Chapter 131: Overwhelmed (2/2)

He lowered his head in deep thought. Gerald could find those nobles. After all, he was the Duke's brother. No matter how weak the Highland became, they still had some influence.

But there was one problem.

”How come we have absolutely no report about Gerald contacting those nobles?”

All those noble deemed as dangerous had their houses infiltrated by their most competent spies. Missing one or two wasn't impossible. After all, they weren't perfect.

But missing all of them?

A chill swept through Edgar, as he punched the table in anger.

””We have a traitor.””

Ketia and Edgar exclaimed at the same time before looking at each other, a grim expression on their face.

Not only did they have a traitor in their midst, but it also had to be someone really high in the, most likely one or more of the five of them.

Aria stopped smoking and Berthold's smile vanished.

Edgar adjusted his monocle as he entered deep in thought.

He knew that he wasn't the traitor.

Ketia couldn't be the one since she had been outside the kingdom for two years with the princess.

He didn't even consider the possibility of Milia being a traitor.

Meaning, the only ones who could have betrayed them, were...

Refusing to voice his thoughts, he turned to face the only one who had the least suspicion of her. ”Ketia, currently we cannot afford the risk of being split up because of suspicion. That's why, I propose that we send the order that from now on and until the end of the emergency, only your order will be listened to.”

In this situation, trying to find the traitor would not only be a waste of time but would also confuse the organization.

While speaking, his hand slowly inched toward the holster in the breast pocket of his suit.

”Sigh, I guess this is as far as it goes.”

The moment he heard those words, without any hesitation, he immediately grabbed the gun in his holster and jumped aside before shooting.

*Bang* *Bang* Bang* *Bang*

His mana gun fired four super-fast bullets inscribed with special runes that increased the piercing power and speed.

The other two weren't any slower as they also acted.

Ketia's form had changed from a normal human. Her body was covered in a red aura entirely, hiding all her features and making her look more like a monster cat than anything else, with 3 tails swishing behind her.

She then rushed while giving a powerful punch from his side.

Meanwhile, Aria's sclera had become entirely black, and the three ice spears immediately formed above her, before firing at Berthold's back.

Even though they hadn't spoken one word, their cooperation was seamless.

But despite all this, Berthold seemed totally unfazed, a wide grin forming on his face, as the number 3 appeared in his pupils.

”You guys are seriously the best! Hehehe! This body is way better than that useless noble, so then, shall we dance!?”

Golden like lightning covering his body and disintegrated the attacks of Edgar and Aria before he used a punch to counter Ketia.

'Tch!'

Edgar immediately understood that they were outmatched.

The most horrifying was that even though Berthold's arm had been completely broken when he fought Aria, he didn't seem to show any expression of pain or discomfort.

Aria, meanwhile, couldn't help but scream in dismay, ”Berthold! Why did you betray us!?”

”Aria! Stop being so stupid! This isn't Berthold! We must fall back! Hurry!!”

Having said this, he exchanged a look with Ketia before rushing with her toward 'Berthold' at full speed.

Aria was a versatile mage with an innate space and ice attribute. She was the only one who could bring them away from this place.

'We need 30 seconds. No, with her current stats, between 40 to 50 seconds.'

In such an enclosed space with such a dangerous enemy, nearly one minute was basically luxury.

That's why he began to speak, after firing the last 2 bullets in his gun.

”Who are you and what have you done with Berthold?”

Avoiding his bullets, the man took off his hat and bowed while avoiding a wide kick of Ketia, ”My name is Drei. As for what happened to your friend...Guess.”

He laughed out loud before looking at the ceiling,

”Now then, I would really like to play around with you and slowly break you, before using your body as an experiment to verify how that king developed my theories, but you guys simply aren't worth it. Too bad Milia isn't here..”

Saying so, his smile immediately vanished and was replaced by a killing intent so heavy that Edgar, Aria, and Ketia felt completely suffocated as if they were being crushed alive.

Even though they had suffered years of torture under those inhumane experiment.

Even though they had fought many battles.

Even though they had killed a large number of people.

Compared to the man in front of them, their killing intent was nothing more than a joke.

No, it was as if they were facing death itself.

”You guys faced death. But I came back from it. Do not waste my time anymore.”

Saying so, he dusted himself before putting back on his hat and said with an extremely gentle smile, so gentle his earlier killing intent seemed like a lie,

”Aren't you happy? You must be one of the few people in this world who survived not because they were strong, but because they were too weak. Hahaha! Bye-bye! Pray that we never meet again.”

On those last words, he vanished.

(AN: For Ketia's transformation, imagine basically a jinchuriki cloak from naruto.)