Chapter 338: Chapter 244: Ghoul_1
The Vanguard Camp, built upon the ruins of a collapsed and deserted structure, was now empty. It retained only some traces of human activity, but mushrooms had already begun to sprout around the encampment.
Even though the Witch was dead, her evil creations continued to erode nature relentlessly.
"Since this is the most forward camp, we stationed a squad of ten here to protect it—double the soldiers of other camps. They had to patrol the surrounding area during the day and stand guard at night. Thirty-eight serfs were assigned to labor here. They relied on this camp to cut isolation belts, clear roads for troop movements, and transport supplies between other camps. Seven people went missing from this camp, all while out working. By the time their disappearances were noticed, they had either vanished completely or, as with the last three who died, left their bodies behind. The diary was found right ahead."
Balistan briefly explained the purpose of this camp and why the soldiers had failed to protect them.
Quite simply, there were not enough men. With so many camps spread out and half the force remaining in Hamlet for rest and recuperation, how could so few manage complete protection?
Lance, too, realized he had been somewhat presumptuous. After all, not much survived her havoc; surely the wilderness would return to calm with the Witch’s death.
And the Ascension Sect should be too preoccupied with affairs in Ovando City to notice his moves. He had wanted to seize this opportunity, swiftly cutting through the chaos to eliminate the corruption before the old adversary could react. This would expand Hamlet’s control and allow him to clear a road to the old city district.
But clearly, the old adversary had too many cards up his sleeve. In his haste, Lance had exposed his own vulnerabilities.
It’s lucky those creatures didn’t attack the camp; otherwise, our losses would have been far greater.
The camp was very rudimentary. Its only defense consisted of simple wooden fences that could be kicked askew with the slightest effort, offering hardly any real protection.
A lesson learned. Advance cautiously from now on.
"With such extensive traces, the victims must have been brutally killed by a monster." Stepping out of the camp, Lance and his group quickly arrived at the spot where the diary had been discovered.
The mutilated bodies had long since been cleared away. While necessary, this had unfortunately disturbed the scene, making their investigation more difficult.
After examining the area, they determined the initial attack likely occurred about a hundred meters further on. The diary’s author, though injured, had managed to drag himself that distance, hide behind a tree, and pen his final entry before succumbing to his wounds.
However, finding the monster based on these scant clues would be difficult.
The discipline of forensic trace analysis had yet to emerge, let alone develop. So, I can only roughly guess what happened, Lance thought.
However, locating the monster wasn’t solely up to him.
"It doesn’t crawl on all fours; it stands upright like a human, leaving humanoid footprints," Boudica observed. "Yet its forefeet—not paws—bear the weight, which isn’t quite human-like. The front of the footprints dug deep into the mud, indicating sharp claws. Judging by the impressions, it must be as heavy as a Savage Bear. I reckon the beast is a Big Guy."
Boudica, a hunter taught from a young age to track prey, quickly found a blood-stained footprint amidst the chaotic scene.
The hound Fergus kept his nose to the ground, moving around the crime scene and sniffing the air, then barked twice. William, understanding the barks, offered an explanation.
"Luckily, it hasn’t rained these past few days. Fergus has picked up a strange scent—a strong reek of decay wafting through the air, but the source is hard to pinpoint. It’s like a long-rotted corpse, though the smell of blood somewhat masks it, making it less distinct."
Lance didn’t know how William communicated with dogs, but that scent was the key to their pursuit.
"Good job! You’re doing great!" Lance fished out a piece of jerky, handed it to the hound, and patted him a couple of times.
At that moment, however, Wang Cai saw this and trotted over. His eyes, fixed on Fergus, were nearly brimming with envy and hostility.
"Never around for work, but always first in line for food!" Lance smacked Wang Cai on his wolfish head, interrupting his menacing stare.
Wang Cai immediately whined and closed his eyes, bracing for the light blow, but he refused to leave, still rubbing his large wolf head against Lance.
"Back off!" Lance pushed the wolf’s head away with the back of his hand. "Flattery won’t get you anywhere. If you want extra rations, show some skill. If Fergus can smell it, so should you."
Lance also heeded William’s advice and began guiding Wang Cai to develop his sense of smell.
Wang Cai was quite perceptive and seemed to understand Lance’s words. Driven by the promise of extra rations, he showed unprecedented enthusiasm.
A wolf’s sense of smell is no worse than a dog’s. However, Fergus had undergone specialized training. Wang Cai, on the other hand, listened to no one but Lance, so he naturally went untrained when Lance was busy.
This is the perfect opportunity to train him in tracking prey, Lance thought. How can such a young creature just lie around? Mastering more Abilities will make it easier for him to get by when he’s older.
Driven by jealousy and a competitive spirit, Wang Cai quickly grasped Lance’s intention and began to track the lingering scents in the air.
It just goes to show that some tasks are best left to professionals. Soon enough, Boudica found a bloodstain on the surrounding bushes.
"Boss, take a look!"
"That’s right. It must have been rubbed off onto the bushes from hands stained during the killing," Lance concluded, picking up a leaf with dried blood on it.