Ruger's smile widened. One upheaval had barely begun before another followed.
It seemed Mona had really called it.
The six newcomers made no attempt to muffle their footsteps, their stride carrying an inexplicable air of authority. Ruger looked up against the pressure of their mental power. Everyone approaching from that side of the corridor was a Wizard. Five were One-Ring Wizards, while he could not quite gauge the remaining one, which meant that person was at least a Two-Ring Wizard.
The man with the large head and square face, still looking astonished, immediately led his people aside.
Ruger felt that the fellow actually seemed relieved.
"What are you doing here?" Ge Cili, the Three-Ring Wizard, spoke first, frowning at the newcomers.
The man at their head, however, immediately scanned the crowd. The moment he spotted Ruger's furry canine face, his eyes lit up.
"I asked you a question!"
Ge Cili sounded annoyed, his aged face creasing as he spoke in a low voice.
Two invisible forces of mental power collided in an instant.
The newcomer was also a Three-Ring Wizard.
Ruger raised his eyebrows, watching the nearby One-Ring Wizards sway and the Apprentices fall. From what he had learned, the Vango Family's strongest member was a High-Rank Wizard, and only a Four-Ring Wizard at that-someone who had only just entered the high ranks and rarely appeared in public. There were not many Three-Ring Wizards in the family, and they were the highest-ranking people one could normally encounter. After the incident Varin had instigated caused further losses, these two Three-Ring Wizards were probably among the few remaining pillars of the Vango Family.
"I am here to welcome the family head's guests. Ge Cili, do not disgrace the family with your discourtesy."
The newcomer looked like a refined middle-aged man. Without slowing