Time passed and a single nap turned into a deep sleep, when I woke up it’s already sun set.

I stretch out my arms and legs then rise up. Made a few light jumps then decided to walk back to the fort.

“It seems they are still celebrating”

I could hear the noises, shouting, laughing, and cheers which is getting louder and louder as I approach the fort.

The moment I entered the fort, some soldiers are guarding their post, probably just an assurance that we won’t get attacked by surprise.

*growl*

“aah I’m hungry, need to eat”

I head towards the celebration are where I know I could get some food. I hide my presence and sneak in so I won’t cause any kind of disturbance.

I choose a lonely corner of the area and eat quietly.

‘Now what should I do?’ I ask myself.

Considering the information I know, the place where the king keep his disgusting hobby is within or near this fort.

After I finished eating I sneak out and head towards an empty room.

I sat down at the center of the room cross-legged and start my meditation.

‘For now I will use the wind and earth element to create a mental map of the whole fort. I might encounter some special items too like the one in the palace.’

I channeled my ‘Ki’ and start to release it to my surroundings.

‘Feel the vibrations in the air like a bat navigating while flying, feel the tremors in the earth like dropping a stone on a bucket of water which create waves that bounce back when it hit the walls.’

These are the idea or how I manage to create a mental map of certain area.

I developed this technique when I fell down on a cave which I think is an empty underground water way.

I got lost so I decided to use the wind element to know if a path is a dead end or not but the droplets of water from above keeps interfering so I used the wind element adding the earth element to create a precise path for me to take.

It was successful and to my surprise when I use this technique inside the orphanage I can pin point the location of each children and adult in the area.

“This is?”

It took about two hours to finally found an underground passage which is carefully sealed and I think I need to do this fast.

I can feel a faint presence that some living thing is on the verge of death.

I stand up and leave the room heading towards the entrance I found.

While walking towards the passage I sensed something odd.

There are about five concealed human ahead.

‘Thinking back I heard they did send some people to deal with me well not really me but the spy of the council which happens to be me’

I concealed my presence and hide for the moment.

I’ve waited for about an hour which is kind of annoying. It seems that these guys are really persistent and very cautious.

“Hey it’s been a while now and not a single soul came” said the first one

“Did you make a mistake? I thought someone is coming” the second one said

“I did but it suddenly vanished” the third one answered

“Probably just your imagination, since we encountered those demons not too long ago we are still in bad state of our wits” a comment came from the fourth one

“Hey don’t make me remember such unfortunate event” the last one of them said

“Yeah probably just my imagination”

All of them revealed their positions and began to gather around.

“I really wish the spy is not that guy”

“What do you mean?”

“Is it about the kid?”

“Yeah that monster”

“Well I hope so too. If I ever face that monster the chance of survival is too low”

“Yeah did you see how he killed those demons? It’s like they are nothing but toys to him”

“aaaaaah just remembering it makes all of my hair stand in fear”

“I agree”

The conversation continued and I decided to but in. well of course I did it without them even noticing.

“So what is the deal in guarding this place?” I asked

“Well we really don’t know. We are only hired mercenaries and the client wants us to guard this spot and never let anyone pass since he told us that a spies might use this path as a base” said the man near me

“……”

An awkward silence fills the entire area when they finally notice me.

“So you guys don’t even know the real reason why you are guarding this place” I said

They quickly move away from me and draw their swords.

“HOW DID YOU GET HERE?” one of them asked

“How? Well I walk towards your group” I said

“That’s impossible I dint even noticed you approaching”

“Well you guys are busy chatting so I did not want to disturb”

“What do you want?”

“Well I want a safe passage”

“Nobody is allowed to pass here”

*sigh* “do you guys even know what you really are guarding?” I asked them

“It’s not our job to question our employer, we do the job we get paid”

“So money matters huh. Ok since I don’t want some useless fight and meaning less death to happen let’s have a deal”

“Sorry but betraying our employer is not something we- mmmph” before he even finish speaking one of his comrades covered his mouth

“Sorry for this but may I know what is in for us?” one of them asked

“Hey what are you doing?”

“What? do you want to die here? I don’t know about you guys but it’s better to live and have something than to die with nothing”

“Well you do have a point”

“So what is your decision?” I asked

“We want to know about your deal”

I placed my hand inside my clothes and pretend to get something. I summoned five diamonds in my hand and if you combined the five pieces it’s as large as my fist.

“I will give you this, in exchange that you guys will help me on my quest”

The five of them turned silent as they look at the gems before them.

“A- a a are you sure about this?” one of them asked with stars blinking in his eyes

“Pretty much, since I might need some manual labor on this I might as well hire you guys” I said

“Um is it ok if we discuss this among ourselves first?” one asked

“Go ahead I will wait” and I made a gesture as if I’m returning the gems inside my clothes

They turned around and whisper among them.

