Things were finally moving, Nine and Twelve left some time ago... and it came close to the time that they had to leave as well.

Six looked at Three, he was still uncertain... but it was too late for that now, with all the things set in motion. If they hesitated? It would just hurt their chances of making all of this work. And well, he was the one who had it all organized, if the organizer stepped down? Things wouldn't look good.

Six doubted that Nine or Twelve knew the location of the exit. So they had to move, and now.

But with the risk... it was easy to plan it all, even make others follow it. But when it was his time to act? Actually, take the risk? He was scared, he was still young... however smart he thought he was. Six still lacked experience, and couldn't anticipate the little things. However hard he tried, even consulted... listened to opinions of his team. They were mostly inefficient. Most were just telling him things he already knew.

But he had to try, give their opinions a chance. And bring them into his calculations, plans.

It was scary, pressuring. But he had to believe. And so Six stood up.

"It's time."

Three looked at him.

"So we are going through with it?"

"What other option do we have, I asked for your opinion at least five or six times by now, and all you answered... was just acceptance."

"You are the mastermind of the whole plan... the way that you found out about the weapon storage room? Or even the location of where they were held?" Scratching his head, Three continued.

"We weren't even aware that they were in the tunnels."

"But that doesn't mean that you have to agree with it... I'm feeling uncertain. It's the first time that... I'm doing something like this."

"What else could we do? We made progress, but for how long could we keep this up? Everyone wants more, with the speech that the [Slaver] held?"

"About living like [Kings]? "

"Yea... and seeing the whole building, and the way that [Servants] greeted him?"

"If he didn't mention those things? With the current way of living? And free food plus training?"

"We would be content, having free food. Free training, even with the chores? It didn't change much."

Three sighed.

"But he had to tell us... and seeing the mansion? And the way that even the hallway looked?"

"Yea, we can't even compare it to the rooms that we have, or the tunnels. Even the lighting was better, who knows what they are eating. Or even the way that live?"

Six stood up, they had to move now... or it would be too late, it would have been so easy to just sit there and talk.

It wasn't the first time that they had this talk. They went over their options a few times already. Checking for any other options. But Six wouldn’t mind that if that would give him a second more.

"It's just scary, with us stealing from them. Even assisting their opponents? And on top of all of that trying to escape?"

Three looked six in the eyes, determined. "We have to do it, that way. We have the best chances, teaming up with them. Even if they betrayed us... we could find a way out."

"Yes... if we didn't find them, the whole plan would be somewhat--- unrealistic." Six nodded.

"And so we have to try... and hope. We can trust them."

Hearing the confidence in Threes voice Six somewhat relaxed. Six was somewhat certain, that they were at least somewhat aware of the things that could go wrong. And the fact that they decided to go with it, meant that it was plausible.

And so the whole delay... talking, trying to find a reason not to do it. Went unsuccessful. They had to leave, now.

And so they did.

_______

They were mad, furious.

The current situation was bad, really bad. They wanted revenge. Retribution, to make the [Slaver] and the rest of them suffer. For cheating them, making them abandon their brother, their leader. Not giving them the opportunity to even bury his body. Or hold a funeral!

And drugging them? After all of that? Locking them up in cells?

It was something that no one expected. Such actions towards the people that they hired? And they didn't even receive the pay. Instead, they were locked up. Who knows where with no hope of exiting. And [Slave] collars around their necks.

Only a little ray of hope that held them from falling into depression? They forgot to set up the collars. They were still inactive, and they still had freedom. Even if they somehow managed to escape? The collars would do nothing, or that was what Claud expected.

With their leader’s death, being slain by employers [Bodyguard], or whatever his class was.

Claud had to admit, that the [Bodyguard] was good. But was he good enough... for them to forgive all this? No.

They were held against their will, drugged. Locked up, deprived of their freedom. And they were even fine with... accepting the death of their leader.

But they played them… that [Slaver] made them look like fools.

