"Alright, time to move out everyone."
I said as I confirmed that Ali had successfully left the inn premises and there were no abnormalities or spies following him around.
Rearranging our hoods and masks, we left the inn with a jealous receptionist sharing intently at us.
We started strodding towards the king's castle while trying our best to not stand out and just blend with the crowd.
Finding a quiet alleyway, I made everyone enter a stealth state and we started following Ali towards the castle. He was back in his merchant disguise.
'By god do I hope that this works out. I really don't want anyone to die on my watch, especially when I've no way to revive them.'
I prayed to all the gods above and wished for the best. I needed to finish this dilemma soon and focus on the competition.
'I've no idea what the competition is even about.'
I shook my head and silently walked towards the castle, with five people closely following me.
***
Ali reached the castle gates and was immediately called out by the castle guards.
"State your business."
Castle guard A said rudely. The castle was on high alert ever since the last time an invader got in. The guards were told to stop everyone that might be even a little bit suspicious.
"Ah! Good sir, it is a wonderful morning, isn't it? The lullaby of the birds is so soothing and calming."
Ali said, and all the guards looked around for any bird that was in sight.
"...."
Utter silence.
Forget about a bird's lullaby, there weren't even insects screeching at the castle.
The guards immediately became on guard and pointed their spears towards Ali.
"I'll ask once more, state your business or we won't hesitate to send your head flying."
Castle Guard A threatened, his spear pointing towards this unseemly visitor.
'The heck is he doing. Was it really necessary to mention birds and lullabies?'
Shura shook his head in disappointment, preparing for Ali to assault and buy time for them to intrude into the castle.
"Sir, calm down. I-i am just a merchant from the far west, and I've brought some spices with me to trade with the majestic, charismatic and noble king of the Drisica Kingdom."
Ali stuttered with his hands up, trying to suck up to the guards.
"He's way too suspicious, let's take him to the dungeon and interrogate him… properly."
Ali shuddered hearing castle guard G's words, a shiver running through all his body. He wasn't alone though, castle guard A, B, C, Shura, and all the other gang shivered and looked at castle guard G with disgust.
"Shit, our brother's going to get disgraced by such a lowlife."
"It's a pity, indeed. His contribution and sacrifice will always live on in our hearts."
"Stop, you two. He's still alive."
Francis and Jane said while sighing sadly, and Diane rebuked them angrily. They were treating Ali as if he was already dead. Just then, something unexpected happened.
"Oh ho ho! Merchant Alibaba! What a coincidence!"
The guard captain from the outer city wall suddenly came, the one who was bribed by two whole pouches of spices.
"Oh, what a pleasant surprise. If it isn't the brave and hardworking guard captain! I was just trying to go and sell my products to the king, but the guards here don't seem like they are too fond of that idea."
Ali's eyes started shining brightly, as if salvation had finally come to him after years of prayers. He was saved by someone he had bribed! Karma was real! Keep bribing kids!
"Ahaha! I see, I see. It seems my subordinates were giving you a hard time. Can you come here for a second?"
The guard captain laughed heartily and called Ali. And then, they both whispered back and forth into each other's ears. After a while, Ali took out a bag of salt and handed it to the guard captain.
The guard captain pocketed the whole bag of salt in front of hundreds of his subordinates while darting his eyes here and there as if he hadn't taken a bribe just now.
After that, the captain patted Ali's shoulder and brought him towards castle guard A.
"You see, he's my very good and old merchant friend. He has come here to trade some truly awesome and wonderful spices."
The guard captain told castle guard A.
"He even has salt, refined salt. Ready to eat!"
The guard captain whispered in castle guard A's eyes, and the latter's eyes lit up as soon as he heard the word salt. Salt and spices were truly awe-worthy commodities in the world of Ehtra, so there was no way that a mere guard wouldn't be moved by such heavenly ingredients.
"Alright, you can go in. But don't blame us if the king doesn't buy anything from you."
Castle guard A gave into temptation and told Ali, making sure to mention that he wasn't going to refund the bribe even if the king didn't buy anything from him.
"It's fine, it's fine. You're a wise guard, I'm sure you'll keep this position for a long while."
The castle guard rubbed his eyes, just to recheck Ali's smile that seemed ominous for a moment. He just shook his head, thinking it was all in his head. Unaware that he had just brought upon the fall of his dear king.
"Open the gates."
Sound of metal clanking was heard as the huge chains of the castle gate slowly moved and the gate of the castle was opened for merchant Alibaba.
"Alright everyone, we just saved ourselves a lot of trouble. It's time to use plan B."
Shura said as he and the gang casually followed behind Ali, who entered the castle effortlessly. The gates were immediately closed off after that.
