Chapter 419 The Escaped "Nun"
Daybreak, ten hours later.
At eight o'clock in the morning, the faint light of dawn appeared on the edge of the horizon, and then the noisy voices and the aroma of baking bread awakened the sleeping camp.
Luo Yan, Sarah and Tafu had a simple breakfast on the first floor of the hotel.
Perhaps because the "serenade" that continued in the hotel last night was too disturbing, Sarah's expressionless face was rarely filled with a trace of barely perceptible fatigue.
She was the only one who didn't sleep well.
"Sarah, you look tired," Luo Yan put down the barley tea in his hand and said gently, "If you need, we can rest here for another day."
Hearing that she had to stay here for another day, Sarah suddenly panicked and quickly straightened her drooping waist and back.
"No need, Your Highness."
"But……"
"I'm fine, Your Highness. Please don't let this little thing delay your itinerary." Sarah forced herself to stay alert as her amber pupils flashed with concentration as she continued, "What are your plans for today?"
Seeing her insistence, Luo Yan stopped talking and just smiled and said, "Our 'Voyager' has gone on strike. I need to send a letter to Mr. Alberto and ask him to reclaim the wreckage. In addition, we need to find a new means of transportation to the south."
"Great!" Taffy yawned and babbled in Dragon Tongue. "I'm never going to ride that thing again! I'd rather go slower!"
However--
No one cares about pets' opinions.
Luo Yan smiled faintly.
"There will be a chance. I'll teach you to fly sooner or later."
He has been an adventurer and a mentor, but he has never been a dragon rider. Sooner or later, he will have to experience it.
He made up his mind that when he returned to Hell this time, he would consult with Professor Edonya to see if he could increase the "dosage" of the drug to achieve sustainable results.
Taffy whispered through gritted teeth.
"Are you a devil? At least wait until I'm fifty before letting me work!"
"Don't even think about it. I'll wait for you for three years at most."
“%￥#@!”
Looking at the noisy man and dragon, Sarah's lips curled up into a smile, and her amber vertical pupils were full of tenderness.
I really want time to freeze at this warm moment.
She doesn't have any lofty aspirations, nor does she have as many dreams or ambitions as the other demon generals of the Demon King.
She just wanted a home.
…
The group returned upstairs to pack their luggage, then went downstairs to check out and join the bustling crowd at the camp market.
The camp was bustling with activity from early morning, with the crowded streets filled with the sounds of vendors hawking their wares and the aroma of stews and baked bread.
Of course, not all people who come here come for "confession", some of them come here to mine.
The legendary "Miss Lina" made her first fortune through the nuns and soon set her sights on the mountains in the eastern part of Eagle Rock Territory.
There are rich mineral and forestry resources there, but the local lords have neither people nor money, let alone the ability to develop them. Even if they did develop them, they don't have enough transportation capacity to sell them elsewhere.
Now the respected Sir Richter no longer has to worry about this problem.
The people of Eagle Rock Territory have both people and money, and they have attracted enough traveling merchants to help them solve sales problems.
It won’t be long before those natural resources that are usually useless will be exchanged for gold coins of the Oss Empire by more capable people.
Compared to the gray income that cannot be collected as tax, this money is a visible income, and a large part of it will go into the lord's treasury, and in the process feed the lord and everyone around the lord.
In a sense, this is also a form of bribery.
And it's much smarter than giving money directly.
The next time Sir Richter goes crazy and leads his troops into the traveler camp, everyone from the servants to the butler to the captain of the guard will be motivated enough to jump out and persuade him.
If they really can't persuade him, they can also consider joining forces and replacing him with a young child or a widow as the lord...
Passing through the bustling market, Luo Yan found the destination of this trip at the edge of the camp.
It was a caravan ready to set off, and it looked to be quite large.
Dozens of heavy four-wheeled carriages were piled with goods tightly wrapped in oilcloth. Judging from the vague outlines, most of the goods were furs and minerals that were special products of the North.
The owner of the caravan was a slightly plump middle-aged businessman with a loud voice. He was standing with his hands on his hips, loudly directing the men to load the goods.
"Hurry up!"
"If you can't leave at noon, don't expect me to treat you to a meal!"
"Mr. Thomas, where should we put this cargo box covered with tarpaulin?"
"In the carriage! Do I need to teach you this?!"
Luo Yan observed for a moment and confirmed the identity of the person in charge here, then walked up with a smile on his face.
