My Garbage Collecting Cheat-Skill in Survival Game

As Ray came out of the meeting hall, the knight he had rendered unconscious earlier was just regaining his consciousness.

The knight saw Ray, and still dazed from the sudden force that had struck him, he instantly slipped back, trying to scramble away while still on the ground.

Standing beside him were Vice-Leader Lora and Vice-Leader Yamin, both of whom wore serious expressions.

Lora and Yamin immediately focused their stern gazes on Ray, but Ray completely ignored them, walking past the astonished Vice-Leaders and returning directly to the City's Inn.

Back in the quiet comfort of his room, Ray waited. The whole day went by uneventfully, a bizarre calm before the inevitable storm of internal conflict.

The next day, that calm was broken. A large contingent of knights arrived outside the City's Inn.

Vice-Leader Osbon and his team, which included Captain Rose Epsten, came to meet Ray who was looking at the spectacle from his window.

There were also around a dozen heavy knights waiting outside the building, their shining armor drawing the curious attention of the public.

The people were indeed curious to see why Temple knights were circling a simple inn.

Even the inn owner was stunned when Osbon, the vice-leader of Gama squad, approached him.

"There is a person staying at your inn. He is..." Osbon gave a precise description of Ray, which the inn owner immediately recognized.

Without questioning or denying, he nervously led the group up to Ray's room.

Ray who sensed the incoming group and opens the door, to see three people, Vice-leader Osbon, Rose Epsten and inn owner, standing at his door.

Upon seeing the inn owner's tense expression, Ray chuckled, a flash of dry humour returning to his eyes.

"Sorry! I forgot to tell you about their visit. I hope this won't affect your business too much." he apologized, a slightly insincere air to his tone.

"No, no... it's alright," the inn owner stammered quickly, clearly eager to leave them. Saying this, he quickly left Ray and others alone.

Once inside, Osbon got straight to the point. "We have finalized a plan with Leader Erina," he stated.

"We have planned to secure the Epsten family, treating them as protected witnesses rather than accomplices. Concurrently, we will move to expose the Willson and Dorian families by seizing the evidence of their racket."

Osbon's voice then tightened, betraying the political risk they were undertaking. "While we do this, we need your help to counter any unexpected resistance.

And while we do this, we are preparing for the worst-case scenario: we don't know what the reaction of the Leader of the Delta Squad will be when he hears about Zeth's crimes before his death and the resulting arrests."

Ray heard him out, his expression remained neutral.

He looked at the modest force assembled—Osbon, Rose, and the dozen knights outside—and spoke plainly.

"So only we are going? You, me, Captain Rose, and dozens of knights? That seems like a small hammer for such a large nail, especially if you expect resistance from two wealthy families and possible clash with the delta force of the temple."

Ray wasn't afraid for himself, but he knew that they can't pressure the delta squad leader and the other two families with this small number.

Osbon shook his head. "That's not the case. We will go in as the early messenger, the small vanguard meant to secure the key locations and witnesses before panic sets in.

The main force, the whole cavalry with Leader Erina, will come later, once we send a secured signal."

He paused, then added a detail that offered a measure of security against the unknown risk Ray had pointed out.

"Also, we sent someone yesterday—one of our most trusted riders—to inform someone we have faith in. That person will definitely interfere if things go south with the Delta Squad Leader or any other higher-up who tries to cover this up."

Ray didn't ask about the identity of the person they had informed, respecting the necessity of secrecy.

His interest lay only in the execution of the mission. He simply cut to the chase. "So, are we leaving now?"

Erina's plan was clear: use the ambiguity of Osbon's sudden arrival to catch the conspirators off guard.

Osbon's team would use the surprise to simultaneously secure the Epsten family home and the location of the evidence that Rose's family had pointed to.

The key to the plan was speed and absolute secrecy, minimizing the window the Willson and Dorian families had to burn evidence or vanish.

Osbon turned to Rose. "Captain Rose, you will take five men and proceed to your family's secondary estate immediately.

Give them Leader Erina's written assurance of protection and bring them to the fortified bunker outside the military district. Do not engage any opposition."

