Chapter 509
A mountain range located on the northern part of the Eastern continent . A person who arrived at that location bent down .
He then cautiously sniffed the scent of the mountain in front of him .
The person's numerous years of experience helped him realize something .
“…It smells fishy . ”
Cold air was coming down from the mountain .
His intuition was telling him that something was off .
He heard a calm voice next to him .
“It seems to be covered in the scent of blood . ”
Choi Han commented before turning his head to look at the man behind him .
“Cale-nim, I have a bad feeling about this . ”
Ron who had smelled the scent of blood stood up straight and reported to Cale .
Cale quietly observed the two of them before quietly asking Beacrox a question .
“Beacrox, did you smell the scent of blood too?”
“…Young master-nim, do you really think they could smell blood even though the mountain is so tall and wide? It is just intuition . Intuition . ”
Beacrox responded with a stoic expression before turning away from Cale . Cale thought this was very fitting of Beacrox's personality as he started to speak .
“It’s too quiet . ”
The bottom of the mountain .
Originally, mage Glenn Poeff and the mercenaries he brought with him should have been stationed here waiting for Bud to contact them .
However, there was nobody here .
All they could see were traces of people who were waiting here before rushing up the mountain .
He recalled what Bud told him .
‘The entire mountain was under an illusion . ’
‘Now that the illusion is gone, the entire mountain is covered in enemies . ’
‘…Help me . ’
‘Please quickly help me . ’
Cale's gaze started to sink .
The golden top's whip in his hand started to glow .
“We are going to enter the mountain now . ”
The enemies had cast an illusion .
That must mean that there was an illusionist here as well .
Furthermore, that illusion was supposedly destroyed .
He was tired of illusions now .
There were also so many enemies that they could cover the entire mountain .
The Mercenary King's mercenaries and the Elves Cale gathered numbered in the hundreds, but the Mercenary King seemed to have determined that the enemies overwhelmingly outnumbered them .
Bud was probably right .
He was the Mercenary King who had experienced many battlefields .
“…That is why we can't just go up without a plan . ”
The mountain was so high that the peak was covered in snow .
This was the largest mountain in the mountain range that blocked the cold air from the north from reaching south, so, it was naturally tall and wide .
That was why they could not just go up as is .
“Young master-nim . ”
The Molan household’s assassins were quietly standing like shadows behind Ron and Beacrox .
This group of assassins was half of the assassins who had infiltrated the Molden palace earlier . They had urgently rushed over along with Ron .
“Our preparations to infiltrate the mountain are completed . ”
Ron had expressed it as an infiltration not to a castle or a residence, but to a mountain .
It might seem as if he used the wrong word, however, it was accurate .
Cale opened his mouth to call someone .
“On . ”
He had someone who could trick people and hide their presence using a different method than illusions .
“Meeeeeow-!”
On and Hong stopped rubbing their bodies on Cale’s legs and looked up at him . White smoke started to surround On before spreading out .
She seemed to have understood Cale’s intentions as she had prepared to use her fog in advance .
Cale had asked Raon to quickly bring On and Hong over . Human, are we going in?
Cale took a step toward the mountain .
"We are infiltrating the mountain . ”
It was quiet at the foot of the mountain, but they might hear weapons clashing or people screaming once they entered .
Furthermore, the chances of those screams belonging to their allies were high .
“Our first goal is to reinforce our allies and save them . ”
Cale entered into the forest .
The shadows of the trees made the forest dark even though it was day time .
It was an urgent situation right now .
That was why Cale gave an order that was different than usual .
“Our second goal… Is to get rid of the enemies . ”
The gazes on the faces of the assassins of the Molan household quickly changed .
“Our third goal is to identify the enemies, however, if that may lead to injuries… Then we will immediately escape or focus on our second goal . ”
Both the first and second goals were focused on saving as many of their allies as possible .
Ron walked over toward Cale without making any noise and then asked .
“Young master-nim, which direction do we need to go?”
Squeeze .
Cale tightened his grip .
Ooooooong-
The top's whip in his hand was continuing to shake unlike usual .
Cale heard two of the three Wind Elementals that always moved around with him . One was with the Elves in the mountains right now .
‘C, chaos, destruction, anger! Elementals are screaming all over the mountain!’
‘I hear Elementals fighting all around the mountain! No, that’s not it; they seem to be running away!’
