Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Chapter 1355: Sisters on duty!

”T.P... the values in that place, I believe, were directly correlated with the values shown on our Origin Cards,” Aether said thoughtfully. He held up the boy’s and the Elven man’s Origin Cards, both marked with a ’1’ instead of the usual ’0’ in the upper right corner.

”This explains why every Empire received a value of 1 on that... scoreboard, or whatever we’re calling it for now.”

Aether turned to look at Kaelen, Sandra, and Sera, who sat quietly at the table, their expressions tense and uncertain. He continued,

”From what I’ve pieced together, those metallic figures only appear and disappear for about five minutes at a time. And during that window, they’re up to something... something directed at the person they manage to capture. So far, they only appear at the barrier’s edge, nowhere else. And every time, they hunt down just a single target, focusing only on one person. Which means... I suspect they’re—”

”Doing it on purpose?” Sandra cut in, eyes fixed on Aether.

Aether gave a curt nod.

Kaelen’s brow furrowed, ”So what should we do? If they’re showing up at random, and it’s been two days since the last sighting... we have no idea if—or when—they’ll come back. There’s no sign or trace left behind.”

Everyone around the table frowned.

The events at the border had become almost impossible to track. Even with Aether’s puppets roaming the expanse, the barrier stretched so far that deploying a hundred at once barely covered one edge.... There were still three more sides and the other Empires to worry about as well.

Sandra spoke up with a frustrated tone, ”If we send out more patrols, they’ll just show up again. They’ll kill the patrols without hesitation... all they seem to need is a single person. Five minutes, that’s all it takes.”

Sera tilted her head as she considered. ”So maybe we just place a single guard at each distant post, keep them spread out?”

Aether raised his eyebrows in thought. ”That’s a sound idea, but... we’d still need to know what’s happening to the others. We can’t watch everywhere at once.”

Kaelen leaned forward, ”Then what if we plant a secret spy with each patrol? Someone watching from a little distance, hidden, always keeping an eye out? Remember—the one who slipped away to relieve himself managed to escape alive, didn’t he?”

The trio exchanged glances and thoughtful hums.... That idea might actually work.

Aether nodded, ”Alright. Let’s move forward with that plan.” He looked each of them in the eye,

”Assign a spy to each patrol—someone tasked to observe and report, never to interfere, no matter what happens to the patrol. They must record everything. That’s how we’ll learn the truth behind these attacks.”

One by one, the others nodded in agreement. The plan felt right, a real chance to discover what those metallic figures were doing when nobody was watching. It was, for the first time in days, a plan that might actually yield answers.

Except...

In the days that followed,

”What do you mean... they killed the spy?” Aether’s tone was ice-cold as he stared at Drakhairs, who had brought the grim message to him. Aether sat rigid upon the throne, fingers tightening on the armrest.

Drakhairs shook his head, ”I don’t know how it happened, my lord. But it seems our unknown enemy sensed our plan. In just three days, we’ve already lost twenty-five men... each of them patrolling soldiers. Every survivor told me the same thing: those metallic figures appeared, and then... they threw something to the ground and—

Instantly, the spy who was watching them was found, and the figure killed him on the spot. Then... as usual, they forgot what happened afterwards.”

Aether groaned. ”Looks like we’re facing someone dangerous here...” He thought with a slightly annoyed expression, wondering how the enemy had suddenly started using an artifact to detect spies.

Did someone rat them out?

”Do you think someone told them? Otherwise, how in the hell did they know this?” Aether shouted. But Drakhairs only shook his head, eyes downcast.

Aether clenched his fist, frowning over how to approach now.

”How about us?”

He turned to the side and saw Thalia, Raven, Selene, Nightfire, and Nyx standing at the entrance, all of them poised and watching him.

”Pardon?” Aether asked, caught off guard.

”We could spy on the patrols ourselves, see what’s really going on out there,” Thalia said as she stepped forward, her expression as serious as ever.

Aether frowned, shaking his head. ”No, that’s not a good idea.”

Thalia’s eyes narrowed. ”What’s not good? Do you not trust us? Do you think we’re going to just stand by and do nothing while you struggle alone?”

Aether sighed, ”That’s not what I meant... those figures have weapons, and you all are... you’re just ordinary beings right now—”

BOOM!!

Before he could finish, Thalia’s mouth parted, and flames shot toward him, crashing harmlessly against his chest.

He blinked, startled, as Thalia smirked at him. ”Normal? I think you’re forgetting what we’re capable of... Just because our energy was stripped away doesn’t mean we lost who we are.

I—no, all of us—can still stand our ground. Don’t you dare look down on us.”

Aether parted his lips to speak, but saw the determination blazing in all their eyes. He nudged his forehead.

He didn’t know what exactly was happening outside—or what might happen if they got involved with those metallic figures and ended up forgetting something, or worse. Just like Lia... Part of him worried deeply, but as he glanced at them, he knew they weren’t trophies to be hidden away.

Aether drew a slow breath, steadying himself before meeting their gazes seriously.

”Fine. But you all go in as a team.”

”That would be bor—”

Before Thalia could retort, Aether cut in with a stern voice, ”No. Everyone goes together, and everyone comes back together. If you don’t like it, then stay here.” His tone was cold, brooking no argument.

Thalia gritted her teeth, then let out a sharp snort. ”Fine! You’ll regret underestimating us! Come on, sisters—let’s go and prove to this worried bastard that we are not children!”

Aether weakly smiled as he watched the... each one giving him a small glare before turning to leave the chamber. He turned to Drakhairs, who was standing quietly, watching Aether with worried eyes.

”Are you sure this was the right idea?” Drakhairs asked.

Aether shook his head slowly. ”Honestly? It’s good for them instead of staying here. And... until we know exactly what we’re up against, I can’t allow them to face it head-on. Truthfully, I don’t think they’ll encounter those things anytime soon, if we consider every possibility of what I went through.”

He shook his head again, as if trying to dispel the anxiety building inside him. ”Anyway, allocate compensation for those spies and their families. As for the patrol soldiers... give them a period of rest. From now on, make it clear—the work is deadly, and only those truly willing to risk their lives should be allowed to take part.”

His face turned grim. ”I cannot watch my people be used as sacrifices for some trial,” he muttered under his breath.

”Your Majesty?” Drakhairs sounded surprised by the admission, lifting his head.

Aether managed a gentle smile. ”Don’t be surprised. I have a heart, too, you know. Watching my people die unknown, for nothing... it’s a bitter thing.” He shook his head, sighing quietly.

Drakhairs smiled gently in return and bowed his head in respect. ”As you wish.” He turned to leave, the faintest hint of a smile on his lips. But as he reached the doorway, he paused, remembering something.

”Oh, I forgot to inform you—my daughter wishes to see you. It seems she found whatever it was you had asked for.”

”Oh? She did already?”