Fire at Sentinel Hill (II)

After a few cups of fine wine, the conversation opened up at once. Scar swallowed a mouthful and said heartily, "Brother Alpha, tell me, what exactly brings you here? Cunning Wolf wouldn't send his steward over just for a few barrels of wine."

Alpha took a drink as well. "Nothing gets past you, Brother. It's like this: the boss recently heard that the Brotherhood is planning something big. He wants a share of it, and perhaps to skim a little profit along the way." Alpha gave Scar a look that said he understood.

Scar smiled knowingly. "Cunning Wolf's information network really is well connected. The Brotherhood has been planning something lately, and it's something huge." He took another drink and paused. "Everyone knows that since Sentinel Hill got a new lord, life has become much harder for us brothers. We used to rule Westfall with impunity, but now not only can we no longer enjoy ourselves, we have to worry about our safety every day. Things are no longer what they once were. The Brotherhood's higher-ups couldn't stand it anymore. According to my intelligence, it isn't just our Brotherhood involved. There's another organization called Twilight's Hammer. They're helping us deal with the problems here."

Alpha asked quietly, "What's so formidable about that organization that it can stand against Sentinel Hill? Why have we never heard of it before?"

Scar looked equally bewildered. "I don't know either. I only heard the higher-ups say that Twilight's Hammer serves some Old Gods. There are countless people of different races and social ranks in that organization. Who knows where such a force sprang from? But with their involvement, the brothers' situation has improved a lot." Scar spoke proudly.

Alpha exchanged a glance with Siso, then continued, "Brother Scar, are there any operations coming up? Give your little brother some guidance."

"Operations? Of course. We're going to burn Sentinel Hill. Big enough for you?" Scar said happily.

"What?" Siso suddenly cried out, but when he noticed Scar's strange look, he quickly shut his mouth. Alpha cursed, "What are you yelling for? Have you no manners? Go back and accept your punishment yourself." Then he turned to Scar with an apologetic expression. "Sorry, Brother. My subordinate has no sense at all. We've disturbed you. But I do have a question: Sentinel Hill is so heavily guarded. How are you going to burn it?"

After taking another drink, Scar said contentedly, "That's not something you or I need to worry about. It's that organization's business. Brother, tell Cunning Wolf to gather all his men around Sentinel Hill. It'll happen within the next few days, though I don't know the exact time. When you see Sentinel Hill catch fire, lead your men in immediately. If you get there early, you can still get a share. If you're late, there'll be nothing left. You'd better seize this opportunity." Alpha raised his cup. "I'll drink a toast to you on behalf of Boss Cunning Wolf. Time is of the essence, so I must hurry back and inform him." With that, he drained his cup in one gulp. Scar did the same. "Safe travels. See you then."

Alpha led Siso on a wide detour outside before finally heading back. Seeing that Siso seemed to have something to say, Alpha said flatly, "Ask. I know you have a lot of questions."

Siso looked at Alpha and opened his mouth, but in the end, only one question came out. "Who exactly are you?"

"A citizen of Gilneas—Alpha, Sir Wolfchart." After hearing that, Siso did not speak again. Alpha asked curiously, "You held it in for so long just to ask that? Nothing else you want to know? Like how I knew this was a hideout, or who Cunning Wolf is?"

Siso looked at Alpha solemnly. "As long as I know you're with the Alliance and that you came to help us, that's enough. Even if I asked the other questions, would you tell me?"

"Smart kid. Hehe, I wouldn't tell you. But the more I look at you, the more pleasing you seem. Say, I'm short an assistant right now. Want to come work for me? Forget it, I can tell from that expression that you don't want to. Pick up the pace. This is only the beginning." With that, he quickened his steps.

In the council hall of Sentinel Hill, after listening to the two men's report, Adona thought for a moment before asking, "What do you think?"

Alpha, who had been playing with his fingers off to the side, stared at Adona in surprise and pointed at himself. Adona nodded. Alpha immediately rubbed his forehead and said, "I'm just an adventurer. How would I understand this sort of thing? You think too highly of me."

"Heh heh." Adona chuckled, while Siso looked at Alpha with utter contempt. "Uh, you really don't believe me? Fine. I say we play along. If they want to burn us, let them burn us, then wipe them out in one fell swoop." Alpha's face turned vicious. "There's no way you can put proper defenses in place and root out the traitors in such a short time anyway. We might as well make a clean break and fight with our backs to the wall."

Siso was about to object when he saw the lord's approving expression, so he swallowed his words. "You thought of the same thing I did. The question is, how do we set this trap properly?" Before Adona could say anything else, Alpha interrupted him. "That's your business. I don't know anything about setting traps. I'll only do the task you assign me. Don't come looking for me about anything else." He then left swiftly. He's fast, Siso thought.

"What do you think of that man?" Adona asked.

Siso considered carefully before answering seriously, "My lord, I believe Sir Alpha is talented and skilled in combat, though he is somewhat lazy and undisciplined. Still, he gives one the feeling that he can be trusted."

"Trustworthy? I saw that long ago. He may seem frivolous and cynical, but his eyes are filled with righteousness. After all, eyes do not lie. All right, you should rest as well. No one is to speak of what happened today."

"Yes, my lord." Siso gave a military salute and withdrew.

By evening, Sentinel Hill was as quiet as usual. Only patrolling soldiers carrying torches moved back and forth through the streets. Alpha lay alone in a patch of grass, drinking malt ale and gazing leisurely at the sky. Looks like Adona has already arranged everything. Poor thieves—who told you to run into a fox like him? You're destined to be tricked until there's nothing left of you. Still, I rather like the man. His temperament suits me well. Huh? The wine's gone. Sigh, it's time to get to business. With that, he transformed into a leopard and vanished into the grass, leaving behind only an empty cup.

"Fire! Fire! Hurry and put it out!" "There's a fire over here too! Go get water..." Shouts rose one after another throughout Sentinel Hill. Bright flames shone all the more brilliantly in the darkness, while thick smoke billowed into the sky. "What's going on? Did you set the fire? Weren't we supposed to do it tomorrow at noon?" "Wasn't it you? I didn't set anything." "Not you, not me—then who was it?" Two shadowy figures spoke in a corner. "Me," Alpha said as he suddenly appeared. With one swipe of his claws each, he knocked them unconscious. Where else are there more? He slipped back into stealth and moved on...

Outside the city, groups upon groups of thieves watched Sentinel Hill burn with immense excitement. They rubbed their hands together, waiting for their leader's command. "Charge! All of you, get in there! Take that damned hill! Whatever you grab inside is yours, so just rush in—" Before he could finish, his subordinates had already vanished. Scar laughed and cursed, "Those little bastards are really impatient." He mounted his horse and cracked his whip hard across its rump. The horse whinnied in pain and galloped toward Sentinel Hill.

The same scene unfolded all around Sentinel Hill. The groups of thieves rushing forward failed to notice that the city walls, normally so heavily guarded, were now strangely deserted. The shrewd leaders merely assumed Twilight's Hammer had arranged it. That single oversight would bring them endless regret.

Scar listened to the cries coming from the city, thrilled beyond measure. Thinking that he would finally be able to turn his life around and live like a rich man, he was filled with excitement. Just as he was imagining it, a sense of danger struck him.

He yanked hard on the reins. An arrow skimmed past his face, and Scar finally realized something was wrong. Unfortunately, it was already too late. There was no room for retreat now.