Chapter 628 - Gathering (Part 2) (1/2)
”What the heck? Are we really supposed to take care of so many people with just the two of us?” Lith couldn't believe his own eyes. There were already ten people and more kept stepping out of the dimensional Gate.
”Of course not.” Morok replied.
”Each one of these bastards would gladly cut their best friend's throat if it meant getting more funds and recognition. I'm here to guide them to destination and you are here as a contingency measure. For everything else, there's the army.” Morok's words garnered him a lot of attention.
Mostly of the bad kind. What he had said was true yet incredibly rude. He was speaking of esteemed Mage Professors and Researchers as they were just common thugs.
Lith recognized the uniforms from the Black, White, Lightning, and Fire Griffon, whereas it was his first time seeing people from the Crystal and Earth Griffon.
”Ranger Verhen!” A young woman greeted Lith by giving him a big hug.
”Dad really has done it. He made you come here with the excuse of the evaluation!”
”What the heck do you mean with that, Quylla?” Lith's paranoia had made him see countless shadows and conspiracies on his path, yet the truth had turned out to be beyond his wildest expectation.
”I told you that there's no one I trust enough to watch my back while on the field. Since you never got the time to accompany me, I had no qualms exploiting my family's influence to get you assigned here.”
”Don't worry, miss. Us Rangers are always glad to help hot women.” Morok said with his arms open, expecting to receive the same treatment.
”I'm sorry, I don't hug unknown creeps.” Quylla replied with a straight face, before letting Lith go. The scene was drawing too many gazes.
Lith went to greet the White Griffon Professor who had brought Quylla along as her Assistant when the real bodyguards stepped through the Gate. It was a five men unit, donning deep green uniforms that identified them as members of an elite troop.
Their clothes granted them protection on par with that of a Ranger, but they also wore enchanted arm, legs, and shoulder guards that increased their defense to the level of a Professor's uniform.
Each one of them had at least a cyan core and excellent physical condition. Their weapons were nothing much, though. They all held the same pseudo cores, giving them several versatile abilities rather than few but powerful ones.
The only exception was their Captain. All of her equipment was custom made and on par with Lith's Gatekeeper, if not even better.
”Lith, what are you doing in the Hessar region?” Phloria asked. She now had very short hair that resembled a pixie cut. It made her look even more tomboyish than usual.
”It's nice to meet you too, Phloria. How are you doing?” Lith was happy not being the rude one for once.
”Pretty well, thanks. I volunteered for this mission to make sure that nothing bad happens to her. I was expecting to meet another Ranger, so you'll excuse my surprise.” She said while pointing at Quylla.
”I'm your man, man.” Morok offered his hand to her.
”Ranger Eari, at your service. Now that we are all here, let's not waste any more time. We need to fly to the mines and then it takes a long walk to reach our destination.
”Since we're babysitting academics, it might take us days to get to the ruins.”
Phloria's soldiers repressed a chuckle, while the Professors and their Assistants threw at the Ranger more gazes filled with contempt. Morok collected the wooden bars forming the temporary gate before leading the group to the mines.
”Is it really necessary to have a guide? We could've found the ruins on our own.” A middle aged Professor from the Crystal Griffon asked to Phloria after they landed. He had blue eyes, white hair, and a beard.