Even when the dead body moved, there wasn’t even a shred of surprise. Everything was going according to plan.
The woman released her hands and at the same time, launched a skill. One of the skills she learned from her Ninja class, ‘Hide Shadow.’ As long as a shadow existed, one could completely meld into it and render detection impossible with the naked eye.
Leaving behind the two who were now completely hidden in shadow, the men started to walk forward as if they had just been released from chains. They were returning to continue their patrol route. It was as if they had just remembered their original task. But the speed of their gait was clumsy and heavy. Even if their wound wasn’t finished healing, fresh blood did not seep from the slash on their necks because all of their blood had been drained.
There was only one reason that they could still move. They had become zombies and were now following the orders of their creator.
The one who turned them were not the women.
Looking at it normally, the only people present here were the two men. Even if someone were to see past their concealment ability, there would still be no more than four people. However, there was a fifth. That unseen fifth figure was the one responsible for the zombies.
That figure was invisible even to the women. But their ninjutsu allowed the two to detect hidden presences by using magic or skills. This ability reacted to the one before them.
“Preparations here are complete.”
“Perfect.”
Low voices rang out and a small voice soon answered in response.
“I know since I’m watching. I’ll move to the next location. I have to capture the one with highest authority here.”
This was also a female voice. But this one had a high-pitch tone that lacked maturity and exuded the feeling of a child.
“Then our side will start the attack. What about the other two?”
“Don’t tell me they’re playing around somewhere since they don’t get a turn?”
“No way. They’re hiding outside, near the village. The plan is for them to mount an attack from the front and rear if there’s an emergency. Alright then. I’ll be moving to our top priority. You two follow the plan as well.”
Their invisible comrade — even if it’s just her presence — rose into the air. She was moving through the air using ‘Flight’.
The presence that grew farther and farther away soon disappeared towards the building that she referred to as the top priority. It was one of the few buildings that existed in the village as well as a key location that needed to be secured first and foremost.
Normally, they would want to prioritize a different building. But the reason that place in particular was a priority was because of the ‘Message’ magic.
There are many who shirk this magic, calling it unreliable. At the same time, there are those who are unconcerned and use it regardless. The Empire that is ahead of even the Kingdom when it comes to nurturing the growth of magic casters, those who want information as soon as possible, and the enemy who rules this village. As such, it was necessary to first secure the liaison agent located in that building.
Now that their comrade was headed there, they also had to lie in wait at their assigned location. Everyone had to match the timing and finish their assault while they were still undetected.
The two ninjas exhaled and ran onwards.
Moving to and fro in the darkness, they would be invisible to an ordinary person. No, if they used their equipped magic item as well, even adventurers would have a hard time spotting them. In other words, there was no one in the village who could see the two women with their eyes.
Her comrade who was running at her side skillfully moved her fingers. Although it looked as if she was just wriggling them around, the other who saw it read their meaning—
— It’s fortunate that they don’t have any dogs.
She answered ‘agreed’ with her fingers.
It was a sign language used by assassins. At their level of expertise, they could communicate as fast as they could speak. Although they had taught it to their other allies, regrettably, the best they could manage were simple phrases or commands. On the other hand, both the speed and vocabulary of their signing was at a level where they could have daily conversations and would often use them to have secret chats with one another.
— I know what you mean. It makes this easier since they won’t be attracted to the scent of blood.
If the enemy had hounds then this would not have been this easy. Although they had prepared ways to incapacitate them, nothing was more welcomed than avoiding needless work.
As soon as she replied, her comrade’s fingers moved rapidly.
— Then I’ll be heading to my target building.
As soon as she answered affirmative, the comrade who had been running by her side split from her.
Now alone, she looked at the fields with her peripheral vision while running at high speed.
What was being cultivated was not a grain like barley or vegetables. It was the raw ingredient plant of the illegal and most prevalent drug in the Kingdom, Black Dust. Surrounded by these tall walls, the many fields in the village all grew the same plant. It was proof that this village was one of the bases for growing these drugs.
Black Dust, also called Laira Powder, this drug was a dark powder that was mixed and taken with water.
It was easy to mass produce and thus sold cheaply. Thanks to the easy high and euphoria, it was the most famous drug in the Kingdom. Not only that, there were many who believed that the drug was not addictive and that it had no side effects, causing it to be spread far and wide.
She remembered that fake information and snorted back a laugh.
A drug like that did not exist anywhere. ‘I can quit whenever I want’ was it? There should be a limit to such naivety. The results from testing the fluids from a black dust addict had shown that the user’s brain had shriveled to about eighty percent of the average brain size.
Made from a plant that originally grew in the wild, Black Dust is a powerful drug. It is a wonder how people can believe that such a poisonous plant would not be addicting. The reason that the Black Dust circulating through the town is listed as an anesthetic is because the cultivated plants that it was made from was less potent.
Nevertheless, the drug was still powerfully addicting and took a long time for it to completely leave the user's system. As a result, it would often be the case that the addict takes the drug again before it has a chance to leave the body. If Bishops do not use magic to forcefully draw it out, the addict will eventually reach a stage in their addiction where it will be nearly impossible to completely quit of their own volition.
The troublesome part of the frightening drug was that it had weak withdrawal symptoms. Even if an addict experiences a bad trip, they will not react violently or cause harm to their surroundings. That was why the Kingdom’s higher-ups did not truly understand its dangers and mostly ignored the Black Dust. Instead, they opt to focus their efforts on exposing other drugs. It is no wonder that the Empire even suspects that the Kingdom may be secretly aiding in its production.
During her days spent living as an assassin, she had used drugs if the situation called for it. And because her organization had cultivated similar plants as well, she didn’t have any ill feelings on the matter. Even drugs can be greatly effective if used with caution. They were not too different from a medicinal plant with dangerous side effects, so to speak.
However, this was a request and her personal opinions were not a problem. Only that—