1709 Mysterious Stranger.



Silent night... Unholy night... 

The rains grew even heavier with every passing hour. 

The air was shrouded in a thick misty fog and the weather was chilly to the bone. 

In such weather that beats the hell out of many, most people would find themselves slowly sinking into a deep slumber, cuddling with their partners, pillows or themselves. 

Thus, the period of silence within the many sleeping quarters grew heavy until it seemed everyone was asleep.

8:30 PM. 

Zzzzzznore~~~

Snores of all sorts were masked by the rain's loud drumming. 

People slept in all sorts of positions though mostly curled in fetal positions in groups.

Even though some men here were single, they chose to pair up with others when sleeping in cold weather. 

Body temperature could make up a lot for the very frail blanket. 

Opening the creaky doors, Beri was glad for the heavy rains. 

They could indeed escape without a sound creaking even in the summers, but it was nice to know that the rains were indeed covering their ashes too 

Taking out a compact-size bronze mirror they made themselves, Beri peeked outside the hallways, ensuring no one walked around. 

So far so good.

It didn't take long for them to stealthily leave the sleeping zone, using the fog to mask their movements.

Still, they dared not relax their vigilance, knowing that the people in Tenola were also very trained if not more than Pyno people. 

This was why those chosen for this mission were highly stealth in stealth. 

They couldn't take any chances of getting caught since the Baymardian team would only arrive at the end of next March to not only take them home but also bring new people to keep watch on suspicious targets in Tenola.

Until all Witch fortresses and hideouts are scouted and reported they won't stop. 

Nonetheless, even though Tenola's guards were powerful, a mere Baron with his lowest level rank of nobility, can't possibly possess too many high-ranking guards. 

There was only a handful they had to worry about, so bypassing the gates and leaving some sleepy guards behind was a piece of cake.

~Swish!

In no time they were on the streets, stealthily making their way to a forest zone within the enclosed town.

No one said a word, as half of them hid within their man-made underground bunker, stripping and changing into tight black attires from head to toe. 

Remember, they were in Tenola, and wouldn't dare to use Baymard gizmos and spy gadgets. 

The only things they were allowed to bring were a box of matches, a well-protected sachets of pills like Advil, a spy watch and pepper spray. 

The spray was so tiny like a perfume sample. 

As for the spy watch, there was a self-destruct button in it. 

If they are scared it will fall into the wrong hands, just press the button and it will block up.

Another cool thing was that it had a micro camera in it, that would start recording at the touch of the upper left button.

This way when their mission is over, they could hand the watches over for the footage to be reviewed. And most importantly the watch also tells the time and date. 

Heaven knows just how important knowing the exact time would save them a bunch when out on missions. 

Last but not least, they had a good supply of newly designed, small and portable smoke grenades stored within their hidden bunkers. 

The grenades were so small like the tiny balls babies play with in bathtubs. 

All these were the only Baymardian items they got. The other items like their daggers were purchased here in Tenola.

.

Good.

The first group changed, and the next group headed into the bunker.

Beri hastily kept watch at their surroundings before looking at his watch again and nodding to another, who in turn tapped the bunker floors. 

Time's up! They must leave now if they were to leave through their usual escape route. 

Running through the woods with daggers and all sorts of everyday hidden weapons on them, the group headed for the South-West town walls. 

They knew the usual routines for particular guards.

They didn't want to focus on all, but just some that from months of watching, proved very lazy than the rest.

In every power group, even guards there are head guards and supreme guards who stand above the masses. 

These guards typically had their squads or those they controlled. 

Sometimes, their guards would patrol across the Northeast regions, and other times it was across another region.

The schedules often changed too, but once it changed they would maintain it as such for the next month or 2, sometimes leading up to 6 months without change. 

Beri and his group had targeted 3 lazy leaders, who were equally too lax with their men. 

These guard leaders were the sort that rose to their current positions due to currying favor with others.

They did have some skill, but they often tried taking the easy way around things, cutting corners when they could.

