The Dreamer's POV

[01 Months: 10 Days: 12 Hours]

"These ten should be enough to serve as proper guards…"

As I stared down at them, taking note of their kneeling positions, my smile grew wider.

While they were few in number, since they had consumed a good number of their comrades, thus making them fit in terms of quality.

'They're the weakest of all my Minions, though…' My thoughts trailed.

Perhaps their leader would be a match for Black, or might even be stronger, but with Black's skillset, I didn't think it would have a problem winning ultimately.

Still, since these ones only had the roles of guards, I didn't consider their current abilities to be a problem.

'They're strong enough.'

The major issue for concern was their identity. Each of the ten retained the faces they had when they were alive, except for how they had now become pale, and were shrouded in red vein-like markings.

Since they worked for the Royal Family, and they wer also criminals, it was possible they would be recognized by the members of the Lyma Family that were arriving.

'That wouldn't bode well…'

Plus, there was the fact that my minions didn't look human.

To play it safe, it was best to simply hide their identities. If I coated them in knight apparel, their helmets would obscure their faces enough to avert any suspicion, so that would probably not be a major issue for me.

"It looks like the mission is complete. I should report back to Bernard now." I whispered to myself, taking one final look at the ruined camp of the rebels.

If they hadn't encountered me, they would have been able to perpetrate more chaos in the Lyma Region, and they would have gotten away with quite a lot.

'It's a shame for them that I needed more workers when I did.'

With the current situation resolved, the next course of action would be to return to the Lyma Capital and finalize the other matters before it was too late.

It was night already, but if I hurried, everything would function according to schedule.

'At least, I hope…'

~VWUUUUUSSSHHH~

As I was still making my thoughts, a black silhoutte suddenly rose from the ground, manifesting in front of me. It felt like a cross breed between a shadow and dark purple mist, and the entity that manifested from within seemed like an entirely black being, with red veins coursing through its body.

"Black." I murmured, watching it fully materialize in my presence.

"My lord." It bowed, its head facing the ground as I stared at it in palpable silence.

The fact that Black had appeared to me now meant its mission had been complete. I didn't expect to see it until I returned to the Lyma Capital, but I suppose it had concluded its work faster than expected and simply followed the order I gave it.

"You came as soon as you finished your work. Good. So tell me what you found out." I spoke calmly, using that chance to retract the ten new Minions I had managed to obtain.

It was just me and Black left in the clearing.

"I spotted the Lyma Family and their entourage approximately 79 kilometers west from the Lyma Capital's gates. The number of guards they possess are three dozen, and the number of Lyma Family members number ten."

'Ten, huh? That's within the range I estimated.' My smile widened as I beckoned to Black to continue.

"They seem to have camped close to the city on purpose and are waiting for dawn before proceeding."

"Oh? What makes you say so?" I asked, though I could already guess the cause of Black's rationale.

"Even though they could have easily made the rest of the journey, they showed no signs of moving in thr slighest."

The Lyma Family members most likely wanted to personally witness the city in shambles as they arrived. Predictable behavior for conceited Nobles, but I had already considered all of these factors.

"As expected. Anything else?"

"They cloaked themselves, most likely to avoid detection, but I was able to bypass it since it was made quite poorly. Thus, I was able to obtain the details of the members of the approaching faction."

Since Black was the culmination of specialized and foot soliers belonging to the Nine Headed Dragon Alliance, specializing in stealth and cloaking, I wasn't surprised at this feat.

This was where it truly shone, after all.

"The ten Lyma Family members consist of one elderly woman, two mature women, and seven young ones. The young ones range from early teen to young adult. I can go into details about their appearance and sex if you wish."n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"There's no need." I shrugged. "I'll be seeing them very soon anyway."

The spearhead of this entire operation was most likely Theo's grandmother, which meant she was the one I had to worry about the most.

'I would have loved to simply dispose of all of them, but considering how they're most likely conspiring with another Noble Family, doing so would only cause more problems.'

If this matter escalated beyond a simple family feud, the entire Southern Kingdom could ger involved in this.

That was the last thing I wanted at the moment.

"I should simply focus on the pests that have appeared now…"

Black's report informed me about the location of the Lyma Family. Calculating that with the geography of the entire area, which I already memorized, they were curently staying on high ground, with a good view of the Capital from their current position.

They must have chosen that spot so they could revel in the Lyma Capital's fall, and our pathetic state even before they arrived, but I was sure they had now realized how futile their desire on that end was.

Thanks to the barrier surrounding the Lyma Capital, no outsider could see the internal operations of the Capital. It would simply be a blur, at least until they drew closer.

The barrier distorted outside interference, so none of them could see the Capital's current state, as well as the preparations that were underway.

"Nice work, Black. I have another mission for you."