After a week of arduous travel toward the front lines, Jonan and his teammates finally exited the carriage.
Before them stood a majestic wall, towering in grandeur.
Below it, a queue of passengers awaited their turn for inspection, each being thoroughly checked before gaining entry.
Sitting idly in the carriage no longer made sense, they had reached their destination. Now, all that remained was the inspection process. Once they were inside the city, they would head to the house prepared for them and get rest.
Garret was the one who was responsible for handling the inspection, which allowed the others a moment to catch their breath and take a breather in the new place they had arrived.
As they were approaching the main gate, it could be seen that there were three guards stationed there, though only one of them was responsible for conducting inspections.
The other two just stood there, watching, and alert for any potential disturbances.
Rather than allowing the guard to search their carriage as the guard had done with the previous travelers, Garret simply produced a token.
Looking at the sigil on the token, sent the guard through a disarray of emotions, who immediately stepped aside without asking any questions, granting them passage into the city, without any difficulties.
Upon entering, Jonan was captivated by the city. Although the city lacked the elegance and majesty of the Starfall Family estate and was even somewhat messy.
The streets were bustling with people, children playing under the golden shine of the sunset, and vendors calling out to sell their goods, created a serene atmosphere.
Each person, absorbed in their world, added to the unique charm, and beauty of the scene.
"Come on, boy. Let's get to our lodging. After some rest, we'll start preparing for our mission. You have yet to learn our way of working, and once we complete the first mission, you'll have plenty of time to explore the city," Elias said.
Jonan nodded and followed his team. Their lodging was a sturdy wooden house, not luxurious by any means, but adequate. Having grown up in comfort, Jonan didn't mind staying in modest quarters for the sake of his goals.
"Sirs, you may choose any room you like. I will have your luggage delivered shortly and inform you once Sir Rhydian arrives," Garret announced.
The group nodded and dispersed. Marla selected a room near the kitchen, while Elias and Edric picked random ones, unconcerned with the location. Jonan considered exploring the available rooms but ultimately chose one adjacent to Elias's.
While carrying only a satchel with food rations and some useful tools, Jonan reflected on what he had observed about his team during their week together.
They operated as a unit, yet there was no camaraderie, no shared conversations, not even personal stories.
Each member was entirely self-sufficient, responsible for their provisions, weapons, and even finances. There was no lending or borrowing among them.
This was a stark contrast to what he had heard about frontline fighters, who supposedly shared deep bonds forged through battle, which left him unsettled.
Why was this team so different? He couldn't help but wonder.
And even their leader was nowhere to be seen. He couldn't help but wonder, just where was he?
In one of the city's luxurious houses, a chubby man with silver hair and piercing blue eyes welcomed a visitor, none other than Sir Rhydian.
"Sir Rhydian, welcome and greetings! It has been quite some time since we last met. I never imagined the Master would send you to the front lines this time. Truly unexpected!
To what do I owe the pleasure of your presence?" the chubby man said with a grin.
Rhydian remained silent, standing still as if frozen in time. The room fell into an uneasy hush.
The maids exchanged anxious glances, and the once-confident host began to sweat.
Breaking the tension, the man forced a smile. "Well, there's no need for formalities. I'm sure your journey was long and exhausting. Please, accept this scroll from the main command."
Rhydian took the scroll without a word, and in the next instant, he vanished.
The chubby man maintained his grin until the last servant left the room. Then, in a sudden burst of fury, he slammed his hand onto the table.
"What makes those slaves from the main family think so highly of themselves?" he growled, his face twisted in contempt.
This was Hog, the head administrator of The Wailing Shadow City, a man of boundless ambition, always seeking connections with powerful figures. Secret dealings were second nature to him.
His job was to distribute task scrolls to various cohorts, but frustratingly, he was never permitted to see their contents. If only he could, he imagined, he would be able to manipulate events to his advantage, and earn himself quite more.
Still, he sneered. "These arrogant fools think they are superior, but it's not as if I'm without any results."
