After parting with Siegfried of the Order of the Flaming Rose, Angoulême and Victor continued down the road home.
The boy asked, "How many did you sense?"
Angoulême said, "...Two... five... six... Six of them. Four in front, two behind."
Touching the burning-hot "Anti-Prank Amulet" in his pocket, Victor once again thanked Brass of Ban Ard for his enthusiastic recommendation. Though it had looked like a joke toy when he bought it, it was genuinely useful for preventing ambushes.
Not much farther ahead lay a relatively narrow alley, which should be the ideal place for an ambush. Hmm... it was also where they had agreed to meet Siegfried after he went to call for reinforcements.
The advantage of having few enemies was that there was no need to wonder who they were. It seemed Count Falwick's men were not foolish. After observing that he had not fled Vizima but instead returned to the city, they considered the possibility of being counter-surveilled and decisively chose to launch an ambush, then leave the city regardless of whether they succeeded.
If their positions were reversed, Victor would probably have planned it the same way.
As the Phantom Troupe reached the edge of the ambush zone, Falwick's mercenaries readied themselves. Unfortunately, their prey stopped to talk, then abruptly turned and ran after several minutes.
"We've been spotted! Move, now!" their leader hurriedly ordered. Four crossbows immediately fired in pairs at the troupe's backs. Yet at the very instant the mechanisms clicked, the girl knocked the boy down. They hit the ground and avoided the lethal volley, then scrambled up and continued running.
Judging the distance, the mercenaries believed they could still catch up. They threw aside their crossbows, drew swords, and moved in to surround them. But as they chased, they realized something was