who rode within the caravan.

Yuri. She was seating in a carriage, one of the many being pulled by the powerful Land Dragons that were used for jobs like this.

The entire carriages were made using magic and Enchantments, enabling them to be silent during transportation.

The Raptor-like Land Dragons could also be barely heard thanks to the couriers being experts that specialized in Skills like [Silence] and [Illusions].

In essence, unless someone intentionally sought them, and was incredibly powerful, there was no way they could be detected in the shadow of darkness.

Right now, the young lady appeared relaxed, barely concerned with the task at hand as a faint smile played on her lips, making her look more like a cheerful passerby than a battle-hardened warrior, yet her presence is enough to gave everyone confidence.

Yuri's pink hair and bright, cute and adorable appearance seemed almost out of place in the shadowed forest. Her attire was deceptively casual, an oversized long-sleeved shirt, baggy trousers, and simple shoes. She wore no visible armor or weapons, nor any grand insignias of strength.

But everyone knew that beneath her disarming demeanor lay the strongest warrior ExRump had to offer.

She was efficient and thorough, and contrary to what her appearance would make anyone assume... she was ruthless.

As impressive as Yuri's presence was, another figure sat across from her, casting an even darker shadow over the carriage.

This man, Ghost, was an enigma. His silence was unnerving and his aura seemed intense enough to make the couriers tremble in nervousness. He exuded a quiet authority that made them hesitant to even glance his way, and any warmth Yuri offered was quickly dampened by his silent, watchful presence.

With both Yuri and Ghost guarding the caravan, the couriers believed their cargo was in safe hands and the odds of anything disrupting their journey almost nonexistent.

...Or so it would seem.

------------------------

Under the cover of dense night, the ExRump caravan camped in the clearing, surrounded by a ring of wagons. Fires flickered, casting deep shadows across the trees, while guards kept a tense watch.

Overhead, the faint chirps and cries of bird wyverns echoed, mixing with the quiet sounds of steel-toed boots on soil and the murmurs of guards huddling near the fires.

While Riley and Yuri are the caravan's guardians. Unbeknownst to everyone except for Riley, they have five more guardians safeguarding them.

In the shadows beyond the clearing, Riley's elite team, the Tempest Scions, held their positions. The five members, hidden at strategic points around the camp, blended seamlessly into the forest under the code name "Blue Diamond."

"[Ghost to Team, are you in position around Blue Diamond? Over.]" Riley's voice crackled quietly in their earpieces.

"Two, affirmative, over," Mason's voice responded.

"[Roger, keep eyes ahead. Over.]"

"Copy that."

The convoy of carriages of the ExRump Corporation were unaware, except for Riley, of being observed by the Tempest Scions hidden in the forest. The convoy stopped next to a clearing where a small spring was nearby. The carriage were drawn up into a circle and the livestock and dragons used to pull the wagons were kept corralled in the middle of the encirclement. Riley, Yuri and everyone else collected fresh water from the spring and set up camp within the wagons, some kept guard, while others pitched tents and prepared cook fires for dinner.

"See anyone following them?" Mason asked the other teams over the comms.

[Negative, Sarge,] The replies came back from Tavish, one of the scouts who scattered along all likely approaches to the clearing. [Nothing here.]

"Roger, stay alert, out," Mason ended the comms and gestured Woods, his radioman over.

With no visible signs of enemies in the immediate area, Riley coordinated with his team and their radio connection only possible thanks to a network of signal relays.

But due to the thick canopy and strange properties of the trees, radio waves, laser, and even infra were blocked or partially scrambled by the forest. The tech guys of the group came up with an idea to plant relays at fixed intervals all around the surrounding areas. An all-weather antenna rises above the thick canopy of the forest and a signal transmitter is housed in an armored camouflaged casing at the bottom of the antenna.

The relays were installed next to the tallest trees in the area and used the trees as a natural support. Each relay uses a battery able to last a week and the Special Ops used this relay network to monitor every approach to the clearing, patrolling from relay to relay to make sure each of these expensive relay stations have power or were not damaged or tampered with.

After a final scan of the perimeter, Mason instructed Woods to update the team.

