Ambush (after battle)

Hostiles in the immediate vicinity have been eliminated.

Our collaborator, who'd been hiding far from the battle, quickly ran up to our side as soon as the fight ended.

…….

Are you unhurt, young master?!

Yep, I'm totally fine.

Of course, our honored guests' martial skills were all exceptionally brilliant, but... young master, your light was the brightest even among the incandescent!

This humble servant could not hold back his tears at this wondrous sight! To witness such excellent martial arts from none other than the young master himself... what an unexpected surprise!

...But don't the children of the Jia family undergo all kinds of strict training regimens from childhood…?

Ahm, it was simply my assumption that young master had ceased his trainings once he departed the family...

Anyways... how do you think they tracked us down anyway...?

Ah, about that - it appears that we weren't exactly 'tracked down'.

Perhaps it may be that the ilk who lurk in these parts of the Backstreets recognized the young master's venerable countenance.

Hm~ I don't think my face is that well known.

The Family Hierarch Evaluations are nigh; every soul living in Hongyuan must know the face of the young master who is loved by every elder of the family.

It must be that they are under the assumption that you are carrying something of great value.

Family Hierarch, huh... Hm, didn't Jia Xichun say something about heirs back then?

... Hmm~

They all assumed wrong, then. I didn't bring anything precious that... the elders might be looking for.

Young master, even now...?

I just couldn't care less about it, that's all~

Besides, many of my siblings are much better fit to be the Family Hierarch than I am.

Huh, that's...

Ahem. Well, that is indeed a relief.

... A relief, is it?

Ah, well... but of course! It is a highly dangerous endeavor to partake in the Hierarch Evaluations, so it is of great relief to know that young master is not putting himself in unnecessary danger.

<I guess that could be a relief, sort of...>

Whew, now that we took 'em all down, there shouldn't be any more on the way... right?

... Greg? Can we not jinx ourselves for one second?

Heh.

W-why are you laughing, Ryōshū? Now I'm worried.

Please, do not concern yourselves any further. We will take a more clandestine path. I guarantee a safe and easy passage to our destination.

... I still have a hard time buying that. The lay of this place would constitute a perfect place to set up an ambush in most places, yet you claim this to be the safer path?

Yet I must ask you to place your faith in this humble servant, for Hongyuan is not like most places.

... Fine. For now.

Outis shut her eyes for a moment, out of retorts, then turned to look at Ishmael.

Hey, Ishmael. You must have a pamphlet of this place handy, don't you?

... No way. You're actually going to read it?

Why else would I ask?

No, I mean... how could I not be caught off guard after almost a whole year of getting brushed off by everyone every time I plead with them to read the damn pamphlets? Like hell, did no one think to -

I will find my own intel if you're just going to ramble on and on with your grievances.

O-okay, fine. Here it is.

Hm.

Outis opened the pamphlet and began intently glaring at its texts, as though she didn't want to miss even the smallest detail of information in there.

... Suspicion clear on her knitted brows.