Chapter 423: The Trap is Set
"The haul comes to 37 gold coins, 81 silver coins, and 16 copper coins." Elin planted her hands on her hips, overflowing with pride.
"By the Goddess, we’ve earned this much in just over twenty days! I want a treat. Let’s go buy egg tarts!" Hwaily shook her head excitedly. "The other sisters will be so jealous they’ll turn red with envy. Hehe."
"Hmm... alright. Since you’ve worked so hard, we’ll go tomorrow." Elin nodded with inflated confidence. "If the mission deadline weren’t getting close, I could squeeze every last copper coin out of Nightfall Domain."
"No, let’s leave some money for everyone."
The two birds leaned their heads together, their tails swaying as they chirped away without pause.
Watching the two chubby little birds chat so happily, Phield thought, They can transform into birds, yet they don’t seem like they’re here to cause trouble. Coming all the way here just to find work, and choosing brick hauling of all things... they’re geniuses in their own way.
It was the first time he had ever encountered supernatural beings living in such poverty.
Nightfall Domain now held reserves of 2.6 million gold coins, yet even that still wasn’t enough. Thirty or forty gold coins were only enough for an ordinary free citizen to live on, yet these two Divine Chosen were thrilled by such an amount. It was genuinely astonishing.
Phield almost didn’t want to deal with them anymore. With two incredibly efficient laborers working in the territory, the housing district construction project had progressed much faster.
"By the way, it’s about time we investigate Starnight Castle and uncover Baron Phield’s secrets and crimes." Elin looked around awkwardly. "We haven’t found a single piece of evidence. Baron Phield hides his secrets incredibly well."
"The time has come. Hero King has nearly finished recruiting and training his soldiers. We’ll soon command tens of thousands of troops. It’s finally time to declare war on the evil empire."
Hwaily’s tone lost its usual sweetness and became resolute. "For the people of the Three Great Provinces, we will win and build a nation that is truly free and prosperous."
"I’ve heard that soldiers from Fralanvia, The Blue Dragon and the Magic Tower United Empire, and even the Papal State will come to help us. We can’t lose."
"Huh?"
Phield’s heart skipped a beat.
The empire was already fighting the elves. According to rumors among the cat demi-humans, the demi-human alliance would also invade the empire.
When that happened, the empire would be attacked from every direction.
"That’s right. Before the war begins, we must eliminate the tyrants’ claws. Every one of those villains would slaughter our soldiers on the battlefield."
Once war broke out, every noble would be obligated to raise an army for the Empress.
"The best solution is to eliminate them before they can form their armies. That is Night Owl’s mission, even if it costs us our lives."
Hwaily suddenly looked troubled. "But... what if, and I mean what if, Phield is actually a good person? What if our intelligence is wrong? The people here live far better lives than we do back home. I don’t think we have the right to kill someone who’s genuinely good to his people."
"They have enough food every day, they can enjoy delicious snacks, there are no crushing taxes, no thugs barging in to murder them, and they can even save enough money to open shops."
"Um... if it’s all been a misunderstanding, then we’ll capture him, give him a proper lesson, and make him surrender to Hero King. But if he’s truly evil, then we’ll judge him without mercy."
After thinking for a long while, Elin finally gave her answer.
"Alright. I really like it here. Hehe."
After finishing their discussion, the two curled up together on the rooftop, leaned against one another, and quickly drifted off to sleep.
So they’re Night Owl assassins. No wonder they’re so weak.
Phield had encountered the Night Owl duo before while dealing with his younger brother. Despite both being Third Tier, they had been trapped by ordinary soldiers and defeated by Mana Knights, making them arguably the weakest Third Tier Divine Chosen imaginable.
Hero King? What kind of thing is that? The only king I know is the King of Games.
Phield switched his consciousness back to his own body and muttered, "Which bastard keeps spreading rumors that I’m some kind of demon and even sends assassins after me? They want to teach me a lesson and put me on trial? Fine. They’re about to experience Nightfall Domain’s unique hospitality."
The next morning.
Hwaily and Elin woke from their dreams and decided to earn one more day’s wages before sneaking into the castle that night.
Just as they were about to climb down from the rooftop, they noticed five or six soldiers gathered below. They were purchasing flour, but their expressions were tense as they whispered among themselves.
"Do we have enough sacrifices for this ritual?"
"Should be enough. I caught ten children, but I grabbed two extra just in case. This trip is only to deliver food, let them have a full meal, and then offer them as sacrifices."
"I heard the demon rewarded our lord with a million gold coins."
"I’m so jealous. If I had that much money, I’d leave this damned place immediately. By the way, where’s the ritual being held?"
"In the gray cave outside the city. The place that used to imprison goblins. Just follow us."
After loading the flour onto the cart, the soldiers headed out of the city.
"Damn it! I knew it! Nobles are all monsters!" Elin’s sleepiness vanished instantly as she ground her teeth in fury.
"Waaah... how could this happen? I really thought Phield was one of the good ones."
Hwaily’s eyes filled with tears, like an innocent girl whose trust had been betrayed.
"Come on. We’ll follow them, kill Phield, and save those children."
"Mhm!"
Maintaining their bird forms, the two followed behind the convoy. After a long journey, they finally arrived at the Gray Cave.
The Gray Cave had once served as the laboratory of an evil mage researching Gray Mist Goblins. It had remained abandoned ever since. With Nightfall Domain’s population booming recently, Phield had planned to convert the cave into slave dormitories close to the farmland.
For now, however, it had become a trap.
After reaching the Gray Cave, the soldiers carried the flour inside.
The two members of Night Owl transformed back into human form, climbed onto a nearby hillside, and watched from afar.
"What’s happening inside?" Hwaily asked anxiously.
"Don’t rush. Let me set up my artifact so I can see inside. Artifact, Requiem Heavy Crossbow!"
A flash of black and gold light appeared as a sleek, imposing black heavy crossbow materialized on the ground. It stood as tall as an adult, while thick crossbow bolts the width of an arm were neatly arranged along its left side, each radiating a distinct aura.
Elin assumed a sniper’s stance. Three magical circles unfolded above the crossbow, functioning like a powerful scope.
Her vision zoomed in rapidly, only to be blocked by jagged rocks and piles of debris.
"I looked. I can’t see anything," Elin reported with complete seriousness.
"Y... you’re just as hopeless as I am."
Hwaily nearly fainted from frustration and stomped her foot hard.
"Forget it. Let’s charge in."
Casting aside all hesitation, the two lightened their steps and dashed toward the cave.
Just as they were about to enter, a sudden change occurred.
The surroundings visibly darkened before their eyes.
Goosebumps instantly spread across their bodies, not from fear, but because the temperature around them was plummeting at an alarming rate.