CHAPTER 252: 252

Moments later, Kael and Sol quietly crawled back into the room. The guards had finally left the inn.

"Thank God! They disappeared," Herion said, walking out with Adonis in relief.

Freya and Linda dropped to their knees, groaning from the stuffy hiding spot. They looked up at the two men with disgust.

"Tsk... Bastard... Don’t you shower?" Freya muttered.

"That..." Herion and Adonis looked embarrassed, scratching their heads.

Suddenly, a shadow flashed by, startling everyone.

"Your Highness..." they said quickly as they saw Martina.

Kael narrowed his eyes and thought to himself, ’She really has amazing stealth skills.’

Martina nodded and said, "I checked things. I found a way. Our first job is to leave. I heard the Third Prince is coming back, so we must hurry."

"Yes..." everyone replied.

The group dressed in disguise and followed Martina out of the inn. She led them through the quiet streets to a small building hidden in a corner alley.

A few people stood near the door and gave a small bow when they saw her. One of them pressed a hidden switch, and a wall moved to reveal a narrow stone passage.

They entered the tunnel, the air cool and damp around them. The walls were old, lined with rough stones and moss. It felt like no one had used it for years.

After a long walk, the tunnel opened into a wide plain. Grass swayed gently in the wind, and the sun had started rising behind a cliff nearby.

Martina looked around and said, "Let’s go to the next town and regroup."

Everyone nodded without a word and followed her.They ran at full speed. With their A-rank strength, they reached the next town in just two hours.

It didn’t have checks like Nevan..It was just a small city outpost.

Martina led them to a quiet inn where her people were supposed to be waiting. But the moment they walked in, everyone’s face tensed.

A deep frown appeared on their faces.

"What?"

Martina’s eyes narrowed sharply as they approached the crowd gathering around what was once their secret hideout. The building stood in ruin—its wooden beams twisted and scorched, walls cracked as if something with immense force had torn through it like paper. Parts of the roof had caved in, and dust still lingered in the air. The smell of burnt fabric and ash clung to the wind.

People whispered in hushed tones, some pointing at the damage, others helping to clear the rubble. "I swear, I saw a flash of light last night," an old woman murmured. "Like the sky had been torn open," said another.

Sol pushed forward and shouted, "What happened here?! What the hell occurred?!" His voice cracked with panic. Kael stared at the broken structure, his gut churning with unease. Something about this didn’t feel right. He gritted his teeth and tried to steady his breath.

Martina, strode ahead and spotted Gabriel—an older man with a monocle and a calm but wary expression. "What the hell is going on here?" she demanded, her voice low and heavy with pressure, making those nearby freeze in place.

Gabriel narrowed his eyes and stepped closer. "Your Highness, we must speak somewhere more private," he said carefully. Without waiting, he turned and led them to a small building nearby.

Once they were seated inside, Martina leaned forward. "Talk. What’s going on?" Gabriel looked at her, his expression worn. After a pause, he let out a slow sigh. "We were attacked last night."

The small room had grown quiet, the only sound being the faint creak of wood under shifting feet. Dust hung in the air, and the flickering lantern cast shadows that danced across the walls. Gabriel stood near the corner, his monocle slightly tilted, his coat a bit wrinkled from the night before. Martina sat on the wooden bench, arms folded, face hard as stone. Around her, Kael, Sol, Freya, Adonis, and the others stood tense, waiting for an answer.

Gabriel finally let out a breath and began.

"We were attacked last night," he said, voice low and steady. "It was right around midnight. Most of the men were already asleep. We had a rotation at the back post, but they never even got a chance to sound the alarm."

Martina narrowed her eyes. "What happened? Give me everything."

Gabriel nodded. "They came from the back. Not through the road or the front. They used a strange force—like waves, pressure bursts. The walls shook like thunder was crashing inside the stone. It wasn’t magic, at least not what we usually see. More like... manipulation of energy or force."

Sol’s brows rose. "Like shockwaves?"

"Yes," Gabriel replied. "Exactly. They used that to break our defenses. Before we even grabbed our weapons, they were already inside."

Adonis stepped forward, his face serious. "How many were there?"

Gabriel glanced at him. "At least five, maybe more. We couldn’t see all of them. Some moved so fast they were like shadows. Our men tried to hold them, but they were outclassed. Stronger than any B-rank... and I’d wager at least two were S-rank or higher."

Martina’s lips tightened. "And they took something?"

Gabriel nodded again. "Yes. They didn’t kill without reason. Just stunned or knocked aside anyone in the way. Then they went straight for the records room.. a few coded documents. And..."

He paused, lowering his eyes.

Kael, who had been silent all this time, slowly raised his head.He couldn’t feel Lyria. His brows were drawn together in a deep frown. His voice came out low and chilling.

"My servant?" he asked, his tone like cold steel. "What happened to her?"

The question hit the room like a crack of lightning. Everyone turned to look at Kael. Sol blinked, startled. Freya stepped back slightly. The air grew heavier.

Gabriel looked at Kael, his jaw tightening. He hesitated for just a breath, then gave a soft sigh and replied, "She... she was taken away by them."

A loud bang echoed as Kael slammed his hand against the table beside him.

"WHAT!"

The table cracked under the pressure. His eyes flared with rage, and the calm he always carried vanished in an instant. Martina stood up quickly, watching him carefully. Sol’s mouth was open in shock.

Gabriel held his ground, though guilt swam in his eyes.

"She was sleeping in the outer corridor. We noticed them entering and tried to fight.. But there was nobody. She’s gone."

"Why wasn’t she backed up?" Kael asked, his voice barely holding back a roar.

Gabriel looked tired. "She was quiet. Always preferred to stay solo . We never thought they’d come in that way."

Kael turned away, fists clenched, breathing hard.

Martina walked closer, placing a hand on his shoulder. "We’ll find her," she said quietly. "Whoever they are, they made a mistake taking someone from us."

Kael didn’t respond. His jaw was tight, and his eyes were focused on the ground, lost in thought... or fury.

Freya spoke up, her voice soft, "Do we have any leads?"

Gabriel shook his head slowly.