The Elementals sounded more frantic than ever before .
‘I can’t hear the one we left here at all! I think it’s in a dangerous situation too!’
‘This is bad! Chaos, destruction, disorder!’
Although the Elementals were frantic, Cale was calm .
Of course, his heart was beating wildly as well . He was in a hurry as well .
He imagined the Elves getting injured as the Wind Elementals told him that they heard Elementals screaming .
Cale bit down on his lips .
He was currently the commander of the Elves . He could not forget about the responsibilities that came with the role .
‘Chaos, destruction! The screaming seems to be slowly heading toward the center of the mountain!’
‘This is it!’
Cale’s eyes started to sparkle .
‘Cale, The Elementals’ screams are slowly heading toward the center of the mountain . ’
‘I found it . ’
He had found the information he was looking for .
If the screams were slowly heading toward the center of the mountain…
The meaning behind those words appeared in Cale’s mind .
The Elementals should be with the Elves .
The Mercenary King should be with the Elves as well .
It meant that their allies were slowly moving toward the center of the mountain .
They were moving in that direction while the Elementals are screaming .
‘That means that they are not moving there out of their own free will . Someone else is making them move there . ’
They were not gathering together by choice .
It meant that numerous enemies were herding their allies to the center .
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There was only one explanation for it .
Cale started to speak .
“…Battue . ”
The enemies were herding their allies to one location . They were doing that to either hunt them down or with another goal in mind .
That other goal was definitely not good either .
The air around Cale turned cold .
Unlike how the group's fighting spirit had gone up and heated the air around them earlier… The air was now getting colder as their fighting spirit went up .
The assassins’ gazes turned cold .
Ron’s gaze sunk the most .
Mercenary King Bud . The Poeff household's Glenn Poeff .
Ron was quite concerned about them as he had his base on the Eastern continent .
Battue .
The others realized what was going on as soon as they heard that word .
Cale noticed that was the case, however, he still started to speak .
"Our allies and the enemies are gathering toward the center of the mountain . ”
“Will we head over to save the allies right away?”
Beacrox asked as he was unable to be patient any longer .
They all looked ready to charge forward to save their allies at any moment .
However, Cale shook his head .
“…Cale-nim . ”
Choi Han quietly called out to him .
Cale had a smile on his face even though this was an urgent situation . His smile looked angry .
The enemies were using battue on the allies .
That was why he would make them realize something .
If the enemies were using battue… ‘I'll use battue on you bastards . ’
Cale started to speak .
“We will strike the enemies that are gathering our allies to a single spot from the back . ”
Ron's eyes clouded over .
Just like how their allies were gathering to one spot…
The enemies that were herding them over were gathering toward one spot as well .
Cale looked down .
He could see On and Hong .
Raon was probably nearby while remaining invisible as well .
Cale did not plan on letting any more allies get hurt .
‘We will strike the enemies that are gathering our allies to a single spot from the back .
But we will not show ourselves . ’
“We will hide behind magic, fog, and poison to stealthily strike the enemies from behind . ”
The children averaging nine-years-old all responded .
Tata tap .
On kicked off the ground and climbed up a tree before looking down at Cale . Hong was next to her as well .
“Meeeeeeeeeeow!”
“Meeow-”
That meant that they were ready . Human! Do not worry! We will flip everything over with the poisonous fog! We will hide grandpa Ron and all of his subordinates as well!
An illusion . There were things other than illusions that could trick people .
“On, I leave it to you . ”
The silver kitten nodded her head . The calm On would lead the children averaging nine-years-old without letting them get hurt .
Cale needed the children’s help, but he was still going to make them act from the rear where it was safe .
Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh-
The fog surrounding On became thicker and started to spread .
On and Hong became covered in fog such that they were no longer visible . Human! I am hiding in the fog as well!
"We're ready!”
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Cale heard Raon and Hong’s voices through the fog and started to speak again .
“Choi Han . ”
“Yes, Cale-nim . ”
Choi Han stood next to Cale .
“You are heading toward the center with me . Our goal is to get there before the enemies or our allies . ”
“Understood . ”
Whirlwinds appeared at the tips of Cale’s feet as he activated the Sound of the Wind .
“We'll head there first . ”
Cale started to head toward the forest with Choi Han .
“Ron . I'll tell you the enemies’ locations through Raon, so use that information to surround them . ”
Cale was planning on sending a Wind Elemental to inform Raon about the enemies’ locations .
