Ch.208Chapter 208: Swift Delivery (1)

# Chapter 208: Swift Delivery (1)

The next day, 3 AM. The scheduled operation start time.

A heavy silence and palpable tension filled Lamrpo’s secret hideout.

Though they had tried to get sufficient rest over the past few hours, it seemed no one had been able to sleep comfortably due to the burden of the perilous operation ahead. Everyone’s faces showed both fatigue and solemn determination.

Fortunately, Lamrpo’s recovery items had been a great help.

Lamrpo paced restlessly around the room with his still-pale face, while Princess Siloin tried hard to maintain her composure, but her tightly pressed lips and slightly trembling fingertips betrayed her nervousness.

She had now become more than just an information provider—she was a key collaborator who had to stake everything on the success of this dangerous operation.

‘Why… am I doing this?’

Princess Siloin wore a dejected expression amid her identity crisis, but she had already come too far.

Professor Liman checked his sword ‘Lee Glaive’ one last time while delivering final instructions to his team members in a low voice.

His voice carried the cold precision and experience of an Aura Master, rather than his usual grumbling.

“We have only one objective: secure the ‘Tempest.’ Avoid unnecessary combat as much as possible. However, eliminate anyone who gets in our way without hesitation, swiftly and quietly. Absolutely no killing? If we kill, it’s simply war. The infiltration team should focus on maintaining invisibility magic, and the suppression team should move according to my signal. Valt and the Princess will focus on securing the cockpit, while I and the mages will handle the takeoff preparations. We have no time. Not even a single mistake will be tolerated. Understood?”

“Yes!”

“Yes!”

“Kuhehe, subduing without killing is actually more difficult. Want to bet on who can knock out more?”

“You’re really counting numbers in this situation? Focus on the mission.”

Solphin, Yuria, and Aireen even seemed relaxed.

Valt checked his condition one last time.

His mana had mostly recovered, and his condition wasn’t bad.

He checked Franz’s mirror in his possession once more. The five core components were safely stored in the mirror’s subspace.

Now all that remained was to get the “wings” that would carry all of this to Kwan.

‘Tsk, it would be nice if I could teleport with this. But the components would break during teleportation….’

It was uncertain whether the components would be affected by teleportation even while inside Franz’s mirror.

Components breaking would be even worse.

That’s why they had no choice but to take this risk.

“It’s time.”

Valt said quietly.

“Let’s move.”

With his words, the group headed toward the entrance of an abandoned old mana supply tunnel on the outskirts of the Magitek Knights’ headquarters through a secret underground passage prepared by Lamrpo.

The interior of the long-closed mana supply tunnel was dark and damp as expected, with old mana pipes and broken cables scattered everywhere.

But as Professor Liman had predicted, there were no traces of surveillance magic or security forces.

Lilith moved ahead using shadow movement to check for traps, while Lati cast concealment magic and noise cancellation spells on the entire team, perfectly hiding their movements.

“This way. It’s an old blueprint, but this tunnel should definitely connect to the level 5 underground hangar area.”

Professor Liman guided the way, illuminating an old map with his magic lantern.

After walking for some time, they finally discovered an old emergency exit at the end of the tunnel, blocked by a massive reinforced steel door.

“This is it.”

Liman said, examining the material and locking mechanism of the door.

“It’s an old model, but it’ll be difficult to open with physical force alone. Lati, prepare the unlocking spell.”

“Yes!”

“Wait!”

At that moment, Yuria sniffed the air and gave a low warning sound.

Her sense of smell was the best among them.

Sometimes it proved even more useful than detection magic.

“…I smell something. Very faint, but… someone else’s scent besides ours. There are traces of someone passing through here recently.”

“The Dark Council?” Valt’s gaze sharpened.

“No, not that disgusting magi smell. But… an unfamiliar scent. We should be careful.”

Everyone’s tension rose again.

Professor Liman clicked his tongue and nodded to Lati.

Lati carefully began chanting the unlocking spell, while Lilith hid in the shadows, sensing for any presence beyond the door.

Creeeeak—

Click—

Shortly after, with the sound of an old lock being released, the heavy steel door opened inward.

Beyond the door was a corridor filled with mechanical sounds and cold air, dimly lit by flickering emergency lights. As expected, it was a passage connected to the underground hangar area of the Magitek Knights’ headquarters.

“…I don’t sense anyone.”

Lilith emerged from the shadows to report.

“Good. From now on, we move with extreme caution.”

Valt ordered.

“Our target is the Tempest hangar. As planned, Lilith and Lati will handle concealment and security deactivation, while Solphin, Aireen, and Yuria prepare to immediately subdue any unexpected situations. Professor Liman, Princess Siloin, Lamrpo, and I will follow.”

They began to move in perfect coordination once again.

