Otherworld Advance Team-Chapter 65 - 61 Middleman

65: Chapter 61: Middleman

65 -61: Middleman

After a night of rest, everyone began an intensive operations layout the next day, starting with preliminary reconnaissance.

Apart from Tangmo, who was left behind, everyone else was dispatched for on-site reconnaissance.

This time the reconnaissance was directed towards investigating the terrain and landmark buildings of the places where they would meet with the Assassins Union.

This was done to ensure that the sniping team could provide support to Luo’er and the others at any time; Tangmo stayed at the hotel drawing the Silence Runes they needed.

To draw a rune, one must use a material capable of conducting magic, as an ordinary material drawn on normal paper could not conduct magic to function in a rune.

And while Tangmo spoke lightly of it last night, drawing a rune actually requires patience and meticulous work.

A discrepancy in the drawing could either render the rune ineffective or, worst-case scenario, create a disordered rune.

Disordered runes were the most life-threatening.

Different rune forms guided different magical effects.

No one knew what kind of effect an erroneous rune might produce.

It could even transform a defense rune into an explosive rune.

According to the textbook at Haiya Academy, “A Brief History of Magic,” mages killed due to disordered runes throughout Otherworld’s history could circle the entire planet.

Among them were many famous mages who also metaphorically ‘capsized in the gutter,’ dying by their own errant rune hand.

Therefore, Tangmo spared no effort in the work of drawing rune; she was meticulously dedicated to depicting the required runes.

It was only here and now that she could help everyone.

Reconnaissance took an entire day.

The time spent on surveying the terrain was not much, but finding the man with a scarred face, who Dunuo had mentioned, was not easy, which made Luo’er somewhat anxious.

He had not killed Dunuo immediately after extracting the information that day.

Considering his character, heaven only knew whether he might have run to find the liaisons of the Assassins Union and set them up in advance.

So now, all he could do was pray that Dunuo was too distracted healing his leg injuries to attend to them.

As for finding the connect and ultimately getting the Assassins Union to divulge the information on their client, time was of the essence.

After a day of searching, he came back empty-handed, but fortunately, Cheng Ziang brought good news.

He discovered the scar-faced man and watched him for a while, confirming his basic activity area, which laid the groundwork for their second day of tasks.

Another night passed, and everyone went to bed early.

Luo’er, whose heart was anxious to find the instigator threatening them in the shadows, was somewhat sleepless.

He sat at the table, carefully checking what they needed and thinking about their battle plan.

At dawn, light began to appear in the sky.

From outside the inn, the sound of abrupt horse hooves and the crisp sound of bells came.

The familiar smell of horse dung wafted in through the cold air.

Only then did Luo’er blow out the candle and go to Bed.

According to the battle plan, they would set out and deploy in the morning as that was when there were the fewest people in the streets.

Luo’er slept for only a few hours before he hastily washed up, checked the equipment, and led everyone out.

This time, all five of them went out together, so Luo’er asked the boss to help them look after their luggage.

Welcoming the slightly chilling air, Luo’er set off with Cheng Ziang and Tangmo, while Baiyue and Hu Daoke of the sniping team followed behind.

Before setting out, Luo’er was most worried about whether the contacts would do their business in the afternoon, just like Dunuo.

But apparently, his worry was unnecessary because by the time they got deep into the slums, they saw the scar-faced man leaning against a post, looking expressionless as he waited for clients to come in.

The three exchanged glances, then put on their cloaked hats, and Luo’er quickly made a gesture behind him.

The operation officially began.

The three walked up, and the scar-faced man glanced at them but ignored them.

Luo’er took out a money pouch from his bosom, opened it and flashed the shining gold coins inside.

He put the money pouch in his palm and extended it in front of the man.

The man then began to formally size up the three.

He didn’t take the money pouch but turned around and walked away straight, so the three hurried to follow him.

The man led the three through streets and alleys.

According to their previous surveillance, they were heading northwest toward the riverbank area.

After about a kilometer, the man finally stopped in front of a decrepit house.

He went to a hidden alley and knocked on the door.

Luo’er stopped and observed the surroundings.

He was reassured that this was still in the area they had previously investigated, so he quickly signaled the sniping team behind him to find a high point in this area for sniper support.

The door opened, sending out a mixed stench of fish.

