3 bar menu

Chapter 42: Raid on the Slave Trader

 

The evening next day. We were in our respective positions.

While Drake was keeping watch from the sky, Kinu and I erased our presence and observed the area around the slave trader’s shop. Naturally, all of us have changed to common clothes.

About four hours later, Drake contacted via telepathy.

≪I found a suspicious person. This guy has completely erased his presence and is hiding in the back alley two blocks away from you, bro.≫

≪Understood, Drake. Keep an eye on him.≫

≪Okay.≫

Seems like things are going to get started.

A few minutes later, the guard standing at the entrance of the slave shop suddenly collapsed without a sound.

It was a precise movement. Had I not been paying attention, I would have missed it.

The attacker approached the man on the lookout at lightning speed and struck the back of his neck bare-handed.

Another guard was also knocked unconscious in the same way.

However, it will be difficult to move alone from here on.

According to the information from Shinku, internal security has been considerably strengthened. It seems that the number of people inside the store has more than doubled since yesterday.

Time for me to make an appearance.

≪I’ll step in. You two, please continue to monitor the situation.≫

≪Nn. Okay.≫ ≪Understood.≫

As I activated Max Thunderclap and approached the attacker, they pointed their knife at me in astonishment.

This was the first time anyone has ever reacted to my speed.

It is only natural for the attacker to be wary of me, but I want to create a cooperative pact in one way or another.

「Wait, wait. I only came here to cooperate with you. My companion has already infiltrated the slave shop. Please listen to me.」

「Who are you? There is no time to have a calm chat. Besides, how am I supposed to trust you without any proof?」

The attacker was wearing a hood but I learned that she was a woman.

When I tried to appraise her hooded cloak, it blocked my appraisal. That’s probably why no one has seen her face in all the raids so far.

It was quite a rare item, signifying the importance of the raid to her.

「Even if you ask for proof…

Well… if I was hostile towards you, why would I go out of my way to get closer and not seize the opportunity to attack?

If I wanted to, I could have killed you just now.」

「…Tsk. I certainly didn’t feel any killing intent. And you could have attacked me in that instant…」

「Security is pretty tight there. Isn’t it tough for you to do this alone? Let’s just cooperate.」

「There’s not much time. I got information that a lot of elves will be sold tomorrow… What are you going to do?」

「So you agree to cooperate, right? I’m Aun, nice to meet you.

The strategy is that I will go inside and unlock the room in the back. I finished the preparations for that yesterday.

Enter a few minutes after me and neutralize the security inside.」

「I am Nelfie…if you betray me, I will never forgive you.」

「Don’t worry. I will never betray you. Come in after a few minutes, yeah.」

Saying that, I boldly entered the slave trader’s shop.

There were twice as many people on standby inside. There were also a few guys who looked quite strong. They seem to be considerably more alert.

The owner approached me as I proceeded to the back.

「Well, well! I have been waiting for you, sir!」

「Sorry to have kept you waiting. Can I see the woman from yesterday right away? I’ll pay after seeing her again.」

「Of course! Then let’s head underground!」

「It looks like there are more guards than yesterday. Did something happen?」

I asked while walking behind the slave trader.

「No, everything’s okay. There is a rumor that is a little worrisome, so I increased the number of guards just in case.」

「I see. Okay then.」

When the slave trader unlocked the second door, a commotion could be heard from the floor above. It seems that Nelfie has entered.

「What’s going on!?」

「What is it, owner? Are you going upstairs to see what’s going on?」

「Ah, yes. Please go on and talk to the slave first, sir.」

With this, both doors have been unlocked. The rest is up to Nelfie’s skill.

She seems to be doing fine for now. I’ll lend her a hand if things get too tough.

About two minutes later, things became quiet upstairs. Nelfie came down the stairs alone. She seems to have taken care of it.

In addition, she had obtained the key to the cages. Her thief abilities seem to be as high as her combat abilities.

「What are you going to do after releasing the slaves? Are you going to hide this number of people somewhere?」

「As you say. The location is in the east district. Anyway, let’s get the people out of the cages and head to the hideout. We’ll talk there.」

Kinu, Shinku, and Drake also helped out to free all the kidnapped slaves.

After that, we moved unnoticed to Nelfie’s hideout in the east district.