Winner Takes All

After receiving his investigative surveillance mission, Achilles returned to his barrack with deep suspicion written all over his face.

Jack felt a sudden realization hitting him when he saw Achilles unnatural facial expression.

Perhaps... His visitation this time didn't serve to squash the suspicions, instead it had worsened it.This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

"Sergeant White, what is our mission for today?"

Debut was oblivious to any irregularities on Achilles' face as he began asking.

"Some investigation and surveillance."

Achilles came back to his senses and suppressed the unrest in his heart as he replied calmly, "Go get ready. We are departing in five minutes."

Just as Debut and the others were busy preparing themselves, someone summoned Jack outside the barracks.

Without hiding anything, Achilles said, "The Golden Guard camp which Shawn belongs to did not carry out the escort mission lately while this mission is usually carried out by the teams under the commands of the Twelve Golden Guards."

"What about it?"

There were slight wrinkles in between Jack's brows, "Don't you hear about something else?"

"This is the only piece of information I am able to get using my connections. If I continue to dig further, I would have violated the law in the army." Achilles sounded a little powerless, "His position is higher than me, and I'm just a sergeant. It's wrong in the first place to investigate someone higher than me in the dark."

Jack rubbed his nose and cheekily tried to console Achilles, seeing that he was gloomy, "You don't have to fret. You just saw him passing by the fortress, maybe he's on some covert mission? After all, you can't get anything substantial out of him, and I on the other hand need to hide my identity, rendering me unable to use my power as the Chief Guard. We have to tread carefully here step by step." "We have no other choice."

Achilles could only nod with resignation.

Very soon, Debut and the others were ready with their stuffs.

Achilles led Jack and the gang to the supply department to get their gears, and then the five of them were trotting horses as they went out of the fortress. They started to make way towards the North with a snow storm over their heads.

However, unbeknownst to them, while they were sitting on horses as they galloped out of the North gate and disappeared into the snowy horizon, there was a pair of eyes that resembled a viper's venomous gaze, fixating on their backs from the tall wall of the North gate.

Only when Jack and the gang had disappeared into the snow without any trace did Shawn retrieve his gaze and muttered with the stark coldness of winter biting into his bones, "The almighty Wolf, this is my first show of loyalty towards you. I hope that you won't let me down..."

His voice was so soft that it was instantly lost in the howling wind after it came out of his mouth.

Nobody would pick up on that.

In the North region where the wide desolate plains were, chilly winter winds were blowing through everything, and the rain was hammering down on everything too.

They were threatening to swallow up this whole land.

As the weather became colder while winter came, the temperature in the North became lower and lower while the snow storm continued to ravage the land.

As for the region lying in the outskirts of the North, it was even more desolate with no signs of life. The whole place was a tundra, and there were decayed corpses just underneath that blanket of snow!

Jack and his team all had armors and full gear. Their war horses were galloping towards the outskirts and going deeper into the unknown.

Compared to their first investigative mission, they were now barely talking. Their senses of danger and alertness were heightened at the same time.

Achilles didn't dare to let down his guard this time!

Their first mission completely threw him off guard.

If there didn't exist Jack, who was the X-factor in the team, even if Achilles could secure his own life, he didn't have the confidence to save Debut and the others.

Therefore, this time, Achilles no longer wanted to be caught off guard.

Even though this investigative and patrolling mission was harmless and relatively safe in their eyes, there might still be danger lurking around every corner, waiting to ambush them. "Are we going deep into this territory for 100 km this time too?"

While they were venturing into the depths of the region, Jack shouted out his question to Achilles.

Although he was screaming, but his voice was immediately lost in the bristling winds. Only Achilles who was nearby could hear him.

But after he asked that, Debut, Cole and Yarol all turned to look at Achilles.

As the sergeant of this team, Achilles' words were the absolute order.

It was Achilles' decision for the investigative mission to go deep into the territory!

However, Achilles was visibly less commanding and confident compared to last time. Instead, his brows were furrowed.

He knew the reason Jack had suddenly asked that question.

This was because underneath the calm facade of the outskirts of the North, changes were rapidly happening.

The commencement of the Coalition order had united the hundred races behind the scenes, which had fuelled their spirits and courage.

With that singular change, even though they were carrying out this mission deep into the territory, there were lurking dangers all around them, waiting to happen at any time. Achilles knew better to act arrogant and confident all the time. With this unpredictable changes all around him, Achilles wasn't a fool to still act careless and brave.

After a moment of hesitation, Achilles spoke, "We will go one step at a time. Everything under my command."

He didn't answer Jack directly as he said something vague.

However, in the ears of Jack and Debut, his words had another meaning.

Jack knew what Achilles meant, but Debut, Cole and Yarol were all perplexed.

Achilles sounded totally different from last time around. It was like he was another person now.

Could it be... that something was going to happen?

Invariably, the atmosphere around them became charged and tensed.

From Jack, Achilles to Debut and the gang, their senses were sharpened as they were fully alert. They were careful of any changes in their surroundings.

In the blizzard, the howling wind and blinding snow would cover their traces perfectly.

This detail caused the team hardship when spotting their target, and at the same time their risks of exposing to danger was heightened.

The only comforting and unchanging fact here was that the blizzard favored no one. While Jack and the gang faced more danger, the same could be said about the hundred races in the region.

As Jack and the team slowly plowed through the snow in the direction of the outskirts, a troop suddenly appeared in the blizzard just outside the North.

This troop didn't have any distinguished features, and they bored no emblem or flag.

There were five hundred men in this troop, and they were fully equipped with machinery and guns, and although they were all riding horses, they didn't look like a disciplined troop. Instead, there was some unruly aura about them.

That was because there were four distinctive colors for their armors although they were just five-hundred-men strong.

Although they weren't great in numbers, but they were still a noticeable presence in the whiteness of snow.

The whole troop seemed to shroud themselves in a dead silence, and they were all looking grave as they moved through the snow.

The only thing out of place were the howling and neighing of five hundred horses, and the mist of snow kicked up by them.

At the forefront of the troop, there was a man with golden beard and emerald eyes. Although he was armored, he wasn't covered entirely by it. His features could be seen at a glance clearly, which left a great impression.

"Move your ass on. After the mission ends, there will be huge monetary rewards waiting for you!"

Timur turned around and ordered, and there was murderous intent in his emerald eyes.

This troop was assembled by the lure of huge reward.

Although it followed no particular pattern, but these men were mercenary in the outskirts who still had desirable battle prowess. A mere citizen couldn't hold a candle to them.

Furthermore... they were going into war against just five men with their five hundred men. Was it possible to lose this fight?

Obviously, it was impossible!

When they were going into war with far greater numbers as a tactic, the consequences were staggering.

This stayed true even if... one of the five men was the former Chief Guard!

"Your Highness Royal Palace Wolf, as long as we complete this mission, the Dragon Cavalry Squad would be reduced to white ants in our eyes. By then, we will be able to break through the hard walls of the army!"

Timur narrowed his eyes coldly at the distance, "Achilles... I will represent the almighty Wolf to prey on you. Congratulations on that. Putting this in your own words... we are the praying mantis hunting for the cicadas."