145

[Escape]

Amora said, "We need to go up two floors to find where the little prince is being held, but there are two troll guards there. It might be a bit tricky."

Forseti thought for a moment. "Let's go up and take a look first."

The three of them moved cautiously, eventually hiding behind a stone pillar and surveying their surroundings. In the corner of Forseti's line of sight, he spotted a troll silhouette.

He boldly looked again and saw that two troll guards were stationed outside a room. This was presumably where the little prince of Vanaheim, Hogan, was being kept.

"Captain, what are we going to do next? Take down those two trolls?" Fairwind asked.

Forseti pointed to a nearby wall. "Is there anyone in the adjacent room?"

"There's a troll sleeping."

Forseti nodded, locked the door, and saw a troll lying on a bed, fast asleep.

He couldn't tell if this troll was male or female. To Asgardians, all trolls appeared large, hairy, and ape-like.

Gently closing the door, Forseti carefully approached the bed and covered the troll's mouth. The troll awoke suddenly, but it was too late. Forseti's blade, made of immortal steel, plunged into the troll's skull, stopping its movement instantly. Just to be sure, Forseti made a few more cuts.

"Check the prince's room," Forseti whispered while wiping his knife.

Fairwind leaned against the wall and looked through it with his special vision. "The little prince is inside, and there's no one else. But the wall here is very close to the two guards outside the door. If we use any tools, the noise might alert them."

Forseti had to use his blade to slowly cut through the wall. Fortunately, the immortal steel was strong and sharp, and it wasn't long before he made a small opening.

Once the wall was breached, they saw a cabinet on the other side. Carefully moving the cabinet, the three entered the little prince's room.

The room was small but elegantly furnished. In the middle, there was a crib where a baby slept peacefully.

Forseti approached, gave the baby a small amount of unscented potion and some of Greenhilde's sleeping pills, then placed the baby in a prepared carrier and strapped it to his chest.

It looked a little amusing, and Fairwind couldn't help but let out a laugh.

Forseti's expression changed suddenly, and he quickly covered Fairwind's mouth.

But it was too late. Footsteps were heard outside the door, followed by it opening.

The three quickly hid. Forseti clenched his dagger, tense.

A troll guard entered, not very alert, and walked directly to the crib, likely thinking the noise had come from the baby.

Forseti quickly approached from behind, covered the troll's mouth, and drove the blade into the troll's skull in one swift motion.

He exhaled, giving Fairwind a stern look.

Fairwind looked embarrassed and full of shame.

Forseti whispered as quietly as possible, "I'll go outside. Fairwind, when you see me out, bring the other troll into the room."

Forseti slipped through the hole in the wall, returning to his previous position behind the stone pillar.

"Is the child hungry?" another guard called out. "Shall we call the nurse?"

At this point, Forseti waved his hand, holding his dagger.

Fairwind immediately coughed loudly, "Cough, cough, cough, cough."

Hearing the cough, the troll guard outside became very cautious. Holding his large knife, he asked, "What's going on?"

Fairwind couldn't respond properly as he didn't understand the troll language, so he continued to cough louder as if he was about to cough out his lungs. "Cough! Cough, cough, cough!"

"Did you eat something bad?" the troll guard asked, drawing his large knife and entering the room cautiously.

As the troll guard entered, Forseti quickly moved in, appearing behind the guard, and drove his immortal steel dagger into the troll's skull. However, due to the baby carrier, his movements were slightly hindered, and he received a minor injury from the troll's dying struggle. Luckily, the troll didn't manage to cry out.

"Block the door, we need to leave quickly," Forseti said, applying healing magic to his wound.

Fairwind and Amora hurriedly moved debris to block the door. Though it was of limited use, it might delay the discovery for a bit.

Then the three of them retraced their path to the utility room where they had entered the castle.

Looking at the baby in Forseti's arms, everyone couldn't help but smile.

Forseti looked serious. "We killed two guards. It won't be long before the trolls notice. We need to retreat quickly."

He handed out eight bottles of Swiftness Potions. "Use these when necessary."

"Go!"

They quickly made their escape.

The disappearance of the two guards was bound to be noticed soon. However, the trolls reacted even quicker than Forseti had anticipated.

They were still more than halfway from the town's exit when they heard a trumpet sound from behind. The town, previously quiet, was quickly illuminated.

"Someone stole the baby!"

"Search everywhere!"

Troll troops were dispatched, and the howling of wolf dogs made the night feel darker.

Forseti and the others initially managed to move quietly under cover. But soon, they encountered several trolls searching for them.

As they were about to hide, Forseti handed the little prince to Fairwind and prepared for a fight. "Quick and decisive!"

He activated Blessing of Kings, leaping forward with his warhammer. He first cast a judgment, followed by a Holy Light attack on another troll.

"Boom!" Two loud noises signaled the death of two trolls.

"They're here!"

"Owww!"

Nearby trolls responded and wolf dogs howled.

Forseti and his team quickly eliminated the surrounding trolls, but more were coming.

"Swiftness Potion!" Forseti shouted. They drank the potions and ran at full speed.

"Don't let them escape! Catch them!" More trolls, including fast-moving cavalry, chased them.

As they fled, Fairwind glanced back and grinned, "Weren't there only a few hundred trolls in the city? It feels like there are way more now!"

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