"Operation Chaperone is a go," he ordered.

Woods nodded and returned to his set, and started to issue instructions to the rest of the team hidden all over the forest around the caravan, who settled into shifts and prepared for a long night of silent vigilance.

Mason looked up to the gaps in the canopy and looked at his watch and mentally calculated.

"Still three more hours to midnight, tell the others to let them rest and rotate the watch."

As midnight approach, several fires from the camp cast shadows to the surrounding forest. Mason, Woods, Belinski, Tavish, and Polities hunkered down in tree roots in ones or twos or slung themselves up onto the tree branches.

In the camp, Yuri, relaxed and cheerful as ever, exchanged stories with Riley. The quiet chatter between them earned Riley some teasing from the team's scouts.

"Lucky bastard," came one whispered comment, accompanied by knowing chuckles from the Tempest Scions standing high among the tree branches.

Meanwhile, night creatures, monsters, and dangerous Magic Beasts began to appear and stalked the caravan but none approached, just keeping to the edge of the clearing, watching and growling at the ring of carriage.

The creatures and monsters ignored the men of the Tempest Scions, as they had sprayed something called a Monster Repellant on themselves.

Rumor among the Army had it that it was literally made from shit from the Mutated Super Silver Land Dragon aka Mini Godzilla from the Level 2 Dungeon and as expected, the spray does smell absolutely bad, but it worked and the low leveled monsters avoided the human and elf soldiers.

The night passed peacefully for the caravan, as Riley's team stealthily lobbed a few Monster Repellent "stink bombs" around the caravan's perimeter, creating a boundary that kept most creatures at bay.

--------------------

"... And that's how I completed my first job. It was a little messy, but I managed to pull through."

"I... see..."

Riley sat in the carriage, enduring Yuri's endless stream of small talk as she referred to many areas of her life in an attempt to make conversation and clearly trying to fill the silence.

Talking to a cute bunny girl might be a dream for weebs or some guys, but for Riley, well...

'Why? Why won't she stop?' he thought, biting back a sigh.

"How about you, Sir Ghost? When did you start this line of work?"

Riley glanced at her cute, unassuming face. 'Why is she asking me stuff like this?'

It seemed Yuri hadn't been briefed on how others usually treated him, or she didn't care. Most would show him a level of respect, maybe even fear, but her approach was almost unsettlingly familiar. And oblivious.

'I've made it clear I'm not in the mood to talk. Why doesn't she pick up on that?'

Her persistence wasn't lost on him, but it didn't make him feel guilty for keeping his answers short. This was one conversation he had no intention of indulging. Besides, he had his reasons for being here, and idle chit-chat wasn't one of them.

Truthfully, if he could have borrowed funds from the government, he wouldn't be doing this job at all. But with most resources and taxpayer money funneled into the military for the upcoming Liberation War... or "The Great Crusade" from the Christians, his request had been denied.

Sure, he had Platinum Coins to his name, but it isn't enough to help a massive Corporation as it isn't compared to the mass losses they had, not by a long shot. So here he was, in a carriage with a chatterbox, guarding corporate goods while assessing trade routes for himself. Not exactly his first choice, but there was value in studying ExRump's network up close and have firsthand experience of the way ExRump Corporation transports goods

Their journey has been smooth so far. They'd crossed the sea without incident, avoiding any encounters with sea monsters, and were now just a city away from their destination through land.

"Sir Ghost, you still haven't answered my question. No fair!" Yuri's lighthearted protest shook him from his thoughts as she pouted cutely, causing Riley to glance at her direction from the door and responded with utter silence.



'Acting cute won't help you. Besides, what exactly does she expect me to say?'

After narrating a bloody story to him, which involved Yuri cutting down all the enemies as if they were strawmen, he could sense she wanted a story in return. But what did he have to offer besides tales of just shooting and covert ops? He was considering a diplomatic response when-

[Captain, we got contact. Repellent bombs just detonated nearby.]

Riley's mood shifted instantly. "Enough small talk. We've got company."

"O-oh? I don't sense anything, Sir Ghost!" Yuri responded as her expression sharpened and slowly resembled a professional.

