D.E.M.O.N.S: Getting Summoned Weekly isn't so Bad

Chapter 1959: Chapter 1959 Getting some Bunch

--- Kat ---

The young-looking elf that took their order had the air or someone who was closer to fifty and sort of done with stupid customers. Being an elf, it was quite possible that was closer to her actual age. Still, everyone had ordered and now it was time to wait for the meals. ”So, how many people are we likely dealing with?” asked Kat.

Steel shrugged ”We’re not sure. Based on the evidence we have, it’s either one person, or a small group that have all been trained the same way. There was no evidence of extra fighting styles or weapons. The attackers always use either hand to hand, or random things in the environment for a bit of extra weight. The current guess is that it’s one or two people at most, plus the ward expert. There are probably others that help deal with the haul, but that’s more of a guess on my part.”

Kat nodded, ”Makes sense. Should we try to catch both? And then prioritise seeing both faces or would capturing one be good enough?”

Steel paused before his answer as the waitress came back and delivered four drinks. She did give Kat a bit of a strange look for ordering two drinks... but Lily was perfectly capable of using a straw. Steel had chosen some orange juice mix, Hedera had gotten lime water, Kat herself had picked some strange spice blend mix and Lily just had normal water.

Once the waitress had left, Steel said ”Use your best judgement if there are multiple assailants and you cannot capture both of them. Theoretically we can get information from the first thief, but it’s far more likely that we can just work out who they’re associated with by asking around and figuring it out that way. A lot more reliable too.”

Steel paused to take a quick sip. In doing so, they finally flicked up their helmet, only to pause and realise what they were doing. So they flipped it back down and took the helmet off. Kat was somewhat surprised to see a young looking but heavily scarred face. They were an elf, but their ears were a lot smaller than normal so perhaps they were a half elf? Or just unlucky? Their ears were also flat against the side of their head so they could wear a normal helmet without issues unlike Hedera.

Steel had one scar going across his eye, though luckily not damaging it. He also looked to be missing a chunk from his right cheek and there was another thin line running along the left side of his neck and up towards his ear just missing it... which was good because he was missing a chunk of it already and didn’t need more damage to add to that.

”Sorry, I sort of just wear a helmet all the time because of... all of this,” admitted Steel as he gestured to his face. ”Most of this scar are from before I was adopted, and the rest of my body isn’t much better... still, it’s rude to be eating with a helmet on so I hope you don’t mind,”

”It’s fine,” said Kat and Hedera at the same time.

Steel nodded, ”Alright where was I... we were talking about if there’s multiple? Yes don’t feel you need to go for the capture... and it is probably best if you don’t give up a capture just for a chance to look at one of the other’s face. Though I will make an exception for if you can spot the enchanter.

”If there are multiple thieves the enchanter is the most important, and even if there isn’t forcing the enchanter to show us how they’re so easily able to bypass the wards would be a major boon. Though once again, capturing any of them would be good so don’t take too many risks about it,”

Kat nodded, ”Alright, what can you tell us about the area?”

”A few things,” admitted Steel. ”So the big thing that recharges the orbs is the dome above us magnifying the light in specific areas for the recharge. Now, the orbs specifically react to sunlight and not anything else, so this light you’re seeing outside right now? Not sunlight. Instead, the sunlight is taken in and absorbed in a few key areas and then concentrated at the recharging platforms.

”The way we do this, is by having the sunlight shine up from underneath the orbs on a pedestal. It’s a big bowl but part of the enchantments on it is ensuring that the light is shared evenly so you need at least a certain number of orbs in their to prevent them from exploding and damaging the enchantments and the bowl itself.

”The main recharge station is under a gazebo and the block it’s on is more or less a garden you can hang around in during the day. Officially, things close at five but we don’t forcibly kick anyone out until closer to six. Once things are locked down, the enchantments activate and cover the area in an impenetrable bubble... theoretically anyway.

There is usually four guards, one at each of the corners and they idea is that they cover for each other. It’s more of a deterrent the a way to catch thieves. Especially as they don’t normally need to look inside. The area is fairly open with a few trees bushes and benches, along with the recharge station of course. Enough places to hide if you’re good, but not an endless amount.

”We tried to station a few people inside of the wards to check on them... but everyone, inside and outside, were knocked out an in some cases injured somewhat severely each time we tried that,” explained Steel.

”So... where do you think it would be best to hide out? A neighbouring building or inside the warded area?” asked Kat.

Steel rubbed his chin, ”You’d likely be able to spot them if you were hanging out on nearby rooftops. Not something the guards can really do with armour and there are legal complications if we try that anyway. The issue I see... is that if part of what lets them bypass the enchantment is say... a brooch or some other small item you might not be able to follow them through the wards.

”Of course, the obvious weakness of being inside is not having too many places to hide from the thieves and potentially missing them sneaking through the area. So I can’t say what you’d find better,”

”I think we should split up then,” stated Hedera. ”Ideally we’d have two people at opposite ends of the diagonals, assuming the area is roughly squarish?” Steel nodded. ”Right so two people on the roofs, and one person inside. Probably either you or Lily,”

Kat nodded slowly. *What do you think?*

[I think it’ll be somewhat awkward. I should probably hide inside because I’m smaller and even if they spot me they might not even consider me worth noticing if I’m just sleeping in a tree. IJ don’t trust myself to stay awake and on watch all night. Sure you can wake me up and I can be quickly ready for action if I stay in Memphis form, but that’s not the same as actually being on guard. Plus, if you catch Hedera sending a signal she saw something you can tell me, whereas if you were hiding somewhere you couldn’t see her, and I fell asleep we could miss them.]

*You make some good points... though are you going to be ok sleeping on the ground or some random tree branch?*

[It’s not like it’s going to give me back problems. Bit dirty sure, but I’m not worried enough to risk snagging a blanket or something. I’ll deal with it.]

*Ok.* ”Sounds good Hedera. Lily will probably be the one inside. She’s smaller, and also possible not something they’ll see immediately as a threat even if they do spot her in her hiding spot. She... will also probably be asleep for a lot of it so no need to fake not paying attention to them,” explained Kat.

Hedera nodded, ”As long as we have a plan. That one sounds good to me,” Hedera then turned to Steel. ”Is there anything else we have to worry about? How large are the buildings near the recharge station?”

Steel made a so-so gesture. ”A bit of a mix? Mostly one story buildings but there are a few two story ones and I think a single three story building nearby. It’s not a particularly built up area.”

Which was something Kat had noticed on their way over. To make the most of their space, many homes had two or more stories. Plenty of those floors had clearly been added later as well. The city allegedly wasn’t running out of space... but with the dome above them they could only go so high. Still, they had time before that became an issue and if the trick with the castle was replicable perhaps they would be fine.