Chapter 154: Couple of Years
Chapter 154: Couple of Years
Adam speed-walked down the open hallways of the Crimson Hound's compound and soon arrived by the room that had door wide open with mercenaries walking in and out.
As he stepped inside, he was immediately greeted by a flurry of activity and loud voices.
By the window, a lifeless woman lay on the ground with dead-looking eyes and slowly turned transparent. It looked like she was about to disappear.
"Adam." Digby, after seeing him arrive, walked over to him with a serious look.
"What happened?" Adam asked as he looked at Amelia's dead body.
He wasn't sure how he should react to this.
While he was inside his room, about to fall asleep, he was alerted up by a guard standing over him with a bright lantern.
The guard told him to go here.
He was shocked to hear that Amelia was found dead in her quarters with multiple stab wounds on her back.
He was mildly annoyed.
After all, his revenge would have to wait even longer, as he didn't want to kill her when she was weak with nothing to lose.
"I hate to say this, but we don't know," Digby said with an ugly expression. "The window was slightly tempered with, so the assassin must've entered the room from that."
"Why would anyone kill her?" Adam asked, looking angry.
In Digby's eyes, it looked like he was just angry about his close friend dying, but that was far from the truth.
He just didn't want anyone else to kill her and take away the satisfaction of doing it himself. "We have a few theories." Digby said. "Whoever killed her was very high-ranked since even I couldn't sense anyone come and go."
"Could it be Moonlit Guardians?" Adam asked with a frown. "She left them to join us."
"Unlikely," Digby said. "Moonlit Guardians are not hostile kind; that's why they left the bustling of Dawnwatch to create their own community in their small village."
"They also don't have powerful members that can come here unseen." Valora said, entering the room as well.
She saw that Amelia was dead and looked annoyed as well.
This was a very troubling matter in many senses.
However, what annoyed her most was that she gave her the Magick Scroll. It went to waste, as she immediately died after acquiring it.
It looked like the assassin didn't leave any of her stuff behind either and just took all of them with him.
"It might be that the assassin killed her accidentally." Valora said. "The assassin might've come here for someone else, like for you."
"An assassin that strong most likely wouldn't make such a rookie mistake." Digby said. "I have another theory. It might be a warning."
"Warning?"
"Yes, it's like the assassin is saying, 'We can kill you whenever we want to,' but their reasoning for doing so remains mystery."
"It could also be as simple as Amelia angered someone powerful and joined Crimson Hounds to have protection."
Adam listened to them and nodded.
According to his memory, Amelia never made enemies out of anyone.
From what he remembered, she was also never assassinated like now.
Her early days in Mortal Online were very peaceful, as she stayed with the Moonlit Guardians until she met him.
'So, are Moonlit Guardians culprits for this? Unlikely, they didn't do anyone when she joined me, so why would they now?'
Digby looked at Adam with a deep look.
This incident was proof of Crimson Hound's incapability of protecting him.
The person dead on the ground could be Adam instead of Amelia. It was a chilling thought, as
if that were the case, they would have no idea who did it, like now with Amelia.
"Adam, walk with me." Digby said as he left the scene of the crime and headed towards the central courtyard.
Adam bowed to Valora, then followed after him, walking quickly behind him.
During the short walk to the central courtyard, Digby didn't speak a word.
Soon after, they arrived at the courtyard with a starry sky shining over them and the moon casting a soft glow on the ground.
"Why did you join Crimson Hounds?" Digby asked.
"Huh?" Adam looked at Digby confused.
"You told me that you didn't want to go to the Imperium City and that you joined us because of the protection my father and I can give you."
"That's right." Adam nodded, frowning.
"It does seem like I can't offer any protection." Digby said. "I underestimated the threat you'll be facing. My father's status will protect us from the guild threats, but not from the threats that are coming from shadows."
'I have to agree that I didn't think I would garner so much attention from Imperium City.'
Adam thought to himself.
'However, Digby is forgetting that I am not Amelia. I would've not allowed myself to get assassinated like this. I've got many safety precautions in place.'
"That's why." Digby turned to look at him and said, "This place is not safe, so I was thinking about relocating from Dawnwatch to Ebonreach."
"Ebonreach?" Adam looked surprised. 'The famed wall city.'
"My father's allies are located there." Digby said. "It's where I believe this guild will be the
safest."
"Why haven't you gone there before?" Adam asked.
"I didn't want to rely on my father too much." Digby said and then sighed. "But I must. My uncle is also living there, and I sent him a letter a while back. They've already arranged a place
for Crimson Hounds."
"I see, when are we leaving?" Adam asked.
He didn't mind going to the Ebonreach.
It wasn't as nice a place as Dawnwatch and was quite crude as it was a city right beside the Wall. It was also the first place that would get destroyed if the Chaosbeings managed to break
through the wall.
However, it was a good place to grow strong quick.
"We are, not you." Digby said. "Remember the Eldertree Institute? You must go there, now."
"Was I accepted?" Adam asked with a frown.
"I haven't gotten the official confirmation, but I don't think they'll reject you."
"What if I do?" Adam asked.
"Then..." Digby chuckled. "You must have a few ideas of your own."
"Hmm..." Adam scratched his chin in a thought. "It is on the Twenty-Fifth floor. Can I reach
the institute by myself?"
"You'll be fine as long you move during the day." Digby said. "The night is when the boss of the floor comes out to play. We can't join you there because we would have to make a deal with the Mercenary Guild, etc. It would take several months to get clearance for me to go with you."
"Right, I understand." Adam nodded.
He, obviously, knew all this, but he had to act ignorant to keep up appearances.
He wasn't too worried to go alone, as just Digby said, daytime on that floor wasn't that
dangerous.
However, during the night, he knew that it was a different story.
"At earliest morning, start heading to the Twenty-Fifth floor. If you move quickly, you can
arrive at the Eldertree Institute before the night falls."
"Alright." Adam said with a deep sigh and offered a handshake. "I guess we'll see in a couple
of years?"
Digby looked at the hand, then smiled and shook it.
"Yeah, in a couple of years. I am truly intrigued by just how strong you'll be by then."