He had informed Raon about it on their way here, so there shouldn't be any issues .
“Do not worry about it . Young master-nim . ”
Cale turned around only to see the assassins disappear into the shadow of the forest .
Shhhhhh-
All he could hear were leaves rustling .
Beacrox disappeared as well and only Ron, as well as the growing fog, remained .
Shaaaaaa
The fog then covered Ron as he benignly informed Cale .
“I guess it is time to do some shadow hunting . ”
This was the fighting style for the assassins of the underworld .
Ron started to smile .
“Pfft . ”
Cale chuckled before turning his head and heading toward the location that the enemies were herding their allies .
Of course, he still shared his sentiments about Ron's comment .
“So vicious . ”
Shhhhhhhhhhh-
Cale and Choi Han were quickly climbing the mountain without resting .
‘…Cale-nim . ’
Choi Han was about two steps behind Cale as Cale was in the front finding the path .
Ooooooooong-
The golden top's whip was vibrating as the Wind Elementals told Cale the direction of where the Elementals were screaming .
‘Chaos, destruction! It is the center of the mountain but slightly higher than the actual center! It is right underneath the area with the snow!’
‘Cale, I will go deliver that message to Raon-nim!’
The two Wind Elementals were more rushed than Cale .
“Mm!”
Cale who was quickly rushing past the forest was scratched by a branch and his cheek started to bleed .
“Cale-nim . ”
Choi Han who was shocked by Cale’s quiet groan started to speak .
It could not be helped .
Cale looked more frantic than usual as they were heading toward where their allies were presumed to be gathering .
Of course, Choi Han understood how Cale was feeling .
‘…1,001 people have already gone missing here . ’
This was where the Mercenaries Guild's Ranger Brigade had instantly gone missing .
‘Also…there were the things we saw on our way up . ’
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They were moving quickly, but both Cale and Choi Han had observed their surroundings as they moved .
Blood .
They saw a lot of blood on the trees and boulders as they started to climb the mountain .
Whose blood would it be?
They couldn't help but speed up as they thought about that .
However, Choi Han had to think about Cale's health as well .
Forget Cale not getting hurt, Choi Han realized that they could not let Cale become unconscious after hearing about Bud’s situation and the Whale tribe's battle .
There were a lot of battles going on right now .
Cale was the brain .
The brain was the center of all reactions .
That was why he could not get injured nor push himself too hard .
“Cale-nim, aren’t you overdoing it?”
He took two quick steps to move next to Cale .
“Hold on . ”
Shhhh .
Cale’s arm blocked Choi Han .
“Cale-nim! Where-?”
Choi Han could see Cale stop him before starting to move in a different direction .
He quickly chased behind him .
Shhhhhhhhhhh-
Cale was moving past the leaves and grass and headed somewhere other than their destination .
‘Chaos, destruction! I heard a weird noise!’
‘It is a human-shaped life form! It's breathing is very weak!’
The two Wind Elementals were saying there was someone nearby .
‘I will go take a look! Chaos, destruction, urgent, urgent!’
One of the Wind Elementals headed there first and Cale increased his speed as well .
The allies and enemies were all headed toward one spot right now .
However, there was someone who was apart from the rest .
It could be the enemy, but…
‘They said that person is breathing weakly . ’
Weak breathing could mean that there was an enemy hiding and holding their breath down .
‘They also said that they heard a weird noise . ’
That meant the chances of it being a hiding enemy was low .
It was more likely to be someone who was injured and groaning in pain .
That was why Cale could only consider one conclusion .
‘The Ranger Brigade!’
It might be one of the missing 1,001 people .
It could be a member of the Ranger Brigade who managed to avoid the enemies and the illusion and was hiding .
The Mercenary King was unable to find this person because of the illusion, but he might be able to find this person now that the illusion was destroyed .
‘I need to find them . ’
He needed to find them, especially if it was one of the Ranger Brigade members .
If the noise the Elementals were hearing was weak, then he needed to find the person before they died .
Most importantly, he needed to find the person to hear what happened on the mountain .
Only then would he be able to understand the enemy's strength .
That would allow him to save the Mercenary King and the others in a safer way .
Cale started to use more of the Sound of the Wind because he still needed to quickly head to the Mercenary King as well .
‘I need to hurry!’
There were too many things he needed to do all at once .