chapter 11: ambush

While the groups mercenary was waiting for their employer. Reno was busy polishing his musket.

Rita, who saw reno told him.

"Hmm, Reno take this."

As Reno saw the rock written in runes. When he was about to ask in confusion. Rita continued.

"This our communication devices. If something happened while we are traveling. You call us with this."

As Reno nodded. He then put it on his pocket as the gate from the flyfish open.

The person who got out first was the guard captain. As he scan all the mercenarys who was waiting for them. Soon enough. Multiple soldiers wearing a armor come out from the castle's gate.

"You must be the leaders mercenary group called strife right?"

As Theo nodded his head. Multiple leaders from different groups has come to Moss.

The guard captain name Moss didn't gave any expression and said.

"Good, then all of your groups will be on the back next to granent team."

As Theo and the group look at the luxurious carriage with the logo of the flyfish. They are suspecting that the young lady that they are going to escort was already in the carriage and she didn't show up.

The guard captain who notice them spoke.

"We can't let you meet the princess for now, but the princess said she will once we arrive at our destination."

As Theo and the others nodded. They went back to their groups as the Five of them when to the carriage while they follow the granent team.

As hours has pass in the road. The whole mercenary was vigilant from the surroundings.

Right now there are five carriage including Reno's group was traveling in the grassy plains.

As Reno was watching the view. Sasha who was the archer of the group spoke.

"So captain where are we going after we reach the capital."

The escort group are headed to the capital. Most of the groups was excited since they didn't come back to the capital for very long time.

Reno who didn't know the capital of Shiba looks like was also excited. He has so many things to do in the capital but what Reno was excited about was buy the magic books.

Unlike the magic books in the system market which sell a hundred crystal coins. The magic books in the capital was more cheap.

Moreover, Reno wants to save the crystal coins as much as possible since the system only gave few mission.

Even now, the system didn't gave him a missions.

Ross who looks at the group spoke with a smile.

"As for me? Am going to the brothel."

When Reno heard the word brothel. He never expected that those things are also exist in the fantasy words.

Of course, the girls look at Ross with disgust. But Ross didn't care as he look at Reno.

"Hey kid, do you want to join me? Am sure you will love it."

While Ross gave a mischievous smile, Reno only shook his head and said.

"Sorry, I have things to do."

As Reno rejected, Ross said.

"Well it's your loss then. What about you captain?"

"Me? Hmm.... I'll probably come too since we have nothing else to do."

As Ross smiled, the two girls only shook there heads as Reno look at outside. But Reno who was staring at outside notice a cloak figure.

"Captain Theo I think someone is watching us."

As Reno spoke, Theo became serious as Reno pointed the group of cloak people in the forest.

Theo who has many experience in escort mission frown and said.

"Those guys are probably the scouting group. They must be following us right now."

"Can I shoot them?"

As Reno prepared his musket. Theo only shook his head and said.

"No, not yet. We need to report first to the captain before we take a move."

As Reno nodded. Theo told the other group of what reno saw and Reno was still staring at the unknown people.

.....

As the assassin saw their target. The leader of the group named goz was watching the carriage.

Right now, there are only three who accompany and said.

"The target was here, tell to the boys to prepared."

"Roger."

As one of them left, goz look at the short girls who was a half breeds cat without a word.

This girl has short hair and her distinctive cat hairs was displayed. What's different between Reno and her was she has a white hair while Reno is black.

"Captain, I saw one of my kin here."

When goz heard the girl named tina. Goz ask.

"Ho? Is he one of your tribe's men?"

"No, I never seeing him in my village but, that boy was looking at our direction for a while now."

"I see, is he a soldier?"

"I don't think so captain."

As goz rub his chin. Tina ask.

"Should I kill him first?"

When Tina ask goz. He only nodded his head a said.

"Yes, that boy must be their reconnaissance of the team and probably the mercenary too."

"Understood."

As the girl gave a cold glance, she and goz left the forest to regroup with the team.

....

When the escort group find a spot to rest. Theo told the the captain of what they find while Reno and the rest set up a tent.

Most guards man was staying vigilants while some of them prepared to eat.

