Chapter 165: The Kidnapping Of The Mistress


    <strong><b>━━━━━━━━━━┓</b></strong><strong><b>?( ∞ )</b></strong><strong><b>?</b></strong><strong><b>┏━━━━━━━━━━</b></strong>


    Chapter 165: The Kidnapping Of The Mistress


    <strong><b>━━━━━━━━┛</b></strong><strong><b>?( ∞ )</b></strong><strong><b>?</b></strong><strong><b>┗━━━━━━━━</b></strong>


    The elegant woman before them stood with unshaken poise, herposure undisturbed by the sight of Athena and her group. She seemed utterly unimpressed, even with their numbers. A dozen men? She had faced far greater assemblies before, and this was hardly enough to faze her.


    Slowly, she raised her hand, her slender fingers idly stroking the intricate ring on her finger.


    “Having enjoyed my hospitality, shouldn’t you settle your debts?” she inquired with a honeyed tone, her gaze roving over Athena and herpanions like a merchant assessing livestock. “You’re all strong and capable, so perhaps you could stay and repay me... gradually.” Her smile wasced with irony as she continued to study them, gauging their worth.


    To her, they were mere nobodies. If they had been of importance, word would have reached her in advance. This group bore the telltale signs of outsiders, likely outcasts with no critical purpose. If she could squeeze something out of them, she would.


    Athena, standing at the forefront, studied the woman just as intently. Her brazen demeanor hinted at a position of power, or at least wealth. Thevish surroundings certainly suggested as much. Wealthy people hadworks, and thoseworks could prove useful- especially in the cities ahead.


    “Madam, I’m afraid we’ll have to trouble you toe with us,” Athena said with a calm authority. She reached into her bag and withdrew a document, flipping it open just enough for the seal to sh under the light. The crest of the Babron family shimmered briefly before the woman’s eyes.


    The woman’s nce was fleeting but enough to confirm the seal’s authenticity. She knew the Babron crest well. However, her instinct told her this was no official matter. Why would they mention such a thing now, out of nowhere? The timing was far too suspicious.


    Raising her hand, she moved to demand the document for closer inspection, but before she could utter a word, Athena moved. Her step was swift and precise, closing the distance in an instant as she reached to restrain the woman.


    The sudden motion threw the guards and attendants into a frenzy. Weapons were drawn, and chaos broke out as Athena’s prisoners, sensing an opportunity, leapt into the fray.


    des shed, and the air filled with the sharp cries ofbat. The woman’s guards, though well-trained, struggled to match the ferocity of the prisoners. These were no ordinary criminals- they were once influential figures, shadowy operators, or dangerous yers in their respective spheres.


    Each had been cast out, their pasts too troublesome to resolve cleanly. For them, the battlefield wasn’t just a punishment; it was a chance to reim their former glory.


    The battle escted quickly, and as blood was drawn, some among the prisoners lost themselves in their primal instincts. One gaunt man, his eyes wild with mania, fought with terrifying zeal. Laughing maniacally, he lunged at a guard, his bony hands wrapping around the man’s throat in a deadly grip.


    “No killing!” Athena’s sharpmand cut through the chaos. She had no intention of escting matters to a point of no return. A scuffle was one thing, but bloodshed invited unnecessaryplications.


    Her words were barely heard as she advanced toward the woman, who watched her approach with a confident smirk. The woman’s eyes gleamed with an air of superiority, certain that she could handle this interloper in a matter of moments.


    However, the first strike she threw was met with an unyielding resistance. Her arm recoiled sharply, the force of impact sending a jarring shock up her arm. Before she could recover, Athena’s leg swept low, striking her knee and forcing her to the ground.


    The woman found herself kneeling, her movements sluggish with pain and disbelief. A heartbeatter, Athena’s hand closed firmly around her throat.


    The guards froze in ce, their weapons poised but useless. The entire exchange had taken but a moment, and now their mistress was at the mercy of this formidable woman.


    Athena turned, her icy gazending on the manic prisoner who still held the guard in his grip. “I said, no killing,” she repeated, her voice like tempered steel.


    The prisoner faltered, his deranged grin fading under hermanding presence. Reluctantly, he released the guard, who copsed to the ground, gasping for air.


    Athena returned her attention to the woman beneath her grasp. “Madam,” she said, her toneced with mock civility, “I trust you understand your position now?”


    The woman, still kneeling, red at the floor, rage smoldering in her eyes. But when she lifted her gaze, her lips curled into a practiced, disarming smile.


    “Such drastic measures for a misunderstanding,” she said sweetly, her voice syrupy and demure.


    But Athena was unmoved. She was not the sort to be swayed by false charm.


    “It’s a simple request,” Athena replied with a faint smile, one that carried the weight of an unspoken threat. “Why don’t you guide us to the cities ahead? After all, fate has brought us together.”


    The woman’s teeth clenched behind her smile. Not only were they using her as a hostage, but they intended for her to lead the way.


    As she opened her mouth to respond, Athena shoved the document closer to her face, forcing her to read it.


    The woman scanned the text quickly. At first, she dismissed it as a forgery, but as her eyes roamed further, her heart sank. The seal was genuine, the words unmistakably official. The document authorized their passage, yet its veiled purpose was clear: they were being sent to the frontlines as expendable assets, their crimesbeled as economic vitions.


    Her mind raced. Was this some cruel jest by a higher authority? Regardless, she was now caught in their web. These weren’t ordinary prisoners, and underestimating them further would be a mistake.


    For now, her life was in their hands, and she had no choice but toply.


    “Ah, I see now- it’s all been a misunderstanding,” she said, her tone shifting to one of nervous charm.


    “If you wish to proceed to the next town, I’ll ensure everything is arranged immediately,” she offered with a forced smile. “The transport circle will be prepared at once.”


    Athena’s sharp eyes caught the lie beneath her words. She was stalling, hoping to rid herself of them as quickly as possible.


    “That won’t be necessary,” Athena said, her voice smooth but firm. “We’d prefer your personalpany.”


    The woman’s leg was injured and useless, making escape impossible. Athena’s gaze swept the room,nding on a burly, bald prisoner.


    “You,” she called. The man straightened instantly, understanding hermand. Without hesitation, he stepped forward and hoisted the woman onto his back.


    The guards hesitated, their instincts to intervene crushed by the woman’s raised hand. She had no intention of worsening her predicament.


    And so, carried by her captors, the woman swallowed her pride, her thoughts filled with quiet fury and desperate ns for revenge.