December 5, 2020/4017, Fourth Era.

  Civilization Zone 3, near the border with the Papaldia Empire.

  Rompev's Spetsnaz team had arrived in Civilization Area No. 3, a region reputed for its unique culture, according to the people they met on the train. However, in reality, the information was too scarce to be deemed acceptable. Stories of strange customs, vibrant festivals, and legends of mystical creatures had excited them, but the reality was not as expected.

  However, this was not of great importance. The first and foremost priority was to gather information about Papaldia, due to an unexpected event: a diplomat from the nation had been murdered by a diplomat from the Empire. The reason for the murder was that Foreign Minister Lavrov, who was present, could not accept two utterly unreasonable treaties that could be described as making them a colony. When opposing this, one of the Papaldia representatives killed the minister's aide as a warning.

  This incident had shown Russia how diplomacy worked here. Initially, the government might have been aware but did not pay attention, and then the incident occurred. It was an unfortunate event, as winter had now set in, and there were not many government activities at this time.

  The second important matter was that they needed to reach the nearest Adventurers' Guild to undertake missions, as they had not completed any tasks to maintain their operational status for some time, and they needed to keep up that status to avoid expulsion. This was the easiest profession for them to gather information and also a fairly stable source of income. Although they received subsidies from the government, it was likely that there was nothing here, so they had to improve their income themselves.

  By the way, their rank was E. Normally, newcomers would be F, but perhaps the old man in Sparkville had helped them. Whether E or F, being inactive for more than two months would lead to expulsion. Of course, they were in the same situation; that time was approaching, and they had spent too much time surveying the terrain in Mamluk, the Rowlia Republic, and three other countries without yielding anything.

  Currently, they were in a country called Helmek. It was a monarchy, so there was not much to say about it. They were riding in a carriage with an old priest and a little girl, who was an apprentice mage. Yes, a mage; although it was not the first time, it was still very interesting. The carriage had traveled quite a distance, and they had not spoken to each other, creating an awkward atmosphere. Perhaps that was why the girl spoke up.

  "You guys dress quite unusually. Are you from Civilization Area No. 2? Because it looks quite similar." The girl's tone was very innocent, seemingly unaware of the oddity in their attire.

  Vorosimorsk pulled down his face veil and smiled warmly. "Yes, we come from Mu. We have a passion for this profession, so we registered and came all the way here for this exciting adventure."

  "I see! Then when we reach the next town, we will have to say goodbye."

  Kamarov noticed the girl and asked, "If we say something wrong, please forgive us first. What are mages like, and what types of magic do they have?"

  The girl looked at Kamarov but did not seem displeased. On the contrary, she was very excited and began to explain. "There are four or five main types of magic: fire, ice, earth, lightning, and light. Among them, fire, ice, earth, and lightning are the basic spells; mages who are diligent can learn to use them. To use them effectively, however, requires great experience; some people may have higher skills with unique uses. Light is a type of magic used by the church, mainly by priests, nuns, and clergy. It is often used for control and can create some tools made of golden light to restrain opponents. Additionally, healing magic is also classified as light magic, but due to its special characteristics and color, which is blue with golden light, it is often categorized separately. Nevertheless, it can still be considered light magic."

  The girl took a deep breath, speaking passionately, so it was understandable that she ran out of breath and continued. "Moreover, there are ways to use magic. The two most common methods are direct and indirect use. Direct use means using the magical power directly from the body to cast spells; indirect use involves using various tools like staffs or wands to cast spells. In terms of effectiveness, direct use is better, as it provides speed in casting, strength of the spell, and easier control. But because it uses magical power directly from the body, if overused, it can cause the mage to collapse, faint, or even die."

  Wow, this girl spoke as if it were completely normal. But it means that magic operates in a completely logical way; however, it can still be considered quite absurd, or simply because we have too little knowledge compared to the vast knowledge of this world. They showed some interest as they listened to her.

  "That's really interesting knowledge! If scientists delve into this issue, it would surely be fascinating to see." Kamarov smiled, showing his enthusiasm.

  "Alright, boys, we have arrived." The priest's voice rang out, informing them. Vorosimorsk looked outside and saw they had reached a castle. It was indeed the place they needed to go.

  After stepping down, Petrov thanked the priest. "Thank you, this is our little support for the church. May you bring good fortune for the future."

  He took out a small pouch and held it out to the old priest. The priest opened it and was very surprised, as it was filled with gold coins. But just as he was about to return it, he found no one there anymore; Petrov had already run off. The old priest just smiled and shook his head lightly before continuing his journey.

