Chapter 105: Bombs, Supersized
Unfortunately, Princess Givia hadn’t seen the mysterious fortune teller since their encounter and had no further information about him. He had concealed his entire face with a wide-brimmed hood, leaving no clues about his appearance, build, or even his voice, which sounded like any ordinary middle-aged man.
Abyss decided to wait and see. If Givia could learn something from Lannis about countering the Outer God she called the Lord of Nightmares, he would investigate the fortune teller. If the fortune teller was just a con artist who happened to notice Givia’s troubled sleep, he wouldn’t waste his time.
The caravan continued their journey, and this time, the road was peaceful. Givia had ordered them to take a different route, slightly longer but safer, avoiding any potential ambushes.
Abyss enjoyed the peaceful journey, spending much of his time conversing with Givia. He wasn’t particularly talkative, but his calm and respectful demeanor, coupled with his sharp wit, made him a pleasant companion. And truthfully, Givia was also drawn to his gentle features, his perpetually serene expression, and his captivating emerald eyes that seemed to soothe her anxieties, momentarily allowing her to forget the nightly nightmares.
They crossed the border into the Kingdom of Tami without incident. After two more days of travel, as evening approached, they finally caught sight of an Eastern Empire border city.
“We’ll reach the Eastern Empire after crossing that river. We can finally rest in a city tonight. I’ll treat you three to a good meal and a comfortable night’s sleep,” Givia said cheerfully, pointing towards a cluster of lights in the distance, as she lifted the wagon’s curtain.
Abyss nodded. He didn’t mind sleeping anywhere. He was accustomed to resting in graveyards, tombs, and ruins. As long as Leona and Flora were with him, any place was comfortable—but judging by their expressions, they were looking forward to a proper bed.
He couldn’t help but think: Was this what people meant by “easy to go from frugality to luxury, difficult to go from luxury to frugality”?
If Leona knew his thoughts, she would indignantly remind him that they were a princess and a Saint, not accustomed to roughing it.
“Finally, some comfort,” Leona said, her eyes sparkling with anticipation, as she looked in the direction Givia was pointing. “The enemy can’t possibly follow us into the city, right? Maybe we can skip guard duty tonight?”
“We still need guards,” Givia said, chuckling. “But perhaps they can relax a bit. It won’t be as tense as these past few nights, when we had to camp in the wilderness to avoid detection.”
Flora, hearing their conversation, felt a sense of foreboding. She had a feeling their optimism would be short-lived.
She glanced at Abyss, who smiled wryly and winked at her, silently agreeing that something felt amiss.
But they wouldn’t worry about it. If the enemy didn’t show up, it was a good thing. Leona and Flora had been cooped up in the wagon for days. Although their undead bodies didn’t tire, as high-ranking undead with preserved emotions, they needed a break from the monotony. And if the enemy did appear, it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. Abyss was eager to capture one of those goo-transforming creatures for closer examination.
As long as Abyss wanted Givia safe, no harm would befall her—unless she was caught by that monster in her dreams.
The caravan reached the border between the Eastern Empire and the Kingdom of Tami, a wide, flowing river. A thirty-meter-long stone bridge spanned the river, with pavilions on either side. In the pavilion on their side, a few soldiers were yawning and packing their belongings, illuminated by the light of a brazier.
“Please wait! We’re heading to the Eastern Empire!” Santos said, riding ahead and dismounting, approaching the soldiers with a smile. “Would you gentlemen please inspect us so we can enter? We’re a merchant caravan from the Western Empire.”
“Huh?” The soldier who appeared to be the captain glanced at Santos with an annoyed expression. “From the Western Empire? What business do you have in the Eastern Empire?”
“Sir, we’re here to purchase some legal potions for import to the Western Empire,” Santos replied quickly.
“Buying potions? Then it’s not urgent, is it? Camp here for the night. We’ll be back in the morning. We’re off duty now,” the captain said.
“But…” Santos was in a bind. As a general, he couldn’t subject the princess to another night of camping just because of a few lazy soldiers. “Gentlemen, please make an exception for us. We’re only carrying money. The inspection will be quick. See, these are standard imperial coins. Please, have a look.”
He pulled out a handful of gleaming coins from his pouch, offering them to the captain with a flattering smile.
The captain instantly recognized the bribe. He glanced around, making sure no one was watching, before accepting the coins. He counted them quickly. There were dozens of imperial coins, a decent sum. He pocketed half, then distributed a few to the other soldiers.
“Alright, we’ll make an exception for you. But I’m warning you, if you’re here to buy potions, legal or illegal, you won’t make any profit. It’s a wasted trip.”
“May I ask why?” Santos asked, puzzled.
“Hehe, you’re from afar, so you haven’t heard the news. I’ll be kind enough to inform you. There have been explosions in several Eastern Empire border cities these past few days. Several warehouses belonging to the ‘Goat Eyes Gang,’ a group that made their fortune selling potions, were blown to smithereens. Apparently, their rivals hired a crazy alchemist. The explosions have doubled the price of potions for hundreds of kilometers. Your costs will double as well.”
“Sigh, we might have to buy less then. Our funds are limited…” Givia said, sighing from inside the wagon. It seemed that despite her royal status, leading a guerrilla army had strained her finances.
“Abyss, make them return the money,” Leona whispered to Abyss. “I remember it’s still an hour before their shift ends. These lazy bums are taking bribes and shirking their duties.”
Abyss raised an eyebrow, smiling faintly. He chanted a prayer silently, his fingertips glowing briefly, as he discreetly cast a Repentance spell on the soldiers.
The soldiers froze, their faces filled with guilt, as they pulled out the coins they had pocketed.
“Sorry, we’re not actually off duty yet. We were just trying to slack off,” the captain said, collecting the coins from the other soldiers and returning them to a bewildered Santos. “We’ll inspect you now—free of charge.”
“Uh… Thank you…”
The soldiers quickly began the inspection. During the process, Abyss overheard one soldier whisper to another, “Sorry, Ricky, I’ve been sleeping with your wife for a month. I had to tell you.”
“What?!”
“I’m sorry. I suddenly felt so guilty that I couldn’t keep it a secret anymore.”
“It’s alright, I forgive you. I’ve been sleeping with your mother for two weeks. I also feel very guilty, Larry.”
“What?!”
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