Supreme Magus novel Chapter 678

The Professors kept their composure and managed to avoid chuckling at the expense of their comrades. Ranger Eari was much funnier to those who weren’t the targets of his rude, inappropriate remarks.

Lith was getting tired of his shenanigans, but being Morok one of the only three people in the entire expedition capable of holding their ground in a hand to hand fight, he soldiered on.

Phloria was used to inappropriate comments since she had joined the army. Every time someone got close to her, people would spread rumors about her alleged affairs.

"Insubordination and slander of a superior officer might not get you court-martialled, but I’m sure that my disciplinary notes will impact the amount of money you will receive for your retirement as well as this mission." She said while adding the episode to her report.

"I’m sorry, Captain. I was just joking." Morok inwardly cursed at himself for his stupidity. Rangers had a great amount of freedom, but the army was very strict about respecting the ranks.

"I’m sorry too. I wish I could kick your ass, but I need you alive. Yet. Now, unless you want to overhear state secrets that could compromise our mission and put your life at stake, I suggest you shut up."

Just because such comments were common, it didn’t make them less annoying nor hurtful. With her perfect record, those who were envious of Phloria could only badmouth her for her personal life, making it even harder for her to find a boyfriend or just a friend.

"What were you saying?" She asked, both her face and voice were stone-cold.

"I know the characters that make up the password, but I have no clue how to make use of such information without screwing up my life." Lith said.

"Did you discover them with your special eyes or with one of your personal spells?"

"Both. Just as I analyzed your hairpin, I studied the holographic pad. It only has two relays: right and wrong." Lith had no intention of lying to her. He knew that despite her expression, Phloria was likely to be hurt by his fellow Ranger’s outburst.

Lith had noticed that her mood got worse every time he lied to her and got better when he was honest.

’She already knows enough about my skills that this piece of information is irrelevant. Besides, she’s putting a lot at stake to help me with the runes, the least I can do is return her trust.’ He thought.

"I can try something, but Dad is likely to get pissed off. Some of the spells he taught me he keeps them a secret even from the army. Just like you do." She smiled, raising the temperature in the room of several degrees.

"We’re done examining the administrative office and for once, may the gods bless paperwork." Ellkas said. Those who were able to read the Odi language were translating several pages, giving each member of the expedition a copy.

"The first floor was the medical center for the Odi. Once they were done experimenting on the ’lesser races’, they would attempt body modifications on their own people." He pointed at the padded rooms.

"Just like Assistant Ernas assumed, major changes in the life force also brought severe mental damage, that the medical files we found describe as temporary. My guess is that Quylla is right and that these alterations permanently affected their minds, bringing the entire Odi race to consider madness as normality."

"Below us, there are several underground floors where according to these files, experiments on both incurable diseases and life force modifications were conducted. Those floors are bound to be messier and more dangerous.

"Some diseases may still be active, so before opening the door, everyone put on a safety mask." Professor Gaakhu handed to each one of them a plague doctor mask identical to the one Lith wore back in Kandria, but this one was enchanted.

"They are Alchemical items, so they are not reusable." She explained. "They offer good protection from pathogens but are not suited to fights, so in case something goes wrong, retreat is our first priority."