Supreme Magus novel Chapter 864

Chapter 864 Suspects and Theories Part 2

"Thank the gods you’re here, Ranger Verhen. I’m sergeant Guilden, at your service." The sergeant was a middle-aged man, with grey hair and a mustache. He wore a light armor over his grey uniform, protecting his forearms, shins, chest, and shoulders.

Guilden wielded a spear in his left hand that was mainly being used as a walking stick, and carried a short sword on his hip. If not for the stripes on his sleeves, his outfit was identical to that worn by the rest of the guards.

"The other Ranger has proven to be useless so far. If it was for him, we might as well rot here until the next winter." The sergeant’s words toward a superior officer were rude enough to earn him a court-martial for insubordination, but Lith noticed that despite the nice weather, the whole unit was shivering.

They suffered from sleep deprivation due to the constant fear of being attacked at night and from exhaustion for doing their job during the day. Not a single piece of their equipment was enchanted, making them lambs rather than soldiers in the case of another attack, and they knew it.

"What other Ranger?" Lith was so surprised that he interrupted the gibberish he was chanting.

"The one who reported the attack, Ranger Acala. He was patrolling the area, yet he failed to save even one of the members of the merchant caravan, to capture a vampire, and even to follow them to their base of operation." Guilden snorted.

"All he has managed to do is to cause panic. This story has shaved at least five years off our lifespan. I’m telling you, I wouldn’t be surprised if the ’vampires’ are nothing but thieves and Acala has made a big deal out of them to steal your spotlight."

"Yeah." A female soldier spat to the ground. "He has been our Ranger for over ten years and he has never achieved anything before retiring. He’s over thirty now and has been recalled only because of those damn undead."

Lith inwardly sighed in relief at those words. The presence of another Ranger explained everything and defused every worst-case scenario his paranoia could cook up.

After a bit more gibberish, Lith activated Life Vision and a few detecting arrays. The soldiers were average humans, the caravan didn’t bear any relevant magical trace, and the area of effect of his spells gave him no clues about the recent events.

’I can’t find any surveillance device, Warping array, or anything that a magic user would employ during an ambush. Either the vampires use conventional means for their robberies or the sergeant is right and we’re dealing with common criminals.’ Solus thought.

Lith even used Invigoration on everything and everyone, to make sure that no cloaking devices were obstructing his mystical senses.

’Agreed, so far it’s just a huge dud.’

"Thanks for your hard work." Lith gave them the salute. "I’ve got everything I need now, so you have permission to return home."

The soldiers quickly returned the salute before mounting their horses and riding back to Zantia. Lith even opened a Warp Steps for them, saving them precious daylight and getting rid of any witness.

He had no idea where to go and no desire to meet the other Ranger. A partner would only make things difficult for him. After making sure via his natural and mystical senses that no one was around, Lith Warped toward the mana geyser.

Following a trail on a rocky surface was impossible and the mountains offered countless hiding spots to any moron capable of using earth magic. Even a combe search performed by a platoon of magicians would have been a fool’s errand.