Chapter 713 - Cooperation

The faint smile on Annara's face widened a bit, but Emery didn't seem to notice, his thoughts were fully ensnared by the name he just said.

"I am sure you know her… pretty well in fact. I have checked the records: you two were helping each other during the second Magus Game. You two were also involved in the same incident during our first year in the Academy."

Even though Annara's words of Silva being held captive by the White Fang Clan caused no small amounts of anxiety, Emery still tried to maintain his calm. After all, he couldn't afford to lose his edge and let the other party take control of the situation.

"What do you mean by being held captive? Tell me what you know?" Emery said in a stern tone.

Although Annara really wanted to tease the boy in front of her, she knew important business had to be solved first. Therefore, she began to speak.

"Alright, this is the information I got."

The Wolf Clan, being branded as traitors, went and sought the Snake Bloodline's clans for help. Alas, none of the snakes were willing to talk to them. However, in the midst of chaos, the White Fang somehow managed to kidnap the young female acolyte. 

This happened a month ago, just days before the academy's new school academic year started. Since then, the academy was in contact to meet. In response, the Wolf Clan only returned the message by replying with how they now had proof both them and Snake Bloodline were innocent on the matter.

Hearing this made Emery recall the time when Headmaster Delbrand told him the reason he was chosen for the mission was because of his relation with both the Wolf and Snake Bloodline. Therefore, he could safely infer this information was related.

Based on his thinking on this information, Headmaster Delbrand must have wanted him to not only speak on behalf of the Magus Alliance, but also to mediate between the Wolf and Snake Bloodline.

For a moment, a deep frown appeared on Emery's face. He couldn't imagine how it would be if Silva was hurt, or even worse, dead in the White Fang Clan's hands, when he could actually do something about it.

Annara's wicked smile graced her face once again, realizing Emery had a change of thought. 

"Good. Now, before they leave and we lose any more intel because of our pointless argument here, we should work together."

At that, Emery only stared at the girl in silence. He might have had a change of heart and committed himself to the decision of poking his nose into the mission, but he was still still far from trusting the girl - let alone work together. After all, this mission had the possibility of bringing himself to ruin, if he wasn't careful enough.

So, he added, "I will not bother your mission if you do not bother mine. And no, I would rather not work together with you. Anyway, thank you for the intel. Let's just hope I don't find out if you are lying about it."

Contrary to expectation, Annara was not angry at Emery's second refusal. Instead, she had her usual amused expression on her face. With an increasingly growing smirk, she said in an effort to tip him off.

"Hahaha, how can you be so silly, Emery. What makes you think I will not intentionally mess up your plan if you chose to not help me?"

Emery was actually relieved when he heard those words. He would rather the girl show her true cunning self than pretending to be friendly to him.

The girl then added, "Listen, I am telling you just to trust me. I wasn't lying when I said my master will kill me if anything happens to you." Annara looked helplessly at Emery, wondering why she had to go through this.

"... Either way, I can see your skill helped you not get recognized among the crowds, but what's your plan when they start to enter the woods? They will definitely not let some suspicious rank 8 human 'conveniently' follow them within the same direction? I know you don't have the proper spell required for the job!"

Annara could see Emery was about to say something, but she quickly interrupted him.

"And don't get me started with your darkness skill tier 1 [Hide in Shadow]." She sneered. "Pfft... that puny spell won't work even on me. Do you really think a magus would suddenly become so lulled they won't notice you?! Bah! And your space magic won't help you either!"

What Annara said was true, even though she said it too bluntly. Emery's [Blink] and [Spatial Gate] might be the best movement spells to use for escaping, but certainly not the best for sneakily following a target.

Emery was about to explain, but decided to hold that off and instead ask a question.

"What about you? What's your plan? I don't believe that your moth can spy all the way from such a distance without being discovered."

Instead of answering, Annara laughed cheerfully. She looked at him and said with a smile, "Does this mean you agree? If you are, then I will tell you my plan. If we work together, I am confident we can successfully tail them without getting caught in the process."

With the current situation, Emery could only follow the girl's plan or go home and forget about the mission, but then he suddenly thought of another way. So he just nodded, making the smile on Annara's face grow even wider. 

"All right, i agree let's work together!"

***

Apparently, Magus Leon and the others would only begin to move when the veil of darkness fell and the surrounding area came into a state of stillness. The two people, Annara and Emery, waited as they looked for the perfect window to make a move.

Annara did not dare to put her moth familiar to overhear the magus' group. She knew the moment she did so, the magus would discover it right away. Hence, the two of them have no idea why the group just went out now at night after a few hours of waiting.

"I think the wolves are trying to be extra careful on their side. Even though visibility was not really an issue anymore for a magus, who sensed using spirit reading more than their actual sense of sight, meeting at night would still give them a better chance to escape, if things somehow go wrong."

While waiting for night to fall, Emery took the time to study the planet once again.  He found out one of the reasons why this planet was chosen as the meeting place. This planet was one of the mid-rank savage planets that had half a dozen portal gates scattered around.

The multiple options of entry and exit points would allow them a chance to escape if things went south. Furthermore, the kobolds were experts in making tunnels when they went for a hunt. Hence a rendezvous in a deep forest, in the middle of the night, where many tunnels lead in all directions existed, on a planet where exit points were plenty, it was a fairly well thought decision.

As soon as he detected the magus leaving the settlement, Emery was ready to move, but Annara quickly stopped him.

"Wait!. Don't be hasty. We will go as planned."

Just looking at the wicked smile on her face once again made Emery turn anxious. For a moment, he couldn't help but think that maybe he should have brought Klea with him. She would definitely know how to deal with this girl.

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Written by Avans, Published exclusively by W.e.b.n.o.v.e.l, 

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