The Hero's Forsaken Princess
Chapter 144: Zephyra’s Border

Chapter 144: Zephyra’s Border

Three Weeks Later...

Alaric’s group finally reached Zephyra’s border. Before they could pass through the border gate, knights from Eldara made contact with them.

While Michael was scouting the area, he met several knights from Eldara. They also disguised themselves as ordinary people in order not to alert Zephyra’s knights.

"General Alaric! Commander Caleb!" Michael called them after he returned from scouting the area.

"You’re back. How is the situation at the border? What did you find out?" Caleb asked Michael.

The members of the Assassination Team were gathered around together with Gideon and Eve. Everyone was waiting for Michael’s report.

"The security on the border is very strict. They establish so many checkpoints. Twenty guards are stationed outside the border gate while over a hundred warriors are stationed behind the gate, guarding the border against invaders," Michael said, after familiarizing the number of warriors assigned to the border.

"I met knights from Kingdom Eldara. It looks like they’ve been waiting for us. They wish to see our General," Michael said, reporting his encounter with Eldara’s knights.

Alaric frowned when he heard that. "Why are they here?"

"They said Crown Prince Cassian sent them to rescue Lady Sylvana, the Eldara’s Seer. They want to cooperate with us in infiltrating the kingdom," Michael responded.

Everyone was surprised. They didn’t know that Sylvana was captured by Kingdom Zephyra.

"Bring their leader to me," Alaric commanded.

Michael left, heading to Eldara’s secret camp.

"What should we do now?" Caleb asked.

Alaric turned to Franco whose expertise was about spying and disguise.

"Franco, bring Miles and Randolf with you. Pass the border first and secure a lodging house for the team as soon as you enter." Alaric gave his command.

"Got it, General. We will move first," Franco replied.

"Here are your entry passes. Please be careful." Caleb said, handing their individual entry passes.

The three knights were dispatched right away, taking the first step of their mission– infiltrating the kingdom and passing through the border without being suspicious.

"What am I going to do?" Gideon raised his hand, asking Alaric.

"Wait for further instructions. We can’t enter all at once. We only have limited entry passes," Alaric admitted.

Gideon could only scratch his face. "Alright. I understand."

It did not take long before Michael returned, escorting the leader of Eldara’s knights.

"General Alaric, I’m Enox, the team captain of our group. We are grateful for allowing me to be here. We need your help. We have to enter the border and infiltrate the castle to rescue Lady Sylvana," Enox said politely.

"How many warriors did you bring with you?" Alaric asked him.

"We are ten. But our backups are also on their way. We received a message from Crown Prince Cassian. He is coming together with Captain Avan and ten more elite warriors," Enox responded.

Alaric and Caleb exchanged glances with one another. There were so many of them. It would be hard to enter the border without entry passes.

"I can only help five knights to enter the border. Others must stay behind," Alaric informed him.

"Can you rescue your Seer with five knights only?" he asked Enox.

"I’m not certain. But we will try. Please allow us to join you in infiltrating the castle," Enox bowed his head as he begged him.

"More people, more risks," Gideon suddenly blurted out. "The assassination mission might be compromised if you tag along." The Black Hunter was against the idea of bringing the Eldara knights with them.

"Please! Help us. We won’t be a burden," Enox insisted, kneeling before them. His group received a strict order from Prince Cassian. They had to rescue Sylvana no matter what.

General Alaric glanced at Eve, asking her opinion regarding this. "May I know your stand about this matter, Princess Eve?"

"Let’s help them," she simply replied. She was worried about Sylvana’s well-being.

Gideon could only sigh in defeat. ’This is so troublesome,’ he thought.

"How many entry passes do you have now?" Gideon asked Alaric.

"Only four entry passes left," he promptly responded. "I will be waiting for Franco to come back with another five entry passes."

"No need for that." Gideon declared. "Just give the four entry passes to Eldara’s Knights. Then I will handle our entry pass. We can enter the border all at once. Just stick with me," he confidently added.

Everyone looked at Gideon with doubt. Would they be fine following his lead?

"Hey, guys. Don’t look at me like that. Have you forgotten who I am? I’m the Black Hunter who easily escaped from Averion’s prison fortress. I have a special method of bringing you inside. Don’t you trust my capability?" Gideon boasted in front of them.

