Netori: Stealing The Hero's Party!

Chapter 658: A Hasteful Journey

The sheets hadnʼt yet dried from last night, and Raven was already getting ready to leave for this accursed new city. Moxy requested him to stay, but with the king and queen of this new land having invited him and that too under such dubious circumstances, he couldnʼt waste any more time resting. Thus, with a kiss and a promise for a formal date upon his return, the warlord gathered his original party along with Monty and Regalia to answer the call of the monarchs.

”Are you sure that theyʼre the same race as my lord used to be?” Asked the furry wolf-girl, her eyes fluttering with doubt. Of course, Regalia couldnʼt believe what sheʼd heard. After all, she was under the impression that the king of crows was the last of his kind. Placing a hand on Ravenʼs shoulders as everyone except Erika got ready to be teleported away with him, she enquired further. ”Is that why you called me back from my protection duty on the islands? You thought I should come and see for myself if theyʼre the same race?”

Turning his head slightly in her direction, Raven nodded.

”Apart from you, I donʼt know anyone who has seen the late king. At least not anyone that I can take with me.” Shifting his attention to Mel, Aria, Erika and the spy couple, the warlord urged them to come closer. ”Gallaria could identify the slayer of her clan, but I doubt she would be thrilled to do so and that only leaves you.”

As everyone slowly placed their hands on Raven, Regaliaʼs heart raced with anxiety. Her head dejected to the floor, she pondered.

ʼNo way…The king was childless, so they canʼt be his progeny. Then how? How could there be more giants still around? How come I never knew of this?ʼ Feeling betrayed by her own lack of knowledge, she took a deep gulp and lifted her head back up. With an open mouth, she drew a deep breath, but even then, when her heart refused to calm, she shook her head and just let the angst wash over her.

”Fuck me, if giants are still alive I might just kill them myself for hiding from me!” She yelled out in frustration, for throughout her life sheʼd served a giant and being a race meant to rule–to remain as hermits in an unknown land? ”Dis–fucking–graceful!!”

Hearing her freaking out over herself, everyone stared blankly at the demi-wolf. Raven knew that such an ordeal would interest Regalia, but her response was far different from what he couldʼve expected her to do.

”Regalia…” Placing his own hand on top of her shoulder, Raven gave her a comforting squeeze. And as she looked at him with the same frustration, the hero nodded and gestured with his free hand for her to breathe. ”Calm down, I need you. We can decide what to do with these people later, but for now, I want you to be level-headed and not act on instinct.”

Although she continued to pant for a while longer, heeding Ravenʼs advice, the wolf girl managed to finally calm her mind. Taking long, deep breaths, she shook her head and planted her hand on top of his shoulder again.

”Okay…letʼs just go.” Nodding back at her, Raven gestured everyone to get close and again, without wasting a second more, the party was teleported right outside the blind cityʼs gate. Monty had planted one of the many teleportation rings just around the massive walls where no guards could see.

But since they were invited by the monarch, there was no need to hide any more. Making their way to the massive iron gates, Raven and the group were simply allowed into the city without so much as an inspection. Stepping inside the city laid with dust and barebones cobble roads, Raven was somewhat surprised by how neatly the houses were lined until the very end of the enclosed space.

ʼI can feel a strange presence watching me at all times…ʼ Looking around at the people going about their day, Raven felt the same presence judging him every once in a while as Monty had when heʼd first come. But unlike the youngster, given the dark aura that exuded from the warlord, the people didnʼt linger on him for long, as he was a clear threat if given the slightest chance.

”Everyoneʼs most likely a mage, we should be careful.” Warning the others, Raven began leading the group to the distant mansion.

As the party walked through the streets, they marvelled at the symmetry as Monty had when heʼd arrived. Yet something unsettling caught their attention, not a speck of dust on the houses, even though the ground was mostly made of red sand and dust. Perhaps the people have found some way to keep their houses neat and tidy with magic, or was there something else at play? As it was a matter not as crucial as the one theyʼd come to address, the party quickly moved from that discussion to focus on the task at hand instead.

Upon arriving at the mansionʼs courtyard gates, Raven expected to be invited right in, but to his surprise, the guards turned him away by telling him to stay at an inn for a few hours while the king and queen readied the mansion for their stay. An odd request, suspicious even, and so to avoid walking into a trap, Raven walked away with the party but sent Amedith and Liliyana into the mansion to keep an eye on the monarchs.

Taking the side of a nail, the two slipped right by the guards. Accompanying them were Will-O, a necrotic rat clone made by Aria, along with a handful of critters conjured by Mel. Keeping the horrors to himself, Raven didnʼt send something of his own-especially since the people of the city seemed sensitive to his aura of darkness.

”Where should we stay?” Raven asked Monty, but only knowing one innʼs layout, the youngster didnʼt have too many choices to offer.

”I know an inn, letʼs just go there and stay for a few hours.” And the party did exactly that; however, during their stay, something curious did happen, something that involved the young spy.