Chapter 540: Uninvited Guests
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 540: Uninvited Guests
"Damn it, those bastards actually planted bombs on the main road. There’s a limit to madness. Can’t they learn from me and be law-abiding, friendly citizens?"
Feeling the roars and tremors vibrating from outside the carriage, Muen couldn't help but roar in frustration.
Beside him, Albert’s cheek twitched. He thought to himself, You’re a literal mob boss; how do you have the gall to use the words "law-abiding"?
Unfortunately, now was not the time for snark. The carriage was shaking too violently. In his weakened state, Albert had to rely on Lawenny to press him firmly against the carriage wall just to keep from tumbling miserably across the floor.
Fortunately, the carriage Muen had prepared this time was no ordinary vehicle.
The moment the explosion occurred, intricate magic circuits surfaced on the pitch-black exterior. The massive amount of mana previously infused into the carriage flowed along the established lines, and a powerful defense formation activated almost simultaneously with the blast, absorbing the brunt of the damage.
"Don't stop! Keep charging forward!" Muen urged the coachman.
"Yah!"
The coachman snapped the reins hard. Under the glare of the explosions, the horses pulling the carriage revealed a coat of metallic scales—a symbol of their extraordinary bloodline. Even amidst such violent blasts, the horses remained steady and showed no signs of panic.
The carriage continued its frantic dash forward as explosions continued to erupt around them.
Amidst the jolting, Muen steadied himself and turned a furious gaze toward Albert.
"This is a premeditated ambush. Our route wasn't just discovered; it was leaked in advance. Your Highness, are you absolutely sure there were no slips on your end?"
"Very few people on our side even knew the plan," Albert frowned. "How could there have been a leak?"
He countered, "If anything, it’s your side... You were the one who arranged the carriage and the route!"
"Does Your Highness suspect me?"
"No... If you wanted to kill me, it would have been too easy. You could have done it quietly back on the river. There would be no need for something this convoluted."
Albert grit his teeth. "What I mean is, your people are too diverse and disorganized. It’s highly likely you’ve been infiltrated! Especially those underground gangs of yours. They’re a motley crew—who knows where their loyalties truly lie?"
"I’m not stupid enough to let some low-level gang thugs in on the details of my plans... But fine, there is a possibility of a leak on my end. Regardless, now isn't the time to argue about it."
Muen glanced at the First Prince, then shifted his gaze to Lawenny, who looked utterly terrified. He decided not to press the matter further, refocusing his attention on the attack outside.
Beyond the flames, figures occasionally flickered in the shadows. However, Muen could sense that these people weren't particularly strong. If they were, this chaotic situation would have been the perfect opportunity to strike.
After all, explosions of this caliber shouldn't be enough to hinder a true expert from making a move.
Is it a Lower District gang?
And these explosions... while they looked terrifying, they felt less like an assassination attempt and more like a tactic to delay them and force their position into the open.
It seemed... it might not have been an information leak after all. The enemy might simply be crazy enough to set up explosive roadblocks at every possible intersection leading to their destination.
If that were the case, even a last-minute change of route wouldn't shake the pursuit. Instead, it would force them to take a detour, increasing the risk.
Albert seemed to have reached the same conclusion. With a grim expression, he asked, "What now? It looks like we can't shake them."
"Hold on tight."
Without looking back, Muen pulled out a small copper whistle from nowhere and blew it sharply.
A piercing screech instantly cut through the carriage and echoed across the night sky of the now-awakened district.
In the darkness, people looked up, their eyes following the sound as it faded, though they had no idea what the signal meant.
A moment later, another whistle sounded in the distance, seemingly in response.
Muen tucked the copper whistle away and stared straight ahead, his voice cold. "Your Highness, you just worry about not getting bruised. As for the rest... leave it to the professionals."
*
"It’s the signal from Mr. Bruce!"
Rat King Sam tucked his copper whistle away and looked down at the figures below. A savage grin spread across his hideous face.
"Boys, here’s our chance to show off!"
Shhh-shhh-shhh...
From behind him came a sound the Rat King had rarely heard in his life: the friction of light armor.
On the rooftops, in the shadows of balconies, hidden in the treetops, and at every vantage point overlooking the street where the carriage was racing through, fully armed thugs stepped out of the darkness, their faces etched with excitement.
They wore standardized light armor that shimmered with a cold light. In their hands were the latest military repeating crossbows, and several round alchemy bombs hung from their belts. The sheer luxury of their equipment was enough to make the Guard Corps' knees go weak.
The excitement in their eyes stemmed exactly from this.
They had never fought a battle with such an embarrassment of riches.
Naturally, they intended to enjoy every second of it.
"On my command."
Under the Rat King's orders, these specially trained, elite thugs simultaneously raised their repeating crossbows and aimed at the figures in the darkness.
"Fire!"
Thwip—!
Thud. Thud. Thud.
The sharp sound of wind being sliced was followed by the sound of flesh being instantly perforated.
Those lurking in the shadows below were also hardened, fearless criminals. Many of them were veterans of blood and fire, considered powerful figures in the Lower District.
However, before these cold bolts, their lives were harvested with indifferent equality.
Blood mingled with fire, constructing a scene that looked like the first circle of hell.
The shrill screams didn't even cause much of a stir, as they were quickly drowned out by the thunderous roar of explosions.
"What a beautiful sight."
The Rat King looked down, the carnage reflected in his eyes, his smile full of satisfaction.
After spending so long in the Lower District, which gang war hadn't involved putting his head on the line and fighting for his life?
This was the first time he had experienced a battle this easy—it was practically a massacre.
It made him feel incredibly fortunate. Choosing to follow Mr. Bruce was truly the best decision he had ever made in his life.
"Clear out the enemies. Escort that carriage according to the original plan."
"Don't you worry, Lord Rat King. With these toys, even the beauties I go several rounds with at night could handle these guys easily," a subordinate joked.
"Don't get careless, this isn't—"
The Rat King was giving instructions to his men, but the moment he turned his head, his peripheral vision caught a flash of cold light in the shadows nearby.
That familiar sensation made his hair stand on end. Almost instinctively, the Rat King screamed:
"Look out!"
At the same time, he reacted with lightning speed, ducking his head behind a large shield held up by his trusted confidant.
Thud.
It was the sound of a sharp object piercing flesh again, but this time, it was terrifyingly close.
The Rat King’s eyes widened as he stared in shock at a bolt that had streaked toward them. The steel-reinforced shield was as fragile as paper before it. The bolt had punched straight through the shield, and the head of the confidant who had just been cracking a dirty joke exploded like a dropped watermelon.
Hot blood sprayed across the Rat King's face.
"Hey, Sam."
A man stepped slowly out of the darkness, exhaling a cloud of cigar smoke. The flickering firelight illuminated the hideous scar on his face.
The man known as Old Ghost raised his hand, shaking a military repeating crossbow that looked identical to the ones the Rat King’s men were holding. He chuckled.
"How could you not invite me to such a fun game?"