"That's because they're still a distance off. Go notify the drivers and the others. Tell them to stay alert."

She nodded, already stepping out. "Should we prepare to move?"

"Yes. We'll keep our pace but stay ready. No delays."

The estimated Travel Time factored moments where they would have to slow down or stop in case of enemy attacks, but Riley preferred to eliminate them if possible.

He activated his comms. "Ghost to Team. Engage and keep an eye out. A friendly will handle the rest."

[Copy that, sir. Over and out.]

'The sooner this ends, the better. I've got a full day tomorrow.'

As Yuri headed off to brief the drivers, Riley took a breath while gripping the handle of his AF-2 rifle under his cloak, preparing himself and his team for conflict.

"Shouldn't be too hard."

------------------------

WHOOSH!

Just minutes after Riley mentioned the presence of enemy forces in the distance, the caravan was under attack as projectiles rained down from the treeline, the dense canopy swaying as enchanted arrows launched through the shadows, gleaming like shards of starlight.

Their numbers were staggering, and the strength within each arrow was enough to rival a firearm. It was also safe to assume they were poisoned as well.

Any normal caravan, caught in such a sudden attack, would have stopped or even turned back and thrown up defenses in a desperate bid to survive.

But none of that was the case as the group continued on advancing as if there was nothing wrong.

"Polities, raise a barrier," Riley calmly whispered through the radio.

[Roger that, Captain!] replied Polities, the team's elven mage.

An uncountable arrows neared their targets with their deadly points whistling through the night. And then, with a deep hum, a golden light flared to life around the caravan.

VWUUUM!

VWUUUM!

In a single second, the entire convoy was bathed in the protective glow as a mysterious golden light blanketed every carriage and everything within range, shielding the drivers, cargo, and soldiers alike.

As soon as the arrows met the barrier, they disintegrated on impact, turning to dust that scattered in the night wind, leaving the cheering caravan members roaring into victory and excitement with their morale bolstered as they saw the attackers' attempts reduced to nothing.

On top of one of the carriages, Yuri watched the barrier with a wide grin in excitement. She could already feel the rush of the battle that lay ahead.

"Sir Ghost! Keep everyone safe here while I take care of everything else!" With that, she launched herself from the roof, diving out of the golden shield's protection of her own volition.

WHOOSH!

Her destination was set as her mind singularly focused. She'd make the attackers pay for daring to ambush the caravan.

As she flew forward, her body flickered with bright bursts of energy and her speed accelerated beyond human limits.

A long blade materialized in her hand, and she grasped it in no time at all.

Her eyes glowed very brightly, causing her to easily see through the veil of darkness and cover the distance she had with her enemies through sight alone.

With a flicker of her abilities, she activated both [Night Vision] and [Farsight], honing in on the enemy positions with a predatory clarity. The forest was hers to hunt in, and her enemies were now her prey.

A second volley of arrows flew into the night sky, raining down on the caravan. Yuri, however, ignored them, considering the fact that she knew they couldn't break that defense no matter how hard they tried.

"Hehehe!" she laughed out with a mix of exhilaration and anticipation as she ran through several trees while the world around her became a mere blur in her wake.

Then-

WHOOSH!

A projectile shot toward her, but she easily deflected it by swinging her katana-like sword. More arrows followed, but she made quick work of them just as easily and expertly shredding each one into bits before they could even reach a few inches close to her body.

'Ranged fighters, huh? I doubt you'll fare well in a one-on-one!'

She could already see the source of the attack, a cluster of men waiting with bated breath. Brandishing her trusty enchanted weapon, it glimmered ominously in the dark, eager for bloodshed.

Not long after, Yuri burst into the clearing, where she met a few dozen men who could barely even gasp as soon as her silhouette made an appearance before them.

She was so fast that they hadn't even registered her presence.

'Only about fifty? I expected more, considering the arrows. Or did they use magic to duplicate them?'

Regardless, she dismissed the thought as they were all going to meet their end here anyway.

"Huu..." She inhaled deeply, and her muscles bulged as soon as she took a deep breath, and her eyes focused on the men before her as a wild bird would stare at prey.

