After coming to a decision, Kasper cast a divination spell to confirm their course. And as it turned out… the signs revealed it was indeed the right choice. Moreover, it was revealed to him that they were indeed being followed.

Spells from the School of Divination were highly mysterious. The results a Magus received from scrying were often left to chance. However, the simpler the question posed, the more clear the answer one received.

For example, divining a yes-or-no question would yield a direct response, compared to asking the when, where, or how.

Of course, if the other side employed anti-divination methods or possessed greater power than the one scrying, then it became nearly impossible to obtain any answers.

Fortunately, the pursuers had not used any anti-divination methods to conceal their movements or decisions. More importantly, their strength wasn't greater than Kasper's.

Ives Ballard was in the same arcane rank as Kasper. Moreover, because he had left in such haste, he hadn't used any means to remain inconspicuous. The man was so enraged by the death of his son that he did not care about anything… except for revenge.

The entourage prepared extensively for the battle ahead. In the time it had taken for them to journey from the Acadian Empire to the Southern Federation, they had healed their injuries and recuperated their strength.

As for Rowan and his family, they had secretly settled them in a nearby town, a dozen miles away from the site where the entourage had set up the ambush.

Although there was still some risk in having them separated from the entourage, the Magi had little choice. At least, that was better than having them remain near the site of battle.

After all the preparations were made, Kaspar, Daryl, Ada, and finally Anna took their respective positions. Now, all they had to do was wait for the pursuers to arrive. It didn't matter if they had to wait a day, a week, or even a month. They were determined to settle this matter before they arrived at Glassford.

And fortunately—or perhaps unfortunately—they didn't have to wait too long. By the time the sun had dipped below the horizon, their pursuers had already arrived.

Kaspar's divination had proven to be true, after all.

***

Ives Ballard led a dozen Magi of the Ballard Family, all at the peak of the Mana Liquefaction Rank, as they raced across the lands of the Federation, following the guidance of the Soulmark Lantern.

All of these Magi looked exhausted and grim. They hadn't rested for a moment ever since they had disembarked the vessel. As a result… they were hardly in the best condition for battle.

However, they could not refuse the orders of their patriarch.

Their patriarch, on the other hand, was in an extremely terrible mood. There was anger raging in his heart, but his eyes… they were flickering with apprehension. Of course, he wasn't at all fearful of his current situation.

He was fearful of the state of the Ballard Family in general.

After arriving in Hannes City, he had naturally heard about the shocking news that had swept across the Ulier Continent.

They said Adam Constantine and Marden Benton were traitors of Ravenfell and servants of the Cult of Bones. This news was so alarming to Ballard that he truly did not know whether to trust it or not.

For a moment, he forgot about the prospect of Marden being the traitor. According to him, he had barely conversed with the man back in Ravenfell. Thinking about Adam being the traitor, Ballard's expression twisted into a dark scowl.

Is that boy truly a Cultist?! He thought to himself.

If he truly is the servant of the Cult, then why…

Ballard's eyes narrowed, his heart gripped by a dangerous premonition.

Then why did the Master send me to kill Adam's sister? Just what the hell is he planning? Nothing makes sense to me!

Of course, if he knew that the Master was none other than Marden, he wouldn't even know what to believe in anymore.

Either way, he could feel a dark conspiracy brewing. If Adam was truly a Cultist, then it didn't make any sense for the Cult to send Ballard away in pursuit of Adam's sister.

And if Adam wasn't the traitor the masses believed him to be, then…

I don't know what the fuck is happening! Ballard thought to himself, his heart gripped by cold dread.

But… what about my family? Are they still alive? No, they should be… Yes, they must be! But if they are…

A drop of cold sweat trickled down the side of his forehead.

If they find out that I betrayed Ravenfell and joined hands with the Cult, then…

Ballard didn't dare to think further. He hoped that his fellow traitors died in the Battle of Ravenfell so that the news about his betrayal would never reach the light of day.

He feared for the safety of his family more than anything. For a brief moment, he even thought about returning to the Empire to learn the fate of his family. But the next moment, rage consumed his heart.

He glanced at the wisp tapping against the glass boundary of the lantern, his eyes turning cold.

One step at a time, he thought.

He was already in the Federation, and he believed he was very close to his target. After he was done taking revenge, he would return to the Empire immediately.

The group of Magi had just entered a small forest. Right at that moment, one of his retainers called out to him.

"My Lord."

Without turning around, Ives coldly spat, "Speak."

The retainer exchanged glances with the other Magi, then turned to Ballard and asked in a submissive voice, "My Lord, it would be wise for us to rest for a moment and gather our strength. Given our current condition, I believe it is not optimal—"

Ballard ruthlessly interrupted him. Without stopping, he turned around and flashed a murderous look towards the Magus.

"Shut the fuck up and do as I say. We won't rest until I've slaughtered my son's murderer! Do you hear me? I said, do you fucking hear me?!"

The Magus shrank back in fear, but deep in his heart, he was beginning to feel very resentful. He clenched his fists, then lowered his head and apologised:

"I understand, my lord. W-we shall do you as you—"

However, the man did not get the chance to finish his words. A mana-augmented arrow had pierced clean through his throat, mercilessly driving him to the ground.

Ballard's eyes widened in shock. He immediately turned to the front and roared, "Ambush…"

But his voice faltered as he took in the sight before him. They had just arrived at a clearing inside the forest and…

A rain of arrows descended upon him and his men!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.