LAURA

  Laura's eyes went wide as she saw the man in front of her.

  His white suit swayed in the wind as he brought the pipe in his hand toward his heads. The head on the right, opened its mouth to get the pipe. But it went past that to find the bigger head on the left.

  “Huh? You took the previous one and now this too?” The right head asked, only for the left one to simply ignore it.

  Laura knew exactly who this man was, “Professor Sillion Knuclehead.” She muttered.

  “Uh-huh…Just Sillion is enough, now.” The left head with a smile.

  Laura gently came forward. Careful not to touch the electric iron bars she was trapped in.

  “What does that mean?” she asked as carefully as she could be.

  However, Sillion was busy feeding his smaller left head some smoke.

  “Hmm? What? Did you say something?” He asked with his eyebrows arched slightly, making his eyes round.

  “As someone of the holy lands, you are to be addressed along with your position…why is it just Sillion now?” Laura pressed again.

  “Ahh~I thought all my students were smart.” He said as he shook his head. “But you are still the slow one, Laura.”

  “Isn't it clear that I'm stripped of my titles?” He said with a small chuckle.

  “But why–” Laura was about to ask something when she was cut by approaching footsteps.

  Tak. Tak. Tak.

  “Kadel is here.” A deep voice belonging to a man said.

  Laura glanced behind Sillion to find a blond man wearing a navy uniform and cap. He was built tall and muscular with a ugly scar on his face.

  “Ahh! Captain Luther, tell him to come in here.” Sillion said with an exaggerated smile.

  “Hey! You're poking me in the eye!” Sillion’s right head complained as he unknowingly poked his eyes.

  But the left head didn't bother enough to even look at his right head.

  After the captain left, Laura once again looked at Sillion. He was still how he used to be when he was at holy land. But she couldn't figure out why he was expelled from there.

  She was lost in thoughts until her gaze finally landed on the hand which was not holding the pipe.

  ‘Why is he wearing a glove?’ She wondered.

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  But before she could think of an answer, a man as big as a mountain entered the room.

  Even though he was wearing a red coat, that did nothing to hide his bulging muscles. His gaze seemed to look down upon everyone and everything.

  Without the need of thinking too much, Laura knew who he was–Kadel Batista, the leader of Scarlet-thews.

  “What is it?” Sillion asked, gone was his exaggerated smile. Instead, replaced by evident annoyance.

  “Your highness, when will the ship arrive?” Kadel asked. Even though he called Sillion ‘your highness’, Laura couldn't find an ounce of respect in it. He stood straight and tall. Towering over six-foot and a head above the rest of the people in the room.

  “It is none of your matter, worm.” Sillion grumbled as his right head spit onto the ground.

  Kadel stood there for a few seconds without speaking or moving until, “I got an information that the rats are coming here.” He said.

  Laura's eyes narrowed when she heard that.

  ‘If the rats are coming, I might be able to escape once the commotion occurs. My Lali must be scared.’

  “Hahaha!” Sillion's laughter echoed inside the room. “Are you telling me that you can't stop a bunch of little mice!? Yet you want to join us!?” His shouts grew louder and louder at every word.

  Laura quickly looked down at her feet, not daring to look at Sillion anymore. But Kadel just stood there like the mountain he was.

  “Absurd!” Sillion's right head shouted.

  “Listen here, pup! No one should interfere with ‘His’ matters. Otherwise, it will be off with your head.” Sillion said.

  Kadel didn't say anything until suddenly he dropped down and gasped for air. His eyes turned red and foam formed around his mouth.

  Laura raised her head when she heard Kadel groaning for breath. She swallowed hard as sweat trickled down her spine.

  “Let that be a lesson.” Sillion said, but unlike before his voice was low and deep. “Now, go and take care of these ‘rats.’” he said.

  Soon after he said that, Kadel stood up and took deep breaths as he glared at Sillion. But he quickly looked away and muttered, “yes.”

