After their return, they had heard what Arthur did to the Baronet. They also learned he had used Wood Magic. Instinctively, they linked him to the masked figure who had once saved them. Though they couldn't confirm the connection, that sliver of suspicion alone was enough to make them wary. The impression left by the masked man had been far from ordinary.
Arthur stared at them, studying their faces for a moment. He was certain they suspected something—but he didn't really care. He simply pointed to the tree and said,
"Each of you grab a shovel and an axe. I want you to dig around the tree and uproot it entirely. You have four hours."
At first, Chadwick thought he was about to be punished for their failure in the bandit extermination mission. But upon hearing the command, he exhaled in relief. Uprooting a tree, even a large one, wasn't difficult.
