Chapter 248 - 247: Why Don’t We Just Wait and See?
"This..."
Vance’s eyes went wide.
He truly hadn’t expected it—or rather, he never even realized such evidence would be left behind.
He had too much faith in the ritual site arranged by the black-robed figures; no one who entered was supposed to have survived.
If that was the case, why bother trying to erase the traces? Who would bother collecting the belongings of people doomed to die?
"Judging by your expression, are you regretting not sending someone to clean up the battlefield?"
Zelir’s gaze was ice-cold.
"Over the past six months, you tricked at least five or six different Adventurer Squads into going to the Underground Tomb. And every single one of them perished, becoming sacrificial offerings."
"When we arrived at the Underground Tomb, we could still see the remains of their Armor."
"And all of these commissions... they were all issued by you. Can you explain that, Vance?"
Zelir stared him down coldly.
"When you welcomed us yesterday, did you already consider us dead men in your heart?"
"I... I... I didn’t. It’s not like that."
Vance’s lips trembled, his eyes darting around shiftily.
Cold sweat trickled down his cheeks. It took him a long moment to stammer out a few words.
"I really didn’t know there was a Cult there..."
"It’s because... the previous Adventurer Squads weren’t strong enough, so they died one after another in the Ancient Castle... Yes! That’s it. That’s why I had to keep issuing commissions..."
"The reason I didn’t tell you was because I was afraid you’d get scared and wouldn’t dare to accept the commission..."
"You’ve got some nerve, spouting such bullshit excuses."
Listening from the side, Maki almost laughed out of sheer anger.
"You shouldn’t be one of the Nobility. You should be a Minstrel in a tavern, spinning tales!"
Just as Zelir was about to press him further, a sudden commotion came from outside the door.
The rhythmic sound of uniform footsteps echoed, rapid and dense.
Several people looked toward the doorway at once.
The carved double doors were forcefully pushed open.
A group of guards wearing black Armor and golden-yellow capes poured into the main hall.
Compared to the Wenmier Clan’s private guards, their Spirit was more vigorous and menacing. Moreover, there was no shortage of powerful auras within their ranks.
"The Falling Leaves Town Security Team is here..." Marcus said in a low voice.
After flooding into the main hall, the guards immediately fanned out into a surrounding semicircle. In addition to those with a Sword and Shield, there were others with loaded Crossbows, their arrowheads glinting with a chilling, murderous intent.
Among this group, three men in bright silver Armor stood out the most.
They were all Middle Level Warriors!
At the same time, Valles sensed something was wrong.
From within the formation, two sharp, piercing gazes locked onto Zelir and his companions.
Those were the Middle Level Rangers the Security Team had spent a fortune to recruit!
"Unbelievable. To think there are still madmen who dare to force their way into a noble’s mansion in broad daylight..."
The man in the center took two steps forward.
He looked to be in his fifties, with lean muscles on his exposed forearms, and he carried a heavy Warhammer.
"I am Darius, Captain of the Falling Leaves Town Security Team. You have no room for negotiation. Drop your weapons and surrender immediately! You will face judgment!"
It was obvious that the two sides were not on the same Level in terms of military strength.
Zelir’s Adventurer Squad was already exhausted after a night of fierce battle and raiding the manor.
The Security Team, on the other hand, was a fresh force.
Furthermore, they were comprised of three Middle Level Warriors and two Middle Level Rangers.
If a fight broke out, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"Captain Darius!"
When Vance saw this, hope suddenly flared in his eyes, and his earlier dejected look vanished completely.
He immediately roared.
"Quick! Arrest these criminals! Execute them on the spot! They’re a gang of thugs! Look at my face, they were trying to kill me!"
Darius followed his gaze.
Sure enough, Vance was missing a few teeth, and his cheeks were swollen.
Seeing this, Darius’s heart sank even further.
It wasn’t like he hadn’t accepted a few favors from Vance over the years.
It wasn’t much, but Vance was one of the Nobility, after all. Having that title on his side made things easier for him.
’These Adventurers nowadays are getting way too arrogant!’
The veins on the back of the hand Darius used to grip his Warhammer bulged. He roared again.
"I’ll repeat myself one last time: drop your weapons and surrender now!"
Following his roar, the surrounding Black Armored Guards took a step forward in unison.
CLICK-CLACK. The Crossbows were all raised, their tips aimed squarely at the five people in the center of the hall.
The other members of the Adventurer Squad didn’t move; they simply turned their gazes to Zelir.
"Captain Darius... I apologize for disturbing you with this matter."
"But this was not my intention. The situation was simply too urgent for me to do otherwise."
Zelir’s voice was calm and unhurried as he pulled a jade badge glowing with a faint purple light from his coat.
"However, I have already requested the Mage’s Guild to intervene, so there is no need to worry."
"Nonsense! Seize them... Hmm?"
Darius was about to angrily rebuke Zelir for his sophistry, but he suddenly calmed down after hearing those two words: "Mage’s Guild."
’Wait a minute...’
’The Mage’s Guild?’
’This kid is a Mage?’
It wasn’t just Darius; the other fierce-looking Black Armored Guards also hesitated slightly.
They were all well aware of what being a Mage represented.
An attendant came up from behind and leaned close to Darius’s ear.
"Captain... those guards from the Wenmier Clan who came to report the incident did say there was a Mage in the Adventurer Squad..."
After hearing his attendant’s words, Darius narrowed his eyes again and carefully examined Zelir’s badge.
His brow furrowed deeply.
It was indeed a genuine, certified Mage Badge.
’Damn it, how did a Mage get tangled up in this?’
Having been with the Security Team for many years, Darius knew very well who he could arrest and who he couldn’t.
He knew that according to the Kingdom’s laws, Mages held a status equal to that of the Nobility and enjoyed extremely high legal immunity.
Even if a Mage committed a crime, as long as it wasn’t a particularly serious felony, it would be brushed aside lightly.
If a commoner had injured Vance, Darius could have just arrested them, chopped them up, and fed them to the dogs.
But if a Mage injured Vance... it was no longer a matter for Darius to handle.
Even if he arrested the Mage, the Security Team wouldn’t be the ones to handle it. The usual procedure was to report it to the Mage’s Guild and let them resolve it internally.
And everyone knew just how protective the Mage’s Guild was of its own.
Darius looked at Zelir, a sense of dread suddenly creeping into his heart.
The black-haired, black-eyed youth before him had an extraordinary air about him; he clearly wasn’t some down-and-out, second-rate Mage.
’He probably has a master, too.’
’How did Patriarch Vance make an enemy of someone like this?’
"Falling Leaves Town doesn’t have a Mage’s Guild! Don’t think you can act so recklessly just because you can invoke its name!"
Although he was already looking for a way to back down, he couldn’t lose face, so Darius shouted anyway.
"Trespassing on private territory and injuring a noble! Even if you are a Mage, this matter won’t be settled so easily!"
"Then I won’t trouble you to worry about it."
Zelir’s hand rested on Vance’s shoulder. He gave it a light squeeze, his tone cold.
"A few hours ago, before I broke into the Wenmier Mansion, I had already sent a coachman to the Black Stone Town Mage’s Guild to deliver a message."
"I gave him two Gold Coins for the fare, so he was cracking his whip quite fast. I imagine he has already arrived by now, don’t you think?"
Zelir chuckled softly.
"After all, Black Stone Town isn’t too far from Falling Leaves Town... Why don’t we just wait and see?"