100X Returns System: I Dominate the Age of Gods-Chapter 144. No options left

Ethan and Leila stood outside the inn, having stepped out several minutes earlier to escape the lingering stench and the bloody sights left behind inside.

Neither of them said anything at first. They simply stood there, breathing in the cold night air, trying to steady their thoughts after everything they had just witnessed.

They had expected noise.

They had expected screams, panicked shouting, or at least a crowd forming around the inn after the violence that had taken place inside.

Instead, the surroundings were unnaturally quiet, opposite to their expectations.

Too quiet.

Only when they had walked a certain distance away from the inn did Ethan finally feel it, a subtle pressure brushing against his senses.

"A soundproofing barrier," he muttered.

Leila nodded slowly. The realization sent a chill down her spine.

The Hounds truly lived up to their name, they had already placed a soundproofing barrier before entering the inn.

As if summoned by the thought, a black-robed assassin suddenly appeared in front of them from the forest periphery.

His clothing matched that of the Hounds almost exactly, from the dark fabric to the faint shimmer of enchantments woven into it.

Without sparing Ethan or Leila a glance, the man walked past them, pushed open the inn’s door, and stepped inside without hesitation.

Ethan and Leila exchanged confused looks.

A few minutes passed.

Before either of them could ask anything, the door opened again. This time, three figures emerged quickly from the inn.

It was 35, 36, and the newly arrived assassin.

Their movements were brisk while their expressions were quite serious.

"What happened?" Ethan asked, directing his question at 35.

35 glanced toward the third assassin, number 34, as if asking for permission. When 34 gave a short nod, 35 finally spoke.

"Master Ethan," 35 said evenly. "This is 34. He was assigned by the emperor to keep watch over your classmate William. However, it seems 34 could not keep up with Master William."

He paused briefly.

"Master William’s current whereabouts are unknown."

"What??" Ethan and Leila blurted out at the same time.

Their disbelief was genuine. How fast had William moved for even the Hounds to lose track of him?

"Yes," 34 spoke up calmly. "It appeared that Master William was traveling inside a special flying artifact. Although its mana signature was only at S-rank, its speed exceeded my own."

34’s expression did not change as he continued.

"I could have destroyed the artifact easily as soon as he boarded," he said, "but since Master William was not an adversary, I chose not to interfere."

"Why didn’t you place a tracking spell on him?" 35 asked sharply.

"Tracking spell?" Ethan asked instinctively, but his question was completely ignored.

34 lifted a hand and brushed the back of his hair, an unusual gesture that made his discomfort obvious.

"I don’t know why," he admitted. "My tracking spell failed repeatedly on him. I attempted to place it several times, but it did not work even once."

"He must have been using an anti-tracking spell," 36 suggested.

35’s eyes widened slightly as he turned to 34. "Wait. If he was using an anti-tracking spell, does that mean he saw you even while you were in stealth?"

"No idea," 34 replied, his tone stiff with embarrassment.

Leila hesitated for a moment before speaking. "So now what will you do?"

34 looked at both of them carefully. "35 informed me that this situation involves cultists. I will report the matter to headquarters immediately. By morning, the Hounds will surround the entire perimeter."

He continued without pause.

"We will purge all cultists present in this area before beginning the search for Master William."

Ethan listened carefully, but something bothered him.

"Why don’t you go after William right now?" he asked. "What if he gets in danger?"

34 answered without hesitation. "The direction Master William took was west, toward the Skybreak Empire. He most likely claimed a mission related to the Titan Empire and is currently completing it."

He looked directly at Ethan. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

"For now, you are in more danger than he is. I must report this situation to headquarters first before proceeding to find him."

"I will intercept his vehicle once he exits the Skybreak Empire," 34 added. "Until then, there is no need for concern. The Titan Empire is one of the safest regions on the continent, with almost no crime. The Titan race also maintains friendly relations with humans. Master William will be fine."

Leila’s expression darkened.

"I think you all are mistaken," she said slowly. "I read the mission he claimed. It was related to a missing human from Riverdale."

She looked between the assassins.

"He was supposed to go north to meet the assigner of that mission, not west."

Then she turned towards Ethan and spoke, "He must have ditched the mission, just like all of us.."

Leila froze.

Her eyes widened in horror as she realized what she had just said. Instinctively, she clapped her hands over her mouth, but it was already too late.

"Ditched?" 35 asked in a sharp tone.

"So you and your friends have ditched your academy missions?" 34 said quietly.

Ethan could swear he felt the air grow colder as the three assassins’ expressions hardened.

The Hounds exchanged glances, understanding dawning between them as they realized the trick the children were trying to pull.

"Please don’t report us," Leila pleaded, her voice was small like a puppy.

"Yeah," Ethan added quickly, forcing a weak, hopeful smile. "Please."

"We are loyal to the Emperor," 34 replied flatly. "We will inform him."

The other two nodded without even a second of hesitation.

Ethan and Leila looked at each other, dread sinking in as they realized how badly things had spiraled.

36 and 35 turned back toward the inn, instructing them to stay where they were while they cleaned up the scene. Meanwhile, 34 vanished into the forest, his presence fading instantly.

As soon as they were alone, Leila grabbed Ethan’s sleeve.

"We need to find everyone and leave before morning," she whispered urgently. "If the Hounds arrive in full force, we’re screwed."

"Leila, we can’t," Ethan replied, shaking his head. "If we try to leave, they’ll come after us immediately. Didn’t you hear? They already placed tracking spells on us."

Leila clenched her fists, thinking hard.

"Then we must find the others first," she said quietly. "They might know how to remove tracking spells."

Ethan hesitated, then nodded.

They didn’t have many options left.

Leila and Ethan searched for everyone for a few hours. They tried to enter inns and ask the workers, but they were not successful.

After all, they were humans, why would other races be welcoming to them? It was not the Academy, nor were they rich merchants or powerful saints.

Since it was after midnight, all they discovered were deserted inn halls and hostile innkeepers.

All they heard was, "Go to your own fucking tavern!!"

They were not even permitted to enter the inns, so they were unable to look for their aides.

"What do we do now!!" Leila exclaimed.

Ethan’s face was etched with panic as he perspired.

"What can we even do except for waiting!!"