บท 267: Culprit Revealed
As he listened to the information given through the message, the young master of the Mortola Family's sour expression turned to one of shock.
Wordlessly putting the woman under his arm, he flew away, making her shriek in surprise and fear. The young man didn't care, his mind thinking of the message sent to him.
'To think that there will be a huge fight at the entrance and all of the leaders had to return, it really is a bad time for an attack to happen,' the young man grumbled, not knowing if he didn't fly away as fast as he did, he would have been met with a guard, meaning his life was save from the attack.
Though it might actually be safer to be found by the guard considering whom he met later on.
-x-
Ryker's journey had almost reached the end, the sight of the city invigorating him, making him fly towards the city at a faster pace.
He would have reached the city in record time if not for his Soul Sense detecting a large number of people hiding nearby.
He quickly used his mastery of Law of Darkness and Nature before diving into a massive tree, concealing his presence from several Soul Sense that headed towards where he was previously.
"There is nothing there chief," he heard one of the bandits said, a Genesis Source expert. Under regular circumstances, even such a person wouldn't be able to detect him, but when he was flying quickly and didn't focus on covering his presence, it was not a surprise why he was able to him.
Still, now that he concealed himself, it is impossible for even a Genesis Sea expert to detect him, much less a Genesis Source expert.
He moved even closer, hoping to get a glimpse of what the group of bandits was planning.
"We should not be detected, after all, we used the item given by the great chief," the leader said, "Maybe that was just an expert flying towards the city," he dismissed the report clearly confident about the items that couldn't even hide them from his Soul Sense.
Then again, it did hide them well, just not well enough for someone like him, who used his mastery of Law of Life to enhance his Soul Sense to be able to detect any living being, even one using concealment techniques or items.
He observed them, wondering what they were planning.
"Let's get going, the great chief will attack the city and attract the attention of the Duke. Then we will attack one of the walls. Our spies report the wall is guarded by at most, Genesis Source experts, with not even a Genesis Spring present.
With our forces, it wouldn't be hard to defeat them before overwhelming the rest of the defenses. After that, we will disrupt the formation that protects the city, weakening it even further. This will allow us to attack them and destroy them in one clean swoop,"
Hearing the bandit's words, Ryker frowned. For there to be no Genesis Spring experts when there is usually a Genesis Lake expert overseeing a section of the walls around the capital must mean the Duchy is stretched thin.
He pondered over his next course of action, before deciding to do one simple thing, destroying the bandit's force. Aside from the leader, who is a Genesis Lake expert, the rest will be easily slaughtered by him.
He looked at the leader once again, trying to confirm the man's cultivation realm. He winced, "An 8th Stage Genesis Lake!" this will make the battle even harder.
He thought about his plan some more before going for the most effective one, namely ambushing the man when he was about to attack.
This would mean he had to follow them and not make his presence known to the bandits, lest his plan come apart. He groaned, the thought of having to postpone his reunion with his lover hurt his heart.
However, he keeps on following them, knowing if they succeed, then the safety of all his love will not be guaranteed.
As he followed, them, he let out a string of curses, planning to kill the bandit leader as painfully as possible.
-x-
Thankfully, though it may seem weird if one didn't have the right context, the bandits arrived near the wall very quickly. However, he now has to wait until
A stream of light headed towards the city, a powerful formation blocking the attack followed by one person flying outside the city.
"Lord Duke, it's a pleasure to meet you," the bandit's great chief, one that was injured by the Duke previously, greeted the man, seemingly unconcerned about the snarl on his face.
"The same cannot be said about me, bandit," saying bandit like it was the worst insult imaginable, the Duke frowned at the man.
"Do you think you are strong enough to hold me back?" the man laughed, "Alone, nope. But with some friends," several figures emerged from the shadow, all of them were Genesis Sea experts.
Worst of all, the Duke knew all of them, "Y-you, are from the Mizalas Duchy!" he yelled before his mind connected the dot.
"The sudden rise in bandits' strength, whether in terms of number and quality, along with their willingness to obey orders and act orderly, more like a military than a bandit, this is all of your doing," he said, glaring at the strongest out of the newcomers.
"Hahaha, you guessed right, but it was too late. You can never stop us now!" the bandit leader yells before charging towards the Duke, who merely lets out a loud 'harrumph', ready to engage the attacker.
-x-
As the Duke and the group of Genesis Sea experts clashed, the bandits stopped for a moment, transfixed on the ongoing battle.
He would have been doing the same if not for the fact that he needed to keep an eye on them, waiting for when the leader was in his most vulnerable spot.
As he carefully observed them, the bandit leader seemed to be able to gain some sense before bellowing to his group, "Don't just stand there, get going you maggots!" he yelled at them, prompting them to continue their hidden march toward the walls.
Ryker continued his trek, stalking them like some kind of predator, ready to deliver the lethal blow. As they moved closer to the wall, the bandits took out the contraptions he recognized.
'Isn't that the same thing that destroyed the city's wall?' he thought to himself. He then thought of the scenario of what would happen when the contraption was used on the wall.
He paled at the prospect,
'Not good! I have to stop them now!"
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