Level Up Legacy

1168  Straight Into Ambush

On first glance, Sarohan was indeed the oldest and most threatening-looking dude among them. His giant goggles and big 'beard' made him look like an old biker, although he was just a furry Waiga. Thus, Mister White made the assumption that he was the one who Joe was talking about.

"No one stole me away. Do you forget that I left on my own accord?" said Joe with a snort. "Don't get so bitter, old man. This man is not one you would like to offend. In fact, he is one you respect, I'm sure."

"I respect just a few," said Mister White as he adjusted his tie. "Alright, out with it. Who is this great man that you wanted to introduce me to?"

Joe turned toward Arthur, who was wearing a hood covering his face. The two shared a glance, and the bartender understood what Arthur was concerned about. If his arrival reached the Yalen King's ears, their plans would fall apart.

"I would bet my life that Mister White is trustworthy. These gangs can be anything, but they are no snitches," said Joe to reassure Arthur. After a moment of thought, he took down his hood.

Mister White stared at Arthur for a few seconds, before his eyes widened in shock. Then, the hand that adjusted his tie began trembling as he slowly retracted it. His white eyebrows furrowed together in recognition as he leaned forward.

"And that is a man I do respect," said Mister White without his earlier demeanor. Then, he placed two fingers on his forehead and bowed. "I greet the man who set the world ablaze, Arthur Netherborne."

"Greetings to you too, Mister," said Arthur with a nod. "You are the first to recognize me in the union. Most would dismiss seeing me due to the absurdity."

"In Kera, you are a legend," said Mister White with a grin. "I know of a few rebels who created a statue resembling you. They would kill for a meeting with their lord and savior, Arthur the Great."

"I hope that name is for humorous reasons," said Arthur with a sigh, making the bald old man chuckle. "I seem to attract rebels and annoy rulers."

"The best criminals are like that," said Mister White as he leaned back. "I was on a business trip when Avarice Dungeon broke and unleashed a horde of monsters and humans. If I have been here at that time, things might have been different."

"There is nothing we can do about the past," said Arthur with a smile. "But there is a lot we can do about the future. Would you care to help this time, Mister?"

"Call me White, as does every man I respect," said Mister White with a smile. "Whatever reason brought you to Kera, I will aid you in achieving it."

"You reprimanded me for working for him," said Joe with a smirk while leaning back in his chair. "Look at you now, like a fan meeting his idol."

"You never told me that you work for Arthur Netherborne," said Mister White as he adjusted his tie before coughing. "What brings you here to Kera, great hero? What can I assist you with?"

"Arthur wants to enter Yalenia before the execution of the Agard Family," said Joe before Arthur could answer his question. "In order to do that, he needs one hell of a smuggler."

"And you came to me," said Mister White with a grin as he interlocked his fingers together. "Have you seen Yalenia right now, Sir Arthur?"

"Arthur would be fine," said Arthur with a shake of his head. "I'm afraid I never had the chance. I returned just recently." n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Yalenia has become an iron fortress, with every workshop working every day to fortify its defenses. If a single fly enters the city, the king would know. Of course, as the intel that reached my ears, you have a way to disable runes?"

"My secrets are no longer secrets," said Arthur with a smile as he nodded. "I indeed have a way to do that, making whatever arrays or runes available useless."

"The king knows that too, so he ordered a few high-tech radars to install around the city. You should know who supplied him with them, right?"

"…is there any other possible supplier than the Republic of Orlan?" muttered Arthur with a frown. "I had an agreement with Rolan that we would stay out of each other's paths, but it seems things have changed."

"Tides are changing, shifting toward uncertainty," said Mister White as he clicked his tongue and snapped his fingers. Plates flew from behind him as a table walked toward them like a horse. "Let's discuss the rest over a meal."

Arthur and the rest did not say anything as the faraway side of the tent lit up with lights, which seemed to be a kitchen. Fire ignited beneath the pots as ingredients rushed to jump into them, humming a song as they did. The smell of food started reaching their noses as Mister White's chair grew wheels and shifted toward them. The table expanded to host all of them as the plates arranged themselves. In such a magical scene, Mister White continued to explain.

"It would be easier to reach the sun, with the least exaggeration I can provide," said Mister White as he wiped out a handkerchief and tucked it into his shirt, preparing for food. "I tried to smuggle some weapons to the Resistance, but almost lost my smugglers."

"Almost being the keyword," said Joe with a smile. "You are looking at the best smuggler in the world. I heard he once smuggled awakeners into a dungeon from Alka."

"That is indeed impressive," said Arthur with raised brows as he looked at the cooking utensils filled with life. "You have amazing control over your spiritual energy, White."

"How could you tell?" asked Mister White with surprise. "This is the first time someone realizes the secret behind my little trick, although most people would not understand even if I tell them."

"There is not much to tell," said Arthur with a smile. "I have acute senses."

"How acute?"

"I can sense the existence of everything in a radius of five kilometers," said Arthur as he turned back toward the old man. "Would that be of help?"

"How could it not?" said Mister White with a smirk as he rubbed his chin. "The impossible task just became a little bit possible. However, I have to ask. Infiltrating Yalenia should be an easy task for you."

"I want to leave no traces, and come unnoticed," said Arthur with a frown. "I realize that there is an ambush waiting for me, so I want to enter the city without any warning, save the Agard Family, and leave."

"You just want to save them?"

"And quite possibly destroy the union," said Arthur with a shrug. "It depends on how things will play out. But I want to leave no chance for them to attack Runera while I am away."

"That explains things," said Mister White with a nod as food began being served directly from the pot to their plates. There was everything from appetizers to stew to baked muffins. This was a feast, not a meal. "I have a plan to get you there."

"Let's hear it," said Arthur with surprise.

"We want an infiltration without traces, but that became impossible in the capital. Everything is documented, except for one thing that the union has no control over. That would be the Tower of Yalen."

Arthur remembers the tower well, since he entered it a few times to gain levels. He does not need that anymore, but he still remembers fighting a humanoid Lich the last time he went there. As far as he knew, the tower's real name was the Tower of Yearning.

"How would we use it?" asked Joe with confusion.

"We just need to access it, before we can use it to enter Yalenia without anyone suspecting us. Awakeners could stay for months inside the tower, and most of them wish to remain anonymous. The king could not turn the awakeners against him."

Arthur thought it was logical, but he realized something else. This king was not like others, because he had the power of foresight. If he wished to leave no weaknesses in his defenses, he could. However, if the tower was indeed their weakness, that means one thing:

"The tower is a trap," said Arthur with a smirk. The four looked at him with confusion, and Mister White seemed perplexed. "The Yalen King could see that the tower could be his weakness, and he might have left it this way on purpose. I don't know how they are going to use it, but the tower is a trap."

"That seems like an assumption than a possibility," said Joe with some hope for their plan.

"I know that king better than anyone," said Arthur with a shake of his head. "If he wants to ambush someone, there is no one in this world who could avoid it. Thus, we can just make it simple and jump straight into their ambush."