Chapter 111


    Ten days had passed since the hunting expedition officially ended, and the Protégés gradually


    returned to the designated rendezvous point.


    From the original count of over nine hundred, only six hundred had assembled by evening, with two


    hundred and eighty Protégés failing to return. Most had perished in the skirmishes within the Hidden


    Hollows.


    The Cobalt Strike had since taken control of the area, clearing out many Elixir Herbs and magical


    ores.


    Despite the heavy losses, the hearts of most Protégés were still aze with excitement. They had


    all gained something in the Hidden Hollows, with some of their hauls inciting envy amongst their


    peers.


    Adirich''s face was clouded with gloom as he and his team sat in a corner; they had been on the


    brink of the greatest bounty that day. But in the ensuing chaos, not only had they sacrificed more


    than a dozen Protégés, but the treasures they had seized had dwindled to a pittance, leaving none


    for each of them. They were irate, having spent thest ten days hidden in the forest, nursing their


    injuries rather than continuing the hunt.


    The mastermind behind their misfortune was that assassin. Where did he spring from? And why did


    he y Trevas? The more Adirich pondered, the more baffled and aggrieved he became. Had he


    offended someone?


    "Departure is at dawn!"


    The five Elders did not rush to leave, deciding to wait another night. When it came to hunting


    missions, it was often said, ''no waits for the tardy.'' Still they tried to wait as long as possible. After


    all, these were Protégés of the Cobalt Strike, and they couldn''t be simply abandoned.


    Throughout the night, people trickled back, most looking harrowed. Upon seeing that the Elders


    were still present, they bowed repeatedly in gratitude. The journey back to Cobalt Strike was three


    days away, and if left to travel alone, who knew what dangers they would encounter?


    "Is vin dead?" a Protégé suddenly asked beside Adirich.


    "vin?" Adirich lifted his sullen gaze, nearly having forgotten thed.


    "Who''s captured vin?" A Protégé circled nearby, inquiring among the Grand Elder''s faction, but


    all shook their heads.


    Someone scoffed, "Maybe he''s long dead. With his meager skills and being alone, surviving would


    be a miracle."


    "I saw vin ten days ago, alive but in dire straits," said someone from Trevas'' squad. They were


    originally eight-strong, now only four remained. Even their captain Trevas had perished in the


    caverns, and the vexing part was that they didn''t even know who the killer was.


    "Didn''t catch him?" Adirich''s brows furrowed slightly; how did he escape after being spotted?


    "He got away." They were reluctant to speak of that day''s events, too shameful to recount.


    Someone said, "If vin hasn''t returned by now, he might have fallen to some beast''s maw."


    They paid no mind to vin''s fate, consumed with indignation over the day''s events in the Hidden


    Hollows, hating the masked bastard to the core.


    The next morning.


    "Most who were to return have done so. Let''s move out." The Elders counted the numbers—six


    hundred and eighty-three Protégés, with two hundred and thirty-five unounted for.


    Some Elders specifically searched for vin but only shook their heads in disappointment. It


    seemed that Adirich''s group had dealt with him. s, why had the Grand Elder, after eight years,


    seemingly condoned the ying of vin now? Was it because the boy was deemed no longer of


    value, or did his disyed talents threaten the Grand Elder? Poor child, poor Mallister family.


    Mari looked back silently at the dense forest, wondering where vin had gone.


    "Mari, we should be going," urged a Protégé.


    Mari gazed nkly for a while longer, then turned and joined the ranks.


    "I haven''t seen vin."


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    "Perhaps he perished in the forest?"


    "s, a life of misfortune. Born in the lord''s manor, clothed in silks and satins, yet just as he came


    of age, his family was ruined, and he was sent to Cobalt Strike as a servant. He barely became a


    Novice Mage, and now has been left to die in the forest."


    "Fate is cruel."


    "Serves him right for boasting he''d join the hunt, knowing full well someone was out to harm him."


    "After eight years and many close calls that he barely survived, it seems this time he''s truly gone."


    The other Protégés also noticed vin''s absence; some pitied him, and others sneered.


    Such was the nature of life.