  The team approached the castle and encountered the guards of the place. "Quickly provide identification."

  "Here." Each person presented their adventurer's card. The guards checked and found no issues, allowing them to pass. "No problem. Welcome adventurers to the city of Arcarab."

  Vorosimorsk nodded and led the team inside. The interior was truly magical. Although it had a modern touch, it also exuded the charm of a fantasy world that the Japanese had depicted through their works. These works helped escape reality; they were very entertaining but too easy to become an excuse for people not to strive and choose extreme paths. This reminded him of his friend Vasha, who had gone through a tumultuous period both in life and spirit but had still overcome and lived well until now.

  Looking around, the diverse races of demi-humans and beastmen provided an interesting atmosphere. But they were not here just to sightsee; they were also here for work. Now they would head to the adventurers' guild to undertake missions and familiarize themselves with the place. They walked down the street and still received the gazes of the locals.

  They had gotten used to this for a while in Rowlia, but since that place was quite poor, they did not have to care much about it. But here, being wealthier, they easily fell into the gaze of curiosity about their appearance, especially since they were not that famous. But anyway, as proud soldiers of their nation, they would not let these now trivial matters interfere with their minds.

  However, it must be said that the weather in this world had a fairly stable temperature. Generally, it was quite cold compared to the previous areas, as they were heading south, so the weather must have belonged to the temperate zone? That was uncertain, but related research had indicated that in reality, the entire planet must have fallen into an ice age long ago, yet somehow it could remain unaffected and continue to maintain a stable temperature.

  But even so... winter had arrived. Snow began to fall at this moment; this December was quite unfavorable for them. But that did not mean it would slow down their progress; rather, it would limit the team's mobility.

  The team quickly approached the branch of the Adventurers' Guild here. The four of them quickly entered, and the gazes quickly fixed on them, but with a slight difference. "Young men?"

  That thought appeared in Petrov's mind; he could not believe that in such a large place, there were young people at an age when he was still playing in the mud and looking for bears to be friends with. All the kids looked at the tall figures of the four with a bit of worry. But Vorosimorsk did not pay much attention to that; he signaled to the three and walked to the reception desk, where a couple of young people, probably just over twenty, were also present.

  The girl looked at the four large men and stammered, "Welcome to the Adventurers' Guild... I... can... help... what?"

  This girl was genuinely scared of the four, but they did not look that bad... Right, it was the urban camouflage patterns that made them look like a bunch of dead people. Vorosimorsk spoke up to reassure her: "We are here to check the expiration of our membership cards. If anything makes you uncomfortable, just say it; it's not our first time."

  The girl now looked at them with a bit more ease but still remained cautious. The boy next to her was the same, but calmer, asking them to present their cards. Each person took out their card and handed it to the receptionist. Petrov removed his mask for a moment, and the kids looked at him as if he were an experienced person.

  But clearly, it was not just those kids who were looking. Kamarov looked around and saw something that caught his eye even more than a pile of nutritional supplements. He tapped Petrov on the shoulder and whispered, "You, that girl behind there, is really hot."

  Kamarov said this with a light laugh in Petrov's ear, making him feel a bit uncomfortable; a light punch to the face surprised him and made him step back. Kamarov sighed in frustration, "No need to go that far."

  "Both of you stop it; we shouldn't attract more attention." Rompev frowned. Both of them signaled that they had heard, while the team leader remained silent, watching the girl who was checking their cards.

  The check was quickly completed. The girl returned the cards and said, "You need to undertake missions to maintain your membership status. There are quite a few missions available for E rank, so feel free."

  "Thank you." Vorosimorsk bowed his head, walked to the mission board, and looked through it. They were very diverse: monster extermination, escorting, resource gathering. They were varied, but there seemed to be an incorrect hierarchy, yet he could not pinpoint where it was wrong. So he just tried to choose a mission to complete quickly.

  "Which one to choose? There are many, but we don't have time." Kamarov said, feeling displeased with the unsuitable missions at this time.

  Rompev glanced over and saw a mission. It was to escort someone to carry out their work. He pointed at it: "How about this one? It seems to fit our time."

  The whole team looked at the mission paper; it was not bad compared to the others; the pay was quite meager, but it suited their purpose. Vorosimorsk felt he had made the right choice; he tore the paper and said to the team, "Get ready, let's go to this address."

  "Alright." Petrov said calmly.

