My Servant System

Chapter 1081: Chapter 1080: The Fingers (1)



Another pair of Death Jackals rushed over to the new target, hoping to take advantage of the person's drop to close the distance before they could do anything, leaving us with fewer guards than before, though that meant little to us as we began to work instead on keeping the crowd safe.

I wanted to rush out there and find one or two of these assassins for myself so that I could ensure they understood just how displeased I was at this attempt on my lover's lives, but at the same time I didn't really want the people to be caught in this for no reason... or really, I wanted to protect the children who were cowering with their parents or siblings right now; that was who I actually cared about.

There was little room in my heart for random strangers, but I could never find myself to be apathetic towards a child who had no real option to either protect themselves or run in some of these situations; they just weren't strong enough, experienced enough or grown enough to understand these things, and I couldn't hold it against them.

So I had no problem at all beckoning the various Jackalkin and other Beastkin to come gather around in the center of the entrance square, but as they did I clicked my tongue as a shorter woman bared her fangs and lunged at me with a dagger, trying to close the distance between us as quickly as she could so that she could sink the hidden weapon deep into my throat and get rid of me completely.

The panicked screams and shouts from the men, women and children around us was a bit grating as I grabbed the woman's wrist, fighting against her surprise attack and pushing against her entire body weight as she tried to sink her blade into my flesh; growling at me as she leaned into the attack, the Caninekin woman hissed "Die for me, mulhid! You do not belong in our desert!" even as I pushed her back.

Before someone could do something rather scarring and traumatizing for the surrounding citizens, I reached forwards with my free hand and grabbed her face, blasting her with a deep chill and causing the woman to let out a pained shriek as she dropped her dagger and tried to wrench my hand away, only to stiffen as the frost consumed her brain and put her to sleep.

A nice, long, permanent sleep, though as I let her slump to the ground relatively calmly for my sort of kill, I couldn't help but sigh as I heard a few other bodies hit the ground much harder, and the screaming began again as the Death Jackal's around us efficiently cut down the other hidden assassins who had infiltrated the group of civilians to ambush us.

The wet sound of blood splashing against the brick beneath our feet made me shiver slightly as I let out another sigh, realizing I could have just blown this idiot's head clean off if we weren't going to be considerate, but after a moment of contemplation I just shrugged and instead began to weave together another few spells to keep them safe before I decided that moving around would be a better use of my time instead of babysitting.

Jahi retrieved her great sword from the cracked brick and joined me right away, causing Hera to begin issuing orders as she moved to keep up with us, since Anput and Leone were just a step behind as we made our way towards the first ranged assassin.

"These are the 'Fingers', right? Those pricks seem to have horrible timing, but it makes me wonder... do you think they are also going after that thing that Sla'Caligo found interesting? Did they know this Fiend would be here, or did they just happen to be in the right place at the right time?"

The Demoness' musings made me shrug as I leapt onto the rooftop from before, where the two Death Jackals were standing over the unconscious body of the assassin, a pile of weaponry and ammunition seated right beside them too.

"I don't know, but I would think this one here would give us the answers we need. Some, anyways. Do you want to question them, or are we heading towards the noise? Seems like the guards in the center are getting attacked... maybe this is more than just a roaming band of 'Fingers'?"

I crouched beside the man and pulled away the simple keffiyeh to reveal the scarred and rather handsome face of the assassin, though for the moment the swelling cheek marred his appearance and made me chuckle softly as I glanced at the two warriors, wondering who decided for this tried and true approach.

"Make it quick, Kat. Just answers, nothing else; no fun to be had here just yet, anyways. You can play with him later."

My mate was appraising the weapons and taking a moment to learn whatever she could from them whilst Leone studied the three small vials on the ground beside the weapons, giving each a hesitant sniff.

Jahi was staring out over the city as she waited for me to get to work, so I just shrugged as I pulled out one of my smaller knives and decided to do just that, keeping the blade somewhat hidden as I decided to try another strategy instead first.

Gently caressing his swollen cheek, I gave the man a quick 'shock' as I chilled my hand down enough to slice through the fog of unconsciousness he had unwillingly fallen into, and as he tried to sit up and get his bearings, I pressed my hand against his cheek and turned him towards me.

Healing him slightly, I whispered "It's alright... you're alright... you're safe.", trying to keep my tone as soothing as possible as I mixed my Lust Mana into my hand as well, letting some of that pink mist seep into his skin and shroud his mind in a new haze; a welcome haze as he nodded, his eyes clouding over slightly as he took a few deep breaths, staring straight into my

eyes.

His prior fright of being knocked out was dissipating fast, but it was just that which was making it this easy, his minds safeguards not fully in place like they were before, which allowed me to do this as easily as I had as I gave him a smile and asked "Do you remember why you are here? You can tell me..."

For a brief moment hesitation flickered in his dark brown eyes, but as more Lust Mana trickled into his head, he nodded once more and said "I... I was sent to keep watch... for the Caliph... He wanted me to cover for him...", his voice raspy and dry; when I summoned a small sphere of water, he smiled back and took a sip before saying "Many thanks, jamil."

"And what did the 'Caliph' want you to cover for him..? Is he doing something?" Another moment of hesitation made me purse my lips as the blade in my other hand grew heavier, but the man said "He is heading for the libraries. Apparently they hold the key to greatness, jamil. Notes and research on how to convert the sands to soil! Imagine that, jamil; a bountiful land of green, not harsh gold. Grass, water, crops..! As far as the eye could see!"

The excitement that coursed through him was manyfold, and as he smiled at me again I held back the urge to shiver as he said "A world like that... wouldn't you like to live in it, jamil? A world perfect for having a family... a family that-!"

Before he could finish, the man's eyes widened in horror as a needle was shoved into his throat precisely, piercing his larynx and causing him to fall quiet as he could no longer form specific sounds as he choked on whatever had been laced over that metal needle.

Releasing his cheek, I clicked my tongue as I stood up and sheathed my dagger, not sparing him another glance as I instead looked towards Anput, who had stabbed the man; instantly she spat on him as she growled "Stop calling my woman beautiful in front of me... especially like that." before she turned to me and said "So they want to turn the desert into a prosperous land like the Empire... same as the Fiend. Interesting."

Hera stepped forwards and bowed slightly as she asked "Apologies, but that makes me wonder; are they perhaps an unrelated, coincidental occurrence then? There was a lot of different research teams working in Bascra, so it isn't impossible that someone made a discovery recently - or think they are close to one - in terms of spreading the oasis' even further."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Don't know just yet, do we? Possible as it is, there is the other possibility that they were in work with this Fiend from who knows how long ago; either way, the obvious next step is to head to the center and stop this 'Caliph' from getting whatever it is that they want. I doubt these 'Fingers' are as magnanimous as they are trying to make themselves out to be. Changing the climate of an entire country is preposterous, even for the Empress. At least, making it stable and livable anyways..."