There was no trace of mercy or hesitation to be found in her eyes, only a fierce resolute decision to slaughter.

VWUSH!

In a swift motion, she twisted her body and spun in the air, slicing through the night wind and flesh.

Blood sprayed all around her as a crimson fountain rose into the sky. Each drop sparkled under the glow of her blade, and with every strike she made, arcs of energy would electrify the air.

She moved effortlessly from prey to prey, severing arms and legs, with their heads following after in a gruesome display, in what seemed like a single strike.

By the time she had dispatched nearly half of her foes, the others began to comprehend the unfolding horror.

Or rather, they almost did.

All they could see was a blur, a dangerous silhouette, mercilessly killing and cutting down their comrades. Fear gripped them as they realized they were next.

In a desperate attempt to fend off this shadowy demon, they hastily cast spells and combined their might to bombard her with arcane fury.

Unfortunately for them...

SWISH!

Before they could even get a word out, their heads were already severed and flying in the air.

As each man watched their comrade's head ascend, they barely registered the reality of their own impending doom.

It was only at that point as they descended into the cold embrace of death could they finally glimpse the entity that wreaked such havoc and caused such carnage.

It was nothing more than a young bunny girl.

"What...??" They must have thought as everything in their mind went blank.

Death welcomed them into its chilling embrace, and in their final moments, they were relieved to escape the terror that Yuri embodied.

With all the bodies plopping to the ground, she stood triumphantly above the carnage and let out a heavy sigh.

"Huuu..."

Her cold eyes watched the sticky blood that clung to their multilateral bodies, and she watched the terror-stricken expressions that decorated all the severed heads.

There was no room for remorse or pity for those foolish enough to challenge her family. Only purpose filled her blood-stained face.

"Subjugation complete."

With those chilling words echoing in the air, she returned to the caravan and climbed into the carriage where Riley awaited.

Upon seeing his imposing mask of darkness and his completely shady demeanor, Yuri couldn't suppress a wide grin.

"Hey Sir Ghost, you won't believe what just happened!"

------------------------

"Strange..."

As Riley listened to the story Yuri force-fed him, he sensed something off about the entire situation.

"Same as Mason and the others. From the way she and they described them, these attackers don't seem like ordinary bandits."

Their coordination, equipment, and most of all... their abilities.

It was true that bandits existed in levels, but it was rare, nearly unheard of, to see a whole group with such consistent power.

Besides, this was an established trade route maintained by the ExRump Corporation, a powerhouse in the business world.

Riley found it odd that mere bandits would risk ambushing a caravan under ExRump's protection, knowing they could risk pissing off a wealthy, influential corporation.

"And their mode of operation, or should I say their method of attack... there's something shady about it."

Bandits had their strategies, but what Riley saw didn't fit the usual tactics.

At least, not according to everything he had studied.

"Bombardments like that are used in wartime or in conflicts meant to completely wipe out the enemy."

But... Why would bandits use a strategy so destructive, one that risked harming the merchandise.

Sure, bombardments could work for ambushes, but they were almost always fatal and highly destructive.

For bandits, damaging their potential loot would mean a drop in its value, or even render it worthless.

As Riley studied Yuri's face, he could tell she wasn't concerned about any of this. She only seemed to be looking forward to the next fight.

"Your face..." Riley found himself blurting out as he noticed a splatter of blood around her cheek.

"Hm?"

Yuri looked puzzled, clearly unaware of what he meant. With a sigh, Riley pulled out a small piece of black linen and gently scrubbed her face, wiping the blood away.

In a few seconds, the stain was gone.

"A-ahh! T-thank you... Sir Ghost." She mumbled, suddenly acting flustered for the first time since they met.

'What's her deal?' Riley wondered to himself as he immersed himself back into his thoughts.

In no time, a conclusion formed in his mind.

"I don't think those men were bandits."

Yuri's brow arched in curiosity as she waited for him to explain.

"If I had to guess, they're not interested in looting us. Their goal seems to be sabotage, maybe even complete destruction of us and our goods."

"Oh? And what makes you say that, Sir Ghost?"

