CHAPTER 204: UNDERGROUND SLUM

As the two guards were effectively eliminated, Mirelle heaved a sigh of relief.

"Why did we need to kill them after slicing their vocal cords?" Mirelle asked.

"We could have just put on a sound formation to prevent enemies from being alerted."

It was only when the crisis was resolved that her mind finally started to think properly.

There was no need for them to do such an act to infiltrate without alerting the enemy. One sound formation was enough for them to kill the guards on the spot, discreetly.

"Do you think everyone is a powerful Mage like you?" In response to her question, Claudia looked at her with a cold gaze.

"People who cannot use mana have to resort to such methods. Moreover, what happens if one day your mana runs out and you cannot maintain the sound formation? What can you do by then?"

Silent, Mirelle was pondering the question.

Indeed, if a person didn’t have mana or the ability to create a sound formation. Then they could only resort to seductive techniques to lower their enemies’ guard and slice their vocal cords when the opportunity arose.

"It was ignorant of me." She admitted her mistake and apologized.

"Ignorance is incorrect." Claudia scoffed. "It’s more so that people like you can never understand manaless or weak women like us."

"Wait a second!" Mirelle furrowed her brows and pointed at Claudia. "You’re also a Mage, so why are you acting like you’re manaless or a weak woman?"

If it were in the past, then both terms would work on Claudia. But time had changed.

Claudia wasn’t manaless nor a weak woman. She had learned to survive in harsh conditions and was already a born fighter.

Even in the face of death, she never relented or gave up.

"What’s with you being critical?" Claudia questioned coldly.

"I wasn’t being critical. I was just stating some points." Mirelle argued.

Nodding, Claudia snorted and said, "Since you want to state some points, then let me advise you on this. Just because you’re a powerful mage and can set up a sound formation at ease. The formation itself would still have some fluctuation. To assassins like us who are extremely sensitive to sound and mana fluctuation, this action would instantly alert us to danger."

Stupefied, Mirelle was rendered speechless.

The argumentative debate from Cluadia was both logical and ruthless.

She didn’t give her any face in criticizing her lack of judgment and ignorance in the overall situation.

If she dared to bring up a point, then Claudia would retaliate with three points back at her.

"Anyway, just wear your clothes back." Claudia sighed softly. "After this experiment, I can tell you’re not up for this task. You’ll fake as a noblewoman instead, and I’m your servant."

The tone was harsh, but it was right on point. Mirelle really couldn’t do such an action without any ample preparation. Her natural instinct, being controlled to a certain degree, was already her limit.

’To think there’s still this rotting place taking place.’ She narrowed her eyes and frowned. These people concealed themselves quite deeply. They even managed to avoid the purge from Leonard’s order.

Or maybe it wasn’t that they avoided the purge. It should be more correct to say that these people weren’t even within the purge’s scope because of how lowly they were.

Unless specifically emphasized by Leonard, she highly doubted the Slave Coop and those unwilling women tapped in pleasure houses would be rescued either.

"So we’re just going to enter like this?" Mirelle asked.

Her implication was that they should be escorted by the guards inside. Otherwise, wouldn’t the people inside be suspicious of their appearance?

"It’s an underground slum. You just need to have an air of confidence when entering." Claudia rolled her eyes.

"Just that? How do you know?"

"Did you think only Velastra has an underground slum? Every other city, even the poorer ones, has underground slums. They’re either controlled by wealthy merchants or nobles, but one thing is for certain. Anyone who controls the slum is those at the top and nearly untouchable."

Instantly, Mirelle’s expression turned bitter. ’How much suffering has she endured since the Xundraeth 76th war policy?’

For someone to be so knowledgeable about the underground slum operation, they definitely needed to be involved personally. Mirelle couldn’t imagine or fathom what she had to go through to get up to this point.

"Alright, stop with your annoying questions and follow my lead. I’ll do the talking while you put on a dignified and aloof demeanor." Claudia said and entered through the broken door.

Mirelle followed behind and noticed Claudia triggered a mechanism. A clicking sound resounded, and a circle formation beneath the floor activated.

"A transportation formation?" Mirelle’s expression darkened. A transportation formation was extremely expensive and costly to maintain.

"Stay composed and stop acting surprised."

"Got it."

Soon, the two were transported to the underground level of the slum.

Meanwhile, above the surface, Leonard’s group arrived at the scene.

"Two corpses?" Curtis’s eyes narrowed as he hurriedly extended his hand to stop Leonard from walking further.

Meanwhile, Leonard covered Ellie’s eyes from seeing the bodies.

"Why are you covering my eyes, Master?" Ellie asked in a confused tone. She didn’t dodge or push his hand away, though.

"There are some corpses." Leonard calmly explained. "A little girl shouldn’t be seeing these. It’ll give you nightmares and traumas."

"Eh, but Ellie has seen them frequently. The corpses simply mean the bodies can no longer be active. There’s nothing scary about it."

Upon hearing her nonchalant tone and lack of reaction, Leonard came to a realization.

She must have witnessed many corpses beforehand, so she got used to such a scene.

’This world really couldn’t be any more rotten...’ He pursed his lips.

Despite being the Crown Prince, he was ultimately still powerless to change the fundamentals of the Aetherion World.

"Master, let me check on the corpses." Ellie suddenly requested.

"Hmm, are you trying to trace the smell?"

"Un, I can investigate who made them sleep for eternity."

"I see," Leonard flashed a warm smile and granted her request. He was also curious about her mysteriousness.