Volume 3: Chapter 175 – Big Movements (3/3)
Pale Symphoria left the bar with her hood on and walked through the main street. This was her fourth day gathering information, but she still came out empty. She started gathering information as soon as she parted with the rookie adventurer, Shurei, and the believer of the goddess of healing (Zenobia).
But regardless who it was, when it came to the Elks Clan, all mouths were closed, even the talkative drunks. Pale was again made aware of just how big the enemy was, and that fact made her grit her teeth alone.
Which was why the moment her sharpened senses picked something up, she immediately left the main street and entered into the back alleys.
If she couldn't find a trail, she would just have to lure the enemy to make a trail for her.
So she used herself as bait.
There were several people chasing after her as she passed through the back alleys. Those people kept following her even after she reached the slums.
Pale knew her way around these parts. Adventurers often had scuffles with thugs like the yakuza, so they had to have a thorough understanding of the area they worked in.
Pale had intentionally led her pursuers to a place they could easily attack her.
When Pale reached a dead-end in the slums, at a place that used to be a plaza, she stopped.
She hid the dagger in her hands as she eyed her surroundings.
"What 'cha doing out here all alone, miss?" One man stepped out and spoke frivolously.
"Yeah, yeah... Especially at a time like this. Don't ya know there's a lot of bad guys out there?"
The sound of two more came from behind, and there was another hiding under the shadow of the abandoned building to the right, stifling his breath.
The earlier man from before didn't seem to like Pale keeping her silence, as he suddenly raised his voice and struck the ground with a rod-like object.
"Tch... It's the boss' orders, so it can't be helped. Just hurry up and die."
Pale calculated the distance between her and her assailants as she confirmed the sound of footsteps coming from both in front and behind.
Judging from the sound of their footsteps, the people approaching her didn't seem well-versed in martial arts. In that case, the real enemy was probably the one hidden under the shadow of the abandoned building to the right. As Pale arrived to that conclusion, she revealed the dagger she had been hiding all this time.
"Ooh! Pulling something like that!" One of the men said as he played with his rod.
"Take this—!?"
The moment the man swung down with his rod, Pale's body shifted a little, and his rod landed on the ground, giving rise to a cloud of dust.
"KU—You lit-!?
The man ignored his numbed arms and pursued Pale's shadow, but her dagger had already been thrust at his neck.
"Tell me who sent you and I'll let you off," Pale's voice was without a hint of warmth as she allowed her dagger to lightly cut the man's skin.
"Eek!?"
The man faltered as he screamed, and Pale followed him to ensure her dagger remained on his throat. But the moment she neared the man, the footsteps coming from behind got her attention.
"Take this!"
"Die!"
Two pairs of footsteps approached from behind. As Pale felt even the sound of the weapons swinging, she slightly moved her dagger and turned her body, and in the next moment, the man Pale was threatening screamed.
