Infinite Evolution: My Idle Evolution System-Chapter 272: The 15th Royal Princess, Opal Mistalore

'If there is someone behind my reassignment and this dangerous deployment, then who is it? Who could it be?'

To be capable of influencing the decisions of an entire Fort, it must have been someone of extremely high status. But that knowledge did very little to narrow down the suspects.

After a few minutes of pondering, Cassius ultimately gave up on his line of thought. Pointlessly thinking any more on the matter would merely bring about more uncertain guesses.

As he approached the courtyard where the rest of Platoon 49 was gathered, he steeled his expression and readied himself for anything.

One could never be too cautious in this dog-eat-dog world.

Any single person could be an enemy…

"Now, listen up, everyone!" sounded the loud, imperious voice of Platoon 49's Captain. "As you all have been well informed, we've been tasked with venturing into the area known as the Shallow Crater. In there, we will split up into five smaller squads, with each squad spreading out and searching the rough radius of a spot marked on this map."

An illusory green map the size of a table materialized above his head through the use of a Mage-made Magic Item. He pointed at the flashing red circle on the map, one that was just barely see-through enough for one to make out the topography depicted behind it.

Platoon 49's Captain spoke up again, louder this time. "We are to find the target in this area radius—a young 14 to 15-year-old-looking girl who's known as her Royal Highness—Opal Mistalore—the 15th and youngest princess in the Royal Family!"

"!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

Everyone's eyes widened when they heard those words.

Never would they have expected that their task would be to save a Princess of the Mistalore Royal Family!

"This information has been withheld from you all until now because of various security reasons," the Captain said, effectively silencing the chatter. "But with the mission already upon us, there's no longer a need to keep vital mission details away from you."

'The 15th Royal Princess… A sister of Yuna's, perhaps? Or just step-related?' Cassius thought to himself with a keenness about him. 'Well, either way, I'm definitely far more interested in this mission than I was before.'

But even if that was the case, the question of who was messing with things behind the scenes still lingered in his mind.

If there turned out to be nothing other than his paranoia at play here, then so be it. But what if there actually was someone behind these odd events? Would they have kidnapped a Royal Princess just to get to him? Or was she merely another piece of a much larger puzzle—just like him…?

'I guess I won't know until I meet this Princess and whoever may or may not be pulling the strings,' Cassius thought, his eyes shifting over to the second illusory screen to appear in front of the Captain.

"This right here," he said, motioning to a floating portrait image of an otherworldly pretty young girl, "is the 15th Royal Princess—Opal Mistalore. If you find her in your designated scouting area, then you are to extract and secure her right away."

The girl had white hair similar in hue to her sister—Yuna Mistalore—but had light blue eyes instead of reddish-orange ones. She could be considered as extremely pretty, with her looks bordering on unearthly. Yet, with the glow of youth still permeating her features, it was hard to tell just how much of a looker she'd become once fully matured.

"But, sir!" A 3rd Class Slayer raised a question, and once having received a small nod from the Captain, he said, "Why is the 15th Royal Princess out in the Shallow Crater to begin with? Should she not be in the Land of Beginnings?"

It was a good question.

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However, with a disdainful snarl, the Captain said, "That's none of your business. You're just to know that most of her personal guard—except for one who's severely injured—has perished in her defense. We are to locate these two and bring them back to safety. Though, if the injured Head Guard has already met her demise, then there's nothing more we can do. The Princess is our topmost concern."

Cassius's eyes narrowed at this proclamation. 'How would the Captain know if the Head Guard has been severely injured? Something… something isn't quite adding up here.'

That was when he looked around and noticed something very unusual.

More than 80% of the members of Platoon 49 were stealing glances at him. They did so very covertly, but it was certainly happening. And most notable of all was that the way they looked at him spoke nothing of the goodness in one's heart.

He only saw malevolent intent in their gazes.

'This whole mission is—without a doubt—a trap,' Cassius thought, his eyes chilling. 'The only thing that puzzles me is where the supposed 15th Princess stands in all this. Is she actually out there? Or even real?'

He had no idea for certain.

'I figure I could ask around outside the Fort and discern the truth of this 15th Princess's whereabouts for myself,' he considered. 'But if the masterminds behind this charade know even half their stuff, then they've surely already accounted for me doing something like that.'

As it would seem, Cassius was trapped. He had been cornered.

Yet, for some reason, knowing this only made his smirk widen. 'How amusing,' he thought. 'How very amusing.'

With his current strength, he was more than confident enough to handle everyone in Platoon 49—even the Captain. Thus, with no need to devise an escape plan just yet, he decided he'd stick around and see where this predicament of his took him.

"Does everyone understand what your objectives are!?" The Captain shouted, sweeping his piercing eyes across all the Slayers standing before him. "I said, does everyone UNDERSTAND!?"

"Yes, Captain, sir!!!" The Slayers yelled at the top of their lungs, their voices reverberating throughout the large field.

"Good," said the Captain, nodding his head. "And seeing as this mission is one of utmost urgency, we are to depart right away. Pack your sorry a*ses up and let's head out!"

"Yes, Captain, sir!"