Riley wanted to yell the details at her, or tell her to use her head a little. Considering the fact that she had been doing this job for much longer than he was, wasn't she supposed to be the expert here?

'I guess she was just their muscle,' he thought, eventually giving in to explain.

"Ahh! I see. You're right!" Yuri's expression lit up with sudden understanding.

He wanted to roll his eyes so badly, but Riley gave in to his self control.

"So who do you think is responsible?"

There was only one answer that came to mind.

"The enemy side, specifically the Mercenary Gang," he replied coldly.

Yuri's face darkened to form a frown and all her cheerfulness from earlier faded away. "You think they're responsible for our missing packages too?"

Riley nodded. "Most likely. They probably hired a lot of Mercenary Gang members to block every major route out of Aquarius, which means we'd have faced the same problem no matter the path."

"In any case, we should be on guard," he continued. "If my guess is correct, more powerful enemies may be waiting for us up ahead as we travel."

"Hahahaha! Let them come!" Yuri raised her arm with a wild grin. "I'll beat them all up!"

For some reason, Riley found himself smiling beneath his mask, though he hid it outwardly.

"Well... at least one of us is excited." He murmured as he turned to gaze out the window.

'I wonder what awaits us ahead...'

------------------------

Fabian was a member of the esteemed Mercenary Gang.

He had regular brown hair, and slightly pale skin that couldn't be properly detected under the moonlight

He had just joined a few years ago, but thanks to his hard work and dedication to the group, he was promoted to 'Captain'.

Now, for this squad of fifty, Fabian was the man in charge.

Fabian didn't allow this achievement of his to fuel his ego, but he knew he deserved every last bit of his success.

Just as in any respectable organization, the Mercenary Gang operated on a strict hierarchical system, and he had clawed his way up the ranks.

Who could deny he was impressive?

"Sir, it seems the first Squad was wiped out," a subordinate reported, snapping him out of his thoughts.

"W-what?! Already?"

Sweat beaded on Fabian's brow. 'What on earth did Miller do? How did he let them slip through so easily?'

To be honest, Fabian wanted his comrade, Miller, to fail, but not this quickly before whittling down the numbers of the ExRump Corporation's traveling members, he had planned to sweep in and claim the final glory himself.

Unfortunately, things didn't seem to be going down that route.

"Miller isn't fodder, though. How could he and his squad lose so quickly?" Fabian muttered to himself. Sure, Miller's team excelled at long-range tactics, but he'd expected them to hold out longer.

But if Jack's Exclusive Skill reported a wipeout, then it was absolute. Fabian sighed in frustration. He'd have to handle this mess himself.

"Sir, there's a red dot on your head," Jack, his right-hand man, pointed out in warning.

"What are you-?"

Bang!

Bang!

Fabian barely processed the sound of the gunfire before a searing beam of red light pierced the air and whizzed through him.

Spurt!

Blood exploded in every direction as Jack's head burst like a balloon, spraying Fabian and the surrounding men with crimson liquid from the man he had just been speaking to.

"E-eh...?"

The horror set in as Fabian noticed more of his men collapsing, each felled by pinpoint red beams and their heads exploded in a shower of blood and bone.

"W-what is happ-?"

Before he realized it too, another wet smack sounded, followed by a buzz and painted his remaining men wet with gore, bits of bone and brain matter hitting the ground like hail.

Even in death, it took only seconds for Fabian to understand why Miller's squad had fallen.

'...FUCK!'

This enemy was too strong.

------------------------

Belinski hidden in one of the tree branches tilted his head away from his scope and gently worked the bolt of his rifle.

"Good kill," Polities, the elf member and the mage support of his team whispered as he stood on another tree branch beside him in perfect balance, also carrying a sniper rifle and gave a nod of approval. "You know, using these 'snipers' you humans called are a lot more fun than using bows, regardless if the magic on the bows are powerful. "

Belinski allowed himself a small smile and couldn't help but agree with the elf. Not long ago, Polities had been enamored with archery, but after learning the art of sniping, his mindset had greatly changed.

