Chương 141: Bait Usually Gets Bitten

Night settled across the valley slowly, swallowing the surrounding ridges until only the Chimerian settlement remained visible beneath scattered torches, alchemical lamps, and glowing windows. The daytime activity diminished considerably after sunset, though the settlement never became truly quiet. Guards continued patrolling roads while several laboratories remained active behind reinforced walls.

Ronan and Sieghart waited among dense bushes overlooking the southern approach, watching patrol routes change while the final workers abandoned outdoor tasks and disappeared into their homes. Their plan was simple enough that Sieghart immediately distrusted it. Ronan would enter openly, attract attention, and convince everyone nearby that he had somehow infiltrated the territory alone.

Sieghart would remain hidden beyond immediate sight, maintaining illusions whenever necessary while using ranged magic to protect Ronan from threats the agent could not handle alone. The arrangement also prevented the Chimerians from understanding exactly how many enemies had entered their territory, which mattered if Mira was watching from somewhere beyond the settlement.

Ronan adjusted both knives beneath his coat, checked several concealed tools, then looked toward the darkened buildings with an expression considerably less enthusiastic than earlier.

"I know this was my idea." Sieghart waited.

"I'm starting to regret it." Sieghart glanced toward him without abandoning the Chimerian patrol moving between two distant houses, then returned his attention toward the settlement.

"Why were you so easily convinced by this plan?" Sieghart considered the question seriously because Ronan usually complained when he refused dangerous missions, making suspicion after immediate cooperation somewhat unreasonable.

"I don't care about following other people's plans if I think something else has better odds." Ronan narrowed his eyes.

"But this one looked particularly amusing." Ronan stared at him for several seconds before slowly looking toward the settlement again, apparently discovering exactly which part of Sieghart's answer worried him.

"For some reason." He sighed.

"Why, I wonder why." Sieghart ignored the comment and concentrated upon the settlement below, where fewer than half the daytime population remained visible outside their buildings. That still meant dozens of Chimerians occupied the roads, rooftops, watch platforms, workshops, and larger structures surrounding whatever facility contained Mira's kidnapped relative.

More would be sleeping inside every building, meaning allowing the confrontation to continue too long would eventually place hundreds of altered enemies around Ronan. Sieghart could support him from concealment, but hiding would become increasingly difficult once frightened Chimerians began searching every rooftop, alley, hill, and patch of forest. They therefore needed Mira to act quickly after the distraction began, assuming she understood what Ronan intended and remained close enough to exploit the confusion.

That assumption bothered Sieghart because they still possessed no communication with her, no confirmed target location, and absolutely no guarantee she wanted them attacking tonight. Still, waiting accomplished nothing while the captive remained inside enemy territory. Every additional hour gave the Chimerians more time to begin whatever procedure required Seraphina's bloodline.

Ronan crouched lower and pointed toward several structures near the southern road, including workshops, warehouses, and empty-looking buildings positioned away from the heavily guarded center.

"Start there." Sieghart studied them carefully.

"No fire."

"I was going to say that."

"You like fire."

"Only when it is burning my enemies." Ronan gave him a look suggesting the distinction remained questionable after hearing what happened during the northern siege, though he wisely avoided beginning that conversation. Giant Fireball would certainly create attention, but neither of them knew where the captive was being held or whether underground passages connected apparently unimportant structures.

Sieghart had no intention of accidentally incinerating Mira's relative while attempting to rescue him, especially when explaining that outcome afterward sounded extremely unhealthy. Water offered considerably fewer irreversible consequences. Enough mass could demolish buildings, flood streets, extinguish lights, and create chaos without turning every occupied structure into burning debris.

Sieghart positioned himself behind several rocks and extended both hands, allowing Water Creation to begin gathering quietly above the surrounding trees. One sphere formed first, expanding until it became several meters across while moonlight reflected faintly across its enormous suspended surface. Sieghart created another beside it, then a third farther away, spacing the masses enough that nobody looking upward would immediately identify one precise casting location.

