Supreme Magus novel Chapter 1003

Chapter 1003 Clever Plans Part 1

"Are you in a bad mood again or did that clearing grope your ass to glare at it like that?" Friya Ernas asked from the back of her horse.

"I suspect there might be an undead nearby. Either that or the Winter King is not done with Feymar yet." Phloria waved at their surroundings while keeping an eye on the small caravan following them.

Belin of Feymar had gone from homeless to the middle class in just a few months by selling small mana crystals to the Mage Association. At first, no one had cared for him, thinking he had just been lucky since he brought only a few small gemstones worth barely a couple of silver pieces.

But instead of squandering the money on gambling or alcohol, Belin had bought himself a small house and a field, bringing more crystals to the Association each time his business needed funds to expand.

Belin had been careful, picking only small amounts at a time and never exchanging them when at the counter there was a clerk who already knew him. Thanks to that, the supervisor noticed Belin’s name being mentioned multiple times only when he revised all reports to compile the annual inventory.

Instead of wasting time and resources to punish a victimless crime for which there was hardly proof, the supervisor made Belin an offer he couldn’t refuse. Full immunity for the gemstones he had already sold and a hefty sum in exchange for the location of the unknown crystal vein.

Belin had already collected everything he could find, so he happily agreed. The ex-vagrant got himself a pretty house and the supervisor a promotion. All that remained to do was for a squad of miners and Crystalsmiths to check the place.

The crystals Belin had found were so small and their grade so low that they might as well just be a lucky find. Sure, crystals rarely reached the surface, but when they did, it was the presence of green gemstones the mark of the motherlode, not that of red ones like those Belin sold.

Preliminary reconnaissance of the terrain had failed to provide any clues, so the follow-up expedition required the utmost care. Crystal mines were priceless assets, especially with the ongoing struggle against the undead and the colonization plans for the Jiera continent.

The army suspected that either there was nothing to find and Belin had been extremely lucky, or he had just found the scraps left by illegal miners that would do anything to prevent the loss of their golden goose.

With most of the regular troops busy keeping the order and eradicating the Undead Courts whenever they found them, the army was understaffed to the point of asking the infamous Captain Ernas for help.

"Do you really still believe in those fairy tales?" Friya chuckled.

"No. I don’t, but I like having someone to curse when one of my men loses his toes to frostbite." Listening to her own words reminded Phloria of her imminent discharge and made her sad.

At that point, the only question was if it would have been an honorable or dishonorable discharge.

"It’s a good thing that you brought two professional Healers along, then." Friya pointed at herself and their sister, Quylla, who was keeping her horse near the caravan.

"Thanks for coming."

"Stop thanking me. You are making me feel like the worst sister ever. I didn’t drop anything to give you a hand and I’m even getting paid for it." Friya tried and failed again to lighten the mood.

"None of the above." Phloria whispered, forcing Friya to come closer while she conjured a Hushed zone. "She just cheated. A few days before the Court was summoned, Mom got Manohar to rejuvenate her and give her what he calls ’a little extra boost’.

"By the time they fought, she had practiced long enough to get accustomed to her younger and enhanced body. That Irehein idiot had no chance from the start. Serves him right for deserting Dad after everything our father did for him."

Friya’s brain froze at the revelation.

’This doesn’t make sense. How could Mom prepare in advance for a fight issued in response to an accusation that she had no way to know that Nuragor would have made?

’The only possible explanation is that she already knew the topic of the conversation because she’s really responsible for the attacks and had everyone dancing in the palm of her hand. But that’s preposterous!’ Yet it was the truth.

The caves where the crystal veins were allegedly located was close enough to Feymar that it only took a full day of travel to reach their entrance. The Crystalsmiths cast several detection arrays, but found no trace of enemies and crystals alike.

"I’m sorry, Captain Kortus, but so far the scouts were right. The crystals must be deep underground if there are any." Tlea Ormann, the Crystalsmith foreman said.

"Don’t worry, Tlea. It only makes our little covert operation smoother since we can place as many arrays as we want. Any suggestions, Captain Ernas?" _{freewёbnoνel.com}