As evening descended, the head of the guard departed from the main office to another building within the compound.
“Be prepared, Ducky. It’s our turn now,” Hikaru instructed in a hushed tone.
They initiated their operation. Hikaru handed his backpack to Masaki and swiftly donned the eerily realistic human skin mask. Together, they moved to a vantage point overlooking the compound, waiting patiently as the carriage they had been observing during their stakeout approached.
Masaki sprang into action, stepping boldly into the path of the oncoming carriage. The coachman, startled, brought the horses to a sudden halt, shouting in confusion, “What are you doing, lass?”
Masaki knelt on the dirt road, her voice carrying urgency and determination. “Please, take me inside! I need to see my friend. She was unjustly punished and forced to work as a slave there!”
The coachman, startled and confused, glanced back at the luxurious carriage. Inside, the passenger, a stern-looking noble, peered through the curtains. “Ignore her,” he instructed coldly, his voice dripping with indifference. “Drive around.”
As the carriage began to maneuver around Masaki, she kept her position, creating a momentary distraction. Meanwhile, unnoticed beneath the carriage, Hikaru moved silently and swiftly. He secured his hold, muscles tensed and breath steady. Every creak of the wheels and snort of the horses masked his movements, allowing him to go unnoticed.
The carriage rolled forward, oblivious to the silent stowaway clinging to its underside, while Masaki watched with a satisfied smirk, knowing their plan was in motion. With steady determination, Hikaru concealed himself amidst the shadows and clung to his precarious perch as the carriage rolled towards the Red Curtain entrance.
After the carriage gained entry, Masaki quietly returned to the farm and climbed up a sturdy tree overlooking the entire compound.
Inside the compound, the carriage’s passenger entered the building to the left, while the coachman parked near the fanciest building in the compound. Hikaru carefully observed, expecting the passenger to remain there for hours. Patiently, he waited until he spotted the familiar guard he intended to impersonate. With precision, he moved forward with his plan.
[Sleepy Touch] (L1 Illusion Magic Skill)
*Fwish* Hikaru sneaked up on the coachman from the side and put him to sleep. Since it was the only carriage parked in the compound and the guard had just passed by, no one saw him in action. Hikaru then hurriedly approached the familiar guard and subdued him using the same method.
[Sleepy Touch] (L1 Illusion Magic Skill)
*Fwish* the guard immediately collapsed to the ground. Hikaru quickly dragged him to a nearby bush to conceal him from view. Carefully, he removed the guard’s uniform and put it on himself. Checking the guard’s pocket, he found his citizenship card.
“So your name is Jake. Sorry, Jake…” Hikaru mused silently to himself.
As he approached the main office, the other guards didn’t notice anything unusual and passed by him normally. He waited until there were no guards around before he sneaked inside the main office. The office was spacious, with ornate wooden desks arranged neatly and shelves filled with leather-bound books and scrolls lining the walls. The air was heavy with the scent of aged paper and faint traces of expensive perfume.
Moving swiftly and silently, Hikaru scanned the room for any documents or records that could serve as leverage to exonerate Mina. He checked the desk drawers, flipping through meticulously organized files and papers. His eyes darted across the room, searching for clues amidst the luxurious decor and meticulously maintained surroundings.
Finding a locked drawer, Hikaru brute-forced the lock and rifled through its contents. Among the neatly stacked documents, he discovered a fancy-looking ledger detailing transactions and dealings within the estate.
‘So the slaves here aren’t just owned by the Rowan family; some are rented out by other aristocrats to Viscount Rowan for money. If this ledger disappeared, Viscount Rowan would be in deep trouble,’ he thought to himself.
Hikaru should have just taken the journal and pretended to be on patrol, but he was too preoccupied with the entries.
As he read, he thought to himself, ‘Some of the soulstones were obviously sold to the Elvira kingdom and the black market, but the king probably already noticed and decided to turn a blind eye.’
Delving deeper, he uncovered another startling revelation. ‘Wait, Viscount Rowan is the person Kaito used to sell the soulstones he obtained illegally during the Aran war!? So, the soulstones here aren’t just from slaves, but from other questionable sources as well. If the royal family knew, there’s a chance the viscount would get demoted or face some other kind of punishment!’
