"So you just fled back here?"
Count Michelle narrowed her eyes as she studied the two people before her. Their clothes were in tatters, and large patches of their hair had been singed, leaving it drooping over their heads. They looked utterly bedraggled, and a dangerous chill glinted in her eyes.
Mage Deral, whose black mage robe had long since been reduced to a few scraps of cloth, glanced at Michelle's displeased expression and could not help snorting.
"Count Michelle, we ended up like this entirely because your intelligence was wrong. The weapons hidden in the Xinfei Merchant Guild's convoy were far more powerful than we imagined. And their president, Xu Yi, is no mere Level Seven Mage. I'm certain he has at least the strength of a Level Nine Mage!"
Count Michelle snorted and gave Mage Deral a sidelong look. "What? Are you blaming me?"
Mage Deral flew into a rage and was about to speak, but Everton stopped him. The armor Everton wore was mottled black and white from fire magic and lightning magic.
"No, Count Michelle, we have no intention of blaming you. However, the Xinfei Merchant Guild's Guards Corps truly was far stronger than we estimated. The two hundred men I led were our legion's finest cavalry unit, yet we couldn't even get close to their camp. I imagine... that must have been beyond your expectations too?"
Count Michelle remained silent for a long while before slowly nodding.
"Yes. I never expected the Xinfei Merchant Guild's Guards Corps to be so formidable either." Count Michelle glanced at the scorched marks covering them and frowned. "You said the Xinfei Merchant Guild developed a kind of magic arrow? And that they could fire them in succession with magic repeating crossbows?"
Everton nodded. "Yes. Mage Deral alone could have