"Mr. Thomas, excuse me for interrupting you, but could I take a moment of your time?"
Thomas, who was busy, turned his head and looked up and down at the young man in front of him with his shrewd eyes.
He didn't want to pay attention to him at first, but seeing that the young man was dressed simply but made of fine materials, he subconsciously restrained the rudeness in his words and spoke carefully and politely.
"Yes, yes...what can I do for you?"
"My name is Colin, an ordinary traveler. My companions and I are preparing to head south," Luo Yan introduced himself with a smile. "I saw that your caravan seemed to be going the same way, so I came to see... Would you like to chat?"
"Ah, Mr. Colin, nice to meet you! My name is Thomas... Although you may already know it, it's nice to meet you!" Thomas nodded readily, shook Colin's outstretched hand, but he didn't realize that this name had anything to do with the prince.
It seems that his caravan did not go as far as the Duchy of Campbell, and it is very likely that this was the first time he left the north to go south.
In the subsequent greetings, Luo Yan also confirmed this from his words.
Mr. Thomas used to be in the fur business, mainly traveling between various baronies in the north. It was only recently that he smelled a business opportunity and decided to switch to the clothing trade.
This was even his first business trip south.
"To be honest, sir," Thomas pointed in the direction of the camp, his smile embodying both the philistine nature of a merchant and the generosity of a Rhodesian. "It used to be freezing here, and the girls were only wrapped in rough sheepskin coats. Thanks to Sir Richter, the girls now need more beautiful dresses to serve the Holy Light."
"We're planning to go south to import some goods. I heard the textile industry there is booming lately... But we can't go empty-handed, so we're planning to pick up some local hides and minerals along the way. We can easily make a 60-70% profit on this trip."
He lowered his voice and winked.
"How's it going? Are you interested?"
He was not afraid that his business would be learned by others. Only a shop owner with only a small piece of land would keep his business secrets to himself.
Thomas knew at a glance that this delicate fellow was not someone who could endure hardship. He would definitely not be able to stand the fatigue of the journey, let alone be a traveler.
Most of these people are using their father's money to "make a living".
It is better to benefit yourself than to let others get it. At least you have a caravan and you are planning to go to the south.
However, to Thomas's surprise, just as he was thinking this, the young man in front of him smiled gently.
"What a coincidence! We are also going south. I wonder if we can join your caravan?"
"Together?" Thomas was stunned and asked subconsciously, "Are you...really going south?"
Luo Yan smiled and nodded.
"Do I look like I'm kidding?"
The smile on Thomas's face faded a little, and his shrewd eyes began to look at the master and servant in front of him calmly again.
The leader, "Mr. Colin", was elegant in speech, dignified in bearing, and handsome in appearance. He did not look like an ordinary person at all.
The female guard beside him named Sarah, although she remained silent, had an upright posture and sharp eyes, and it seemed that she was extremely powerful.
Of course, the most eye-catching thing is the one held in the arms of the female guard... uh, pet?
In short, he has traveled all over the country for more than ten years and has never seen such a noble "breed".
This master and servant, accompanied by a strange pet, looked like noble children who had sneaked out of a big city.
Although he was happy to make friends, his years of business experience told him that getting too close to such people could easily get him into trouble, and refusing would be even more likely to cause trouble.
What should I do?
Thomas couldn't help but reveal a hint of hesitation on his face.
Seeing that hesitant face, Luo Yan probably guessed what he was thinking, so he smiled.
Without saying anything more, he calmly raised his hand and hooked his index finger at the dozens of heavy cargo boxes piled up not far away.
The cargo boxes that required two or three strong men to lift were like weightless feathers, floating silently in the air.
As if directed by an invisible architect, they flew towards the not-yet-full carriage like birds returning to their nests, and stacked them up exactly and silently.
The whole process takes only a few breaths.
The caravan camp instantly fell into silence, and everyone stared at the young man in front of Thomas in amazement, their eyes filled with awe and shock.
It's not because of his miraculous magic -
But they didn't expect that the respected wizard would actually use his noble magic to fulfill the wishes of mortals?!
"Saint Sith is above..."
Thomas' jaw dropped to the ground in shock.
Looking at the hidden "Mr. Colin" in front of him, he finally realized that he almost kept a walking god out!
Magician!
This gentleman turned out to be a distinguished magician!
And looking at the way he makes light of a heavy task, his strength is definitely unfathomable!