  They quickly agreed and stepped out of the place as the gazes were still on them. But something unexpected happened. A woman's voice rang out: "Do you want assistance?"

  The whole team looked toward the voice; it was a woman dressed modestly with a hat that made them think she was a sailor. Vorosimorsk asked seriously, "What do you want?"

  "Nothing at all, but I know about that mission, and I just want to say that I will be watching you." The girl's gentle yet threatening voice made the four of them alert.

  They did not know why this girl threatened them in this way, but it seemed that this mission was related to her or that she had some connection to it. The two sides faced each other, but no words were exchanged. The girl also understood that she needed to say more, so she provided additional information for them to understand the situation better.

  "I won't believe that those dirty old men can do anything other than show their depravity." Her tone was somewhat sarcastic, but they did not know exactly what they needed to do to satisfy this girl. Vorosimorsk, although he could not fully grasp the implications behind the story, understood that the person mentioned in the mission was likely important to her.

  So he spoke firmly, swearing on his professional ethics: "As a person with high professional ethics, I swear that no matter what happens, we will still comply."

  Vorosimorsk walked to the table, took out two pieces of cloth from his pocket, placed them on the table, and immediately left with the others.

  Meanwhile, the people in the room held their breath, watching the two sides communicate. They could not believe that someone was brave enough to strike up a conversation with them. The receptionist looked at the mage reproachfully: "Lise, you shouldn't talk to strangers, even for a legitimate purpose."

  "Rachel, you don't understand; these people feel very novel, and it seems they might change something." Lise said, showing a bit of sadness as she looked out the door. "I understand, but they are very suspicious; they don't look like ordinary adventurers." Rachel said worriedly. Lise did not pay attention to that remark and focused on the two pieces of cloth left by the man. They were two pieces of fabric, one rectangular and one circular. The rectangular one had three horizontal stripes from top to bottom: white - blue - red, with a two-headed golden bird in the middle; while the circular one had a bat with what seemed to be a shooting target.

  Although she did not understand the meaning of these two symbols, it seemed they were not simple at all. 'I need to know his name.'

  Lise looked back at Rachel and asked, "What is that man's name?"

  Rachel was surprised but still answered, "Vorosimorsk Vasilyevich Solomon. Why? Is it because of the big thing on his back?"

  Rachel's concern was justified. That thing had never been seen before, and it could be what had given him such confidence. Although Lise felt quite worried, she still hoped for one thing: "I hope both of them can return."

  ...

  The Spetsnaz team found the location on the mission paper; it was in a rather upscale area. The people living here dressed quite fashionably, mostly merchants or bourgeois with their wealth.

  They were still looked at with their differences, but that was not something to focus on. They approached a house, which could not be considered particularly unremarkable. Regardless of who was inside, the mission paper indicated that the person was very suspicious, and it only stated "Custom Mission." It was indeed a rather modern term.

  Vorosimorsk looked at the mission paper, confirming that he had arrived at the right place. He signaled for the three to follow. Petrov - Kamarov - Rompev were all ready to face whatever was inside the house.

  Approaching the rather shabby door, he knocked to call the homeowner out. From inside, there were sounds of clumsiness, the noise of things falling, and the cry of a girl from within. The four of them looked at each other, wondering, and the door opened to reveal a very young girl. Kamarov exclaimed, "A child?"

  They could not understand what this meant; Vorosimorsk handed the mission paper to the girl before anything could come out of her mouth.

  "Oh, a custom mission, finally someone has accepted it. Come in, we will discuss further."

  Kamarov complained upon hearing that. "Not even a greeting."

  The four of them stepped inside, and the first thing they noticed was that it was very dusty; how long had it been since this place was cleaned? The four wondered as the young girl picked up a tray of tea, placed it on the table, and began.

  "I know you four will be curious, but since I didn't expect anyone to accept it, I also sought out mercenaries. Anyway, thank you very much," the girl bowed her head, making the group even more confused.

  "The mission is very dangerous, but we can exchange some things as a reward," the girl said, narrowing her eyes in anticipation.

  Vorosimorsk spoke first to confirm. "First, what kind of mission is it?"

  Upon hearing this, the girl became flustered, unable to answer such a simple question. She began to stammer, "Um, I want... to help with some... quite important... tasks..."

  "If you say that, we will refuse; be honest," Petrov coldly interrupted, causing the girl to become frightened and start tearing up.

  Seeing this, Kamarov stepped forward to comfort her. "Now, now, crying is not good; no matter what the truth is, we will carry it out."

