As the designated team leader, Axel informed his team that they were given an option to be the spearhead of the operation, knowing full well that the system had judged them to be fit for the task. Seeing his teammates nod to him, they followed its judgment and clicked 'Yes.’

  After the men had thoroughly read the System Notification, they exchanged glances and began to remove their gear. They knew that battling in the narrow underground caverns would be difficult with large weapons. Consequently, they transformed their Winston guns into knives with arm support, allowing them to wield their weapons more effectively in such tight environments.

  Axel, aware that these arcanists had their ways of making the impossible possible, couldn’t help but wonder if someone could draw a map for them. The system minimap was unavailable, and going blind felt no different from suicide.

  "If anyone can draw us a map right this instant, please assist us!" he shouted, as he knew time was tight.

  Hearing their voices, the arcanists whispered among themselves, and an old lady stepped forward, her back hunch yet her eyes gleamed with profound wisdom.

  “What map are you looking for, brave warriors?” she inquired.

  “We're looking for a map of an underground cavern located to the northwest of here,” Alex replied, uncertain of what information was needed.

  The old woman simply nodded. She reached into her bag and retrieved a leather scroll, which was about the size of a standard scarf. Unfurling it while waving it in the air, she caught the men's attention, though they couldn’t help but have doubts about her method, they chose not to pry.

  Suddenly, the scroll caught fire. The five of them glanced at it for just a moment before returning to their discussion about the mission they had been given. Within a few breaths, the leather revealed intricate engravings of the tunnel systems, even more detailed than the maps provided by tour guides in their time.

  After expressing their gratitude to the old woman, the group stepped out of the settlement, the leather scroll securely in hand. As they continued on their path, they noticed a middle-aged Arcanist approaching them with a friendly demeanor.

  “Brave warriors, may I offer you some assistance in your endeavors?” he asked while sizing them up and down.

  “Good sir, what assistance can you provide?” Axel said, noticing the kind eyes and concern etched on the middle-aged man's face.

  “Young man, I am but a blacksmith who crafts explosives, weapons and armor. You youngsters seemed to be underprepared for a fight, I happen to have some spare equipment in the back. Would you like to take a look?” The man said chuckling while patting Axel’s back.

  “Please, lead the way, sir.” He replied, while his teammates sized up the man, unsure of what gear he had in store.

  “Come,” said the middle-aged man as he ran toward the back of the underground passage.

  The five of them followed the middle-aged man toward the back. Understanding their urgency, he didn’t dawdle and quickly led to where the weapons were secured.

  Soon, they arrived in a room filled with stone coffins, each crafted from the finest marble. The man paused, as if waiting for something to happen, and then he began pressing the tiles with rhythmic precision. To their astonishment, all the coffins shifted as if controlled by unseen mechanisms. As they tilted sideways, the lids opened, revealing an array of armor, weapons, swords, and bows within.

  “Take what you fancy. There is no need to be shy. Everything is on the house!” The man grinned at them, and they could sense that he had poured his heart and soul into his craft.

  Although the five were familiar with most of the weapons, they were unsure how effective they would be against enemies with tough skin or strong armor. Noticing their pensive expressions, the man chuckled. He grabbed a sword hanging on one of the coffins then swung it at a marble block that stood about four feet tall and five feet thick, slicing through it as effortlessly as if it were tofu.

  “Are you going to doubt this blacksmith all day?” he asked, pouting and adopting a playful demeanor that seemed amusingly incongruous for someone of his imposing stature.

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  The team Comet quickly donned full sets of leather equipment, prioritizing stealth. The man quick in his feet, judged that the operation they were about to undertake might be a secret, so he took five pairs of boots and handed it over to the soldiers.

  “These boots are perfect for a thief. They allow you to walk as silently as a cat. Not even my sleeping grandma would notice you on her creaky wooden floor.” He boasts, as if stating a fact.

  The men exchanged glances as they looked over the equipment. At first, they noticed it looked similar to the boots worn by Santa during the festive season, yet they weren’t deceived by its gaudy appearance. Upon closer inspection, its sizes appeared similar, but when they tried them on, each pair of boots perfectly.

  Not wanting to waste any time, the five of them quickly gathered some utility items like rope, bell strings, and a lamp. Just as they were about to leave, the man called out to them while scratching his head.