"Sir...sir!"
Thomas's face was filled with a warm smile, and his previous hesitation was swept away.
"Look at my eyes... I'm so shortsighted I didn't realize you were a distinguished magician! Please forgive my arrogance and disrespect. It's my great honor to be able to travel with such a distinguished magician like you!"
His attitude changed 360 degrees in an instant, and the shrewdness and hesitation on his face instantly turned into ecstasy and flattery.
Don't blame him.
After all, with such a strong man traveling with you, not to mention robbers, even the legendary dragon would have to take a detour!
Luo Yan smiled gently.
"No need to be so polite, Mr. Thomas. We can just get along as usual. By the way, I need a carriage. My previous one broke down... Of course, we will pay for it."
"Pay?! Talking about money is too awkward, sir!"
Thomas's face was filled with unconcealable attentiveness and joy, and he rubbed his hands with a smile on his face.
"Don't worry, leave the carriage matters to me! I'll prepare food and drinks for you during the journey! I only have one small request..."
After showing enough courtesy, Thomas chuckled ingratiatingly and continued to speak tentatively in a low voice.
"Even though we've hired guards, there's still a chance we won't run into desperate criminals. What I mean is... if we run into any unscrupulous individuals, I hope you can lend a hand."
Sarah frowned slightly at this. She felt a little dissatisfied that a mere human would dare to use the venerable Demon King as a caravan guard.
Noticing Sarah's mood, Luo Yan signaled her with his eyes to calm down, then looked at Thomas and agreed with a smile.
"No problem, it's just a piece of cake."
He had never experienced the life of a caravan guard, which was an interesting experience for him. Moreover, caravans would often hire experienced guides to lead the way, which could save a lot of time on taking a detour.
Seeing that the Demon King agreed, Sarah instantly had no objections, just like when the Demon King decided to experience the feeling of being an adventurer.
Thomas breathed a sigh of relief, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and forced a relieved smile on his face.
"Yes, happy cooperation!"
This young man is easy to get along with, but the guards next to him are really scary.
Especially those unusual pupils, which made him think of a half-blood demon.
Although the Church has declared that those demons are also human beings, they have the blood of the devil in their veins after all, so they are not as popular with humans as orcs who have more obvious beast characteristics.
Thomas didn't know why the wizard would hire a member of a marginalized ethnic group ostracized by mainstream society, but the wizard's bad taste was not something a mere mortal like him could comment on...
The deal was done.
Most people in the caravan were delighted by this, but a few guys who were carrying the goods were gathered together and complaining unhappily.
Out of curiosity, people passing by asked a question.
"It's not good enough that someone else has done the work for you, why are you still not happy?"
The guys glared at him unhappily.
"Why are you so happy? We charge by the piece!"
"That gentleman waved his hand, and we lost several silver coins!"
"That's right! Can't these mages just stay in the Mage Tower?"
“…”
In the carriage.
Tafu looked at Luo Yan with a gloating look, and burst into laughter again, as if she was mocking herself for doing good things but not getting good reviews.
Poor guy.
To this day, the little devil still doesn't realize that the sound he makes is like the snoring of a pig.
However, Luo Yan didn't care, nor did he remind her. He just smiled faintly, then closed his eyes and went into meditation.
During this period, he has been consciously strengthening his control over magic power and exploring the mystery of the "Butterfly of All Things" in his sea of consciousness.
He believed that the gift the curator left for him was not just to facilitate his travel, but must contain other secrets.
for example--
ether.
If he could understand the existence of ether and make use of it, his mastery of supernatural powers would undoubtedly rise to a new level.
It is an existence that is closer to the essence of the universe than "source force".
After all, in the research of the spiritual field, the Solipsis, who inherited from the "Os people", advanced fifty centuries on their own timeline.
If you want to defeat Nowell, you must understand the unusualness of it.
While Luo Yan was meditating quietly, Sarah stood guarding him silently and used the prepared tea set to make him a cup of tea sprinkled with quiet snow buds.
The aroma of Quiet Snow Bud tea helps with meditation and focusing the spirit in the sea of consciousness, this is what the Demon King once told her.
Even adults may have forgotten...
Time passed quietly and the caravan finally set off.
During this time, Thomas came to the carriage once to ask for instructions, but after learning that the wizard was meditating, he respectfully withdrew.
…
The caravan traveled for a day, and before nightfall, the experienced Thomas chose a place on the leeward side of a valley to set up camp.
