Chapter 320 - 297: So It Was a Mole

Chapter 320: Chapter 297: So It Was a Mole

"They have a bounty on them?"

Zelir was a little surprised to hear what Booker said.

"Of course! Don’t underestimate these guys. A Thief Gang of this size is bound to have a bounty in town."

Booker said confidently, "As for how much, you’ll know as soon as you get to town and ask at the Security Team’s office!"

’As long as there’s money.’

Zelir nodded slightly, his mood finally improving a little.

The journey had been going fine, but this whole mess suddenly cropped up, leaving a bad taste in his mouth.

Although the Adventurer Squad hadn’t suffered any serious injuries, killing was always an unpleasant affair.

Not only did it not grant any experience, but it also brought a certain burden and discomfort.

Getting a bounty to make up for it wasn’t bad.

They had originally expected to reach Tula Town by the afternoon.

After a short rest, they could have set off again and reached the next town before nightfall.

But the fierce battle, on top of treating the wounded and dealing with the horses, had taken up a great deal of time.

Now, they would have to spend the night in Tula Town.

Zelir walked over to the pitfall trap and began Sketching a Spell Structure.

An earthen-yellow halo swirled at the tip of his staff.

With a RUMBLE, a thick earthen wall spread out from the bottom of the pit.

Zelir’s Magic Manipulation Level was becoming more and more refined; he could control the width, thickness, and size of the earthen wall to a certain extent.

The soil on both sides of the road seemed to answer a summons.

It surged upward on its own, compacting under the pressure of Magic Power until it was even flatter and harder than the original road surface.

If ordinary people had tried this, it would’ve taken three to five men half a day to fill the pit, and they still couldn’t have leveled it so perfectly.

"That’s simply divine..." Booker and the other escorts stared, dumbfounded.

’Is this... Magic?’

As for the prisoners, Marcus was assigned to guard the six ordinary thieves.

The remaining Ranger Thief, however, was placed directly in the Adventurer Squad’s carriage.

’He’s a Middle Level Ranger, after all... better to be cautious.’

Valles was on horseback outside, standing guard in case of any other unexpected incidents.

"Move out!"

With a shout from Booker, the convoy started moving again.

RUMBLE...

At first, the sound was muffled and distant, as if coming through a layer of water. Then, accompanied by bumps and vibrations, it gradually grew clearer.

The darkness receded, replaced by an ache in his neck and a stinging pain in his palm.

Hopter shook his head instinctively and groggily opened his eye.

"Where... is this?"

His vision focused, and the scene of a carriage interior came into view.

Inside sat a young man in a black robe, a blond man, and a woman in a hooded robe...

Wait!

Hopter jolted as his memory came flooding back. He remembered what had just happened.

The ambush, the blue light, the broken bow, and that woman’s knee coming down from above...

’It’s that Carriage Guard Team!’

’I was ambushed by the woman in the hooded robe!’

"Oh, you’re awake..." Zelir glanced at Hopter.

Just then, the sound of the driver cracking the whip came from outside. The carriage sped up again, swaying slightly.

"You..."

Hopter’s single eye was bloodshot, and fear made his words jumble.

"W-w-what are you going to do?!"

"Relax, you’re not going to die."

Zelir chuckled softly. "At least, not at my hands."

Hearing the implication in "not at my hands," Hopter didn’t relax at all.

Instead, as if remembering something far more terrifying, he began to struggle desperately on the floor.

"Are you taking me to the Security Team?!"

Hopter’s voice trembled. "No, no, no, please! They’ll never let me go!"

"I had my reasons! Please, give me a chance, okay? I wanted to be a good guy, too... I—MMMPH!"

Before Hopter could finish, Gray shoved a large boot-wiping rag straight into his mouth.

"Why so much bullshit."

Gray cursed irritably, "You’ve committed countless crimes, ambushed merchant caravans, and even tried to sneak attack Zelir. You can be a ’good guy’ in your next life."

Hopter was still squirming on the floor, the cow-tendon rope digging into his flesh and restricting any large movements.

But he was a Middle Level Ranger, after all, with a strong physique.

As he struggled for his life, the tightly bound rope began to make strained CREAKING sounds.

It seemed as if it could snap at any moment.

"Well now... quite lively, aren’t you."

Zelir sneered. "Hill."

Hill, who was at his side, immediately understood.

"My pleasure."

She stepped forward and placed her hands on Hopter’s shoulders.

Before Hopter could react to what the woman was doing, Hill’s fingers suddenly applied force.

A skillful burst of power drilled into the gaps between his bones.

In short, with a sharp CRACK, Hopter’s shoulders were dislocated!

The bones bulged grotesquely against his clothes.

Zelir’s eyelid couldn’t help but twitch.

’A little scary...’

Hopter’s body shot up, but because his mouth was gagged, all his screams were trapped in his chest.

His arms hung limply, completely devoid of strength.

Then Hill delivered a karate chop to the back of Hopter’s head.

He collapsed to the floor, motionless once again.

"Hill, did you... crush his joints?" Zelir asked cautiously.

"Not quite."

Hill waved her hand. "I just popped his shoulders out. It’s a dislocation at most."

"Oh..."

Zelir was relieved. "That’s good, then."

...

The setting sun was the color of blood, dyeing the clouds a deep crimson.

Tula Town was a transportation hub connecting the Northern Territory to the interior, but it was just a hub and nothing more.