Chapter 1102

Isaac had barely settled when he heard distant movement—soft footsteps and muttered curses. He sat up, squinting toward the noise. A group of people descended the opposite hill, all dressed in black except one, whose color he couldn't discern.

The curses abruptly ceased. The group was much farther than the nearby encampment, too distant for Isaac to see details, yet he sensed their rapid movement. They appeared headed toward the encampment.

Isaac rose, his expression serious. This wasn't a strange creature, but a conspiracy. Something dark was afoot; they seemed to be holding a woman who had cursed earlier.

He retrieved Adrian's sacred firearm from behind the donkey, carefully wiping it. He wasn't proficient, but he knew the weapon's power—Adrian had laughed for two hours atop the mountain after creating it, scattering all local snakes, insects, and rodents in fear.

Moving silently, Isaac descended. The firearm alone wouldn't suffice; he carried other weapons. He hid in thick roadside bushes, observing the converging groups. He couldn't distinguish faces, only genders.

Crawling forward, he saw a light glint. A woman stood on a tree branch, anxiously watching. Her hesitation suggested poor visibility. That figure… she resembled Claire, one of Winona's subordinates.

A chill gripped Isaac. Winona had left Claire with Carissa. Could the woman the black-clad group held be his guild junior? His gaze fixed on the approaching figures, his mind raced, counting them. Their footsteps betrayed their Lightfoot Skill proficiency.

Good God, over a hundred! If Carissa were taken, sacrificing his life wouldn't suffice. Even in death, Adrian would ensure his corpse was punished.

Chapter 1102

As Isaac strained to identify Carissa, Claire's branch creaked. He saw her preparing to leap down. He made soft sounds to attract her attention.

Claire spun around, scanning the darkness, unable to discern friend from foe.

Isaac landed lightly beside her on a branch, gripping the trunk. Claire stiffened, poised to strike.

"Meadow Ridge, Pathfinders Guild's fifth apprentice!" Isaac whispered. Their voices remained low.

Claire cried in relief at the Meadow Ridge identification. But there was no time for explanations. Black-clad figures dragged a woman toward a carriage. The lamplight revealed her face, and Isaac froze.

It was Violet Spencer!

Claire explained, "Prince Yuvan's suicide soldiers took Ms. Spencer. He'll dishonor her, ruin her reputation, and force her to marry him."

The weight of her words hit Isaac hard. Carissa's friend had been captured and was about to be violated. Failing to save her would crush Carissa, enraging Adrian, and ensuring Isaac's punishment—even posthumously.