Chapter 175

Chapter 175: Shadow Warrior [2]

____

"They don't look like members of the Holy Staff Court or the Magical Secret Service… Are they bait? Never mind. They're suspicious people anyway. At a time like this, it's better to kill a few by mistake than to let the real ones escape. Let's interrogate them and find out who they are and what their purpose is."

Ash glanced at the two captured magicians, a man and a woman, gave a casual order, and then proceeded deeper into the room in search of the residents.

After a brief search, Ash found the source of the strong smell of blood.

In the basement, the bodies of three children were slumped against the wall, with another female body lying slightly farther away.

The four corpses were arranged in a gruesome manner, their legs stretched out in front of them and their hands nailed to the wall. The floor was soaked in thick, congealed blood, so much that it seemed as if the basement had sprung a leak. Their bodies were covered in wounds, but there were no signs of resistance—only evidence of prolonged torture.

Opposite them sat a middle-aged man, stripped naked, revealing a muscular body. He was tied to a chair, his fingers missing, and his flesh completely mutilated. A gaping wound pierced through his forehead, leaving no doubt about his fate.

"...They used his children, his wife, and himself to torture him?" Ash asked without turning his head. "Who is this man?"

"Elrington Meng, the leader of the 8th mercenary team. He was responsible for dealing with monsters near the entrance of Mioguan Pass and assisting with the transportation of military supplies. In addition, his team handled a variety of other tasks," the mayor replied.

"A mercenary captain...?" The mayor's words made Ash pause in thought. "Why would they go so far to interrogate someone like him? No—if he worked closely with the military, he must have known something valuable, right?"

"Yes. It's said that he had strong connections with several officers."

"That makes sense. To get things done, you need the right connections..." Ash muttered.

This was just how the world worked. Building relationships, no matter where, was a necessity. As long as no illegal activities were involved, he had no intention of interfering. But… what could this man have said before he died?

The kingdom did not have any strict rules preventing officers from bringing their families to settle near the border. Since the region had been peaceful for years, it was natural that some would assume safety behind the city walls. With permission, many officers had relocated their families here.

However, with war looming, normal officers wouldn't be able to return home. It made sense that a mercenary captain would be a good alternative for those needing assistance. But… this man was obviously a skilled warrior.

In close-quarters combat, a warrior typically had the advantage against a magician—unless the difference in strength was overwhelming.

Yet, when Ash left the basement and surveyed the first floor, he found no signs of a struggle. The captured magicians didn't appear powerful enough to easily subdue a seasoned warrior in an enclosed space.

After all, if an intense fight had taken place, someone would have noticed. In a town like this, any significant magical disturbance would have been reported by military magicians.

"It wasn't the magicians who subdued him," Ash murmured as he returned to the basement, examining the hole in the man's forehead. At a glance, he could tell that it had likely been caused by a dagger.

But thinking carefully… given the typical strength of a magician, it would be difficult for them to pierce a human skull with just a dagger.

"Could it be that the Shadow Warriors are involved in this operation as well? Then the target must be..." Solitier said with a knowing smile.

Ash's expression shifted as a realization struck him. Without hesitation, he bolted out of the room.

"—The target must be the barrier! Take the others and head to the core immediately!"

With that, he was the first to dash out the door, soaring towards the barrier's direction. Solitier and Linie exchanged brief glances but wasted no time, swiftly following him as they retraced their path back to the checkpoint.

---

The kingdom's barrier, though not as formidable as the legendary national defense barrier, was still built upon the remnants of Volame's ancient magic. It had been meticulously reinforced and restructured by the Corrupt Sage, who had thoroughly analyzed its workings before implementing improvements. Even the Empire would find it difficult to breach.

For the Empire, the Kingdom's resilience, bolstered by its ancient defenses, remained an ongoing frustration. Just as the Kingdom struggled against the Empire's might, the Empire despised the new defensive measures the Kingdom had adopted.

Three major organizations—the Holy Staff Court, the Shadow Warriors, and the Magical Secret Service—operated in both human and demon-related affairs. However, unlike the other two, the Shadow Warriors were an elite force created specifically to target humans, eliminating high-ranking officials and adventurers deemed threats to the Empire's interests.

According to what Ash had heard, the Shadow Warriors had existed for over a thousand years, dating back to the Empire's unification era. They were a specialized assassination unit, their techniques honed through generations of refinement.

Their most defining trait was their unparalleled ability to suppress magical presence, making them ideal assassins against mages.

After all, warriors relied on magic to enhance their physical abilities, and in this world, all living beings possessed some degree of magic. If a person's magical presence was completely erased, even experienced mages who relied on detection spells would struggle to perceive them.

The core of the barrier was a vital facility, heavily guarded and kept under strict secrecy by both defenders and attackers. Its location and personnel were carefully selected to ensure its security. However…

"A kingdom that has thrived for a century has finally begun to rot. Who could be so influential that they'd withdraw even the elite guards protecting the barrier's core?"

A man clad in pitch-black combat gear—the captain of the Shadow Warrior unit—glanced down at the soldier lying lifeless in a pool of blood. The soldier had been silently dispatched, his throat slit from behind without a sound.

The captain recalled the intel he had extracted from the mercenary leader upon arriving and shook his head in quiet amusement.

Through centuries of refinement, their concealment techniques had become unrivaled. Even first-rank magicians, or even someone of Frieren's caliber, would struggle to sense their presence.

After pinpointing the location of their target, the six-member squad had infiltrated the area unnoticed, just as expected.

Yet, he still didn't know who this supposed big shot was—someone significant enough to warrant the withdrawal of the barrier's elite defenders.

Just then, the heavy steel doors of the bunker-like structure housing the barrier's core creaked open once more.

A woman, similarly clad in black, stepped inside and spoke in a low voice.

"Number 7, it's done. The core of the barrier has been destroyed."

"Deploy the flares. If the opportunity arises, eliminate that high-ranking official and any senior officers present."

The nameless captain, designated only as Number 7, lifted his gaze.

The barrier's energy source had been severed. Though the lingering purple glow had yet to fade, its collapse was inevitable.

It was only a matter of time.