After wasting about an hour, he was finally freed from the harpoon trap.
Kara had spent the entire hour pouting and sulking, all while she and the other girls worked to pull the ten or so harpoons wedged through his body and firmly into the ground, leaving behind large cracks and holes once they were fully out.
“Man… why did you have to waste this? This was one of our best traps, you know, took us about a month to load up the guns, and now we have to do it all over again…”
“Yeah, I wonder whose fault that is,” Anten replied bluntly while flying above them and grabbing the harpoons from the top, ready to pull on the signal.
“I did try to stop you guys though…”
After the last harpoon was pulled out, Dauma collapsed to the ground, the bloody wounds he had quickly sealing up. He had not been particularly hurt by the trap, unlike the time he was shot by the village attacker, but he was still slightly shaken up and tired by the whole ordeal.
“I’m fine… just give me a moment…”
“You’re fine,” Kara remarked, her pouty face instantly disappearing, “come on, let’s keep moving, we’re almost there.”
“And you’re sure there won’t be any more traps along the way?” he replied.
“I promise… well, maybe one,” she hesitated before correcting herself.
“Ugh.”
**********************
After passing by a few more buildings and carefully maneuvering their way past the unknown trap she had mentioned, the group found themselves facing a metal gate, where a massive courtyard lay behind it, surrounded by brick walls and rusty grilles.
Beyond the courtyard was a mansion.
From the distance, it looked very old and damaged, though not to the same extent as some of the other buildings they had passed by. It at least seemed like it had fared better with time, even if it had still taken its toll in the end.
“Our destination is just inside,” Kara clarified as she pulled open the gate with a loud screeching noise and strolled into the courtyard happily, with the other three moving slowly behind her.
“…”
“…”
Despite the initial silence as they approached the mansion, it slowly began to come to life. Shadows darted behind the broken windows. Whispers could be heard getting louder and louder.
“Bang!”
Just as they walked past a dried-up fountain in the center, the two front doors suddenly burst open, and a group of people ran out and stopped in front of them.
Half of them were clad in military uniforms, much like the village attacker had worn, but there were white markings on most of them, all painted in various different portions. On their sleeves, on their pants, but most had them on the front rather than the back.
The other half were wearing shawls with their hoods pulled up, similar to what Kara was wearing, but unlike her dirty brown, most of them were either grey or black, with the former outnumbering the latter.
All of them were wearing the same fox masks that she had shown them with varying degrees of damage, with some being brand new and almost spotless, and some being absolutely torn apart to the point where they could almost see the face of the person behind it.
However, none of those were a concern or a particularly important detail to note for them at the current moment, as they were more focused on the rifles that were directly pointed at them.
“Huh, seems like overkill,” Kara whispered as the fox mask group parted and the person in the center stepped forward and spoke in a booming voice.
“Move one step forward, and we will shoot! This is our only warning!”
In response, Kara stepped forward.
The group quickly cocked their rifles, but they lowered them as soon as they saw her step out. The person who had given the warning took a step back in shock.
“A… Advisor!”
He lowered his own rifle before composing himself and bowing, the rest of the group quickly following suit.
“Forgive us for not noticing you sooner, advisor. We were just responding to the strange beast next to you.”
“Psh, it’s fine,” she casually waved the threat attempt aside, “and if you’re talking about Mister Dau, I can vouch for him, so you don’t have to attack.”
“Him?”
“Yes. He may look like a weird beast or supernatural being, but I trust him. Same goes for the other two with me, although I’m not 100% sure on them just yet.”
“You can trust me as well,” Anten immediately chimed in with her hand placed over her heart, and Yuu was rapidly nodding her head up and down to affirm her statement.
“…”
The center man was not giving his attention to them, but instead, he kept his eyes fixed on Dauma, who was shifting around awkwardly, trying to maintain eye contact with him.
I wonder what I look like to them now.
After a pause, the man reluctantly waved the other fox masks aside, and they did so slowly and doubtfully.
“You all may pass, but if you’re lying, advisor, this will not look good for you at all,” he warned as the four made their way past them.
“I’ll keep that in mind. Keep up the good work, boys!” Kara replied coolly as she patted his shoulder, not showing even the slightest concern about the dangerous weapon in his hand.
Despite the tension still being very noticeably present, they passed through the large wooden front doors and entered the mansion without incident.
**********************
“What’s your purpose in coming back here, advisor? Was there an issue with the village visit?”
The large fox mask group followed closely behind them after they shut the doors, with the center man walking alongside and conversing with Kara as they walked through the large entrance hall.
“Nothing that we can fix. I just wanted to introduce my new friends to Aleby.”
“I see. Watch the steps, they haven’t been fixed in a while,” the man tossed aside the village issue almost automatically as he spoke to the other three.
Together, the group made their way up the grand staircase at the back of the hall.
Indeed, the steps were a complete mess. They had most likely been built with wood when the mansion was first constructed, and the scorching heat and lack of maintenance had turned it from a beautiful piece of architecture to a rotting, crumbly husk.
