First Arc (King of Euphorion) – 40. Infiltration To Slyhelm Town I

Once he reached the western gate of Slyhelm Town, General Ferand raised his clenched fist and lowered it, ordering the troops to get off their horses. He got off his horse and took a few steps forward.

"I, General Ferand, request to speak with your leader!" he shouted.

A well-built young man walked up the stairs and stood at the city gate wall facing him.
"General Ferand, welcome to Slyhelm Town."

General Ferand looked at him in detail and felt strange about him, his face looked so unfamiliar that he looked like not from Zephyrus. Besides, from the way he stood and walked, he seemed more suited as a military than a rebel.
"Are you their leader?"

"Yes, I'm their leader," he answered with a haughty face.

"What is your purpose in taking over this city?" asked General Ferand.

"Don't you already know my purpose? I'm unsatisfied with the king."

"Sir, if you are not satisfied with the king, we still can discuss it," said General Ferand in a convincing tone.

He laughed contemptuously.
"General, if you want to negotiate with me, I'm not interested."

"We can talk about it, I'm sure the king will release you and your army," said General Ferand, trying to convince him again.

While the rebel's attention was diverted to General Ferand. Rose and her troops already at the southern gate. They stuck some stakes between the wall stones as a foothold and began to climb. When she was almost there she peeked to check the situation around her before climbing to the top followed by several of her troops while others waited for her orders. She ducked down to hide between the stone fences and crept closer to the nearest guard tower. Three armed men were guarding there, she raised her hand, ordering them to stop. When the enemies' position was getting near, she waved her hand forward. They advanced together to close their enemies' mouths and kill them.
"Tell the others to climb up," she ordered one of her troops in low voice and he quickly carried out her order. One by one her troops climbed up and moved towards the guard post, while she peeked from behind the tower to inside the town to check where they were gathering the hostages. Her eyes focused on a group of people that the rebels had brought to the Town Hall.
'It seems they have gathered them in the Town Hall.'

She placed one hand flat atop the other that formed a letter 'T' which said they were going to the Town Hall which was answered with a nod from her troops.

They moved down the stairs slowly and examined the surroundings to check the situation before they ran hiding into the nearest alley. They continued to approach the Town Hall as they hid between the alley and buildings. She peered, checking the situation. The front gate was closed, some enemies were guarding the gate, courtyard and door.
'If we attack them directly, they could use the hostages to threaten us.'

She remembered that behind the Town Hall was a garden with many shady trees. She moved her index finger to the town hall's back door to order her troops. They turned and moved behind City Hall as they continued to hide.

Rose checked the situation around her. The back door was locked, some enemies were seen standing guard there but at least their number was less than the front gate. She raised her two fingers, ordering the archers to get ready. The archers swiftly advanced toward her. She turned her gaze to them and moved her hand to her chest, commanding them to follow her. They answered with a nod.

She peered again while waiting for an opportunity. As soon as she saw the enemies off guard, she and several archers advanced to the trees nearby as fast as possible. They continued to approach the back door by hiding themselves from tree to tree until they were close enough. She could not take the risk to attack from a distance. They couldn't miss even for one arrow or their plan would be messed up. She raised her two fingers to order the archers to get ready once again. The archers took their positions, aiming at their targets. She waved her two fingers forward, the arrows fired to their enemies and killed them. She turned her gaze to her troops behind and waved her arms forward, commanding them to advance.

Silently, she walked toward the fence and climbed it, followed by her troops. Suddenly an enemy came and almost shouted for help. Before the enemy let out his voice, she grabbed her poisoned knife around her belt and threw it at his neck. Her enemy died instantly.

They approached the back door and she took her hairpin and began fiddling it at the keyhole to open the door. This was one of the tricks she had learned a long time ago since King Eudon often locked her in her room to prevent her from escaping. That's why she learned this from the royal locksmith to free herself.

They entered the Town Hall and encountered some enemies but they could defeat all of them quietly. Finally, after checking several rooms and going through a long corridor, she came to a large door, which usually led to the main lobby, the most spacious place in the building.
'They're supposed to be here.'