Chapter 121: Yeah, We’re Definitely Not Going to Run Into Thieves, Right?

"Departure!"

"OOOOO!!"

Under Captain Copeland’s command, the security team began to move. The path was completely different from last time. I thought the night patrol route was always the same road, but apparently it wasn’t.

Lily, who had the same thought as me, asked one of the men ahead. The reply was,

"We’re taking a different route tonight. Apparently, using the same path every time makes the thieves too predictable and they avoid us. That’s why we’re changing the route tonight."

Ah, I see. So the security team walking the exact same route at the exact same time every night is actually a known weakness. Of course thieves aren’t stupid. They’d avoid them. If they know the schedule, they can just dodge. Even if the security team is weaker than them (I already learned that from last time), thieves would rather not get involved if they can help it. And maybe some of the security team members have connections to the thieves? Is the information being passed to the other side? The security team themselves would have to arrest or kill thieves on sight. No one wants a life-or-death fight. When you think about it, walking the same route at the same time every night is actually the smart thing for the security team to do.

That means tonight there’s a higher chance we’ll actually run into thieves, right? If they don’t want to meet us, they could just walk around making noise like fire watchmen, but of course they’re not doing that.

We’re walking along the wall that separates the noble district from the commoner district. It feels darker than the main road through the noble district. Well, for me it’s fine, but I guess they don’t want extra streetlights in the back alleys.

"Aah, as expected."

Someone’s voice rose up ahead. We went to check and found the wall had collapsed. There was also a wooden fence meant to block passage that had been broken. I couldn’t tell if it had been destroyed or already broken, but someone had made a passage wide enough for three people to walk through. The rubble had been cleared so people could pass easily. Through the gap I could see straight into the commoner district, but it was pitch black.

"This side is a wealthy residential area in the commoner district," Lily told me.

"So they’re coming from the commoner district to attack the noble district?"

"Maybe. Or the opposite. Wealthy commoners could raid here and escape into the commoner district, where the local security wouldn’t be able to do anything. The security team can’t cross this wall to come in."

I’d heard it before, but it was truly awful. If the noble district security team were competent, they would catch thieves who fled from the commoner district, but with Captain Copeland and his men, it was obviously impossible. There were other security teams, but I got the feeling they weren’t any better. I’d heard the North Town Fire and Thief Patrol Unit was excellent, but I suspected the South Town one was decent too. Well, I don’t know for sure. It’s hard for one unit to be dramatically better than another unless the top person is exceptionally skilled. I’ve never heard the security team is excellent, so I guess they’re all about the same level.

From the broken wall, looking into the dark commoner district, several men were pulling a cart across the street. The clank-clank of the wheels echoed. On the cart were what looked like sacks.

"Lily, did you see that?"

"I saw it. Probably thieves?"

"You can tell?"

Lily smiled.

"I can tell. Or rather, groups of people carrying carts at this hour can only be thieves."

"I see."

We ran into thieves right away tonight!

Lily just nodded calmly.

"Yes."

"They aren’t going to catch them, are they?"

Even if I didn’t think they would, I still asked.

"They probably won’t be able to. The local commoner district security has to get lucky to catch thieves. Besides, thieves are often stronger than security teams."

"Thieves are stronger?"

"Yes. The security team only walks the road, but the thieves have to avoid them, enter mansions, and fight the mansion guards. As you saw last time, mansion guards are stronger than the security team."

"I see."

Even though Lily and I weren’t speaking loudly, the silence of the night carried our voices to the security team. One team member came over to Lily and yelled,

"What’s the matter with you, you’re supposed to be the prince’s escorts! Don’t get cocky!"

He spat as he yelled. This was one of the men who hadn’t been on patrol last time. If he had been there, he would have known how strong Lily and Stevie were.

From the security team came voices like "Shut him up" and "Big sis, show us your cane!" But once a guy got fired up, he didn’t stop.

"Hmph!"

I glared at the one who spoke. I cut him off again.

Stevie quietly drew her sword.

"Aah, what?"

"Behind us."

She said it bluntly.

"What did you say?"

I pressed her, but Lily whispered to the man,

"Don’t raise your voice. Thieves are coming soon."

The man looked shocked. "Eh?" and frantically looked around. The rest of the security team hadn’t noticed yet, so they kept staring at us while we talked.

Stevie drew her sword and then Lily did too. I thought someone might think they were about to start a fight with the security team. But then metallic clashing sounds came from inside the mansion.

Cling! Clang! Bang!

The sound of fighting echoed from inside the mansion, separated by one wall. The security team noticed and all strained to listen. They must be hoping the thieves don’t come out, I thought.

When I drew my sword, the team members drew theirs too. The guy who had been yelling at Lily earlier was breathing heavily with his mouth open. If he’s putting that much tension in his shoulders, he’ll get tired before the fight even starts.

Everyone in the security team was ears-only and listening intently. After a while, the sounds inside the mansion stopped. But I could hear people talking. The smell of blood was drifting over the wall. There was a thud as a ladder was placed against the wall. Are the thieves climbing over? Or had the mansion guards all been wiped out?

"Archers! Ready! Spearmen, form up!"

Captain Copeland shouted. Wouldn’t it have been better to just signal silently? But we were already being watched from the other side of the wall, so they probably wouldn’t come out defenseless.