Near a Redwing Kingdom village on the way to the Parnatau Gap, in a field camp on a hill, in a large tent…

Thud!

「What!?」

Shooting out of his chair, the black-haired man slams his armored fist down onto his table. Namir, Absid, and Sa-id all flinch with their heads lowered. The guards at the entrance look in the direction of the sound, then slowly turn their eyes back outside the tent. The table creaks under the weight of his armor as the purple-caped man leans over it.

「…There was nothing we could have done, General Khamus. A magic attack killed nearly all of our field commanders within seconds… They were far outside of the range of normal magic.」

Sa-id explains in a quiet, deferential voice, barely raising his gaze off the general's table. Khamus sits back down, glaring at the three standing in front of him.

「A magic attack or not, dead officers or not… How did our forces get routed!? You said it yourself, that they had an inferior force!」

Slam!

He shouts, throwing his hands up, before quickly throwing his fist back down onto the battered table. With his elbows back on his armrests, he rests his cheek on his cold, armored fingers.

「General… In Sa-id's defense… Straf Katastrof Vindict was there. He arrived-」

Namir chimes in, pointing his hand to the side at Sa-id, who is hanging his head low with a tight-lipped grimace.

「Who?」

The general bluntly asks with a no-nonsense, frustrated tone.

「…Straf Katastrof Vindict, general. He's their Minister of Finances, and responsible for their bad money. He arrived by some form of a… Magical construction on wheels…」

Namir nods very hesitantly, cautiously watching the general and expertly picking the right tone for each word to explain without further agitating him.

「A magical construction on wheels?」

「It was like a cart without a horse. And made odd sounds.」

Absid nods in reply, quickly chiming in too.

「…Yes. But the important part is, general, that he oozed confidence. He taunted us. His forces may have been inferior numerically, but he was well prepared.」

Namir nods along, giving his impression of Straf. The general glares at all three with cold eyes, thinking in silence with a scowl on his face.

「Before we left, we saw their troops throw something at ours, then our men disappeared in a flash of light and a cloud of dust. I believe I've heard of this happening in Telas Kingdom as well.」

Sa-id quickly clears his throat and explains in a quiet voice, only raising his eyes at the end of his statement.

「So the month that was given to them to assemble the gold, was instead used to prepare for us…」

Frustrated, Khamus rubs his gauntlet's finger on his brow as he lets out a large sigh.

「Yes, general. I believe it was a terrible misplay on the kingdom's part.」

Sa-id nods along with a grim and serious face. The other two quickly join him.

「Tsk… Those fucking idiots… Of course the enemy will lie in wait if they know you're coming!…」

The general throws his armored hand up with his eyes turned aside, looking at the tent's cloth wall, and nowhere special in particular. The three freeze up stiff when his gaze returns.

「You. You are going to return to the capital, and you are going to explain to the king that we now have a war on our hands. You will go there, face him…」

「Yes, general…」「Yes, general…」「Yes, general…」

The three officials nod along, keeping their head lowered and their gazes down on his table with tight-lipped grimaces.

「…And you will tell him that we also lost a significant portion of our army to a not so significant enemy force. You will use that exact wording, inferior forces, got it?」

General Khamus says, scowling at the men, grimacing heavily, glaring up at them from his wide chair.

「…Yes, general.」「…Yes, general.」「…Yes, general.」

The three men meekly nod along again. The general scoffs, and nods with them.

「Go.」

He utters out in a commanding tone, and all three bow, then turn to exit, trailing out of the tent. Khamus shakes his head the entire time…

…

Around the same time, nearby the camp on a hill, in the shadows of the mountains…

An armored soldier is making the rounds around the camp, patrolling the exterior edge of the large tent city with a torch in one hand, and a longsword in the other. His wary gaze drifts down to a nearby forest every few seconds, and an uneasy expression appears on his face each time, but he then turns his gaze elsewhere and continues looking for a potential intruder, otherwise a threat.

