Night fell over the city as the guards carried out their usual patrols.

  “Have you gotten any leads on the fugitives?” one of them asked.

  “No. No one has seen them. Not even the guild has any information,” the other replied.

  “We have to keep searching. If we fail, our heads will be made an example,” said the first guard. The second nodded silently.

  “Let’s use this. The guild gave me copies of their cards; it’ll be easier,” the guard added, showing several identification plates.

  “The redhead looks like an idiot. He’ll be easy to catch,” one of them commented while looking at Dash’s card.

  “Let’s check near the wall. There might be a hideout or a crack,” another said, rearranging the formation.

  “Why are we searching inside? It would make more sense to go outward. I don’t think they’re still here,” one guard objected.

  “Orders are to thoroughly sweep the area first. Then we move outside,” the leader replied before walking away with the group.

  Shortly after, Dash and Luke emerged from a dark alley.

  “‘Looks like an idiot’… who does that guy think he is?” Dash muttered, clearly annoyed.

  “Calm down. Stick to Velt’s plan. We’re heading to the plaza,” Luke said.

  They moved carefully, avoiding the guards’ patrols until they reached the center of the plaza.

  “Alright, which one do we take down?” Dash asked.

  “The blue one,” Luke replied. “The woman said it was taken from her, and now they’re using it as a guard base.”

  Dash looked at the light-blue house and smiled.

  “Leave it to me.”

  “No, wait,” Luke stopped him. “Something doesn’t feel right. It’s too quiet for a base.”

  “How clever of you, boy,” a voice said from the darkness.

  “A trap…” Luke murmured. “I should have been more careful.”

  Several guards immediately emerged from the shadows, raising their weapons.

  “The boss was right. They’d come for the base,” one of them said.

  “Luke, how did you not see them?” Dash complained.

  “Don’t blame me. I remind you I’m not a tracker. We only lied about that so I could register at the guild,” Luke replied irritably.

  “We’ve got two, but the girl and the one who seems to be the leader are still missing,” a guard commented.

  “Let’s make a deal,” another intervened. “Eivan only wants the girl and the white-haired one. Hand them over, and you’ll only be punished as traitors, not terrorists.”

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  “We refuse,” Dash replied without hesitation.

  “Hm… this is perfect,” Luke said thoughtfully.

  “What do you mean?” Dash asked.

  “That we needed to create a strategy, right?” Luke replied with a smile.

  Dash understood instantly.

  Without wasting time, he lunged at one of the guards, grabbed him by the head, and slammed him into the base.

  He then smashed through the wall effortlessly and began destroying everything in his path.

  “Call for reinforcements!” a guard shouted.

  A small sword pierced his chest before he could finish the sentence.

  His body fell lifelessly to the ground.

  “Good. Let’s begin the destruction,” Luke said, withdrawing his weapon.

  Elsewhere in the city, Velt advanced alongside Rurhy, Rosa, and Jack.

  “Looks like they’ve already started,” Velt said upon hearing distant screams.

  “Then so will we,” Jack replied.

  “Be careful,” Rurhy said, hugging him.

  “Relax. I’m not going to the castle,” Velt reassured her.

  “We’ll get everyone out. Send anyone you find toward the north wall,” Jack said.

  “Understood. Take care,” Velt replied before separating from the group.

  As he ran toward the prison, Velt saw guards rushing en masse toward the plaza.

  “Everything’s going according to plan,” he thought.

  Suddenly, several guards blocked his path.

  Without hesitation, Velt assumed his vampire form and, with terrifying speed, bit them one by one.

  Their bodies twisted before becoming completely still.

  “Go help the two boys in the plaza. When you’re done, take your own lives so the enemy can’t capture you,” he ordered.

  The guards, now puppets without will, obeyed in silence.

  “Alright, let’s continue,” Velt said, returning to his human form.

  Upon reaching the prison, he advanced without stopping, eliminating every guard he encountered until he reached the deepest level.

  Not all the cells were occupied, but one in particular caught his attention.

  A man with a thick beard was chained to the wall.

  He remained motionless, almost like a corpse, though his breathing could still be heard.

  “Are you Alex?” Velt asked.

  “…“

  “I come on behalf of your daughter.”

  The man stirred slightly.

  “My little girl… sent you?” he asked weakly.

  “More or less. We’re here to rescue those who opposed Eivan. Your daughter said you and your men rebelled when he executed people in public.”

  “I see… I am Alex Gurdensen, former captain of the Imperial Guard and commander of the Eighth Squad,” he said with effort.

  “Great. I’m Velt, an adventurer… and apparently a terrorist,” he replied as he broke the chains.

  “An adventurer… things change when you spend so many years locked up,” Alex murmured.

  “I’m happy for you, but let’s go. We don’t have time. Can you walk?”

  “Yes, but I won’t leave without my men. I won’t abandon them. They didn’t abandon me.”

  “Fine. We’ll get them, but quickly. Grab a weapon,” Velt said, pointing at the corpses.

  Minutes later, Alex returned accompanied by six men.

  “That’s everyone.”

  “Then let’s go,” Velt ordered.

  After escaping the prison and running for several minutes, they reached the plaza.

  The area was covered in corpses.

  Dash and Luke were panting at the center.

  “I see you let yourselves go,” Velt commented.

  “You finally showed up,” Dash said, exhausted.

  “You took too long,” Luke added.

  “Sorry, but it looks like you handled it well,” Velt replied, observing the chaos.

  “Did you send guards after us?” Dash asked.

  “Yes. Where are they?”

  “They committed suicide when reinforcements stopped arriving,” Luke replied.

  “Right… I forgot I gave them that order,” Velt murmured.

  “Let’s go.”

  “By the way, who’s that guy?” Dash asked as they ran.

  “Imperial captain or something like that. I forgot. I had other things on my mind,” Velt replied.

  “Nice to meet you, young ones,” Alex said.

  “Likewise,” Dash replied.

  They finally reached the north wall, where Rurhy was waiting.

  “Velt!” she exclaimed, hugging him.

  “We’re fine too, thanks for asking,” Dash said, offended.

  “Don’t complain. What matters is that we’re alive,” Luke replied.

  “I’m glad everyone is safe,” Rosa said.

  “Yes, everyone’s fine,” Velt nodded.

  “Did you find anyone else?” Jack asked, appearing with an old man on his back.

  “Only him. The others weren’t there,” Velt replied, pointing at Alex.

  “They probably moved them,” Jack said.

  “But they should’ve moved him too, right?” Rurhy asked.

  “That’s right, miss. I don’t know why they left me behind. Maybe they simply forgot about me,” Alex replied politely.

  “How polite,” Rurhy commented.

  “Let’s go,” Velt ordered.

  And so, the group withdrew toward the village, with an incomplete mission…

  but with more allies than they had expected.