Seconds turned into minutes as Lucian thought of various reasons for needing to enter Moon Grove Forest.
However, none of the reasons were good.
Soon, he saw two familiar-looking withered trees. It was the exact place he had left the forest from.
Lucian thought for a moment, knowing he had no more time, he decided to go with his original idea. There was no need to overthink because he was trying to convince Wang Ming, not the world of how Wang Chen died.
Because Wang Ming wanted Wang Chen dead, Lucian was sure Wang Ming would only send a few people to investigate to keep face. Old farts like him only cared about reputation and face.
Now that he had a plan, Lucian increased his walking speed and maneuvered around the Fire Hoof Horses to the other side where Garrett, Lane, and Hervy were.
Noticing Lucian's sudden movement, the guards who had always had their Mana Sense on got ready to attack him, in case the chef decided to do something.
Ever since they left Thunderfall City, this was the first time someone had moved from their position.
Even though the members of Lion's Liver vouched that Lucian meant no harm, they could not completely trust the chef. After all, compared to the members of Lion's Liver, who were well-known in Thunderfall City, Lucian was not known. He was someone who popped out of nowhere.
Sensing the suddenly tense atmosphere, James opened his eyes and glanced out the window, wondering what Lucian was up to. Even now, he trusted his senses, honed as a successful merchant, so he did not think the young man was up to something.
On the other hand, even though Lucian felt the stares from twenty tense guards and from merchant James, he was still indifferent.
After walking up to Garrett, Lucian indifferently whispered:
"I need to relieve myself. I'll be quick."
Unless you were an Immortal Mage or above, Mages still had to relieve themselves. Compared to non-Mages, Mages could use their Mana to prolong the need of having to relieve themselves. However, Mana could not prevent it forever. At some point, you would have to go, or in the worst-case scenario, your bladder would rupture.
Although Lucian spoke in a whisper because he was in the guards and James' Mana Sense range, they heard his words and were immediately speechless.
Meanwhile, Garrett raised an eyebrow, then turned and looked at Sir Orchard. After receiving a nod of confirmation, he said:
"Alright, but make it quick. We don't want to attract unnecessary trouble."
Although their journey thus far had been safe without meeting a single passerby on the road to Harmony City, there was no telling when a group of bandits would attack them.
Immediately after Garrett spoke, he patted one of the Fire Hoof Horses, signaling for it to stop, which it obeyed, followed by the other Fire Hoof Horses stopping.
Meanwhile, Lucian stepped off the road and then frowned, sensing he was being observed through the guards' Mana Sense.
After shaking his head, Lucian went deeper into the forest for privacy reasons. It was also a perfect excuse because it would allow him to arrive at where 'Wang Chen's skeleton' was.
As always, the atmosphere within Moon Grove Forest was oppressive and filled with the scent of death.
However, the scent of death that the Undead Magical Beasts emitted, perfectly allowed Lucian to sense and avoid them.
As Lucian walked further into the forest, he was forced to activate his Mana Sense. Even with a perfect memory, he was clueless about where 'Wang Chen's skeleton' was. In just two days, the environment was completely different. The trees that had previously been green and full of life were now dead. Whereas, the trees, which were withered and dying, were nowhere to be found.
—------------
Back at the caravan, a few of the guards were on the verge of irration. Even after three minutes, Lucian still had not emerged from the forest.
If it had been Garrett in Lucian's place, they would not have been irritated. Garrett was the strongest of them all.
Whereas, Lucian was a chef who was allowed to tag along with them because of Sir Orchard's kindness.
[I bet three Bronze Coins that he's already dead.]
[Tch, don't you have any shame betting on an innocent man's death? … I'll bet 10 Copper Coins.]
[...Fuck, and you say I don't have shame?]
A few of the guards secretly bet via Voice Transmission. Even the guards who did not take part in the bet were confident Lucian was probably dead or would die soon.
Previously, for safety reasons, they had all used Mana Sense on his body and found he was not even a Body Condensation Mage.
—-------------
Back in Moon Grove Forest, Lucian continued to search for 'Wang Chen's skeleton'. Other than ashes, withered trees, withered bushes, and the occasional roars from Undead Magical Beast, Lucian could not find 'Wang Chen's skeleton'.
After a while, he could not help but say in his mind:
[System, are you sure the skeleton hasn't turned to ashes or become an Undead?]
The System checked for any notification it might have missed, but after seeing the Quest still remained, it solemnly replied [I am positive. The skeleton remains intact. Keep searching.]
With a sigh, Lucian continued to search with his Mana Sense.
After a minute, Lucian's eyes lit up as he sensed a familiar Mana signature deeper into the forest. Cautiously, while he continued to avoid the Undead Magical Beasts and ensured his presence remained hidden, he approached where he sensed 'Wang Chen's skeleton'.
As Lucian moved toward the skeleton, he wondered:
'Did an Undead Magical Beast move the skeleton?'
Even though the terrain was completely different from before, Lucian remembered that the clearing where 'Wang Chen's Skeleton' should have been was only approximately fifty feet deep into the forest.
Finally, after walking about twenty feet, Lucian saw a skeleton wearing a bull-encrusted golden Spatial Ring on its finger underneath a large, withered tree.