Reborn As Noble

That midnight.

Kay led them toward the small forest near the edge of town. The other spies followed, steps cautious in the dark.

”Don’t make noise. Even with the guards relaxed for the celebration... don’t get careless.”

”Yes,” the leader replied quietly.

”We’re close. Stay tight. When I say duck, you all duck.”

They moved along the trail, shadows thick between the trees.

Kay raised a hand, signalling them to stop.

Ahead, not far off, four Armand Elite Guards patrolled nearby.

”The food’s good tonight,” one guard said as they walked.

”Yeah, drinks too. And the year bonus?” Another chuckled. ”Love it, man.”

”With this celebration month, my family’s feasting like royalty every day. My kid even said he wishes it could last all year.”

”Hah! If it lasted all year, everyone’d be bored by the second month.”

”True, true...”

The guards’ voices faded as they moved away. Kay and the others watched in silence.

One spy whispered, ”There’s only four of them. We could take them.”

Kay’s glare cut through the darkness. His voice came low and sharp. ”How stupid are you? What’s the mission, kill or sneak in? This is why I hate bringing amateurs. And you think Elites are weak?”

The leader stared at Kay.

”What’s wrong with you? You seem... different.”

”Me? Different?” Kay’s eyes narrowed as he unsheathed his blade. ”Or are you all really the team the master sent?” He drew a second blade, falling into a ready stance. ”Maybe you’re not from Master Heiden’s unit at all.”

”Whoa, whoa, chill! Chill!” The leader raised his hands, stepping between them.

”Chill? Me chill?” Kay hissed, voice low and biting.

”I worked my ass off to gather intel, befriended their captain, earned every scrap of information, and you want to ruin my year of work in one night?” He stepped closer, blades steady.

”If you attack those elites, they’ll alert the whole garrison before you take down the third. You’ll blow the mission, the location, everything.”

Kay’s glare didn’t waver.

”Maybe I should just kill you all here and finish this alone.”

The other spies stayed silent.

The leader kept his voice low, hands still raised.

”Alright... calm down, Kay.”

”I am calm!” Kay hissed. ”But this whole team isn’t. You all think everything can be solved by killing, without weighing the risks. What did you even learn? How to suck dick?!”

He stepped closer, voice a sharp, furious whisper.

”This was supposed to be an intelligence mission! Get the thing and move. You only attack if you’re detected, not before. And here you are, ready to slaughter guards before we’ve even stepped inside. What is wrong with you?”

Kay kept his blade drawn. ”You should all just leave. Let me finish this alone. You’re fucking useless.”

The leader exhaled slowly and glared at his team. ”Kay’s right. That’s how the job is done.” He turned back, tone placating. ”Now, Kay... let’s proceed with the plan, shall we?”

Kay still glared at the spies, then slowly sheathed his blade. His eyes swept the shadows around them.

”Let’s move. Through here.”

After reaching the high fence, Kay signaled them to pause.

The leader turned to the team. ”We’ll climb over.”

Kay raised a palm. ”No, Leader. We go through there.” He pointed toward a small side gate, almost hidden in the shadows.

”Huh? Why?”

”It’s not locked. Try it yourself if you don’t believe me.”

The leader crouched low, moved along the fence, and tested the gate. It gave way without a sound.

”How did you know about this?”

Kay sighed sharply.

”That’s why I said not to blow the plan. I’ve been doing this for a year, remember? I found the best way in. I’ve checked this route every night, learned every patrol pattern, every mistake they make. Not just that, I’ve mapped shift changes, memorized guard routes, noted which officers get lazy after a drink. I’ve gathered everything for a perfect run.”

He glared at the other spies. ”Unlike these shitheads who only think about killing without weighing the risk.”

The leader nodded, jaw tight. ”Alright, Kay... lead the way.”

”Follow me, Leader.”

Kay pushed the small gate open slowly, peeked inside, and scanned the area. No one was around.

”We’re heading for that building over there.” Kay pointed toward a medium-sized, tall structure at the edge of the base.

”You’re sure what we need is inside?” the leader asked.

”Yes. I confirmed it. I got the captain drunk almost every time we met. He’d ramble about what was stored inside, same story, over and over. I could recite it word for word right now.” Kay glanced around, scanning the shadows.

”Stay behind the wall,” he instructed. ”Follow exactly where I step. The watchtowers can’t spot us if we stay low.”

”Alright. Let’s go.”

Meanwhile, atop the tower.

An Armand Elite Guard lowered his mana binoculars and glanced at his partner.

”Errr...”

”Hmm? What now, Lern?” the other guard asked.

”Why’s Prince Javier leading the spies toward the other building? Wasn’t he supposed to take them to the main one?”

The other guard chuckled. ”No way. I’m sure he’s just taking the long route to the main base. Maybe it’s your imagination, Lern.”

Lern raised the binoculars again. ”Err... no. Prince Javier really is leading them to the other building.”

”Hah? No way. Let me see.” He took the binoculars from Lern and looked. ”Uh...”

”Right?” Lern pressed.

”Y...yeah. But... why’s he leading them to that building?”

”Which building?”

”Errr... toward Bernardita’s room.”

”You mean Head Torturer Bernard’s room? Mister Bernard?”

”O-oi! Don’t call her that or you’ll become in her target!”

”A-ah! Auntie Bernardita, right?”

”Yeah.”

”Err...”

”Maybe we should inform the base?” Lern asked.

”Y...yeah. Better that way.” The other guard kept watching through the binoculars. ”If Prince Javier leads those spies in there... I don’t think they’ll be ’saving’ anyone.”

Lern raised a hand to the mana talkie in his ear, channeling mana.

”Base, base... Lern here.”

”This is base. What is it, Lern?”

”About the plan... Prince Javier’s leading the spies.”

”Go on.”

”I think you should send the captain and a team to intercept. Now.”

”Hah? Intercept the Prince? Why?”

Lern swallowed. ”Because... he’s leading them straight toward Auntie Bernardita’s building.”

A beat of silence.

Then the comms erupted.

”CONFIRM THAT, LERN!” another voice cut in over the line, higher-pitched, urgent.

”Confirmed, sir. Visual on Prince Javier and five hostiles. Heading toward the... uh... special detainment wing.”

”OH CRAP! All units, alert! Captain to the courtyard! Somebody stop the Prince before he hands them to Bernardita!!”

( End Of Chapter )