I.
ON THE NIGHT OF THE INFILTRATION, Daisuke and his friends were more than ready to carry out their mission. Daisuke and Siegfried trained non-stop and were pumped up to face any of the Auros Executives. Riku and the rest were the only ones focused on carrying out the mission to save Lars.
It didn't take long for the group to reach the buffer zone that divided the region of Mozzarea and Gorgonzonia. The buffer zone was a grassy plain occupied by the Elysian national army that patrols the area. Although, the patrolling soldiers were nothing but just a show of force and would rather have the Mafia Famiglia kill each other.
“That’s a lot of soldiers,” said Raijin.
“Alright everyone, stick to the plan,” Robin reminded. “We leave the soldiers alone and go straight to the city of Saint Fontana. Mirana, do your thing.”
Using her magic, Mirana made an icy fog, the same magic she used back in the Emergent Kingdom, which let them pass through the buffer zone without being spotted. With the fog as their cover, the group easily made their way into the city of Saint Fontana, the Auros Famiglia’s main territory.
Indeed, the city of Saint Fontana does look more developed, unlike Saint Margheritte and Saint Crudeo. But calling it just 'developed' was an understatement. Unlike many other cities in the country of Elysia, the city of Saint Fontana was an urbanized one.
Towering brick buildings stood everywhere. Some have chimneys ejecting black smoke even at night. Others had glassed windows with light coming out of them. Concrete and wooden poles were lined up, supporting the electrical cables that power the city. The roads were all well-paved and cleanly swept, and lamplights were illuminating the street. Unlike Saint Margheritte, Saint Fontana had wider streets with some sort of railways for trams at the center of the road. Even at night, there were still a lot of people, drinking and eating and mingling.
But that's just a part of the whole city. Some parts looked beautiful, while other parts of it were filled with trash, crawling vermins, and dirty water.
The group was hiding in an alley, trying not to attract attention.
“Okay. Next, we need to go around the city’s main area to avoid civilians. We never know if any of these people are part of the Auros Famiglia,” said Robin as she briefed everyone again.
“We better start moving if we want to get there. The auction starts in two hours,” Riku reminded.
“Hey, guys,” said Siegfried. “Maybe we can go through this manhole so we can stay out of sight.”
Everyone looked at Riku.
“Ha-ha, very funny,” said Riku sarcastically. “Shut up and stick to the plan.”
* * * * *
The ranch of the Auros family was a vast field of hays with different sorts of livestock—cattle, horses, goats, and sheep —some were sleeping, others were still grazing and wandering around. The cows were separated from the bulls. Some horses were outside, running around the pen while others were placed inside the stable. The herd of sheep and goats were at their respective pasture, guarded by several shepherd dogs.
That night, several motored vehicles were already coming in for the monthly slave auction hosted by the Auros family. These were high-profile personalities from different cities, various crime bosses of different illegal businesses, corrupt government officials from Parmia Reggia, and even other VIPs from neighboring nations.
The Auros Ranch frequently held livestock auctions, but that was just to guise their more profitable business: the slave trade.
The guests were escorted by the Auros Famiglia members while some VIPs were escorted personally by the Auros siblings. And two particular guests were accompanied by Don Tauran himself.
“Ah! It is nice to see you again, Minister Antonio,” greeted Don Tauran. “I would like to thank you again for saving my not-so-intelligent child from before.”
“No need to mention it, Don Tauran. It was nothing! I’m just making sure that I am doing my part for the Auros Famiglia.”
“Nonsense! At least let me take you backstage so you’ll see what we have in store for this month’s auction,” Don Tauran offered.
“Well, if you insist, Don Tauran,” Antonio gladly accepted.
As they went down the Slave House using the VIP entrance inside the manor, Don Tauran and Antonio reached the VIP lounge where dozens of VIPs were drinking high-quality liquor as they wait for the backstage tour before the auction.
“Ah! Tauran! Took you long enough,” said Don Sergio Giovanni.
“My apologies. I escorted the Secretary of Defense here to show him as well what we have in store. Where are your family?”
“My wife and our kids are somewhere out there, mingling with the guests. It’s time for the kids to widen their circle of people after all. I hope you don’t mind us using this opportunity to meet new business prospects.”
“Not at all! Do as you please, Sergio.”