Inside was an underground tavern, home to many fishermen who perpetually smelled of fish.

The party walked through the tavern, finally arriving at a hidden door guarded by two robust men.

The man knocked on the door and left immediately.

As the group stood dumbfounded, the door opened.

The door guards, with a nod, signaled for them to enter.

Tangmo was nervous and involuntarily grabbed Luo’er’s arm.

Luo’er turned his head, looked at her, and held her hand, which somewhat calmed her down.

When they went through the hidden door, the three ended up in a room that was not very spacious.

Unlike the smell outside, the room was filled with an unidentified floral scent.

There was no window, just one door in the room.

As soon as the door closed, the bustling sounds outside ceased instantly.

In the dim candlelight, a man in his thirties, tall and thin, with a very thin face and high cheekbones, sat in front of the table they faced.

On his nose rested a pair of gold-rimmed glasses.

Luo’er was certain the glasses were definitely from Earth.

Given the man’s physical features, he should be a Blaiqi.

This was not surprising since, upon arriving in this world, most of the businessman they encountered were Blaiqis.

The man’s hands were crossed on the table, and when he saw the guests, he asked with a somewhat hoarse voice, “What can I do for you, far-traveled guests?”

“Is this the Assassins Union?” Luo’er asked outright.

“Hehe,” the man revealed a sly smile, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.

If you guys think you’re in the wrong place, then you can leave.

Of course, be sure to leave the money behind.”

Luo’er and Cheng Ziang glanced at each other, the latter nodded.

Hence, Luo’er went on to say, “We have some questions for you.

If the answers satisfy me, I don’t mind paying a fee.”

“Oh?” The man posed with his hands together, looking at him with an inscrutable gaze.

“Do you know of the Blood Wolf Mercenary Group?” Luo’er asked.

The man didn’t answer, but continued to look at him with that odd gaze, motionlessly.

Luo’er paused for a moment, suddenly thought of something, and pulled a money bag out from his pocket, tossing it in front of the man.

The man picked up the money bag, weighing the gold coins inside, and then asked, “What do you want to know?”

“I want to know if the Blood Wolf Mercenary Group accepted an assignment from you?” Luo’er asked.

“Indeed, are you looking to specifically hire them?”, the man asked, lifting his head.

Once they had confirmed that the assignment was indeed issued from here, Luo’er and Cheng Ziang looked at each other again.

The latter nodded again, signaling to proceed to the next step.

Luo’er took out the mercenary group’s emblem and several sketches of faces from his coat pocket, threw them onto the table, and then said, “We found several corpses in the forest, along with these items and the assignment.”

“Such a pity that they failed!” The man did say so, but there was not a trace of sorrow on his face.

“So, can we take this assignment?” Luo’er asked.

“You’re not here to issue an assignment?”, the man asked with a suggestive expression.

“That wouldn’t be according to the rules.”

“There is actually something else we’d like to inquire about.”

“What is it?”

“Do you know who issued the assignment?” Luo’er asked, looking at him in the eye.

“That would be a secret.

Asking such questions is against the protocol of our profession,” he replied.

“We just want to know who exactly wanted these people dead.”

“You guys aren’t the prey, are you?” The man looked up and stared at Luo’er.

His keen eyes, like those of a hawk, scoured him.

Since they were wearing hoods, he couldn’t see their faces fully. freёweɓnovel.com

“You’re overthinking it.” Luo’er looked at him fearlessly, and continued, “The men died quite horribly.

Clearly, the prey is very powerful.

I hope to meet the client and discuss a price hike.”

“Others will take the assignment if you won’t.

I’m not obliged to negotiate higher prices with the client on your behalf,” The man rejected this request without any hesitation.

Luo’er and the man sized each other up.

After a moment of silence, Luo’er looked around and then changed the subject, “This room is really secluded, with no windows in sight.

If something happened, could you escape?”

The man smirked, “Those of us in this line of work have long steeled ourselves for all possibilities.

If we feared death, we wouldn’t be dabbling in this kind of business.”

“A real fearless man,” Luo’er also let out a laugh, and continued, “You know what?

There was a man who used to say that, but in the end, he still ended up saying ‘Smells good’.”

“What do you mean?” The man was taken aback by Luo’er’s inscrutable comment.

“I believe you’ll say it too.” Luo’er turned to him with a confident smile on his face.