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The smuggler's hideout was a dilapidated wooden structure, with peeling wood and weathered shingles. The windows were boarded up, and the door hung crookedly on its hinges.

As Marcus and Victor approached the house, they could see signs of neglect and disrepair. The roof was sagging, and the walls were covered in moss and vines. The air was heavy with the musty scent of neglect, and the creaking floorboards echoed beneath their feet.

As they entered the house, their eyes adjusted to the dimly lit room. The air was thick with dust, and the furniture was covered in cobwebs. The room was cluttered with crates and boxes, filled with illegal merchandise and stolen goods. They put their sacks of arrows by the doorway.

Victor noted, "They've already gone."

"Yeah," Marcus said as he looked around the messy room. "Looks like they left in a hurry. They didn't even have time to pack their things or take any of the valuable items with them."

"look", Victor called Marcus, he showed some kind of animal marks on the floor, "three scratch marks."

"Crimson Talon," Marcus mentioned a name. Crimson Talon was a notorious poaching and smuggling syndicate that operated across the Wessen continent. They were known for their ruthless tactics and their ability to evade law enforcement, making them one of the most dangerous criminal organizations in the region.

Their operations were vast and far-reaching, with members operating in mainland cities and towns across the continent. They were involved in the illegal trade of exotic animals, rare plants, and other valuable commodities, which they smuggled across borders and sold on the black market.

Their methods were brutal and often involved violence and intimidation. They would stop at nothing to protect their illegal activities, using force and coercion to silence anyone who threatened to expose them.

Despite the efforts of the Crown's law enforcement agencies, Crimson Talon continued to operate with impunity, their reach extending far beyond the borders of any one country or region. They were a powerful and dangerous force, and their influence was felt across the entire continent.

Marcus and Victor knew that they had stumbled upon a major smuggling and poaching operation.

"Watch out for traps," Hjalmar warned Victor as he trod the wooden floor carefully. He lowered his candle lamp looking for anything that looked like a trap.

With their smuggler instincts guiding them, they moved further into the house, their senses heightened, anticipating what they might uncover.

Victor was walking ahead of Marcus, his eyes scanning the room for any sign of danger. But as he stepped on the loose floorboards, "Whoa!"

Victor felt a sudden jolt, and the floor gave way beneath him.

Marcus reacted quickly, grabbing Victor by the arm and pulling him back from the trap. They both stumbled backward, their hearts racing with fear.

"Shit! It almost got me," Victor almost fell for a bear trap concealed under the wooden floor.

The trap was hidden beneath a layer of loose floorboards, designed to blend in with the surrounding wood. It was a large, metal contraption, with sharp, jagged teeth that would snap shut on anyone who stepped on it.

As they caught their breath, Marcus examined the trap closely. He could see the sharp, jagged teeth, and the powerful spring mechanism that would snap shut on anyone who stepped on it.

Victor looked at Marcus, his eyes wide with shock. "That was close," he said, his voice trembling with fear.

Marcus nodded, "Be careful," his eyes scanning the room for any other signs of danger. He knew that the smugglers were dangerous and ruthless, and they couldn't afford to let their guard down.

"These cunning lads," Marcus remarked. "an experienced smuggler or poacher would fall for that."

He praised the smuggler's cleverness, noting that they had set up a trap just before the entrance to the secret basement, nearly ensnaring Victor.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

These resident smugglers used human greed to make them fall for their trap. People would go blind once they see the prize. They weren't aware of or looked for their surrounding anymore, letting their guard down before they could secure their prize.

"They must be not some inexperienced smugglers." Marcus probed the wooden floor as his instinct told him that the prize was usually near the trap.

*Cluck —his hand found a cavity beneath a rug, Marcus quickly removed the rug.

Their eyes widened. They discovered a hidden latch beneath a worn-out rug. With a swift pull, the latch revealed a trapdoor leading to a secret basement. Marcus and Victor exchanged a knowing glance, their hearts pounding with anticipation.

They descended the creaking wooden stairs, their footsteps echoing in the confined space. The basement was dimly lit even with Victor's torch. It was filled with shelves lined with various equipment used for smuggling and poaching. There were crates filled with illegal merchandise, ropes, nets for trapping animals, and even a makeshift tannery for processing hides.

Marcus bent down to examine the floor, his eyes drawn to a scattering of feathers. They were long and sleek, resembling the feathers of a harpy. He picked one up, feeling its softness between his fingers.