‘Hey those are huge gems probably the biggest I’ve ever seen’

‘Yeah me too’

‘It’s probably worth ten no twenty times the money that noble offered us’

‘Probably’

‘So what do we do?’

‘I say we take the offer’

‘But it’s against our law’

‘F**ck that law I rather live to have those than to die with nothing, besides we can always make an excuse since it’s from a noble with bad reputation’

‘Ooh there is that option’

‘Yeah yeah let’s do this’

After some heated discussion they turn back towards me.

“We accept the offer”

“Good I’ll give you this as an initial payment and the rest after the job” I tossed two pieces of diamonds to them

When they catch it they examine if it was a real one. Satisfied on what they received they made a calm face.

“I don’t care where you get this but promise us that you will give us the rest”

“OK ill promise, I might even add some gold if you performed well”

They eyes became even brighter when I said those words. ‘Really these bastards, well it saves me the trouble of cleaning up their corpse’

“Now that is settled let’s move” I said and walk towards the concealed passage

After a few minutes we finally arrived

“Where here” I said

“Where exactly I can only see a wall nothing more”

*smirk*

I pushed a stone one after another then a hidden door opened.

“What the” one of them said

“Let’s go” I said

We entered the new found passage and as we go along something got our attention.

“The heck is that smell, it reeks of blood and sweat” one of them said

“That’s the smell of women being tortured to death by some pig of a king as a hobby” I said

“””“WHAAAAT””””

“Well I can understand your reaction since you guys are not properly informed by your previous employer, but since you guys are with me I will tell you some things. First I’m on a dangerous mission aside from the defense of the forth and that is to investigate a king in suspicion of illegal smuggling of slaves. Lastly the authority given to me allowed me to arrest the said king if proven guilty”

They became silent again, unable to process the information they just heard.

“Damn it just who the hell are you, forget about what you did last night but to have the authority to even arrest a king geez just what did we get ourselves into”

I just ignored them.

We arrived at a locked wooden door; I destroyed the lock and opened it.

“What the heck”

“This is beyond human”

I stayed silent as I watch the scene. A lot of huge cages some are empty some are filled with women naked.

On one corner there are several tools covered in rust and blood. There are also some female bodies hanging on the walls some with parts of their bodies missing, some have their stomach open, chest ripped out, heads detached. Blood that dries over time can be seen on those corpses. It’s a very disgusting place.

Those women inside the cages stared at us, eyes that are empty like their soul has been ripped off.

I took something out, place it in front of me and recite some words to activate it. It’s the orb that is given to me to capture the evidence against the king.

The orb began to glow and absorbed some of my energy which I did not expect that to happen but it did not cause me any harm so I just let it do its work.

The glow stopped and I returned the globe to my storage.

“what did you do?” one of the mercenaries asked

“For evidence” I said

It seems that they understood what I meant and did not ask anymore question.

“For now open the cages and gather those who are still alive. There are some rags on the corner use it to cover their private parts. It’s a lot better than to take them with us naked.”

The five of them open the cages and took the women one by one out. They gathered those who are still alive in front of me and those who are on the verge of death where gathered in one corner lying beside each other.

“My name is Frau NoSur an ordinary soldier who is tasked by the highest member of the council to investigate this matter. Here is the proof that I have the authority to arrest the king whom have done this to you”

They are listening to me but I know that nothing can be done I mean they are already mentally broken.

All in all there are about twenty women and five were in critical condition. All of them have wounds around their bodies and some rope marks can be visibly seen.

*sigh*

To my sympathy and it seems that the five mercenaries are all looking at them with pity. I walk towards the ones who are on the verge of death.

One by one I used my water affinity to heal them up to the point that they can stand on their own. This action made them look at me with curiosity and slowly they regain the fires in their eyes and began to cry.

“Thank you *snif*”

One by one they began to say words of thanks while they cry. Now they realized that their days of endless torture stop at this very moment.

After I finish at the last one, I stand up and talk to them.

“Right now I know you are still weak but we must leave this place. I will arrange some accommodations for each of you at that time you must decide what to do from now on.”

Every one of them gave me a nod and I ask the five mercenaries to assist me and leave the place.

We move towards the empty part of the forth and ask them to wait for me.

“Guard them for now until I return” I ordered the five mercenaries

“Where are you going?” ask one of them

I put my hand inside my clothes and took out the remaining gems.

“Here is the full payment for assisting me and I will add twenty five gold pieces for guarding them after I returned”

The five of them seems to be happy and promised that no harm will fall on the women.

“Ladies I have to leave for now I will leave you with my companions and I will negotiate to the one in charge here so wait for my return also do not worry those nobles owe me a lot ”

I left them with the assurance that I will return. So I head towards the princess room to negotiate.

I entered the room and inside where people whom I know.