“Don Sergio, it is an honor to meet you in person,” said Antonio, offering a handshake.
Don Sergio accepted. “You know, we could also use someone like you, Honorable Antonio.”
“Please. Call me Antonio. And my men and I are always open for…business opportunities.”
Don Sergio laughed. “I like this man! Nut seriously, I will reach out to you one day. For now, let’s see what Don Tauran has to offer.”
The VIP tour began and Don Tauran personally toured Antonio and Don Sergio. Soon, they reached the backstage of the Slave House where dozens of people were in mobile cages that were being prepared by the Auros Famiglia henchmen.
“As you may all know, we only sell quality products,” Don Tauran boasted as they walked backstage. “If you like elves, we've got three of them here. Feisty creatures, but nothing my men can’t handle.”
Don Tauran pointed at the three female Yoran elves, shackled on their neck, wrists, and ankles. The elves were terrified, unable to use their Karma.
“Or maybe you just wanted to stay in the…human department. And so we have quality men and women, all capable of using useful magic. Not only that, they are tattooed with certain runic magic that allows you to see what they see, and hear what they hear. And, if you’re feeling, adventurous, activate certain runic magic that will allow you to feel what they’re feeling,”
The human magic users were also shackled. And their mouths were even gagged. The male mages were only wearing shorts, showcasing their abdomen and muscular build while the female mages were only wearing undergarments. There were other chained humans, but Don Tauran didn't bother introducing them.
“You need fearsome subordinates? How about some orcs? Not only are they strong, but they could also use their ability to make contact with their ancestors!”
Five orcs were heavily chained inside a cage with thicker iron bars than the others. They were all trying to break free, but one of the henchmen turned on a switch that sent a high voltage to the cage, electrocuting the orcs.
“Perhaps you would like a crafty dwarf to build your stuff. One dwarf could make hundreds of high-quality weapons after all.”
A young dwarf was inside a cage, alone. The dwarf was staring coldly at Don Tauran as they walked past him.
“Now of course we do not only sell slaves. After all, different rare beasts are being sought after these days. So here, we have rare beasts from different parts of Laniagaea!”
Dozens of cages were filled with unique beasts, all of which were sought after for their rarity by collectors, commodity enthusiasts for the black market merchants, and exotic food fanatics for their meat.
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Dozens of beasts will be sold later, but the noteworthy ones were the exotic pets like the sproutles, stoaters, pupisilks, mythorns, and kinkarous, and some large, endangered predators like the drillidons, granigons, wyvenfrosts, venofinities, and harverions.
“Don Tauran, I could not help but notice the number of human slaves you have. May I ask why there are a lot of them in your Slave House?” asked Antonio, gazing at the chained humans.
“Oh, them? We also started supplying people to a certain organization. Turns out, selling those humans to become lab rats has a huge market.”
“These are all great and dandy, Tauran. But what I really wanted to see is this month's specials,” said Don Sergio.
Don Tauran chuckled. “I see. Well, we have three special commodities that we are saving for the final part of the auction, all of which will start at ten million lania. Follow me.”
The three of them reached the end of the backstage. Three cages were waiting for them, guarded by the henchmen. And inside were a human, a unique humanoid creature, and a small, furry beast.
“Known to be the most loyal wolf in the world, the bond of the valkyries of the realm of Navanaheim! Behold! A cub of a Winter Wolf from the continent of Dragonheim!”
The cub was howling, still crying after it got separated from its mother. The Winter Wolf cub has fur as white as snow and had stunning heterochromia. Its left eye has an eerie bluish-gray color, one that reminds you of a brewing storm, and its right eye sports a mixture of orange, brown, and green; something that reminds you of a peaceful sunny day in a grassy plain or forest.
The cage next to it doesn’t have any iron bars. Rather, the cage was made completely of runic-enhanced, bullet-proof glass. “Here we have a creature that we've only known from the legends. A creature that could turn into wind itself! I present you, a sylph!”
The sylph was sitting inside her glass cage, hugging her legs, hiding her face. She’s got long hair with white and green color, flowing and floating like being carried by the wind, her ears as long as the elves.
“And lastly, we have here a human Karma user.”
“And what made this man worth ten million lania?” asked Don Sergio with curiosity.
Don Tauran looked at him. “This man came from the continent of Fuegonia, and he’s got a Bestowal Karma. Under the right circumstances, he can give the same ability to someone.”