  "Really?" Rompev asked, Kamarov shot him a glare, making him fall silent.

  "Anyway, what is the mission?" Kamarov wiped the girl's tears.

  The girl introduced herself and the mission she wanted them to help with.

  "My name is Celia, often called Nini, and the mission I want you to help with is... to save my sister," Nini said, the sad expression on her face making the four understand her situation quite well.

  Being threatened by gangsters or the mafia and then kidnapped for ransom was too much for a girl who was probably just over five years old. But being able to create such a mission was not quite appropriate; how could a little girl be aware enough to do something like that without clearly stating the mission?

  Rompev was curious about that and asked Nini, "Hey Nini, who helped you make this mission paper?"

  The question was very simple and went straight to the point; the girl was quite suspicious of Rompev's question, he understood that and reaffirmed his purpose to help her feel more at ease. "I promise I have no intention of harming anyone; this is just so that if there are any questions, we can ask more about that person."

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  Rompev's gentle smile also reassured the girl. Nini began to talk about that person; it was none other than the hot mage, who was named Valaza, someone who had always helped Nini since her sister was kidnapped, which could explain the girl's suspicion towards them.

  It seemed that the relationship between Nini and Valaza was quite close; the items inside, although seemingly organized, were covered in dust as if they had been forgotten for a long time. Nevertheless, it did not significantly affect what they intended to do.

  Vorosimorsk seriously asked the girl about the location they needed to go to; the main mission was to rescue the sister, and all they needed was a specific location. "So do you know the exact location? We will go right away."

  The girl happily took out a piece of paper, looked at them, and said, "The location is in there; I don't know what is inside; they just said to bring money if you want to see my sister again."

  "Those damn bastards," Petrov muttered. "We have to kill them all."

  Kamarov heard those words, threw an arm around him, and said, "We should carry out the mission quickly; the enemy is always time."

  "That's right. Now, please wait, and good things will always come," Vorosimorsk affirmed, wanting the girl to believe in her future and not lose hope in the world.

  "Yes, I wish you all success." The girl led them outside, bidding them farewell.

  ...

  In a damp and foul-smelling basement, there was no life around, and the light from the burning candles illuminated a little in the room. This was a warehouse with countless cages inside, with people inside them. They were slaves for many reasons; it could be due to debt, kidnapping, or being sold.

  The miserable fates could not determine their own lives. The guards walked by, laughing and talking as they looked at the girls here with lustful eyes; they particularly enjoyed looking at demi-human girls as they were always great entertainment, while other men in the same predicament tried to cover them to avoid being targeted.

  Among them was a special person, who had only been here for a few weeks but had already become haggard due to the previous events. Just because she borrowed money from the loan sharks, her fate had come to this; she worried about her younger sister waiting, the little girl was still too young to take care of herself, and fortunately, there were always people to help the two in special times.

  "Still worried about the little one?" a man asked. "The more you think about it now, the harder it will be to survive until then."

  The girl said nothing, only using her hand to draw that face on the dirty ground; the man shook his head and sighed. "It's hard to do that, huh? But still, hope can come here."

  Even so, the man did not believe in it; he had been here for a long time and always prayed, but obviously, nothing came to save him. Despair swallowed him day by day, and he understood that he was trying to help a little girl keep her faith for as long as possible to survive here.

  "Hope will definitely come." The girl mumbled, the man did not hear and returned to his own thoughts.

  ...

  "This is the place. Usal Boll," Vorosimorsk said. "The place we need to go is a slave trading area."

  "This seems bad; who clearly stated anything when we were in Rowlia?" Kamarov mocked.

  The glamorous scene before them inside did not bring anything good. The four understood that now they would have to limit combat, so they did not carry weapons directly but switched to melee weapons and pistols.

  "Are you ready?" Vorosimorsk asked, the other three nodded in confirmation. "Let's go."

  ...

  The three entered; it was a small reception room with relatively simple but very elegant decor with artistic products and vibrant paintings. Vorosimorsk - He had been to the national museum for a visit and had to admit that this place also brought an atmosphere like that.

  The four encountered the receptionist's confused gaze, not knowing what to do. Kamarov calmly took out a bag of gold coins and placed it on the table, saying, "The best service."

  The simple statement surprised the receptionist, but with his sharpness, he knew this was a big customer, although their attire was quite strange; however, there had been many people with equally strange tastes, so this was just a simple matter not worth mentioning.

  He immediately went out the back door and rushed to the boss's room. An old man known as the boss here was being massaged by a slave and was enjoying it until someone interrupted.