He slid the bolt forward, chambering a fresh round into his favorite toy, the AF-3 Magekiller. Equipped with a 10x detachable scope, 45-degree tilt sights, a deployable bipod, and a 29-inch free-floating heavy barrel with an integrated muzzle brake, it was a beast.

Weighing 11.2 kg unloaded, it fired .50-caliber rounds (12.7 mm) with adamantite-tipped bullets. The rifle had a five-round detachable box magazine, a muzzle velocity of 1964 m/s, and an effective range of up to 6,600 meters.

"That was a clean kill shot at 785 meters," Polities reported as he reloaded and continued to pick off enemies with deadly precision.

Belinski couldn't hide his admiration as Polities' skill with a sniper was surprising, even surpassing his own. Perhaps it was due to the elf's natural eyesight or a magical enhancement, but regardless, Belinski had to admit he was impressed.

Peering through his scope, he saw their remaining targets had either rolled to cover or scattered away while trying to figure out what had happened in panic and confusion, and Belinski almost felt a little sorry for them.

Actually, no, not really. He didn't even feel a tiny bit of sympathy for them.

"Two contacts on the left side, next to that bent tree. Eleven o'clock," Polities said in a steady tone.

Belinski adjusted his position and spotted a small part of the enemy. "Target acquired," he murmured, reading the mil adjustment on his scope. "1.46."

Polities double-checked his own reading and confirmed it with his tablet's ballistics software. "Check level, hold over 2.8."

Belinski took a slow breath and held it steady. "Ready."

"Left, point two," Polities added, giving the wind estimation.

BANG!

"Good kill."

------------------------

[Name: Yuri

Race: Bunny Demihuman

Class: Berserker

Magicule Level: 9,961 (Level 10)

Skills (Exclusive): [Sword Mastery]

Skills (Non-Exclusive): [Combat Application]. [Warrior's Mantle]. [Farsight]. [Night Vision].

Alignment: Chaotic Neutral

[Additional Information]

A sword genius who was found and raised by the ExRump Corporation. She considers everyone in the company as family and would do anything for her family.

Even if it means killing anyone who stands in her way.】

As Riley finished writing down notes on Yuri, he couldn't help but smile slightly.

'Looks like she took care of them quickly.'

When Yuri returned to the carriage, Riley found himself studying her, first with the Mana-Monitoring device to gauge her Magicule levels and found out she is only a small way to become a Transcendent, then by gathering bits of her backstory from the caravan members, and finally through a closer investigation at her surprising build.

Beneath her baggy clothes, she hid a strong, muscular physique with defined abs, far from what he'd expected.

'I thought she'd be more like those typical cute anime schoolgirl types... but no, she's attractively athletic. Strong, even by this world's standards,' he mused, noticing her gleeful grin after the fight.

Since traveling with Yuri, Riley had picked up on three things about her.

First, she was loud and playful.

Second, she could be downright cruel and sadistic.

And third, she was impressively clumsy.

At that moment, she was trying to wipe the blood from her face but only made things worse for herself by succeeding in smearing it around.

She looked more like a child than a seasoned warrior.

"Here," he muttered, pulling out a dark cloth from his Spatial Ring.

'I keep plenty of these around in case I need to clean blood off things.'

He hadn't expected to be using them for someone else, let alone to clean off elf blood, but he shrugged it off as he wiped the blood from her face, then handed her a rag for her hands.

When she finished, he instructed her to toss the cloth into the bushes nearby.

"Are you sure we should be leaving traces?" she asked, raising a brow.

"The bodies we left behind are enough of a trail for anyone who cares to follow. Besides, this could help the ExRump Corporation track our position and gauge how far we've gotten."

"Ohhhh...!"

Riley didn't say anything after satisfying Yuri's curiosity, and thankfully, neither did the young girl. The only time Riley broke the silence was when he alerted her of incoming enemies. Each time, she dispatched them very quickly and sometimes his team handled the rest

This routine continued through the night and into the early morning until they finally reached their destination.

------------------------

The trade point was a large clearing on a plot of land owned by the ExRump Corporation.

It existed in a developing city, where there was minimal oversight or regulation in the area, giving ExRump near-total autonomy on their property. Once past the security perimeter, they were effectively in a safe zone.

