Theron hopped back on his horse, kicking its side and moving forward without the input of the others.
In reality, he wasn't very happy right now. He just couldn't show it.
While this was a test, it put him in danger. A wild card like the lieutenant could have killed them at any time.
Although he felt he might be able to deal with a Gold Mancer right now with his father's sword to rely on, that would require a very curated situation, and that situation certainly couldn't be suddenly attacked from the back by one.
Theron shook his head, his mind clearing up and his discontent vanishing. Those thoughts weren't like him.
'I'm growing arrogant…'
Theron looked up through the foliage of the trees, feeling that the rays of the sun were particularly red-tinted today compared to their usual golden hues. It was just an optical illusion, but it still felt so very real.
'I wonder if this is what cultivation does to people…'
He had never been very interested in cultivation before, nor had he ever been very arrogant. Though, he could consider himself to be quite a confident person, marching to the beat of his own tune.
Maybe Ruu was right and that he was too sinister. Now, he just had a reason to display it.
Power… it was said that absolute power corrupted absolutely. That might be more true than he knew.
Regardless, he would never allow anyone to put his life in danger, not without reason, and not without a purpose that aided his ultimate goal in the end.
If General Pennel insisted on putting his life on the line so he could play his little political games, then Theron would just have to take matters into his own hands.
General Pennel watched in silence as Theron trotted into the distance on his horse. This was troublesome. Things weren't supposed to go this way.
Some band-aids couldn't just be ripped off so unceremoniously, but Theron didn't seem to care.
A pair of miniature soul lamps winked out of existence.
The location was a damp cave, the scent of beast sweat and blood hanging in the air. The carcass of a bear beast was laid off to the side, skinned and taken apart for its nutrient flesh.
Seated across from each other with a flickering flame between them, a group of people munched on large pieces, even chewing into the bone on many occasions.
"That doesn't make sense. According to the reports, they only just got to this location. Why would they suddenly kill those two now?"
It made sense. All of this seemed too disorganized. Why kill them now? It reeked of something fishy.
Logically, the most obvious answer was that the spies had accidentally slipped up and allowed the Nightingale Empire to catch onto their tails. This led to an immediate retaliation.
But that just felt… too coincidental.
How had they managed to go through all the trouble of sneaking in, even taking over the position of a lieutenant, just to fail during the final step?
It would have made more sense if the Nightingale Clan and their underlings learned the truth long ago and chose to hide it until springing this surprise on them in the last moment. Of course, they would be prepared for this, but it would at least seem like the more clever plan.
This, however… it was almost like they wanted to try and lull them into a false sense of security.
What if they killed them right now on purpose just to craft the illusion of a flailing team who was now split? Of a team that suddenly didn't trust each other very much at all?
"If that is the case, then we should leave and report this. General Pennel is personally taking part. This already made this mission too dangerous. Now it's even more so."
Silence fell again. It was hard to refute this at all… until a voice said otherwise.
The one who spoke was the youngest of them all. He might have been 13 or 14 years old, but he had the coldness of a heartless murderer in his red eyes. The piece of meat in his hands was particularly bloody, almost as though it had been hardly cooked over the fire at all.
The little prince of the Sangun Imperial Clan.
When he spoke, they no longer questioned it. This little prince had the trust of the Emperor, so much so that they were under expressed orders to follow everything he decided down to the most minor of details.
None of them dared step out of line.
The little prince took another bite, cleaning the bone dry before his canines flashed beneath the flickering orange-red light of the flame.
The thick bone in his hand shattered, thick, oozing marrow pooling out and into his mouth.
"There's a First Year by the name of Theron Galethunder. He is the highest priority target this time. Everything else can be ignored so long as he dies."
Surprise colored the features of the others present. Weren't they here for the natural treasure about to be born? When did this suddenly become a mission to kill one boy they had never heard of?
"It will be impossible to miss him. He is only around my age and is a Water Mancer. If you find him, do not let him go. Kill with prejudice."
Despite the confusion of the group, their orders were absolute. Who didn't know about the ruthlessness of the Sangun Imperial Clan?
"Now, we'll separate them."
"How should we do that, young prince?"
"Let nature take its course. The hounds will do the work for us."
The others looked to one another again. They didn't understand why they were here at all now.