Reaching into his robes, he pulled out a small white scroll and scribbled a message onto it.
Then, with a smirk, he set it ablaze.
"Let's see how will you survive this, Rhydian the Unfeeling."
After resting, Jonan awoke, bathed, and dressed. As he stepped out of his room, he saw Garret moving through the hallway, knocking on doors and summoning everyone to the hall.
"Sir Rhydian is about to brief us on our mission," Garret informed him.
Jonan nodded. Nearby, Marla looked particularly annoyed, as though she had been pulled from a deep and pleasant sleep. The others wore more neutral expressions, though a sense of unease lingered in the air.
Upon arriving at the hall, they found Rhydian standing before them. His imposing figure cast a shadow that swallowed half the room.
Once everyone was seated, Rhydian unrolled the scroll and began speaking in a firm, commanding tone.
"Our mission will take us beyond the front lines to one of the major strongholds of the Beast Race. Intelligence reports that a new abomination has been sighted there. Our objective is simple: locate it and eliminate it before it grows into a difficult problem."
His gaze swept across the room, the weight of his words pressing down on them.
"Every abomination, given enough time, evolves into a nightmare beyond human reckoning. If left unchecked, it will become something no ordinary soldier can face. That is why our mission must remain covert, no one outside this room must know our true objective. Is that understood?"
Jonan felt a chill creep up his spine.
He had expected to fight beasts at the front lines, but an assassination mission? That was something else entirely, and worse of all assassinating an abomination.
A glance at his comrades confirmed his suspicion, he wasn't the only one unsettled. Even a newborn abomination was beyond what any of them could handle alone. Could they take it down as a group? There was no certainty.
And yet, there was no time to dwell on it. Orders from the main command could not be refused, except for under the rarest of circumstances.
"Prepare your gear and weapons. We start today," Rhydian declared. "Elias will lead this mission, and I will be observing you all in the meantime."
With that, Rhydian vanished, leaving the room noticeably brighter in his absence.
"Ugh, why do we always get the shittiest missions? This is seriously frustrating," Marla groaned, crossing her arms in irritation.
Jonan blinked, slightly taken aback. He had assumed this squad was exclusively tasked with assassination missions, so why was she so upset about this one?
Before he could dwell on it, a sharp voice cut through the room.
"You brainless brat," growled Edric, a man Jonan had yet to hear speak until now. "Drop that useless thinking, or you will be the one to die without knowing."
A tense silence fell over the group. Marla clenched her teeth but didn't respond. Instead, she stood up abruptly and stormed out of the hall.
Elias, watching the exchange with amusement, smirked. "You know, you could've been a little gentler. No need to snap like that."
Edric exhaled sharply. "I don't enjoy scolding her," he muttered. "But pitying an enemy is the worst weakness to have on a battlefield."
Jonan frowned, unable to make sense of their conversation. What exactly were they implying?
Maybe, he thought, during this mission, he'd begin to understand them better.
For now, he stayed silent. Being the youngest and a novice at that, he didn't have the luxury of casual conversation with his team.
After the briefing, Jonan returned to his room, where Garret had already arranged his belongings. He gathered his weapons, his scythe blades, and a satchel filled with whatever supplies he thought might be useful for his first assassination mission.
Yet, as he strapped his gear into place, his mind kept drifting back to Marla.
Why was she so uneasy about killing a newborn abomination? Wasn't it an enemy that needed to be eliminated, no matter what?
Even Jonan found her reaction strange.
Still, it wasn't his problem. What truly worried him was the mission itself. Forget fighting, he wasn't even sure if he could support them from the sidelines, well maybe he will know as he goes with them, and will see whatever happens.
Well… he'd find out soon enough.
Once he was fully prepared, Jonan stepped out to join the others.
Everyone was suited up, their gear carefully chosen. That's when Jonan noticed something, none of them wore heavy armor.
Each squad member had minimal protection, just enough to shield their chest, thighs, and forearms.
This team was built for assassination.