"Good job, everyone!" Yuri called out, grinning at the entire crew with her hands on her hips.

The team responded with smiles, clearly charmed by her upbeat nature. Having lived in the cutthroat world of corporate warfare, they weren't fazed by the slight bloodstains on the girl's dress. If anything, it only added to her appeal.

With everyone dismounted, they began unloading the goods they'd brought for trade. Riley, meanwhile, leaned quietly against one of the carriages while folding his arms in solitude, watching as the crew did their fair share of work.

A few of the crew members cast admiring glances his way, awe practically radiating from their expressions.

"I can't believe he could create such a massive defensive barrier."

"I don't think things would have gone as smoothly if he wasn't present."

"He's really something else."

Yuri overheard them and couldn't help but smile. The men who spoke weren't wrong. Even she had to admit that if she had been stuck on both offense and defense, the mission would have been far more challenging.

The only reason they could obtain such a swift victory, with no damage or casualties involved, was for the simple reason that the enemy hadn't expected a man of Ghost's caliber to show up.

Not only had they avoided combat casualties, but they hadn't encountered a single monster or magical beast along the way, it was as if they were avoiding their Caravan, which she assumed it might have to do with Sir Ghost using some sort of skill or spell to do that.

Well, except for the faint smell of some Magic Beast's dung every now and then, but that was hardly worth noting.

Anyways, the enemy side knew a great deal about the ExRump Corporation to a large extent.

They were well aware of their military power, their economic influence, and social standing, as well as their specialties.

They even knew their trump cards.

As such, they could prepare the perfect plan to counter the ExRump Corporation's endeavors.

But Ghost was the wild card, an unknown factor that threw their calculations off. With him in the mix as an unknown variable, ExRump had the advantage and the status quo was bound to change.

He was their dark horse that would lead them to victory.

A true hero!

'Fucking dumbasses. They think I was the one who set up that barrier. Give Polities some credit for once,' Riley thought, smiling faintly under his mask as he folded his arms. 'And my team did most of the work protecting the caravan and you guys, but whatever.'

Then his smile faded, replaced by a more serious look.

"Looks like it's about to begin." He muttered under his mask as he heard his team's reports of multiple presences approaching from all directions.

'They've been tracking us the entire way. It was obvious they knew our route.'

Nothing about what was about to happen surprised Riley in the slightest. Rather, it just made him more excited.

'Polities reported that he sensed someone stronger than the others in their ranks... looks like this might be interesting.'

Just then, Yuri stepped up, breaking his focus. "When do you think the buyer's going to show up?" she asked, her eyes bright as she watched him.

The team had finished unloading the crates they were meant to sell, at least a few dozen by his estimate. Riley wasn't sure what was in them, though he had little doubt they'd tell him if he asked.

'Better to mind my own business,' he decided, now staring straight into Yuri's gleaming eyes.

He didn't know how to respond to her question. Was he supposed to say something like...

"Sorry, but your buyer might not show up at all."

Explaining that could be more trouble than it was worth. Instead, he cast his gaze over the stacks of crates, feeling a bit sorry for the ExRump Corporation.

'From what I've heard, these crates are some kind of Storage Magic Artifact similar to the Spatial Rings, which contain a lot more stocks inside. Meaning, these goods must be worth alot of fortune. They're probably relying on this sale to get some fast cash.'

It was unfortunate, but it seemed they were about to lose it all.

'They're closing in on us now. I'm sure Yuri's superhuman bunny senses should pick up on them any second,' Riley thought as he continued leaning casually against the carriage.

Like clockwork, Yuri's bright smile slowly faded as she took a step back and her eyes narrowed as she closed them to concentrate.

"Something's wrong..." she whispered.

Riley had already known for minutes as his team had detected the watchers from the moment they'd entered the city. Though well-hidden, the enemy's efforts were easily countered by his team's sensory technology.

"Sir Ghost, I think we need to regroup and defend the merchandise. Something feels... off."

Riley nodded, somewhat happy that the girl before him had taken the initiative for once.

Pushing off from the carriage, he took a few steps forward and spoke in a calm yet firm voice.

