Reborn As Noble Chapter 1266: Silent Shots in the Night ( 1266 )

"Phone? Radio?"

Fayna tilted her head, confusion clear on her face, while the other girls exchanged puzzled glances.

"Yes. Those were the devices we used back in my previous world. They are instruments that allow for instantaneous communication across vast distances. You can converse with someone on the opposite side of the globe in real-time, dispatch messages with no delay, and coordinate efforts without lag. Such technology would be exceptionally beneficial for our missions, particularly in a world like this where information dissemination is so sluggish."

"Wow..." Fayna’s eyes widened in astonishment. "Possessing such a tool would grant us a monumental advantage over our adversaries. We could communicate instantly with our operatives, orchestrate assaults, and acquire intelligence without any delay."

"Mm..." Vane nodded, a note of frustration creeping into his tone. "For seven long years, ever since our arrival in this world, I have been advocating for the creation of a magical artifact akin to a phone or radio. I even prepared detailed schematics for it, yet Julius and the others ridiculed me, scoffing at my proposal. They claimed it was unattainable, too time-consuming, and that no one in this realm would possess the knowledge to bring it to fruition."

He let out a breath and shook his head, his gaze fixed intently on the map.

"Julius advised me to concentrate instead on rigorous training, increasing my cultivation level, and enhancing my overall strength. He asserted that this was the sole path to survival and triumph in this world. Consequently, I never secured any royal funding for the development of my concept. It was dismissed as a frivolous expenditure of time and resources."

"Even if the initial development proved unsuccessful, we possessed seven years to at least make some progress, perhaps not on a global scale, but at the very least for short-range communication that could aid us in our assignments."

Vane cast his gaze over all the girls, his expression growing serious.

"When I constructed the first prototype, it was far from perfect. The range was restricted, merely around a hundred paces, but it functioned nonetheless. We could converse clearly within that limited radius. It served as a proof of concept, a modest stride, yet a step forward nonetheless."

He let out a sigh, a shadow of regret coloring his voice.

"Had I received the necessary funding and dedicated those seven years to its further refinement, we might now possess a device capable of covering at least a few miles. Even if the artifact was larger than a person's palm, and the intricacies of its magical frequency remained not fully grasped, it would have been infinitely better than the current situation."

He shook his head once more, his attention returning to the map.

"Sigh... if only they had heeded my counsel back then."

Vane straightened his posture, shifting his focus back to the immediate objective.

"Regardless, we shall meticulously plan our course once we rendezvous with Gorak and glean additional intelligence from him. But for the present moment, we have three potential routes. Perhaps by the time of our arrival, Gorak will have already obtained information regarding the most suitable path for us to take."

"Yes, Sir Vane," the girls responded in unison, their voices imbued with a resolute determination.

Meanwhile.

On the very same night.

Within a certain sector of the Mathrias Region.

The figure of the golden knight stood observing from a distance, his attention fixed upon a substantial encampment concealed deep within a dense forest. Employing thermal imaging and mana-augmented sensors, he meticulously scanned the vicinity, identifying enemy positions and potential ambushes.

"Sniper team?"

A faint crackle emanated from the communication device, followed by a clear, crisp voice that responded.

"Ready, Your Highness."

"Excellent. Ensure that every enemy combatant on the watchtowers is neutralized. Open fire upon my command."

"As you command, Your Highness."

"Mm... Do not permit any of our units to approach the vicinity of the Hanarak Assassin Base until I issue the directive." Javier’s voice was firm and carried an undeniable authority. "My knights shall be the first to advance and inadvertently trigger any mystical traps. I have no intention of jeopardizing any Armand personnel during this operation. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

Javier magnified the view of the base through the sky-eye perspective, observing the live feed transmitted from the mana satellite and surveillance drones, all displayed on the expansive screen within the Armand Command Center. He was equipped with a control headset, motion controllers affixed to his wrists, and mana-enhanced spectacles, all seamlessly synchronized with the golden knight presently engaged on the battlefield.

"Leave no enemy combatant alive." Javier’s facial expression became intensely serious, his voice dropping to a cold, unwavering tone. "These despicable assassins engage in killing for mere coin. They possess no honor, no sense of loyalty, and exhibit absolutely no mercy. We shall reciprocate their barbarity with equal measure."

He directed his gaze back towards the screen, meticulously observing the live feed originating from the head-mounted cameras of the Armand sniper teams.

"Engage thermal detection protocols. Sniper Team One, you have two targets located on the first tower. Eliminate them."

A virtually silent shot echoed through the night air as the first Armand sniper team discharged their weapon. A mana-infused projectile streaked swiftly through the nocturnal expanse, striking both adversaries with a single, flawlessly executed shot. Their bodies collapsed without a sound.

"Sniper Team Two, proceed to neutralize the three enemy sentinels positioned on the second tower. Team Three, focus on eliminating the enemy patrol unit situated at the main gate and along the battlement."

One silent shot after another followed, each striking its target with lethal precision. The guards at the gate crumpled before they could even sound the alarm, and those on the battlements met their end without a whisper.

Javier's gaze sharpened as he observed the surveillance feeds.

He activated his mana talkie.

"Attack Helicopter Squadron, launch your assault and give them hell."

"Understood, Your Highness."

Two attack mana helicopters surged toward the base, their rotors emitting a low hum. They unleashed a volley of mana missiles that detonated the main gate, reducing it to debris and sowing chaos among the enemy forces. The helicopters then swept across the ground and first floors, unleashing a torrent of fire from their mana gatling guns, tearing apart any enemy combatant in their path.

"Second team, ensure no one attempts an escape into the forest."

"Affirmative, Your Highness." The second helicopter squadron patrolled the perimeter, their thermal vision scanning the area and their automated mana rifles spitting death at any who dared to flee. The forest transformed into a charnel house, escape routes obliterated by precise, unwavering firepower.

The golden knight snapped his fingers, and hundreds of mithril puppet knights materialized around him, each armed with mana rifles. They advanced in a disciplined phalanx, while several attack battle drones hovered above, their mana gatling guns spitting automated fire, locking onto enemy positions and unleashing a relentless storm of bullets.

Inside the base.

Hanarak sat in the underground command center, his brow knit in confusion. Distant sounds, muffled yet distinct, echoed from above. Explosions, screams, and an unsettling whirring noise penetrated the thick ceiling.

He turned to one of his subordinates.

"Investigate upstairs. Discover the source of this disturbance."

"Yes, Leader."

The subordinate opened the door and ascended the stairs. The moment he pushed open the floor hatch, a deafening cacophony of gunfire and explosions assaulted his senses. His body was shredded by mana bullets before he could even utter a cry, and he tumbled back down the stairs.

Hanarak's eyes widened in alarm as the chaos above escalated, the screams intensified, and the strange whirring sound grew alarmingly closer.

"W... what is that?"

He instinctively reached for his dark aura dual blades, his personal guards and other soldiers drawing their weapons, their faces etched with tension and fear.

Could Armand have dispatched Alf and his team already?

No... there's no way they could have breached the forest defenses. We fortified it with dark magic traps, mimicry traps designed to devour any who trespass, and a host of other deadly snares capable of eliminating even the most accomplished assassins. We are far removed from those pathetic common assassins.

So... what in the blazes is happening up there?

( End Of Chapter )