"Victor, look at this," Marcus said, his voice filled with a mix of excitement and concern. "These feathers... they could be from a harpy."

Victor's eyes widened, his gaze shifting from the feathers to the unused harpy trap resting on a nearby cabinet. "You're right," he replied, his voice filled with a mix of curiosity and caution. He stood up and grabbed the harpy trap, "Also, this trap... it's designed specifically for capturing harpies."

It looked like a bear trap with some modification. the trap was designed not to harm but more than enough to ensnare a harpy and prevent it from flying away because it would be connected to a weight such as boulders, tree trunk, or any heavy object.

"Marcus, look!" Victor grabbed another object from the table. Marcus came closer. Victor showed the object. It was a steel chain net. Wide enough to wrap three harpies at once.

Marcus examined the unused harpy trap together with the steel net.

"This is our lucky day," a smile spreading across his face. "We can use this to capture a harpy tomorrow. Our life is about to get a whole lot brighter."

Victor patted Marcus, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "We'll be rich beyond our wildest dreams," he said, his voice filled with anticipation.

They felt a surge of luck wash over them. Tomorrow, they would have the opportunity to capture a harpy.

They knew that the task ahead would not be easy. Harpies were formidable creatures, and capturing one would require careful planning and execution. They would need to set the trap in a strategic location, ensuring the safety of both themselves and the harpy.

Marcus turned to Victor, "I think we should go back. We've been away for too long, they're gonna be suspicious."

Victor nodded in agreement. "Aye, let's go."

As they made their way back up the creaking stairs, Marcus and Victor exchanged determined glances. Lady luck was in their favor and they won't waste any chance.

"Talk about getting arrested by the MerLyon naval army, eh?" Marcus glanced at Victor.

"Damn right."

⁕⁕⁕

Aden heaved a final bundle of scavenged arrows onto the creaking wooden cart with a grunt of exertion. He swiped a forearm across his sweat-beaded brow, surveying their hard-won spoils with undisguised satisfaction.

"I think that's enough for tonight," Ethan said, gripping the handles of the overladen cart. He leaned into the weight, straining to set it in motion. The wheels began to turn with a protesting squeal. "We've picked this area clean."

Aden nodded in agreement, falling into step beside the cart as Ethan guided it away from the rubble-strewn street. "Yes, I'd wager we've swept through every nook and cranny." He aimed a considering look over his shoulder at the decimated storefront they were leaving behind. "Not an arrow left to find."

From the other side of the cart, Maeda's voice rang out as she effortlessly matched their pace. "No more arrows, I see."

The three companions continued on in contemplative silence, the only sound the groaning of the overburdened cart and the muffled crunch of their boots falls on the debris-littered road. Finally, they reached the edge of the ramshackle barricades hastily erected around the village center.

Aden lifted his gaze to regard the makeshift palisades with a critical eye. "We'd best get this lot counted and sorted - make sure we've gathered enough to see us through until the snows set in." His mouth pressed into a grim line. "After that...well, it'll be a different kind of battle, won't it?"

"Aye," Ethan muttered, his expression hardening to match Aden's. "But we'll be ready - thanks to nights like this one." With a grunt of effort, he hauled the cart through the barricade opening, the weight balanced across all their shoulders. Aden and Maeda helped him push the cart.

Following them from behind, Marcus and Victor also got back from their collecting task with buckets full of arrows and bolts. It seemed that they also being productive in this task.

The defenders made their way back to the central courtyard, their torches and candle lamps casting a warm glow. They gathered around, their faces weary but filled with content.

After collecting the arrows and sweeping the village, the volunteers and village men made their way back to the courthouse. They were weary from the day's battle, their bodies aching and their spirits drained.

When they entered the courtyard, they were greeted with the warm glow of torches and the smell of food cooking over an open fire. The villagers had prepared a meal for them, a small but much-needed gesture of appreciation for their efforts.

The volunteers and village men gathered around the fire, their faces illuminated by the flickering flames. They ate in silence, their minds still reeling from the day's events.

After dinner, they relieved themselves, finding a moment of respite from the chaos of battle.

For now, they rested, their bodies and minds at peace, knowing that they had done everything they could to prepare for the battles to come. As their eyes fluttered shut in slumber, the melodic tones of the harpy's lullaby echoed distant in their ears. They dreamed of a future where their village was safe and secure from danger, with harpy cries replaced by sweet melodies of joyous prosperity.

⁕⁕⁕