196 Bizarre Situation (2/2)
A few moments later, the others also began picking up the smell and discussing among themselves.
”You smell that? Something smells like shit.”
”I don't think I want to smell that…”
”It seems to be coming from that direction.”
Leon glanced in the direction the palace guard pointed. The direction led deeper into the unexplored ruins. After picking up his pill, he said, ”Ahem… Let's go check it out. We can leave our stuff here.”
”Yes, Your Highness.”
The group complied. With two fewer people, they couldn't carry everything, and it would only slow them down in the case of an emergency.
As the group headed over, Leon scouted the area with [Spirit Eyes] for hidden danger. They several buildings but they ignored it and went straight to the source of the smell.
Within the remains of an alleyway between two half-buried buildings, they arrived at the designation. Although they had already expected it, they were still taken aback by the sight. It was two lumps of fresh turd.
The group was filled with confusion.
Seeing the group fall into silence, a palace guard spoke, ”We didn't come here to admire other people's turd, did we?”
”Why on earth would they come all the way out here to take a dump without a word?” Zorbek frowned. He couldn't understand the two missing men's thoughts.
”Maybe they were embarrassed to disturb the group with the foul smell?” A palace guard speculated.
”Didn't the smell end up drifting over anyway? What's there to be embarrassed about? We are all men.”
”Actually, not all of us…”
The group stole several glances at Lilith. They didn't know how Lilith got rid of her wing, but without it, she looked no different from any other ordinary girl. They couldn't look at her with the same prejudice without the distinct feature that set their races apart. She was quite a fine lass.
Lilith was filled with a weird feeling and oddly creeped out by their stares. She didn't expect to see such a major change attitude just by hiding her wings.
”Ahem.” Leon interrupted with a cough. He wished the group could take the situation more seriously. ”Take a look at the lump of shit. It's been squished and there's a trail of skid marks leading deeper into the ruins.”
Actually, the palace guards were only trying to loosen the tension. Stiff movements wouldn't allow them to perform in their optimum state. The palace guard appeared lax, but they had never dropped their guard.
Zorbek followed the traces pointed out by Leon, before he frowned. ”Something had dragged them away. There are no other traces of battle or resistance, but it's safe to say that their chances of survival are close to zero.”
”The trail ends here,” Leon stated.
At the end of the trail, they could see the ground was intertwined with roots and filled with cracks. The cracks exposed many holes large enough for humans to crawl through. Also, the air was getting fresher.
They had arrived at the perimeters of an ant nest, but it was strange why the air was getting fresher.
Did the ants build their nest under a sea of plants?
”I don't detect any creatures lurking inside. However, my sense doesn't reach very far. It will be unwise to enter these holes, your Highness. We could get swarmed by ants.” Zorbek warned while looking at the ant tunnels.
Leon agreed.
Entering such narrow tunnels will put them at a severe disadvantage by restricting their movements and ability to adapt to changes. It was no different from throwing their life away.
”Should we abandon them and turn back?” Zorbek suggested hesitantly. Although he was unwilling, he couldn't endanger the prince.
”No, we need to get to the bottom of this. If they are still alive, we will bring them back. If they are dead, we will bring back their corpses. They after all part of the elites of our kingdom. We can't abandon them. I want everyone to be on high alert and watch the ant holes as you pass them. We will continue forward in the open space.”
”Yes, Your Highness.”
The palace guards answered with relief and enthusiasm. They were also unwilling to abandon their comrades.