855 Weirdo (1/2)

The storm was still pouring, but lightning and thunder were getting rare. So, the night was even darker than before.

In the basement of a manor at the suburb, Fernando sat in a corner with a grim face, and Lauren paced back and forth anxiously, sneaking out now and then for investigation.

As a matter of fact, even the owner of the manor did not know that the evil sorcerers had turned his basement into their bureau.

”The night watchers were deceived by our arrangements and chased after the wrong direction.” After a while, Lauren reentered the basement. Avoiding several traps, he told Fernando what he learned. ”Like how we rehearsed before, the other people went to the other bureaus in different groups. As for the loss of sorcerers and apprentices, we can't calculate until this thing is over.”

Fernando did not nod or shake his head. ”What I want to know is why the black-clawed dogs can find the place.”

A horrifying storm seemed to be brewing in his red eyes. Even Lauren, as a friend who was most familiar with him, couldn't help but step back unconsciously.

Lauren said gloomily, ”That's exactly my question too. That bureau was very inconspicuous. We had never used it before. Also, we found no sign of being followed by the black-clawed dogs. I think that some of us might've joined the black-clawed dogs.”

He did not sound shocked at all. Betrayal, slaughter, and escape were the themes at the end of the War of Dawn.

”Investigate in secret but do not make a fuss. A good traitor might even 'help' us. Also, everybody has been separated to avoid the enemy now. Nobody knows the location of the other groups except us. The traitor cannot cause any greater losses.” Fernando was surprisingly calm. Lauren had thought that he would burst into fury and torture the traitor to avenge Ingrid.

Lauren nodded. ”I know what to do. Honestly speaking, Fernando, I thought that you would lose control of your temper.”

There was no smile on Fernando's face. ”My fury is waiting to burst out at an appropriate moment.”

He secretly sighed to himself. Although Lauren and he had known each other for years as old friends, the guy did not really know him. It was true that he was picky, impatient, and downright a roarer, but he could control himself and understand the situation. Although he barely admitted it, he was never stubborn in front of unquestionable facts and reasons. He knew what to do very well at such a moment. His fury would be gradually accumulated until the day it was unleashed.

”Judging from the signs during the attack, it's 'vulture' who commanded the squad of night watchers tonight.” Lauren shifted the topic to their ambusher. ”He has been after us for a long time.”

”Vulture” was their scornful nickname for a senior-rank night watcher. The guy was a level-eight radiant knight, ranking top thirty among the night watchers. His codename was ”Predator”.

”Yes. At the end of our evacuation, he was hit by my 'Shadow Arrow' but also broke my defense. Had it not been for Spell Trigger, perhaps I would've needed to find a way to transform into a lich.” Fernando confirmed Lauren's speculation before he said with insuppressible anger, ”We need to make a plan to secretly kill him so that the night watchers, reverend, and knights who are after us will be scared and work less hard!”

”Assassinating a ranked night watcher will raise the retaliation of the Church. Chances are that legends will be deployed to chase us. Are you willing to abandon everything here?” Lauren did not quite agree with Fernando's idea. The Union of Sorcerers was still too weak. It needed to avoid attention and grew up quietly.

”Because we are weak, we need to do something big so that the sorcerers will know that it is hopeful to follow us. After all, now that a traitor has appeared, we have to give up most of Paphos County. Also, our next target is very clear, which is to attract the nobles who are dissatisfied with the Church and hide behind them,” Fernando said, as if he knew what was on his friend's mind. His hair was rather messy, suggesting that the previous battle with the Predator was not so easy.

Lauren hesitated. ”Let me think about it. We should discuss it again after we pick Douglas up.”

”Alright,” Fernando replied briefly.

When he watched Fernando who fell quiet, Lauren seemed to see a human-shaped storm.

...

The bright sun, the clear sky, and the vague stink of the sea delivered by the wind filled the Patray Port with a charm that was different from any other places.

Fernando and Lauren, pretending to be merchants who had come to fetch their goods, paced back and forth in a fixed area in the port, glancing at where the boats were docked. According to Gallos and Douglas' deal, it was their rendezvous, and the white gloves and the red handkerchiefs marked their identity.

A classic boat slowly approached. Both Fernando and Lauren beamed with interest. It was exactly the boat that Douglas was on, but it was one day late. However, they were not very surprised, as the weather in the Storm Strait was terrible, and it was very normal for boats to be late.

”Black-clawed dogs!” Suddenly, Fernando's expression changed. He saw a few men, covered in capes, walk to the place where the boat was being docked with dozens of knights and squires. Their unique black gloves indicated their identities.

Lauren was rather grim. ”Is it a regular examination, or is it specifically against Douglas?”

Ever since the fall of Antiffler, more and more sorcerers had come to Holm, and the Church paid more attention to the examination of boats. However, since their personnel and attention were not enough, most sorcerers could still successfully hide their identities. As long as it was not specific, an archmage wouldn't fear such examinations at all.

”How would I know?” Fernando roared in a low voice. ”We have to see how strong the night watchers are.”

At this moment, a merchant in clean clothes walked in from outside of the port. The two of them immediately stopped talking, pretending that they were waiting for their goods.

”Good day, sirs, have your goods arrived?” The merchant was tall and strong, probably in his thirties. His nose was high, his black hair was thick, and his face was square but not exactly handsome. However, his deep blue eyes gave him a unique vibe that Fernando was quite familiar with.

Lauren chuckled. ”Not yet. Our cargo must've been blocked by the storm. What about yours?”