The calm of moments before dissipated, replaced by the imminent danger that Ryuuji's words had suggested. Before they could even cross the threshold of the confectionery, a band of mercenaries emerged like shadows from adjacent alleyways and portals, blocking the exit and surrounding them.
They were rough men, armed with daggers and short swords, their faces marked by a life of violence and the promise of a reward. Ryuuji, with a quick, analytical gaze, concluded that someone from within the circle of power had, without a shadow of a doubt, facilitated the entry and strategic positioning of these men. Fortunately, Shigeru's swift action was already beginning to take effect, and the once-bustling street was emptying of innocent citizens, which would grant him more freedom to act.
One of the bandits, of a more robust build and with a crueler gaze—the leader of the group—stepped forward with an arrogant posture and a threatening confidence.
"Surrender immediately, if you don't want to die!"
Ryuuji did not even deign to look directly at the threat.
"My ability to nullify magic will have no effect on them; they are merely common combatants," he thought quickly.
Turning slightly to Leticia, he whispered, urgency in his voice:
"Leticia, I'm going to need your help."
With a sudden movement, Ryuuji grabbed a small wooden box near the confectionery's entrance and hurled it toward the mercenary leader, seeking a brief distraction. In a fluid motion, he drew his sword. The mercenaries, spurred on by the gesture, charged toward him aggressively. Ryuuji was not seeking a lethal confrontation.
With his blade reversed, he blocked their attacks with precision, deflecting thrusts and cuts with firm, calculated movements. Amidst the clash, he added swift and strategic martial arts strikes, hitting pressure points, seeking to destabilize his opponents. Every opening created was exploited with efficiency, leaving the attackers stunned or incapacitated on the ground.
Seeing an opportunity, Ryuuji used his foot to flick up one of a fallen mercenary's staves, throwing it with a precise spin toward Leticia. "Catch!"
Leticia snatched the staff from the air, adrenaline sharpening her senses.
"I'll help!" she responded readily, taking a stance.
She moved the staff with surprising speed, adapting to the new weapon with remarkable velocity. She spun it with dexterity, intercepting an opponent's sword and sending it flying with the impact. Without losing rhythm, she continued the motion, the staff describing an arc that struck another aggressor precisely on the chin, who collapsed unconscious. Leticia did not limit herself to defense; she used the staff to create openings, delivering precise and agile blows. In a short time, working in tandem, they had managed to neutralize all the mercenaries.
"You fight magnificently well, Leticia," Ryuuji praised, a mixture of surprise and genuine admiration in his voice as he caught his breath.
The city guards, alerted by Shigeru, arrived in large numbers, promptly containing the bandits who were beginning to regain consciousness. Ryuuji, who had suffered a superficial cut on his arm during the combat, was immediately treated by one of the guards with medical knowledge.
"I relied too much on my own ability and almost grew careless," he thought, a faint trace of self-reproach in his mind.
Turning to Leticia, he said with a slightly embarrassed sincerity:
"I think that, instead of protecting you, I was the one who ended up being protected at times."
"Not at all, Ryuuji!" Leticia replied, trying to cheer him up. "You fought bravely and managed to neutralize several of them."
"Even so, I need to resume my training more diligently," he replied, a slight smile now on his lips. "It seems I'm getting a little... rusty."
When they returned to the castle, news of the ambush attempt and the way the prince and princess had defended themselves was already beginning to spread. Some staff who saw them arrive couldn't help but notice a new dynamic between Ryuuji and Leticia: a camaraderie and an ease in their conversation that hadn't existed before, and the fact that they addressed each other by their first names in a less formal setting did not go unnoticed, generating curious whispers in the corridors.
Later that evening, Aleph was still in his office, buried under the mountain of documents that Akizawa had assigned him. But his concentration remained unwavering. He was interrupted by the discreet entrance of Ryuuji, who brought with him a small paper bag from the confectionery he had visited earlier.
"I believe you will appreciate this small gift," Ryuuji said, placing the bag on Aleph's desk.
Ryuuji sat on a sofa and, as Aleph offered him a cup of tea, began to recount the incident in the city.
"The mercenaries were interrogated. But, as expected, they did not reveal who hired them. They remained silent."
Aleph took a sip of tea, his gaze thoughtful.
"From what you've told me, the fact that Count Raymond so quickly offered to conduct the interrogations is, to say the least, suspicious. He could be trying to control the narrative or eliminate any trail that links him to the mercenaries."
"I agree," Ryuuji said, his expression serious. "We need to investigate the royal council more deeply. Only a very restricted circle knew of my inspection and my route with Leticia. The betrayal came from within, of that I have no doubt."
"Certainly. And Count Raymond, with his recent movements and questionable alliances, becomes the prime suspect to be investigated."