Third Person POV
"Countess, we met the knights who escort the second princess but they seems a little odd. It doesn't look like they have any sense of guilt for what had happened to her highness. If I could be so bold, they seems quite happy that it happened."
Astoria look at Arthur, her second in command with curiosity.
"Happy? What kind of knights felt happy that their master were attacked and violated?" Arthur shrugged his shoulder. Astoria think about her next step before humming her respond.
"Something is not right. Even if the second princess mother is a commoner, that doesn't mean the knights can acted that way towards their master. They swore their oath to the imperial family and the second princess clearly on the registry of the imperial family." Astoria turned to Adelaide who is enjoying her refreshment.
"Sound like the knights are up to something sinister behind my back. I'll asked the captain of the Claymore Knights to investigate what is happening inside the palace. You should focus on finding the bandits." Astoria nodded..
"And if you need any resources, don't be shy and tell Bolton to open my personal treasury. You may take whatever you think could help you in this mission." Adelaide smiled while stirring her tea.
Astoria smiled.
"It's alright. I have a plan." Adelaide hummed.
"A plan?" Astoria nodded.
"I'll be back in a week. I promise I'll drag those bandits and made them kneel in front of you."A few days later,
"I was surprised that you didn't inform the empress about this plan of yours but now I understand the reason. Countess, you're putting a huge target on yourself right now. Why on Earth would you asked the Claymore Knights to spread rumours about a huge shipment of jewels on its way to the South? This is dangerous!"
Arthur continue to pestered Astoria with his lecture about how reckless her plan is. Astoria ignored his advice and warnings because she thoughts that to lure the target, a rumour such as this is needed. And just like how Astoria had predicted, their movement was indeed being watched by someone.
"Enough, Arthur. You are going to lure unnecessary eyes on us if you continue to act this way. Act like an adventurer who is escorting a merchant. We were lucky enough that there's someone in our ranks that look passable as a woman." Arthur sighed.
"And why would force the man to wear women clothing?" Astoria smirked.
"Because of what they did to the second princess. They are not only bandits but serial rapists. The empress said to capture the bandits but I think we should destroy them altogether. What do you think of this idea?" Arthur face palm himself.
"Countess, that's dangerous! These people are cruel human being. Unlike monsters, they are able to think for themselves. Monsters are easy to handle since they are solely moving based on instinct. But humans" Astoria raised her hand before placing a finger on her lips.
"They are here."
The carriages were put to a stop when a group of men in rugged clothes with faces with scars suddenly appeared from the forest. Astoria and the others remained calm which made the leader of the handits who are hiding in a nearby bushes curious to why they acted that way.
Normally, anyone who saw them would started begging for their life while some tried to abdnoned their carriages despite having valuable things in them. The leader asked the wizards to get ready if a fight suddenly occurred.
"Hey boss, something is not right. They are far too calm to be a simple adventurer. Please becareful especially if you have to face that adventurer on the white horse. I dont know how to explain it but the person seems to be a seasoned warrior."
The bandits leader nodded.
"We have been keeping an eye on them for a couple of days now. Inside one of that carriage is a beautiful merchant daugther who wish to have a vacation in the South. Like usual, take everything in their carriage and let's have some fun with the lady once we killed them all."
The leader who goes by the name Tuck, licked his lips while thinking of obscene things he would do to the woman inside the carriage.
"I have tasted a princess and it was not as good as I thought it would. If only her mother were there- But hey, today we might catch a better prey. Now let's-"
The leader's train of thought were interrupted when the wizard's head were dismembered from his body.
"Found you-" Astoria grinned like a chesire cat before grabbing the leader by his collar. Tuck grabbed a hold of Astoria hand but Astoria didn't even budge.
"You're weak!" Astoria threw the man where the commotions were before forcing the rest of the hidden wizards to surrender. Astoria made her way to where Tuck is before smiling from ear to ear.
"So it was you who hurt the second princess of the empire. Someone would like to see you. If I wasn't order to capture you alive, I would shove that branch of tree into your ass through your mouth. After all, you like to force yourself to women, right? It's the only way to punishpeople like you." Tuck tried to fight back but he was reprimanded by Arthur and the rest.
"Now, tell me where your base is and the name of your backer." Tuck spat on Astoria which earned him a hard punch directly on his face.
"Countess, we found these on one of the bandits personal belonging. Astoria takes a look at the crest before smiling at Tuck.
"For a group of knights pretending to be bandits ah, now I know why the name Mirage sound familiar. It was the name of a famous phantom thief that once terrorising the South. I take this noble who backs you is that thief who suddenly dissapeared." Tuck's eyes widen when Astoria manage to deduct the truth.
"Arthur, gag his mouth as we march down the belly of the beast. It would be an honor to finally come face to face with the famous phantom thief."
The next day,
Arthur sighed heavily when he saw Bolton entering a nobleman house which they believe to be the bandit's backer.
"It seems you've been through hell, Sir Arthur." He turned to Bolton.
"I am to blame. After all, I'm the one who taught the countess how to wield a sword. She grew up to be so reckless. If something were to happened, I don't know how to explain it to the empress." Bolton smiled at Arthur sympathetically.
"Where is the countess?" Arthur walked to the windows and showed Bolton what Astoria has been doing.
"The countess has been watching the knights torturing the nobleman whom she believe to be the famous phantom thief, Mirage." Bolton hummed as he watched the Astoria."Sir Arthur, what happened to the bandits?" Arthur sighed.
"Follow me." Bolton did as told while Arthur led him to one of the rooms in the estate. The moment Bolton walks into the room, his eyes widen. The priests and wizards are trying their best to heal the bandits who life is hanging on a thread.
"What happened here?!" Bolton asked before facing Arthur.
"The countess decided to give them her own version of punishment before sending them to the empress. They almost died but luckily the priest and wizards manage to help them out from such predicament." Bolton took a step back before pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Your reaction is understandable, sir Bolton."