Chapter 51. Rescue (1)
Winslow and Ashton’s martial artists waited some distance from the gold mine.
Mitchell and Grant waited a little farther away.
Grant chewed dried jerky and muttered,
“When are those guys going to attack?”
“They’re being careful because the information may be a trap.”
But there was no problem with the information itself.
They would not simply retreat.
Grant knew that too, so he stopped complaining.
After waiting a little longer, the martial artists finally began moving.
Mitchell stood and looked at Grant.
“We rescue the Thunder Rock Tribe members and leave as quickly as possible.”
“Don’t worry. I also remember not to use any martial arts that can identify our family.”
“Enemy!”
“It’s Winslow and Ashton!”
The disturbance grew.
Shouting came from every direction.
This was the perfect moment to infiltrate.
Mitchell and Grant circled around and headed toward the mine entrance.
There, they saw martial artists forcing the Thunder Rock Tribe members inside.
The tribe members looked frightened as they watched the battle.
Because of that, their steps slowed.
The guards drew their swords and shouted.
“Move! Get inside quickly!”
After all the Thunder Rock Tribe members had been forced into the mine, the martial artists gathered at the entrance and began talking.
The sudden battle had also thrown the mine guards into confusion.
After talking for a while, many of them headed toward the main battle.
Mitchell stared at the ones who remained.
“Four left. I’ll take the two on the right.”
“Got it.”
Mitchell and Grant melted into the darkness.
They split left and right and approached the guards.
Fortunately, the guards were only standing watch.
All their attention was focused on the battle.
When Mitchell got close enough, he heard them talking.
“Damn it. We were supposed to catch those masked experts. Why did Ashton and Winslow suddenly show up?”
“Maybe those masked experts were working for them.”
“Actually... that makes more sense.”
“More importantly, you heard the order, right?”
“Yeah. If it looks like we’re losing, kill all the dwarves. But there are too many. Can the four of us do it?”
“What are you worried about? Just set fire to the entrance.”
“Oh. That works. They’ll suffocate from the smoke. We only have to kill the ones who run out.”
They were a different race.
But dwarves were still citizens of the Empire.
These people were willing to kill innocent civilians simply to prevent another family from gaining skilled craftsmen.
Mitchell had no intention of showing them mercy.
He turned his head and confirmed Grant had reached his targets.
Then Mitchell rushed in.
He cut both guards’ throats in one movement.
They collapsed while making choking sounds.
“Huh? E-Enemy...!”
The guards on the left widened their eyes and tried to shout.
They failed.
Grant had already rushed in and killed them.
Mitchell and Grant immediately entered the mine.
They approached the trembling Thunder Rock Tribe members.
“We came because Chief Tulgram asked us to.”
One dwarf stepped forward.
He frowned in disbelief.
“The chief is alive?”
“Yes. He is currently with us.”
“How do we know that’s true? What if you captured the chief too?”
“I’d like to explain everything, but we don’t have time. So I’ll give you what the chief told me to deliver. Who is Urgang?”
“That would be me.”
The dwarf who had stepped forward introduced himself as Urgang.
Mitchell handed him the note Tulgram had given him.
Urgang read it.
His expression immediately brightened.
Mitchell did not know what it said because it was written in the dwarven language.
But it was clearly enough proof that Tulgram was alive and well.
“The chief is alive! Everyone, let’s go!”
Urgang placed the note inside his clothes and began leading the tribe.
A long line of dwarves slowly left the mine.
Dwarves lived in tribes.
Only around a hundred members of the Thunder Rock Tribe were here.
But Mitchell and Grant were the only two people responsible for protecting them.
So both sharpened their senses while moving.
Fortunately, the main battle was still intense.
The enemy could not pay much attention to the mine.
However, just as almost everyone had escaped—
“The dwarves are running away!”
One Braxton martial artist noticed the long line and shouted.
“Grant, I’ll buy as much time as possible. You move the tribe.”
“Will you be alright?”
Mitchell looked toward the battlefield.
Braxton martial artists were starting to move toward him.
However, Edgar and the Black Wind Unit were still tied down by their enemies.
This much, Mitchell could probably stop alone.
“Don’t worry. Just get out of here quickly. The sooner you leave, the sooner I can leave too. And don’t forget the plan. Burn away our traces.”
“Got it.”
Grant nodded and returned to the Thunder Rock Tribe.
Mitchell remained alone.
He drew his sword and watched the approaching martial artists.
There were many techniques he could use against multiple enemies.
But now was the time to hide his identity.
That’s why I learned Imperial Swordsmanship.
Mitchell swung his sword at the approaching enemy.
A clean slash.
The man collapsed.
Mitchell’s sword continued moving without hesitation.
“Aaaargh!”
Several martial artists fell in moments.
Imperial Swordsmanship was not a supreme martial art.
But the level of the person using it was beyond what they could handle.
Mitchell scattered sword energy and continued cutting down enemies.
The martial artists eventually stopped charging.
They quickly surrounded Mitchell and formed a joint formation.
“Lord Edgar will come! Buy time!”
So that’s what they’re aiming for.
Mitchell glanced toward the main battle.
The Black Wind Unit was strong, just as he had seen at the iron mine before.
This time, there were even more members.
It looked like Edgar had brought the entire unit.
Because of that, they were being pushed back by Winslow and Ashton’s elites, but they were still holding on.
Of course, Edgar was also a major reason.
He was fighting the leaders of both families’ forces at once.
He was not being pushed back.
Instead, he was pushing them.
If that battle ends like this, it’ll be dangerous...
But if Mitchell ran now, he could not buy enough time for the Thunder Rock Tribe.
Mitchell quickly thought while charging toward the surrounding martial artists.
