Chapter 423 424-Jelia's Mission
After surveying the room and taking in the faces of the other three members of the management quartet, as well as the three knights from Breeze City, Harry spoke up, "Everyone is present, so let's formally begin. The agenda for our meeting is the approach to dealing with the Red Eye crisis."
Despite the arrival of reinforcements from Breeze City, including a level 3 magus leading the team, the unknown always harbors the most fear, especially after the mana collapse incident.
They realized that Red Eye might already be hiding somewhere in Lorinda, magnifying their unease exponentially.
"Before we start the discussion, I want everyone to understand one fact," Harry's gaze swept over all those present, carrying a subtle intimidation, "Red Eye's informants, or even Red Eye himself, might be monitoring this meeting.
I hope everyone understands that secrecy is not just about dealing with Red Eye, but also about preserving the lives of everyone here, including myself."
"I can tell you clearly that the investigation results of the mana collapse incident three days ago have come out. Although we are not 100% certain, the evidence sufficiently indicates that this incident is directly related to Red Eye. In other words, Red Eye is hiding within Lorinda."
The threat to their lives was laid out plainly, making some of the actions taken by the attendees seem all the more foolish.
Guided by Vivia's directions, Howard found Jelia without much effort.
Compared to Antalya and Ali, Howard decided to make contact with Jelia first.
Jelia was easier to locate, and there was a lesser chance she would attempt to stop his actions.
Although Jelia was neither a magus nor a mana adaptor, meaning she couldn't actively or passively use a communication spell, it was improbable that Antalya would leave without a means of communication.
A sentinel unable to relay information is merely a decoration, and Antalya would not leave a mere decoration on such a perilous battlefield.
Jelia's hiding place was hardly secretive.
Rather than hiding, it would be more accurate to say she was disguising herself.
Situated at the end of a dead alley piled with garbage and reeking of decay, no one would willingly approach such a place… except for the homeless, such as a half-orc.
Dressed in her ragged clothes and sitting expressionlessly, her beast ears visible atop her head, her gaze swept vacantly over the street.
Everyone regarded her merely as an abandoned half-breed, not realizing she was actually a sentinel for an adventure group.
She wasn't hiding, but this was her best form of concealment, and also the scene Howard least wanted to witness.
His decision to take her in was precisely to avoid seeing such a scene again.
He could guess why Jelia was doing this, but even so, he found it hard to accept.
Taking three steps as two, Howard stood in front of Jelia and silently watched as her expressionless face turned to astonishment, then tears overflowed from her eyes and streamed down her face.
"Howard…"
Jelia's lips trembled slightly.
"Howard!"
"Yes, it's me." Howard reached out to gently ruffle Jelia's hair, his movements tender, his gaze complex.
"I'm sorry… for making you worry."
"Howard…"
Jelia made no other move but suddenly stood up, almost throwing herself into Howard's embrace.
"I'm sorry, I won't disappear suddenly again."
"I thought you were dead… so, so…" Jelia gradually regained control over her emotions, then became somewhat uneasy.
Howard had repeatedly warned her not to get involved with the quests of the adventure group because once involved, withdrawing from them becomes a fantasy.
Hatred grows, a lesson Howard had learned long ago at a great cost.
He didn't want Jelia to go through the same experience.
"I know, I know, it's my fault, I'm sorry." Howard gently hugged Jelia, her small, slender body trembling in his arms.
"What task did Antalya assign you?"
Howard didn't believe Antalya would give Jelia a task she couldn't complete, as that would yield no benefit and would likely result in the loss of personnel again.
Similarly, Jelia was well aware of her capabilities and wouldn't recklessly accept tasks beyond her reach.
"Intelligence reconnaissance. Sister Antalya asked me to stay here, to uncover clues about Red Eye… or to identify traitors."
Jelia's voice still carried a youthful tone, but the words she spoke made Howard feel as if he were dealing with an adult, "If possible, to follow them and find their hideout."
While the task was somewhat challenging, it wasn't beyond Jelia's capabilities; her identity served as the best cover.
No one would want to trouble a half-orc because that would be troubling themselves.
Perhaps, to the people of Lorinda, half-orcs are akin to mobile sources of curses, symbols of impurity.
"Have you discovered anything?" Howard looked around, noticing that people were starting to pay attention to their unusual behavior.
He raised his hand to hide Jelia's beast ears and whispered, "The mission is aborted. Contact Antalya and tell her I'm taking over your task."
Jelia looked up at Howard, who smiled, "I am the boss, after all. Employees shouldn't be snatching opportunities to show off from their boss."
Startled, Jelia nodded and pulled out a small, pale yellow crystal from her possession.
"This is a communication crystal, given to me by Sister Antalya. Anyone who can summon a spirit can use it," Jelia explained softly.
The fact that it could be used by anyone capable of summoning a spirit meant that most ordinary people could use it with some training.
Howard ruffled Jelia's hair and said, "Don't contact her here. Let's find another place."
After speaking, Howard took the crystal from Jelia's hand, grasped her small hand, and hurried her away.
Although they moved quickly forward, Howard's gaze kept drifting backward.
Someone was following them.
...
"Shopkeeper, Jelia is missing."
Ali's voice, tinged with a hint of urgency, suddenly echoed in Antalya's ears.
Antalya directed her gaze towards the hidden dead-end alley where Jelia was supposed to be concealing herself, furrowing her brow: the thin, small half-orc that should have been crouching in the corner was gone.
Antalya pulled out her communication crystal and tried to call, but received no response.
"Don't panic. Jelia might have just run into some minor trouble; it's unlikely she's been discovered."
Though she said this, Antalya indeed felt a flicker of unease.
The likelihood of Jelia being discovered was low, but if she truly had been, she would stand no chance of defending herself.
"The plan has changed. Ali, go investigate Jelia's whereabouts. Be cautious, and leave once you've confirmed Jelia's condition. Do not get spotted by the militia, nor attract attention from Breeze City's people."
Antalya quickly issued new instructions.
"Understood."
With a single word of acknowledgment, Ali, a young man dressed in hunter's attire, left his post and blended into the crowd.
Antalya remained still.
Only after the young man disappeared from her sight did Antalya leave her hiding spot.
Confirming Jelia's whereabouts was now Ali's task, but her own mission remained unchanged; she had to identify the people associated with Red Eye lurking nearby.
Although lacking direct evidence, Antalya was certain that Red Eye must have also arranged for people to observe nearby.
Just as she constantly thought about eliminating Red Eye, he should be well aware that without removing them, his ambition to fully control Lorinda would be difficult to realize.
Even with an advantage in open strength, facing three level 3 magi at once, he wouldn't stand a chance.
The possibility of Breeze City's people cooperating with Antalya might be low, but it wasn't zero.
This was Red Eye's best opportunity, as well as their last chance.
If they wished to eliminate Red Eye without revealing their presence, they must capture him before formal negotiations began.
...
Howard moved swiftly, with Jelia now hoisted onto his shoulder.
They navigated through the crowd, drawing astonished gazes and hurried sidesteps from many.
Although Howard hadn't spoken, Jelia realized something unexpected must have happened.
"What's wrong, Howard?" she whispered into his ear, scanning the crowd behind them, "Is someone following us?"
"Yes, some very annoying folks, some very greedy ones," Howard replied with a smile, his voice carrying a chill.
"The scene might get a bit unpleasant soon. You'd better not peek."
"Are you going to kill them?" Jelia asked.
She was never just some naive little girl.
A half-orc without a shred of awareness wouldn't survive on the streets of Lorinda, where even unconscious malice could kill her countless times.
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