Evolution of the Ruined Heir

Chapter 216: Shortcut

Compared to the blood knights, the blood guardians had no apprenticeship program. Although Adjudicator was their second rank, their importance could be compared with Lieutenants of the blood knights.

Adjudicators were usually investigators and interrogators for the Blood Guardians, and they were the ones who truly held power in the districts.

They only appeared when something had gone terribly wrong, an event of true importance.

This was why, as Malakai noted their bright red light armor of the two men, he instantly raised his guard.

‘Something’s wrong.’ He had been feeling it since the start of this mission. It was his first, but even so, he could tell that too many things weren’t adding up.

They had been summoned from another district despite there being Blood Knight bases nearby in this district.

The wall surrounding the only settlement in the Murkroot hollow… and now, a Blood Guardian clearly standing guard at the entrance to their target. Standing in the way of Blood Knights.

As they reached the duo, Malakai didn’t miss the flash of relief that crossed the Adjudicator’s face.

‘He recognizes us,’ he noted, falling behind Laila and Grunde as they stepped forward to address the Blood Guardians. Grunde’s massive frame completely blocked any chance of them seeing him.

“You’re all from Captain Rhett’s squad?” the man at the front asked. He looked middle aged, tall, with black hair and neatly trimmed beards. A Synergy stage evolver.

His eyes were sharp, but there was no missing the disdain in his voice.

“Yes,” Laila replied, her tone as cold as his. She matched his energy. “Multiple deaths have occurred inside that forest. We’re here to take care of the spawned darkness before they multiply.”

“As if your useless squad can take care of anything,” the Adjudicator muttered under his breath, but the squad heard him clearly.

He didn’t seem to care and continued, “Listen. This place is now a crime scene. Honorable Blood Guardians are already handling the situation. No one else is allowed entry, we don’t want interference.”

Laila frowned. “Since when are darkness creatures under Blood Guardian jurisdiction? Standing in the way of a Blood Knight’s duty is against the law.”

The man scoffed. “Then report us to the authorities. Oh wait, we are the authorities.” He smirked and waved his arms. “Turn back. These are orders straight from the Arbiter.”

Malakai’s eyes glinted at the name. ‘They’re trying to hide something…’

The Arbiter oversaw the Blood Guardians of an entire district. If he was involved, then something serious was going on.

The mention of the Arbiter was meant to scare Laila off. It didn’t. She didn’t even flinch.

“You—” she started, but felt a firm hand land on her shoulder. She paused.

“Let’s go.”

Laila turned, confused. “Grunde?”

He was usually the hot blooded one. He should’ve rammed through the duo by now. Was this really the same Grunde asking her to back down?

“Trust Grunde,” he said, locking eyes with her.

She glanced down at her lifeguard. It was still flashing red. The darkness creatures were very much alive and active.

After a second, she clenched her fist and nodded. Sending a sharp glare at the Adjudicator, who only smiled and waved them off.

“Hey, did you see that?”

As the squad left, the second Adjudicator, who had remained quiet the whole time, leaned in and nudged the first, whispering like he was scared someone might overhear.

“See what?”

“What, are you blind? The apprentice knights behind them!”

“Oh, you mean the one with chubby cheeks.”

“No. No no no. The other one.”

The first Adjudicator frowned. Grunde’s wide build had blocked him earlier, he hadn’t gotten a good look.

“Is he important or something?”

The second Adjudicator sucked in a cold breath. “Use your fucking brain, idiot. Who was supposed to join Captain Rhett’s squad?”

The first Adjudicator thought for a second. Then his eyes widened.

“T-the N-ninth Vein!?” he stammered, feeling his heart thud hard against his chest.

“I only saw him when they were leaving. And I swear, my heart almost jumped out of my chest.”

The second kept talking, but the first had already gone silent, spiraling into a state of existential crisis.

He’d just addressed the Ninth Vein’s squad like that.

Suddenly, his armor felt drenched in sweat.

…

“Where are you taking us, Grunde?”

Laila asked after several moments of running through the forest behind him.

After asking her to leave the Blood Guardians behind, he hadn’t said a word, just charged eastward like a man that was possessed.

“Just trust Grunde!” he said again, for the umpteenth time.

After a few long moments of silence, Grunde finally came to a stop, followed by the squad.

Laila sent a glance around. “Now is the time for you to talk, Grunde. Why did you bring us here?”

Malakai ignored the panting Renlo behind him and also scanned the area with caution. The place Grunde had brought them to was far from where they had met the Blood Guardians or any nearby city. It was deep inside the forest.

It was quiet all around. And although faint, Malakai felt eyes on him, like he was being watched.

He sent a look towards Laila, whose body language confirmed she felt the same.

“Grunde,” she said, more firmly this time.

Grunde turned towards them. “Trust Grunde, Laila.”

“If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have followed you here. Now it’s your turn to trust Laila,” she cringed at the fact that she had just referred to herself in third person. Hanging out with this big mass of man will do that to you. “Tell me what’s going on.”

“Grunde knows a shortcut into the forest!” he said after a moment.

“A shortcut?” Laila raised an eyebrow. Their target forest was covered in an eerie fog throughout, and the place the Blood Guardians guarded was the only path somehow clear of it. Their map had led them there.

Grunde nodded and quickly approached a large boulder standing in front of a massive tree.

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