Chapter 274: Undercurrents

On the other side, Vidar and Walter, who had just been scolded by Field, were overjoyed when they learned that Liyakade had quarreled with the others.

Although they had reluctantly withdrawn due to Field’s composed response, their eyes remained among the crowd.

When their informants saw the argument between Liyakade and her group, they reported back to Vidar and Walter immediately.

Thus, it was no surprise that they knew about the dispute.

“You say they started fighting? Good, good! Hahahaha!”

Walter, who had just been thoroughly chewed out, felt immense relief upon hearing his subordinate’s report.

He laughed heartily inside his tent.

Though he didn’t know what the quarrel was about, hearing that Liyakade and her people were at odds—and that Liyakade had even left the camp—brought Walter a great sense of satisfaction.

However, while Walter wanted to vent his anger over what had just happened, he had calmed down enough to realize that Liyakade’s group was not to be trifled with.

His own actions had clearly offended them.

Earlier, Walter had speculated that they possessed a treasure capable of purifying toxins and producing purer light elements, and he had even suspected the treasure might be stolen.

But the probability of that was too low.

If they truly were nobles, and Walter took this opportunity to kick them while they were down, he might provoke Field into holding a grudge.

If they turned out to be even more influential nobles, Field would certainly settle the score later, putting Walter in serious trouble.

Thus, although Walter had been scolded and humiliated in front of everyone, after calming down, he began to consider letting the matter rest.

After all, to put it generously, Walter had started the conflict.

Even if he was humiliated, he had brought it upon himself.

Once his anger subsided, Walter became rational.

After weighing the options, he decided to put Liyakade and her group aside for now.

Even if he was curious about their identities, now was not the time to investigate.

Walter resolved that if he wanted to probe them, it would have to wait until this crisis was over and the real culprit was caught.

Of course, after that, it would be best to use a gentler approach to inquire, so as not to anger them.

Moreover, since Liyakade’s group had internal conflicts, just hearing that news already improved Walter’s mood.

Refraining from kicking them while they were down was the safest course of action for now.

Also, after returning to his tent and calming down, Walter felt something was off.

Why had a guard only come to report now that Field and Liyakade had left camp last night?

Shouldn’t such important information have been relayed immediately?

Why was the report so delayed?

After thinking it over, Walter felt he had been used as a pawn.

The information wasn’t decisive evidence, but it had been deliberately passed to him.

This suggested that someone hiding in the shadows had ulterior motives toward Liyakade’s group but didn’t dare act directly, so they wanted to use Walter as a cat’s paw to kill on their behalf.

Walter, previously focused on probing Liyakade’s identity, had sensed something was off but still confronted them anyway.

Having realized this, Walter decided to wait for the hidden figure to make a move.

He believed that whoever was lurking wouldn’t give up so easily.

If he just waited patiently, he would eventually become the one who reaped the benefits.

Both Walter and Vidar wanted to sit back and watch the fireworks, hoping to let their group and Liyakade’s clash while they profited as the proverbial fisherman.

But they didn’t know that Liyakade and her companions were not clams or sandpipers—to them, these were more like sharks.

If anyone tried to get close to the shore, even the fisherman would be dragged into the water and torn to shreds.

Here, Walter had somewhat repented and decided not to kick Liyakade while she was down.

But on the other side, Vidar could no longer hold back.

“Heh heh heh. That bitch Liyakade actually dared to leave camp alone?”

Vidar had been extremely dissatisfied with Walter’s performance.

He could have pushed Liyakade’s group into a more embarrassing position, but Walter had ensnared himself instead.

Now that Walter had learned Liyakade had left camp alone, he was elated beyond words.

“You, and you, and all of you—come with me to follow that bitch. Without that man, what is she? Didn’t they say she’s his wife? Let’s go take care of her now!”

With that, Vidar took out some Purple Mist Grass powder from his storage ring.

Although Vidar considered Liyakade just a powerless woman, he didn’t plan to subdue her by force alone.

Instead, he would use the Purple Mist Grass to make her completely obedient, thereby humiliating Field thoroughly.

Imagine: Field’s own wife, after a quarrel, immediately throws herself into another man’s arms and treats that man with utmost deference.

What kind of humiliation would that be for Field?

Vidar couldn’t wait to enjoy Liyakade, this exquisite young woman, nor could he wait to see Field’s enraged and broken expression.

He gave the order, and several guards quietly slipped out of the camp.

Back at the camp, Liyakade, still fuming, turned and walked away without looking back.

Possessing a demon bloodline, Liyakade’s five senses and her perception of magic and aura far exceeded normal humans.

Even with her back to Field and Alice, she could perfectly sense whether they were following her—it was as if she had eyes in the back of her head.

Yet in her perception, Field and Alice stood still, seemingly with no intention of following.

This only made Liyakade even angrier.

“Hmph.”

Liyakade let out a dissatisfied grunt, looking somewhat dejected.

If Field and the others had chased after her and tried to stop her, she might have been willing to forgive them.

But they really didn’t come after her.

Sensing that they hadn’t followed, Liyakade stopped looking back.

Once she left the camp, she quickened her pace and dashed into the forest near the road.

“Hmph… Idiot. Field is such an idiot!”