  "Boss!" he shouted. "We have a big customer, very big indeed!"

  "Shut up, how big?"

  "A bag of gold," he took out the bag and showed it to the boss. "Here it is."

  The man glanced over and saw a large bag of gold, which was clearly a considerable amount of money. So this customer was very wealthy; it was not every day to have such a big deal, so he stood up immediately and shouted.

  "Take them to VIP, we must please them very well!"

  "Yes." The receptionist said, nodding and running to carry out the task immediately.

  ...

  The four were taken to an extremely luxurious room with a very comfortable sofa. Kamarov immediately sat down on the sofa and evaluated it. "Not bad, the material is very soft."

  The receptionist nodded and evaluated them. Overall, the four of them wore a strange type of clothing, which was light green if not quite shabby. But what they often wore on their hands resembled guns, the notorious weapon of the Papaldia Empire; he had heard that to own one, one had to belong to the upper class there and have connections with the military.

  So it was clear that there could be no mistakes in dealing with these people, even though they carried quite large backpacks, it seemed they were traveling, just like the wealthy. The more he thought, the more excited he became. To create the best atmosphere, he stepped back and said.

  "To provide you with the best comfort, I will take my leave; someone will serve you."

  He left and left the Russian group behind. After confirming that he had left the room, Vorosimorsk began to discuss with the other three. "Alright, we need them to take us to the slave holding area, and the rest everyone knows."

  "Of course," Kamarov said. "Withdraw and do nothing."

  After saying that, the door opened again, and instead of the girls, a fat man walked in, greeting them gently. "Very honored, esteemed guests."

  The four focused on the man standing before them, each with their own thoughts. Vorosimorsk felt certain that he was the owner of this place. He stood up and politely greeted:

  "Nice to meet you. I am Vorosimorsk Solomon."

  The man responded with surprise, "Forgive me! If there is anything wrong, it is certainly due to my ignorance. I have never known you and your companions."

  "It's alright, today we have had a pleasant time. We happened to pass by here and wanted to buy a few things, you know," Vorosimorsk said.

  The man nodded, understanding, and introduced himself. "Then let me introduce myself. You can call me Meraskut. I am the owner of this place and have been here for quite a while, so I have the best quality goods for you. Please follow me."

  Meraskut smiled and led them outside. The team leader signaled for the others to follow. When they entered a spacious room, they noticed a few other guests there, but none of them were worth paying attention to. Meraskut led them to a line of people, where women stood in a row with collars around their necks.

  The four exchanged surprised glances, not understanding Meraskut's intentions. Did he want them to choose from these people? Meraskut quickly explained, "Which type do you want?"

  "Type?" Rompev thought, "Now even human rights are gone?"

  He felt he could not believe his eyes. Turning to his friends, he suggested. Petrov also looked at those women, noticing the confusion on their faces, possibly due to their appearance.

  'Maybe it's because of the PKM of the team leader,' Petrov thought.

  "Actually, we are quite puzzled. How about we choose for ourselves?" Vorosimorsk proposed.

  Meraskut stroked his chin, looking at them with curiosity but not asking further. He realized the strangeness in their attire and the items they carried, which reminded him of weapons, specifically the Empire's guns. He had never seen these things before, but it felt like they were new and modern weapons.

  'Although I don't want to take risks, if my guess is correct, it's best not to ask too deeply,' Meraskut thought, rubbing his palms and smiling brightly at the Spetsnaz group. "Yes, if that is your request, I will comply."

  He began to lead the Russian group around; through each area displaying the best goods, but nothing satisfied them. The disappointment was evident on Meraskut's face. Many previous customers had been satisfied and chosen their preferred items, but only these four seemed very picky, although they still maintained elegance in their speech but always demanded more suitable items.

  This made Meraskut feel a severe headache. He did not know what to do, as all he had were the best items. He held his face and leaned against the wall, not paying attention to the attitude of the Spetsnaz group.

  Meanwhile, Vorosimorsk's group also did not know what to do next; they had forgotten to ask the girl about that. Fortunately, they carried a distinctive item of that girl, the armband that according to Nini, she always wore. This gave them a bit of hope, although time passed but did not help much.

  They had gone through many areas, showing some things but received no response from Meraskut, making them confident that he was not the person they needed to find. At this point, they needed to ensure that this was the final point.

  Vorosimorsk signaled for Petrov to step forward. He nodded, stepped up, and said, "I see there are no 'goods' we need, but with such a large place, there surely can't be just this."

