27 Ambush in the Arena (2/2)

Zelea noticed Koji's stare at Vi's gigantic breasts; the princess' face turned ugly as she pinched his cheek.”Stop staring!” she groused.

The princess turned back to face the annoying arachnid.Zelea pointed at the tied-up centurions.”Release them!” she demanded.

Vi shook her head.”Sorry, princess.I need to detain them for the proper authorities,” the spider woman replied.

The lamia gritted her molars and glared at the uncooperative worker.”I am the fourth princess of Nephosia.The Royal Family owns this arena.That makes me your boss.So do as I say and let them down!”Zelea slapped her snake tail on the ground in anger.Wham!She couldn't believe this spider woman dared to refuse an order from a member of the Royal Family!

Vi smiled faintly at Zelea's hilarious reaction.She didn't expect to enjoy teasing a princess!But now was the right time for the kill!”It seems you're sneaking out of town with the centurions.I've grown bored working at the Arena.So, let's make a deal.I will accompany you and the centurions,” she proposed with a big smile.

”NO!” Zelea yelled.She wanted to choke the spider woman right now!

”If you refuse, then you can free them yourself.”The arachnid started walking away.

”Let her come,” Koji spoke up.”I doubt your Telekinesis can grab a thousand-pound centurion and lower each of them safely,” he observed.”And we can't climb up, either,” he added.

Zelea looked up and stared at the centurions hanging from the ceiling.Without the spider woman's cooperation, the lamia could not free them.Furthermore, time was of the essence, and the group needed to leave town ASAP.She took a deep breath and sighed.”Vi, you can join us,” Zelea relented.

The spider woman clapped her hands.”Yippee!” she squealed in delight.

Koji watched as Vi climbed to the ceiling and gently lowered each trapped centurion to the ground using her spiderweb.He used his saber to cut the centaurs free of the thick web.He discovered that the strands of this web were elastic but sturdy.Luckily, his sharp blade easily cut through the substance, though.

The newly freed centaurs started making hostile comments toward the arachnid.”We're gonna cut you up and put you in a pot!””Don't expect any mercy from us!””You bitch!””I dare you to tie us up again!”

Koji stood in front of Vi and blocked their view of her.”That's enough,” he said calmly.

However, the centaurs became even more upset and unloaded their nasty comments on Koji.”How could you side with that spider woman?””Our leader isn't good enough for you?Now, you're chasing an arachnid?In front of your wife?Disgraceful!””You want that bitch for your harem?Take her!”

The Prince Consort allowed the centurions to vent their anger.Then he announced, ”Zelea and I are dropping from your mission.We will return to the palace.I bid you good luck in completing your quest.”

”WHAT!””No!””You can't quit!””Mylia will have our heads!””What the hell did we just go through the humiliation of being tied up for?”The centurions protested in unison.

Suddenly, one of them raised his hand.”Quiet!” he ordered.The centaur was a middle-aged male who wore a green vest and cap, and a quiver and bow peeked over his shoulder.The speaker turned to face Koji.”We apologize for our rudeness,” he said and bowed.

”What's your name?” Koji asked.

”I'm Xanthur, the second-in-command of these centurions.”

Koji cupped his hands and nodded slightly.”Well met, Xanthur.”

Xanthur turned toward his comrades.”Our mission is more important than your pride.Zelea is our best chance to save the Great Chieftain,” he reminded them.

”Save the Great Chieftain?What do you mean?” Princess Zelea suddenly asked.”Was he poisoned?”

Xanthur winced at the question.He decided to answer her to build trust with the lamians.”Yes, our leader has been poisoned.We need thousand-year-old wild ginseng roots to make the antidote.”

Zelea's eyes came alive.”It would be difficult to dig out the root because the area where the ginseng grows is relatively high up in Sailan Mountain.Therefore, the risk of encountering powerful monsters will increase dramatically,” she warned.

”We understand the risk,” Xanthur replied with a big smile.All the centurions wore similar smiles.They anticipated fighting wild beasts and had privately created a betting pool based on how many kills each participant earns during this mission.

Vi interrupted.”We need to leave before the sun comes up,” she reminded them gently as the arachnid returned the Centurions' packs and equipment, which she left in a corner.

Xanthar stomped his left hind leg, and the centurions formed a row behind him.The group marched in unison out of the building.