Chapter 25 - Actually, I Have a Cheat Too

Translator's Note:

Hello, I hope you've all been doing well.

Here you go, and I wish you a good read.

And, as I said before, if you wish to read ahead, you can head over to my Patreon to get early access to all the translated chapters.

When the Strong Join Forces

 

 

Frank's plan had fallen apart entirely, and the two companions he'd sacrificed as shields had proven useless.

 

One had died instantly, with no time even to feel fear; the other met a far more agonizing end, his upper body tumbling into the underbrush, leaving a bloody trail behind him. His hands, coated in his own blood, stretched toward Frank, mouth whispering desperate pleas for help.

 

Frank stared, terror-stricken, at Rex, who looked back at him with the gaze of a dark reaper. A chill spread from Frank's feet upward, and an instinctual dread seized him—this man was exceedingly dangerous. At that moment, only one thought filled his mind: escape. And he fled with all his might, luck, for once, on his side.

 

As Rex prepared to pursue, he caught the sounds of others approaching, clearly more than two or three. His face darkened, black eyes lingering on Frank's retreating back, then his shadow flitted by, vanishing in the same direction.

 

Moments later, Rex was back beside Ge Yan, hoisting him up swiftly before sprinting off in the opposite direction.

 

By the time their pursuers arrived, they found nothing but two gruesome corpses sprawled across the ground.

 

The man who had been sliced in two had died of blood loss, his expression frozen in fear and anguish.

 

"What ruthless work," murmured one of the mercenaries in shock.

 

Just then, another group arrived.

 

"Captain Locke, it seems I've underestimated you," said Black Crow with a hint of sarcasm. Mistaking Locke's squad as the killers, Black Crow's words were tinged with mockery.

 

Captain Locke frowned slightly.

 

"You misunderstand," Locke's confidant Marvin explained. "Our captain didn't kill them. By the time we arrived, they were already like this. It seems we all arrived a bit too late, and that Shadow Winged Tiger may already be in someone else's hands."

 

The thick stench of blood nearly masked the Shadow Winged Tiger's scent, but they'd come just in time to catch a faint trace. Since the tiger hadn't yet fully mastered its power, a few clues were still detectable.

 

"If that's the case, I'd love to know who's behind this. Their bloodthirsty methods are right up my alley. I'd like to meet them," Black Crow smirked wickedly, his tongue tracing his lips with a chilling delight. A peculiar enthusiast of the grotesque, Black Crow was no ordinary foe.

 

"Black Crow," Locke's voice cut in, "instead of indulging in fantasies, you should be thinking about who took the Shadow Winged Tiger. If I'm not mistaken, this mission is actually a hidden S-rank mission, isn't it? The Raven Mercenaries are aiming to secure an S-rank status with it, right?"

 

Black Crow's expression grew sharp. "How do you know?" He didn't deny it, knowing that Locke wouldn't bring it up without solid information.

 

"It doesn't matter how I know. What matters is that our target is the sacred beast, and someone else is already ahead of us. If we don't find them soon, they may leave Tasha Forest," Captain Locke extended an olive branch, setting aside his pride for the moment. Though he appeared calm, he was more anxious than anyone.

 

For Black Crow, failing an S-rank mission meant waiting a few more years for another chance. But Locke had no such luxury; this mission was directly tied to his future, and the only one aware of this was Marvin.

 

"You plan to seal off the entrance to Tasha Forest?" Black Crow's expression relaxed slightly, quickly discerning Locke's intention.

 

"Precisely," Locke confirmed openly. The Black Wolf Mercenaries couldn't manage this alone, but with the Raven Mercenaries, he was confident of a seven-to-eight chance of success.

 

Black Crow grinned suddenly, flashing his signature smile, though those who knew him well would recognize it as anything but friendly.

 

"Your plan's bold. But after we succeed, you and I will both want the sacred beast. Are you really willing to let me have it?"

 

"Absolutely not. I must have the sacred beast," Locke declared with unwavering resolve.

 

"In that case, what's there to talk about? We'll let our skills do the talking," Crow shrugged, waving off the suggestion with a dismissive gesture, ready to leave.

 

"I'll trade you something of equal value. What do you say?" Locke called out, stopping him.

 

Locke's desperation betrayed him, and Black Crow's initial suspicion solidified. If the Sacred Beast held such significance for Locke, the opportunity was too good to pass up. The Raven Corps might be on an S-Class mission, but there would be other chances down the line. They weren't in a rush.

 

Black Crow turned back, grinning with the same predatory smile that others had learned to fear.

 

Meanwhile, Rex and Ge Yan, unaware of the newfound alliance between Captain Locke and Black Crow, continued through the forest. If the forest's entrance were indeed blockaded, their escape would become far more challenging.

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