MMORPG: I was BUGGED-Chapter 334: Shadows of Ambiguity

However, Midnight Duchess wore a different kind of cloak. There might be a possibility of her having two, considering she had been in the game for four years and was one of the top pro players.

She could definitely afford another one, even though equipment that hid appearances was considered expensive and very rare.

Xin didn’t know how she had managed to dodge the spell when even Victor and the others didn’t, and she was definitely not Hilda.

Still, this might be his only opportunity to uncover her identity.

"Is something the matter?" Seraphim asked when Lord Scrooge didn’t reply.

Xin shook his head, contemplating his next move, and said with an even tone, "What are you going to do?"

Seraphim tilted her head to the side. "What do you mean?"

"Now that we have been separated from the others, what do you want to do?"

"Search for the Kitsune, of course," Seraphim replied without a care. "Isn’t that our mission? Aren’t you going to search for it as well?"

Xin nodded, thinking about the situation. "Then . . . should we go?"

Xin and Hilda led the way while Seraphim followed behind.

Hilda kept her gaze fixed on Seraphim, whispering in Lord Scrooge’s ears, "I don’t like that one. She’s so sketchy."

All women were sketchy to Hilda, especially when they conversed with Lord Scrooge.

"Do you know how she survived that spell a while ago?" Xin whispered back.

"Unfortunately, I was too busy saving you. She was hiding in the shadows and must have been safe in there, or she might have an ability to evade the spell or a life-saving item."

Xin refrained from commenting. If Hilda didn’t know, then there was no point in overthinking it.

As they ventured deeper into the mysterious forest, the shadows of towering trees danced eerily, and the air was thick with an otherworldly ambiance.

Seraphim remained the most mysterious member of their group, and Xin had already learned the hard lesson of not trusting strangers and players he barely knew.

He had lost a valuable item once, and he wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.

Xin had since taken measures to protect his items by storing them in his bank. Fortunately, the bank features in the Lord Forest weren’t restricted, offering a semblance of security.

Even so, if Seraphim tried to attack him, and he died, he would still drop whatever he currently had equipped.

But Xin wasn’t overly concerned; after all, Hilda was by his side. Thank goodness for that.

As Xin and Seraphim continued on their way through the forest, breaking the silence that surrounded them, she spoke up.

"Do you know where we’re heading?"

Xin shook his head. "Do you?"

Seraphim stifled a laugh. "I don’t. Looks like we’ll just have to follow the map and hope for the best."

Xin nodded, though he knew the map wasn’t complete.

"Speaking of which, we will come across the blank map sooner or later, and then we’ll have to map the missing parts ourselves," Seraphim continued.

Xin refrained from commenting on her newfound chattiness. Why was she so talkative today?

Seraphim moved closer to Lord Scrooge’s side, prompting Hilda to immediately confront her. She extended her hand to block Seraphim from approaching Lord Scrooge, her stance protective.

Seraphim chuckled beneath her cloak. "Relax, I won’t do anything to my fellow groupmate."

"We don’t know you, so just back off," Hilda said seriously.

"It’s fine, Hilda," Xin intervened, turning his attention to Seraphim. "Is there something you want?"

Seraphim shook her head. "Nothing. Just want to walk beside you, that’s all."

Xin and Hilda exchanged glances before he continued on his way. Hilda, on the other hand, pouted and glared at Seraphim.

"What are you planning at? You were keeping your distance before. Why are you getting close now?" Hilda asked, her tone laced with suspicion.

"It’s only right that we stick to each other in times like this. There are only three of us, you know. Don’t you think that we should stay close and keep an eye on each other’s back?"

"Huh?"

"Let her do whatever she wants, Hilda," Xin said. "The important thing right now is to find the Kitsune and meet up with the others. Let’s not waste time here arguing with ourselves."

Hilda’s stern expression softened, and she addressed Lord Scrooge with a sweet tone. "Of course, Lord Scrooge."

But before she returned to his side, she threw a warning glance Seraphim’s way.

"If I sense that you’re doing something funny, I will cut you in half without a second thought," she warned and then added a skip to her step as she returned to Lord Scrooge’s side with a sweet smile on her face.

Seraphim only stared at Hilda and Lord Scrooge with a smirk on her face before walking behind them.

It appeared there were vigilant guards wherever Lord Scrooge went.

As the trio ventured deeper into the dense forest, the atmosphere became increasingly eerie. The towering trees cast long, ominous shadows, and the air was thick with an almost tangible tension. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

The subdued sounds of rustling leaves and distant cries of unseen creatures added to the foreboding ambiance.

Suddenly, the rhythmic hum of blades clashing and spells being cast disrupted the noises.

The trio halted in their tracks, their senses on high alert. The cacophony of battle echoed through the tangled foliage.

"Do you hear that?" Hilda inquired, her gaze sweeping the surroundings.

"With the loud clanging of steel and the piercing screams of death, it’s hard to miss," Seraphim commented nonchalantly.

Hilda shot a glare at Seraphim, but the latter only responded with a subtle smirk.

"Do you want to check it out?" Xin wasn’t particularly interested because he was certain it wasn’t Victor and the others, given their location on the map.

However, the decision wasn’t his alone, so he had to consult both Seraphim and Hilda. After all, he wasn’t the leader of this expedition.

Curiosity sparked in Hilda’s eyes, and she agreed, mistaking Lord Scrooge’s question as a signal to investigate the commotion.

Seraphim shrugged. "I’m curious, so let’s go and check it."

Xin inwardly sighed; he should have mentally signaled Hilda to just continue walking.

However, since the majority had spoken up, there was no going back.