In an abandoned sewer somewhere in Aitland City, Melanie's already cold face had turned utterly icy.
Even the temperature around her seemed to have dropped considerably.
The remaining Hounds instinctively kept their distance from her.
Melanie's eyes remained fixed on the magic circle on the ground-
Its foundation was a six-pointed star, with two circles, one large and one small, forming its advanced structure on either side.
Small hollows lay within the star's six points.
Inside the two circles were traces of objects that had been placed there.
Although Melanie's knowledge was insufficient to fully decipher the magic circle, what she saw and the lingering traces of power left her certain that someone had just performed a conversion here!
A conversion that turned a World Tree Fruit into their own power!
"Tell me!"
"Who was responsible for this area?"
Melanie demanded, enunciating every word.
"It-it was Giles!"
One Hound gave the newest Hound's name without hesitation.
"Hey, this wasn't my fault!"
"The map I was given wasn't the oldest version of Aitland City's map!"
"This place has been abandoned for at least seventy or eighty years. Who could have known that guy would find it?"
The newest Hound hurriedly offered one explanation after another.
But neither Melanie nor the other Hounds accepted his excuses.
They stared viciously at the newcomer, ready to rush him together, tear him apart, and then... divide his possessions.
Aside from his respectable strength, Giles, the newest Hound, also had several rather good items on him.
The Hounds began closing in, step by step.
The newest Hound was in imminent danger.
Just then, footsteps rang out.
An orderly rhythm mingled with a jumble of other steps.
A thirty-person squad appeared at the end of the passage, followed by a disorderly crowd.
At the sight of the