Rose, though still nervous, nodded with fierce determination. "Understood, Vice-Leader. I'll secure my family."

Osbon then looked at Ray, a grudging respect now coloring his demeanor. " You will move with my remaining team and me to the Willson manor. We need to secure any victims Zeth might have left there, and find the financial records Rose's father mentioned."

They left the inn as Osbon nodded to the waiting knights. "The time for planning is over. Let's move."

With a silent nod from Ray, the team moved out from the Flora City. They headed to their destination the neighbouring Hosfield City.

Ray, given a horse of his own—which he handled with surprising competence—rode at the front of the small vanguard, flanked by Vice-Leader Osbon and Captain Rose Epsten.

The journey, taken at a swift canter, took them just over two hours and halted briefly at the imposing gates of Hosfield City with the holy bell hanging at the top of the gate.

The knights of the Delta Squad were about to stop the approaching group, but upon seeing Osbon, a Vice-Leader-rank knight, and Captain Rose in full Temple uniform, their caution evaporated.

They rendered quick, unquestioning salutes as the small force was permitted to enter the city.

Immediately upon passing the gates, the group split.

Rose, as decided, headed with five loyal guards toward her family's estate—the Epsten family home—to secure them and deliver Leader Erina's assurance of protection.

Rose and her escort arrived at the quiet, high-walled secondary estate.

Her mother, Floria, a woman known for her keen, watchful intelligence, met them at the entrance, followed closely by her father, Paul, and Rose's two younger brothers.

Their expressions were calm but filled with surprise to see Rose back.

"Rose, what is the meaning of this large escort?" Floria asked immediately, her gaze cutting through the formalities to the obvious urgency.

Rose entered inside the house and raised a quick question. "What's the situation of the city since the incidence of the werewolf attack?"

Paul quickly drew Rose aside. "Nothing much is happening at this very moment, but all the citizens were advised to stay inside.

The whole city has been turned into a stronghold by the Delta Squad. They're making highly visible patrols, keeping check every corner of the city."

"That 'something' is why I am here," Rose stated, her voice low and serious. She led them into a private study, dismissing her guards to the outside perimeter.

"Father, Mother, I need you both to listen carefully. I am here on Leader Erina's orders to keep you safe."

She then told them everything that they knew about the death of Vice-Leader Zeth, the subsequent cover-up, and about Ray, saying that the mysterious man was behind of all this.

"He claims you told him everything about Zeth's wrongdoing and the involvement of the Dorian and Willson families. Is that true?" she asked, looking at her parents for confirmation.

Paul and Floria exchanged a brief, resigned glance. "It is true, Rose," Paul confirmed, his voice heavy with past fear. "We spoke to him only because we thought he is with the temple and knew the reality.."

Rose nodded, "You did right thing, that man isn't ordinary."

"And his ability—" Rose took a deep breath. "He is someone who can use Holy Aura, but he claims he isn't part of the Temple, still he is helping us."

"Holy Aura outside the Temple! We were shocked as others. " Floria murmured, her shock visible. "That changes everything."

Rose then quickly relayed the plan: she was here to secure them, but the main forces under Leader Erina were coming later.

"And the Delta Squad Leader?" Paul asked, his greatest fear resting on the unpredictable man.

"I just hope the Leader of the Delta Squad would listen and understand the situation, and wasn't like Zeth was," Rose admitted, her voice edged with anxiety. "Otherwise, things are going to be difficult. We must assume the worst and face whatever is coming next."

…

Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the city, Ray and Osbon, with the remaining knights, approached the sprawling, heavily guarded gates of the Willson family manor.

The moment they approached, the iron gate swung open, and a towering figure stepped out. This was not a private guard or temple knight but the imposing Leader of the Delta Squad.

He had long; greying beards braided with gold beads and a build so massive he seemed to dwarf the surrounding Temple knights.

Guram looked surprised, his shrewd eyes running over the small, purposeful group. He focused his gaze on Osbon, who was clearly the ranking officer present.

"Vice-Leader Osbon, what is the Vice-Leader of the Gama Squad doing here?" Guram asked, his voice a deep rumble that promised both authority and immediate question.