Dozens of carriages formed a circle, forming a makeshift fortress. Inside the fortress, several bonfires burned brightly, dispelling the surrounding darkness.
The mercenaries hired by the caravan sat in a circle around the campfire, drinking beer in big gulps and sharing the hares stolen from the lord's woods. At the same time, they boasted about their "heroic" deeds in fighting snow wolves in the snowy plains of the north. The atmosphere was very lively!
Luo Yan did not disturb their "elegant interest", but leaned leisurely against his comfortable carriage, reading quietly in the light of the campfire, as if there was an invisible barrier between him and this rough atmosphere.
The atmosphere in the camp was like a roaring fire.
Just as Tafu was salivating over the roasted hare on the campfire, there was a sudden commotion outside the camp.
Everyone instinctively grabbed their weapons, but saw a young girl in a black robe stumbling out of the darkness outside the camp.
Her clothes were disheveled, her hair was messy, and her face was full of tears and fear, like a rabbit that had been chased by hounds all night.
"God bless you," a young mercenary swallowed his saliva, muttered excitedly, his eyes eager to move.
It’s not that he had any ill intentions, but quite the opposite. After being depressed for the entire winter, he saw an opportunity to “save the beauty”.
The girl clearly needed help, and he had the power in abundance.
"Damn it..." A slightly older mercenary was not as optimistic as him, and a hint of solemnity gradually appeared in his turbid pupils.
This guy might have escaped from Miss Lina's clutches...
As if confirming his guess, the girl staggered over and cast an almost pleading look at the group.
Even though she knew that the guys in front of her might not be good people.
"Please... please... for Saint Sith's sake, take me away from here!"
"We have to help this poor guy." The young mercenary looked at his companions around him and spoke in a low voice.
The older mercenary ignored him and walked towards the caravan owner who was walking towards them.
"Something's going on."
"I know," Thomas turned his inquiring gaze towards him and continued, "What I want to ask is what happened?"
The older mercenary glanced at the woman at the edge of the camp and spoke in a low voice.
"No need to ask, they're Lina's people. You know what I mean... This woman is a problem, and our problem is that Lord Carbin's cavalry must be waiting ahead."
He didn't finish his words, but Thomas heard them clearly, and a trace of sadness appeared on his face, which was full of vicissitudes of life.
Carbin was the captain of Sir Richter's guards, and he would never allow a "sister" to escape to the neighboring territory. Not only because of the negative impact, but more importantly, it would set a bad precedent and undermine his authority in this land.
If nothing unexpected happened, this woman was either a wanted criminal or a fugitive from the lord's land. The soldiers waiting ahead would definitely stop them, and even if they didn't find her, they would definitely use this as an excuse to extort money from her.
If they didn't want to pay, they would have to turn around and go to a nearby outpost for questioning. If such a large caravan was delayed on the road for a few days, the loss would exceed the money spent on the toll.
The mercenary was hinting that the best solution was to capture the "criminal" for Lord Carbin. Otherwise, pretending not to see anything or deliberately helping her escape was not a good idea.
But when he saw the poor guy, Thomas couldn't bear to do it.
He is a devout Christian.
He could turn a blind eye to the "chaos" in the traveler's camp, but it was difficult for him to let a poor person fall into hell.
"Could it be that we're just overthinking it?" He said reluctantly, "If she really was the girl who escaped from Lina, how could she have escaped here?"
The mercenary sighed.
"Sir, I'm telling you this for the sake of the reward. I want to deliver this shipment as quickly as possible and get the remaining payment even more than you do... So, forget how she escaped here. Can we please not get ourselves into trouble?"
Thomas was silent for a moment, thinking of a compromise.
"We can take the person with us first, and then hand her over if we encounter any soldiers."
The mercenary shrugged.
"That's a good option... but if you don't want her to become alert and run away, thus getting into more trouble, I suggest you don't let her see your intention."
Although he would rather recommend tying the person up directly and waiting until he is sure that he is fine, then it is not too late to release him or make other plans.
Thomas nodded, walked around him, and came to the girl with a sad face. He watched her clear her throat and asked knowingly.
"Girl, who are you, what's your name, where are you from, and why are you crying... so sadly?"
"My name is Karen..."
The girl's shoulders trembled, her lips turned slightly pale, and she told the story of her tragic experience with evasive eyes.
According to her, there was a severe famine in her hometown and she was forced to flee her homeland because she could not survive.
