Chapter 222 - Chapter 222: Escape
Balt and the others were fleeing toward the Big Bear Empire with Dr. Bell, driving three cars.
D, who was gripping the steering wheel inside the car, spoke to Balt.
"I thought it was over when our hideout was raided."
"With my magic, that situation was nothing."
When Dr. Bell and I were preparing for departure from the country, the security forces of the Kingdom of Cascade had stormed the hideout.
However, Balt used his magic to create illusions, causing the security forces to fall into confusion, and they managed to escape in the gap.
The original plan was to head to the Big Bear Empire by train, but anticipating that warrants had been circulated at the station, they abruptly switched to moving by car.
They managed to escape the Royal Capital before roadblocks were set up, and were now driving east.
While staring out the window, Balt muttered.
"If only we had magic, we wouldn't be inferior to opponents with guns..."
This was a complaint about how long it had been since the value of mages had declined.
Although recognized for their skills as agents in the Big Bear Empire, the treatment was far from the high status they once enjoyed, as heard from elderly mages.
Mages are convenient to have, but they can be replaced if not present; that is the current status of mages.
Even if Dr. Bell is brought back to the homeland this time, there will be no significant change in how he is treated.
The automobile they are riding in now is also a case where mages of Teleportation were once highly valued, but now that anyone can move within a reasonable time without instant teleportation, the value of Teleportation mages has dropped.
"It would have been better if we could have defeated Lord Archibalt..."
A man who was hailed as the strongest mage in history, yet lowered the value of mages himself.
However, no matter how advanced science becomes, Steve cannot be killed.
If that is achieved through magic, the value of mages will be reevaluated.
Balt thought so.
Unfortunately, he was unable to face Steve and ended up returning to the homeland, but if an opportunity arose, he wanted to come to the Kingdom of Cascade again and defeat Steve.
Bang!
At that moment, a sound of something bursting was heard.
And D, who was driving, frantically operated the steering wheel and stepped on the brake at the same time.
"It's a flat tire."
He told the passengers.
Balt clicked his tongue.
"Tch. Let's swap with the spare tire."
Saying that, he got out of the car, and both the front and rear wheels on the right side of the vehicle body were flat.
"This is hopeless. We'll have to borrow a spare tire from the following car or split up into the other vehicles."
The two following cars were also stopped, and their tires were going flat one after another.
At that, Balt realized something.
"Sniper! Hide behind the shadows of the cars!"
He shouted.
Fortunately, only the tires were shot through, and there were no casualties.
However, at this moment, Balt wondered.
Looking around, he could not see the enemy's figure.
In other words, the sniper attack was carried out from a considerable distance.
Yet, they accurately shot through the tires of the moving car.
And then, the tires of the stopped car.
If they had wanted to, they could have shot through the heads, yet they did not do so.
Why was this?
And he reached a conclusion.
"They intend to capture us alive..."
That was the only thing he could think.
However, that was convenient for him.
Because the effective range of Balt's illusion magic was about 10 meters.
It would not work against a long-distance sniper.
But to capture them alive, they would need to get close.
If the enemy entered the range of the magic, he thought he had a chance to win.
"I'll make you regret trying to capture me alive without killing me."
He muttered softly.
Now, who was sniping Balt's car?
It was Bella.
It was a sniper shot from 600 meters away.
Steve was beside her.
The two had obtained information from the intelligence agency, chased Dr. Bell, and caught up here.
"They are becoming harder to see year by year.
In the past, I could have sniped from double that distance."
Bella complained.
Bella had also aged, and her eyes were not as sharp as when she was young.
Still, Steve thought it was enough that she could snipe the tires of a moving car from 600 meters away, but he deliberately did not say it.
"Then, let's go."
Saying that, Steve used the magic of Teleportation.