Whirrrr…

「Huh?…」

An odd sound briefly becomes faintly audible, before disappearing just as quick. The guard looks left and right, then down towards the forest on his side, again with an increasingly troubled face.

Ffsshfshshsh…

Something rustles the frosted-over grass behind him. Wide-eyed, he swings his whole body around, holding his torch high up.

Thump!… Thump-thump-thumpTHUMP!

Before his eyes can readjust to the blinding torchlight being moved out of the way, he notices a tall black shape jump off something moving and large, then rush towards him.

Shwik…

「Hrk!-」

The cat-masked man thrusts the bastard of a dagger and a shortsword into the guard's throat. His eyes readjust, but his vision also becomes blurry and darkened at the edges.

Whirrrrr…

「Hhhrk?…」

The stumbling guard watches as a fox and an owl turn the cars away, and drive off into the forest down the hill. His eyes roll back, and he loses his balance, bleeding profusely over his armor.

Before he can tumble to the ground, the cat rushes in and gently sets him down on the stiff grass, making nary a sound.

「Safe.」

The cat says in a hushed voice as he's squatting near the bleeding man, and turns his mask to the wolf, who's stomping the torchlight away.

「Good job… Everyone, get to work…」

The wolf nods, then gestures his cloak-covered head towards the camp. The cat, the bull, and the rest of the team return a quick nod, then slip into the darkness between the tents.

Avoiding the sparsely planted standing torches, the cat continues deeper into the field camp. Cautiously peering over the corners, he avoids idling soldiers and bored sentries at intersections in the camp as he delves deeper in. He notices a large tent with cloth flaps over its entrance, and approaches with a fast, but cautious step in a high crouch, swiveling his cloak-covered head constantly. He stops to listen for a few seconds, and when he hears nothing, proceeds closer to the entrance.

Slowly, he sticks his glove's steel claw-tipped fingers into the flaps' split, and pushes one aside just enough to peek inside through the gap.

Soldiers are sleeping on rolled-out goat, sheep, bovine, or otherwise animal hides. Their armor sets and weapons are right beside them, but all are wearing only their winter clothing to sleep. He dares to peek his mask inside. Deeper inside the tent, in its corners, everything remains the same. Sleeping soldiers… Theoretically armed, but defenseless.

The cat pulls his metal face out and peeks over his cloaked shoulder, then hurries away from the tent in a silent, hunched trot…

…

Roughly fifteen minutes later, deep inside the camp, a little off its center…

A wolf-masked man approaches a large, well lit tent within an already well lit area of the camp. He notices an unhitched cart laden with crates and miscellaneous military equipment, tucked away into a tight space between two tents, then slips underneath it. The ground is cold, and the thin layer of snow over the frosty grass only aids it in sapping away warmth.

…Clank… Clank… Clank… Clank…

The wolf becomes still as heavy, clattering footsteps approach his position.

「…So I told him,「Fuck off, slave away in a mine, then.」and left to join up.」

Clank. Clank. Clank.

「Yeah, same story as everyone else. You're either in the army, or…」

Clank. Clank. Clank… Clank… Clank…

The two soldiers continue discussing something, unaware of the wolf in hiding as their armored feet pass him by. Their voices quickly become obscured by their loud footsteps as they gain distance.

The wolf-masked man cautiously peeks one eye out of the crevice to the side, then one to the other. When he sees no guards, he quickly pulls himself out from underneath the cart. He shivers slightly as he plants his feet back on the ground, then continues towards the large tent. There are two of small, standing braziers on each side of the entrance. The flames within them dance around, banishing the mountains' shadows in a rather large area.

After quickly checking for more guards around corners, the wolf hurries closer to the tent, slowing down the closer he gets to its cloth. Being fully lit, his head swivels around back and forth. He slows further, taking slow, cautious steps as he approaches the entrance.

