Chapter 267: Scouting

Adrian leaned back in his chair, exhaling as the tension from Chris and Christine's argument slowly faded.

He could understand their frustration, but he had made his decision. Their safety was not something he would gamble with, not when they were up against a guild that wielded curses as their primary weapon.

With a sharp glance toward Sophia, he shifted the conversation back to the upcoming raid.

"Sophia, I want the soldiers mobilized immediately. Pick out a squad of our most elite warriors—especially the draconic soldiers—and have them scout the Black Hollow Caverns first," Adrian ordered, his tone brooking no argument.

"I need a detailed report on the terrain, enemy placements, potential escape routes,if they have magic barrier set up and any unexpected variables before we act."

Sophia gave him a confident smirk. "Consider it done. I'll personally oversee their preparations and send out the first wave of scouts before midday." She cracked her knuckles, eager to get to work.

Adrian nodded. "Good. If there's even a hint of a trap, I want to know before we set foot anywhere near that place. We're not marching blind into enemy territory."

With the soldiers' deployment handled, he turned his attention to forming the infiltration team. He already had a clear idea of who would accompany him—only the most experienced warriors would be fit for this mission.

"I'll lead the infiltration team myself," he began, eyes scanning the room. "Aunt, Mom, and Eve—you three will be coming with me."

Seraphina leaned against the table, smirking. "Naturally. You'll need someone to deal with the dark wards and curses. Leave that to me."

Isabella gave a firm nod. "I'll handle combat and tactics if things go south."

Eve flipped a dagger between her fingers. "Stealth and assassinations? You came to the right girl."

Chris and Christine both stiffened at being left out again, and even Rosalyn, who had been mostly quiet, looked up in mild surprise.

"What about us?" Rosalyn finally asked, her eyes searching Adrian's face.

Adrian sighed. "Chris and Christine already know my answer. You're not coming either, Rosalyn."

Her brows furrowed. "But I—"

"No," he interrupted firmly. "You've all trained hard, and I recognize that. But this mission is different. This is not the battlefield for your first real fight." His red eyes sharpened. "Chris, Christine, and Rosalyn—you'll have your roles, but not on the front lines."

Chris opened her mouth to argue, but Isabella's hand on her shoulder made her pause.

Adrian continued, his voice unwavering. "Once we receive the scouts' report, I'll assign the next set of tasks. If we need reinforcements, you'll be stationed nearby, ready to support. But the initial infiltration requires experience—anything less is a liability, and I refuse to put any of you at unnecessary risk."

Silence settled over the room for a moment before Christine slowly nodded. "I understand."

Rosalyn crossed her arms, displeased but not arguing. Chris, however, looked frustrated but ultimately relented with a huff.

Adrian exhaled, relieved that they wouldn't push further. He had no doubts about their potential, but against an unknown force steeped in dark magic, he wouldn't take chances.

"Good," he said, standing. "We move as soon as the scouts report back. Until then, prepare yourselves. This mission will be quick, precise, and absolute."

With that, the room erupted into motion, each person moving to fulfill their role in the coming battle. The dark guild had no idea the storm that was about to descend upon them.

Sophia wasted no time. As soon as Adrian finalized the plan, she strode out of the dining hall, her mind already running through a list of the best warriors under their command.

The draconic soldiers, the first to swear loyalty to Adrian, were among the most promising.

Their training in the Virtual Training Chamber had sharpened their combat prowess, and their natural resilience made them ideal for reconnaissance in hostile territory.

Within the hour, Sophia gathered the selected scouts—six elite draconic soldiers, each clad in enchanted armor that blended seamlessly with the shadows of the forest.

Their draconic blood gave them superior senses, making them perfect for infiltration and information gathering.

Standing before them in the training yard, Sophia crossed her arms, her piercing gaze sweeping over them.

"You all know the mission," she began, her voice firm. "We need a full assessment of Black Hollow Caverns—enemy numbers, defensive measures, potential weaknesses. If you spot any dark magic barriers, mark their locations. Do not engage unless necessary. Your job is to get in, observe, and return alive. Understood?"

The soldiers thumped their fists against their chests in acknowledgment.

One of them, a tall warrior with scaled forearms named Garrick, stepped forward. "Lady Sophia, if the enemy has magical sentries or wards, should we attempt to disrupt them?"

Sophia shook her head. "No. If they realize they're being watched, they'll either reinforce their defenses or move locations. We need to keep them unaware of our presence. Maintain stealth at all costs."

Garrick nodded. "Understood."

With that, the scouts set out, moving like wraiths through the trees.

Sophia watched them disappear into the distance before turning back toward the manor, heading straight for Adrian to report that the first phase was in motion.

Back in the war room, Adrian stood before a large map of the surrounding region, his fingers tracing over the location of Black Hollow Caverns.

He had already studied reports about the terrain—rocky cliffs, narrow passages, and hidden tunnels that made the area a natural fortress. It was the perfect place for a dark guild to establish a base.

He didn't like it.

Stealth was their best approach, but if things went south, they needed a fallback plan.

As he pondered their next move, Sophia entered the room.

"The scouts are on their way," she confirmed, standing beside him. "If they move swiftly, they should return by nightfall."

"Good." Adrian's red eyes glowed faintly as he studied the map. "That gives us time to prepare our infiltration team."

He turned to Seraphina, Isabella, and Eve, who were already present.

"We’ll be the first to go in. Seraphina, you’ll analyze their magical defenses and determine the safest way inside. Isabella, you’ll handle combat strategy if we need to engage. Eve, you’ll lead the way in stealth."

Eve smirked. "This is what I live for."

Seraphina chuckled, cracking her knuckles. "Dark magic wards or not, I’ll break through whatever curses they have in place."

Adrian nodded before glancing at Chris, Christine, and Rosalyn, who were standing nearby.

"Chris, Christine, Rosalyn," he addressed them firmly. "While we're infiltrating, I want you stationed at a safe distance outside the caverns. If we need reinforcements or an extraction, you’ll be in charge of securing the area."

Chris opened her mouth to protest, but she stopped herself this time. She didn’t like being sidelined, but she understood the logic behind it.

"Fine," she muttered. "But if something goes wrong, we will be there."

Christine and Rosalyn nodded in agreement.

Adrian smirked. "That’s the plan. Now, let’s get ready. We move as soon as we get the scouts' report."

The hours passed with tense anticipation. Weapons were sharpened, spells were prepared, and strategies were refined.

By nightfall, the scouts returned. Their armor was dirtied, their expressions grim.