A moment later, Hikaru noticed a shift in the guards’ movement patterns outside. They seemed to be alerted by something, their movements becoming more coordinated and urgent. Realizing he needed to act fast, Hikaru quickly did what he needed to do, tucked the ledger inside his clothes, and stepped out of the office.
As he emerged, he found himself surrounded by guards, their weapons drawn and ready. The head guard, a burly man with a scar running down his cheek, stepped forward and commanded, “Surrender now!”
Hikaru’s mind raced. He reached inside his clothes with his right hand, pulling out the ledger, while his left hand began casting a spell.
[Fireball: Hover] (L1 Fire Magic Skill)
A small, intense fireball hovered menacingly above his palm. “Don’t move, or I will burn this ledger!” Hikaru threatened, holding the ledger dangerously close to the flickering flame.
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The head guard’s eyes widened in panic. “DON’T! IF YOU BURN THAT, THE VISCOUNT WILL HUNT YOU DOWN TO THE ENDS OF THE ERUDITE!” he shouted, his voice tinged with desperation.
Hikaru smirked, his eyes flickering with determination. “Then tell your men to back off,” he said, his voice cold and unwavering. The guards hesitated, glancing nervously at their leader, unsure of their next move. The tension in the air was palpable, each second stretching into an eternity as they awaited the head guard’s decision.
The head guard clenched his fists and gestured for his men to back down as they moved outside the building to the parking area.
“I want a rabbitman slave named Mina to be freed immediately,” Hikaru demanded, his voice steady and commanding. “Tell the Viscount to abide by my command, or he can say goodbye to this ledger! Oh, and bring all her belongings here.”
The head guard hesitated, exchanging a tense glance with his subordinates. Without a word, he turned and briskly made his way back into the main office. Inside, he swiftly activated a telelink messenger to relay Hikaru’s ultimatum to Viscount Rowan.
Outside, Hikaru stood resolute, his eyes fixed on the office door as minutes stretched by like hours. The parking area remained eerily silent, save for the distant sounds of guards shifting uneasily on their feet.
After what felt like an eternity, the head guard emerged from the office. His expression was unreadable as he approached Hikaru, who awaited his verdict with unwavering determination.
“The Viscount agrees to your demand,” the head guard finally announced, relief evident in his voice. “We will bring Mina and her belongings to you.”
True to his word, the guards swiftly returned with Mina in tow, her eyes wide with astonishment and hope. Behind her, they carried a bundle of belongings, carefully gathered from her quarters.
“Are these all your belongings, Mina?” Hikaru asked, his voice edged with concern.
Still bewildered by the sudden turn of events, Mina nodded slowly. “Yes, but they took my innate ability,” she replied, her voice tinged with sadness.
Hikaru’s eyes narrowed with determination. “You heard her. Return her innate ability,” he demanded firmly, the fireball in his left hand hovering dangerously close to the ledger, threatening to burn it to ash.
“Wait, wait! You can’t expect us to give her the soulstones. We’ll lose the blank orbs containing the skill!” protested the head guard, his voice tinged with desperation.
Hikaru smirked knowingly. “So, I suppose this ledger isn’t as valuable as I thought,” he remarked casually, inching the fireball closer to the ledger.
“STOOOP! Okay, okay, just stop!” the head guard capitulated finally, sweat beading on his forehead.
Meanwhile, perched atop a tree outside the compound, Masaki watched as Hikaru and Mina were surrounded. Concern etched on her face, she disregarded Hikaru’s orders and swooped down to join them.
*Whumph* Masaki landed beside Mina resolutely.
“M-Masaki?” Mina’s eyes widened in surprise and relief. Without hesitation, she hugged Masaki tightly. “Thank you! Thank you so much!” Her voice trembled with gratitude.
Hikaru, keeping his gaze on the head guard, gave a curt nod to Masaki before refocusing. “Enough, hurry up and give me the soulstones!” he barked, his tone sharp.
The head guard, visibly shaken, nodded vigorously. “Alright, alright,” he muttered, turning to his men. “Bring me the soulstones!”
The guards scrambled to comply, their movements hurried and anxious. Within moments, one of them handed over a box containing two soulstones.
The head guard presented the box with trembling hands. “Here, take them.”
