<strong>Chapter 292 – Only One Chance (1)</strong>


    A tense cloud of war hung over the Ruford Empire and Duchy of Lunen. Lunen was a small state beneath the greater empire, but now it regarded itself as apletely independent country. Paveluc had secretly been preparing for this event, and with the powerful forces of the Kelt Kingdom now inside Lunen, there was no reason to ally themselves with Ruford anymore.


    Cheogcheogcheog.


    Inside Lunen castle, dozens of knights marched on patrol. Near a dungeon, a man emerged from the dark entrance. The guards near there were suddenly alerted.


    “You there! Identify yourself!”


    The knights were tense in preparation for the war. They pulled out their swords and pointed it at the man, who raised his arms immediately.


    “I’m the servant that brings the meals to the dungeon.”


    He walked slowly towards the knights as he spoke. The bright torchlight revealed his freckled face, and the first knight who shouted at him spoke again.


    “This isn’t the time when meals are distributed. Why are you wandering around here?”


    “The person in charge of the mealsined of stomach ache. He didn’t get the bowls back in time, so I went to do the job instead.”


    There was a pile of bowls next to the dungeon entrance. The knight stared at the servant disapprovingly, then finally lowered his sword.


    “…I’ll let you go just this once. Don’t let me catch you here around this time again.”


    “Yes, I’m sorry.”


    The knights returned to their patrol. The servant watched the men disappear around the corner, and returned to the entrance where the dishes had been gathered. The gloomy-eyed and freckle-cheeked man was Kuhn, disguised as apletely different person.


    ‘…The number of bowls and prisoners I checked are the same. Then the Empress must not be here.’


    Kuhn had infiltrated the Lunen castle under Carlisle’s orders. In order to save Elena quickly, it was urgent that he locate her.


    ‘The only ce left now is Blood Assassin’s headquarters.’


    The headquarters was his first pick, but he deemed it too difficult to infiltrate, and so he decided to check the other locations first. However, it seemed that the Blood Assassins remained the only option left.


    Kuhn recovered the dishes and returned them to the kitchens with an expressionless face. In fact, it was he who caused the servant for food redistribution to have diarrhea.


    After Kuhnpleted his work, he slipped back out of the castle. He returned to his secret residence inside Lunen and wrote down a brief report of what he learned. Next to him were several trained carrier pigeons. He tied the note to one of the bird’s legs with a practice gesture, then opened the window wide and sent it out.


    ***


    The carrier pigeon arrived at Carlisle’s location near the border. After reading the note, Carlisle realized that Elena was likely being held at the Blood Assassin headquarters.


    ‘…No matter how skilled Kuhn is, it will be difficult for him to infiltrate it by himself.’


    They needed to locate Elena and get her out, but under the present circumstances it seemed impossible. Carlisle stared at the note with a grim expression, then quickly lit his lighter and held it to the corner of the paper. The note burned into ash at his fingertips and the smoke danced in the air. Carlisle dropped his hand and turned back around.


    Before his eyes were hundreds of handpicked men lined up behind Alphord and Derek. As the leader of the Fourth Order of Knights and with no shortage of experience or age, Alphord was in charge of the rescue operation.


    “I was hoping for good news, but unfortunately, there is still no confirmation where Elena is. The highest probability is that she is being held in the Blood Assassin headquarters, so you will take control of it first.”


    “Yes, Your Majesty!”


    The men’s voices rang together as one. If an outright war broke out, Elena’s safety may be threatened, and so Carlisle was determined to rescue her before it happened. At present, his own soldiers were at the border,pletely prepared to wage battle with Lunen. Meanwhile, Carlisle nned a secret rescue mission to get Elena out first. However, no matter how secretive he tried to be, and with so many people moving, it was possible they could be found out. Timing was important, and the window of opportunity opened to them was short.


    ‘…I hope Elena is where we expect her.’


    An attack on the Blood Assassin’s would blow their cover at once, and if Elena was not there, they would waste the precious little time they had. Carlisle stared at the men gathered in front of him with eyes as sharp as a hawk’s. It was difficult to entrust Elena’s life to others, no matter how skilled they were. But all of them would risk their lives to save her. He wouldn’t show his nervousness…and he had no choice but to put his faith in them.


    Alphord seemed to read Carlisle’s thoughts, and he spoke to the Emperor in a reassuring voice.


    “We will surely bring the Empress back safely. Don’t worry.”


    “…Yes. Go before it gets toote.”


    Everyone nodded and chorused out in one voice,


    “I will not return alive without Her Majesty!”


    For the first time, Carlisle’s stony expression loosened at their passionate determination.


    “I wish you all the best.”


    “Yes, Your Majesty!”


    It was finally the beginning of Elena’s rescue mission.