Chapter 23 Using Force As Warning

Emma and Jane were browsing through the shops, admiring the colorful displays and chatting about their latest purchases.

As they walked down the street, Emma suddenly felt someone watching her.

She looked around but saw nothing out of the ordinary.

Feeling uneasy, Emma pulled Jane aside and whispered, "Do you think were being watched? I think someone is following us."

Jane looked over and saw nothing. "I don't know."

"But I felt it," Emma replied, as the two of them quickly made their way through the crowd.

After a few minutes, the feeling of being watched is gone, Emma couldn't help but wonder If she was imagining things.

Just then, a group of people in black clothing hid in the alley.

They were standing a few meters away, looking at her pass through the crowd.

The group seemed to be discussing something amongst themselves.

One of them pulled out a small notepad and wrote down Emma and Jane's names.

They were part of the Phantom Group, a secret organization that searched for suitable candidates for Maximus, the Lord's elite group of agents.

"They look promising," one member of the Phantom Group said, eyeing Emma and Jane from afar. "We should investigate them further."

"Yes, we must further investigate their background and most importantly their character," another member replied, jotting down notes on the notepad.

"We can't have any unworthy candidates in our Lord's harem."

The group continued to observe Emma and Jane, noting their every move and expression.

It was clear that the two had caught their attention, and they were determined to assess their true potential as additions to Maximus' harem group.

After a few moments, the Phantom Group disappeared into the shadows, leaving Emma and Jane none the wiser of their secret investigation.

Emma and Jane had no idea that their names had just been added to the Phantom Group's list.

They continued their shopping, unaware that they were being selected in some shady list.

...

The small army of mercenaries, dispatched by the Noble Alliance, secretly infiltrate Maximus' territory.

As they made their way through the city streets, the mercenaries couldn't help but be captivated by the lively and bustling scene that unfolded before them.

The aroma of freshly cooked food filled the air, and the sound of laughter and music echoed through the streets.

It seemed as though the inhabitants were fully immersed in their revelries.

Caught up in the infectious energy of the city, the mercenaries found themselves gradually immersed in the festivities atmosphere.

They entered a tavern, where they indulged in hearty meals and raised their mugs in raucous toasts.

The vibrant atmosphere, combined with the tantalizing dishes and flowing drinks, momentarily made them forget their purpose and mission.

Amidst the merriment, some mercenaries engaged in friendly competitions.

Challenging the locals in arm-wrestling matches or testing their skills in dart-throwing contests.

Laughter and bragging filled the tavern, as the mercenaries blended in seamlessly with the jovial crowd.

As they laughed and joked with the locals, one of the mercenaries remarked, "This city is alive with energy! It's hard to believe it's located in the most barren land of the Kingdom."

Another replied, "Yeah, I know what you mean. It seems like there is no food shortage and everyone looks wealthy without a care about anything else."

As the night wore on, their revelry continued and the mission to raid Maximus' castle slipped further from their minds.

They were lost in the moment, enjoying the fleeting pleasures of the city.

Little did they know, Maximus was already aware of their presence and was preparing to eliminate them.

The mercenaries were completely unaware that their carefree enjoyment would soon come to an end, and that they would soon face the full force of Maximus' army.

...

Maximus was in his study, going through a pile of documents that required his attention.

He was engrossed in his work when suddenly, an alarm went off from one of the devices in the room.

"WARNING WARNING INTRUDERS ALERT. SIGHTING OF SEVERAL HIGH-ENERGY BEINGS. ESTIMATED STRENGTH GREAT KNIGHTS."

The warning message was alarming, indicating that several high-energy beings had been sighted in the vicinity of his territory.

The estimated strength of these beings was equivalent to Great Knights, a formidable force in an area where Earth knights were known to be powerhouses, and Sky Knights were considered a myth.

If only one or two Knights entered his territory, he could dismiss it as a tourist visit.

However, the fact that tens of them were spotted at the same time, it was clear that they had come for him.

Maximus projected a screen, which displayed a live feed of the city.

His eyes were cold as he saw a group of suspected mercenaries making their way into the city.

They were trying to blend in, but their energy signatures gave them away.

Maximus quickly reached for his communicator and called for the head of his guard, Edwin.

"Edwin, we have a problem. I need you to quickly assemble the guards and settle them."

Edwin's voice came through the communicator. "Understood, My Lord. We are on it."

Maximus instructed Edwin to permit the use of Type E Mechanical weapons.

These weapons were equivalent to tier 2 energy weapons, capable of quickly killing Great Knights.

He quickly went back to his work like nothing happen trusting his guard to quickly settle the problem.

...

The group of guards quickly made their way to a heavily armed corridor where they were issued several Typs E mechanical weapons.

The weapons were sleek and powerful, and the guards knew that this was newly added to the armory.

They heard it was a newly invented weapon by their lord, so no one dared to question anything

As the sun began to set, the small army of mercenaries continued to indulge themselves in drinking and feasting.

They had forgotten about their mission and were enjoying themselves as if they were on vacation.

They had no idea that the god of death was quickly coming their way.

The head guard, Edwin, quickly evacuated any unwanted people from the area.

He didn't want any innocent bystanders to get caught in the crossfire.

The guards slowly and silently encircled the mercenaries.

The mercenaries were too drunk to notice, and they continued to drink and laugh.

At the call of Head Guard Edwin, "FIRE!", the guards opened fire with their Type E mechanical weapons.

The sound was surprisingly silent as a beam of light briefly lit up the night sky.

The mercenaries were caught off guard, and they had no chance to defend themselves.

The Type E mechanical weapons were incredibly powerful, but they cost a low-magic crystal per shot equivalent to 1000 gold coins.

The mercenaries didn't even know what had hit them as they died in the last moments of their consciousness.

After the chaos had died down, Head Guard Edwin ordered the clean-up.

The guards quickly disposed of the bodies and any evidence of the massacre.

They left the area looking like nothing had ever happened.

The owner knew that the trouble was gone, and he resumed his business like nothing had happened.

It was a quiet night, and the patrons enjoyed their drinks and company, completely unaware of the danger that had just passed.