However, there was one part of it that was seemingly different from the rest. The extreme left side had been patched up with granite slabs that stretched all the way up to the top of the staircase, and sure enough, a quick glance back at the hall revealed missing patches on the floor, slightly out of the way of the main path but still visible to anyone snooping around.
As the group walked up the granite section one at a time, being careful not to step on the wooden parts, the man, who had taken the lead, continued.
“We haven’t had much time to fix many parts around here. After all, this is just a temporary hideout for us.”
“Hmm,” Anten sniffed as she slowly floated behind Dauma, avoiding the staircase entirely, “I don’t think that excuses the problems with this place. It’s still hazardous, either way.”
“I’m sorry?”
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
“Nothing. Keep going.”
“Right. As I was saying…”
“I think they get the idea,” Kara cut in, “and I don’t think we need the area-by-area guide, either. Let’s just get to Mister Aleby’s and discuss further.”
“As you wish, advisor,” the man obliged.
With that, the group made their way up and to the second level of the mansion in silence.
The second level had fared considerably better than the first in terms of time, as the damage and disrepair were much less prominent, especially in the hallways, although the dim lighting illuminating the space might have been a contributing factor in hiding it.
At the same time, something lined the walls. As they walked past them, what they were showing quickly became apparent.
They were posters. Brightly colored, with big bold words written on them.
As they walked down the hallway, they passed about three different variations of them, but all of them carried roughly the same messages, coupled with painted illustrations of eyes, a cross and other ominous imagery.
“PARADISE IS A LIE!”
“DON’T TRUST THEM.”
“THEY’RE ALWAYS WATCHING.”
The floor creaked beneath them as they walked past the posters and numerous doors with various markings carved into them, before the man stopped by one at the left side.
“I think you should go in with me first, advisor. The beast—Mister Dau, was it?— and the other two should stay outside first while we clear things up with the chief.”
“Got it,” Dauma and the other two nodded in unison.
The man knocked on the door politely.
“Come in.”
After a few seconds, a soft male voice came from inside. With the go-ahead, Kara and the man opened the door and entered the room.
“Tsk, I just hope he’s not inside as well…” Kara offhandedly remarked to herself as she walked in with a hesitant expression.
The other three could barely get a glimpse of what was inside before one of the fox mask people stepped forward and promptly shut the door.
“You heard him. Step back, beast,” the person ordered as they blocked the door.
“Alright.”
The three complied and waited.
“…”
“…”
“…”
For about a minute, they listened to the murmuring conversations coming from inside the room, before Anten began to relentlessly question the person standing guard.
“So, are you a member of the Silver Foxes?”
“Not your concern.”
“What’s your purpose?”
“Not your concern.”
“What—”
“I think that’s enough, Anten.”
“Huh?"
Before she could confront Dauma on his sudden interruption, the door opened again, and Kara poked her head out, her usual cheery mood returned.
“It’s all good. You guys can enter now.”
**********************
For a room, it was not particularly massive.
Much like the main room of Jori’s hut, it had a table at the back end, with leather armchairs placed on both its ends, although they looked much fancier and more luxurious here than back there.
One of the posters that they saw in the hallway had been fixed onto the left wall, and a pile of them was placed in a neat stack on the table.
The whole room had been quickly patched up to make it look newer and more furnished, with its peeling walls being painted over, the window being less grimy, and the furniture being newer and less damaged.
Tap.
To complete the setting, in the center of the room, standing in front of the table and of them, was a sharply dressed young man in a white suit holding a cane.
The first thought that came to all of their minds was how formal he seemed, and his gentlemanly appearance was only further complemented by his half-closed eyes behind rimmed glasses, his combed-over hair that nevertheless still spiked out in a few places, and his warm smile.
“Good day to you, dear sir and madams,” he tapped his cane once and nodded slightly in respect before speaking in a soft, noble tone, “I welcome you to the headquarters of the Silver Foxes. Pleased to make your acquaintance.”
Without a second thought, Dauma looked at Kara, who looked back at him with narrowed eyes.
“What’s that look supposed to mean?” she began to remark but fell silent and stood at attention again as the man continued.
“Before I introduce myself, I would like to know your names. My dear advisor has already informed me of them, but I would just like to confirm them from our guests themselves.”
The three stepped forward one by one and answered.
“Dauma.”
“…Anten.”
“…”
“It is alright, dear spirit. My dear advisor has already informed me of your particular… disposition, so I will excuse you.”
Yuu paused before she nodded slightly and stepped back, and the man tapped his cane again.
“My name,” he calmly announced without raising his voice, “is Aleby. I am the Logistics Chief of the Silver Foxes. And I do so hope we can help each other.”
He looked at each person in the room for a few minutes, seemingly analyzing each of them carefully before clapping his hands, and a fidgeting Kara quickly sprung back to attention.
“Now, we should get down to business. I will be available only for the next 20 minutes, so let us at least make this a fruitful discussion.”
As he turned and walked back to the table, something caught all of their eyes.
Tap. Tap.
He was walking with a considerable limp, and was clearly using his cane not as a mere tool to signify his status but to support his movements as he slowly made his way to his table.
After getting behind it, he sat down on the armchair and placed his cane beside him before gesturing to the other two chairs.
“Sit.”
