ites?” (Seol Ji-Hu)

Teresa smirked softly.

“It’s the opposite, actually. It’s only because the Federation possesses things like this that they are managing to hold onto their tenuous balance. The main forces of the Parasites are truly beyond your imaginations, you know.” (Teresa Hussey)

“What about the Medusa...?” (Seol Ji-Hu)

“Sure, a Medusa is the ultimate evolution among the mid-tier Parasites, but still, if I were to be honest here, they are more like the leaders of local hoodlums, you know? When things like Nosferatus pop up, it’s like, ‘Ohh, the Parasites are really serious this time’, stuff like that.” (Teresa Hussey)

“Nosferatus?” (Seol Ji-Hu)

“They are the Queen’s personal elite guards. Besides all that..” (Teresa Hussey)

Teresa replied with a short answer and scanned the ground. Similar sorts of shrapnel could be found here and there. She seemed utterly at a loss by what she saw.

“This is so weird. Why are these things here?” (Teresa Hussey)

[“We already thought about it. They were the ones that gave us the information, to begin with, so they must be operating their own infiltration squads, but...”] (Ian)

Seol Ji-Hu recalled what Ian told him before and spoke up.

“Could someone from the Federation have come here and destroyed this place? With that Thunder thing, I mean.” (Seol Ji-Hu)

“The current circumstances say that might be the case...” (Teresa Hussey)

Teresa crossed her arms across her chest. That possibility certainly made some sense. Especially if it was ‘that alien race’ that invaded the Paradise but proceeded to construct the unified nation called the Federation, there was a good chance that they were responsible. Since they were capable of flight from the moment they were born, it’d be comparatively easier for them to make their approach.

“Doesn’t sound too convincing, though.” (Teresa Hussey)

“In what regard?” (Seol Ji-Hu)

“Back during the first mission, I got to find out how much importance the Parasites have placed to this place. If it weren’t for Agnes, we wouldn’t even have gotten anywhere remotely close to this place at all.” (Teresa Hussey)

Teresa continued on.

“And also, even though the Thunder is really, re~ally powerful, you gotta drop dozens of them in the exact same spot at the exact same time in order to create destruction of this scale. However, they have been guarding this place throughout day and night with no rest, so...” (Teresa Hussey)

She didn’t finish her sentence, but he could more or less tell what she wanted to say. This ‘Thunder’ might be an earth-shattering item, but in order to use it, one had to be in the vicinity of the laboratory first.

“The thing was, the defence perimeter set up by the Parasites that I’ve seen was just about perfect in every way. Didn’t matter whether in the air or on the ground, there were keeping a very close eye for any intruders.” (Teresa Hussey)

Besides, the Parasites would have stepped up with their security after the first infiltration attempt ended in failure. The longer she thought about it, the deeper it felt like she was sinking into a quagmire.

“I don’t know what to tell you, either.” (Seol Ji-Hu)

He shrugged his shoulders before briefly yelping out loudly. She watched him suffering in pain and broke out into a chuckle. She tried to get up, but then...

“Ouch! That stings!” (Teresa Hussey)

She pulled her head back and shouted out. The chains had pinched her skin.

“Urgh... In any case, it’s not important to us now.” (Teresa Hussey)

Which was true. They had no idea what happened here, but the important thing was, the laboratory had been crushed. And also, just because they managed to crawl outside, it was not the end of their trial, either.

They managed to overcome the first hurdle through unexpected luck, but they were still stuck in the middle of the enemy territory.

“Let’s go, my prince.” (Teresa Hussey)

Teresa abruptly presented her hand. My prince, she said. Although his cheeks itched just then, it didn’t sound too bad for some reason. Seol Ji-Hu sheepishly reached out as well.

Two of them held each other’s hand and began looking in the same direction. It was in the direction of Haramark.

“Let’s definitely go back home alive.” (Teresa Hussey)

She whispered to him, and he nodded his head in determination.

The real escape was about to begin for real now.