Ascension from Dual Professions

Chapter 109: Chapter 108: Approaching Crisis, Interrogation Intel Arrives

”Damien, Carina, I have some very painful news to share with you.”

In Snow Pigeon Town, a dozen or so miles from Birch Town, a blond middle-aged man spoke softly in an unremarkable meeting hall, looking sorrowfully at his two companions.

”Our operation in Birch Town has met with a disastrous failure.”

”Old Larry is dead, Betto is dead, Edmund is missing, and we’ve lost contact with Geoffrey.”

Upon hearing this, the black-haired woman named Carina showed little expression, merely letting out a soft sigh, while the bald, burly man named Damien rubbed his head in frustration.

The last time they gathered, they had devised their plans over a game of cards, manipulating the affairs of Heta County and reveling in their silent glory.

Yet, only a few days later, one of their companions in this grand endeavor was already gone.

How could one not despair at such a loss?

”We’ve heard whispers about these things, but what exactly happened?

”Geoffrey is a clown, and Betto and Edmund are a couple of useless fools, so I don’t care about them. But what about Old Larry? How did he of all people end up dead? Everyone knows what he was capable of!”

Damien stared intently at the blond middle-aged man, his tone sharp.

”Callum, we need the details!”

Faced with this question, the blond middle-aged man, Callum, let a hint of dejection show on his usually composed and reserved face. He remained silent for a moment before explaining.

”It appears that Reya Xavier has become a Divine Favored of the Sun God.”

At these words, the other two in the room were both startled, their faces filled with horror.

’A Divine Favored? And of the Sun God, no less?! This is no joke!’

Callum’s explanation continued.

”And because of that, a Saint Knight and a Priest from the Sun Church had infiltrated Reya Xavier’s escort detail, disguised as ordinary guards.”

”They were the ones who stopped Betto and Edmund’s surprise attack.”

”But even if Betto and Edmund failed, wouldn’t Old Larry have fled when he saw things going south?”

Carina asked, her brow furrowed.

”With his skills, if he wanted to run, no one should have been able to catch him, right?”

”Yes, that should have been the case. Old Larry was our safety net; he was never supposed to be on the front line.”

”But the Golden Maple Leaf Trading House had a Shadow Mage lying in ambush, who forced him out of hiding.”

”Surrounded, Old Larry had to fight for his life, but he still couldn’t escape. He was ultimately cut down by the Saint Knight disguised as a guard. And the strange phenomenon that erupted upon his death was erased by the Sun Miracle that Reya Xavier summoned.”

Callum looked at his two companions, his expression grief-stricken.

”It was a complete and utter failure.”

After hearing his account, Carina and Damien both fell silent.

Their assassination plans were always based on the assumption that the target had a hidden ace up their sleeve. For the attack on Reya, for instance, they dispatched two Knight Level Warriors, with an even more powerful operative as backup.

This would have allowed them to handle any Knight Level Professionals other than Evans with ease.

It could be said that this lineup was more than enough to assassinate any other noble, let alone a noble’s daughter.

But who could have guessed she’d actually become a Divine Favored of the Sun God? That she’d not only have a Saint Knight and a Priest willing to hide their identities to escort her secretly, but that she could also summon a miracle?

’Who could possibly deal with that!?’

For a time, the room was deathly silent.

After a long while, Carina finally broke the suffocating atmosphere with a long sigh.

”Should we postpone our operations against Birch Town, then?”

She glanced at the town scene outside the window.

Snowflakes fluttered down upon the bustling streets. The town, restless and agitated, lacked the usual tranquility of winter.

”Although we are still gathering information from various locations, it’s basically confirmed that our operations in the other viscounties under Heta County’s jurisdiction have mostly achieved their intended results.”

”Take Snow Pigeon Territory, for example. Viscount Hector is no longer able to manage his affairs, and my daughter, his wife, has already begun to take over some of his family’s resources.”

”Even if Birch Town is important, if the price of taking it is too high, we must carefully consider if it’s worth it.”

”You’re right, Carina, but this is no longer for us to decide.”

Callum nodded and took a plain-looking cowhide notebook from his coat, placing it on the table.

”The Elder Council is already aware of the situation in Birch Town. They will issue new orders on what to do next.”

”We can only obey.”

Upon seeing the notebook, Carina and Damien also grew serious.

Although operatives like them, scattered in various places, possessed great autonomy, their power ultimately came from the Elder Council. On such a critical matter, it was indeed inappropriate to make their own decisions.

The three of them waited in torment.

An unknown amount of time passed before a change occurred.

Illusory images flowed across the cowhide notebook’s cover. An invisible hand opened it and took up a pen to write.

”The old emperor will die, and a new one will be born.”

”Take Birch Town at all costs.”

Seeing these two lines of text, the three first looked at each other, exchanging glances, then stood up straight in unison, placing their hands on their chests in a salute.

”We obey the Elder’s command!”

...

Meanwhile, Reya, who had regained some of her strength, was sitting on her bed, looking at the intelligence Rosalind had gathered.

’So there have been attacks on nobles in other viscounties within the county, not just in Birch Town...’

’It seems this organization isn’t just targeting our Heta County Noble United Commerce Association. It’s just that because we were founded by a union of nobles, some past conflicts looked like business competition.’

’The enemy’s true purpose is hidden so deeply...’

The red-haired girl put down the documents in her hand and looked at the silver-haired woman standing by her side.

”Sister Rosalind, is there still no word from Viscount Paris?”

”Not yet. All we know now is that he left Birch Town to search for his runaway daughter, taking his Knights and personal guards with him toward Meis Town. There has been no news from him since, and his vassals are also anxiously searching for any sign of him.”

”Is that so... I hope he’s all right...”

Reya sighed, lay back down among the soft covers, and closed her eyes to rest. But after only a moment, she suddenly seemed to remember something and turned her head to look at Rosalind by the bedside.

”Oh, right. What about that Adventurer who caused a scene at the Trading House and was taken down by Mr. Jon?”

Rosalind looked at the girl—weak, yet already shouldering all sorts of responsibilities—and a trace of warmth flickered in her usually cold, silver eyes.

She informed her softly.

”Lady Ivory has already interrogated him. He’s just a scoundrel who was paid to do a job, not a member of that organization. The information he had was of no value.”

Reya disappointedly straightened her head again, pulled the blanket up to cover the lower half of her face, and said in a muffled voice.

”I see... I guess we’ll have to wait for the Church to share their intelligence...”

The room fell silent once more, leaving only the silent flickering from the faint blue optical sensors of the two Mechanical Guardians in the corner.

A moment later, a maid’s voice came from outside the door.

”Miss, Lady Joyina is here.”