The three immediately obliged. Dauma moved slowly and respectfully, while Anten moved briskly and had already sat down before he even reached his chair.
Since there were only two chairs, Yuu hung back, standing just behind Dauma as he sat down.
“Now, what do you wish to know?”
As soon as Aleby had finished his question, Anten asked hers.
“What are the Silver Foxes?”
“…I see.”
Unperturbed by her direct tone, Aleby took off his glasses and answered calmly.
“The Silver Foxes are a resistance group that intends to destroy Paradise and its leaders.”
“Elaborate.”
“I do not believe I need to explain myself, dear angel,” Aleby tilted his head assuredly, “my advisor already told me what happened to you. I am sure you and the devil already know what Paradise is.”
“…we do.”
“However. I believe I must warn you in advance. If you three, including the spirit, intend to strike at Paradise by yourselves, it will be fruitless.”
“Uhh…” Dauma interjected, “I believe you’re wrong, um… Chief Aleby. We don’t intend to destroy Paradise at all. We intend to gather the 8 Par—"
“What are you saying?”
Anten’s eyes quickly shifted onto him, her voice suddenly cold and angry.
“You don’t think this is important as well? Protecting the lives of innocent people?”
“But…”
“You’ve seen what Paradise’s soldiers will do for information. You still want to let them go?”
“We don’t know that…”
“We do,” Aleby cleared his throat and forced their attention on him again before adding on for her, “as of now, we have multiple reports of an army so dangerous that they can be considered the biggest threat on our free world right now. We also have reports of their leader who has incredible power on his own, and a near untouchable base. I believe I have made my point clear.”
Having been shut down thoroughly from both sides, Dauma clammed up and listened to Anten’s next question.
“Are those reports true?”
“I guarantee it.”
“Then, that’s all the more reason why I cannot allow this to continue.”
“Huh?” Aleby blinked, clearly not expecting her answer.
“Miss An…”
“I mean what I say,” Anten argued as she stood up, “if these soldiers are truly as dangerous as you say they are, and your mission is to destroy them, then fighting them would only cost your lives. If not all, then most.”
“How are you so sure?”
“…one of their soldiers nearly bested us. He had weapons capable of affecting us. If it can affect us this much, how can your group stand a chance against more of him?”
“You forget that we have experience, dear angel—"
A sudden loud bang echoed throughout the room. Anten had slammed the table with her shaking fist as she furrowed her brow in anger.
“Experience doesn’t mean anything! It doesn’t matter if you’re dead! I… I just can’t…”
Her whole body was shaking now, and she quickly turned her head away from all of them, bitterly choking through the rest of her reply.
“I can’t… let anyone… else die… because of… us.”
“Anten…”
“It is alright, dear devil,” Aleby raised his hand to stop Dauma and addressed her, “I understand your concern. Unfortunately, the Silver Foxes will keep going, regardless of what you say. That is what we have strived to achieve for our present lives, and that is what we will take to our graves.”
“What… I say?”
With one motion, she fiercely pushed the armchair back with such force that it toppled over. Facing him directly, she cracked her fingers threateningly.
“So… what about what I can do?”
“Miss An!”
Knowing what was about to happen, Kara quickly rushed forward. Dauma had also begun to stand up from his chair as well.
“Knock, knock.”
However, all of them were stopped in their tracks by a sudden knock at the door.
“Come in,” Aleby remarked without any pause or regard to Anten’s threatening pose.
They watched as the door opened, and the Silver Fox who had been guarding it peeked out.
“I’m sorry for disturbing you, chief,” they loudly announced, “but I have to inform you… he has returned.”
“He?”
Kara immediately spun around on her feet and tensed up, her face darkening.
At the mere mention of the pronoun, Aleby sighed and waved his hand in acceptance.
“Just send him in, my dear Fox.”
“As you wish.”
“BANG!”
However, even before the Fox had prepared to close the door, he was violently pushed aside as it burst open with a loud bang.
“Hey! How’s it going, br—”
“…”
The next few seconds passed by so quickly that Dauma had to take a second to process what had happened.
All he could see was a flash of Kara, running towards the sudden intruder at full speed, and them responding by pulling out something that flashed brightly and distracted her, before tripping her legs up and putting her in a headlock.
“Guh… agh…”
As she squirmed under their arms with a pained expression on her face, they smirked and tutted.
“You’ve gotten sloppy. That’s not what your teacher taught you. You need to be better than this if you want to survive.”
Dauma immediately reacted to the mysterious new person, but he stopped as he watched them swiftly let go of her, and she collapsed to the ground, wheezing and holding her neck.
“Right then. I already know about our new guests from the guys downstairs, so let me just cut to the chase.”
The person straightened their back and stood proudly upright, puffing out their chest.
Almost immediately, their resemblance to someone else in the room was almost the same.
However, they were not wearing glasses, there were scars on their face, and their spiky hair was long and unruly, giving them a look that would normally fit a ruffian or a gangster character.
Regardless, it was easy to guess who he might have been.
“Hello, beasts, my name is Claine. I am the Mission Chief of the Silver Foxes. And I… am Aleby’s big bro.”