199 Suspicions (1/2)

The battle between tree and ants continue to rage on as ants spilled out of every corner and threw away their lives for their mission. Their numbers were great and unending, but they were nothing more than mere cannon fodders.

The tree roots weaved around each other struck down every single ant that got within a distance seamlessly with great coordination, never tangling itself and created an impenetrable line that could not be crossed no matter the numbers.

At this moment, some ants managed to avoid instant death and latched itself on the tree roots. It nibbled away at the tree roots with its strong mandibles, but the elder tree retaliated in kind with its tenacious roots. The ant ridden roots slammed into the ground, crushing them like pulverized eggshells and kicking up a cloud of dust that obscured the eyes of the spectators.

The two sides appeared to be caught in a stalemate as they fight a battle of attrition to see whether the roots give out first, or the ants run out of cannon fodders first.

A battle of this scale wouldn't happen often, but it did happen at this moment. The group can only blame their own luck for the bad timing.

While the group appeared to be safe, they were also trapped so long as the situation persists.

”Isn't this actually pretty dangerous? The tree roots are slowly being worn out by these low-level ants. What will happen when the stronger ants come out to attack? We won't be able to escape since we are trapped here.”

”Doesn't that mean we are doomed if we can't escape?”

The palace guards started to become concerned. Anyone with some knowledge on ants would know that soldier ants don't operate on their own. They have a queen, and there would be a group of royal guards under the ant queen.

These soldier ants weren't much weaker than them. How strong would the higher-ranking ants be?

”Ah… we shouldn't have come here. We are all going to die…” A palace guard said depressingly. His words were contagious and affected the mood of the rest of the group.

Leon frowned. The situation was nowhere close to being dire, but the group was already full of negative vibes. It was too disappointing if the elites of the kingdom were truly like this. He expected them to be more steadfast and strong-willed.

Did they buy their way into the elite team with connections or something was affecting their state of mind? The royal family had spent a lot of effort cleaning the kingdom of its corruption in the past month or two. The latter possibility seemed more likely.

”Be careful of the artificial spirit energy! It's affecting your state of mind!” Leon warned. He had already warned them not to absorb the energy beforehand but to think that they would still be affected by it.

How pervasive this energy was!

Leon didn't know what kind of an effect artificial spirit energy had, but the fact that it slightly resembled demonic energy was enough for him to keep his guards up. It was unfortunate that he still underestimated how pervasive the energy could be.

When the group received the warning, they sealed off all their pores and used their own methods to ward off the energy from drawing to them.

”Your Highness, I would like to interrogate the two men.” Zorbek requested.

Leon gave him the affirmation. He was also interested in why the two palace guards left the designated area.

They couldn't be blamed for getting themselves captured by the elder tree, but it wouldn't excuse their insubordination. Without a doubt, they had left the area before getting themselves captured.

It was impossible for them to be captured straight from gathering point soundlessly without alerting anyone. It was even less likely for the tree roots to stop midway to let them chuck a shit before bringing them back to the foot of the elder tree itself.

”C-Captain.”

Damir and Lutheran stuttered when Zorbek stern face frowned upon.

”Why did you leave you the designated area without order?” Zorbek interrogated the two, who were still trapped in their binds like wanted criminals.

”We're actually not sure ourselves. We were already here when we realized it. We don't remember what happened before that.” The two shook their heads.

”Bullshit!” Zorbek roared. Upon hearing their excuse, he was angered. ”Are you telling me you don't even remember going to chuck your own shit!? Who are you trying to fool!?”

The two palace guards, Damir and Lutheran immediately became startled by the Zorbek's outburst.

”What we said was the truth, Captain. We really don't remember!”

Zorbek frowned as he tried to verify the authenticity of their words through their expressions. Their expression didn't show any signs of falsehood and appeared genuine.

”Don't be too harsh of them, Captain. We should be celebrating that we found them here alive and in one piece.” A palace guard tried to plead of their behalf.

The previous traces of the two had ended near an ant hole, making one naturally assume that they got dragged into the ant hole. However, there were no further traces that indicated that they entered the ant hole nor traces that they were dragged beyond the ant holes either.

”Yes, Captain. If they had been taken into one of those ant holes back there, I'm afraid there wouldn't have even been any bodies left for use to pick up.” Another palace guard said.

”What was the last thing you remembered before waking up here?” Leon suddenly asked.

The two palace guards frowned and try to recall. ”We seem to have been helping out with the loot count?”

”Anything else? Think harder.”