As Reno finishing gathering the woods. He then saw the carriage door from the employer was open.

The girl who as in mid 20's came out along with her two maids. She has a aquatic blue hair with hair pin to the side.

As the princess Cassandra saw him. She only gave a beautiful smile as she went to captain Ross along with her personal knights.

This makes Reno to look at her for a few minutes as someone said.

"Did you fell in love?"

When Reno heard this, he flinch a bit and he look at the person spoke.

"Ross, stop scaring me."

"Hmph, we are in the camp site. Not on the battlefield. Why would you be so scared."

As Reno scratch his head. Ross continued.

"Anyway, how was it? Did you fall in love?"

As Reno look at there employer. He then spoke.

"No, not really. I was just surprise why the princess was wearing long pants instead of the long skirt."

When Reno scratch his head. Ross spoke with a disappointed tone.

"That's it?"

"Yeah, is there some other than that?"

"Tsk, man you are boring. You should enjoy your youth a little. I mean if you found a beautiful girl like the princess. You should streak first."

"Strike? Are you saying I go and asking her to go for a date. Only to be chop off by the guards here?"

As Reno said, multiple guards who heads him only nodded there heads.

Most of the guardsman are here to protect the princess from anyone from harm. If they are in the capital, they probably when go somewhere else after they send her to the mansion for better security.

But right now. All of them are on guard as they never let anyone walk to the princess except the maids.

As Ross was about to argue, Theo called them with disgruntled face. Both Reno and Ross look at each other and Ross said.

"Something must be happened."

"Yeah."

As everyone look at Theo, he then said.

"Listen everyone. I need you all to let your guard up if things got getting south. Understand?"

As everyone look at their leader. Sasha ask.

"Leader did something happened?"

"Yeah, the guard captain told me that 3 of his men didn't returned yet."

As everyone frown. Reno then said.

"Captain, if the three soldiers didn't returned yet, could it be that the assassin was already here?"

At Reno's question. Theo suddenly rise his eyes and said.

"Oh no, quickly go to the the pri-."

Boom!

But before they could even continued. The carriage which the princess use was suddenly explode.

Many of the guards in duty was surprised on the suddenly explosion. Lucky, Cassandra who was with the guard captain look in horrified.

"Shit! We are under attack!"

One of the guardsman shouted as the group of people wearing cloak in armor charge at them.

Reno who saw this, quickly look for the leader in the charging group. But since they concealed there bodies.

Reno couldn't find anyone that looks like their leader.

"Shoot those bastard."

As the guard captain order. The guardsman quickly took their rifles and fired at the enemy charge.

Unlike modern rifles where it shoots multiple times. This rifle fired one shot of a time but their range long enough that many use it.

Multiple people was killed but the wounded people still continued.

Reno, who rans towards the guards captain. Suddenly saw one of the guards was starting to attack the guard captain.

"Damn they send spies too!"

Looking at the situation. Reno took his musket and fired at the spies who was trying to hit the guard captain in the back.

This makes the guard captain to be surprised but Reno charge forward, as the princess was in danger.

When the assassins has finally in front of the guardsman. They drop their rifles was begin the melee attacks.

While the princess was protected behind her maid and few knights.

One small figure. Attack them alone as he dodge every sword swing.

"You damn insect!"

As one of the knights slash the sword horizontal, the man only dodge it and jump higher.

He then use the man's face as a foot hold as he jump high enough. On the mid air. He then took a rifle and he aimed at the princess head.

But Reno, who arrived on time delivered a solid kick right to his face. Sending him flying back to the unfinished tent but even though reno delivered a successful attack.

He only bend his body as he use his rifle to stop him from crashing into the tent.

Reno, who finally made it look at the knights and said.

"Protect the princess, I'll handle this."

The knights only nodded as the drag the princess to the safety.

Reno, who was looking at him vigilant saw the pair of cat ears. But the guy or rather a woman spoke.

"I never thought I will talk to someone from the Katzitum here."

As her cloak was removed from the fight. Reno who saw half of her face said.

"For a pretty girl like you. This is a new start."

Right now, Reno and the half breed cat named tina was staring at each other as they aim there guns to one another.