  ***

  ALIFAAN CORDI

  Back at the Salt Rats dungeon,

  “Bring the blue prints.” Pehugian said.

  The girl behind him quickly brought him a blue scroll from a nearby shelf.

  Pehugian climbed up a stool and spread the blueprint across the table.

  I leaned over the table to take a clear look at this ‘blueprint’. After taking a quick look I understood that it was the map of Saltend, but I couldn't understand the routes. There were multiple white lines running under and above each route depicted.

  ‘What the fuck is this?’ I wondered. This was my first time seeing a ‘blueprint’ afterall. But I didn't let my confusion appear on my face.

  I just smirked at the dumb Jug?r, who clearly didn't figure it out either.

  ‘Why would you, who doesn't understand this, try to take a look?’ I wanted to ask him but Margaret beat me to it.

  “Why would you look at that and smile at others?” Margaret said as her eyes narrowed slightly at me. “It's clear that you don't understand what you saw.”

  ‘What the fuck!? How does she?…’

  “Haha, it seems that you're mistaken, Miss Margaret. I clearly understand this is a blueprint of the Saltend.” I chuckled as I said.

  ‘She is not lovely. Not at all.’

  Margaret shook her head before glancing at Pehugian, “What is it?” She asked.

  Pehugian raised his head and opened his mouth before closing it again. He glanced at Lali, who was peeking over the table to see what was happening.

  “Janson, take the girl out.” Pehugian said.

  Jany nodded, “Yes, but call me Jany.” He said.

  Before he could grab Lali, I quickly held Lali's hand, “Where are you taking her?” I asked.

  “Umm…outside?” Jany said.

  Pehugian sighed as he shook his head, “Don't worry. We don't harm children.” He said.

  “14 children were rescued from several pirate ships. When questioned, they said they were sold off as slaves by the salt rats.” Margaret said with her eyes narrowed at Pehugian.

  “Still, we don't hurt children.” Pehugian said.

  Jany shook his head as he placed an arm on my chest, “Trust me~ I'm not going to hurt a girl” he said, “Or do you want to come along with us?” He said as his finger drew circles on my chest.

  A shiver ran down my spine, “Take her.” I said.

  After Jany and Lali went out, Pehugian pointed at a spot on the blueprint with a long yellow stick. Where the stick touched, was written ‘Eldrenvail Naval base’.

  “This is where the bastards have gathered to sell off that child’s mother, right?” Pehugian asked.

  I nodded.

  Pehugian dragged the stick down the blueprint to another spot. It wasn't far away from the naval base and this time the stick stopped at ‘Saltend port’.

  “This is the Saltend port.” Pehugian said.

  Dragging the stick a little bit to the side, he stopped at the edge of a hill. A small pipe’s ending was peeking out of it.

  “And this is the secret port where the pirates berth their ships.” Pehugian said. “And this opening here is the mouth of a tunnel, which leads into the city.”

  Taking a breath, the rat boss glanced at us one by one, “If you followed this tunnel, half a mile straight, then turn the first right here. You will enter the sewers which lead to the Naval base.” He said as he dragged the stick on the small pipe that finally touched the ‘Eldranveil Naval base’

  ‘So, does that mean, all these small pipes are tunnels? And this many are hidden underneath us all this time!?’

  I couldn't help but keep my eyes on the blueprint.

  “How do you know this? I mean, where did you get this blueprint from?” Margaret asked. Her eyes scanned every bit of the blueprint herself.

  “Sergeant, you forgot.” Pehugian said, “We are rats. We build tunnels.”

  “If we all went through this tunnel, we can rescue the magician before the Scarlet-thew even knows about it.” I said as my lips curled up.

  Jug?r sighed, “I-I don't think it will be that easy.” He said.

  “Why?” Pehugian snorted.

  “If dad already heard about Alifaan from Nackir,” he glanced at his feet before looking at Pehugian, “He will be ready.” He said.