Chapter 477 478-Infiltrating the Stronghold


    ??For fifteen years, the Eternal me has spread its influence across the southwestern territories of the Av Continent, secretly taking lives all the while.


    Their operations have always been marked by caution.


    The major nations in the southwest have never been able to catch them red-handed, which is why they''ve remained rooted.


    Indeed, it was somewhat surprising for the intelligence corps to provide such precise information on the Eternal me this time.


    N even considered the possibility of it being a trapid by the enemy.


    Yet, when faced with the potential loss of human lives, N chose to take the risk.


    If Rodel were truly to fall to the monster tide, the death toll would be far more than just one or two.


    ...


    N carefully rounded a corner, encountering neither enemies nor any divergences in the path until the next bend.


    The cave sloped continuously downward, and given the teleportation entry, she had no real sense of her distance from the surface after traveling so far within.


    Perhaps a hundred meters? Two hundred? Or even deeper? Why would they hide so far underground? What exactly are they nning to do here?


    N had no answers to these questions, but she believed that once she found the Eternal me members within this stronghold, she would learn everything.


    Even if they were unwilling to talk, N had ways to make them speak.


    When ites to tormenting someone, not even the most skilled interrogators couldpare to a magus.


    With the aid of mana, N could even interrogate a person''s soul, extracting information directly from their memories.


    After advancing another two hundred meters or so, N noticed clear signs of maintenance on the cave walls, and the torches appeared to have been recently reced.


    This indicated that she was nearing areas where enemies had begun to operate.


    N heightened her alertness, wrapping herself in anotheryer of Invisibility.


    Amidst the distortion of light, N''s figure vanished from sight.


    Concealed beneath a thin membrane of mana, she continued forward, picking up the sound of conversation.


    It sounded like idle chatter, devoid of substance.


    N moved along the wall, edging closer to the source of the voices.


    It was just around the corner, seemingly a few cultists on guard duty, indicating that the stronghold of Eternal me was ahead.


    In such a confined environment, only areas close to the stronghold itself warranted guards.


    The only entrance was a spell matrix, which hadn''t been activated in a long while, leaving N to wonder how long these individuals had been underground.


    Or perhaps they had another way in?


    N listened carefully to the cultists'' banter.


    Although no significant intelligence was gathered, she gained a rough understanding of this subterranean Eternal me stronghold through their conversation.


    One word, in particr, kepting up in their talk.


    "Exile."


    The frequent mention of "exile" suggested it was a critical yet unattained objective.


    The presence of Eternal me''s members here was for the sake of "exile," to the extent that this underground stronghold was established with that purpose in mind.


    N was unsure how Eternal me had constructed this underground stronghold, but it was evident that its creation was neither a recent endeavor nor something that could be aplished with just a million or two gold coins.


    Lurking behind the corner, waiting, the idle chat of the cultists finally came to an end, and footsteps receded.


    It sounded like a shift change.


    N pondered for a moment, then lifted her hand, allowing a wisp of mana to dissipate into mist, spreading out.


    The thin mana feedback provided a vague sense of perception, outlining the approximate positions of three individuals.


    But that was sufficient for N, who didn''t intend to leave any survivors.


    As long as she could eliminate them all before an rm was raised, her mission would be aplished.


    Taking a deep breath, a short dagger appeared in N''s hand.


    Pulling up her hood, she moved away from the corner, guided by the flickering shadows cast on the cave walls by the torches, andid eyes on the guards around the bend.


    There were three in total.


    N exploited a momentary blind spot in their vision to cross the corner, advancing through the shadows.


    If she could get within five meters, N was confident she could kill them all in an instant.


    Three more meters to go.


    N noticed one of the guards'' gaze beginning to shift.


    Invisibility merely distorted light, much like how the air looks when it''s warped.


    Air itself isn''t visible, but if it appears distorted for some reason, even the human eye can clearly see it.


    That was N''s situation now.


    Despite being cloaked in spells, no one could guarantee that among the three guards, there wasn''t one with keen enough eyesight to detect the distortion of light in this dimly lit space.


