Chapter 180

Chapter 180

Trudge. Trudge.

Five shadows approached.

Aegis Special Forces Team 4, crossbows raised, cut through the smoke and dust as they slowly made their way toward the carriage.Rread latest chapters at novelhall.com

They were professionals, having handled countless assassination missions in the Imperial Capital.

Once the higher-ups assigned a target, they acted like ruthless killing machines. Regardless of gender, age, how pitifully their targets wept, or how they pleaded, they wouldnt bat an eye in executing them.

This time, there were two caught in their trap.

Having overturned the carriage, the targets would surely be disoriented.

The plan was to eliminate them quickly, obliterate all evidence, and then leave the scene

But that was how it was supposed to go.

Swish-!

The plan went awry from the very start.

Through the thick smoke, dusting away the debris, Elize burst out like a cannonball.

"...?!"

The agent at the forefront, who was approaching with his crossbow, widened his eyes at the unexpected development.

In the hands of the maid with navy-blue short hair was a blunt rectangular bladed executioners sword.

Whoosh-!

And with that sword, she decapitated the lead agent in a single stroke.

Swoosh! Swoosh!

Thud-thud-thud-!

The other agents indiscriminately fired their crossbows at Elize.

Arrows poured down like rain, and the smoke and dust that filled the air were momentarily torn apart by the trajectory of the arrows before settling down again.

Elize calmly extended the Sword Coffin strapped to her back to use as a shield.

Ping! Ting-ting-ting!

Scratches marred the surface of the coffin, but the arrows couldnt penetrate it.

Clink!

Opening the Sword Coffin to her sides, Elize pulled out two short swords and threw them forward.

Thunk! Whoosh!

"Gurk?!"

The second agent was struck in the neck and forehead by the short swords. He collapsed on the spot.

As she threw the short swords, Elize was already charging forward.

Suddenly, in her hands, she held the initial executioners sword and one more slender rapier.

Swoosh! Swoosh!

The agents shot the remaining arrows at the charging Elize, but

Ching-ching-ching-!

Elize deflected all the arrows effortlessly with her rapier.

Dong-thunk-!

Approaching the third agent, Elize swung her executioners sword, cutting off his head too.

Then, spinning her body in a full circle to gather momentumshe threw the executioners sword.

Whoosh!

The spinning sword impaled the fourth agents upper body as he was loading his crossbow.

Blood sprayed as he was pinned to the wall.

Elize, catching her breath, looked at her last opponent, just as an arrow flew toward her face.

"!"

With a transcendent reflex, Elize swung her rapier to deflect the arrow.

But it was a mistake.

The last agents arrow was the same as the one that destroyed the carriage, enchanted with explosive magic.

Boom-bang!

A massive explosion erupted from the rapier as it blocked the arrow.

The agent, staring at the thickening smoke and dust, calmly loaded the next arrow.

He didnt let his guard down. That maid was no ordinary foe.

I must end this carefully and decisively. Otherwise, Im the one who will suffer.

Just as the agent cautiously advanced, a step at a time

"Sword Coffin, eject."

Vroom!

Suddenly, a magical light flashed from within the smoke and dust. Startled, the agent shot arrows at it. Swoosh! Swoosh!

But what was there wasnt Elize but the Sword Coffin. It was merely activated by Elizes command to emit a magical light.

And she didnt miss the opportunity when the enemys attention was diverted.

Dash!

Cutting through the smoke and dust, Elize leaped to the agents side.

"Third sword."

Swish-!

The long sword ejected from the Sword Coffin, spinning in the air above Elizes head.

Serenades hand touched Elizes back and then fell away. Elize did not look back.

Listening to the fading footsteps of her departing master, Elize briefly closed her eyes, then opened them wide, filled with determination.

I wont die here.

She would kill them all, survive, and see Serenades face again. And then...

Thump.

The next moment,

An arrow lodged into Elizes stomach without warning.

"...!"

Startled, she coughed up blood and glared ahead.

She hadnt sensed the snipers attack, which meant there must be a sniper with special skills.

"Fine..."

Drawing a new sword from the Sword Coffin, Elize growled.

"Now it feels like Im dealing with the special agents of the Black Ops...!"

The next moment, a fierce attack from five special forces agents fell upon Elize.

***

The partys atmosphere was ripening by the minute.

We had won the war against Bringar Duchy, solidified the alliance with the northern kingdom, and even announced my engagement with Princess Yun. Truly, it was a joyous time on all fronts.

The newly engaged Imperial Prince and Princesss energetic dance ignited the partys atmosphere to a whole new level.

Even now, as Yun and I had returned to rest, the orchestra continued to play lively music, and in the center of the grand hall, the nobles each formed couples and enjoyed dancing.

Everyone looks so joyful.

Drained of energy, I dumbly stared at the spectacle.

Yun had left to converse with the Northern Kingdoms emissaries, and I was sitting in my designated spot on the platform, catching my breath.

"Well done, Ash."

I heard someone call my name and turned to find Fernandez.

Fernandez took a seat beside me and grinned broadly.

"Simply by fulfilling your role so well, youve made Father and your brothers extremely happy. Im proud of you."

"What... Well, I guess Ive reached the age to get things right?"

Fernandez playfully ruffled my smiling head.

After leaving it at that, I asked,

"Brother."

"Yes?"

"Setting the fire at the Silver Winter Merchant Guild, was that your doing?"

"Yes."

Fernandez admitted it with a refreshingly unabashed attitude.

"We announced your engagement today, but what if we sent a divorce request to that side and got rejected? Anyway, we were planning to expel the Silver Winter family, so I went straight to work."

"..."

"The real power in the Silver Winter Merchant Guild is currently with Countess Serenade. Eliminate that young lady, and its a snake without a head. They say the Count lost his taste years ago."

Fernandez shrugged his shoulders.

"But Countess Serenade didnt die in the fire, did she? I intended to disguise it as an accident... Ah, our people are more clumsy than I thought."

"So?"

I asked, straining to find Serenade at the party, even though she was long overdue.

"Did you send someone to kill her for sure?"

"Yes. I hate to go this far, but she seemed intent on coming to the party. On the day of your new engagement announcement, how bad would it look if your former fiance showed up? How ugly to the Northern emissaries? I had to stop it."

"..."

"So I deployed smart kids who do a good job on our side. Theyll erase her from this world without a trace."

Fernandez playfully patted my silent shoulder, smiling.

"Why? Are you uncomfortable because shes your former fiance? You used to dislike her so much."

"... No. You did well, brother."

With a cheer, I got up from my chair.

"But brother. About that... Guardians meeting."

"Yes?"

"If someone has the qualifications of a Guardian, anyone can summon it, right?"

"Of course, if there is an issue that important."

"I see."

I craned my neck, looking for the Emperor and Lark within my line of sight. They were all within range.

"Then, Ill summon it now."

"What?"

"The Guardians meeting. Right now. I want it summoned."

I chopped out my words to Fernandez, who was looking at me with astonished eyes.

"I have something to talk about."

Yes. Ive reached the age where I can fend for myself.

"Something very important. A discussion."