All the plan that Shura had discussed before was the plan when Ali had to fight his way into getting the gates open for everyone, which was sure to cause a commotion. The plan B was something they had kept as a plan with low chances of happening.
A plan where Ali got inside somehow, ignoring all the vigilant guards. But that had happened due to a few corrupted guards.
'How convenient!'
Shura exclaimed, bubbling with joy on the inside.
As they slowly followed the merchant Alibaba, who kept getting stares from various guards, everyone finally reached the courtroom.
The guards simply asked why Ali was here, and went inside to notify the king. Since there was no way that they thought that an assassin would be able to pass through the castle's security in broad daylight and enter so openly.
After a few minutes, a guard came back and spoke.
"The king has granted your request, you may enter."
Ali nervously nodded his head and moved inside.
"Stay vigilant, especially you Ali. This has been all too easy, if that dark magician is here, it won't take her even seconds to cancel my stealth if she suspects you even a bit."
Shura spoke from the communication stone inside everyone's ears. It did the job of replaying thoughts as messages, making it one of the most used items by assassins.
"Welcome, merchant Alibaba."
The king said loudly, gesturing with his hand. Shura looked around and couldn't see Katty anywhere around.
'Why do I have a bad feeling about this.'
"It is a pleasure to meet the king of Drisica. I've heard a lot about you, your highness."
Inside the whole continent, only two people had the power to be called as 'your majesty' and both of them were Emperors of two different empires. King's like the one in Drisica had to be referred to as your highness, which was on par with the princes and princesses of the empire.
The king snorted in displeasure, getting reminded of his position.
"If I may ask, what brings you here?"
No matter what, the kings of each country had to treat all merchants politely, even if it was just to keep pretences. As merchants were the heart, backbone, and almost everything of a country. Through them, a country would run swiftly and be able to do trades, be it import or export.
Not to mention, nobody wanted to mess with the MU (Merchant Union) which was said to spread just about anywhere and everywhere in the world. It was one of those powerful factions which a small country like Drisica or Darpal can't even dream of offending.
"I've brought some wonderful spices and some sacks of refined salt. I wonder if you'd be interested in them."
As Ali talked, the rest of the group was currently positioning themselves at the courtroom, slowly but steadily planting themselves inside the courtroom, away from the eyes of the people, their stealths getting undone one by one.
After some small talk, the whole group of people was planted inside the courtroom like a ticking time bomb, and Shura was just behind the king's seat, still in his stealth, his one hand holding Eclipse and the other holding Bloodsong.
"In all honesty, your spices are top notch, and I would have loved to trade with a merchant like you. But you should be aware of the circumstances in my kingdom currently. I am afraid I can't offer you much for your products."
The king said regretfully.
"Ah? Is that so? It's fine. Then I'll take my leave, and won't bother you any longer."
Ali hurriedly started packing his stuff. His job was to get everyone inside the castle, and since there was a chance he could get out safe and sound, he wouldn't miss it. Especially when he had to enter the Darpal kingdom as soon as possible and try to look for the medicine that might cure his condition.
"Haha! Why are you in such a hurry? Won't you tell us why you are actually here?"
The king smiled evilly, stroking his long moustache.
Ali looked at him a bit confused and then suddenly, his eyes sank.
Behind him were a bunch of Elite knights, pointing their swords and spears at him.
And from between them, a mature woman with dark make-up slowly walked out, swinging her hips.
"Did you really think that you weren't getting watched?"
The woman scoffed and from behind her, the guard captain appeared, smiling from ear to ear.
"I didn't really expect much, but you sold me out?"
Ali asked.
"Hah? What do you mean? It was you who was trying to bribe me! I just know when and who to be loyal with."
The guard captain's single gold teeth shined as he grinned.
Just then, two knights immediately ran forward and hit on Ali's knees, making him fall on the ground. Holding both his hands behind his back, and throwing his large arabian turban to the ground, they waited for the dark magician's commands.
"Tell us, why are you here? Why would you risk your life and invade the castle all alone? Don't bother with the merchant act."
Katty held Ali's hair and brought his face near hers, asking in a threatening voice.
Just then.
"Puhahahat!"
Ali started laughing like a maniac, as if some of his screws in his head had melted down in his brain.
"What's so funny?"
Katty asked sarcastically, feeling a bit ominous inside her heart.
"Who the fuck told you that I came in alone?"
Katty's eyes widened as she immediately turned back to look at the king. He was the most essential pawn for her to control the things happening in the Drisica kingdom.
To think that she had let her guard down because she thought she had the situation under control!
As soon as she turned around, a huge ray of light hit her forehead.
[You have suffered catastrophic damage!]
[You have lost 34580 HP!]
[You have died!]
And before she could figure out what had hit her, she had turned into particles of light.
***
//DreamNote//
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