Roaring Heroes Battle the Overlord (Ainz)

Chapter 105: The Main Attack and the Flanking Maneuver

The Koccus Ironworks was located on the outskirts of the western district of the kingdom's capital, surrounded by sparse human settlement, with the nearest horse-drawn carriage station still a two-mile walk away.

For the past twenty years, Koccus Ironworks had been an important smelting site for pig iron, one of the few industrial centers in the capital.

However, since the iron ore in the eastern Gode Basin had gradually been exhausted, and with the nobles controlling high trade and metal taxes, the Guild of Blacksmiths had shut down the Koccus Ironworks and moved closer to the ore mining areas.

The fires in the furnaces had long been extinguished, the bellows no longer roaring. The Koccus Ironworks, once surrounded by black smoke, now only had a few empty, dilapidated buildings left.

The night was thick with darkness, as dense as ink, with not a finger's breadth of visibility. The moon and stars had hidden themselves behind the clouds, leaving not a sliver of light.

Two shadows, as silent and stealthy as cats, approached the Koccus Ironworks, moving low to the ground, hiding beneath a thorn bush.

Barrett poked his head out, his eyes scanning the place. The factory, which should have been deserted and pitch black, was now dimly lit, with faint flickers of light and the murmur of men's voices carried by the wind.

On the roof of a one-story brick building, silhouettes moved about. Mercenaries—who shouldn't be there—were on watch, patrolling the area. Barrett could make out the shape of crossbows and magic-powered crossbows in their hands. Anyone who dared to approach would be turned into a pincushion.

Time was pressing, and Barrett hadn't had the chance to gather much intelligence. He had quickly slipped into an unattended archive in the capital, rummaged through drawers, and managed to find a map of the Koccus Ironworks.

With the map in hand, he and EeDeChi had rushed to the ironworks without a moment's delay. But even then, it was already 9 PM—an hour later than the 8 PM deadline set by the kidnappers!

All they could do now was pray that the kidnappers were patient and merciful, and wouldn't be so angry at the delay that they would take it out on Sean and Stella.

In his twenty years as an adventurer, Barrett had seen his fair share of life and death. His companions came and went—some were forced to retire from the adventuring life due to injuries, while others left him forever, lost to the grim hand of fate.

When a teammate fell, Barrett never mourned for long. Tears were for the weak. He would only take up his sword to avenge them.

Tonight's kidnapping incident was strange, and Barrett couldn't figure out what exactly had led his team, the Last Defenders of the Way, into the crosshairs of a group of mercenaries.

With the resources and power to kidnap a noblewoman, it seemed far more profitable than targeting a band of adventurers, who made their living by playing on the edge of danger.

Could it be a rival noble faction? Barrett's mind tensed at the thought.

A dark-haired head peeked out beside him. EeDeChi asked, "Do you have a plan?"

It was rare for EeDeChi to ask for his opinion. Barrett could tell from the hesitation in her voice that the team leader wasn't as confident as she let on.

Barrett pondered his next move, having committed the rough layout of the map to memory. Skulking near the enemy and lighting a lamp to examine a non-glowing map was undoubtedly a foolish act.

Next, they need to come up with a good strategy. After all, they are outnumbered, and the enemy has most likely set a trap, waiting for them to walk right into it.