Avila is a bustling tropolitan city, rivaling both Azurea and the imperial capital of the empire. As the headquarters of the rcenary Guild, it truly embodies the essence of a rcenary hub. The influx of people is imnse, and all around, one can spot rcenaries clad in light attire or armor, wielding a variety of weapons as they enter and exit the city through teleportation portals. The vibrant activity creates an atmosphere charged with anticipation and adventure, as individuals from all walks of life converge in search of fortune and glory.
In the areas where light barely penetrates, darkness reigns. These secluded, damp spaces co with limited visibility and narrow pathways, making it difficult to navigate freely. Often referred to as back alleys or slums, they exist in every city and tend to expand as urban developnt continues.
In Avila, the City of rcenaries, slums are an unfortunate reality. These are the places where fallen adventurers and rcenaries find themselves, and where criminals lurk, creating a labyrinthine maze of despair and danger.
For anyone of sound mind or those leading respectable lives, stepping into these slums sends chills down their spine. They beco tense and rigid, their instincts urging them to retreat imdiately. After all, that is the true nature of slums.
However, the girl in the hood was different. In her previous world, within her empire, she often sneaked out to visit the slums, seeking to understand the suffering of the people.
As she inhaled the murky air, she shivered slightly. After taking a few deep breaths, she narrowed her eyes, her erald gaze shimring in the darkness.
’Found it,’ she whispered to herself, taking a few cautious steps forward. Gradually making her way deeper into the alley, she suddenly quickened her pace as she sensed a presence nearby.
Thud!
With a powerful stride, energy surged through her body. Harnessing the Wind elent, she propelled herself forward with incredible speed. The man hiding in the shadows realized too late what was happening and attempted to flee, but she was already upon him.
"Kuh!"
The girl with the hood seized the man by the neck, lifting him effortlessly off the ground.
Despite his robust appearance, he found himself helplessly suspended in the air. As he looked down and realized his feet were no longer touching the ground, he t her unwavering gaze.
In the shadows, where light barely reached, her erald eyes glinted like those of a predator stalking its prey. The man’s legs trembled, his fear palpable as if his very marrow had turned cold.
"Why were you spying on ?" she demanded, her voice steady.
When the man hesitated to respond, she tightened her grip on his fingers with her free hand. Having learned the art of persuasion through her ti spent with various skilled individuals, her sisters, she applied pressure, knowing exactly how to elicit information.
Crack!
"Gyah!"
His scream pierced the silence. After repeating the process a few tis, reducing the number of intact fingers to less than two, the man finally divulged everything he knew.
Pooh!
With the necessary information in hand, she delivered a swift punch to his jaw, rendering him unconscious.
Once she tossed his limp body aside, she murmured to herself, "Hired a few lookouts, hiding in the alleys, keeping their distance from the rcenaries searching for them..."
The man’s information had been straightforward, but from it, she pieced together how the fugitives had been successfully evading capture.
It was ti for her to earn her keep.
Recalling the lessons from her sister, Sera, the queen of assassins, she resolved to mimic the art of stealth.
She steadied her breath, becoming acutely aware of the speed of her steps and the surface area of her shoe soles touching the ground. With each movent, she focused on eliminating the sound of her footsteps by minimizing the wind generated with her motion.
At first, there was a faint noise, but by her third step, she moved in complete silence. As she grew accustod to the finesse required, she began to run quietly.
If anyone had witnessed her transformation, they would have been astonished by how swiftly she developed a new skill.
What had once been heavy movents were now as stealthy as those of a seasoned assassin.
Navigating silently, she relied on her Presence Detection skill to discern her path, running along the walls and effortlessly passing over the heads of the lookouts without them noticing. After bypassing several of them, she finally reached the heart of the labyrinthine alleyways where she had been aiming for.
There, casually chatting, sat a man surrounded by what appeared to be hired bodyguards. They were engaged in a ga of poker, cards and coins scattered across the table.
The fugitive, Galaal.
He matched the description on the wanted poster she had taken from the guild. Confirming her target, she silently leaped over Galaal.
Then, with a heavy thud, she landed and seized Galaal’s head, slamming it onto the table.
Bam!
The table splintered under the force, sending cards and coins flying into the air.
"...!"
The guards, startled by the sudden intrusion of the girl, instinctively reached for their weapons at their waists.
’’Hehehe!’’ she smiled, it went without saying that she was about to enjoy what would follow, the thrill of battle, the thrill of toying with them, there was nothing more fun than this, it was why she loves bounty hunting.
Then, with a heavy thud, she landed and seized Galaal’s head, slamming it onto the table.
Bam!
The table splintered under the force, sending cards and coins flying into the air.
"...!"
The guards, startled by the sudden intrusion of the girl, instinctively reached for their weapons at their waists.
"Hehehe!" she chuckled, a smile spreading across her face. It was clear she was about to revel in what was to co—the thrill of battle, the excitent of toying with her opponents. There was nothing more exhilarating than this; it was precisely why she loved bounty hunting.
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