They still were receiving food, but what did that change? Nothing... they were mad, but there was no outlet. No way to rage, so they were left there... locked up. With no opportunity, the chance of taking revenge.

They tried to break the bars… to somehow escape. Some even tried digging with the cutlery that they received. But nothing worked. They were there, locked in the darkness. Only during the meal, would a [Servant] leave an orb there, giving off fragile light barely making the trays visible. So that they could eat.

That [Slaver] was weak if any of their group, team found themselves with him one on one? He was done. But that [Bodyguard], some even suspected that he was an [Assassin] or even some scarier class.

It was obvious, the way that he killed their leader? He was high level. But since they came in, they didn't see him. Even if they did? If they received an opportunity to take revenge? Or even just escape. They wouldn't even think about it twice. They would grab the opportunity, and make it work.

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If they managed to escape? They could regroup, communicate with their guild. Organize a way to make them pay, make that [Slaver] pay. Their whole guild could take a big hit, and Claud had no doubts that they would sacrifice Ron to appease them. To save their reputation.

Everything was better than being locked somewhere... most likely underground. Forgotten by time. No one could find them, or their bodies if they ended up dying here. It was depressing.

They were close to collapsing, some still had some hope. But it was fleeting.

Until some of the [Slaves] found them, and they were kids. Easy to manipulate, a simple combination of truth and lies... made them close, quickly.

Now they had hope, a way out. And if what they heard about that [Bodyguard] was true? Him only being there temporarily, only there to protect him during the trip?

They could even overtake the whole mansion, ransack the place. Have their revenge. The only sour part of that plan was... that they couldn't keep the mansion if they succeeded. If the [Slaver] guild found out it was them? If they succeeded... they would be out for their heads.

But even without that? If they took everything, they wouldn't need to work a single day in their lives. No more risks, no more protecting people.

All they needed now? Was for the two [Slaves] to come through with their bargain, and they had a fair chance. To escape, get their revenge. Maybe even more.

And if they failed? They could just take [Slaves] as hostages, and Claud doubted that the [Slaver] would risk losing so many [Slaves]. And in all that chaos? A bit of distraction? They could make do with it, use that one second, and turn the tables.

As they sat there, they didn't talk. They already did that, everyone had their orders. What to do, how to react.

And all that was left... was waiting. For the two [Slaves] to show up, and it was getting closer to the arranged time.

_______

Six and Three got to the door, carrying seven swords, now all they had to do is, open the door.

"Are you ready?"

Three nodded, as he was carrying the swords Six was the one to push open the door.

The room was the same as theirs, only there was an additional pair of metal bars, that separated the door, and people in it.

As they entered, they saw them... [Guards], that were with them. That escorted them to the mansion. There were five left, one of them died... was killed by Shadow. And the rest? They were locked up here.

Compared to them, [Slaves] had it good. Freedom to move, a bathroom. Here it stank, of piss. They had a bucket in one corner. But they seemed not to mind it, as they sat, some lay.

As Six entered, he could feel eyes on him, burning gazes. But as soon as he tried to spot who was doing that. It was gone, and the atmosphere turned back to a friendly one… that he was familiar with.

Hearing the door open, Claud looked up. He put a smile on his face... like he was seeing long-lost relatives. And with a friendly voice spoke.

"Six, Three you are here. It's so nice to see you again!"

Six flinched a bit, he couldn't tell if he was actually happy to see them. Everything from his posture, to the tone of his voice... seemed friendly. But it felt somewhat off, and it wasn't the first time that he felt that from Claud, the leader of [Guards].

"What did you expect? We made a deal Claud!"

With those words, the rest of them sat up... approached the bars, all with smiles, friendly looks.

"Six, Three you are both amazing. We still have no clue how you managed something like this!"

A guy next to Claud cheered.

"Gerald, calm down... we don't want to attract attention."

