Chapter 73: The Infiltration Mission Part 7

After swiftly eliminating those three armored soldiers in a sudden skirmish, we took swift actions. I carefully removed all the armor, making sure not to make any noise, and thoroughly examined every corner and wiping away any bloodstains. We laid the corpses to rest in a section of the drainage channel where the wall had crumbled due to my spiritual arts.

However, leaving the soil surface as it was would appear suspiciously fresh. Therefore, I took the time to weather it slightly, giving it a more natural appearance. It would likely take a while before anyone notices. 

“Huh? The armor is surprisingly light,” Marcellus remarked.

“Let’s make sure we understand how to activate the mechanisms by moving it around,” Mika said.

“I… I feel a tightness in my chest,” Rinne murmured.

While I was dealing with the corpses, the three of them had donned the stolen armor.  Marcellus rotated his shoulders, impressed by the armor’s range of motion; Mika moved his limbs, before various blades extended from different parts of the armor with a rattling sound; and Rinne grimaced as she pressed against her chest. Since they had also put on the helmet and mask of the invading army, they had completely turned into armored soldiers.

With our infiltration plan now in motion, only I remained invisible as we advanced through the drainage channel towards the Carnela port. The conspicuous, luminous metal tube was carefully stowed away. These armors served one purpose alone—to deceive other soldiers when hiding was not an option. If we could remain concealed, it would be all the better.

“Amazing. Just by wearing this armor, using spiritual arts becomes so much easier. Now, it’s a breeze for me to cast illusion arts on all four of us,” 

Rinne exclaimed in her usual monotone yet slightly bouncy voice. This armor apparently enhances the effectiveness of all spiritual arts. Even the invisibility spiritual art, which was previously limited to two people while moving, could now be applied to all four of us effortlessly. As expected, the power-enhancing capabilities of this armor were the main reason why those fragile invading army soldiers could rival even some top-tier warriors.

It doesn’t just amplify spiritual power; it can efficiently enhance fighting spirit as well. Marcellus and Mika both felt lighter, noticeably moving with a spring in their steps. Its performance seems to exceed everyone’s expectations. I was also curious, but unfortunately, my tail would hinder me from wearing the armor.

“This is here, so that other turn must be here. That means… rejoice! From here on out, we’re already in Carnela port.,” Marcellus proclaimed while gazing at the map.

After traveling for about half a day, following the map while remaining invisible, Marcellus, who had been studying the map, spoke up. Though I couldn’t see his face beneath the guise of the armored soldiers’ armor, his voice sounded triumphant. He must be delighted that the operation is likely to succeed.

After successfully reaching Carnela Port, the next issue at hand was determining our point of exit. If the enemy soldiers could appear multiple times in the underground drainage channel, it means they must have an entrance and exit they use. It would be dangerous to utilize those, so Marcellus had decided that we should emerge from a secure location that hasn’t shown any signs of recent use.

Thus, we continued along the channel, once again studying the map intently. With Mika’s detection abilities, we chose areas with minimal presence, and I removed the gridded lid embedded in the ground surface. Finally, we ascended from the drainage channel to the surface.

“This is the downtown area of Carnela Port… or what remained of it. Doesn’t seem like any of the shops are open.”

The downtown area appeared to be a location that was once a bustling district before the occupation. However, currently, it was eerily silent, devoid of any signs of life, making it hard to believe that this was once a bustling district. Instead… although not heavily apparent, there was a faint scent of blood lingering throughout the entire district.

The evil grip of the invading army had reached even the downtown area. Those unfortunate enough to be trapped here during the occupation undoubtedly fell victim to a brutal massacre. Numerous blackened stains of blood remained on the ground, and adding to the eerie atmosphere were the towering, gaudily decorated buildings that loomed overhead.

“those damn invading forces … Phew, we must endure for now. First, let’s survey the downtown area, and then capture the entire city from a high vantage point with the projection orb. After that, we’ll infiltrate the heart of the invading army.”

As Marculus clenched his fist tightly, it seemed he was thinking about the victims. However, in order to prioritize the mission and suppress his anger, he took a deep breath and made a decision. We had no choice but to silently follow his lead.

Navigating through the complex structure of the downtown area, Marculus used the projection orb in various locations. The walls were riddled with embedded metal fragments, the ground was soiled with the soot of explosions, and bloodstains were scattered across doors that appeared to have been severed by sharp blades. Each of these depicted the horrifying massacres that had taken place in this area.

After adequately capturing the state of the district, we entered a notably tall building located at its center. According to Marculus, it used to be a luxurious brothel run by the dominant figures of Carnela Port. Although the interior of the building had been ransacked, there was no trace of the stench of blood. They must have escaped before the occupation took place.

Reaching the top floor, we stepped outside through a window and stood on the rooftop. Marculus then observed the entirety of Carnela Port through the projection orb, capturing the images as they unfolded.

“Mika, where is the concentration of activity?”

“There are three main areas. The warehouse district near the sea, the southern side with unusually new buildings, and a corner close to the triple-layered walls.”

“I see. Let’s head to the southern side first, then the warehouse district, and finally aim for the walls. But before that, let’s take a break inside this building. We should conduct our investigation at night, when it’s harder to be noticed. Use the beds and get some rest.”