“And what is that Karma?” asked Antonio.
Don Tauran chuckled. “He’s got the power to turn earth into lava and manipulate it at will. Now that's one fearsome Karma, don't you think?”
* * * * *
II.
DAISUKE AND HIS FRIENDS managed to go around the city of Saint Fontana and reached the ranch of the Auros family. The ranch was farther than they'd all initially thought and the manor was even farther. But going around was necessary as they could not afford any unwanted attention inside the city proper nor involve innocent people in their mission.
“We’re almost there,” said Daisuke. “I think that’s the manor over there!”
“Do you think Team Charlie and Team Delta made it?” asked Robin.
“There seems to be no commotion. Let’s continue and meet them at the manor.”
“Who are you going to meet in our manor?” asked someone.
The group looked around and felt tremors. In a blink of an eye, they were surrounded by bulls that started to run amok. The group was unable to stop the bulls as the bulls tried to run through them and they got overwhelmed in an instant and got separated.
“Daisuke!!” Riku yelled as she tried to evade the bulls.
Mirana was with her, trying to make ice walls to stop the bulls from trampling them.
Daisuke and Siegfried got swept as well, avoiding the bulls as they do not want to harm them.
“Princess!!” shouted Siegfried.
Brunnhilde, Riku, and Robin were all together, running for their lives.
“Can't you summon Geri and Freki to save us?!” Raijin suggested.
“Too late! We cannot stop to write a runic symbol!” yelled Brunnhilde as they ran away from the raging bulls.
“Siegfried and I messed up! Let's just go straight to the manor!” Robin decided. “We’re Team Echo now!!”
As the stampede subsided and everyone got separated, Mirana and Riku went outside the ice walls surrounding them. The land was filled with hoofprints, a few bulls were pointing their horns at them, and a single man was standing in front.
“You thought you all could infiltrate us that easily?” asked the man.
Mirana readied her staff Everfrost. Riku activated her magic as well, making her skin patterns glow pinkish red. The bulls bellowed at the sight of the glowing skin pattern of Riku.
“Isn't red the color bulls hate?” asked Mirana.
Riku faced Mirana. “You’re kidding, right?”
Several Auros Famiglia henchmen arrived as well, aiming their firearms at them.
“Sir Kouper, we've already sent a report to Sir Gauro. They should be intercepting the others and tightening the security at the manor at this very moment,” reported a henchman.
“Great. Now we just have to deal with these two ladies.”
Riku and Mirana scoffed.
“You're making a huge mistake if you think we're some kind of damsels in distress,” Riku said as she made a rose spear. “We’re Team Alpha!”
Fairy wings materialized behind Mirana. “Let's finish this quickly so we can move forward.”
“Mages. Hmmm. Interesting. I wonder how much people will pay for the two of you,” said Kouper as he transformed into an auroch-human hybrid.
* * * * *
More Auros Famiglia henchmen appeared and confronted Daisuke and Siegfried.
Siegfried easily dealt with the melee weapon users using his swords while Daisuke conserved his mana for Zeb and defeated most of the henchmen in hand-to-hand combat. Basic.
And as soon as they were done with the henchmen, a familiar face appeared that confronted the two.
“There you are, elf! It's so nice of you to arrive here personally!” Zeb declared as he arrived.
Siegfried clicked his tongue. “I hate to say this, but can you deal with him on your own? Robin and I got switched. I gotta find the princess.”
“Are you sure? Robin and Raijin are both capable of protecting Brunnhilde. Besides, they are with us. And us being Team Bravo isn’t half bad.”
“I can't. Her safety is still my priority. Beat that ugly bovine twice for me, okay?”
“You got it! Now go!” Daisuke accepted.
Siegfried slashed his way through the remaining henchmen as he left to find Brunnhilde.
Zeb transformed into an auroch-human hybrid. “I have beaten you once! I can do it again! And once I do, you're going straight to Prologia!”
Daisuke remembered his defeat two days ago, which irritated him. He was able to demoralize an entire army back in Shiromori but was unable to defeat a single human cattle. He channeled that emotion, the irritation, and anger he was feeling right now, and used it to invoke the same power he used that day.