「Guards!…」

A voice from the tent exclaims. The wolf's head quickly swivels around back and forth, despite the voice sounding more frustrated than alarmed. He sees nobody around himself.

「…Roll the flaps down! I'll be going to sleep soon! Unless something happens, tell everyone to fuck off and don't wake me! I'll have their fucking head if it's something trivial!」

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

The irate voice adds. The growling wolf lets out a long, steady, quiet exhale of relief. He quickly backpedals back behind the tent's corner, making sure he doesn't walk into actual guards.

「Yes, General Khamus!」「Yes, General!」

Two younger, less jaded voices reply from within the tent. The flaps abruptly drop down from the ceiling level, obscuring everything inside. The wolf looks over his shoulder.

He nods, then returns to the entrance in a slow, silent step. He waits, steadily swiveling his head, smoothly turning his mask back and forth, never stopping.

When he returns his eyes to the opposite corner of the tent, he sees a bull-masked man emerge. He gives the long, snow-dusted tent street a cursory peek, then approaches the entrance. The wolf reaches beneath his cloak, looking at the bull. They move their hands towards the flaps, but don't quite stick their fingers between them, simply holding them near the cloth itself. They look at each other again, and for a brief moment, they simply stare at each other. The wolf then tilts his head towards the tent, and the bull nods.

The wolf folds his pinkie and thumb down to his palm, raising three fingers up so that the bull can see them clearly. He nods again. The growling wolf counts down.

Three-two-one.

Fwa-fwap!

They push the cloth flaps aside and rush in. Inside, a short-haired, armored man is staring pensively at a map stretched across his table. With his cheek on his armored fist, his elbow is rested on a tiny sliver of space left on the table. The two heavily armored guards blink at the two masked intruders, too surprised and confused to even grip at the swords in their sheaths. When they realize that they haven't really seen anyone in their army dressed like the two in front of them, only then they move their hands to their swords.

Tfwap-Tfwap!

「Hrk!-」「Hhhhhk!?-」

Before they can shout, the wolf and the bull each shoot their hand crossbows into the guards' throats. They stumble backwards, abandoning their attempt to draw their weapons as they clutch onto the bolts stuck in them. The distracted general raises his eyes, furrowing his brows.

「What the fuck?-」

Before he can finish his sentence, he sees a bull charging at him. He jumps out of his seat, hops aside out of the table, and draws his sword all at the same time.

Thwump!

In his rush, the bull knocks the large table over with ease. His charge doesn't stop there, and the bull lunges at the general before he can use his weapon.

Thud!…

A brief wrestling bout begins as the bull-masked man drives his oddly-proportioned sword towards the armored man's exposed throat. He doesn't allow it, placing his feet on the bull's stomach and gripping onto his weapon hand. The intruder is attempting to use his weight to his advantage, and General Khamus is using the ground as a support in resisting him.

「Youu… Fffuckerrr!…」

He curses through his clenched teeth, struggling with the assassin, both stuck in a deadlock. General Khamus glares at his enemy with an expression of wrath and defiance.

《…There were two!》

His expression quickly turns to panic when he sees a wolf-masked man appear over the bear's shoulder, holding the same type of weapon in a reverse grip.

「No-!」

Shwik-shwik-shwikshwikshwik-shwik…

Wide-eyed, he raises his hand in an effort to plead with the second assassin, then grab his weapon hand when it doesn't work. One stab delivered in his throat is enough to collapse his defense against the bull, and the two end up driving their bastard daggers into the general multiple times, spattering the nearby cloth with blood.

「…I didn't think we'd pull off plan A, and especially not with you here, sergeant.」

The growling wolf says, turning his metal face to the rather neutral, blood-spattered bull.

「Life is full of surprises-」

「…Intruder! Intruder!…」

The bull goes silent when a distant shout of alarm cries out. Despite being inside a tent, they look in its general direction and listen.

「…Plan B?」

The bull asks, tilting his head as the two look at each other again. With every passing moment, the camp seems to grow louder and louder as voices begin to chatter.

