Chapter 142: Thoughts of Retreat

Hughes said nothing. He knew Gutt still harbored thoughts of the resources within the manor, but as Mavis had pointed out, those resources were now all in Hughes’s possession.

"Sigh... if there’s really no other way, then let it go!" Gutt hesitated for a moment before deciding that saving his own life was more important.

"Maifan!" Minnie’s shrill cry erupted from behind the two men. She was cradling Maifan’s body, weeping bitterly.

"Maifan, she..." Gutt looked at Maifan, who still wore a faint smile on her lips even in death. He remembered how she used to run into his shop to cause trouble as a child, calling him "godfather."

"I... I’m going to get revenge!" Minnie suddenly stood up, intent on hunting down the killer.

"Calm down, Minnie! We don’t even know what kind of thing we are dealing with. Going out there now is just throwing your life away!" Gutt grabbed her, unable to watch his friend walk to her death.

"Calm down? How can you tell me to be calm? Maifan was my own daughter!" Minnie collapsed onto the ground, sobbing. Maifan’s death was undeniably a crushing blow to her.

"Mavis, why is there no soul left after Maifan’s death?" Hughes suddenly realized something strange. Usually, when ordinary people died, there was a possibility they would become restless spirits. Why, then, was there no sign of a soul body here?

"I already devoured it," Mavis admitted without hiding anything. Just as Hughes had approached earlier, she had consumed the remaining fragments of Maifan’s soul.

"What? How could you—"

"What are you in such a rush for? I wasn't finished!" Seeing Hughes losing his temper, Mavis quickly explained.

"Speak," Hughes growled, suppressing his inner rage while waiting for her explanation.

"Her soul was already tattered and incomplete. There was only a tiny bit left, so I absorbed it. Besides, both ordinary people and first-level wizards rarely form complete soul bodies unless they use specific dark arts," Mavis said cautiously, afraid of how Hughes might react.

"You had better not be lying to me!" Hughes felt fortunate that he held Mavis’s soul essence; otherwise, there was no telling what she might do.

"Heehee, don't worry. My life is in your hands now—I wouldn't dare lie to you!" Seeing that Hughes was not pursuing the matter further, Mavis let out a sigh of relief.

"Then why do you think Maifan’s soul was so damaged to begin with?" Hughes felt a chill run down his spine. If what Mavis said was true, what kind of creature could extract soul energy right under the noses of several first-level wizards?

"Well... first, we can rule out the Three-Eyed Mermen. This isn't their style, nor do they have the capability. The only thing I’ve told you about that can extract souls is the Magic-Disk Octopus, but that thing is so massive that it would have been impossible for it to move without making a sound!" Mavis sounded stumped, failing to come up with a logical answer.

"Forget it. We should leave as soon as possible," Hughes said, realizing Mavis had no clear answer.

"Everyone, look closely—there isn't a shred of soul energy left in Maifan’s body!" Hughes couldn't be too explicit, so he offered a subtle hint.

"Hm?" The group froze at his words. Even the grieving Minnie hurried over to examine Maifan’s body.

"This..." They exchanged glances, realizing Hughes was right. There was indeed not a trace of soul energy left.

"How is this possible? This shouldn't be," Gutt muttered, unable to believe his own findings as he checked again.

A wizard’s mental strength, cultivated through meditation, was inextricably linked to the soul. Before reaching the second level, mental strength had a minimal impact on the soul, and even after ascending, the changes were not so extreme that a person’s soul energy would be completely wiped clean without leaving a single trace.

"There is definitely something here!" Ryan, who had been silent until now, spoke up, casting a deep, piercing look at Hughes.

Hughes didn't understand why Ryan was staring at him, as he felt his own behavior had been impeccable.

"Let’s leave, and soon," Ryan suggested.

"Fine... let's go," Gutt conceded. Without needing Ryan to say it, Gutt could see that the place felt wrong. Things were taking a turn for the worse, and staying any longer might lead to disaster.

Even as they agreed, Ryan’s gaze remained fixed on Hughes.

"I found the master’s bedroom earlier, and a notebook," Hughes said, sensing Ryan’s scrutiny. Despite not knowing why Ryan was acting this way, he decided to mention the journal; there was nothing of real value in it anyway.

"Really? What was in it?"

As soon as Hughes spoke, everyone’s attention shifted to him. Gutt, in particular, looked excited, clearly wanting to rush over to see if Hughes had the journal on him.

"The pages were mostly torn away long ago, leaving only a few behind. There wasn't much recorded," Hughes answered truthfully. He wasn't afraid they wouldn't believe him, as the bedroom wasn't far away.

"I see." Gutt’s hopeful expression faded back into disappointment. After all, he had come here hoping for a second-level wizard's manual, and now it seemed he would leave with nothing.

"What exactly was written?" Ryan asked, refusing to give up.

"This is the secret realm of a third-level wizard. It turns out they were a bloodline wizard who, for reasons unknown, suffered a backlash from their own bloodline and died here. That is all the journal recorded," Hughes explained, holding nothing back.

"Only that?" Ryan pressed, still skeptical. He didn't believe Hughes had only found that. He was certain that Hughes had heard the sounds of the earlier struggle and had simply chosen not to appear.

"What do you mean? Are you suspecting me?" Hughes stood his ground, meeting Ryan’s eyes.

"Hah! Who knows if some little thief didn't snatch something on the side?" Ryan scanned Hughes from head to toe, wondering where he might have hidden his spoils.

"If you don't believe me, you can come with me to see the notebook. It’s still there," Hughes said, though he felt a flicker of panic. If Ryan really insisted on searching him, the 'Guide’s Protection' artifact would be impossible to explain. Even if it were only a low-level enchanted item, it would inevitably arouse suspicion.

"Don't worry, I can help you mask the aura of the Guide’s Protection. Even if he tries to sense it, it will only register as an ordinary decorative item," Mavis chimed in, sensing Hughes’s dilemma and offering help at the perfect moment.

"Are you sure? You know the consequences of lying to me!" Hughes felt a surge of relief but remained wary of Mavis’s ulterior motives.

"Relax, I actually participated in the construction of that Guide’s Protection back in the day. I know it better than you do!" Mavis said nonchalantly.

"Fine." After a brief hesitation, Hughes decided to trust her once more. Regardless, he still held her soul essence; if she dared to deceive him, he would ensure she suffered before the end.