Domination

Kido nodded, suppressing his irritation once again. He didn't have time to be distracted by his teammate's arrogance. The mission came first. He turned to Hildanor and Mathilde, giving them a nod.

"Let's go."

The group moved silently to the ventilation shaft Hildanor had pointed out. The entrance was narrow, barely wide enough for one person at a time. Kido crawled in first, followed closely by Mathilde, then Hildanor. The Serpent's cursed son brought up the rear, his expression as impassive as ever, as if this were all routine.

Inside the shaft, the air was cold and damp, the cramped space making every movement difficult. Kido inched forward cautiously, avoiding any sound that might alert the guards. After several minutes of laborious progress, they reached a grate overlooking a dimly lit room.