The guy, Gerald scratched his head, with a silly smile on his face, he apologized.

"Sorry Claud... you know, I'm just a bit excited."

Six smiled, somehow that little back and forth... seemed so like his own team. Were they really different? They were both prisoners. And that surely made it possible for them to work together.

"So how do you guys plan on getting out? Can you actually cut these bars?"

"Don't you worry Six, we'll even teach you once you Awaken if you decide to stick with us!" Gerald announced. With his smile still plastered on his face.

Six and Three looked surprised, they didn't expect much... but if they could get more than just help with the escape... from them? Now there was even a path, that would guarantee their future.

"So the stories about Awakening were real?"

Gerald nodded, before he could say anything Claud interjected.

"We'll talk later, I hope that you boys managed to bring the weapons?"

Six smiled at the expectant tone in Clauds voice.

"We wouldn't have come, if we didn't"

The smiles, on their faces, grew even wider.

"Good, good, just pass them to us through the bars, and we'll be out in a blink."

Six didn't want to show any hesitation... maybe they would take it the wrong way, and they were already here. So he took the swords from Three and passed them to Claud.

Unrolling the sheets and taking the swords out, Claud inspected them. He whistled, amazed.

"These are even better than the ones that we had, you boys did a fine job."

Another voice joined.

"These are made for the armies, probably for the ongoing war. And the quality? Probably made for high-level [Soldiers] maybe even [Captains]."

Claud looked at the guy who spoke. It was dark, but somewhat about that guy… was strange. Before he could see more, Claude asked.

"You think so, Cedric? Any idea what the inscriptions on these do?"

"No idea, but they shouldn't have any issues with cutting through these bars, even without skills."

As he finished, Gerald swung his sword... it was similar to the strikes that Shadow made, but faster, with more force behind it.

The sword cleanly sliced through five bars, stopping at sixth. Gerald whistled at the result. Seeing how the sword stopped at the sixth bar, he just used more force, and the sword went straight through the bar.

Six was surprised how little noise that made, he expected a big clash? Metal against metal, sparks flying. But that sword just went through the bars... like his teeth through bread. Before he could take it all in.

Gerald swung again, cutting through the same five bars just on the opposite end. Before they could fall, Claud casually caught them, with a single-arm, still holding the sword in his other arm.

"With those weapons? If every single one is like them? We are as good as free."

Gerald looked at him, then at the sword. Then at the collar around Clauds neck.

"You think they can cut through the collars?"

That made them all stare at Gerald. Most with expectation, only Three and Six were confused.

Three had to ask... why were they making such a big deal.

"Aren't those collars a reward? We got them for being the best of our teams?"

At that [Guards] burst into laughter... before catching themselves, remembering that they still weren't out.

"No kid, that's for the [Slaver] so that he can basically punish you without even lifting a finger... if you have them on."

As Gerald, talked with the kids. Claud and Cedric attempted cutting the collars. But to no success.

After a few swings, to no avail, Cedric paused.

"Maybe if we used skills? But what if it detonates?"

Claud nodded.

"Better to wait, and see if we can get the keys from that [Slaver]... before risking."

Coming to that conclusion, Claud and Cedric exchanged glances. Nodded, and Claud went towards Gerald and two [Slaves]

"Boys, now that we are out... it’s time to lead us towards that meeting spot that you arranged. And we shall get you out."

Six looked at Claud seeing him there, up close standing straight. Now that his voice was no longer friendly, amiable.

Six felt like... he was seeing them for the first time. He barely came to the height of his chest. And they were strong. Their arms were the size of Sixs legs. He prayed, hard. Hoping that... they could survive this, and that the [Guards] wouldn't kill them. Or just sell them off.

Three noticed that Six wasn't moving... so he just took the lead, with five [Guards] in tow and Six following behind... lost in his thoughts?

Three didn't know why now that they were so close... Six didn't look happier. Well, it didn't matter. Soon they would see the sun again.