753 Rats have arrived
[OP: ]
The winter festival of the Roxanna empire and the grand annual auction that is held in order to rise the money for the poor and to provide a means of entertainment to the nobles was going to start shortly now… and, the empire was once again covered in show.
Roads were clear for the people to walk on and for the carriages to pass, however the houses, the roof of the places, and the shops, as well as the roads of the residential areas throughout the capital city had been covered in the pretty white snow that though many did not like, for the children and some of the adults, it was love.
It was November for them, temperature was down, the harsh winter was on the way, so the normal folks were going to face another difficult year this time.
And, with everything going on in the world, the normal people throughout the world were going to suffer the most.
Higher class individuals, people with money, ones with resources and a study roof above their heads might not face any grand difficulties, however, for the normal people who worked for their daily or monthly living, those who hunted for their own food, and even the low ranking adventurers who earned from the common requests put up by the normal people who needed their assistance were undoubtedly going to face a harsh winter this time.
The nobles and even the royal family knew that very well, and that was the main reason the winter festival of this year… was celebrated even more enthusiastically than past few years.
The imperial family had announced help to those who had somehow suffered from the things that happened in the Principality.
The smaller businesses that were affected were compensated, the ones who lost their close ones were provided any kind of help they needed, and the empire had extended a firm helping hand to the Principality, promising them any kind of help the imperial family itself was capable of.
The emperor and the empresses had been very busy ever since the war in the Capital of Principality.
There were all kind of political things happening that they had to deal with and even the enemies from Zarak Orion had made their moves this time.
They knew how Principality was in an inseparable relationship with the Roxana Empire so if something had happened to them, there was no way the empire would not have been shaken in any way.
The waves that one war had caused were not something anyone had foreseen, however, with the Principality being the epicentre, the waves of the consequences had hit the entire world. Especially since the time all that happened, was also the time when many representatives of various nations from all over the world were present in that place.
Anything could have happened to them as well. People who did not know about the war and the things They had done to prevent any unnecessary damage, would only hold the Principality And the empire accountable for everything that had happened.
The Cultists demonic people, beings who could not be categorised as normal Rakshasas, were not something this world had ever faced.
They were different from the usual mad ones who gave away their bodies to the demons. They were nothing like those mad ones.
But the worldly powers that did not know anything about them would not know what the Principality, its President, and the Lakmer household had faced.
For them, something had happened to some of the strongest powers of this world and they had a very good opportunity to exploit the present before them.
Which they did. And the consequences it produced were what the nobles and royals of this world were now dealing with.
"Operator B, connect me with X3 on a private channel."
Thankfully, the normal population wasn't affected by all this drama on a deeper level yet. Almost everyone knew what was going on in the world but thankfully, with their ongoing lives and the suppression of information related to these things by the higher authorities, the common folks were in a good enough state to enjoy the Winter festival.
[ "X3… Miss Sarah. I believe you already know what I want to say?" ]
[ "Yes, little darling. I sensed one when I was coming here. I know some of them are already inside. Though, even I have no idea how they entered." ]
The noble folks and those with money were hit with the waves of aftermath but there were no less participants in this year's auction. Some of them could not leave their positions themselves so they had sent trustworthy representatives, while those who trusted no one but themselves when it came to this particular auction, had requested for the use of a communication device so that they can at least observe the items themselves.
[ "It's pretty funny, actually. But let's talk about that later. Well, you see, we believe one of them will try to cause some kind of trouble in the general area, so please take care of that troublemaker for us." ]
[ "Awwwww~. You didn't have to tell me something like that, darling~. If someone is causing trouble on my watch in my auction, they are obviously inviting pain, hehehe~." ]
[ "Thank you then. Let me get back to you later." ]
[ "Ah, right. I heard she couldn't make it today? What happened there?" ]
[ "Ah… well, it's a longer story. But it's nothing to worry about. She dealt with those bastards well and she should arrive by tomorrow morning. Though, from the looks of things, she isn't going to be happy when we tell her how her parents have gone missing." ]
[ "Right. There was that as well… well, come have some tea with me if things get difficult." ]
[ "Sure thing, but I shall get back to work. Thanks, X3." ]
The gifts from the Winter fairy were going to be there so the children would be happy. The items in this year's auctions were pretty simple and good so the public was going to fight over them even more, which will generate a better amount than the usual, so the parents of the children would be happy as well.
The nobles would be happy as well since there were less trash items this time, but… the thieves who were after what did not belong to them, were certainly not going to be happy in any way.
They might have entered the auction house with their own methods and tricked the eyes of the experts and the surveillance devices, but they were not going to achieve their goals today.
"Now, Operator B, connect everyone from division D and F. Let's catch some rats before they start eating our grains."
"Rats eat grains? I did not know that, big brother!"
They were in their special chambers on the balcony floor, Eon was operating everything on his own since his partner was delayed because of some fools, emperor and his three partners were in their own chambers, but they had not heard from them since they arrived here, and, Anna was sitting with him, playing with little SanSan who had earned her love. "Rats are rodents, little one. The wild ones eat many things, including flesh and garbage. Some who mutate in the severs due to Mana even become dangerous and poisonous, however, there are many Energy beast species who resemble mice and despite their various sizes, are powerful companions.
They are pretty cute. We have some friends who have creatures resembling mice and hamsters as their families in-, ahem."
He was going to say 'in the academy' but he was not in the academy. Quin, Lizzy, Ball, and Mia who got to be in the same room as them knew this Fact.
"Ohh! Ohh! Hamsters are cute, right?! I've heard they are pretty cute~! Can I have a hamster as well~?"
"Sure. I'll find one that you'd like."
She was going to be the best summoner as well so he was finding creatures that she could tame and bind as her summons already.
A hamster was only an addition to his list. [ "Listen up, everyone." ]
The first day of grand auction had started and the thieves had managed to infiltrate the target facility despite the countermeasures in place.
[ "Rats have infiltrated our house." ]
He had expected them. He had expected they would successfully come in even if he himself was standing guard on the gates of the auction house… there were three gates in total anyway so he couldn't have been able to pay attention to all three of them even with his three eyes.
They were masters who could manipulate one's vision with simple motions, distort the field of vision with simple tricks, and even manipulate thoughts with some whispering words.
There was someone among them who could create things on par with his own inversions, he knew that already as well so it was a possibility that they had something to completely alter their appearance.
[ "Let's catch the bastards." ]
They had many tricks up their sleeves and decades of experience in this field.
Getting caught by them was a far off idea. Just recognizing them, pinpointing their locations and preventing the breach of second, third, and later security protocols, and preventing them was going to be a tough task for all of them.
[ "Let's show them what happens when someone tries challenge Our Hiraani." ]
But they were inside a structure his mother had made with her efforts and stubbornness.
Her subordinates were good already when he firs met them, but now, after his training they were even better.
So… they were not going to lose just because the opponents were extremely better than them.
They also had their pride.
And someone to repay…
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