Chapter 358: Watching the Match from a Restaurant
In a restaurant near the square, it was close enough for the people dining inside to watch the screen installed in the square. Especially after the staffs of the restaurant arrange it so all the tables are facing the screen.
Since the square is crowded with people, some slightly wealthier people choose to watch from the restaurant. Even when the restaurant charged those people more because of the tournament, all the restaurant near the square are filled to the brim. They even put some tables outside their restaurants.
In one of the restaurants, two men are watching the screen calmly.
"So, that's the Television those people are talking about. We need to find a way to make it ourselves. Using it for communication is important," said one man.
"I'm rather worried of how they found out about our people hiding here. Everyone we sent supposed to be capable of sneak mission. The opponent this time is too powerful. Even other kingdoms are easier to infiltrate," the other man said.
"Not anymore. It has been a few months, but in Varadis Kingdom, it has suddenly become harder to infiltrate. Even the prince was somehow caught as one of us. As for Arturo, that Prince Bernard suddenly showed his strength. He's a strong candidate to be the next king now. And he is very well-protected with that expert level mage with him. That summoned monster was too powerful even against several expert level mages. If it continues, we can't spread our influences anymore. But at least it was only one city. Not a big trouble for us. But where is the Stampede? The monsters should have been here now with everyone only focused on the tournament," said the first man.
These two are two other cult members who just infiltrated Melk.
All the cult members have been cleaned up by Roy and the others, but some still managed to escape and report it to others. As a result, the cult sent these two expert level mages to infiltrate the city while sending monsters for another Stampede in Melk. Unfortunately for them, those monsters are low in numbers compared to the last Stampede, and Spot alone is enough to take care of them all.
"A tournament with the purpose to let the people grow stronger so they can defeat us… the king is too smart. But if we managed to conquer the kingdom before anyone too strong appear to fight us, we don't have anything to worry," the second man said.
"True. Other than these mages in the final, there's no one that can be compared to us. But whoever managed to find those who sneaked in and defeat them, that person must be more powerful than those in the tournament. Don't forget, we're here to find them. They are too dangerous for the cult," the first man said.
"Don't worry. All those who managed to escape has reported that whoever attacked them, they only act when there's no match scheduled. Either at night, or yesterday during break. Since it's the final, I don't think our enemy will take action now. Soon, this place will be surrounded by monsters. Although there are many hunters here to watch the tournament, with these many people focused on the match, the casualties will be high. Once the king is busy with the aftermath, we'll find a way to either kidnap his son, wife, the princess, or kill the king directly. After that, conquering this kingdom will be a piece of cake," the second man said.
After saying that, the two men suddenly feel sleepy. The second man then quickly fall asleep. Not noticing that he will die soon.
"Oh, you just said a cake. I want some," said a new voice.
"…who are you?" the man who hasn't fall asleep asked.
...….
[Roy's POV]
As the battle between Jewel and Shirley finished, I received a report from Sonia about two suspicious people in a restaurant. I looked over where she pointed at, and asked her to eavesdrop on their conversation.
Possibly, because they think that the people are all too focused on the screen, they let their guards down and couldn't sense the approaching ghost.
I also went down from the rooftop of the Arena, and approached them inside the restaurant. They don't even sense me using sleeping gas on them. The improved sleeping gas combined with slight effect of calmness from the white leaves tree in the mysterious forest. I haven't mastered it all yet, but I the combination of the calmness with my sleeping gas is better than just using the sleeping gas. Which could make expert level mages fall asleep in a matter of seconds.
"Oh, you just said a cake. I want some," I said to the man who hasn't fallen asleep.
"…who are you?"
The man is fighting his sleepiness. As expected of an expert level mage. For the other one, he was too unprepared.
"I think you are looking for me, right? The one who stopped your plans many times. The people sent here previously were too weak. I thought you would be a little stronger, but it seems that you are as weak as they are," I provoked the sleepy man.
Sonia told me what they are talking after I arrived here. And from the look of it, there is no one suspicious here other than these two. The others are too engrossed with the match on the screen that they don't care about what we're talking.
Shit, I also want to see Jewel's match against Angela! Seems like it's still going on. Must be a great fight then. And I missed it because of these two.
I grabbed two Magic Restraining Collar and put one on the sleeping cultist, and about to put another one on the sleepy guy, but he used Ice Spike to kill himself. How crazy.
At least I found someone for Albert to interrogate. And this one should be knowledgeable about the cult. They should be in higher position that the expert level mages we previously captured.
As for the dead body, I threw it to the ocean for Spot's child to eat. The blood, I asked the waiter in the restaurant who is actually Albert's agent to clean it up. I also transported the sleeping guy into a prison.
I don't remember the face of the waiter, but Sonia told me about him. So glad to have a ghost haunting me. I mean haunting people for me.
"Sigh…" I sighed as I slumped down on the chair that the previously sleeping cultist seated.
I'm too lazy to return back to the rooftop of the Arena, so I'll watch the match from here. Unfortunately, because of the people in the square cheering so loudly, I can't hear the commentators. But from what I see, the match is going on so intensely.
"Waiter! Please bring me the food from this whole page. All of them," I ordered some food while watching.
At least I can have a meal while watching here.
But seriously, did they really think that a smaller scale Stampede will be able to cause problem when they approach this city filled with hunters?
It will be a problem, but not a big one. Their real goal is Albert or anyone in the royal family.
Maybe there's a danger in the capital as well? Should I go there?
"Sonia, go to… the Prime Minister and ask him the condition in the capital. I found some people who want to cause trouble here, so maybe there will be some in the capital as well," I said to the ghost.
"His name is Hector. I'll be leaving for a while," Sonia said as she disappeared.
Well, let's watch the match while watching the surrounding as well. If I see someone who is watching this seat because of those two previous men sitting here. They might be from the cult as well.
One reason I ordered a lot of the dishes listed in the menu is because I'm hungry. Another reason is that those who ordered lots of dishes are too eye-catching. If someone pretend to not see, they are the suspicious one.
People will look at my table, and start talking about how I eat too much. But that's what I want. If they don't talk about it, they must be thinking of other things. Though everyone is too focused on the match that no one is looking this way.
Well, let's just eat while watching the fight.
Angela didn't fly like Shirley did. Flying just makes her vulnerable against lightning from above. I wonder how she realizes that? In any case, Angela has proven to everyone again that she's a genius. Unless those people know nothing.
When Jewel used lightning magic, Angela would protect herself with earth magic. When Jewel is charging at her to fight in close range, Angela would make pitfall or use ice magic to make the floor slippery.
The match has been going on for a while, so I think Angela only learned doing that after experiencing Jewel's attack for a while.
In the bench, which I can see from the restaurant with my Divine Vision, I can see Kayla is watching closely at Angela's attack pattern. She must have known that Jewel will lose and she will be the last one to fight so she's trying to find Angela's weakness.
Jewel is frustrated that none of her attack hits Angela, and that creates an opening for Angela to attack. And Angela won the match. Which mean the victor will be decided with these two best friends from Melk.
Should I watch it from the Arena? Nah. The closer it is to the climax, the more likely the cult will act. I'll be watching from here again for the last bout.