Chapter 26: Red Lotus Gang

The interior of the hut was dark and musty, prompting anyone who strayed into the hut to recoil in disgust.

"Follow me," The voice from earlier called out.

Zaos followed the voice to see an individual with short red hair, green eyes, and rough facial features. The red-haired elf gestured for Zaos to descend through an open trap door in the middle of the room.

Zaos nodded, and swiftly made his way towards the trap door, following behind the fire elf on the flight of stairs.

After descending the stairs for a while, Zaos and the fire elf eventually entered a spacious underground tunnel.

The fire elf retrieved a torch from the stone wall and ignited it with a flame he conjured.

"This way," he said as he walked down the tunnel.

[It's smaller than the Qildor clan's hideout… ] Zaos thought as he gazed at the narrow tunnel.

Using the torch's light, the fire elf guided Zaos to a metal door at the end of the tunnel. Guarding the door was a tough-looking earth elf in leather armor.

"Open the door," the fire elf dressed in simple clothes spoke to the armored earth elf.

The earth elf said nothing and simply pushed open the heavy metal door exposing the path behind the door.

The fire elf gestured at Zaos to enter while he stood by the side.

Zaos adjusted the scarf covering the bottom half of his face and entered the spacious cave behind the door.

The massive dimly lit cave was occupied by different stalls selling various exotic goods.

[Where would the red lotus gang leader be?] Zaos didn't stop by any of the stalls, instead; he silently observed the area.

[There?] Zaos spotted another metal door by the northern side of the cave. Just like the entrance, this metal door was also being guarded by an earth elf.

[Let's find out.] Zaos stealthy moved to a secluded corner of the market and activated his invisibility.

He then made his way towards the door undetected. When he reached the door, he activated his phantom elemental weave and phased through the door.

The path beyond the door was a narrow tunnel. At the end of the small tunnel was another door which was being guarded by an earth elf and a fire elf.

Zaos walked past the clueless guards and phased through the second metal door.

Upon phasing through the door, he found himself in a small office. A figure sat on the luxurious wooden chair opposite the metal door. In front of the figure was an equally luxurious wooden desk where all sorts of documents were placed.

[Is that him?] Zaos thought as he observed the figure.

The individual had fiery red hair, bright red eyes, and tanned skin. His attention was currently focused on the documents in his hands.

[Even if it isn't him, he should still be someone important.] Zaos approached the individual while still invisible. He drew his dagger and silently crept up behind the fire elf.

He raised his dagger and aimed it at the back of the individual's head. Just when the blade was about to strike, the fire abruptly leaped out of his chair, hurling a fireball at Zaos.

[F*ck!] Zaos quickly conjured a shield before himself.

*Boom!*

An explosion echoed in the small office as the furniture was all thrown about by the blast.

"Who dares?!" The fire elf screamed after stabilizing himself on the ground, his vision obstructed by the thick cloud of smoke the explosion produced.

[So he's a high-elf… ] Zaos thought as he accessed his condition. He had been unable to fully block the fireball and had some burns on his body, but with this, he could deduce that the other party was a high-elf.

[He seems to be unable to fully sense my presence… ] Zaos speculated as he observed the other party's actions through the smoke.

After no response, the fire elf conjured another fireball and threw it in Zaos' direction.

"Since you won't answer, then die!!" The fire elf spat out in fury.

Zaos swiftly left his former position and let the fireball collide with the stone wall. He gazed at his opponent as he dashed out of the blast range.

[He really can't sense me… ] Zaos thought as he noticed the other party was still watching the area in which he had thrown his fireball.

[Then how did he notice me earlier? Is it through killing intent?] Zaos speculated.

He quickly created an elemental weave that targeted his killing intent to test his theory.

After activating it, he crept up behind his opponent who still vigilantly gazed at the place where his fireball had hit.

"The assassin should be dead right? There is no way an assassin can receive an attack from my head on." The fire elf muttered.

Zaos rolled his eyes at the fire elf's statement, he aimed his dagger at his opponent's head and thrust it forward.

Unlike last time, the fire elf didn't react as his head was impaled by the Zaos' dagger and his body fell limp to the floor.

Zaos distanced himself from the body. His experience with high elves made him doubt the other party's status, but after a few minutes of silence from the body, Zaos concluded that he had died. However, he remained cautious.

[He seemed weaker than shadow… ] Zaos thought as he gazed at his defeated foe.

[Also, why didn't the guards come in even after all the noise we made? Is this place soundproof?] Zaos stared at the metal door in puzzlement.

He shook his head, conjured a shield in front of himself, and then made his way to the body. He carefully retrieved his dagger and searched the body.

From the body, Zaos found a few items including a sack filled with mana gems and a large key.

[I guess he won't have an identification card on him stating who he is… ] Zaos lamented after finding nothing related to the individual's identity.

[I'll just have to ask the ones outside.] Zaos phased through the door and returned to the narrow tunnel.

"Any idea who the one inside is?" He had already undone his invisibility and canceled the shield before arriving at the tunnel.

"W-who are you?!" The guards were immediately startled by Zaos' sudden appearance from the location they were supposed to protect.

"What happened to the boss!? " They drew their weapons and pointed them at Zaos.

"Answer the question." A large amount of killing intent burst out of Zaos' body, stunning the already startled guards.

"T-that's the second boss's office." The fire elf guard spoke fearfully.

"I see. Where is your leader?" Zaos asked with his arms behind his back.

"He is at the headquarters." The fire elf responded once more.

"Bring me to–" Zaos was interrupted before he could finish.

"B*stard!" The earth elf charged forward, brandishing his battle axe at Zaos.

"Idiot… " Zaos flicked his wrist and an illusionary dagger went flying towards the former.

"A mere dagger will–" Before the earth could finish his sentence, the dagger plunged into his forehead, lounging itself in his head, both the blade and the handle.

"Lead the way." Zaos didn't glance at the earth elf who fell limp to the ground and instead instructed the fire elf.

"O-ok." The fire elf quickly complied.