  Meraskut turned to look at Petrov, an idea flashed through his mind. Although it was not a good idea, he still wanted to see what they would request. Meraskut cleared his throat and said seriously, "There is one more place. But I cannot guarantee that the experience will be good."

  "That's fine," Petrov replied. "Take us there."

  Meraskut nodded and led the four to a place with a spiral staircase. They walked down, moving lightly on the rather slippery stairs. It seemed this place had not been cleaned regularly, and they did not place much hope in such a place.

  When they reached the end point, Meraskut turned to them and asked, "This is the final point. Do you have any requests?"

  "If that's the case, it seems you are quite busy. We won't bother anymore; we will take care of the rest," Petrov replied.

  Meraskut felt anxious. From his pocket, he took out a small device — a manacom, a communication device of this world. However, what he wanted to convey could not be expressed just with this device.

  "If you have chosen what you want, please let me know."

  "Alright, we will do that," Vorosimorsk replied firmly.

  After the man left, the disappointment was clearly visible on his face. They had truly wasted his time, and Kamarov had also caused them no small trouble.

  "Alright, let's go inside and search quickly," Kamarov said, giving a thumbs up enthusiastically.

  "Don't do anything embarrassing here," Petrov warned. "Don't think about playing the hero and rescuing slaves. We, Spetsnaz, just need to follow our mission."

  "Yeah, yeah. No need to keep reminding me," Kamarov said, covering his ears as if to avoid his teammate's advice.

  They opened the door and stepped into a large basement. Although dark and damp, the light from the torches illuminated every dark corner of the room. Inside, there were cages covered with large cloths.

  The four observed their surroundings. From this angle, it was hard to clearly identify what was inside the cages. They felt helpless before this vast and chaotic scene.

  "It will take some time," Vorosimorsk shook his head, his voice lowering. "You all remember to pay attention to the reactions of each person."

  "Understood," Rompev nodded seriously.

  "Got it." Kamarov still appeared optimistic, while Petrov remained silent.

  "Remember to use night vision goggles," Vorosimorsk instructed, then he pulled down the night vision goggles to his eyes.

  He slowly pulled the cloth away, revealing a body inside. In the dim light, a large figure appeared, with frightened green eyes staring at him. Vorosimorsk clearly saw the person's arms, and he paused for a long moment, but there was no reaction other than fear.

  "Not the one," he said in disappointment, turning to the next cage, repeating the same actions, but the result remained unchanged.

  Rompev approached, confused about what to do to identify who was Nini's sister. Noticing Rompev's hesitation, Vorosimorsk asked, "Why don't you try to help me point out?"

  "I don't know what to do," Rompev sighed, pointing at the other two. "They don't know either."

  Vorosimorsk also felt awkward. They needed a faster approach. After a while of thinking, he made a decision, although he was not sure it would be effective, but it was worth a try.

  "I have an idea, but I can't guarantee it," Vorosimorsk said, making the other three stand still, waiting.

  "Because Nini's sister will surely know her nickname, so..." He said slowly, then took a deep breath and shouted. "IS THERE ANYONE HERE WHO KNOWS NINI?!"

  The three men were surprised to see their leader shout out, calling the girl's name. Although it was somewhat inappropriate, in this situation, it was acceptable.

  "Come on, it's fine," Kamarov stretched and joined in. "IS THERE ANYONE HERE WHO KNOWS NINI?!"

  "Don't look at me like that; I will go see their reactions," Petrov said, clearly not excited about this. "You should join in. I've done this too many times already; I don't want to anymore."

  Although Rompev did not like this idea, for the sake of the mission and the desire to escape this situation quickly, he reluctantly shouted. "IS THERE ANYONE HERE WHO KNOWS NINI?!"

  The shouts from the three men echoed throughout the basement, attracting the attention of the surrounding slaves. They only saw three people calling for someone who was not them, so they did not care much. Petrov looked around, seeing no notable reactions, confirming that they had not found the person they were looking for.

  In another corner, a girl woke up from the call of someone in the same cage. "Hey. Hey. Wake up..."

  "What is it?" she asked, still sleepy. "What's wrong?"

  "Is that name your sister's name?"

  She sat up, trying to listen to what the other person had just said. Then she heard the call echoing from outside: "IS THERE ANYONE HERE WHO KNOWS NINI?!"

  The light in her eyes lit up when she heard that question again. "Is there anyone here who knows Nini?"

