Chapter 114: Betrayal (2/2)

“Yes, this a spring weapon manufactured by dwarven metalsmiths,” Ciaran explained. “Before the War of the Dragons, at least ten thousand dwarven tribes lived in Doraster. Among them, half were cave dwarves, while half among this half liked to dig tunnels and palaces inside hard mountains. These dwarves were innately outstanding artisans. Some tribes among them smelted metal using the lava in the depths of volcanoes. Their meticulous and excellent craftsmanship allowed them to invent many kinds of weapons, spring weapons among them.

“These spring weapons belong to the second level. The power is equivalent to an arcane master with two open gates. With his level, it’s merely equivalent to invoking one or two more arcane skills at the same time. But in the era of the War of the Dragons, the dwarven tribes with many melalsmithing masters in the Kingdom of Dowa even created formidable clockwork armies, even created sixth level dragon-killing crossbows and clockwork soldiers.”

“Is that merely a class lesson?”

Seeing Ciaran not paying the slightest attention to himself, explaining the details to Moss and Ayrin instead, Paul completely felt as if they were looking down on him. For a second, he even had the urge to shout, “Whatever happens, at least pay attention to me.”

“There are only a few silver coins, and a map of St. Lauren’s surroundings.” Moss and Ayrin very quickly completed the search. Paul didn’t carry anything superfluous on his person, not even some army rations. It was no wonder he had to hunt for hares in the vicinity.

Ciaran nodded. She coldly looked at Paul: “You must know why we ambushed you here, right?”

Without waiting for his answer, Ciaran added immediately, “You’re closely familiar with arcane master Mori from Gooseberry Townlet’s gnome store. We’ve already ascertained that arcane master Mori is related with the arcane master who tried to assassinate Ivan. Now clearly tells us who on earth are these two people, and what kind of role you assumed between them.”

“I…” He probably knew that he couldn’t even dream of escaping from Ciaran’s hands, and that continued resistance would only result in a more tragic end for himself. With grief and distress on his face, this arcane master who was only a small character in St. Lauren said, almost sobbing, “The only thing I know is that arcane master Mori calls that person lord Pattinson. I just listened to their orders and helped them with some things. If I could complete certain missions, they would let me…”

When Paul paused, looking as if he couldn’t say it out loud, Ciaran coldly continued, “Let you become an Evil Dragon follower, right?”

Cold sweat covered Paul’s face. Moss and Ayrin could tell that Ciaran’s words hit the mark just looking at his expression.

Ciaran breathed in deeply. She slowly said, “These men called Mori and Pattinson, they’re both Evil Dragon followers already?”

“The one called Pattinson should be one, but that Mori shouldn’t have accomplished enough mission, so he hasn’t become a real Evil Dragon follower yet,” Paul said, his mouth twitching.

“What’s the goal of their activities here? What did you do for them?”

“I don’t know. I just helped them gather some intelligence about the activities of the elite masters inside the city. I also helped them pass on some news. I gave the intelligence I gathered to Mori in the gnome store. After that, Mori gave me secret documents and I passed them on to Johnny in the city.”

“Johnny? Iron Forest Academy’s Johnny?”

“Yes.”

Seeing Paul’s nod, Ciaran fell silent.

“Who is Johnny?” Ayrin couldn’t help but ask.

Ciaran said, “An elite arcane teacher in Iron Forest Academy.”

Ayrin stared blankly. “Even elite-ranked teachers, just like teachers Ciaran and Minlur, want to become Evil Dragon followers because of their lust for power?”

“You, what do you mean elite teachers like teachers Ciaran and Minlur?” Moss shouted at Ayrin, depressed.

“Quiet.” Ciaran whispered to Moss and Ayrin, her face solemn all of a sudden.

“Someone’s coming. Who is it?”

Ayrin immediately heard piercing sounds as well, like something tearing through the air.

A tall figure appeared in their lines of sight within a few seconds.

This was a man over thirty, wearing Divine Shield Academy’s uniform, his long brown hair tied in a ponytail.

“Makkany?” Ciaran recognized this person the moment his figure appeared.

“Ciaran, what are you doing here?”

This man took in the sight in front of him, and also seemed a little stunned.

“Did you receive a mission as well? You took these two students with you?” he asked Ciaran, looking as if he recovered immediately.

“First ambush mission.” Ciaran nodded. She quickly asked back. “What are you also doing here?”

“I first received a mission to lay an ambush in the wilderness not far away from Gooseberry Townlet. But they received the news not long ago that the gnome store’s owner might pass by this place. That’s why they changed the mission and let me come to this canyon to prepare an ambush. I just came not long ago and heard the sounds of battles here. I thought another arcane team already encountered that gnome store’s owner,” that man explained, his expression relaxing a little.

“Teacher Ciaran, who is he?” Ayrin couldn’t help but whisper.

“An elite teacher from Iron Shield Academy. They often call on him for missions like these,” Ciaran answered softly.

“He’s the target of your ambush? It merely looks like a special training for elite students.” Sparing only a glance for Paul’s figure lying on the ground, the elite Divine Shield teacher Makkany said with indifference, his tone rich with contempt, “Even an arcane master with that kind of level actually fantasizes about becoming an Evil Dragon follower?”

Ciaran glanced at Paul on the ground and was about to say something.

Suddenly, a sense of extreme danger arose in her.

“Careful!” She bellowed, her expression changing abruptly.

She flickered her hands. The wild winds she conjured immediately swept Moss and Ayrin away in the air.

Two tiny beams of lightning flashed through the spots where Moss and Ayrin previously stood at.

At the same time, falling swiftly backward, Ciaran groaned, the color of blood emerging from her ten fingertips.

“Don’t tell me this guy is also…” Spinning dizzily in the air from the wild gusts of wind, fear and anger bubbled forth in Ayrin’s chest.

He could tell that, in order to rescue the two of them, Ciaran already suffered damage from some sneak attack.