Iron Gate

"Tap, tap, tap."

Hurried footsteps echoed through the empty corridor as three figures with their faces hidden beneath Black Robes hurried across the manor villa's floor. The rumbling from outside periodically made the ground tremble, but none of the three panicked at the sudden noises.

There was no doubt that these three were Ganatica, Pandora, and Dice, who had come to Mosenkai Manor. The intermittent booms and tremors came from the other members of the Mutual Aid Society Action Team exchanging fire with the enemy. Amid the unceasing vibrations, Ganatica and the others had quietly circled around the front of Mosenkai Manor and infiltrated the estate through its lightly guarded flank.

With seven other companions launching a feint attack at the front of the manor, the three Formal Level Combatants guarding Mosenkai Manor had all been entangled in the battle at the front and could not break away. Ganatica and Pandora's infiltration now proceeded without obstruction.

A manor could not hold too many guards to begin with. Now that enemies were attacking, nearly all the soldiers in the manor had gone to meet them at the front. The ones left near the estate warehouses were merely small fry. When the three Formal Level Combatants arrived, those guards, who were generally no more than Apprentice Level, were easily knocked unconscious.

"Boss, that gate should lead to the underground warehouse, right? We finally made it!"

As Ganatica made his way deeper into the manor without incident, Dice was the first to spot a gate standing at the end of a gloomy corridor. It was several meters tall and forged entirely from steel. Its imposing heaviness clashed starkly with the surrounding wooden structure.

At that moment, apart from the thoughtless Dice, who continued laughing over his discovery, both the silent Pandora and the