The process demanded concentration rather than mana, especially because every sphere needed enough internal stability to remain together while moving toward separate targets. Ronan watched them grow overhead and slowly stepped farther away from Sieghart, apparently reconsidering what the word distraction meant when Infinite Mana became involved.

"You call this subtle support?"

"You wanted attention."

"I wanted manageable attention."

"Explain better the next time..." Sieghart created two additional spheres before deciding five would provide enough initial confusion without flooding enough of the settlement to become a natural disaster. Each enormous mass hovered silently above the southern ridge, containing thousands of liters of water compressed loosely enough to maintain weight without becoming a cutting attack.

Sieghart pointed toward the first warehouse and released one sphere, pushing it forward with Wind Magic until gravity began pulling the water downward. The giant sphere crossed above the road and slammed through the warehouse roof with a thunderous impact, collapsing wooden beams and bursting outward through both walls. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Water exploded across the surrounding street, carrying crates, broken furniture, tools, and several extremely surprised Chimerians into neighboring structures before spreading downhill. The second sphere fell moments later and crushed an empty-looking workshop, smashing the roof inward before flooding the interior and blowing open the front doors. The settlement erupted immediately.

Shouts rose from several directions while guards turned toward the southern district, struggling to understand whether they were facing magical bombardment, structural failure, or something stranger. Sieghart released the third sphere against a broad storage building after confirming through Enhanced Smell that only alchemical materials and animal products seemed concentrated inside.

The water struck hard enough to tear one wall away completely, sending barrels rolling through the street while pale smoke escaped from shattered containers. Several Chimerians shouted warnings about contaminated materials, which created exactly the kind of confusion Sieghart wanted without requiring another offensive spell. The fourth sphere hit the road between two guard posts instead of a building, bursting across the ground and knocking several armed Chimerians from their feet.

The fifth landed beside a watch platform, collapsing its supports while the winged guard above escaped only by launching himself into the darkness. Within seconds, the peaceful settlement became a maze of running figures, overturned carts, flooded streets, broken structures, shouted orders, and conflicting assumptions. Sieghart lowered both hands and stopped casting, knowing that continuing the bombardment would encourage everyone to search for the invisible mage instead of the visible target.

Ronan released a long breath and stepped from the bushes, abandoning concealment while walking directly toward the nearest road with both hands apparently empty.

"You're enjoying this." Sieghart remained hidden.

"A little." Ronan continued alone, his dark coat making him easy to identify once he deliberately entered the light from several overturned lamps. A scaled Chimerian noticed him first, shouting toward nearby guards before drawing a curved blade from behind its back and pointing directly toward the intruder. Ronan raised one hand and waved. That somehow made everything worse.

Several warriors immediately abandoned the flooded warehouse and ran toward him, apparently deciding that one suspicious human standing nearby explained enough of the destruction. More figures emerged from neighboring buildings after hearing the warning, including one heavily stitched warrior whose right arm ended in an enormous crustacean claw. Another Chimerian landed from a rooftop using membrane wings stretched between four elongated limbs, then folded them tightly while drawing a spear with its tail.

Sieghart watched every movement from behind the rocks, using Enhanced Smell and improved hearing to count enemies approaching beyond those visible beneath the lamps. Seven became twelve. Twelve became eighteen. More were coming. That was faster than Sieghart preferred. Ronan apparently reached the same conclusion because his relaxed posture shifted subtly, placing one foot behind the other while his hands moved closer toward his hidden knives.

"Enemy!" Ronan looked toward the speaker.

"Yes?"

"Who are you?"

"That is a surprisingly personal question." The Chimerian snarled. Sieghart almost felt sorry for them. Almost. Ronan drew both knives when the first warrior charged, sidestepping the curved blade before driving one weapon through the attacker's wrist. The Chimerian screamed and tried striking with its other hand, only for thin mana threads to appear between Ronan's fingers and tighten around the extended arm. Ronan twisted his wrist. The threads pulled.

