Mission: Undercover

As soon as Karl received the secret assignment from Yang Jie, he immediately sought out his close friends, Francis and Edward.

Inside a private room, Francis leaned casually against the door, busily trimming his nails with a bamboo dagger.

"Hey, brother! I sense something big is about to happen. Tell me, you called us here all mysterious—there must be some good news, right?"

"Don't be naive, Francis. Good things never come our way," Edward teased, his bare torso revealing taut muscles, as he continued his one-handed push-ups.

"Heh, I bet we've got a mission coming our way!"

"Put on your shirt and quit showing off!" Karl tossed Edward his shirt and continued, "Look! I smell something—an acrid scent of romance. Edward, you must be in love, right?"

"You must have fallen for that wild Lucy, huh? Look at you, so distracted," Karl joked, sniffing theatrically.

Edward grinned, tying his long hair up with a thin hemp cord, then sprawled out on Karl's bunk. With his charming dimples, it was undeniable that Edward ranked among the top five handsome ratfolk in the clan.

Karl quietly closed the door, then moved to the window, removing the supporting stick.

"Of course I thought of you for this, but it must remain strictly confidential!" He shut the window, fetched a stool, and sat down.

Here's what happened: the chief called me alone to his office today...

...

Five minutes later, Karl finished recounting the entire incident.

"So, you're asking us to carry out this covert assignment together?" Edward inquired, his usual flippant demeanor subdued.

"I'm afraid it’s not that simple. Given how secretive the task is, it seems the chief has discovered something," Francis, ever the meticulous thinker, analyzed.

"Karl, just tell us straight—what exactly do you need us to do? Is it just to confirm how much coal these dark elves have mined from us?" Edward, impatient by nature, was clearly getting restless.

"That’s what I thought at first, but our mission is to infiltrate the Fagon Forest and gather detailed intelligence on these dark elves!"

Francis: Fagon Forest?

Edward: Well, that’s certainly good news. Looks like this isn’t a job for just anyone!

Karl: The chief originally wanted Tuchi for this, but he’s been assigned elsewhere!

You know I’ve just been promoted to captain of the personal guard. Without some accomplishments, it’ll be hard to command respect. This mission is specially arranged by the chief to help me establish myself.

So, as soon as I got the assignment, I thought of you two.

Edward: So it’s just the three of us rats on this mission?

Karl: Yes, just us. The fewer rats for a covert task, the better. We’ll have each other’s backs along the way.

Edward: Exactly!

(Yang Jie wanted to promote Karl, this outstanding young ratfolk. Likewise, Karl wanted to lift his two friends along with him. Now that he was a cadre in the clan, he needed trusted allies. Francis and Edward understood this without it needing to be said—this was also their chance to shine!)

Francis: When do we leave?

Karl: As soon as possible—tonight, if you’re ready. I’ve already prepared food and weapons!

Karl patted his mattress, grabbed the corner, and lifted it, revealing an array of weapons beneath.

Edward: You figured we wouldn’t refuse, didn’t you?

Karl: If you want to back out, now’s your chance.

Edward: Ha! Suddenly I’m feeling pretty excited!

Francis: Hold on, let me think if there’s anything else we need.

Edward: What weapons have you got?

Karl: For the three of us—each gets a hand crossbow, a dagger, and a spear.

Francis: I’m not used to spears. Give me two bamboo daggers and a shield instead.

Edward: I’m not keen on spears either. Two crossbows will do for me.

Edward’s marksmanship was top-notch among the clan, so he simply chose two handy hand crossbows.

Karl: All right, then I’ll take a spear and shield. It’s already dark; we’ll head down the back mountain trail soon.

Fagon Forest lies directly east of Highcourt. Though Horseshoe Mountain has only one gentle slope, there are many hidden paths down. As a former scout, Karl knew the terrain well.

Karl handed four wooden plates, shaped by bamboo knives, to Francis and Edward.

The three rats deftly strapped the plates to their soles, wrapping them with hemp rope and leaves up to their ankles—the earliest version of “shoes,” invented by Yang Jie.

Backward times and limited productivity forced such measures. Fortunately, the ratfolk’s feet were broad and tough, each sole covered in thick calluses.

Each rat slung a bamboo basket on his back, packed with rations and checked their gear and belongings.

"All set?" Karl looked at Edward and Francis once he was ready.

"I need to tell Lucy. If I disappear suddenly, she’ll worry herself sick," Edward said awkwardly, scratching his head. He and Lucy, the fourth daughter of Old Sha, had been secretly seeing each other. Only Karl and Francis knew.

Edward’s parents were humble farm rats, while Lucy’s father, Shalidi, held a prestigious position in the clan—a significant class divide.

"Always thinking about what’s in your pants. One day, you’ll drop dead in bed," Francis retorted mercilessly to his friend.

"I had my father notify her. Lucy’s recently been assigned by her father, Minister Sha, to my father’s logistics department. So, rest easy," Karl said, raising a paw to smack Edward’s head, which he dodged with a quick move.

"No more wasting time. Let’s head out and get down from the high ground before dawn."

"I planned the route. We’ll enter Fagon Forest from the edge of the Norma Corridor. If we go directly east, the dark elves’ sentries will spot us."

"Let’s go, brothers!"

"Let’s move!"

"May Lady Luck be with us!"

The three rat brothers bumped their forearms together, then quickly pushed open the door and set off eastward.

...

Deep within Fagon Forest

The Dark Elves’ capital—Silvermoon City

In the western forest of Fagon, there lies a natural lake spanning about 500 square kilometers—Silvermoon Lake. Each night, its surface reflects a bright crescent moon.

Silvermoon City, built by the lake, takes its name from this. From above, the city forms the shape of a crescent, half-encircling the round Silvermoon Lake.

In a tower-like building, the King of the Dark Elves, Tian Shuhao, had just finished his evening wash and was about to rest when a knock on his door disturbed his thoughts. On such a silent night, the tapping was especially sharp.

"Come in!"

Tian Shuhao showed no annoyance at being interrupted and let the servant enter.

"Your Majesty, Elder Norwell sent word back from the front."

"Our coal mines in eastern Northen Plain have been discovered by ratfolk. Elder Norwell found traces of ratfolk infiltration at the scene."

"Is the information accurate?"

"Through Elder Norwell’s divination, not only were ratfolk traces found at the site, but also the unique stench of ratfolk. Absolutely certain!"

The servant replied quietly but confidently.

Tian Shuhao, hearing this, opened his nearly closed eyes wide, a ruthless glint flashing in his gaze.

"Order Elder Norwell to strengthen defenses around the coal mines, and extend the reconnaissance perimeter by twenty kilometers."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

The servant retreated from Tian Shuhao’s chamber, carefully closing the door behind him.

...

On the eastern heights of Horseshoe Mountain, three ratfolk slipped out of Highcourt in single file, sneaking along the back mountain path toward the eastern slope.

Not far below them, a white-feathered night owl hanging upside-down in the treetops suddenly opened its golden eyes...