"Agreed. Let's gather everyone."

------------------------

The entire group was nothing more than ten. With about five drivers and five members responsible for monitoring the goods they were left in charge to protect.

Usually, for a cargo of this value, a team three times their size would be expected. But, given various constraints, this was the best the ExRump Corporation could manage.

The ten caravan members were huddled together as a group, with Yuri and Riley positioned protectively in front of them. The merchandise lay at their feet, all of value within close reach. One might assume they'd be relieved to have everything safe and accounted for. But no, relief was nowhere in sight.

Their faces showed only worry thanks to Yuri's worrisome expression. Not one among them was an experienced fighter, so they couldn't sense the fact that a bunch of strangers were closing in on them from every angle. Instead, they could only sense that their best warrior was uneasy.

"We're surrounded," Yuri announced bluntly.

"Eh?"

"You mean...?"

"That can't be!"

Everyone spoke at once with disbelief spreading through the group. The ExRump Corporation always ensured that their lands and properties were secured by defensive barriers that prevent intruders from venturing in. Only those with the proper tags could enter without triggering an alarm.

As one would expect, the caravan's tag had granted them safe passage into this undeveloped clearing on the corporation's land. Only one other person was expected to have such access.

"It seems your buyer was compromised," Riley commented in a calm voice as he studied the reactions around him.

Despite the panicked faces of those around him, Riley seemed to be the only one who was calm and collected.

"The way I see it, there are three possibilities," he began, his gaze specifically on Yuri. "One, the buyer was forcibly intercepted by enemy forces, and they managed to get the access tag. Two, the buyer betrayed the ExRump Corporation for some other gain. Three, the buyer was the enemy all along, or perhaps their agent."

The caravan members trembled as they heard this. They had traveled for hours, experienced tons of danger, only for them to realize that the profit they were looking forward to most likely didn't exist.

The first possibility implied that the buyer was most likely dead. The other two possibilities made it certain that their buyer would not be purchasing their merchandise.

In essence, a massive loss for the group.

"Are you sure they're enemies?" one of them asked shakily. "The ones approaching us... I mean."

"Maybe they're just the buyer's entourage?" another ventured, grasping at straws. "It... could be for protection, and-"

A heavy sigh from Yuri, followed by a "That's enough," was enough to stop the wishful thoughts of the men present.

She turned away from the ten and settled her gaze on Riley.

"The ExRump Corporation audits their customers well before doing business with them, especially one requiring travel." Yuri responded.

Her words practically implied that the buyer was a legitimate client and had passed all tests, which eliminated the last option entirely.

Riley's expression remained unconvinced. "Do they, now? I don't remember being put under any scrutiny or audits, and I've enlisted transportation services too."

"You're an exception, Sir Ghost," Yuri replied, matter-of-fact.

A smirk played on the Dark Adventurer's lips, displaying his clear amusement.

"Fair enough, I'll take your word for it" he said, letting the matter rest, for now. His gaze drifted to the distant shadows, where faint silhouettes had already begun to form.

"I suppose there's only one way to know the truth for sure." He murmured in a chillingly calm tone.

About a hundred people in total appeared from seemingly nowhere, surrounding the caravan in a very large circle.

Standing in the direction where Riley cast his gaze was a tall and immensely muscular figure.

There was no doubt who was in charge.

His ebony skin gleamed under the moonlight, almost like it was a gem in itself. His incredibly muscular upper body was bare open for all to see, revealing his tattoo on the left side of his shoulder and bare chest, while he wore long trousers and walked barefoot.

The ground trembled with every step he took, almost as if he weighed the same as a mountain.

He also had long beads strapped around his neck, and long earrings dangled from his ears.

The man held a massive spiked club in one hand, while his other hand stroked his long, bushy beard.

All in all, he resembled a barbarian who knew nothing but chaos and violence.

But what made him more unique than any barbarian was that he had only one eye, marking him unmistakably as a cyclops.

As his dreadlocks swayed back and forth thanks to the night's breeze, he grinned widely and announced his presence before the twelve who were trapped in the midst of him and his comrades.

"Hahahaha! Lambs to the slaughter!"