"What? A thousand gold coins?" Mina's eyes widened in shock, her gaze locked on Bonnie. The revelation hit like a thunderbolt: Elisa, their companion, was being hunted with a bounty of a thousand gold coins on her head?
"The White-Haired Enchantress is Elisa?" Freya's voice trembled with disbelief, her mind reeling. The name was infamous, a legend whispered in the shadowy circles of bounty hunters. Anyone who'd ever brushed against the underworld's reward boards knew of the top ten bounties, and the White-Haired Enchantress was a name that commanded both fear and greed.
"How is that even possible?" Ayesha gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. Even she, young and brash, had heard of the White-Haired Enchantress. Her older sister, a seasoned hunter, had often spoken with envy about the lucrative bounties on the underworld's most wanted, and Elisa's alias was among the most coveted. To think that the elf they'd known for months, the one they'd fought beside, was the same fugitive who'd brought down a duke—it was almost too much to process.
Lucas's dark eyes narrowed, his expression unreadable as the pieces fell into place. The cryptic words in Elisa's letter now made sense: her fear of exposing her identity, her reluctance to burden Sedona City with the chaos that would follow. A bounty of a thousand gold coins would draw every profit-hungry bounty hunter within a hundred leagues, turning their quiet stronghold into a battleground for mercenaries and assassins.
"Hahaha! So, who's the real liar now?" Bonnie tilted her head back, her lips splitting into a wide, mocking grin. Her emerald eyes bulged with glee as she reveled in their shock. "Elisa's been hiding the truth from you all along. She's terrified you'll turn her in for the gold!"
"No way! That's not happening!" Ayesha shouted, her grip tightening on her massive Overlord Spear. With a furious swing, she drove the weapon into the cave wall.
BANG!
The impact reverberated through the cavern, carving a basin-sized crater into the stone. Shards of rock and dust exploded outward, scattering across the floor.
Bonnie's pupils constricted as she stared at the destruction, her heart pounding. That kind of raw power could crush a knight in full armor with a single blow. For the first time, a flicker of fear crept into her mind.
"Ayesha, calm down," Mina said sharply, stepping in front of the horned girl. Her voice was low but firm, her eyes flicking to Bonnie. She couldn't let Ayesha's temper snap their only lead. One reckless swing, and Bonnie would be a lifeless heap, taking her secrets with her.
"Hmph," Bonnie sneered, regaining her composure. "If Elisa truly trusted you, she would've told you who she was long ago."
"And so what?" Lucas's voice cut through the tension, calm and unshaken. "Everyone has secrets."
His words were simple, but they carried a weight that silenced the room. Bonnie's clumsy attempt at sowing discord might have worked on someone as straightforward as Ayesha, but Freya and Mina merely stared at her with cold, unimpressed eyes, watching her performance with the detachment of seasoned warriors.
"A thousand gold coins," Bonnie pressed, crossing her arms and leveling a challenging gaze at the group. "Don't tell me you're not tempted." Her voice dripped with calculated venom as she searched for any crack in their resolve, any chance to create chaos and slip away.
"A thousand gold coins? Is that supposed to impress me?" Lucas's tone was flat, his dark eyes devoid of even a flicker of greed. He stared at the smug elf, his expression as still as a frozen lake.
To a noble, a thousand gold coins was a fortune, a sum that could fund a small army or buy a lavish estate. To the desperate poor or the bounty hunters who risked their lives for scraps, it was a life-changing windfall. If Elisa's identity as the White-Haired Enchantress leaked, and word spread that she was in Sedona City, Lucas estimated that within a month, thousands of hunters would descend like vultures, drawn by the scent of gold.
The impact on Sedona City would be catastrophic. Open warfare, Lucas could handle—his forces were disciplined and ready. But a swarm of assassins and saboteurs lurking in the shadows, striking without warning? That was the kind of threat that kept him awake at night, a creeping terror akin to the guerrilla attacks he'd read about in Earth's history. Elisa's decision to conceal her identity wasn't just understandable—it was the smartest move for everyone's safety. Exposing herself would bring far more harm than good.
