Chapter 43: A Delicate Strategy

Chapter 43: A Delicate Strategy

"Following the usual plot of things, some of them will probably be coming by to try and either rob you or make trouble for you, possibly even trying to take you back to their base for not-so-nice reasons. We will ambush them, have them take us to their base, and from there, destroy them. Alice, I'm going to need you to go with Rebecca, but keep hidden while she baits them when they show up. She will draw them to the greenhouse, where I'll have Elena trap them or provide support should they be strong and break out of her grasp. Rebecca will tank and draw their attention while Alice will strike from the shadows and in secret, since the two of us have missed a lot of growth time," Braedon calmly outlined the plan as he sat in front of them.

Rebecca, recognizing her omission in the plan, couldn't help but inquire, "What about you? I mean so far, it has me baiting them, and Alice as the assassin attacker, but what will you be doing?"

Braedon paused for a moment before responding, "I won't be doing much of anything other than watching and helping direct Elena as best I can. Now, if you will excuse me, I am headed to the bathroom to take care of business and also take a quick shower. I've asked Elena to prepare some food for us, so we're headed there when I come out, and we'll enjoy a good meal."

After finishing his explanation, Braedon left for the bathroom. When he returned half an hour later, wearing a cloak he had retrieved from earlier, along with some scavenged clothing, he led the girls to the greenhouse. Much to their surprise, they found a large wooden table laden with various fruits and vegetables, alongside a remarkable discovery: meat.

"I figured just veggies and fruit wouldn't be enough, so I had some of the little ones get one of the beasts we were going to use for nutrients and cooked it for you guys. It wasn't easy, though, but it should be cooked properly. Just next time, please cook it yourself; I don't deal well with fire," Elena greeted them, enjoying their shocked expressions with a wide smile, albeit with a shiver at the end.

"You did this?!? Amazing, this is going to be so nice," Alice exclaimed, quickly taking her seat and beckoning a drooling Rebecca to join her.

"Are you sure I can also have some of this? What is it you want in return for it, though?" Rebecca hesitantly asked, wiping the drool from her mouth and looking around at everyone.

"Simple, you've already joined us, so just prove we aren't making a mistake. So far, you haven't lied, and Alice seems to be keeping you in line. I'm not too worried about you currently, so dig in and enjoy. But don't make me regret this early trust. Most need to work hard to gain it or do something substantial, like when Alice saved John's life," Braedon replied, his smile retaining a gentleness that was underscored by a hint of cold hardness, causing tears to well up in Rebecca's eyes. She softly uttered her gratitude before digging into her first substantial meal in a long while.

Then, with a pause in her eating, she mustered the courage to ask, "If we strike the Marauders, and I know I have no right to ask this, but could we rescue my friend from them as well? The one I needed the herb for."

Braedon nodded thoughtfully, saying, "We can try, but I take it there's more than just your friend held by them, though."

Rebecca confirmed his suspicion, her voice laden with sadness. "Yes, there's a small group. They say they're looked after, but in truth, they're just kept as trading stock, and their conditions aren't the worst, but they're not the best. My friend being sick means they're at risk of being sold for resources. She's hiding it for now, but I don't know how long she can keep it up. I promise, though, she can be useful to you."

As Braedon and the others pondered Rebecca's plea, Alice's laughter cut through the atmosphere, drawing attention to the new arrivals. Five individuals, three large and muscular men, and two smaller, wiry figures, had approached them.

"Well, well, what have we here? Trespassers in our territory, and they didn't even invite us to the feast where they're eating our goods," the slimy voice of one of the intruders broke the silence. The three muscular men wore an assortment of metal plates and various pieces of scrap, each carrying a wicked-looking weapon. The two smaller figures, dressed in plain T-shirts and shorts, stood alongside them. One bore visible stitch marks from the neck downward, while the other sported a necklace of what seemed like bones. The strange and eerie appearance of the group was unsettling.

"And look at the women; I bet they could be fun," the figure with the bone necklace added, his voice oozing with a sinister tone, while his eyes hungrily surveyed the women.

"Maybe this guy can use them to pay for using ou—" Before he could complete his sentence, a root suddenly shot out of the ground, impaling him through the head. His partner couldn't react in time, as a chain wrapped around him and dragged him off his feet. Alice, swift and deadly, was already on him, her knife poised at his neck.

As for the three larger men, they remained disturbingly unresponsive, even as Elena used her roots to imprison them, leaving only their heads visible.

"How dare you ruin our meal!" Alice screamed, her knife pressed against the trapped man's neck. Her anger radiated from her like an aura.

"Alice, move the knife aside, please," Braedon calmly instructed her. "And Elena, kindly pull him under the way you did with the others."

Once the knife was moved and the root prison pulled the man into the ground, Braedon calmly explained, "See? I told you some guys would come over. Now, we just get all we can from this guy and go crush the Marauders in this area. I'd say we should try to talk to Nightshade and have them involved, but honestly, I don't know how long it would take to do so, how to find them, or even if they would help."

Rebecca, still in shock at the unfolding events and Braedon's precise handling of the situation, couldn't help but inquire, "How? I mean, how did you know that they would come and everything else, along with everything else? Can you somehow see the future or predict things?"

Braedon shrugged, downplaying his actions. "Nope, but this is how novels and manga tend to go. Honestly, if it were my territory, I'd either go myself or send someone to check in on those I allowed in to ensure they either don't make trouble or leave on time. Well, if I haven't had someone I trust go with them. And even then, I wouldn't have such a large area without control," he explained, as if it was a common practice.

"Besides," he added, shaking his head, "the trick is not to let them finish talking or let them make the first move. I mean, what idiot lets the clear enemy monologue and then allows them a chance to attack? It's a clear opening to strike first."