Hellbents
Chapter 101: Terror

Five explosions occurred right on the day of the festival of the founding of Edodale for 1500 years, of course it is not a coincidence. Ava looked at the map of the city plastered on the table, there was a large red circle marking each location of the incident.

What motive?

The assault on Princess Eve and Duke Frost? But only Marvin knows that he left the palace to date Ellijah. Plus, visiting a dessert shop was his impulsive decision after a disappointing and fruitless search for artifacts, so it was unlikely that anyone could plant a bomb in the store if their intentions did hurt him and Ellijah. Besides, four other explosions are of use to what?

So, their goal is to spread terror? The actions of a hidden radical group? There is no threat letter yet.

... To be more accurate he had to wait for the report of the investigation being carried out.

The girl let out a long sigh, then glanced next to her, “What do you think?” Ellijah is a leader who is experienced in dealing with enemies, maybe he can add a hypothesis that Ava has not thought of. But the man's response deviated from Ava's question, “In my opinion, we must immediately return to the palace.”

“You know that's not what I mean,” murmured the girl, hardened.

“Residents have been secured, the fire that spread has also been extinguished, food supplies for displaced people are ready to be available.”

“But it will be dangerous if we do not immediately deal with the root of the problem.”

“Emergency matters have been taken care of, only documents are left, and you can do it in your private room at the palace. And like you said, this guy is too dangerous, there could be further attacks. So we better go back to the palace.”

What Ellijah said was true, but somehow Ava did not want to lose the argument. But before he replied, his sentence was cut off. “Kakak?” It was then that Marvin entered the erected makeshift tent, his bead turning from Ava to Ellijah in turn, recognizing the tension between the two. It seems like he showed up at a bad time. From his observations Ava has almost the same characteristics as her brother, stubborn. So it seems like the two people are almost in a fight, it is better for Marvin to immediately express his original purpose here, his body straightened, formal. “Greetings to Duke Frost and Princess Eve, from here I will take over her case.”

Ah, right, Ava better not touch on those sensitive topics that could trouble her later on. After all Marvin is the one who actually has the right to overcome this considering Ava is just a fake princess. The prince also seemed eager to show his ability to attract the attention of the king, successfully dealing with this problem would be the encouragement Marvin needed.

Win-win situation.

... Adrenaline makes Ava quick on emotions.

Right, he better get back to the palace. Moreover, Ellijah who insisted on continuing to accompany him was still not getting the right treatment from a doctor, priest, or healer.

Ava finally complied. “Good.”

Both of them were instantly given strict guard as they walked towards the horse carriage, the five mages were already on guard to immediately make their transport fly towards the floating palace.

However, the bitter taste hinders Ava. Not to mention his chest that was pounding anxiously made his steps even heavier. He assures himself that his feelings are now just remnants of his emotions. So in order to shift focus, he activated his observation skill.

Five guard soldiers with an average of level 40.

Ellijah still has an impressive status window.

And the five mages that exist, their ability level is above 5.

However one of the information that was present made him reflex stop, fixated.

HP: 245/300

The coachman of his horse carriage had an HP bar.

And only those who intend to hurt Ava have HP bars.

The girl took the anesthetic ball, threw it right into the shocked face of the coachman who did not expect the behavior.

“Eve!”

Those who see it are also immediately confused, but because the atmosphere is actually already tense due to terrorism an hour ago, they are automatically worried.

The coachman whose level rivaled that of the palace warrior descended from his seat limply, his eyes reddened with drowsiness looking at Ava and Ellijah with heat. The coachman's hand reached into his jacket. It was fortunate that one of the guards swiftly stopped the slow movement due to the anesthetic.

Only after the coachman fell face down without moving, Ellijah next to him hissed with tightened jaws, “He carried a bomb.”

The item that the guard had seized was an explosive artifact.

Perhaps the coachman thought Ava threw him with poison, so he radically decided to end his mission with a suicide bomb.

“Hold him,” Duke Frost ruled coldly, the flat tone he used as if it sounded like a death sentence to anyone who dissented. Two other soldiers instantly blocked the unconscious man on the ground.

This time it was Ellijah who took things out of her inventory, the long sheets of paper Ava had seen, the expensive and rare teleportation scrolls.

“Wait a minute, there is no more—“

The srek!

Be late. The item had been torn apart, bringing Ellijah and Ava in his arms directly to the palace greenhouse accompanied by a dazzling light.

“Padalaah we can ride the horse carriage safely.”

“You don't know it.”

Ava knew, from her observation skill. “There are no more suspicious people there.”

“But they could've sabotaged our horse-drawn carriage.”

For that ... there is still a possibility.

Yet still, Ellijah lightly wasted a precious teleportation scroll. “Padalaat we could have waited for checking for a few minutes.”

“My priority is your security.”

They argue again.

Agh, whatever. Ava's mentality and physique were already on the threshold. He's tired. He hurriedly ended their annoying dialogue. “Alright then, I say goodbye first.” Without looking back, Ava left. Fortunately Ellijah did not follow the girl like a stalker like the days before. But Ava will not be grateful for the little attention the man showed when he was upset.

Ava was immediately greeted by three maids who were startled by their master's presence. “Good afternoon, Princess. How about—“

Greetings them respectfully interrupted, “Prepare the bathtub.” Perhaps after clearing herself of the dust and smoke from the incident, Ava would be able to cool her head.

Nothing went wrong that day. His efforts saw the levy of artificial artifacts that might be useful ended in vain, the sweet cake eating session ended tragically—Ava will not call it a date again, he almost became the victim of an explosion, he was the victim of a sweet cake, he almost died of a suicide bomb.

Her role as a princess is troublesome.

Marvin kept stopping him from doing anything.

And Elliah ... Aghs! That guy is so annoying.

That night Ava couldn't sleep because she was too upset.