「Seems like it. They must have found the sentry.」

The wolf says as he stands back up. The immediate area around the general's tent is quiet, and only filled with gurgling and the sound of death throes against the bare grass.

Rrrrrip!…

With a steady, confident swing, he cleaves apart the cloth behind where the general's chair was. The bull brings one of the standing braziers in.

「Good. Light up the bed. Let's get out of here…」

The wolf nods at the general's bed by the tent's wall. The bull brings the brazier over, then dumps the burning coals into the straw and hide-padded bed. It lights with ease, spewing smoke.

After a quick peek outside, the wolf and the bear make a hasty departure through the new exit, while the tent starts burning away…

…

Ten minutes later…

Clack! Clack! Clack! Clack Clack!…

The ground rumbles from armored footsteps racing around the camp. Pillars of smoke rise into the sky, only briefly lit by their source before merging with the dark above.

「Save the supplies!… The supplies are on fire!」

One of the soldiers screams, frantically pointing towards the lower edge of the camp.

「The general's tent is burning too! Bring the water there!」

Another voice shouts at the firefighters carrying the buckets, giving conflicting instructions to the already panicking soldiers.

「None of you outrank us! Where the fuck are the officers!?… Start carrying water too, you fucking pricks!」

Clack!-Clack!-Clack!-Clack!…

The group of soldiers stumble over their feet while trying to pick a direction, before one of them shouts back. He runs in the direction of the supplies, and the rest follow.

「Stop!… Hey! Intruder! Intruder in the camp! Green cloak!」

A voice from between the tents shouts. A large band of soldiers converge on the voice, then chaotically disperse in all directions…

…

At the same time, on the edge of the camp.

「…Stop!… Hey! Intruder! Intruder in the camp! Green cloak!…」

A distant voice shouts. A young, frightened soldier jitters in his armor. He grips onto his halberd tighter and gulps loudly, taking slow, hesitant steps towards the voice.

…Clack! Clack! Clack! Clack!…

「Oh shit…」

He utters out as loud footsteps approach from within the camp, and his eyes widen. He grips onto his halberd tighter, raising it with a tight-lipped expression. His hands shake, clattering quietly.

「Ah!」

He shouts in panic as a shape emerges from a corner right next to him. He swings the halberd down with all his might.

Clakrrrkkkkk!… Thud!

「Oh fuck!…」

The young soldier utters out when he sees another soldier on the ground, bleeding profusely from a slash in his throat and a portion of his shoulder, feebly trying to stop the blood with his hand.

…Clack! Clack! Clack! Clack!…

「…Oh fuck. Oh shit…」

He turns his panicked gaze to the corner again as he hears the exact same footsteps, shaking in his armor. He now recognizes them as the sound of the clattering sabatons.

「Hey! There's someone dead there!… No wait, he's still moving!…」

Clack!-Clack!-Clack!-Clack!…

A voice shouts, and the footsteps get closer. A group of soldiers emerges from the corner, all staring at the mortally wounded man on the ground.

「Shit…」

One of them utters out, furrowing his brows.

「Hey! Did you see them!? Where did they go!?」

The lead soldier of the group steps up to the frightened young man. Tight-lipped, he points his shaky, armored finger in a random direction to the side.

「T- They went there, I think… I found him like this…」

He replies, and glances at the half-conscious soldier, who's staring up at him, constantly spitting blood out of his mouth. He can only afford a momentary glance before the guilt gets becomes great.

「Hey! Let's go! Fuck 'em up!」

The lead infantryman shouts to the rest, then waves his arm for them to follow.

Clack!-Clack!-Clack!-Clack!…

The group runs off, and the young man steps around the wounded soldier in an excessive arc.

「Sorry… Sorry… It was an accident… Sorry…」

He apologizes as he moves to catch up with the rest. The man's eyes follow him for a few more seconds, before his gaze tracks something completely different…