The Chimerian's own momentum turned its body sideways, allowing Ronan to kick behind one knee and send the larger warrior crashing into the flooded road. Two more attacked simultaneously. Ronan ducked beneath a claw, redirected a spear with one knife, then released several threads toward a nearby wooden post. He pulled himself sideways faster than an ordinary step could manage, escaping between both attackers before either adjusted their direction. Sieghart remained hidden. This was Ronan's part.

Interfering too early would immediately reveal that the agent was receiving outside support, which defeated the entire purpose of presenting him as a lone infiltrator. Another Chimerian rushed from behind Ronan while the agent remained occupied with the spear wielder. Sieghart raised one finger. Telekinesis pulled a loose stone beneath the attacker's foot. The Chimerian stepped awkwardly, stumbled, and collided shoulder-first with another warrior before reaching Ronan. Nobody noticed. Sieghart smiled faintly.

Support did not necessarily need to look magical. Ronan stabbed another attacker through the thigh, wrapped a mana thread around a horned warrior's neck, then used that opponent as cover against several thrown needles. The needles struck the Chimerian instead. Ronan released him immediately.

"That seems unfortunate." The horned warrior roared.

"Stop talking!" More enemies reached the street. Sieghart counted thirty-two scents now, with several additional groups moving from farther inside the settlement after seeing the destruction. That was only the visible response. Doors continued opening. Lights appeared in windows. Winged scouts launched from rooftops. The settlement was waking. Sieghart looked northwest, searching the dark ridges where Mira's faint scent had appeared earlier. Nothing changed there. No spell flashed.

No alarm came from the central buildings. No obvious sign confirmed that she had begun moving.

"Come on, Mira." Ronan retreated several meters while fighting, deliberately drawing the Chimerians south instead of allowing them to surround him beside the first damaged buildings. The tactic worked because angry warriors followed immediately, convinced that their lone human infiltrator was attempting to escape after launching the mysterious attack. One heavily armored Chimerian shouted something about capturing him alive. Ronan visibly disliked that. Sieghart found it amusing.

The agent blocked a heavy strike with crossed knives, though the impact forced him backward and left his arms trembling afterward. Sieghart quietly cast Protection. The spell traveled and settled around Ronan before the next attack landed. A hammer struck his shoulder. Protection flashed briefly. Ronan rolled away instead of having his collarbone crushed. His eyes immediately shifted toward Sieghart's hidden position. Sieghart remained invisible. Ronan smiled despite himself.

Apparently, the support arrangement was becoming more convincing. Several Chimerians saw the defensive flash and hesitated, looking around for another mage before one leader shouted that Ronan had probably enchanted himself beforehand. Sieghart appreciated the explanation. He would use it. Ronan resumed fighting while the surrounding crowd thickened, pulling more guards away from the settlement center with every noisy exchange.

Sieghart watched three winged scouts fly southward, apparently searching beyond Ronan for companions who might have remained outside. Phantom Image concealed Sieghart from their eyes, but he remained perfectly still while they crossed overhead because even distorted movement could expose his position. One circled twice. Then continued. Sieghart released the breath he had been holding. The distraction was working. Perhaps too well.

Nearly forty Chimerians now surrounded Ronan while dozens more gathered behind them, shouting questions and receiving completely inconsistent answers. Some believed he had destroyed the buildings. Others thought a larger human force waited outside. A few blamed internal sabotage. Nobody appeared certain. That uncertainty mattered more than the damage itself. Sieghart looked toward the settlement center again. This time, he noticed movement.

Several heavily armed guards abandoned one of the fortified buildings and began running south toward Ronan's increasingly ridiculous fight. Then another group followed. The number protecting the central district was finally decreasing. Sieghart narrowed his eyes. If Mira had been waiting for an opening, this was probably the best one they could create without destroying half the settlement.

Ronan dodged another strike, threw one attacker into two others using mana threads, then glanced briefly toward the dark northern ridge. Sieghart could almost read the thought from his expression. Your turn, Mira. The Chimerians continued pouring toward the visible intruder, unaware that the destruction had never been intended to defeat them. Every demolished building, flooded road, and wounded guard existed for one purpose: making everyone look south while the real rescue approached from somewhere else.