Lilith advanced through the shadows, identifying the locations of patrol forces and surveillance devices, while Lati adjusted the range of her concealment magic according to this information and disrupted various magical detection sensors.

Before long, they finally reached the last corridor leading to the massive hangar.

At the end of the corridor stood a thick double blast door firmly closed, with two Magitek golems and four elite knights standing guard in front of it.

The security was more lax than expected.

The reason was obvious.

Who in their right mind would invade this place to steal an airship?

Moreover, the royal seal was needed to fly the airship.

The small number of guards was understandable.

“…System regular inspection and energy replacement time in 5 minutes.”

Lati whispered, checking the time.

“In 5 minutes, the door’s mana barrier and sensor sensitivity will temporarily drop to minimum levels for 3 minutes.”

“Good. We’ll seize that opportunity.”

Professor Liman said.

“Suppression team, get ready. On my signal, finish it within 10 seconds. I’ll say it again, absolutely no killing.”

Solphin, Aireen, and Yuria gripped their weapons and held their breath.

The 5 minutes felt like an eternity. Finally, Lati whispered softly.

“…3, 2, 1! Now!”

“Go!”

With Liman’s shout, the three female warriors sprang forward like shadows.

“What…!”

Before the knights and golems on guard could react, Solphin’s claymore smashed one golem’s head, and Aireen’s sword precisely pierced the power core of the other golem.

Yuria had already appeared behind two knights, striking their napes to knock them unconscious, and the remaining two knights also collapsed without even a scream under Solphin and Aireen’s coordinated attack.

It was a lightning-fast takedown.

Solphin shrugged and said.

“Nobody said not to destroy the golems, right?”

Valt quickly shouted.

“Lati! The door!”

“Yes!”

As Lati quickly approached the blast door and began casting an unlocking spell, Professor Liman inserted a special tool containing his mana into the control device beside it.

Beep beep beep—!

With a system error message, the blue mana barrier surrounding the door visibly weakened.

Creeeeak… Clunk!

Finally, the thick blast doors opened sideways, revealing the vast and majestic interior of the hangar.

Inside the hangar, under dim blue lighting, masterpieces of cutting-edge magical engineering technology rested quietly.

And in the center… stood one airship with an elegant and sleek jet-black body that was incomparable to other flying vessels, displaying its imposing presence.

Its surface seemed to be coated with special magic for stealth functionality, barely reflecting light and seeming to absorb the surrounding darkness.

That was the Duron Kingdom’s most powerful aerial combat weapon, the ‘Tempest.’

“…Found it.”

Valt murmured softly.

“Hurry! We don’t have time!”

Liman shouted.

Without delay, Valt and Siloin headed toward the cockpit entrance through the elevator mechanism under the Tempest.

Liman had already entered the cockpit and was quickly scanning the complex instrument panel to understand the startup procedure.

Lati and Lilith began installing magic circles around the hangar entrance and the airship to conceal the takeoff. Solphin, Aireen, and Yuria guarded the other passages into the hangar.

“Princess, your turn! Do this and I’ll guarantee you an A+ on your practical evaluation!”

Liman pointed to the biometric and mana authentication device at the cockpit entrance.

Siloin seemed to hesitate for a moment but then placed her hand on the device with determination.

Clear blue royal mana flowed from her fingertips and began resonating with the authentication device.

[Verifying royal biometric data… Comparing mana pattern… Authentication complete. Final security release code or royal seal verification required.]

With the mechanical voice guidance, the final locking mechanism appeared. Siloin took the royal emblem from Valt with trembling hands and placed it at a specific position.

Beep—

Beep beep—!

Red warning lights flashed a few times, heightening the tension, until finally…

[Highest level security release complete. Tempest control authority has been transferred.]

“…It worked!”

Valt breathed a sigh of relief.

But at that very moment!

Weeeeeeeeeeee—!!!

A deafening emergency alarm began blaring throughout the hangar! Simultaneously, the blast doors at the hangar entrance that had just opened began closing again with a thunderous sound, and hidden automatic defense turrets emerged from the ceiling and walls, turning their barrels toward them.

“Damn it! We’ve been discovered after all!”

Liman shouted from the cockpit!

“And we’re not ready for takeoff yet!”

“The security system might have been hacked, or there could be other intruders besides us!”

Lati shouted urgently.

To make matters worse, beyond the closing blast doors, numerous footsteps and shouts from the knights could be heard from the corridor.

“What madmen would dare to! Intruders! Seal the hangar!”

They were surrounded on all sides.

The automated defense system from within and the knights from outside were closing in on them.

There was no time.

Valt gritted his teeth as he watched the chaotic situation through the cockpit window and heard the engine of the Tempest just beginning to start up!

“Professor Liman! Prepare for forced takeoff! Everyone else, board the airship! Hold them off!”

The final hurdle was just beginning.