It was also a shadow that Zoemi recognized as he had seen it in person once already…

The gigantic female wolf that dwarfed everything around her belonged to none other than the short-haired, dark-skinned

Elsby – the young woman that he encountered during the shopping trip with Miriette.

At the moment, Elsby was disguising herself as a hooded masked bodyguard with a shortsword at her waist.

”What is that supposed to mean?! What do Ghosts have to do with this? Damn it!”

Zoemi growled, gritting his teeth.

Even though the short-haired young woman was the only one amongst the Ghosts that he didn’t feel immediate murderous intent, her presence alone was a threat to the plan.

What was her purpose in being there?

As the black-haired boy was clenching his fists, the merchant’s group got in the right spot and the bandits jumped out to attack.

”…!”

When Zoemi noticed Elsby using show connect and the thin hair-like shadows erupt from beneath her feet and connect to every single person on the screen, he could not hold himself back anymore and teleported to the nearest sentinel.

”…huh…?”

Once on the spot, he froze as the disguised Elsby went straight for one of the three actual bandits and knocked him out with the pommel of her sword, and immediately after rushed at the bandit’s leader who attacked her with the one-handed axe.

Even though she could have easily dodged the hasty attack, she ended up receiving it, letting the axe head break through her collarbone and sink into her body, and even allowed for the bandit leader to cheer out loudly and kicked her back to retrieve his weapon just to be knocked out by one of the guards hurrying to help.

”…she is… going along with my plan…? What in the world is going on…?”

Zoemi squinted his eyes and whispered to himself deciding to wait and see what would happen.

Was she intending to steal the modern artifact from under the noses of the guards…?

Or was she aiming for something else entirely…?

The black-haired boy carefully observed the member of the Ghosts of Bellcephora who was laying on the ground acting dead even though she didn’t suffer any actual damage.

Just as was the case with Raseriat, right under her skin there was no actual flesh and blood as all of it got replaced with the condensed jet-black silky darkness that was immune to conventional attacks and weaponry.

With two out of three bandits unconscious it didn’t take too long to knock out the third one.

With them gone, one of Zoemi’s puppets raised his hand and called out for the completion of the first stage of their plan.

Few guards approached the fallen Elsby, looking extremely concerned thinking that it was an actual casualty but…

”Leave that one alone.”

Zoemi frowned and commanded one of his puppets to stop the concerned men from approaching the disguised Ghost for their own safety.

They did seem rather disturbed about the demand, but with more puppets joining in and reminding them of the second part of their plan, they begrudgingly gave up and helped out with unloading the cargo from the merchant’s wagon and started applying the fake wounds that would convince the three knocked out bandits about the positive outcome of their ambush when they will eventually regain their consciousness.

To make things even more convincing and stop the three from trying to check up on the bodies, all of the bodyguards removed the pouches with coins they had on them and threw them on a pile next to the loot before lying on the ground to act dead.

With that, the stage was set within a few minutes, and the eager puppets slapped the bandits awake.

”…!”

After a moment of confusion and hesitation, the bandit leader ordered the others to divide the loot amongst themselves while he made sure that the described artifact was secured in one piece so it would be easily recognizable.

Then…

”Fucking asshole… I got him good.”

”…!”

The bandit leader walked over to the disguised Elsby and kicked at her stomach, causing the observing Zoemi to flinch.

”Hmph!”

But Elsby didn’t break her role and let herself be kicked around without showing any reaction whatsoever, playing dead perfectly and making the bandit leader scoff with satisfaction after seeing her tumble on the ground like a ragdoll.

”Are you ready? We’re going back to the hideout to properly share the loot before sending off the special package. Let’s go.”

The bandit leader nodded with satisfaction and called out, ordering the others.

After all, they had no reason to cover up anything, part of their plan was for someone to discover the robbed bodies to ensure that it would be certain that the magicless bandits were behind everything so that it would be easier to pin the fault at the Espine family that did hesitate from hiring anyone who showed enough capabilities regardless of them having magic or not.

All the bandits flee from the scene within the next few minutes but the merchant and the guards didn’t move for quite a while longer to ensure that the truth will not be discovered.

Once that was assured, the first thing the group did was walk over to the Elsby, as the wound she was supposed to suffer must have looked very serious to them and they were sure that she was actually dead, that’s why…

”Whew! That was unpleasant!”

”!!!!”

That’s why they all jumped or backed away in shock when the disguised girl sprung right back up as if nothing happened and started dusting off her attire while sounding extremely cheerful.

”Wha…?! How did you…?! But, the wound…?!”

”Chainmail, my overly worried friend, chainmail. I will end up with a bruise after that chop, but let me tell you this – that guy will be limping for a week after kicking me like that! Ahaha~!”

One of the guards called out but was just shrugged off by the happy-go-lucky girl patting her stomach – although she did not show off the wound and instead was facing the other way to make it impossible for the others to confirm her words.

”Hey, I was the last-minute addition, but let’s make it clear, is the guy who hired us paying well? I must have missed the part where we were told to not bring too much money with us because it will be taken away… I am going to miss my dinner…!”

”Pfffft…! If you are bothered about some spare change then you really are fine!”

”Ahahaha!”

”Don’t worry, we will get paid well enough.”

Elsby shrugged her shoulders and sulked theatrically which made the guards and the merchant laugh with relief.

”Alright, they should be far enough already, let’s pack up and return to the town.”

”Miss – you said that you don’t have money for dinner – you definitely did a good job acting dead, I wouldn’t be able to keep quiet if someone kicked me like that – you earned yourself a feast!”

The merchant who already managed to change his shirt said with a benevolent smile and all the bodyguards nodded in agreement

”Nah, I was kidding. I will go take a leak and return to the town on my own. I should come to pick up the reward tomorrow in the same spot that we gathered today?”

Elsby waved her hand dismissively and started walking straight towards Zoemi’s spot.

”Ha! Yes, that’s right. Just watch out for the snakes!”

The merchant laughed and leaned down to pat the side of his horse which also deserved a reward for not panicking and running away while the fighting started, allowing the merchant to ride back to the town instead of going on foot.