"Set the temporary Warp Gate . We need to talk . " Her voice was seething with anger . Lith took out from the Ranger amulet the metal frame and assembled the portal . Once it was powered by his mana and several mana crystals, it took just a few minutes for her to arrive along with a few army mages .
The prisoners needed immediate help . The Gate needed much more power to allow the transportation of so many people to Belius where they would receive proper care . After a quick sweep of the place under Lith's guidance, the army personnel was shocked .
Rangers were an elite unit . However it was hard to believe, even after seeing it with their own eyes, that so many criminals had been eliminated without a single casualty .
"Are you insane?" Lieutenant Kamila Yehval, Lith's handler, was on the verge of a massive headache . She was a woman in her late twenties with long black hair held up in a ponytail . She had almond shaped eyes which made her quite cute to Lith .
"You were supposed to make your report as soon as you assessed how dangerous the situation was . Your brash actions put yourself and the civilians into danger . Why didn't you ask for back up?"
Maybe it was because of Phloria, but Lith had a thing for authoritative women . Now that he could see in person, she wasn't only a sweet voice, but also quite attractive .
"Because the first hostile I engaged revealed the organization had a deal with my predecessor . They knew a new Ranger was about to arrive . I managed to take them by surprise because I reached this place sooner than they predicted .
"I thought that, if I called for back up, their associate could alert them and give them the time to dispose of the hostages and flee . " Lith lied through his teeth . He had made up the story while waiting for her .
His real motive was to not have witnesses . The slaves had no notion of magic, while the marauders could claim he was the reincarnation of Arthan the Mad King and no one would have believed them .
Lith predicted that based on the Royal Constable who would handle the case, the three prisoners had from a few days to a week left to live . The Kingdom's justice was as swift as brutal in such circumstances .
"You have a point . Still, you should have contacted me . Had you failed, the army would have lost a Ranger and those people their lives . " Kamila said with a sigh .
"How did you manage to kill so many on your own?"
"I pick my allies among those who cannot betray me . " Lith executed a short chant that raised an undead .
"A divide and conquer strategy . Very smart of you using their numbers against them . "
'Maybe he is not one of those idiots with the hero complex . ' She thought while smiling in approval .
"This level of mastery in Necromancy isn't listed in your file . We'll have to update it later . "
"I hope we can discuss it over dinner . I don't know any good place in Belius, so I'd be in your care . " Lith replied with what he hoped was his best charming smile .
"Are you hitting on me?" Kamila giggled .
"Well, yes . We have the same rank and your voice will be my only contact with the civilized world for the next months . I think we should know each other better . Also, I hope you wouldn't deny a lone Ranger his only wish . "
"Kid, do you have an idea how old I am?" She was still giggling and had yet to say no . Lith took it as a good sign .
"Twenty, maybe?" He squinted his eyes, like he was concentrating really hard on the answer . Lith's Warp Gate flashed for a second, allowing the Royal Constable to join them . It took her but a second to read the mood .
"Flirting on the scene of a massacre is a bit cliché, but it usually works to break the ice . At least for me . "
Lieutenant Yehval stopped twirling her hair and stood at attention .
"Constable Ernas . It's an unexpected pleasure to meet you so far away from home . " Lith said giving her a salute .
"At ease Lieutenants . I'm a fan of your work, Lith . So when I heard you were involved, I asked the case to be assigned to me . Take me to the prisoners, we have much to discuss . "
Lith accompanied Jirni to the cellar where the red haired bandit was detained .
Her arms were still shattered, making it pointless to cuff her . Her feet were chained to a wall, giving her barely enough space to stretch her legs .
"Constable Jirni Ernas . Are you ready to talk?" She asked with a flat tone .
"I'll tell you everything, but I want a deal . I don't care what you do with the others, as long I walk away free and with working arms . " Her face was strained from the pain, yet she looked at the Constable with defiance .
'If I talk, I'm a dead woman . There's nothing this wench can do to me that the Ranger hasn't already done . ' The marauder thought .
"Deal or no deal, you will talk . " Jirni replied with a cruel grin . She struck the prisoner with her extended fingers in the space between the neck and the collarbone . The criminal coughed a few times before attempting to curse at her warden .
No words came out of her mouth .
"You see, dear, if you hit the nerve cluster located there, first the victim goes numb, then they experience an unspeakable agony . " Lith took a mental note of Jirni's words . He could see the prisoner turning paler . The pain had yet to kick in, but the fear was already there .
"Now, while we wait for the confession, do you mind telling me if there's something serious between you and that pretty officer?"
"I just met her . " Lith shrugged . "Why do you ask?"
"I know it's none of my business, but please, humor me . Is there a Lady Verhen waiting for you at Lutia?"
"No . Otherwise I wouldn't ask my handler for a date . " Lith resented the allegation . He had never cheated on any of his past girlfriends .
"Perfect!" Jirni exclaimed with glee . "You know that I always cheered for you . I still think you and Phloria would make a perfect couple . She was so happy when Friya told her how worried you were about her happiness . "
Lith became red, while the prisoner tapped her foot . She was now eager to talk . Jirni had more pressing matters at hand, so she ignored her .
"Let's be honest, dear . You are a magnet for troubles, just like I was at your age . First day on the job and you stumble into a nightmare . No matter how much we roam the world or how many people we kill, the void inside those like us never disappears .
We are monsters, but it doesn't mean we have to remain alone . " She took his hand into hers .
"The Kingdom needs us to keep the real monsters at bay . You can find your place in the world if you stop being scared of hurting others and accept yourself for who you are . Think about this the next time you get a leave . Phloria is single at the moment too . " Jirni winked .
Lith left her to her job after promising Jirni he would keep in touch . Before he left the village to resume his patrol, Kamila gave him a new portable Warp Gate and her contact rune .
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