Chapter 249 (2/2)

However, Link stopped merely after a few steps. He then hesitated for a while before charging in the opposite direction straight towards Scorched Ridge.

“Weren’t you prepared to find Vance? Why have you turned back?” Celine said. She truly was an intelligent woman. She had already guessed Link’s intention despite his silence all this while.

Link then shook his head as he said, “My return trip to Scorched Ridge is an impromptu decision. The enemy’s sneak attack will naturally be an impromptu one as well. However, you predicted in your nightmare that the territory would be in great danger. It is not worth it to save a High Elf Princess in exchange for over 8000 lives on the territory.”

The refugees from the Delonga Kingdom had been traveling north in big batches towards the Ferde Wilderness. Merchant Warter had also been extremely efficient in bringing in slaves which caused the population of the territory to rocket upwards. Scorched Ridge was now a little town of nearly 10000 residents.

“But if the High Elf Princess were to die, you would be in trouble.”

“That is indeed troubling, but the High Elves has more than one princess.” Link had clearly thought this through.

This was an impromptu attack. The enemy had already managed to set-up an ambush party and even drew up a Level-6 magic circle. Both of them required delicate planning, craftsmanship, and more importantly, time. They should not be able to launch an attack on both sides in a short amount of time.

Since Milda had already suffered the brunt of the attack, Romilson should be safe. He should already be brought back safely to the territory by the two Master Magicians.

Romilson would then become Link’s perfect alibi. This was because Link had stayed with them the entire time since East Cove Higher Magic Academy and had no time to arrange such a complicated set-up.

It was this exact thought that helped Link make the decision to give up on rescuing the princess and protect his own territory instead. Politics was all about interests after all. As the lord of the territory, Link was responsible for the safety of his residents.

The return trip to the territory was smooth. Traveling at the top speed of the Wind Fenrir, they reached the east gate of the camp around five minutes later.

At this moment, the sky had already darkened, and the east gate was closed. There was a large number of soldiers patrolling the castle walls. Link then cast an illumination spell on himself to reveal his identity.

“It’s me.”

Link did not wait for the soldiers to open the door. He commanded the Wind Fenrir to leap forward. The moment the Wind Fenrir was airborne, he then cast a Weight Reducing spell on it, allowing it to leap to a height sixty feet tall. The Wind Fenrir then leaped comfortably over the castle wall without any obstructions.

The security within the camp was also heightened. The moment Link entered the camp, he immediately canceled the casting of Wind Fenrir and whispered to Celine, “Follow me closely, don’t get lost.”

He felt that the entire Scorched Ridge was unsafe.

“I know.” Celine followed closely behind Link.

After a few steps, Gildern came forward to welcome them. Link then asked, “Has Master Grenci returned?”

Gildern then reported the good news, “Master Grenci, Master Ferdinand, and the High Elf named Romilson are all back safely.”

Link immediately felt rejuvenated and said, “That’s great. Where are they now?”

“Inside Master Grenci’s abode.”

Link then felt a weight lifted off his shoulders and asked, “What about Dorias, is he back?”

Gildern then had a worried expression on his face as he said, “We can’t seem to find him anywhere. He would usually be back by this time. We have no idea where he went.”

“Understood.” Link could not do anything about this issue either. A tiger with such a monstrous size and outrageous speed would be impossible to find in the night. He could only pray for his safety.

Link then took Celine towards the Magician’s residential area in the Scorched Ridge. The Scorched Ridge was only a few hundred feet in radius. They reached Master Grenci’s quarters within three minutes.

After a few knocks, the door opened as Grenci’s weathered face appeared behind the door. He then glanced around, seemingly searching for the High Elves. A frown then appeared on his face as he said, “Something happened?”

Link nodded as he took out the rocks stained with blood and said, “Celine and I gave chase and were ambushed by a team of Assassins. After defeating them, I found this on the ground. It should be clear that Princess Milda and Latour suffered injuries from the ambush and left using a transportation spell. As for their exact location, we were not able to locate them.”

“Please come in.” Grenci then invited them in.

Link saw Romilson the moment he entered the room. Romilson was completely pale and even had a blood stain on his elbow. He looked disheveled and seemed to have gone through some tough times. Upon seeing Link, he instinctively searched the room and asked with a hoarse voice, “Where is the princess? Why didn’t she come back?”

“This was all I found when I arrived.” Link then placed all the rocks stained with blood on the table.

Romilson face grew even paler as he grabbed these rocks and sniffed them as if in a trance. Half a minute later, with god knows what method, he muttered, “Latour is already dead, his blood is not showing any signs of life. The princess is still alive, though she has suffered heavy injuries. This will not do; I have to find her now.”

“How will you do that? I believe you have met those Assassins as well; how will you deal with 15 Assassins at once?” Link asked.

“There are 15 of them?” Romilson was close to losing his consciousness from the shock. He had met four Assassins on his way to the academy and was already lucky to escape alive. If not for the timely arrival of Master Grenci and Master Ferdinand, he would definitely be dead. Going through with this mission with the knowledge that 15 Assassins were lying in wait would simply be suicide.

However, the princess must not die. If the princess died while he stayed alive, he would become the disgrace of his family!

“I have to rescue her! The princess’ blood can guide me towards her; I will be able to find her!” Romilson stood up and was prepared to leave.

Link was just about to stop him when roaring sounds could be heard from outside the door, “Enemy…!”

After only half a sentence, the voice seemed to be cut off by some sinister force.

“Arrgghh! Uhh!”

A large number of screams could be heard. The frequency and despair from those screams were enough to make anyone’s hair stand on end.