At the junction of mountain and sea on the northern coast of the Fiore Kingdom, it should have been a nice tourist spot.
But due to the cold winter weather and snow blocking the roads, almost no one would come near for months.
And heading southeast from the best vantage point, you'd enter a vast mountainous region.
Not far into the mountains, in a secluded little valley, someone had erected a crude dwelling.
In the outer hall of the dwelling, four black-robed figures sat around a small stove, warming themselves; steam rose from the kettle on the stove.
"I say, shouldn't Raven and the others be back soon?"
"They always dawdle, even taking so long to catch a little brat."
"It's better than you killing someone in the street. If it attracts the attention of the Advisory Council, we're in trouble."
"Those fools couldn't find us in ten years, and tonight..."
The group chatted idly, revealing expectant expressions when the night's event was mentioned.
The plan, in the making for so long, was finally officially commencing.
It had taken a year just to find 'Canopus' resting place,' and several more months to find a way to summon the Demon.
Plus setting up the altar, capturing sacrifices...
Today, their wish was finally about to be realized!
Neither the Advisory Council nor anyone else would be able to stop them.
The world would belong to them!
From the room within, the voices and cries of children could be heard. The group paid no mind, seemingly used to it by now.
They just needed to check periodically to ensure no one had died.
Inside the house, over a dozen children huddled in the corner.
Some cried softly out of fear, knowing loud cries would earn them a whipping from those outside.
Some, having been captured for a long time, were too tired to cry. They either sat dazed against the wall or had fallen asleep, perhaps to wake and cry again, or just remain in a daze.
The black-robed figures only needed them alive; they naturally did not take care of them, leading to an indescribable stench permeating the room.
Among the many children, it was rare to find two who neither cried nor were numb.
"Brother, I'm cold."
"Come closer, squeeze in a bit and you won't be cold."
"Okay." The little girl snuggled closer to her brother. "Brother, I'm hungry."
The gray-haired little boy held her close: "Go to sleep, once you're asleep you won't feel hungry."
"Okay." The little girl obediently closed her eyes.
But moments later, she opened them again: "Brother, why hasn't Liss come back?"
"She's gone home; she was the first to pass the trial. Now sleep, maybe when we wake up, we'll be in the next stage too."
"Okay."
The little boy was lying, having deceived his sister for a day and a night, saying it was a trial arranged by their parents and the uncles outside.
Once passed, they would be great adults, and there would be a cake as big as a wheel to eat when they returned.
As for the children crying from whippings, they were just too scared; the uncles were only acting.
He knew very well this place was dangerous, and Liss...
Would likely never return.
The little boy observed the dim room, which had no windows, and walls so solid that escape was only possible when the villains outside fell asleep.
But last night, another group was on watch; they didn't sleep at all.
The only chance might be when they, like Liss, were taken outside.
Hopefully, they could leave together with his sister.
Creak~
The wooden door was pushed open, waking several children with a start.
Some had tears brimming in their eyes, but they dared not cry out, for the man held a whip.
Whack!
The whip still came down, striking a child who hadn't awakened.
"Get up!"
"Ah! Waaah..."
The child cried out but was immediately struck twice more. The pain in his arm and back made him want to cry again, but he dared not make a sound.
The black-robed figure glanced around to ensure no one was asleep, then shouted, "All of you, get out!"
Terrified of the whip, the children staggered to their feet.
The gray-haired little boy cautiously pulled his sister along, blending into the line.
Was the opportunity coming?
But as he reached the outer hall, his heart turned cold.
Outside were at least twenty black-robed figures, more than enough to guard even if each looked after one.
The chance of escape was far too slim.
The black-robed figures herded the children away, leading them to the path to the altar.
Some children, wearing cotton clothes, could endure, while others, in thinner garments, shivered with lips turning purple.
The black-robed figures didn't care; as long as they didn't freeze to death on this short path, it was fine.
The ones who had been guarding the place asked, "It's not dark yet; why advance the schedule suddenly?"
"Raven has not returned and didn't send the agreed signal, likely already taken out. Delaying any further might cause issues."
"That fool... But if we hold the ritual early, what if the sacrifices are insufficient? And the timing isn't right either."
"Ghost Shadow Boss will handle those matters. At most, it will result in Canopus being slightly weakened upon summoning. More quality sacrifices later will suffice."
"I see... hey! You two brats! Get them!"
...
"This damn place is so hard to find."
Rhode used the clothes he gathered from Pepi Town as scent sources for the Shadow Wolves to track.
He himself followed the Shadow Wolves for a while.
Unfortunately, due to either the time elapsed or some trick of the Black Magic Sect on the children, not a trace of their scent was detectable.
Finally, by attempting to sniff out the scent of blood, they found the altar.
Rhode and Erza hid on the mountainside not far from the altar, using two Stone Beetles disguised as rocks for cover.
On the sunny side of the mountain, where there was less snow, extra rocks went unnoticed.
From their vantage point, they could see a platform constructed of stone and wood in the valley, with a dark red Magic Array drawn on it.
With Erza's keen eyes, she recognized it at a glance as being drawn in blood; as for whose blood...
Erza was itching to go down and hack those bastards to pieces.
"It would do no good to kill them now; we must first ascertain the children's situation." Rhode held her shoulder, this was no time to be rash.
"I know," Erza whispered. "Anything? Maybe we should..."
If Rhode couldn't come up with a plan, she was inclined to knock everyone below unconscious and interrogate them one by one about their base.
In this setting, the River Crab was too conspicuous, greatly affecting reconnaissance efficiency, but he finally saw who they sought.
"There they are, someone is coming this way, they should be here in a few minutes. The children..." Rhode gritted his teeth, "are with them."
What had this vile group done to the children?