It’s been a few weeks since Robin was arrested and put in prison. They’ve decided to just put him into prison for an undetermined amount of time instead of executing him, since he could still be used as a bargaining chip in negotiations with the Tellingen Theocracy.

Robin was sitting in a cell in the deepest corner of a prison somewhere far away from civilization. His cell also barely gets any visitors, the only time somebody walks past is when they’re bringing him his food.

He realizes that because he had failed his mission, his family in Tellingen was most likely dead as well.

Footsteps could be heard in the long stretching hallways of the prison. Then somebody stopped in front of his cell.

He expected it to be a prison guard who came to bring him his food, but when he looked up, he saw the last person he expected.

“Tsk. Look at ya. Yer in such a sorry state right now.”

It was Michael Wagner, his handler for his spying mission.

“What? What are you doing here, Michael? Or better yet, how did you even get in here?”

He then opened the cell door using the keys that he had stolen from a prison guard earlier. Robin couldn’t see it, but in the hallways were a bunch of prison guards all lying on the floor. Whether they were dead or just unconscious was up for debate.

“Look. I ain’t told to do this, but I’m getting yer ass outta here.”

He handed him a teleportation device.

“Wait, what’s going on?”

“Ya still don’t get it. Dontcha? I’m breaking ya outta here.”

“But why?”

“Don’t question it, just take it as a goodwill from ma heart.”

“And what about-“

Before Robin could even ask it, Michael had already answered him.

“In case yer wonderin’, your folks are safe. I got it all fixed. Just go to this location and you’ll see them.” He said as he handed him a piece of paper with a location written on it.

“Are you sure you won’t get into trouble for this with the cardinal?”

“Ya see, I don’t have anything worth protecting in my life. I’m just strolling around doing whatever I want. You on the other hand, do have something. So, I won’t lose anything if I get caught. You do have something to lose. So, the least I could do in my sorry life is to help somebody who actually needs it.”

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Robin was dumbfounded by the amount of consideration Michael just showed right there. He had never seen this side of him, but he knew that he was genuine from the looks of his face.

“Thank you. Really. Thank you for everything.”

Afterwards multiple footsteps could be heard paired with a lot of unintelligible talking, indicating that guards had noticed that Michael had broken into the prison.

“Now get outta here before the guards arrive!”

Robin activated the device and was teleported out of the prison to somewhere the prison guards wouldn’t be able to catch him anytime soon.

“Now then, I think it’s time to have a meet and greet with those prison guards.”

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

“So? Explain yourself.” A woman sitting on a throne like chair asked a robed man who was prostrating himself before her.

“Yes, madam. So, I was doing my usual patrol. Afterwards, I was going to enter the secret pathway through the men’s bathroom stalls, but due to my own incompetence, I was spotted by a student. So, I had no other choice but to kill him.”

“And in doing so, you have attracted a lot of attention from the civil guard, possibly bringing the whole operation into jeopardy.”

“Y-yes, if you put it that way.”

“I think incompetent subordinates like you deserve a little… punishment. Don’t you agree?” She said as she slowly got out of her chair and walked towards the man who was still kneeling on the floor.

“That’s just how it works here. People who waste all the hard work of others need to be taken care of…” she whispers towards the man with a wicked smile on her face.

“Wait! That’s not all I have to say. There is something more, so please spare me!”

“Oh? Then let me hear about it.”

“S-so, recently I’ve also gathered critical intelligence regarding our main mission. I’ve found the location of the Eschaton.”

The woman’s smile turned from a wicked one to one of glee.

“That’s great news! Tell me how you even got it.”

“Well, up until recently, we had no idea where to even begin. We narrowed it down to specific areas, but still no exact location. It was then that some scouts found out about a third party who attempted to steal the same artifact we were after. It just so happened to be at the Zahn Halvad magic academy.”

“That’s even greater news, but also bad news at the same time. The magic academy is one of the last places I wanted it to be. It is filled with people capable of using powerful magic, making it much more difficult to infiltrate it. But on the other hand, that gives me the perfect opportunity to get my vengeance on the people of the academy. I still have a bone to pick with them.”

“T-then, what do you suggest that we should do?”

“Isn’t it obvious? We go all in! Gather all of my important subordinates and tell them that we have a mission to fulfill.”

“Yes, madam! It will be done.”

“Oh, and about your punishment. I’ll think about it. IF I’m in a good mood, I might just let you off with a slap on the wrists.”

“Yes! Thank you, madam.”

“Now go and disappear out of my sight.”