The Most Satisfied Reincarnate

Time ticked away, gradually enveloping the world in a shroud of darkness. The vibrant symphony of chirping birds had surrendered to the haunting cries of owls, while the once gentle warm breeze had morphed into a chilling gust, replacing the bustling ambiance of the market with the symphony of nocturnal crickets.

Beneath the ethereal glow of the silver moonlight, Desmond and his loyal guards stood in awe, their eyes gleaming with excitement as they gazed skyward. Gathered outside the house, the guards anxiously awaited Desmond's command. Though they were aware that something extraordinary was about to unfold, none dared to utter a word, knowing the gravity of the situation.

"Let us proceed," Desmond declared with a single word, causing the meadow surrounding them to erupt into a flurry of motion as the guards dispersed in every direction like fleeting shadows. As for Desmond, he approached a majestic horse that had been prepared, mounting it with grace.

Accompanied by an elderly man and his devoted maids, the group divided into ten, yet Desmond, the old man, Laura, and Annie formed a united front.

During their journey towards their destination, Desmond cast a questioning gaze upon the elderly man. "Hey, old man," he inquired, his voice tinged with familiarity yet betraying a touch of absentmindedness, "what was your name again?" Despite having meant to ask previously, the chaotic demands of his duties had caused the question to slip his mind.

"This humble servant goes by the name of Felix, young master," the old man replied, momentarily taken aback before bowing his head slightly and placing a hand respectfully across his chest.

Observing his composed young master, Felix couldn't help but voice his concern. "Young master, are we preparing to confront their boss?" Worries coursed through Felix's mind, for although Desmond displayed immense potential, he paled in comparison to the formidable boss of the sinister organization.

Desmond fixed his gaze upon Felix, his thoughts drifting for a moment. "It depends," he mused. "I'm well aware of the boss's strength—I've witnessed his power firsthand. Engaging him directly with magic would render me defenseless, no match for his might."

Felix's eyes widened in shock at the revelation that his young master had come face to face with the notorious boss. The idea of a direct confrontation had never crossed his mind, as he believed Desmond to be outmatched.

"However," Desmond continued, his hands deftly steering the reins, "with both you and me working together, I believe we can overcome him, assuming he remains a 2nd-tier wizard like the last time I encountered him."

Felix nodded in response, though his face betrayed an underlying apprehension. Desmond's words held weight, yet the daunting task of facing the boss still loomed large in their minds.

...

Upon reaching the tunnel that connected the four districts, Desmond's eyes widened as he realized a grave truth. "How did these guards pass inspection?" Standing not far ahead were sentinels stationed at the gate.

The walls that divided each district, towering at a formidable height of 15 meters, were originally designed to repel potential beast attacks. Now, they proved advantageous in fending off intruders. Even a seasoned swordsman of the 3rd rank would find it impossible to scale the walls without leveraging the structural elements.

Climbing the wall, however, would undoubtedly lead to capture. Guards patrolled the walls ceaselessly, making it an obvious route of exposure.

Felix's lips curled into a sly smile as he cunningly directed Desmond towards a narrow alley. Eventually, they reached a dead end, facing a towering wall. Above the alley, the multitude of buildings obscured the view of the patrolling guards, creating a favorable vantage point.

"We have resolved this matter for many years, and only through this can we mobilize a considerable number of men for significant undertakings. Otherwise, those vigilant guards would have uncovered us long ago," Felix explained, his voice filled with a sense of accomplishment. He crouched down, and a remarkable transformation took place.

The seemingly ordinary ground shifted aside, revealing an underground passage. Desmond arched an eyebrow in surprise, for it appeared only humans could traverse it, and yet they still needed to accommodate the horses. As Desmond and the maids prepared to dismount, Felix intervened, halting their actions. "Young master, please remain on your horse.

I'm not finished yet," he advised, before approaching the wall and pressing a specific brick.

Magically, the underground passage began to expand, devouring the lower section of the walls, creating a massive hole that pierced through to the other side of the district. Desmond couldn't maintain his composure this time, his expression filled with astonishment at the ingenuity of this concealed pathway.

Although there were no visible levers to activate the hidden mechanism, a mere touch was all it took. Desmond's keen eyes detected the presence of hidden magic crystals buried within the walls and ground.

"Amazing..." he uttered, caught up in the marvel of it all, causing Felix to grin from ear to ear. The maids, even more overt in their reactions, widened their ruby-red lips in awe, momentarily shattering their exquisite beauty.

When Desmond finally regained his senses, he turned around only to find no one in sight. Was it mere coincidence, or had everything been carefully orchestrated? He silently pondered the question before guiding his horse to pass through the gaping hole. The passage was flawlessly smooth, devoid of any obstacles or risks of the horses getting stuck.

Its sheer size allowed for a carriage to pass unimpeded.

The guards stationed atop the walls remained oblivious, their attention masked by the shadows cast by the towering buildings.

...

Having arrived on the opposite side of the walls, Desmond was met with a similar sight—a labyrinthine alley obscured by numerous buildings, effectively blocking the guards' line of sight. Without wasting any more time, Desmond consulted his maps and instructed his companions to follow him.

As the group departed, Desmond cast a lingering glance backward, only to witness the underground passage and the hole in the walls seamlessly returning to their original appearances. It was as if they had never been disturbed.

The clattering sound of horse hooves echoed through the narrow streets, passing by a crossroad adorned with a small fountain. Along the way, Desmond noticed his guards discreetly positioned near various modest taverns.

Eventually, they arrived at a grand tavern located near the market district. It stood out amongst the others they had encountered, boasting an opulent facade with white stone doors embellished by golden accents.

The light emanating from within the tavern flickered in unison, indicating that their adversaries remained oblivious to Desmond's presence and were reveling inside.

Coming to a halt roughly 10 meters away, Desmond employed his system to scan the surroundings briefly. "Good, the area appears secure. Now, we shall await the guards as they take up their positions," he declared, leading the way as they safely stabled their horses in a rented house nearby.

Desmond then turned to Felix, nodding approvingly. The meticulous planning carried out by Felix had been executed with utmost professionalism, exposing the whereabouts of their enemies. It became evident that all the resources had been entirely funneled into this operation, explaining the depletion of funds upon Desmond's arrival.

Thoughts swirled in Desmond's mind as he silently studied the maps, his gaze fixed upon the blue dots representing the enemy's movements.