Chapter 16: Strange Monster.

The boy crept forward stealthily, but the corners of his mouth couldn’t help curling upward, his mood gleefully buoyant.

What a steal! He’d only meant to grab a cloak, but that black-cloaked guy had a few silver coins on him too.

Flo couldn’t help but wonder—if every black-cloak had a bit of coin like that…

Well, he wasn’t some villain.
Consider it punishment for their evil deeds.
Dead men don’t need money, so why not let someone in need—like him—take care of it?

The spirits of those coin owners would surely be pleased, knowing their wealth was in good hands after death.

Flo scanned his surroundings.
The Confessors were bustling about, none paying him any mind.

He didn’t know where the children were being held, but with just his strength, saving them would likely be impossible.

The priority was to locate and destroy the array, buying time for reinforcements.

The orphanage wasn’t huge, but it wasn’t small either.
Finding the array’s weak point was tricky.
Though Flo was well-versed in arrays, he was only skilled, not strong enough to crack a mid-tier mage’s array in a short time.

If he had that kind of ability, even as a half-elf—a despised race suppressed by the Church and others—he wouldn’t have fallen to such lows, nor would his reputation be that of a useless failure, the shame of the Astraea family.

As Flo pondered the array’s details, two chatting Confessors approached.

“Hey, buddy, slacking off? When the boss catches you, don’t say we didn’t warn ya.”

One of them teased with mock concern.

“Bro, when’s this plan gonna wrap up? I’m exhausted,” Flo grumbled, mimicking a Confessor’s tone.

He played the part of a work-shy slacker perfectly.

The two didn’t suspect a thing, chuckling.
“Look at your face—you’re new, huh? Young guys are always so impatient. You’ve got a lot to learn from us.”

“Yeah, yeah, you’re right, bro. But I’m so done with this dirty work. When’s it gonna end…?”

One Confessor quickly covered Flo’s mouth.

“Keep that talk between us,” he whispered.
“Careful, walls have ears. If the boss hears, you’ll lose your head!”

The other chimed in.
“But don’t worry, it won’t be long. Once the Vengeful Puppet is summoned, the Phoenix family—those annoying pests—will be done for, hahaha.”

“What about the missing people? What’s the boss planning?”

“Materials for the higher-ups’ experiments, duh. You don’t know…?”

The Confessor was about to continue but was cut off by his companion.

“Idiot! Shut up! He’s a spy!”

With that, the Confessor raised his weapon, aiming to kill Flo quickly.

The interrupted Confessor froze.

A spy? How’d he figure that out?

“Ha, was I too obvious? Fair enough, there aren’t that many idiots in this world. I was so blatant, how could you not notice…?”

Flo laughed off the attack, his casual expression turning serious.

The interrupted Confessor fumed.
You damn well are calling me an idiot, aren’t you?! Damn spy!

Flo hadn’t planned to keep up the act with these two.
This area was only patrolled by them—perfect for extracting info and taking them out.

“Hmph, kid, two against one. We’ve got the advantage!”

“You dare call me an idiot? I’ll make you pay!”

Flo shrugged.
“Didn’t your buddy call you an idiot too?”

“Yeah, you called me an idiot too!”

The other Confessor was dumbfounded.
Bro, come on…

“Alright, beat me up later if you want, but first, let’s kill this kid!”

The sharper Confessor charged at Flo with his blade.

The dimmer one raised his wand, chanting something.

Flo knew the melee fighter was buying time for the mage.
Judging by the magic’s pattern, it was likely a summoning spell.

But Flo wasn’t that foolish.
He marked the mage, flashed behind him, and drove his twin blades into his back, drawing a spray of crimson blood.

To Flo’s surprise, even after killing the mage, the summoning went off.
A purple mist swirled at the casting spot, and a figure emerged.

“Hahaha, didn’t see that coming, did you? This is our latest creation, as strong as a second-tier beast. You’re done for!”

Flo rubbed his forehead, exasperated.
Just second-tier?
After years of scrapping as an adventurer, he could handle second-tier beasts with technique alone, even third-tier ones.
When it came to combat experience and finesse, he was unmatched!

Sure, he was only a beginner-tier apprentice assassin, the lowest rank, but under normal conditions, he could take on low-tier professional opponents in a duel—no problem.
Unless it was a freak like Ifrora…

Flo spun and slashed at the melee Confessor.
The man blocked with his blade, a twisted grin frozen on his face as his chest suddenly erupted in pain.

He hadn’t expected Flo’s hidden move—while the main blade was parried, the other had slipped through, stabbing into his chest.
The Confessor’s eyes bulged in shock as he collapsed.

The remaining humanoid beast was eerie: wrapped in bandages like a living mummy, its whimpers laced with agony.
Flo had never seen anything like it in any records.

With a guttural roar, the beast lunged, its claws aiming for vital spots.
Flo met it with his blades, the impact numbing his arms.
His strikes left only shallow marks, as if he’d hit iron or stone.

Flo’s heart sank as he retreated to gain distance.
What he’d thought would be an easy fight was baring its fangs.

The beast’s missed claw smashed into a wall, collapsing it entirely.
In the dust, Flo’s brow furrowed.