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    On the evening of June eighteenth, the ten men raised their coarse cups that were filled with cold water. For years, they hadn''t had coffee or a drop of alcohol.


    In the border city, coffee was a luxury they couldn''t afford. And though cheap, they didn''t dare touch the local wine. They feared that even a single sip might lead them to reveal their identities in their drunken state, which would lead to their doom.


    The only time they had bought alcohol was when they learned about the deaths of Hector and his six sons. Even then, they hadn''t drank it, but instead poured the liquor onto the ground in tribute to their fallen leader. That night, they had spent hours sobbing under their nkets.


    But they were only allowed a single night of mourning. The next day, they had to dry their tears and continue their perilous journey, as the Southern Frontier had yet to be reimed then.


    After the Southern Frontier was recaptured and Victor brought his troops to the border city, it became impossible for the Septimus Tetra reconnaissance team to send messages. Crossing the border had also be exceedingly difficult. Previously, they had mingled with convoys carrying food and goods to Simonton City to deliver intelligence. Now, they couldn''t even manage to blend in and escape.


    After Starhaven reimed the Southern Frontier, they spent their days trying to find a way to escape. They had run all over, which led to Law being captured.


    Law was likely subjected to severe torture after his capture, but he never betrayed them. Otherwise, the Sandorian soldiers would have already found them. Law''s resolve was unyielding, preferring to die rather than surrender. The men of the Septimus Tetra reconnaissance team weren''t afraid.This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Kicking off their sandals, all ten of them bent down to put on the new shoes they had made themselves. They shed their ragged clothing and donned their new clothes, which they had sewn from ck cloth they had bought.


    They had once been soldiers who fought on battlefields with swords and knives, so how could they have any skill in sewing? Yet, over the years, they had been unable to afford ready-made clothes and had to make their own from scraps of fabric. Having asked the local old women for advice, they had all gradually learned the craft.


    Once, they had no weapons. They hade out of the prisoner camp with nothing, their clothes torn to shreds from beatings. After several years of hardship, they now possessed their own reliable swords. When not on intelligence missions, Tom and Law led the group deep into the mountains to practice their skills.


    They were like resilient weeds surviving in the desert. Their loyalty and sense of duty were the only things that had carried them this far.


    The moon that night hung high in the sky. It was bright and clear, its light dimming the stars beneath it.


    The group knelt and saluted in the direction of their kingdom,


    Starhaven. If this mission failed, they would be buried here in the border city. If that happened, they hoped their spirits would return to their homnd to see their loved ones once more.


    With a sense of tragic determination, they set out. They knew every road in this border city so well that they could walk it with their eyes closed.


    Rafael and his team had already been lying in wait near the garrison, ready to move as soon as the guards changed shifts.


    It was almost time.


    Dn stayed at the eastern corner, where there was a tform on a high wall that could be used to station archers. However, due to the heavy troop presence, no archers were currently stationed there. If the rescue was sessful, this Spot would be the most convenient one for Dn to provide support from.


    The three who were assigned to infiltrate the garrison held their breath, observing the heavily armed guards patrolling. The shift change would be happening in less than fifteen minutes. As the time arrived, the guards began moving. The patrolling guards started to disperse, and new patrols took over. They checked the situation together, and at this point, all patrols were halted. Everett was the first to scale the wall,nding softly without a sound. Rafael and Jacob followed closely, dropping down beside Everett.


    Just then, they heard the faint sound


    of iron hooks catching onto the wall. They exchanged astonished nces and looked towards the wall about ten feet away. They saw head after head quietly emerging, climbing the walt, and then silently dropping


    down.


    All of them were dressed in ck clothes. Though their Lightfoot Skill were not impressive, their movements were quick and efficient as they swiftly maneuvered along the wall.