"…isn't a bad opportunity to wipe them out completely."
The figure, who had remained silent as Aldric gave his orders, finally spoke. His voice was calm, unreadable.
"Is that the case?" A pause. Then, a slight tilt of the head, as if peering through him. "Are you sure the artifact didn't detect anyone?"
Aldric's smirk didn't waver.
"No, it didn't."
Not a single powerful fighter had entered Varenthia. Not one. The artifact would have picked up even the faintest trace of high-tier energy the moment they crossed into the city's limits.
And yet—
'Hmm?'
A strange sensation crawled over his skin.
Not a presence. Not a killing intent.
Something probing.
Aldric's breath slowed. His muscles tightened instinctively as the feeling dug into him, like a needle threading through his thoughts. It wasn't an attack. It wasn't even something physical.
A gaze?
No—not quite.
