Just as Duke was checking the rankings, footsteps came from behind him.
Not just one person's, but many people's.
Duke turned around and saw a few silhouettes at the end of the corridor walking towards them.
Leading them was a young wizard dressed in a blood-red rose magic robe, followed by two companions in similarly dark red robes.
Their robes were dusty and bloodstained, clearly having undergone numerous battles to get here.
Those three saw Duke and Vera, paused momentarily, glanced at them, then shifted their gaze to the rooms that had already been searched.
"Too late," the leader said softly, with a tinge of reluctance in his voice.
A companion behind him muttered, "How can they be so fast? We fought our way up non-stop..."
The leader didn't respond, merely glanced at Duke, then moved deeper into the place with his companions.
The footsteps gradually faded away, disappearing into the depths of the palace.
Duke withdrew his gaze and continued forward.