I also agreed wholeheartedly with Marcellus’ suggestion that nighttime would provide us with better opportunities for stealth. It would also be a good idea to rest in the downtown area.  Resting in the downtown area seemed like a wise choice as well. Since there were no other occupants in this building, we would immediately become aware of any approaching presence.

Furthermore, the room had a bed that I had never used before… Furniture specifically designed for sleeping. I was slightly excited about experiencing it. I wondered how it would feel?

Like always, I kept watch on the top floor as the first lookout, and without any incidents, Mika took over the next shift. After we swapped places, I entered a suitable room on the lower floors. And although the room had been ransacked, I was able to use the bed at least, so I laid facedown on it.

(Oh…? Ohh. It’s hard to describe, but lying in something soft like this feels quite nice.)

The bed embraced me with its softness. Although my tail prevented me from lying on my back, lying face down was still incredibly comfortable. The unnecessary tension left my body, and I felt like I could drift off into a deep sleep. Despite the drowsiness creeping in, I continued my training in controlling my fighting spirit and spiritual power as always.

While it might have been fine to succumb to a deep slumber at this moment, I couldn’t help but feel the need to be ready to move at any time. It had become a habit of mine to avoid being in a vulnerable state of deep sleep.

Regardless, simply lying on the bed was enough to alleviate my exhaustion in an astonishing way. I was sure the other three individuals felt the same. After the sunset, when the evening transitioned into night, we gathered on the ground floor and made our way to the southern side.

“This place used to be the slums. They must have demolished it to construct this building. It seems to serve as a barracks of sorts.” Marcellus explained.

“Are the materials made of corrugated metal plates?” Mika asked

It appeared that the southern side was being utilized as a barracks. After tearing down the slums, they constructed buildings using assembled corrugated metal plates. It looked oddly new, likely because it was a recent construction.

It appears that each of these metal buildings accommodated several soldiers from the invading army. These buildings were densely packed, and nearly half of the overall enemy presence in the city seems to be concentrated here. If we were to set this place on fire or cause some sort of disaster, it could deal a significant blow to the invading army.

With no further notable observations, Marculus activated the projection orb a few more times before heading towards our next destination, the warehouse district. As we moved, we take one alley off the main street. This allowed us to minimize the risk of being spotted while also keeping an eye on the activities on the main road.

I remember the main roads of the imperial capital being lined with various bustling shops on both sides, but here, most of them have been destroyed and turned into ruins. The vehicles passing through the ruins of the main road were not horse-drawn carriages or human pedestrians but rather those cart like iron boxes we had seen during our journey here.

“That cart seems to be moving back and forth even at this hour. Is it still carrying grain?”

“It’s hard to tell from here. Fortunately, it seems to be heading towards the warehouse district, so we might find out for sure once we get there, don’t you think?”

As we discussed these matters while capturing the images of the main road with the projection orb, we finally reached the warehouse district. Most of the warehouses in the area had their doors open, revealing stacks of iron boxes filled with flour.

However, upon closer inspection, I noticed images written on the side… no, perhaps they were characters? In any case, the characters varied from warehouse to warehouse. It could be indicating differences in their contents. They might be storing something other than wheat.

“I want to see the harbor, so we’ll pass through the warehouse district. Mr. Scorpion, I want you to stay on the rooftops here as a precaution. Everyone else, deactivate your invisibility and blend in with the enemy. And don’t forget to give the invading army a salute when you pass by them.”

“….Are you serious?” 

“Yes. It’s always better to act confidently rather than being sneaky. That’s the norm to avoid suspicion!”

We had been observing the area from a nearby house close to the warehouse district. However, Marculus seemed to have determined that investigating the harbor beyond was necessary. He decided to leave me behind and confidently walk through the warehouse district, openly revealing his presence.

Although Mika was subtly trying to dissuade him, Marculus remained resolute. Reluctantly, Rinne dispelled her invisibility spiritual art, rendering everyone visible once more, and the three of them proceeded towards the warehouse district under the guise of armored soldiers.

I remained on the rooftop of the house, keeping a watchful eye on them from above. To be honest, I initially expected them to be discovered and cause a commotion, but surprisingly, they went completely unnoticed.

The reason for their success was that the three of them executed the invading army’s salute with precision. Moreover, wearing equipment that concealed their faces made them less likely to be recognized. Even when approached by other units during their encounters, they casually smiled and brushed it off. Perhaps all three of them were skilled actors.

Soon after, I lost sight of the trio from my vantage point. I remained on standby atop the rooftop, prepared to act swiftly if any issues arose….however, to my surprise, they returned nonchalantly. Wait, did they truly succeed?

“We’ve kept us waiting. We’ve obtained several crucial pieces of information. Now, let’s head towards our final destination, the city walls,”

 Marculus spoke with a serious tone upon everyone’s return. I had anticipated him boasting proudly about the success of the mission, but there was an underlying darkness in his demeanor. The same sentiment seemed to weigh on Mika and Rinne.

What exactly did the three of them witness? It left me feeling both curious and apprehensive, tangled in a complex mix of emotions. Before I could have my questions answered, we set our sights on the last destination.