    If her stealth was discovered midway, it would be better to have charged in with a dagger drawn.


    Adding the agility of a cat and the strength of a bear to herself and going berserk would be far more sensational than sneaking in.


    But that approach would also lead to the quickest death.


    N had no intention of falling on what was neither a major nor minor mission.


    As one of the guards'' gaze began to shift, N didn''t hesitate; she elerated instantly, charging forward while still under the cloak of invisibility.


    Her right hand gripped the dagger in reverse, and her left hand clenched a handful of "blinding powder."


    This so-called blinding powder was actually a mix of silver dust and quicklime, not only reflecting light when scattered but also doubling its effect if itnded directly in the eyes.


    If they reacted in time, the blinding powder would ensure their demise amidst panicked white light.


    Of course, it wouldn''t be without pain.


    One of the prerequisites for joining the Eternal me cult was participating in a live sacrifice, meaning there wasn''t a single person within the sect whose hands weren''t stained with the blood of others.


    They deserved more than death.


    N surged forward silently, her de covered in mana for invisibility and enhanced sharpness, effortlessly shing across the throats of two guards before stopping in front of the third.


    N then dispelled her invisibility.


    The two guards fell, blood spurting from their throats, their eyes bulging and mouths slightly open, dying without even realizing what had happened.


    For some, such an end might be considered a merciful release.


    The reason for leaving a survivor was not a sudden change of heart to keep a hostage; N had questions.


    "I ask, you answer, or you die. Understand?"


    N''s icy gaze locked onto the surviving guard like a coiled snake eyeing a mouse or frog.


    Under such a nearly predatory intimidation, the surviving guard had no chance to resist.


    Should he make any dangerous move, N was ready to strike!


    As the surviving guard hesitantly nodded, his gaze drifting to his fallenrades, the fear in the depths of his eyes was unmistakable.


    "Where are we?" N inquired, rifying, "I''m not asking for the name of this stronghold but the geographical location. What ce on the surface does this correspond to?"


    "I''m just a lowly cultist; I know nothing!" The guard shook his head, his demeanor on the verge of tears.


    "I only heard something from a rotating priest once, something about a guild above us, but what guild specifically, I have no idea!"


    "Fine, next question." N, having received a non-answer, shifted her focus.


    "What is this ce, this stronghold, built for? What are you doing here!"


    "I know even less about that!"


    The face of the surviving guard twisted in distress.


    "I''m just a low-ranking follower who joined to get by! Please,dy, spare me! I''ve never killed anyone, truly!"


    N frowned, a coldugh escaping her lips: "If you''ve never killed anyone, why are you so afraid?"


    "If you have no guilt, why can''t you look me in the eye?"


    Shaking her head, N sighed, "A person ustomed to covering one lie with another, even the most merciful deity wouldn''t choose to forgive."


    The de shed, and thest survivor''s eyes widened before he slumped down, a raspy gasp escaping his slit throat.


    N had severed his throat, a fatal wound, yet not one that would grant a swift death.


    Before death took him, he would feel his body gradually grow cold, the dull pain of his gashed throat lingering in his mind, yet incapable of even a scream.


    For those who willingly joined the cult, even at the cost of others'' lives, no death could be too painful.


    Beyond the three guards were two passages, the first divergence N had encountered in the cave after following a single path all this way.


    Unsure of the guards'' shift change intervals, N chose not to deal with the bodies.


    Every second was precious.


    After carefully examining the footprints on the ground, N discerned which passage the departing footsteps had taken.


    Regardless of whaty ahead, it beat returning empty-handed.


    With her direction confirmed, N pressed on.


    This time, she didn''t move slowly but quickly advanced, cloaked in Invisibility.


    Having prated the stronghold, there was little need for stealth; her intent had always been to cause havoc and leave.


    Annihting the opposition would be ideal, but even falling short of that, disrupting their operations would suffice.


    Reinforcements were already en route; as long as she thwarted their immediate ns, the arriving forces would sweep through, capturing these shadow-dwelling vermin in one fell swoop.