Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

"... It seems that people have been keeping an eye on me, even more than I had expected," Branden said while squinting his eyes. "I messed up this time."

"What do you know about this city's lord?" Rain asked.

"... Perhaps I am not the best person to answer this," Branden replied.

"This city's lord is quite influential and has many allies, he also tried to win over Branden's mother after the death of his father was confirmed," Lorene replied. "I guess that is one reason for him not to like us that much."

"He also makes business with half of the people that we were going to investigate, so if he decided to do something that would trouble them… they would feel compelled to work with him, no matter what," Orcis said. "Still, there are no bad rumors about him and he didn't do anything until now that would make him feel suspicious."

"What are the chances of him contacting Leo before?" Rain asked.

"... It is hard to say, we were just kids back then and no one was keeping an eye on them," Branden said. "Still, I don't think that he could be working with the magic people if he has access to the anti-magic bombs… that would be too dangerous for them."

Rain's head hurt as he wondered about the situation. He had always avoided politics, despising the intricate maneuvering that often accompanied it. However, he couldn't escape the repercussions of his lack of knowledge about potential enemies hidden within his own country.

One of the primary reasons Rain had dedicated so much time and effort to training his friends was his trust in their loyalty. He believed they would stand beside him and protect his sisters, regardless of the challenges they faced. But the world they inhabited was rife with dangers that extended beyond physical combat.

Magic and other concealed dangers lurked in the shadows, and it was evident that their adversaries were willing to employ any means necessary to achieve their objectives. The stakes had risen significantly, and Rain understood the urgent need to adapt swiftly to confront these new and multifaceted challenges.

"This smells fishy…" Lorene said. "If those involved in the kidnappings are also investigating us, they also should be aware that we contacted Seadir and the sea folk. They might be plotting something… running away isn't their only option."

"Do you think that their information network is that fast?" Branden asked.

"We shouldn't underestimate them," Lorene said. "I don't know much about the military and wars, but I know a few things about backstabbing in our country. Now is the high time for the enemies to make their moves before you marry Esmeralda."

"You have a point… in that case, we can't make big moves, but we have to find proof that the lord here is plotting against the country by inciting a war between us and the seafolk," Branden rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Rain, can you do that on your own? You can't use your most famous spells, and you can't also fight like you usually do."

"You sure are asking for a lot," Rain replied. "Let's see… I guess I can pull it off, what is the goal here? Kill everyone or just capture the lord?"

"We need to avoid escalating the situation before we have clear proof of his involvement, so you need to stop him and look for the proof," Branden said. "Still, I don't think that he will be unguarded, and it is hard to imagine him keeping a prisoner under his house… Focus on knocking down those who get in your way and then capture the lord before investigating his home.

If something happens, you can escape with the lord, and we will deal with the rest."

"All right then," Rain said, and then he began to stretch his body.

"How do you plan to deal with the situation?" Branden asked.

"I want to try something new for a while, so I will use water magic since it isn't that deadly unless I make something extra sharp and compressed," Rain explained. "Don't wait for me to explain everything in detail."

"All right… just try to be careful because things aren't as simple as they are in a war," Branden said. "As for the target's appearance…"

After hearing about the appearance of the target, Rain grabbed some potions just in case, his mana was full and he couldn't think that something as dangerous as a dragon was waiting for him in the city, but he had to be careful just in case to avoid future problems.

Rain wasted no time in finishing his preparations. Leaving Branden, Lorene, and Orcis in the company of their three guests seemed the wisest choice. They all understood the futility of killing those three at that moment. Moreover, with Rain's exceptional flying speed, any attempt to escape or hide would prove futile, and he would locate them sooner rather than later.

As he finalized his preparations, Rain took to the skies once more, bound for the city ahead. This time, however, he challenged himself by refraining from utilizing his earth magic, a habitual reflex. Instead, he relied solely on harnessing small bursts of wind to propel him forward and upward. It was a conscious effort to acclimate his mind to this shift in approach.

Before long, Rain reached the city and then found himself flying above the top of the largest building in the city, the target should be there.

Without hesitation, Rain began to fall toward the place and he could see a bunch of guards around the place. It was still early in the evening, so Despite their numbers, none of them were waiting for attacks. .

When Rain entered the area, he tried to use his wind magic to stop his fall, but much to his surprise… he failed to do that and eventually landed in the garden. It seemed that the area was covered with the same material that made the anti-magic bombs…