The capital's silent. The moment sun's gone, everyone already hiding in their house leaving only guards patrolling. And in the middle of that silence, Nein moved like ghost, using the fog to hide his presence as he walking through the armed guard unnoticed.
The earlier presence still roaming around with purpose, approaching each house and streets as if looking for something but when the guards approaching their spot, they immediately disappear. He sense ten of them around doing the same thing.
"That's odd. Is it some kind of illusion magic?. No wonder there's no progress with the search, the one the Duke's looking for is a ghost." He mumbles to himself as he assessing the situation further.
His focus distracted when he see one of the target getting closer to his spot. He remain still and wait for the individual to see what he's facing against. Shortly, he then saw an old withering man with a stick.
The old man simply walk passed him without noticing. He decided to follow while keeping an eye on the others with the fog. He follows like a wind, hiding when the old man hides and leaping over the balcony.
**Two hours later, inside a hidden structure deep in the forest**
"Damn it!. I lost again. Hey what about those guys on duty tonight?." Said one of the thug with a cigarette.
"Heh, don't know. It's their problem not us.". The others replied with a scoffs as he shuffle the card.
In a place hidden deep in the twilight forest where corrupted beast lurking around at night. All the thugs and criminal all gathered in one place simply enjoying their time.
Meanwhile, Nein casually blending in among the criminal after following the old man who turns out a man in disguise. He effortlessly infiltrate and no one suspecting him by the way he looks.
His attention shifting toward a figure wearing a priest clothes and being escorted by the security. He immediately rose up and disappear into smoke unnoticed by others and follows the man to wherever they lead him to.
"Sir Pallie my friend!. Nice to see you again!." A man covered in gold immediately went to hug the priest with familiarity.
"Oh, Mr. Anu, you're as healthy as ever. So have you prepared anything for me hmm?". He asked playfully after pulling away.
"Of course I am, come on. The products already waiting for you." Anu wave his hand to the security and begin leading Pallie inside the bunker.
Nein follows behind them and is shocked by what he sees. Peoples behind the cages that not only filled with missing person on the list but also an unknown faces. They're starving and weak against the floor, but Nein gaze remain calm and collected as he continue following them.
They reached a room at the end of the hallway. A metal door that prevent intruder for coming in. But Nein casually follows without problem since he's only a polluted air now.
"Now, I shall shown you our bestest yet!." Anu says with excitement as he holds the blanket covering a cage and pulled it down. "Ta-da!!. It's an elf!"
Pallie gasps in awe at the captured elf and unconsciously stepping closer before he stopped and saw the elf eyes starring at something behind him making him turn sharply and saw no one particularly.
"W-what's wrong sir?." Anu ask confused by his actions.
"Nothing. Are you sure there's only two of us here?". Pallie asked as he stare at Anu's eyes.
"Of course. It's obvious doesn't it?". Anu said convincing him.
Little did they know, Nein's already holding his breath from the commotion as he cue the elf to act like he's not there.
"Anyway, since it's rare...can you add some donation to this sir Pallie?". Anu said as he rubbing both hands against each other.
"Heh, worry not my friend. I'll pay whatever number you give me". Pallie answer with wicked smile.
"Alright, let's stop right there.". Nein suddenly join the conversation after showing himself between their faces.
He act first while the two still stunned by his sudden presence. Using his smoke to strangle and prevent them to make any noise. The black air tighten around their body like a ropes as he takes the key from Anu's pocket and went to open the cage.
"You almost got me into a trouble miss. Luckily I'm good at hiding." He says casually while searching for the right key.
"There you go." He said after unlocking the cage.
Boom!!!
An explosion occurred behind him, making a loud bang across the base. Nein use the smoke as shield and protect anything behind it while Pallie got blasted to the wall, still alive as he immediately run away. But Nein's gaze fixed entirely to the hideous monster Infront of him, Anu's been transformed into a huge chunk of muscle and horns.
"You little pest...you dare to ruin my business!!". He shout before sending a punch.
Meanwhile, Pallie's already making his way outside the forest. Using potion to heal his wounds and cursing under his breath. He already know something was wrong going on inside that place but he never thought Anu's a worshiper and only thinking it's just a normal human trafficking.
He runs desperately only to see the same man who supposed to be fighting Anu standing before him unscathed.
**Present time**
Nein smoke's bringing Pallie's body, carrying him back to the base. He already taken care of Anu and the rest of the criminals by tying them to the floor while Ellie, the elf helps him releasing the victim.
"I've done releasing everyone now." Ellie said with purpose, her eyes fixed on Pallie or maybe the black thing that carrying his body.
"Good job. I'll handle everything here, for now...just rest. Someone will come to pick everyone's up." He drop the body and went back to where he tied Anu.
He's strangled under Nein's smokes. Unable to use his powers and is helpless against him. Ellie's watching the scene with wonder as she finally asked.
"What kind of magic did you use?. I...never witness something like this before...is it dark magic?." She ask cautiously.
Nein take his time to find the right words to explain it and look at her eyes once he found an answer.
"It's not fitting as a magic, but rather an alchemy." He pause briefly before continuing.
"I use my body as the cauldron,my blood as the water and material I ate as ingredients to create the smoke." He tried to sounds logical since he's not really familiar with the terms in this world.
"So you're saying that you're using your own body to cast magic rather than using mana?." She ask, perplexed by the concept he said.
"I...I don't understand...".
He simply sigh and nods in understanding and kneeling on one leg to examine the monster.
"All you need to know is than I never use this power to harm peoples. Only the one deserved it and I assure you it's not dark magic. And don't worry about him getting loose, the smoke is sturdy enough to hold two continents together." He says casually as he walked back to the main entrance.
Ellie simply listen with wonder. Taking his words for now since he doesn't sound like he's bluffing. Despite being the only elf among the victim, she remain confident despite people staring since elf rarely showing themselves to outsiders.
His messenger crow returned after delivering the news to August and dissipating into the air. He turn around to tell the people.
"Help will arrive shortly, the Duke himself will come here to pick you up. So take a rest and breath. You're all save now." His voice carries easily despite his low and reassuring tone.
Right now, the only concern is what to eat after everything's done. Some people died before he arrives, but it's not his problem to think about. It's no one's fault but it's a fate that bring him here.
And with that, along with the rising sun. August arrived with his guards and priest as Nein told in the message. He begin commanding his men to carries the civilian one by one until his eyes widen suddenly as Ellie approaching and standing beside Nein.
"Princess Ellie?." August said, surprised and refer Ellie with formalities that catches Nein attention.