  Surely they were calling the girl's nickname. She rushed out, gripping the cage tightly, pulling the cloth away and shouting. "I'M HERE!"

  She hoped she was right. When the four approached, joy surged within her, but it quickly extinguished when she recognized their faces — just masks with green spots, and their outfits were dull. Theycame closer, making her feel uneasy, and she stepped back.

  Vorosimorsk looked at the frightened girl, intending to speak when a man rushed out to block her, shouting, "Don't you dare!"

  "It seems there has been a misunderstanding," Kamarov whispered to Petrov, chuckling softly.

  Vorosimorsk remained silent, removing the armband and presenting it to the girl. She saw it, and surprise filled her eyes. She was certain they had done something to her sister, but why had they come here? Were they part of the gang? Although she did not want to take risks, seeing that they had no malicious intent, she slowly approached.

  The man seemed to misunderstand this action, but it was clearly a gesture of goodwill. She stepped forward, quickly grabbing the armband.

  "This is definitely hers," she looked at the armband and asked, "How did you get it?"

  Vorosimorsk confirmed and simply said, "We found it."

  He stood up, took out the manacom, activated it, and said, "Meraskut, we have completed the task."

  "Completed? I will be there shortly."

  After he finished speaking, the four looked at the girl, and Kamarov knelt down to ask, "What is your name?"

  She was a bit surprised but began to trust them. "Celica, Celica Mags."

  "Similar to the name Celia, huh?" Kamarov remarked. "Anyway, you are a good teacher for children; I wish I had a nanny like you."

  "You all came here for what purpose?" Celica asked, her eyes filled with suspicion.

  "There is a mission we found, and we are carrying it out," Petrov replied, his tone cold, which did not help the situation.

  Before long, Meraskut arrived, his face brightening when he learned that the four had found what they needed. They proceeded with the transaction, with Kamarov handing the man six gold coins, three times the value of Celica.

  As they left, they walked down a road that had already turned dark. At the end of the road, Celica asked about their companions, but Vorosimorsk declined, saying it was a secret. However, when she pressed further, he answered vaguely, "Soon."

  After walking for a while, they stopped in front of a house. Petrov knocked on the door, and Nini, the little girl, came out. Upon seeing the four along with her sister, she rushed to hug Celica tightly and cried. After a moment of comfort, they were invited inside for dinner, but the meal was terrible. However, since it was cooked by the little girl, the taste was still endearing.

  After dinner, they were led up to an attic to rest, while the two sisters spent more time together. In the attic, Vorosimorsk began to discuss their plans.

  "Having completed this case, we will head to Papaldia. We need to infiltrate there quickly."

  "Got it, but where will we go?" Rompev asked.

  Kamarov pulled out the paper map they had purchased from a merchant of the Papaldia Empire, showing everyone the areas they needed to reach, including settlements from villages to towns and cities to assess the overall situation of this country.

  "We will follow this route," Kamarov said. "Just go like this."

  "That sounds good," Vorosimorsk replied. "Get some rest; we still have work to do tomorrow."

  After that statement, everyone quickly fell into a deep sleep.

  ...

  December 6, 2020/4017, Fourth Era.

  The next morning, they returned to the Adventurers' Guild, now with the two Mags sisters. Upon entering, everyone inside was still surprised by their appearance. But the girl at the reception desk showed clear astonishment.

  Vorosimorsk and Nini approached, presenting the mission paper. "Completed. Please assist us."

  "Finished... already?!" The girl was genuinely surprised, unable to believe what she had just heard.

  "Celica, you really..."

  "It's okay, Rachel, I'm safe," Celica interrupted, her voice gentle but somewhat anxious.

  "Then what about the mark?" Rachel asked, her gaze suspicious. Celica quickly rebutted, "They refused it, so I don't have it."

  "Is that so? Alright, let me process it right away," Rachel decided, her expression becoming resolute.

  Vorosimorsk observed the girl named Rachel walk inside, then turned back to talk to Celica. "I wonder how your family is doing now?"

  "They are in the countryside, and they don't have enough money to do anything, so I don't know any news," Celica lowered her head, feeling shy.

  Vorosimorsk sighed, took out a small pouch of gold, and handed it to her. "Take this, consider it support."

  "No, I can't accept," she panicked, her eyes filled with worry. "Isn't it...?"

  "It's fine," Kamarov interjected. "We're not poor enough for that; this job is just a passion for us."

  Celica fell silent, unsure of what to say, and could only nod with a faint smile. Just then, a familiar voice rang out, full of surprise. "I was wrong, wasn't I?"

