Chapter 441: Scheming
"Gentlemen, you really are taking it easy. You’re about to head into battle, yet here you are leisurely doing business."
"Everyone has to make a living."
Phield chuckled and called over several soldiers.
"Take good care of the mermaids. Don’t hurt them or let them die."
"Yes, sir!"
The soldiers answered loudly in unison.
Like Ashina back then, the merfolk Divine Chosen had only demonstrated their potential and had not truly reached the first tier. They needed an Awakening Crystal, so for now, they had to be handled with care.
"Sir Phield, have fun."
Simon glanced at Firomina. The girl was hugging Phield’s arm and giggling foolishly, occasionally even drooling a little. Her morally questionable appearance made her look as though she were hiding something.
Simon gave Phield a knowing look and repeatedly raised his eyebrows.
"You’re pretty good. You really know how to train them. Teach me sometime."
"Alright, enough fooling around. We need to hurry and finish the preparations and drills."
Sherry looked disgusted. She couldn’t stand listening to their conversation any longer, so she clapped her hands and interrupted them.
Everyone quickly began their drills according to Sherry’s arrangements.
Biskaly, however, took the opportunity to secretly pull Simon aside. She led him to a secluded corner and asked coldly, "Where did Phield go after we investigated that day? Did he go to Wind Tour Territory?"
"Phield really isn’t simple. Your suspicion is quite perceptive, but it’s been too long, and my memory isn’t very good."
Simon stroked his large belly while his sly eyes wandered over Biskaly. He licked his lips.
"However, if you’re willing to pay a sufficient price, perhaps I can help myself remember."
"You, you damned idiot."
Biskaly took a disgusted step backward and looked Simon up and down.
"If I may be blunt, aren’t you afraid your Divine Chosen will kill you? And there aren’t many women more beautiful than Florine, are there?"
"She won’t mind. Exotic prey is always more enjoyable."
Simon rubbed his palms together.
"Fine. Hurry up."
Five seconds later.
Simon wiped the sweat from his forehead and answered with a pale face.
"The Ross family is extremely mysterious. I don’t know why they’re so interested in Nightfall Domain. I’ve sent some clever sewer rats to investigate Nightfall Domain, but none of them ever came back."
"Nightfall Domain definitely possesses a powerful military force. There’s no doubt about that."
"After you clashed with Phield, he went to purchase slaves and did an excellent job concealing his movements. But according to my intelligence network, he definitely went to Wind Tour Territory."
Simon leaked Phield’s information. Fortunately, Phield had always been wary of him and had never revealed anything truly important.
Biskaly narrowed her eyes.
"Then it’s highly likely that he was the one who ambushed us."
"I never said that. That’s entirely your own speculation."
Simon hurriedly waved his hands.
"Simon, does your territory have somewhere particularly secluded?"
"Hey, hey, if you’re planning to get yourself killed, don’t splash your blood all over me."
Simon was stunned.
"Do you even know what you’re planning to do? You’re plotting against a noble! And his strength is unfathomable. Even I wouldn’t dare take too much advantage of him."
"Oh, please. How many nobles have you already gotten killed? We all know exactly what you’ve done. Be careful, or I’ll tell Her Majesty the Empress."
Biskaly was growing increasingly irritated.
"When that happens, you’ll be hanged."
"Besides, he only brought a single squad of knights. Do you really think that drooling idiot of a toy, or his demi-human maid, could possibly be a Divine Chosen?"
Simon scratched his head.
"You make a surprisingly good point."
"Either way, don’t interfere with anything. I’m someone who serves directly under Her Majesty the Empress. I can handle anything that happens."
The Empress despised the Ross family to the extreme. Even if something went wrong, Biskaly was confident that the Empress would protect her.
The corners of her lips curled upward.
"All you need to do is give us a little time alone. I’ll take care of everything quickly, and in the end, I’ll pin the entire thing on Night Owl."
"Crazy. You’re crazy. You must have completely lost your mind."
Simon was terrified that the truth would come to light, but he also didn’t dare offend someone who served the Empress.
He wanted to discuss it with Florine.
Unfortunately, Florine had gone out to deal with something, leaving him with no one to ask for advice.
In the end, he could only reluctantly agree.
"Achoo!"
Phield sneezed.
"I feel like someone is talking badly about me behind my back."
Ashina affectionately moved closer.
"Don’t catch a cold."
"Master, catch cold!"
Firomina moved closer as well. She had already learned how to repeat other people’s words, although her repetitions weren’t quite accurate.
"I won’t catch a cold that easily. I’m a Tier Three Knight, after all."
Phield was soon sweating under the attention of the two girls. His eyelids drooped slightly as he quietly whispered to Ashina,
"Firomina can gain strength by killing Divine Chosen. I want you to help me make sure Firomina eliminates the Imperial Guards."
If the Empress dared target him, he had to strike back.
That was the only way to make sure the Empress truly enjoyed herself.
Having Firomina eliminate her guards would not only disgust the Empress, but also earn them experience. More importantly, Biskaly had already become suspicious of him, so this was the perfect opportunity to eliminate the problem at its source.
Three victories at once. They would win three times over.
"Sure. I’ve disliked those women for a long time anyway."
Ashina was delighted.
"It’s just that there are too many people around here. Wouldn’t it be difficult to make a move?"
"We don’t need to rush. Let me think about it first."
Time quickly passed, and night fell the following day.
A small group of more than fifty people, armed with a variety of weapons, slipped past the surrounding patrols and arrived on the outskirts of Bull Territory.
"Joey, is the underground ball here?"
"Yes."
The girl known as Joey wore a practical Scottish-style warrior’s skirt paired with a loose jacket, giving her a relaxed appearance.
She nodded lightly, her eyes filled with murderous intent. One slender hand was already resting on the hilt of her sword.
"You really don’t waste words, do you?"
The little lion Brinda tossed her long golden hair before clenching both fists, her spirits rising.
"Are you looking forward to the battle too? I am. I’m going to avenge our fallen comrades!"
"Yes."
Joey nodded solemnly.
"If I remember correctly, all we need to do is this..."
Brinda opened the special invitation to the ball, and a magic circle enveloped everyone.
Their vision twisted and blurred as though they had suddenly fallen into water.
When their vision cleared, they had arrived inside an underground palace.
Elegant music drifted through the air. The laughter of nobles and the clinking of wine glasses echoed around them. Everything appeared so refined and graceful.
"Hey, who are you? You’re dressed like that and you still came to attend a noble’s ball?"
A servant noticed the assassins looking around and approached them with a frown.
Before he could finish speaking, Joey struck, cutting him down.
She flicked the blood from her blade before lightly tapping it with her finger. The weapon released a pleasant ringing sound.
Joey nodded at the little lion.
"Warriors, kill them all! If we kill one noble today, our brothers and sisters will have one less army to fight in the future."
Brinda threw two punches into the air, producing a series of explosive cracks.
"Show no mercy to the demons who exploit you!"
"Kill!"