AK - The Alchemy Kingdom

Chapter 153: Operations

Year 4, Winter, Second Month, Second Week.

Lew yawned and took another sip of the bitter tea that was helping him remain alert. Beside him, two agents and a tired operator waited for any sign of movement in the proximities of the APs Office. Fortunately, the locator could be adjusted to identify closer targets, avoiding the readings from inside the huts. Since they discovered the first spy, they started to find at least one spy amongst every new group of Adventurers that arrived.

The situation that would be considered a nightmare to any other manager, was actually welcomed by Lew. This was a rare opportunity to train the agents, especially for counterintelligence. Soon, the forest might become an area of combat between the two Kingdoms, so they had to use all the available opportunities to gather experience.

Although AP was considered a tale told by Adventurers on their drunk nights in the Kingdoms taverns, the place was receiving a good flow of visitors. Currently, they were hosting a little over 90 Adventurers but the number could go as high as 120 in Spring. Initially, they only allowed those who stayed on AP before to find this location, so all new customers were brought by old ones.

However, soon some Adventurers started to wander around AP, looking for the place. Instead of just remaining concealed, they decided to allow the less suspicious groups to find the place. Surprisingly, the spies came more from the invited groups than from the wanderers.

Lew didnt rule out the possibility of some spies escaping, but what would they say which wasnt already said by the Adventurers? At most, they could try to guide the Kingdoms forces to AP, but they already expected this to happen either way. The important part was that from the 12 spies that tried to invade, rob, or capture their people, not even one escaped. And today, they were waiting for another.

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This time around, the suspect was a wind Mage, so Lew was a little apprehensive. Fortunately, this wasnt a normal fight, but an ambush on their territory. However, he wouldnt underestimate his enemy, so he decided to play safe this time.

The sudden glow in the locater panel got everyones attention.

Sir, the target is moving towards the building.

Lew nodded and started to give commands. Being able to use the Adventurers recorded spiritual properties to identify the target was a very powerful tool.

Tell team one to expect income and send the shadow as cover. Diverge the sound isolation to the Office.

A second operator quickly started to press the keys to pass the message, while the other changed the settings in the protections Arrays. The barrier protecting AP also blocked sounds to avoid soundtracking or sound attacks. But since last month, Anya adapted it so it could be transferred to the Office by the press of an activator.

With the sound blocking effect surrounding the building, any noises of fighting wouldnt be transmitted outside. Above the basement, a team waited for the invader, hidden in the shadows. Behind the counter and under the concealment effect, Samia was ready to act if the Mage threatened the lives of the agents.

The sound of wood being forced announced the approach of their target and left the agents on edge. The room was filled with anticipation as they started to count the slow light steps coming to the pub. Soon, a robed figure entered the pub and walked to the counter, probably aiming for the kitchen and the backroom. Without notice, the team sprang into action.

Two agents attacked the side and back of the Mage, aiming to neutralize him. One attack landed on his side, just as he cast an emergency spell. A strong gust of wind rotated around him and pushed the two agents back. The spell only threw them back a few meters but was enough to give the Mage some room.

Another agent moved on the target, trying to hit him head-on with a staff, but the wind Mage leverage his affinity to dodge back while keeping his casting. With a swift movement, he guided the wind to flow around him, connected the feedback, and formed a Wind Dome. The agents tried to attack again but failed to break through the dome with just their staffs.

Samia, who was watching from the side, decided to send a fast message to the operations room. The Mage was stronger than they expected, he was probably of a higher tier. Fortunately, the agents werent unprepared, they kept attacking the dome without remaining in one place for too long. Against higher tier Mages, staying still could mean certain death. Either way, she would be ready to act if needed.

The wind Mage was in a tough situation. Inside of the building, he couldnt use the full extension of his powers. As a recently advanced Commander, he only learned a few spells of the tier, one was thankfully castable (the Wind Dome), but the others wouldnt be cast so easily, limiting his attacking power by several levels. Even so, he still was a wind Commander.

The three agents continued to launch attacks and move around, trying to prevent the Mage from casting another spell. Their orders were to restrain the enemy, and only used deadly force if their lives were at risk. Unfortunately, their efforts only delayed an attack.

Once the Mage lock into one of the agents, he used the environments wind energy to create a sudden rotational current and push the target against a wall. If he was an Invoker he wouldnt be able to control the energy bypassing the dome, but with the increased affinity and the stronger connection of a Commander, it was barely possible.

The other two attackers started to hesitate, jumping back and avoiding getting too close. However, the Mage used this pause in the attacks to draw more energy and initiate another casting. The wind rotating around his hands intensified and formed two separated small Wind Tunnels on each of his hands. Unhesitatingly, the Mage dismissed the dome and expanded the tunnels towards the two remaining enemies.

The attacks traveled the five meters in a little over a second, but the agents had already activated their solid bubble shields and were trying to dodge sideways. The Wind Tunnels clashed against the barriers, which only held for a few seconds before crumbling. The barriers worked better against physical attacks. Even though the wind lacked damaging power, it put a strain on the bubble layer by covering and pressing against a large area. Fortunately, the agents had already moved outside the attacks reach.

Their hearts were beating madly and the adrenaline was pumping into their veins. The agents took advantage of the domes absence and dashed towards their target. The Mage was confused about the appearance of a barrier, but not enough to prevent him from activating his emergency spell again. The sudden gust of wind circled the Mage, but the attackers stopped before reaching their target and pressed an activator on their gear.

Sparks appeared over their coats and a lightning arc connected between them hitting the Mage, who was in the middle. The man screamed and tried to increase the effect of his emergency spell, but it barely changed anything. He soon dropped the spell, and the agents finally got close enough to tie him and put a restraining bracelet on his wrist. Only then, Samia, who was ready to launch an enhanced throwing knife, relaxed a little.