Chapter 285: Planning The Next Move

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Riven narrowed his eyes. His conscience pulled at him. "These are people working here... Should they really be killed? Everyone needs a job. You’ve seen how Claymore treats its own men too, right? Most of them are just trying to earn enough to feed their families."

"They know what they’re doing," Vladimir answered without hesitation. "If they’re willingly working on a huge reactor that’s killing the ecology of a Gate, why would they deserve any mercy? They’re part of the problem."

Riven shook his head. "I don’t need them dead. Dead men can’t answer questions, and I’d rather not leave a trail of bodies if I can avoid it. We’ll find another way."

He kept watching the guards for a while longer, noting their patrol patterns and the way they checked their weapons every few minutes. The C Rank one seemed more alert than the rest, constantly scanning the tree line. Riven decided they would wait for the right opening instead of rushing in.

"Tsk! You’re too soft!" Vladimir roared, his voice echoing against the stone.

"Look, they aren’t like your cult or the yakuza. They’re people just doing their jobs," Riven said. "Unless I find out they’re doing something way more awful, I’d rather not jump straight into senseless killing and massacre."

"Working for Claymore is no job," Vladimir shot back. "And if they come after you to kill you, are you going to just stand there and let them attack?"

Riven shook his head. "I’ll defend myself. I have the power to handle that if it comes to it."

"What if I just go there and do as I please then?!" Vladimir roared again. "I’ll get the job done in no time."

"Please, that’s enough!" Daniela cut in. "Vladimir, stop being like this! Riven is a normal person deep down, even if he does some things that are questionable. He’s no senseless murderer like you. The more you push him, the clearer it becomes that he’s not like you at all."

Vladimir narrowed his eyes. "No. He’s definitely like me. I can see it in his eyes. A bastard through and through, no matter how hard he tries to act like some saintly figure who only means well for the world. Hahaha! That’s nothing but bullcrap."

"Enough," Riven said, shutting him down. "Don’t talk unless I let you."

"Hmmggh?!" Vladimir realized he could no longer speak inside Noir’s shadows.

"Let’s go," Riven said, and stepped forward.

He didn’t waste more time arguing. He walked along the base of the walls, studying the layout. Inside the walls stood a massive building with thick tubes stretching out in every direction, buried into the gate’s soil and pulling something from below. Smaller structures surrounded it, and dozens of soldiers moved between them in regular patrols.

The walls also blocked the path to the dungeon boss area. By sealing it off, Claymore had restricted most of the second floor from the public. The privatization left large sections of the dungeon under their exclusive control.

On the way here they had already passed the heavy machines working at the dried lake. Those machines tore Blood Crystals and Mana Stones from the ground without care, leaving the area more damaged with every hour of operation.

Riven grew more annoyed the longer he searched for a way inside. He tested the defenses again and again but found no opening.

"There’s a barrier above the walls, and the walls themselves are electrified," he muttered. "Unless I can pass through solid matter and electricity at the same time, I can’t get in. And I can’t do that yet."

He considered several methods. Elementalizing his body, merging with his shadows, using psionic power, or even spiritualizing himself. None of them worked. Those techniques were still beyond him. Only hunters at SS Rank or higher could pull them off safely, and he had not reached that level.

He continued circling the perimeter, checking every corner and weak point he could find, while Daniela stayed close and Vladimir remained silent under the shadow restraint. The longer they stayed outside, the clearer it became that forcing their way in would require more preparation than a simple walk around the walls.

The other option he considered was using his psionic abilities to try and brainwash one of the guards. If he could take control of even a single person inside, he might open a gate or disable part of the defenses from within.

He focused on the nearest soldier walking along the wall and reached out with his mind.

BBZZTT!

A sharp feedback hit him immediately. A barrier around the guard’s head blocked the attempt. The helmets they wore carried some kind of protection against both psionic and spiritual attacks that targeted the mind.

"They’re awfully well equipped," Riven sighed, pulling his power back.

"T-Then what do we do?" Daniela asked, looking between him and the high walls. "We can’t clear the dungeon without beating the final boss, right?"

"Hm..." Riven sighed and glanced at Vladimir, then released the restriction so the man could speak again.

"I don’t want to repeat myself, Riven," Vladimir said, crossing his arms. "Let me handle it. I’m a wanted criminal anyway. Even if they find out who I am, does it really matter at this point?"

Riven narrowed his eyes and let out a long breath. "Fine. We’re breaking through."

"E-Eh?! Isn’t that like... highly illegal?!" Daniela panicked. "This isn’t the same as dealing with Label or the Yakuza. This is private property owned by a major company!"

"Daniela, you don’t need to take part in this," Riven told her. "Stay in the shadows. Noir will keep you safe. This is something I already expected I might have to do eventually. If I want to save this world and the people in it, Claymore has to be stopped. Vladimir, I hate to admit it, but you were right about that much."

"Hah!" Vladimir grinned. "I’m always right." He crossed his arms again, looking pleased with himself.

"Shut up," Riven said flatly. He had little patience for the man’s attitude. "Daniela, stay with Noir inside my shadows, okay?"

Daniela hesitated, then nodded. "Ok..."

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