Hikaru, still holding the fireball close to the ledger, turned to Mina. “Mina, take the box and check the soulstones.”
Mina stepped forward, her hands steadying as she took the box from the guard. She opened it carefully, her eyes scanning each soulstone inside. With a deep breath, she inspected them one by one.
“These… these are mine,” she confirmed, her voice filled with relief.
Hikaru nodded. “Good. Let’s finish this and get out of here.”
“So I’ve complied with your demands. Hand over the ledger now!” the head guard demanded.
“Not so fast,” Hikaru replied, his tone firm. “To ensure our safety, we will walk out of the compound first. I will place this ledger ten meters away from the entrance of the Red Curtain. You may only move up to the entrance and are prohibited from attacking or following us. If I see anyone disobey my command, I will destroy the ledger with this fireball. Once we’re out of sight, you can retrieve it.”
The guards stood back, allowing Hikaru to walk out of the compound. Both Masaki and Mina, carrying her belongings, followed him closely behind. Hikaru kept a steady pace, his eyes never leaving the guards, ensuring they followed his instructions. Masaki and Mina exchanged anxious glances, but the determination in Hikaru’s stance gave them reassurance. As they reached the entrance, Hikaru turned back briefly to make sure the guards kept their distance, the fireball still hovering ominously in his hand.
‘Masaki disobeyed my order. The guards probably recognized the distinct crimson wings of the Kaya clan and can trace back who Masaki is. Fortunately, I already made precautions,’ he silently thought to himself.
Once they reached the designated spot, Hikaru carefully placed the ledger on the ground, ten meters away from the entrance. Keeping an eye on the guards, he reached into his hip pouch and pulled out a picture of the entries of the scroll he took before going out of the main office.
Next, He stood up and faced the head guard. “Tell Viscount Rowan this,” Hikaru said, his voice calm but firm. “I have taken a photograph of a certain page of the ledger. If the Viscount ever targets Mina or the Kaya clan, this photograph, which proves his illegal transactions with a notorious fugitive, will find its way to the royal family. You have my word.”
The head guard’s face paled, understanding the gravity of the situation. He nodded stiffly, unable to mask his fear and frustration.
Without another word, Hikaru turned and led Masaki and Mina away from the compound. The guards remained motionless, their eyes shifting between Hikaru and the ledger, too afraid to act until the trio was safely out of sight.
They hurried back to the second ring and flagged down a carriage to take them home. As they rode, Hikaru removed the human skin mask and changed into his regular clothes. Mina sat quietly, tears streaming down her cheeks, overwhelmed with emotion. She hugged Masaki tightly, expressing her gratitude to Hikaru in a choked voice.
“Hikaru, thank you so much,” Mina whispered, her voice trembling. “I can't believe you did this for a stranger like me.”
Hikaru placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Don’t mention it, Mina. You’re free now. If the Rowan family gives you any trouble, let me know. I have something that will make them think twice.”
Mina nodded, wiping her tears. “I will. Thank you, both of you.”
Masaki smiled warmly. “You’re welcome, Mina. We’re just glad you’re safe. Your mother couldn’t stop crying because she was worried about you. You should hurry back home.”
The carriage continued its journey through the bustling streets of the city, carrying each of them to their homes as the operation concluded flawlessly.
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At midnight inside the Rowan residence, Viscount Rowan sat in his ornate study, his brow furrowed deeply. Beside him, the ledger lay open on his desk, its damning contents revealed. His fingers trembled as he traced the entries that now threatened his esteemed reputation.
“This intruder,” he muttered under his breath, his voice a low growl. “He managed to unearth my family's secret dealings and has the evidence to ruin our reputation.”
His advisors stood in nervous silence, awaiting his command. Viscount Rowan straightened, his eyes cold and calculating.
“Send word to all our people,” he instructed sharply. “Don’t interfere with the Kaya clan or Mina’s affairs. Mina is now a free rabbitman! Also, find out the real identity of the man responsible for this incident and leave no stone unturned!”
As his aides hurriedly left the room, the viscount leaned back in his chair, his mind racing with the implications of the Red Curtain infiltration. Now with all the dramas within the family and his family secret revealed, he had to tread carefully not to worsen his current situation.