Souta met with the people from Mince Hand. They gave a red robe carved with the symbol of the group before they arranged the carriage they were going to use. The red robe was only a yellow-grade equipment, second to the lowest grade.
The group was quite weak so they were going to travel with the allied organization. Most of the recruits were only D-rank and C-rank while the senior apprentices were at the Initial Stage of B-rank. If not for the energy from the increase in mana density they would probably be at a lower level. Even Instructor Chun was only at the Peak Stage of B-rank.
Souta couldn't help but sigh looking at their weak lineup. The Mince Hand wasn't even an overlord of a city so this was within his expectations. He guessed that the Shimpan Family in Ekatoe City was even stronger than Mince Hand.
So why did he join this weak group? Well, he wanted to learn their history. He could ask this from other people but learning it within the organization gives him a more detailed explanation. It would also coincide with his previous goal of learning the myth.
Plus, Mince Hand was a member of a faction called Hundred Face Alliance. It was an alliance of multiple organizations to fight those incredibly powerful organizations.
"Everyone line up and enter the carriage! We'll depart soon!" Instructor Chun said in a loud voice so that everyone could hear him.
The apprentices slowly entered the carriages. They did one headcount before Instructor Chun went to talk with the allied group. Traveling together was to protect themselves from bandits and monsters.
Souta leaned forward and looked outside. 'I'll leave the other side to you, Amanda.'
He just hope that any of them would quickly find the culprit.
A day had passed and they were halfway through Beinu City. Souta spent his time talking to senior and his fellow apprentices. It made him closer to everyone. It was an act that he needed to do to gain the trust of everyone. Despite acting, Souta didn't push himself too far since it would lead to suspicion.
Besides talking to them, he spent his time training inside Saya's inner consciousness. He wanted to reach 50% mastery of Vajra Extremity to further improve his combat prowess.
Of course, Souta suppressed most of his energy. He even activated the effect of his bracelet so that no one would discover him. Or else, just a leakage of his energy would be enough to terrify all these people. It would also blow his disguise.
None of them were even at Liquefying Realm and the equipment on their bodies was all low-grade. It wouldn't protect them from his energy undulation.
He was like a walking nuclear reactor. The radiation coming from him would bring harm to low-level creatures.
Souta examined his body. He'd grown stronger once again. Although it was substantial, it was still good compared to nothing.
'I used all my achievement points to buy resources to create a portal so I don't have anything left.'
His bodily power was stronger than before but there was still a space for improvement. He would complete missions later to earn some achievement points in Athen's Champion. That way, he would be able to learn some light attribute skills.
Speaking of portals, that one was too expensive. Unfortunately, he couldn't delay it as it would make things easier to transport and his army could go back to port to gather more resources.
He also should ask Isabella to create a potion suitable for a monster's improvement. All the potions were created for humans and demis. There was even a potion that could increase an expert's chance of breaking through the shackle. But those types of potions were useless to him.
Souta suddenly narrowed his eyes. He silently bit his tongue to calm his senses. His urges were going out of control once again. He felt like someone was whispering vile things to his ears.
'Huff... The emotional instability of a monster is such a problem...'
He wondered how other monster deal with this problem. Yuko and Doranjan showed that they haven't shared the same problem as him.
Is it possible that the grief and hatred of souls triggered this instability?
'I'll spare a time to visit Typhon or Echidna in Olympus. I'm sure they wouldn't do anything to me since I'm a follower of Athena but I need to prepare myself. Both of them didn't have a good reputation. Ah, most of the rulers of Olympus didn't have a good reputation except for a few selected individuals.'
Souta shook his head and smiled wryly.
Boom!!
Suddenly, there came a deafening sound of an explosion outside. Shockwaves and flames swept out uprooting all the trees in the surrounding area.
The carriages were violently thrown in the air. The people couldn't react on time as they were swept by an intense high-temperature wind.
"What happened...?"
Souta opened his eyes before he stood up while patting his clothes. Although he suppressed most of his powers, his body was strong enough to endure this type of attack. He had eaten various mana fruits so his body gained resistance to various elements.
His resistance was enough to resist attacks below Shackled Realm. Even One Shackle would have a hard time trying to injure his body.
"Someone attacked the Hundred Face Alliance...?"
If it was the Mince Hand alone, Souta wouldn't be surprised since the Mince Hand was weak but... They were traveling with other groups here. Even an overlord organization in a city wouldn't dare to offend the entire Hundred Face Alliance.
He had a time to observe his surrounding.
Under the gray sky, there was an unending stream of black smoke rising to the sky.
"A barrier...?"
Souta noticed the translucent barrier. It was like a dome separating every part of the land. In this case, each group was covered in barrier.
The Mince Hand group.
Carriages were scattered everywhere, piles upon piles of black ash and burnt corpses lying near them.
"This smell..."
Souta narrowed his eyes.
'A special incense. It will knock out people below Liquefying Realm for a short amount of time.' Saya's voice sounded in his mind. 'You lowered your defense and the smoke managed to penetrate your body but it didn't have any effect on you since you have great resistance.'
"It means..." Souta turned his head.
...
"I've finished everything here."
A woman covered in a tight red suit emerged from the shadows. The aura emanating from her body was pure bloodlust. It was suffocating and ordinary people wouldn't be able to endure it.
"I let some people survive but this is according to plan. They will ignite small friction that will lead to battle in their respective territory."
She muttered as she scanned the area with her eyes. She finished planting evidence so it's time for her to leave this place.
She took out a handkerchief from her pocket and used it to wipe the blood on her face. She killed twenty people and let the remaining people live.
Hmm...?
She noticed a silhouette in her vision.
What?
Someone managed to resist the special effect of Knockout Incense!
Who is that?
Is there a Liquefying Realm here?
Various questions popped into her mind as she stared at the figure walking in her direction. Soon, she got a clear picture of the unknown person. It was a youth wearing the uniform of the Mince Hand.
Huh? What is this? Based on his uniform, he's only an apprentice but... How?
The youth was Souta in disguise. Souta raised his eyebrows as he examined the woman in front of him. She was quite passable with that body of hers. He couldn't help but felt his blood boiling.
'Fuck! This again! Emotional instability!'
Souta hurriedly shook his head. He stared at the woman and asked, "Who are you?"
"That's what I want to ask you. Who are you? And how did you manage to stay conscious?" The woman asked with a faint laugh.
"Are you with the Murder Society?" Souta laughed. When he saw the woman grow silent at his question, his grin almost reached his ears.
"Bingo! Murder Society. I didn't think I will find one here." His face was full of smiles as he approached the woman.
"You! Where did you hear that?!" The woman's voice turned frosty at the mention of Murder Society. Her aura grew stronger as the ground beneath her feet started to vibrate.
"I'll kill you and ask your comrades about it," Souta said.
"Huh? You kill me? You must be dreaming!" The woman let out a roar as she charged forward with all of her might. From her point of view, Souta only had a power level of Peak Stage of B-rank. He probably resisted the effect of incense due to having some sort of artifact.
Swoosh!!
"I just wanted to know if you have any idea who murdered the envoy of Mine Valley. If you answer me I'll probably spare your life." Souta stared blankly at the woman.
"Die!! You brat!!" The woman's nails grew longer as light elements coated her sharp nails.
"Ah, you're damaging my ears." Souta stretched out his hand and grabbed the woman's face. Then, using his other hand he grasped her jaw before pulling it.
Spurt!
Blood spewed in every direction as the miserable voice of a woman echoed in the whole area.
