Chapter 90: A Surprise

"Where are they?"

"Knowing those guys, they're the one who would go back and urge us to change shift."

"Are they being diligent today?"

A few bandits walked out of the mine while looking around. However, they couldn't find a single person in the area.

There was only Brad in the area, and he was hiding behind the bushes.

'They haven't returned?' Brad thought while peeking through the gaps between bushes.

The bandits became restless as they couldn't find those people.

"Where are they?"

"I'm having a bad feeling right now."

The people suspected that something happened to them. Brad, who witnessed all this, clenched his bow and pulled out an arrow from the quiver.

'Should I shoot them right now?' Brad wondered what to do. His heartbeat sped up as the cold wind brushed his skin, making him shiver. He remembered Noel's instruction earlier. "Don't do anything until there's no more bandit coming out of the mine."

Noel must be talking about the time after Anna lured them out. So, he was hesitating to make a decision.

Still, the bandits started moving around with one of them going back to the mine as if he was going to inform the rest of the bandits. This sudden movement forced Brad to pull his bow, aiming at them.

When he was about to shoot, Noel and Anna suddenly landed on the ground. Because the bandits started walking away from the entrance, they didn't see Noel and Anna until they heard a cracking sound between them.

"!!!" The bandits turned around and saw Anna entering the cave while Noel appearing before them.

Without hesitation, Noel waved his sword and skillfully sent the bandit's head flying. After that, he moved toward the other two.

"Wha—" The second bandit raised his sword and tried to shout, but Noel had reached him and struck his sword. With the help of the Muscle Strengthening, Noel pushed him back and spun his body before slicing the bandit's neck.

"We're under attack!" The last bandit managed to shout, trying to alarm everyone near the entrance.

Some might hear it, but the one that just entered the mine had been killed by Anna as she made her way inside. Meanwhile, Noel approached the third bandit.

"Your attack is not a surprise anym—" While talking, he stepped forward as his preparation to fight against Noel. However, the latter used his Ice Control and created a thin layer of ice on the ground.

Without the friction of the ground, the bandit slipped and his body fell to the ground. Noel took that opportunity to slice his neck, killing the last bandit outside.

Unfortunately, he had no time to check them. As soon as he finished with them, Noel entered the mine without even glancing at Brad.

The mine tunnel was two meters wide and three meters high. Around him was the hardened soil and reinforced by the wooden planks, supporting the tunnel so it didn't collapse.

On the ground, he could see a rail for a mining cart, so he positioned himself slightly to the wall so that he didn't stumble.

At the same time, he could hear series of shouts echoing from the inside. And soon, he found the corpse of the fourth bandit that came out earlier.

It was clear that Anna was fighting against several bandits.

Due to the fight, he managed to catch up soon, finding Anna stopped by three bandits.

"There is o—" The bandits were about to inform the rest about his appearance, but Noel didn't allow him. He used the Increase Agility Rune to himself as well as to Anna.

Feeling the surge of strength all over her body, Anna sliced their throats in rapid succession, preventing them from telling the position.

Noel also managed to cut the last one as he pointed forward. Their voice would echo, so it wouldn't be a good idea to talk in this mine.

Anna agreed and immediately ran forward. There were two junctions before they could reach the room where they hid. And in just ten seconds, they could see the first crossroads.

Noel shook his head, showing her that he was planning to hide in the second junction. It would be dangerous, but he would be closer to the last room. Hence, she agreed.

They immediately sped up. Anna released her lightning power and took off, trying to kill as many bandits as possible.

They killed thirty in the process and some of them managed to alert the people of the incoming attacks.

Luckily, the main force had yet to arrive, they managed to find the second junction. Noel then nodded to Anna as he took the left path instead of the right one.

Anna hurriedly rushed to the right one as the bait to lure most of the bandits out.

In the meantime, Noel hid behind a giant wooden pillar while taking a peek of the bandits. Of course, he also maintained his vigilance from the people coming from the opposite direction.

It only took one minute before Anna suddenly returned to the junction. She was running away from what appeared to be thirty people.

'We have killed eight people before the operation started. Then, we killed another thirty people. I can't count those people since they're moving too quickly, but I think there will only be a few bandits left protecting their base.

'Still, I can't underestimate them because their leader must haven't made his move. And I need to take care of the demons as well. Luckily, it's only a Low Level Demon. I should have no problem in dealing them.'

Noel took a deep breath, waiting for all the people to pass.

However, he suddenly felt a stingy sensation from the back of his palm. He raised his hand and saw Ardagan's Spirit Seal.

Yes, the stingy sensation came from Ardagan. It seemed he could let him know about something when he did it. Ardagan was indeed special, unlike Heisk who couldn't do something like this.

'Eh? This is...' Noel widened his eyes in shock when he opened the system. Ardagan had sent him a notice that pumped up his spirit. 'A mission...'