CHAPTER 151: A LOOPHOLE

Zack's eyes narrowed suspiciously as he watched the head of the council slip away from the gathering, his movements calculated and purposeful. Something didn't feel right. And without thinking much about it, he too stood up and followed after the older man, carefully trailing behind him. The man must have figured out somehow that he was being followed because he proceeded to lead Zack on a wild goose chase through the winding streets before finally stopping at the entrance of the forbidden forest on the outskirts of town. He hesitated briefly before deciding to follow the council leader into the forest. Completely disregarding his safety as he inconspicuously jumped over thorned roots and poisonous branches that could cripple a man for days if they tore into his flesh. He suddenly paused and darted behind an itching tree, careful not to lean against its trunk. The council leader had stopped, too, a few feet forward, and Zack watched as he lowered his hood and looked around before