  “I have, erm, a prototype I’d like you to try out. Would you mind doing that for this old man?” the man said while awkwardly scratching his nose.

  The five of them nodded in unison, aware that this man’s skills were not to be underestimated. Unsure if all their comrades were armed out there, they chose to follow him. They soon spotted small wooden barrels and a multiple set of crossbows.

  “Well, this is no ordinary crossbow, it can be folded as big as a size of a beer mug you see.” the middle-aged man bragged, showing them that it could be operational at such size.

  The old man with a dramatic flair, showed them what appears to be an attachment to the crossbow.

  “Behold! I call it the bolt holster, which means you don’t need to load each bolt every single time! You can put at least thirty shots of bolt with this bad boy!” the man stated, showing it off as if a rare treasure.

  The men exchanged knowing glances, recognizing that it was just a typical modern magazine. However, they didn’t want to hurt the kind man’s feelings, so they chose to remain silent and instead replied with warm smiles.

  The man then moved on to the barrel starting his flamboyant antics reminiscent of those door-to-door salesman. Axel and his men listened intently on the details of the weapon, unsure what the small barrel can do.

  “This barrel, as light as it is, contains explosives powerful enough to blow up a city wall. What’s more, it doesn’t need a long fuse. I’ve created a false bottom, allowing you to simply light it and run. The fuse inside is about three meters long, giving you at least a minute to escape at best. Additionally, it features a safety mechanism, if it gets hit by an external flame, like a fire arrow, for instance, it can render the explosives a dud, as the olive oil will moisten them inside. I had planned to sell this, but your folks warned me that I could get targeted, or worse, made a slave for the rest of my life. That seemed reasonable, so you can take it.” the man said with a sigh, feeling his bombs weren’t seeing enough action.

  Axel, an expert in all modern types of explosives, was stunned as he examined the weight of the barrel, he surmised that if the old man’s claim were true, then it would rival twenty-first century C4 charges.

  Each of them then took a pair of barrels to carry. They also collected a pair of crossbows and about two hundred rounds for each of them. Luc tested the crossbow and, to his surprise, found it to be as deadly as a modern pistol. The men couldn’t help but give the man a thumbs-up as such a weapon was exactly what they needed.

  “My name is Berg. I know you’re all in a hurry, so leave now. I’ll be making more weapons, so let me know if you need more,” he said while laughing heartily, as he saw their satisfaction with his crafts.

  The five of them saluted with a standard military gesture. They were fully aware that their chances of survivability and completing the mission had skyrocketed thanks to his help. The man noticed the respectful looks in their eyes even though he wasn't sure of their gesture. He felt his eyes well up with tears. It was the first time he had ever received genuine respect for his crafts. These brave men were all heroes of humanity after all. The men waved goodbye and departed.

  Alex then spotted Fairy 001 briefing the children and the other arcanists about the dangers of the huechromixix and chrysalica. He had thought she would be going somewhere and was unaware that she had immediately set to her task. The two exchanged glances and nodded in acknowledgment as the men continued to exit the abbey.

  In the afternoon near Saint-Ouen Abbey, the air is filled with a sense of tranquility as the sun filters through the lush trees, casting dappled shadows on the cobblestone paths.

  Nearby, street peddlers often gather in small groups, shouting about their wares, while the citizens of the era enjoy the captivating ambiance, sharing stories and laughter.

  While the beauty of the place was a sight to behold, the men could not share the sentiment as they entered the tower where Jeanne was located. The tower guards saw the group, Luc who had made preparations beforehand, fabricated a letter stating that they were to report to the Lieutenant of Rouen. The soldiers recognized this as an opportunity since the letter was genuinely sealed. They left their post as their shift was about to be done anyway.

  As the men entered, they saw almost nothing inside. At the top of the tower, a staircase led downstairs. The stairs appeared to have been unused for a while, so they lit a lamp to illuminate their path. After descending for a couple of minutes, a thick scent of blood assaulted their nostrils. They knew that a battle was imminent, so they readied their crossbows. When they finally emerged, they found themselves in a cave almost entirely filled with blood.

  [Mission Duration: 05:54:22 – Currently Ongoing]

  [France Time – 18:35]