Meanwhile, Shelby made her way back to the Symons residence, 'running for cover' after leaving the auction house.
She had a slight advantage when leaving the theater since the winners of the auction rounds didn't leave together and could use alternative exits from the building. So before anyone realized where they were going, her group would have a few moments to try to find shelter.
Since she had her own plans for the evening and could use the excuse that she was Marcus' fiancée, she headed for the Symons' estate, accompanied only by Molly.
Mira had separated from her shortly after leaving the local theater, while only the two of them were on this trip to avoid the wedding of the Staples and Symons families.
Shelby ran her way but soon noticed that people were following her, even Mages.
But it was no wonder. She had purchased the Seal of Spirits, a 3rd-grade artifact that could significantly affect even Mid-level Mages!
How could she not be chased?
"Girls, stop running and quickly hand over your resources!" The Mid-level Mage who first approached these easy targets said aloud, smiling as he saw how easy it would be for him to take what he wanted.
Shelby and Molly were not fools. The moment they were called, the two stopped.
The orange-haired beauty said. "Senior, we're going to the Symons estate. I'm young master Marcus' fiancee. Are you really going to act against us?"
"Tsk! Even if you were the Viscount himself, I would act against you, girl!" The Mid-level Mage said as he stopped a few dozen meters in front of her while several Low-level Mages held their positions on the area's outskirts.
None of them would try to take Shelby's Seal of Spirits from her in front of that man. After all, whoever possessed such an item would be the target of everyone else!
But everyone there was interested in this item and wouldn't give it up just because a stronger person was also involved in this competition!
Shelby said as Molly looked around with some concern. "What if I told you I don't have it?" She smiled.
"Girl, don't play games with me. I may be merciful enough to give you a chance but don't abuse my patience. Quickly, hand over the Seal of Spirits!" The guy with the long black hair and unshaven beard shouted at her, increasing the pressure of his aura slightly.
Shelby felt it, and her whole body shook. However, she couldn't help but smile inwardly as she remembered what had happened moments after leaving the auction house.
'Good thing that person was fast. She caught up with me before anyone else and took the Seal of Spirits to Vicente.' Shelby remembered her quick meeting with Layla a few moments ago.
She didn't know how he had managed to bring Layla over to their side. Still, she was pleased that Vicente's move had allowed her to make half a dozen Mages waste their time chasing after her.
'I hope you use this advantage well, Vicente!'
...
Meanwhile, Layla had already returned to Vicente's side after quickly separating from him to go to Shelby.
Everything that had happened in the last three minutes had been Vicente's plan. Since Shelby had bought an item she couldn't keep, he had offered to store it for her in the short term.
Considering who he was up against tonight and who Shelby had in her sights, it made even more sense for him to have such an artifact on hand.
That's why, after sending Layla to Shelby, the gray-haired woman had no trouble convincing Vicente's ally to give her the Seal of Spirits she had just placed in the hands of the black-haired young man.
'This is perfect, master. With this artifact, you can defeat your target tonight. You just have to watch out for those who are chasing you.' Torne commented to Vicente as the young man moved next to Layla.
'How many people do you feel moving while they're watching me, old Torne?' Vicente asked since his senses weren't as sharp and didn't reach as far as the old ghost's.
'There are 11 Mages, two of them Mid-level and the rest Low-level ones, following you, master. In addition to them, there are 8 level 5 Acolytes approaching you. I think they'll try to attack you before anyone else.' Torne summed up the number of people following Vicente.
But then he added in a worried tone. 'The second Mid-level Mage is that woman from the Dark Path. I don't know why she's following you, but she's clearly interested in you. She's scrutinizing you, master.'
'Why would she do that?' Vicente looked away, not understanding. 'Could it be that she's not really after the Viscount, just like me?
'I think at least six Mages aren't interested in you, master. From how they behave, they must be after the same target as you. But that's not the case with this woman from the Dark Path.
She's very focused on you.
Two other Mages are also looking at you intensely. One of them is the other Mid-level Mage, and the other is running next to this person. He is a Low-level Mage.
Apart from them, only the Acolytes seem to be targeting you, while the others may or may not be interested in you.'
'This is strange...' Vicente commented to Torne. 'I don't have anything on me that would justify Mid-level Mages being interested in me. So it has to do with something I've done in the past or a characteristic of mine.'
'That makes sense.' Torne agreed. 'That must be the case with this Dark Path magician. Even though your dark element is very well disguised, it may affect beings of different natures differently. I haven't felt anything from you previously, but I'm a ghost-type spirit, while this woman is a magician. Maybe she feels something different when she looks at you.
As for the other two, I don't think it's like that. Otherwise, it would have happened before. I feel it's something the master did in the past.'
'Maybe...' Vicente thought of the group that had kidnapped Jasmine, which he expected to act against him and his family at some point since they knew about the kidnapping of a Sovereign's daughter.
Something like that couldn't remain unsolved for long!
'The Faceless Ones?' He narrowed his eyes. 'It doesn't matter, whoever it is, I'll make sure they fall along with Viscount Symons!' He clenched his fists before he said to Layla.
"Get ready to run when I give you the signal. I think the Faceless Ones are following us. There are two Mages, so when I give you the signal, go. You won't stand a chance against them."