  "Lise?" Celica exclaimed in shock.

  "Who is..." Vorosimorsk turned to look, recognizing the hot mage dressed in revealing clothing. She stepped forward and asked, "Forgot already?"

  "Not at all, those two pieces of cloth must have confused you, right?" Vorosimorsk smirked.

  "Not really, based on the latest news, that's Russia, a newly emerging nation, right?" She said, impressing Petrov.

  "Quick to learn," Petrov complimented. "Not everyone can catch on that fast."

  Lise felt proud, but her heart was eager to learn more about this group. "Thank you, but I just want to know: who are you? That bat symbol must have some significance."

  "You want to know?" Rompev asked, a smile on his face. "For what?"

  "Curiosity."

  "If not, then why?"

  "Then I will have to be forceful." Lise did not hesitate, casting a spell right in front of them. The magic circle appeared, and at the same time, Petrov, Kamarov, and Rompev raised their guns, moving swiftly, while Vorosimorsk stood still.

  Celica panicked. "Don't, Lise! They are my benefactors."

  "Even if they are benefactors, they must answer," Lise asserted, her tone uncompromising. "No choices."

  Vorosimorsk sighed, stepping in front of Lise. "Do you really want to know that much?"

  "Exactly."

  "Then this," he said, his gaze serious. "If you can withstand it, I will tell you; if not, you will belong to us."

  "What?!" She asked, bewildered, but before she could react, Vorosimorsk lunged forward, quickly pinning her to the floor. He took out a piece of paper, which was a slave mark, something Meraskut intended to use on Celica. He swiftly placed it on Lise's shoulder, and the mark activated immediately.

  Vorosimorsk released Lise, speaking firmly. "You can compensate with her."

  She stood up, her voice trembling. "What have you done to me?!"

  "Slave mark," he replied, showing no emotion.

  She collapsed. This meant her future would depend on these people. Lise glared at the four with resentment, but Vorosimorsk remained cold.

  "We are GRU Spetsnaz, a special forces unit under the Russian Military Intelligence Agency, known as GRU. Essentially, we are elite operatives, carrying out missions and doing what is necessary to complete them."

  "So... you follow the orders of the state?" Lise asked, her voice slightly shaking.

  Petrov stepped forward to answer. "That's right. We work relatively secretly, but we have never crossed ethical lines. However, now we must take you with us."

  Rachel stepped forward, handing them money. "This is the reward. I wonder what your next plan is?"

  "We will head to Papaldia with this person. You..." Vorosimorsk said.

  "Lise," she interrupted, "and yes. I have decided. They have a very unique charm, so I will travel with them for a while and then return."

  "Is that so?" Rachel questioned but did not press further. "Then remember to bring back interesting things."

  "Yes," she replied, then followed Vorosimorsk. Petrov looked at the two sisters, both understood and remained silent, and then the four of them left.

  Rachel spoke up. "Surely too guilty to make such a decision, she is quite sensitive."

  ...

  After leaving the Adventurers' Guild, they headed to a bank. Lise asked, "Why are we going here?"

  "Before we leave, we need some extra money," Kamarov said. "Every country prioritizes its own interests."

  Vorosimorsk entered the bank, while the three outside remained silent, unsure of what to say. Lise felt the same; just a moment ago, they had their weapons drawn at each other, and now they were teammates. This feeling was quite uncomfortable.

  She did not mind becoming their teammate. But she needed to ascertain their character. "Have you three ever killed innocent people?"

  "Never."

  "Never."

  "Never," Kamarov replied. "Hey, who do you think we are? Murderers?"

  "No, I was just wondering if you are cold-blooded killers," she replied, feeling awkward.

  "Haiz, we were created to protect the small lives, not to harm them," Rompev asserted. "That has always been our principle."

  "Thank you. Why do four of you want to go to Papaldia? That place is terrible," Lise asked, very curious about their intentions.

  "It's quite complicated, but..." Kamarov was about to explain when a carriage approached. The driver said, "Please get on."

  "Huh?" Petrov was surprised. At the same time, Vorosimorsk stepped out with a large bag of gold in hand. "Let's go; we need to hurry."

  "Wow, we'll talk later," Kamarov said, stepping onto the carriage, followed by the others. Lise, however, stood there, hesitating.

  Vorosimorsk calmly approached her and said, "If you want us to consider you a teammate, then trust each other."

  As soon as he finished speaking, he boarded the carriage. Lise mumbled something and then climbed aboard with them. "Maybe."