Chapter 575 - Lapis’ Conundrum (2/2)
Christie shivered and muttered softly. “Again…”
“Again?” Rhode sulked and turned to Lapis. “What’s going on? Did those people caused trouble here before?”
“This was what happened, Sir Rhode.” Lapis hesitated for a moment before answering with stutters. “After you left, a group of people came to the Fortress… I don’t know where they heard about me concocting potions for the guild and what they want to do… But I heard from the Ocean Elves that they…” Lapis paused awkwardly.
Rhode frowned and focused his attention on the words that Lapis had said. “When was the last time they came to the Fortress?”
“About more than a month ago…”
“Did they enter the alchemy workshop?”
“N-No, Sir Rhode. Thanks to the mercenaries that you arranged for protection, those people didn’t manage to enter the alchemy workshop. But they haven’t seemed to give up yet…”
“Did you inform Bubble and Canary?”
Rhode had always been the one headhunting and he didn’t expect that there would be people coming to his turf to snatch his precious men. They must be sick of living! After hearing Rhode’s question, Lapis hesitated for a moment and shook her head hopelessly. “Miss Bubble and Miss Canary have been busy and besides, those people only occasionally cause a fuss and didn’t do anything… So…”
Bam! A loud explosion boomed and Rhode swept a glance to Lapis and Christie before heading for the workshop exit. Shortly after, Rhode saw Anne furiously standing in the middle of the empty. She smashed her steel shield on the ground and created a large hole in the ground. Standing before her was a dozen men looking at her with disdain. Rhode narrowed his eyes. Those people weren’t wearing mercenary leather armor. Instead, they were clad in a red and white striped uniform.
Could it be that these guys…
Rhode walked toward Anne slowly. “Anne, what happened?”
“Ah, Leader, you’re finally here!” Anne turned to Rhode hurriedly and pointed angrily at the men before her. “Those people are so annoying! Anne has followed Leader’s instruction to stand guard at this place so nobody can enter. But these people forced their way through here. Anne didn’t allow them to enter and those bastards say that we’re a bunch of barbarians… Anne is furious!!”
Rhode turned to face the group of men. Then, he let out a snort and lifted his chin. “How interesting. When did the Alchemist Association learn to headhunt like a bunch of sneaky thieves?”
“You —!” Two of the men were about to point at Rhode with their fingers and suddenly, a skinny middle-aged man who appeared to be their leader extended his arm to stop them. He wore a golden-framed spectacle and his thin long face resembled that of a disgusting smirking wolf. The man let out a sneer and stepped forward leisurely with his hands behind his back. He lifted his chin and looked at Rhode in contempt. “So, you’re the leader of these mercenaries? Young man? You seem much easier to handle than your barbaric men. Since you’re aware of who we are, then I can tell you frankly… We, Alchemist Association, thinks that the Alchemist concocting potions for your guild is a wanted criminal who has escaped from our association. Therefore, I, in the name of the Alchemist Association, ask that you hand the person over immediately!”
Criminal?
Rhode squinted and scanned the man before him. “Alright then, you mentioned that my man has committed a crime. I do want to hear what crime was it exactly.”
“You don’t have the rights to know about this.” The man sulked instantly and let out a burst of strange laughter. “Anyway, we have sufficient evidence to prove it. Now, I request that you hand over the person immediately, Young Man. I guess you’re also clear of the consequences for going against us, the Alchemist Association. If you insisted on not handing the person over, we will find the overlord for assistance and they will dispatch garrisons to capture the criminal… I think, as a guild Leader, you don’t wish to end in that predicament, right?”
“Scram,” a deep voice echoed in his ears.
A shimmering radiance flashed before the man’s eyes and a roaring storm that rose from the ground struck his body like an iron hammer. He flung to the back like a ragdoll and crashed heavily on the ground. As he lifted his head miserably, a shadow flitted by and Rhode emerged beside him. Then, an ice-cold, pitch-black sword blade pressed against his neck. “I shall gracefully grant you three minutes to get out of my Fortress,” Rhode said with a calm expression and tone. “I don’t care who you are. You’re still nowhere near to behave atrociously in the Land of Atonement. Leave. Right now.”
The man gulped his saliva and glared at Rhode with gritted teeth. “… And what if we don’t?”
The corner of Rhode’s mouth twitched. “Then… all of you will stay here forever.”