'Dark Operative of the Black Hand Syndicate - Selene the Seductress....' Adrian muttered in his mind, looking at the masked Selene. 'Though she will gain this title in the future after becoming The Left Hand, only third to The Right Hand and the founder - Black Hand.'
"Are you confused why you're tied up and unable to speak?" Selene chuckled. "Hey, don't look at like that. You helped to 'find' the herb, and I helped you to reunite with your friend. We both fulfilled our parts of the deal."
Adrian's eyes narrowed, feigning anger and frustration. He needed to play his role convincingly to avoid suspicion.
Selene leaned closer, her eyes glittering with amusent behind her mask. "Turn to your left," she commanded with a smirk.
Adrian turned hurriedly to his left, and his gaze t Rhea's. The elf girl was looking at him with a surprised and confused expression.
Selene chuckled softly. "See? I helped you reunite with your friend, just like I promised."
Rhea's eyes widened as she took in the sight of Adrian bound and gagged. The confusion in her eyes slowly shifted to understanding as she saw Adrian subtly winking with his left eye. She realized he had a plan.
Selene, seemingly oblivious to the exchange, stood up and stretched. "Now, I have other matters to attend to. Enjoy your little reunion," she said with a mocking tone before turning to leave the cell.
Then another masked figure ca over and removed the gag from Adrian's mouth.
"Be grateful for our Boss's rcy. You would've been killed if not for her orders." The masked figure kicked him on his right side, but Adrian didn't react, remaining stoic and unaffected.
The masked man scoffed. "You think you are tough, huh? Then..."
As the masked man prepared to kick him again, Adrian looked past him and said in a cold voice, "Why did you return, Selene?"
"B-Boss?!" The masked man quickly turned around, expecting to see Selene, but found no one. Realizing he had been tricked, he spun back around to see Adrian's cold smirk and fearso expression. "D-Damn you!"
The masked man gulped. "After our mission is over, I'll kill you myself," he spat, before leaving them alone.
Adrian remained composed until the man left. Then he turned to Rhea. "Rhea, you ok? Nothing happened to you, right? What happened? Did they kidnap you all?
How did it happen? I just left for a while, and you were gone. I thought you guys left and have been searching silly."
Rhea was confused at first by his words, but as he continued, she realized he was lying to deceive Selene and the others, he was acting.
"Y-Yes, Si, M-Marcus," Rhea said, playing along. She quickly corrected herself just as she was about to say 'Sir Adrian'. "T-They ambushed us two days ago. We tried to fight them off, but there were too many. They captured all of us before I knew what was happening."
Adrian nodded, his expression a mix of concern and relief. "I see... I'm just glad you're okay, Rhea. Sorry that I left you, but we'll definitely get out of here, I promise. Everyone."
Rhea's eyes shone with understanding and another emotion. "I-I believe you, Marcus. B-But how are we going to get out of here?"
"That... You will have to wait for a bit." Adrian replied. "I need to recover my strength first."
"A-Alright." Rhea nodded lowering her head.
"..." Adrian looked at her silently. Though her acting wasn't on par with his, it wasn't at least suspicious.
'Is her acting good or bad...?'
"It would be good if Aurelius and Aurelia and others ca too, right?" Adrian spoke again. Rhea's ears perked up as soon as she heard those nas.
'Woah, Aurelius, did you already conquer her? Is this the perk of being the MC?' Adrian muttered inwardly sensing her antics.
Rhea looked up, her eyes looking at him as if asking 'Are they here?'.
Adrian should blink once confirming her thoughts.
A small, hopeful, and hesitant smile appeared on Rhea's face.
'She is probably both happy and scared that they are here.' Adrian thought reading her mind. 'They are her first friends after all.'
'But, I don't know when are they going to et with my group, and when are they going to raid this place.' Adrian wasn't a genius nor an omnipotent, he just used all the knowledge he had to form this plan. He didn't know whether it was a grand or a stupid plan, but he would do his best to make it work. 'I hope they attack soon before those 'two' arrive. Or else...'
'Well, if worst cos to worst, I will just have to use my new weapon. I have been itching to show off it for a while too. Haha.'
'But chances of dying are higher than all the previous events, arcs...'
'Well, guess I, no, we will need to give it our all...'
______ ___ _
Selene and two of her n returned to the entrance of the cave, standing behind the waterfall.
"Have you received any reports from those three?" Selene asked looking at them.
"...Yes, and No, Boss." One of them replied.
Selene raised her eyebrow. "Elaborate."
"We haven't received anything from Black 3, and as for Black 7 and 9 reported the disappearance of the 4 bandit scouts. Two of them were completely gone or hadn't been found yet, while two were found tied to trees, unconscious. They couldn't wake them up. Probably the work of a sleeping potion."
"Hmmm..." Selene stared at the waterfall as she digested her subordinate's words. 'So there are intruders, huh? Possibly more than two. Or else they couldn't have taken down the bandits. But who are they, and why are they here? Are they a rescue team?'
She guessed soone must have reported the disappearance of the herbalists so soone might have co to rescue them.
'They probably know our location if they have caught the bandits... Sigh... Why did I give the task of kidnapping to the bandits... I should've kidnapped the girl alone... If worst cos to worst'
'Well, too late to regret now, guess my recent success made too confident, huh...'
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