"I believe you!" Eve said without hesitation.

Alaric and Caleb also chose to trust Gideon’s strategy and method.

"We will follow your lead, Black Hunter. Shall we enter the border now?" Caleb responded excitedly. He couldn’t wait to enter Kingdom Zephyra.

Gideon nodded with a smile.

Meanwhile, Eve glanced at Alaric. Deep inside, she was anxious for Alaric’s safety and their comrades. She wished for them to be safe.

"Thank you for giving us these entry passes. We will not hinder you in your mission. Let’s meet in the castle," Enox said, before bidding goodbye to Alaric’s group.

When Enox left, Gideon gathered Alaric and his comrades. He would instruct them what they would do, following his plan.

"We will only use one carriage. I shall take the reins and drive the carriage. Lambert and Dillon will sit with me outside. Michael, you will stay here to guard the remaining carriages. You can also familiarize the border and look for an escape route for the team."

Gideon emphasized Michael’s critical role in providing the team with escape routes upon completing the mission.

"If something bad happens during the mission, you are the only one who can ask for backups. Princess Eve, Alaric, and Caleb shall remain inside the carriage. Don’t go out without my signal."

Everyone agreed to Gideon’s proposition.

"Let’s move now!" Alaric declared.

They took the carriage and started moving. Gideon was the one, leading the carriage at the border gate.

Lambert and Dillon were anxious the moment Zephyra’s knights stopped their carriage.

"Stop! Show us your entry pass," the guard demanded.

The two men looked at Gideon. Currently, they don’t have entry passes.

Gideon simply tapped their shoulders, giving them a reassuring smile. After that, Gideon picked up something from his pocket.

Instead of an entry pass, he presented a badge.

The Zephyra knight was dumbfounded upon seeing Gideon’s badge. He blinked several times and was about to say something only to be silenced by Gideon’s warning glare.

The Zephyra knight immediately stepped to the side, signaling his comrades to open the gate quickly.

"Open the gate, Now!!!" He shouted with urgency while glancing at Gideon anxiously.

"But Captain, we haven’t done the carriage’s inspection yet. We don’t know what they are carrying–"

"Dumb fool! I already said Open the gate. There is no need for carriage inspection!" The captain reprimanded his junior knight.

Lambert and Dillon could only watch Gideon in amusement. They couldn’t understand why the knight looked surprised upon seeing the badge of Gideon. Did they just imagine it or not? Why do they feel like the strict-looking guard captain suddenly became anxious?

Just like that, Gideon’s carriage finally entered the border gate without being searched and inspected by the guards.

"Gideon, what happened out there? Why did they give us special treatment?" Dillon couldn’t help but ask him curiously.

Gideon just let out a soft chuckle. "Well, let’s just say I presented a special badge. That’s why they didn’t dare stop us."

"Don’t think about it too much. The important thing is... we managed to enter the border gate without a hassle." Gideon added.

Alaric and Caleb were also surprised as they listened to their conversation. They didn’t know what trick Gideon did to acquire that special badge. Who would have thought they could easily enter the border with Gideon’s help?

"The Black Hunter is very capable," Caleb whispered in Alaric’s ear.

Alaric nodded, "And very mysterious."

Eve just smiled, feeling proud of Gideon. "He is the ultimate adventurer. He visited so many kingdoms. Zephyra is not an exemption."

After saying those words, Eve focused her attention on Aerin. The mystical fox joined them inside the carriage.

"What are we going to do next once we settle in a lodging house?" Caleb asked Alaric.

"We will follow our initial strategy. Franco, Lambert, and Miles will find a way to identify areas where we can easily infiltrate the castle. I will accompany them," Alaric responded.

Caleb nodded. He was confident that they would complete the mission as long as Alaric was with them.

"Let’s finish this mission as soon as possible and return safely to our kingdom," Caleb said with a hopeful look in his eyes.

Alaric fell silent, simply glancing at Eve. He was still troubled by Eve’s future plan. He hadn’t told Caleb about this yet.

’How will I tell Caleb about my decision to support Eve in conquering Kingdom Averion?’