Dungeon of Pride, Laplace

Inside the tent, the princess stood before a large table, pointing at the map and giving instructions to the adventurers and her fellow subordinates. Emma who was tasked with guarding her was also there silently standing still like a doll.

"If we take the most travelled route, it would take us more than a month to reach our destination. As this is a raid, we must make haste and strike at our opponents when they least expect us. If we go with the path the people usually use, we will lose the factor of surprise. Which is why, I propose that we march straight making a beeline through the forest" Cynthia spoke, highlighting her plans.

"Hmm, it's not a bad idea" Blake muttered looking at the map "However, Your Highness you are forgetting one thing. The northern outlaw forest is named as such because of the numerous outlaws that amass here"

"A straight path will lead straight to their den and then there are also the monsters we have to look out for. If we factor all that in, the speed of our march regardless of which path we choose, will end up being the same".

He pointed at a particular region of the map that was still mostly uncharted.

"About that, you don't have to worry about the bandits. The town they created, the Black town has been razed to the ground" Expecting the adventurers to bring out the subject of bandits, Cynthia dropped a shocking revelation. Novel Fire - novelfire.net

Black town was razed!! As one would expect, as soon as the adventurers heard that, most of them wore an astonished expression. Those from the kingdom, knew that the Northern Outlaw Forest got its infamy because of the numerous cases of arson and stealing that happened around here.

Nobody knew when but at some unknown point in time, the forest became a black region that attracted all sorts of criminals and outlaws from all around the kingdom. Be it murderers, simple thieves or even rogue adventurers, those who did not get along with the society, found themselves here.

And the black town was the town that they established deep inside the northern outlaw forest. It has no laws and everything from the slightest fight to even the most brutal atrocities was common there.

Essentially, it was a town that was ruled by the laws of the jungle. Strong survived while the weak was preyed upon.

The establishment of such a dangerous place of course raised some concerns. However, every time the neighbouring dukes tried to take the outlaws down, they would either get away by hiding or by bribing off the nobles.

Thus the reason why the black town managed to survive so far. That said, only a few people who have actually travelled to the black town or are privy to some information, would know that the actual reason why the black town manages to survive every time, is because of some of the powerful ex-adventurers and heinous criminals whose names had once shaken the kingdom, now lost in the annals of history rumoured to be still surviving and hiding inside the black town.

Blake being one of the people who had once travelled to the Black town, and had seen those ancient legends up close, was the most shocked.

The names like Godwin, Raven, Benny Beckman or Karina Lowell only came much later on. Before them, it was the era of people like Adger the axe hand, bloody blade Orman and Zackary the unkillable, the kingdom's most powerful adventurers and criminals.

As long as they were there, there was no way the black town could be destroyed. Then again, the princess was not among the people to joke about matters of importance like the black town.

Which could only mean that the black town was actually razed to the ground along with all those people. To be able to defeat legends like the Axe hand Adger and Zackary the unkillable, it was not like there was no such individual amongst Her Highness' people who could achieve something like this.

The two women who always stuck close to Her Highness and that unusual group of demi humans came to mind. If it were those people, then it wasn't unimaginable.

After fighting and going through the ordeals in the tower town together, Blake had come to realise something. The group of people around Her Highness except for Alvara and the others, were very peculiar.

This evaluation of his was not just based on their appearance and race but also on their character and strength. Although he had only seen them fight once or twice, he knew that every single one of them was insanely strong.

And from the few times he tried to interact with them, he came to know about their personality which was very callous, detached and unempathetic. As if everything that was going on around them, had nothing to do with them and they viewed everything from the perspective of a third person.

In short, it was very different from the way people like them viewed things. It was for this reason that he believed them to be very peculiar.

Come to think of it, he hasn't seen the group of demihumans and those two children around for a while. Their unusual disappearance and the news about the Black Town being razed. Blake quickly put the two and two together.

And as if to prove that his hunch was right, Cynthia glanced towards the woman named Annette who assured everyone inside the tent to no worry about the bandits of the Black Town.

"If Her Highness and Miss Annette are saying so then taking a straight path through the forest would be the best option and less time consuming. Assuming that we don't have to worry about the bandits which makes the monsters the only thing for us to deal with, it would significantly increase our travel speed"

Wyot commented, adding in his thoughts. It appeared that he too must have realised something.

Now that their travel route had been decided, the group discussed about the other various things like their formation, teams, switching times, camping grounds and other such things before retiring into their own tents for the day.

After everyone left, Cynthia and Annette were the only ones left inside the tent.

"So, what's going on? Did you receive a report?" Noticing the slight change in Annette's behaviour Cynthia asked.

The former nodded her head and reiterated the report she heard from one of her teammates.

"An air engine has taken off from Duke's castle last night and is headed for the city of Mountmend. Considering its speed, it must have already entered the forest region. What do you want to do, Your Highness?"…

Cynthia calmly heard Annette's report before asking a question "Who is onboard?"…

"Lucas Blackwood, Benny Beckerman and a few other individuals for a total of nine individuals. Given their number and level, I don't think they have any good intention for coming over".

"Lucas huh" She muttered crossing her arms "It looks like he still hasn't given up even after I rejected his proposal. If he is coming over with someone like Beny Beckerman, then it must mean that he has heard the news of me being alive"

"However, my brother won't allow Lucas who is now the successor of Duke Montford, to come to me on his own. The fact that he used the air engine, the exclusive ship of Lord Montford's to sneak out at night, I must mean that he is not on orders from my brother". Cynthia only needed a few information to know the motives and plans of the other party.

"How do you plan to take care of it, Your Highness? If you wan't, I can tell the others to strike down the Air Engine and take care of the people inside" Annette suggested.

"No, find a way to make them aware that I am here. Once Lucas knows that I am in the Northern Outlaw Forest, he will surely land the Air Engine. Once they are out, we can then take them out".

Manufacturing an Air Engine costs a fortune and the kingdom of Ellesmere does not have the technology to build them. Instead of destroying the Air Engine, Cynthia planned to use it for herself in the upcoming raid against the Castledor city.At that time it would no doubt prove extremely useful.

"I don't like imposing on you again, but can you please take care of those on board? If I let the forces on our side to engage them, who knows how many losses we will suffer? I cannot let that happen before the raid" She turned towards Annette and requested.

"Leave it to us, Master specifically asked me to aid you in every way possible. Since you want the Air Engine, then that's what will happen"

The maid simply nodded her head and nonchalantly accepted the task. Her attitude was so casual that it didn't seem like she had just accepted a dangerous and troublesome task but instead something as insignificant as going off to the market to buy some vegetables.

"Are you certain that you will be able to win? The other party has Lucas, Benny Beckerman and other high level individuals"

Cynthia asked in concern. Since she hadn't personally seen Annette and the others fighting, she didn't know exactly how strong they were. Nevertheless, given that they were 'his' subordinates, she believed that they were quite strong. But so were Benny Beckerman and Lucas.

Seeing Cynthia Worry for her, Annette couldn't help but smile. "Your Highness does not need to worry about me. If I can't even handle the likes of them, then I would be shaming myself and the title of Valkyrie".

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