The night settled quietly over House No. 102.

Outside, the streets were calm and still, wrapped in silence. A soft breeze moved through the empty lanes, carrying the peace of a resting town.

Inside—

It was the complete opposite.

“YOU HAD ONE JOB!” Eryx’s voice echoed across the room, loud enough to shake the walls.

Vihaan sat at the table, flipping through a small notebook as if nothing unusual was happening.

“I completed the job,” he replied calmly. “You’re just unhappy with the outcome.”

Eryx turned toward him, clearly offended.

“Unhappy? You threw me at a spider!”

Vihaan finally looked up, his expression unchanged.

“I created an opportunity.”

“You used me as bait!”

“Strategic positioning.”

Eryx ran a hand through his messy hair.

“That is NOT strategy!”

“It worked, didn’t it?”

Eryx paused for a moment.

“…That’s not the point!”

From the corner of the room came a soft sound.

Clink.

Liorin took a slow sip of her soup, watching the argument like it was something she had already seen a hundred times.

“You both survived,” she said calmly. “Statistically, that makes the plan effective.”

Eryx turned toward her in disbelief.

“You’re supporting him?!”

“I’m supporting results.”

Vihaan leaned back slightly.

“See?”

Eryx exhaled sharply.

“…I need a new team.”

“Denied,” Liorin replied without even looking up.

Frustrated, Eryx grabbed a cushion and threw it toward Vihaan.

Vihaan tilted his head just enough.

The cushion missed him and hit the wall.

“Next time, aim better,” Liorin added.

A brief silence followed.

Then—

cling.

The small metallic sound from the balcony cut through the room.

All three paused.

“…Message,” Eryx muttered.

He stepped outside, picked up the rolled paper from the wooden box, and returned.

As he opened it, his expression lit up.

“Hurray—another mission!”

He looked up at them.

“We have to report by 6 a.m. tomorrow… but I really hope we’re not going back to forests.”

Vihaan leaned back, thinking.

“No location mentioned?”

Eryx checked again.

“Nope.”

Vihaan’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“Then it won’t be simple.”

Liorin placed her bowl aside and stood up.

“Good,” she said calmly. “Simple missions are boring.”

Eryx stared at her.

“…You and him are the same.”

The chaos slowly faded.

Replaced by focus.

—

Morning arrived.

The training ground was filled with movement as soldiers prepared for departure.

At the center, Team 111 stood before Master Valen.

“Team 111,” Valen began, “unlike our earlier mission, this is a joint mission of several teams, headed by Commander Smith.”

They listened carefully.

“This mission demands more than skill. It requires patience… and respect for other teams.”

He paused briefly.

“One wrong move can cause the entire plan to fail… and lead us—or you—to death.”

His gaze shifted toward Eryx.

“So I do not expect any such mistake from you. Especially you—you must be more patient.”

Eryx scratched his head.

“…Why always me?”

But his tone was softer this time.

Vihaan nodded slightly.

“Understood.”

Liorin added calmly,

“No unnecessary risks.”

Valen gave a small nod.

—

The troop moved out.

Through forests, across plains, and over mountains, a long line of soldiers rode in silence.

Hours later, they stopped before a destroyed village.

The sight was unsettling.

Broken homes.

Burned structures.

Silence where life once existed.

“…So this is what he meant,” Eryx said quietly.

Liorin observed carefully.

“No signs of prolonged struggle. Everything happened too fast.”

“Controlled,” Vihaan added.

—

“We should move,” Commander Smith ordered. “To Sian Village.”

—

The next village stood untouched, but fear lived in every corner.

The arrival of soldiers brought hope.

At the center, Smith spoke firmly.

“You are all to evacuate immediately. This village is no longer safe.”

Shock spread among the villagers.

“We will secure this area. But for that, the village must be empty.”

Then came the real plan.

“Commander Sue, spread a false report. All villages are evacuated except Sian Village. This one will be evacuated tomorrow.”

“Understood,” she replied.

Smith continued,

“All teams, take positions. Surround the village at one kilometer distance. Leave uphill paths open. Archers, take position in the trees. Keep the lanterns burning.”

The trap was set.

—

Liorin turned to her team.

“I’m not coming with you. I’ll take position with the archers.”

“So we’re splitting now?” Eryx frowned.

“Better visibility,” Vihaan said calmly.

“Just don’t miss.”

“I don’t,” Liorin replied.

She climbed swiftly and disappeared into the branches.

—

Night fell over Sian Village.

The streets were empty.

Lanterns flickered softly, casting moving shadows across the ground.

Everything was still.

Almost too still.

From the darkness at the far end of the village—

A figure emerged.

Mounted on a black horse.

Hood covering the face.

A long sword resting in hand.

Then another followed.

And another.

Until all nine shadows walked slowly into the village.

Their presence alone made the air feel heavier.

Above them, hidden in the trees, archers waited.

Bows drawn.

Eyes fixed.

No one moved.

No one spoke.

Every soldier waited for the perfect moment.

Then—

A slight shift broke the stillness.

One of the archers adjusted his footing on a narrow branch. His boot slipped slightly against the bark.

He quickly regained balance.

There was no sound.

No fall.

Nothing obvious.

But it was enough.

Below, one of the shadows slowed.

His head tilted slightly toward the trees.

Not fully.

Just enough.

From above, Liorin saw it instantly.

He had noticed.

The shadow raised his hand calmly.

A small blade appeared between his fingers.

In the next instant—

It was gone.

The blade cut through the air silently.

The archer’s body jerked.

His grip loosened.

And he fell from the tree.

Liorin closed her eyes for a brief second.

She could have stopped it.

She knew she could.

But she didn’t move.

Because revealing her position would destroy the entire plan.

When her eyes opened again—

They were colder.

Sharper.

—

At the edge of the village, Commander Smith took his shot.

The arrow flew perfectly toward one of the shadows.

But the rider caught it mid-air—

Just a centimeter from his face.

That moment triggered everything.

Arrows rained from the trees.

A coordinated attack from all directions.

Liorin drew her arrow, whispering a soft chant.

She aimed upward—

And released.

The arrow shot into the sky, leaving a glowing green trail.

A signal.

Beyond the village, hidden riders began moving to close the trap.

Below, the shadows responded.

Not with panic.

But with precision.

They dodged.

Deflected.

Intercepted.

Every movement controlled.

Every reaction perfect.

The storm of arrows ended.

The archers shifted positions.

And silence returned once again.

The nine shadows stood there.

Unharmed.

Unshaken.

And in that moment—

Everyone realized the truth.

This was never just an ambush.

It was a clash between two forces—

Both ready.

Both aware.

—

They planned the perfect trap…

But it will work or fail depends on how enemy takes it....

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