Jerome, the princess and her knight and some attendants are chatting inside. They are busy discussing the future things that must be done.

“Good evening” I said

“Where have you been my friend?” said Jerome

“Yeah I have been looking for you. You said you will just take a nap but it’s been hours I even ask some people to look for you but you cannot be found” said the princess

“So the princess wants to see me as soon as possible huh” I said while making a grin.

“Yes she is restless for a while now I can’t make her calm down at all” Said the maid, I think her name is Ana and far too close to the princess

“ANAAAAAA” staring at her made with a furious look

“Yes she made me look for you all around the fort , seriously next time please do not suddenly leave her side for too long it’s really a pain to deal with” surprisingly her personal knight butt in to the conversation with a straight face

“Hey why do I feel that you guys are teaming up against me” the princess said while making an angered face.

“It’s just in your imagination your highness”

“Yeah just your imagination” Said those two who are clearly adding oil to fire.

“I came here to collect the promised reward from completing the task given to me” I said

“So you are taking the princess hand in marriage I presume” the knight said

The princess blushed and started to avoid eye contact with me.

“S s so yo- you are asking for that, it’s to- too sudden we we have to return to my kingdom fi- first the- then-“.

“I’m sorry but I don’t have such intention. I am here right now to discuss my personal mission which Sir Jerome here know as well”

‘Tch coward’ I heard the knight whispered with disappointment.

The princess regains her composure and from the atmosphere I can feel that she is quite angry.

“Your progress?” Jerome asked

“It’s done but I would like to ask for some assistance regarding the survivors. I will use the reward and make a request for the princess to give accommodations to those victims”

“I see. So this proves him guilty, this might get ugly” Jerome said

“What are you talking about?” the princess asked

“It’s about the suspicion of this kingdom’s ruler involving into criminal acts like abduction and slavery”

“I see, I heard the rumours but from what you have said he’s guilty” she put her hand on her chin thinking what to do then looked at me.

“You said you want me to give accommodations to those victims of the king but going against a king is still something troublesome. Given your strength it might be an easy victory but handling the aftermath is not something that should be taken lightly”

I move closer to her and gave her the letter with the seal of the highest council member.

“This will handle everything” I said

She opens the letter and read its content.

“Indeed this will help us a lot, considering you have the backing of this man everything will be in our favour no matter what will happen. So what are your plans?”

“I want to return as much as possible and made a report. Also I need to make a report that soon we must expect another demon attack.”

All of them stared at me not moving an inch, they became silent.

“I know it’s hard to accept but on my fight I witness something you must know. The one behind the attack is a ‘HUMAN’ he is quite powerful being able to summon demons at will but from my experience it takes time to do so. He manage to get away the moment I destroyed his most powerful demon. Probably, knowing my existence he will take his time to organize a more powerful army and continue his rampage”

“That can’t be, so this is just the beginning” Jerome said holding his head facing the floor

“What should we do?” the princess said

Both their faces are now filled with terror knowing that the war is not yet over.

“I suggest that we let the council know about the situation first. Then train your soldiers until they are capable of smashing boulders with their fist or weapons in one hit that increases their chance against the demons”

“Yes we should let the council know first” Jerome said

*clap*

“So now that we decided what to do about that matter I want you to focus on the arrest of the king. As for those victims I leave them to you princess” with a smile on my face I guide them to the place where the victims are kept.

On our way there Jerome asked me some questions.

“How are they?”

“Apart from physical injuries and some of them being on the verge of death which I already deal with. It seems that the king did not even tried to turn them into lust banks”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean none of them where pregnant; meaning the king only enjoyed torturing them. Still kind of a nasty hobby if you ask me”

“You mean they still have their purity? I mean how sure you are about that?”

“Well it’s been months since the first wave attack the fort and considering that the king won’t even dare to visit a fort surrounded by enemies plus amount of time it took for us to travel. Even though the food and water they have when I arrived are already none existent it seems that they still manage to survive.

If you think about the king using them as lust banks then at least based on what I learned one of them should be pregnant. But not a single one of them, even the corpse inside the place doesn’t have any indication that they are once pregnant.”

“So he’s hobby only includes torture, but to be specifically inclined in women. Such thing is…”

“I know but I don’t want to hear his excuse, he sinned therefore he will be punished”

We arrived at the place and the princess ordered her maids to give the women a decent bath and some clean clothes after that some decent food and a place to rest.

Right now the other soldiers still do not know of the existence of the victims which will be dealt with on the next day.

For now the princess and Jerome announce an immediate departure and leave some soldiers to guard the fort.

As for the five mercenaries they receive their full payment and decided to head back with us.

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Hello HalfSpicy here

sorry for not thoroughly placing emoticons again

I'm quite in a hurry so there you have it the 13th chapter

hmm what else

ah yeah thank you for reading this story i hope you will still be until the end

until the next chapter buh bye