This is a common reason, or excuse.
Some refugees who could not prove their status as freemen would say that they were facing famine, and this was the only reason Saint Sith gave them to leave their lord.
Otherwise, they had to prove that they were free citizens, adventurers registered in a guild, mercenaries with employment contracts, or they had a letter of introduction from the lord.
Sometimes these things don't work. After all, even in the lands directly under the empire, not all places are as civilized as the Holy City.
"Just...just give me something to eat! I can help you with the laundry, cooking, and any other chores. I don't want any money!"
Thomas looked at her silently, feeling regretful in his heart.
To be honest, her acting skills were not very good. Even if he wanted to turn a blind eye, it would be a bit difficult for him to raise the muzzle of the flintlock an inch.
The cotton robe she was reluctant to take off had already betrayed her identity. Perhaps the only true statement she made was "I've been hungry for three days and three nights."
Let Saint Sis decide everything...
If the soldiers were waiting ahead, he would have no choice but to hand her over. If not, it meant that her escape was God's will.
only……
Will the respected Saint Sith forgive these blasphemous guys?
Thomas sighed, hesitated for a while, and finally took out a piece of dry bread from his arms, broke it in half, and handed her half.
"Eat first."
He looked at the girl wolfing down her food and said in a vague and gentle tone, "We will take care of our own meals. You can... help us with the laundry if we need anything."
"Thank you, sir! You are such a good man!" The girl named Karen was so grateful that she wanted to kowtow to him on the ground.
Thomas could not afford such a generous gift, so he quickly persuaded her to stop and sit in the wagon to avoid the wind.
After settling this "uninvited guest", he happened to pass by Mr. Colin's carriage. After hesitating for a moment, he walked towards the magician who was reading a book.
"Sir, there was an accident in the camp just now. I'm sure you've seen it, but I still have to tell you... But don't worry, we will handle it and won't embarrass you."
Out of respect for his "partner", he told Colin everything that had happened, including the girl's background and his own decision.
Of course, he also concealed some things, such as the plan he and his mercenaries had made, and the fact that he could tell that the girl was lying.
Sarah could hear every sound in the camp, but her indifferent face seemed unconcerned with the joys and sorrows of mankind.
On the other hand, Lord "Dragon God", Saint Sith's former ally, showed sympathy on his face.
famine……
It's so cruel.
She couldn't imagine what famine was like, but she knew that being hungry was unpleasant. Sometimes the devil would deliberately bring back food very late, and she would have to wait hungry until dark.
Luo Yan also knew what happened.
But he didn't say anything. He just closed the book in his hand and looked at the shrewd businessman with interest.
"You knew she was trouble, so why did you take it?"
He remembered that during the day, this man had been quite hesitant towards him. If he hadn't shown his skills, he would have probably said a polite rejection.
At least I don’t look more troublesome than a “nun”, right?
Thomas smiled sheepishly, his shrewd eyes a little evasive, and he muttered something while looking at the campfire next to him.
"Sir, people are all made of flesh and blood. I can't just watch her escape from hell and fall back into it again... The lords don't care about the lives of their subjects. Even for the sake of face, she should die a thousand times."
A hint of surprise flashed in Luo Yan's eyes.
"I didn't expect you to have such noble character."
"Moral character... can't be said."
Thomas scratched his cheek with his index finger, looking a little embarrassed. He said vaguely, "Sir, don't look at me as a businessman. I also grew up reading epic poems about heroes."
Leaving this sentence, Thomas hurried away.
Sarah stared at his back, a mocking smile on her lips, and then she turned her gaze to the Demon King beside her.
The devil didn't say anything, but just opened the unfinished book and continued reading the heroic epic that was almost to the end.
Soon they would arrive at the Kingdom of Ryan.
Before entering the Kingdom of Rhodes, the first thing he did was to learn about its history. And now, he was doing the same thing.
"It seems that there are good people even in the land abandoned by the Holy Light," Taffy exclaimed sincerely, and then said shockingly, "I thought those guys who are lusting after the Holy Light would eat her!"
All she could think about was white arms and... bah, curiosity!
Although they have left the traveler camp for dozens of miles, it is obvious that the soul of this arrogant and repressed Lord Dragon God has not yet left there.
Glancing at the dragon face that was not simple yet simple, Luo Yan smiled meaningfully and turned the page.
"That's hard to say."
(End of this chapter)
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