Hexagonal patterns appeared on his arms and legs. The trampled ground turned into a grassy plain where Daisuke was standing. “I don't know who you are or what you need from me. But I'll make sure to pay you back for what you did in Saint Crudeo!”
* * * * *
The new Team Echo has reached the manor. However, two Auros executives were already on standby, waiting for them.
“Ugh. We really do have three intruders here,” said Yakia wearing an elegant evening gown. “My dress will go to waste because of them.”
The trio stopped from their track at the sight of the two Auros Famiglia executives.
“I guess the Lumbard Famiglia has really gone low to hire some expendables like you to save his priced executive,” asked Gauro.
“A-After what you did to Saint Crudeo, w-we're here to make an uproar!” Raijin bluffed.
“Uproar?” asked Brunnhilde. “That’s the best line you got?”
“You know what, it doesn't matter,” Yakia started to remove her dress, revealing a tight garment underneath. “I should have been drinking wine and eating cheese but here we are, dealing with some Lumbard small fries!”
“L-Lumbard?” Raijin chuckled nervously. “W-We don't know t-them.”
“We already know that the Lumbards sent you seven. Funny how a family of assassins can be easily infiltrated by moles.”
Gauro gripped his battle ax tightly. In a blink of an eye, he closed into the trio and was about to strike them all at once when a stream of flame distracted him.
Yakia charged as well, but Robin shot her with arrows, stopping her from her track.
“Well, well, well. If it isn't Lars's apprentice,” said Gauro. “So you are also here to save him?” he guessed and laughed.
“Robin? Aren't you supposed to be with Daisuke?” asked Volg.
“Yeah, but Siegfried and I got switched because of the stampede,” Robin replied.
“Hold up,” said Yakia. “What's going on?”
“Sorry about your spy,” said Volg.
“Heh. So you found out about the little brat. So what?!” yelled Yakia.
Volg produced more flame around him. “Yeah. I just hope you have more men available, 'cause we're putting an end to your little Slave House.”
Gauro and Yakia flinched.
Greta, Ventori, Geode, and Siegfried arrived.
“Glad I made it in time!” said Siegfried.
“You three, get Brunnhilde to the Slave House,” Volg ordered.
“But Volg, that's not the plan! You two cannot fight the executives alone!” Greta insisted.
“Siegfried and I can handle these two.”
“Wait. I need to protect Brunnhilde! She's our—”
“Stay here, Siegfried! That's an order. Keep those executives busy.”
“Fine! Raijin, Robin, go with them! Volg and I got this!” Siegfried confirmed.
“Take care, alright?” said Brunnhilde. She wrote two runic symbols on the ground that summoned Geri and Freki, much to Gauro's and Yakia's surprise.
Brunnhilde, Robin, and Raijin mounted Geri and Freki, and went straight ahead together with Greta, Geode, and Ventori.
“Ugh. Fine! You better not die, Volg! Or I'll kill you!” said Greta.
“Go wild!!” shouted Ventori.
“You got this, Volg!” yelled Geode.
“How dare you return here you traitor!!” Yakia shouted at the sight of Geode.
“Shut up, you ugly cow!!” Geode yelled back. “I never wanted to be in your smelly ranch in the first place!!”
Gauro and Yakia both transformed into an auroch-human hybrid and tried to intercept the two wolves and Lars's team members, but Siegfried and Volg confronted them. Volg released a stream of flame again towards Gauro while Siegfried used his swords to strike Yakia.
* * * * *
Near the buffer zone, the Lumbard Famiglia executives were observing the patrolling army.
“Shouldn't we send more people to Saint Fontana?” asked Graphael.
“Let's trust Lars's team and the avatar and his friends,” said Lira. “Don Luca trusted them for this mission after all.”
“We make our stand here,” said Luciano. “Whether they succeed or not, we all know that the Auroses and the Giovannis will make a move.”
“But why include your brother in the mission? I thought he wasn't ready?” asked Graphael.
“First of all, stepbrother. And second, my father agreed to let him go.”
“Wasn't it counter-productive? It is him they wanted in the first place, right? What if they did catch him?”
“My father thinks that it can help him grow. Besides, even I must admit that Volg is a strong Karma user. He just needs a little push, is all. If he gets caught, then it only proves that he is weak. We do not need weaklings.”
Behind them, dozens of Lumbard Famiglia members and hitmen were preparing for an impending assault.