Chapter 1577: Tracking Clues and Failing, Again
Awkward and tense silence once again draped over the vicinity. It was just one bad news after another.
"He what?"
He asked again, as if he had misheard.
He might have had a high level and was as healthy as people half his age, but he was still a 90-year-old in the end.
"I... I...." The guards stammered, extremely intimidated by the anger pouring out of him.
"Speak properly!"
"G-Grandmaster Hoffen is n-no longer in his home!"
"We saw that his house was empty, and the smoke from an earlier explosion months ago was left uncleaned."
They knew this because guards monitored the chaos happening in this area. There had been no explosion for many months, so it could’ve been that one from months ago.
They didn’t think too much because it was a common pattern. For the most part, Hoffen’s house would be silent, with only one or two people coming in or out, and some guests trying to knock only to be pushed away in the end.
There would be the occasional explosions, but then things would calm for months on end, and so on.
There were people around listening in, and they couldn’t help but whisper among each other. "Now that you mention it, we haven’t seen Master Hoffen for a while."
Most of the guests who weren’t able to run away were here, and a lot of them were being called back. So now there was a whole crowd of gossiping nobles and rich people.
The rumblings annoyed Bleumrick, but this wasn’t the time for him to deal with them.
"We just rarely see the Grandmaster in general," another said. "Who’d have known he was gone for a while?"
"He might just be traveling, right?"
"Does that mean our limb regenerating potion is gone for a while?"
This made people gasp and worry. There were only a few limb regenerating potions entering the market every year. The worst record was only one in two years! This was already with the raw material backing of a city!
Some cynics couldn’t help but look around. "What if he left for good?"
Ignoring these comments, Bleumrick willed himself to calm. "What about Gregor?"
This made the spectators nod as well. Yes, there was Sir Gregor! Even if the Grandmaster was hiding, Sir Gregor might be around!
"I..."
Then others commented. "Haven’t seen him in a while either."
"Indeed. I would often see him in my shop to buy raw materials," one said. This was the owner of one of Bleulle’s largest caravans next to Otto’s, and also one who had absorbed much of the manpower he left behind.
Regardless, his words carried even more meaning, and more stomachs dropped in dread at the possibility.
"Perhaps he and Sir Hoffen went on a material expedition?"
"On their own? I understand if he just sent Sir Gregor, but Hoffen rarely left his house."
They would usually just send mercenaries out.
Bleumrick lifted his hand. "Shut up," he said, and everyone zipped their mouths.
Anyway, he would send out investigations later. There were many more issues that needed urgency. Hoffen had been gone for months, and trailing after him would take a while. Further, if he had just been gathering materials, he should return soon as well.
His focus would be on whatever was happening right now. Someone—possibly another City—attacked a top family in Bleulle. He couldn’t care for the Sephons, but this was a big slap on the face to him.
The mockery is making him very angry.
"GET OUT OF HERE!!!!" he bellowed, screaming at everyone, especially the guards. "Track them down or don’t bother coming back!!
"And make sure they block all the gates! No one can come out!"
...
At some point, about half an hour later, it was reported that a few carriages had already left. Some were accounted for and were made to return, while a few others...they had already lost.
They realized that there was a gap, and this was a definite point of suspicion. It was just that when asked which territory they were from the guards...they couldn’t answer him. They did not recognize the insignias at all!
Bleumrick almost beheaded them. Had he been a bit younger, their heads might’ve exploded already. However, the nobles were right. If this were the work of an enemy, he could not be reducing his own manpower.
In the end, he sent out his powerful guards and other people from noble families to trace the carriages that had already left.
Level 30s and some 40s went after them, and theoretically, if they went straight and sprinted fast in the right direction, they could actually catch up with the carriages, even if they had managed to get out of the territory.
However, the Alterrans knew that people would notice them. How could they not prepare anything?
First, they naturally did not use a straightforward path. Now, they were rushing elsewhere, taking a few detours to make sure their tracks were difficult to follow.
The driver this time was Taho. Although he couldn’t tame beasts the way other beast tamers could, he could definitely drive one at least.
The Town didn’t have trusted residents who could do this, so he was honored to be the one assigned to drive. He came there with Rin and the other backups, many of whom were stationed elsewhere outside the City.
Speaking of this, it was also Taho’s first time in the City, which was amazing! Though frankly, his heart was more shocked by Alterra even before it upgraded to a Town.
Another, they seriously considered framing other Cities and using their insignias instead. However, it was too easy to send posts, and there could even be direct teleportation arrays. It would be an obvious frame-up, and it could work against them instead.
So, they just settled with unknown insignias meant to confuse people. Hopefully, they’d be distracted by investigating those for a while.
Of course, the main focus at this time was to get as far away as possible.