"Uh…" Bonnie faltered, her confidence wavering as she studied Lucas. Who was this man? To dismiss a thousand gold coins so casually, his tone brimming with unshakable certainty, suggested either immense wealth or unshakable loyalty. Could he be some high-ranking noble? A warlord? Her mind raced, trying to gauge his true power.
The tense silence was broken by the sound of boots crunching outside the cave—"thud, thud, thud." Number Five stepped into the firelight, his face grim but focused. "My lord," he said, his voice low and urgent, "We've located the site where Miss Elisa is being held."
"Excellent," Lucas said, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Finish eating, everyone. We move out as soon as we're done." He turned to Mina, his voice firm. "Tie her up. We'll deal with her after we rescue Elisa."
"Yes, sir!" The War Wolves members set to their meal with disciplined haste, wolfing down rations to fuel the mission ahead.
"Understood," Mina said, grabbing a coil of hemp rope from one of the squad members. She approached Bonnie, who surprisingly didn't resist, allowing the cat-eared warrior to bind her wrists and ankles. Her compliance was almost too easy, as if she were biding her time.
"You're doomed to fail," Bonnie said, her emerald eyes glinting with defiance as she spoke. "A handful of you against all those knights? You're walking into your graves."
"Worry about yourself," Mina replied coldly, stuffing a wad of cloth into Bonnie's mouth to silence her. "Think about what's coming for you once this is over."
Bonnie shot Mina a venomous glare but said nothing, her eyes shifting to track Lucas and the others as they prepared. The cave was alive with quiet efficiency—spoons clinked against tin bowls, packs were secured, and weapons were checked. The fire crackled, casting flickering shadows on the walls.
Half an hour later, the group was ready. Their bellies were full, their fatigue eased, and their resolve sharpened. Lucas glanced at Bonnie one last time, his expression unreadable, before striding toward the cave's entrance. "Let's go," He said, his voice carrying the weight of command. The others fell into step behind him, leaving Bonnie alone in the corner, her eyes fixed on the dying fire as she stewed in her thoughts.
Outside, the night air was crisp, the forest cloaked in darkness. Lucas signaled for Chris to take point, guiding them along a path that would bypass the knights lurking at the forest's edge. Rescuing Elisa was the priority, and a direct confrontation now would only jeopardize their mission. The group moved swiftly, weaving through the dense undergrowth, their footsteps muffled by the soft earth. As they neared Moth City, just a few dozen meters away, they took cover in a shallow, muddy ditch, its banks offering concealment.
"War Wolves, begin infiltration," Lucas whispered, his voice barely audible. "Secure high ground and prepare an escape route. Use the compound bows and steel-tipped arrows if necessary."
He paused, his eyes scanning the group. "We have ten minutes to pull this off. If we can't free Elisa by then, we retreat immediately."
The stakes were clear. If the knights in the forest received word of their attack, they'd converge with the city's forces, trapping Lucas's team in a deadly pincer. Killing every knight in Moth City was theoretically possible, but it would take too long, cost too many arrows, and risk alerting the enemy if Bonnie's absence raised suspicions. Stealth and speed were their only allies now.
The War Wolves nodded solemnly, their faces set with determination. Chris began issuing silent hand signals, assigning roles with precision: who would cover the rear, who would claim the vantage points. Numbers Seven and Eight stepped forward, retrieving wooden cases from their packs. Inside were their deadliest weapons—compound bows, paired with specially crafted steel arrows. These silent killers rivaled firearms in power, capable of punching through armor without the telltale noise of a gunshot.
Of the three bows they'd brought, two were for the squad, and the third was reserved for Elisa, whose elven marksmanship was legendary. Lucas watched as Seven and Eight slipped into Moth City, scaling the rooftops of civilian homes and melting into the shadows. Only when they were in position did he raise his hand. "Move out," He said, his voice low and resolute.
Chris led the charge, flanked by three squad members—two wielding swords, their blades glinting faintly in the moonlight, and two armed with compact crossbows, loaded and ready. Lucas drew his own sword, its weight familiar in his hand, while Mina and Freya took up positions on his left and right, their movements fluid and alert. Ayesha brought up the rear, her spear at the ready, her earlier anger now channeled into focus.
The group advanced into the heart of Moth City, their silhouettes blending with the night as they closed in on their target. Every step brought them closer to Elisa—and to the danger that awaited.
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