There were people deserving of their jobs, but they either framed them, paid for them to get injured or cheated their way into their positions.

As they say, you can tell a lot about a leader from his subordinates. 

Among the many town guards, these 3 had lazy subordinates who often slept on the job more than others and also did frisky activities with the peasant women in the bushes and even within the town walls. 

Sometimes they even had orgies and forcefully took the wives of the peasant workers here. But for some reason ever since the Baymardians came over, they have been getting one bad luck from another, no longer daring to risk touching the wives of these workers.

There was a time they took a woman, only to have the strange pink smoke burn within the room. 

The smoke was too choking, making their eyes red and painful. 

And then there was another time when their actions almost caused a large-scale revolt that made the Master ban them from touching anyone's wives! 

They can do whatever they want out of his establishment, but not here!

Everyone had to learn their lessons, calming down for a bit. 

Now the only frisky activities that go on are the ones done willingly. 

After all, if a woman or man actively wanted to cheat on their spouse for some money or status, what can the Baymardians do to stop her? 

That was not their problem.

Some people also had their daughters here who were already smitten with some guards, as they seduced them at every corner.

Of course, no one knew the Baymardians were from Pyno since they claimed to be from Veinitta and had thick Veitt accents too.

.

Looking at his watch, Beri nodded. 

The time was 8:51 PM. 

It wasn't curfew yet, so the streets were still very busy. 

During this time, they could easily walk in and out within the group of leaving men. 

They only headed to the southwest walls to confirm that one of the lazy guards' teams was going to do their shifts now.

Waiting in the bushes they saw the team switch with the day team.

Great! 

At least when coming back, they can be sure it would be this team they would have to bypass. While in this town, they were their own eyes and ears. So they have to always make sure and double-check things before taking any sudden steps.

"Move out!"

1, 2, 3!

The group used the fog as their cover, vanishing into the night like vampires and appearing underneath the sheaths and cloaks many peasants used to cover their goods in their wagons.

It was getting too late, and many peasant farmers from nearby villages wanted to head back home fast.

Everything happened so quickly one would think they were on the set of an Assassin's Creed movie.

Finally out of the town, the group secretly fled the wagons and rushed into the surrounding forests, running nonstop till they met 2 of their own waiting in a cave with horses.

"Let's go! We have limited time." 

Don't forget the workers would be getting up around 4:30 AM to begin a day's work. 

Before then, they must be within the Estate premises. 

.

~Hyah!

Rushing like a devil, they deviated from the trail, heading into a dangerous and unsuspecting region, coming to a stand still 2 hours 21 minutes later. 

Great! It was now past midnight.

They didn't have much time!

Getting off their horses, 3 people stayed back while the rest vigilantly continued on foot. 

There should be Witch scouts around the premises but they had an inkling the scouts were all gone. 

Eh? But why? 

Having that weird feeling swell in their hearts they rushed forward only to see a charred hidden fortress with hundreds and thousands of lifeless female bodies scattered around.

Who would've done it? Just how many enemies did the witches have?

Everyone frowned. 

"Check for clues." Any surviving documents must be taken in. 

"Right!"

The group scattered around as instructed, knowing that they won't be able to finish the matter today. 

Their time was limited as it is, so they only had 41 minutes more to scout before heading back.

Beri was about to step forward when he suddenly saw a thin figure in the shadows. It was a woman! 

Who? A Witch?

"Don't move!"

"Calm down... I'm not one of them." The woman raised her hands calmly as if expecting them to catch her. "I come in peace. I came because I know who you are... Baymardians, no?"

Beri's pupils dilated in alarm. "Who are you? How do you know our identity"

"I?" 

The woman chuckled, slowly taking off the wrapped assassin cloth on her head.

"If I smile, would it be easier to recognize me now?"

BOOM!

Beri's mind exploded, seeing a very familiar face, although he had never seen this woman before.

"Now, now, now... don't look so shocked. Come... tell me... How is my dear daughter doing?... Come now, tell me how your Queen is fairing."