Chapter 748 - The Law-Punishing Force
Three hours in their travel since leaving Border Town, Lina and Neron passed several towns and small cities before they slowed down to investigate the increasing deaths in each human settlement.
There weren't any deaths in the first few towns they passed, but the number of deaths found increased at an alarming rate as they continued their journey.
They eventually stopped at a small village where the scent of blood was exceptionally thick and pungent.
"This is horrible. They slaughtered the entire village, senior brother!" Lina clenched her fist with anger.
All 400 hundred villagers died with despaired looks; their limbs dismembered and their bodies scattered within and outside the village.
It was a village of ordinary people, yet the scene showed clear signs of their struggle before death.
"Baron Cortez and his retainers didn't just slaughter the entire village; they made a sport out of it," Neron stated with a big frown.
"Take a look at these trails of blood."
Neron pointed at one of the corpses with a blood trail before saying, "These villagers were clearly ordinary folks, yet they survived long enough to drag their dismembered bodies out of the village before ultimately dying of blood loss."
"This is outrageous, senior brother! Humanity faces the threat of beasts in the west and sea monsters in the east, yet these people are enjoying reaping the lives of others! This is no longer the work of humans; they are demons!"
Lina was no longer just worried for her parents; she grew to hate Baron Cortez and his people for their vile and inhuman deeds.
"Right," Neron nodded in agreement with a grave look before saying, "I didn't believe it at first, but the evidence leaves me no choice but to believe it; the foul energy has bedeviled Baron Cortez."
"But that shouldn't have been possible," Lina frowned before saying, "To earn the baron rank, one had to be at the Early-stage of Seeking Insight Transcendent in addition to their meritorious deeds."
"Master said that under normal conditions, the foul energy cannot bedevil Seeking Insight Transcendents no matter how long they are exposed to it," Lina mentioned shortly after.
"Exactly," Neron nodded before saying, "However, that is under normal conditions. If Baron Cortez suffered significant emotional impacts like grief or extreme anger, the foul energy could negatively influence his mind."
"It's just that we don't know what caused Baron Cortez's emotional impact. What we do know for certain, though, is that Baron Cortez has become especially dangerous. I can stop him, but I can't protect you from all the other Transcendents with him, junior sister."
"That's why we tread carefully. Once we catch up to them, we can only observe them from a safe distance until reinforcements arrive before making our move."
Considering the matter had already been reported to the kingdom, it was only a matter of time before the law-punishing force, which is sent to exterminate the outlaws, caught up with them.
"You mean we can only watch as they continue to slaughter innocents?" Lina clenched her fist, feeling angry at her own powerlessness.
She thought she had grown a lot, but she was still far too weak to make a change. There was always someone stronger.
"It can't be helped. Although I don't want to be harsh, I need you to be aware that we will fail if we try to stop Baron Cortez without sufficient strength. Not only will you die, but Baron Cortez and his people will continue to slaughter innocent lives after your death."
"I understand, senior brother," Lina replied with her head lowered.
Shortly after, Lina hopped on the mini airship with her senior brother Neron and continued chasing after Baron Cortez without speaking another word.
The journey continued through half the Durham Kingdom before the silent Lina frowned upon noticing another pattern in Baron Cortez's trail.
Baron Cortez's trail had been very linear as if the person had been traveling on a straightforward path with a very specific destination in mind.
There would be a slaughter if towns and cities were in the way. And if not, it would straight trip until the next trace of Baron Cortez's trail is found.
Zoom, zoom, zoom…
Suddenly, Lina and Neron heard the humming vibrations of rustling wind before turning around to see a giant airship drawing closer to them at a noticeable rate.
It was much faster than Neron's mini airship.
"That must be the kingdom's law-punishing airship, but I wonder who is leading the law-punishing force this time?" Neron wondered.
The kingdom's law-punishing airships were said to be equipped with state-of-the-art technology that grants them speed unmatched by any other airships in the kingdom.
Neron could see that the rumors were true.
When the giant airship grew closer, Neron suddenly shot a wave of fire into the sky to flag the airship over.
But even if he didn't do such a thing, the giant airship slowed down after noticing them anyway.
Shortly after Neron and Lina boarded the giant airship, a group of Peak-stage Preliminary Accession Transcendents quickly surrounded them with weapons drawn and pointed.
They treated Neron and Lina like suspected criminals.
A short moment later, the Peak-stage Preliminary Accession Transcendents made way for a middle-aged-looking man with the aura of a Mid-stage Seeking Insight Transcendent.
"Under the kingdom's regulation, the people of the Geyser Kingdom cannot travel outside of the kingdom's borders without a pass," the middle-aged-looking man stated.
Seeing Neron and Lina's clothes, the middle-aged-looking man didn't doubt they were from the Geyser Kingdom.
"Please show me your passes. Otherwise, we will have to apprehend you. And if you resist upon failing to comply, you will be put to death on the spot," The middle-aged-looking man spoke authoritatively.
Neron smiled without feeling the slightest intimidation or pressure.
"So it was Lord Quinten Saville in charge of the law-punishing force this time… That makes sense... The Saville County is next to the Cortez Barony, after all."
Neron made a casual comment before taking out a medallion with a pill symbol.
"Will this suffice?" Neron asks.
"This is…"
Lord Quinten's stern gaze became respectful upon recognizing the pill symbol on the medallion.