Bandits.

"What are you saying? A rough start?"

Octavius nodded solemnly.

"These merchants are seeking refuge with an independent organization that works for its own interests. I've heard rumors about some of them."

He explained about them being mostly mercenary guilds that took up random tasks and earned their living.

"They're not considered as part of a land. They have their own rules and work only for their own benefits. They're not so honored like those legal organizations recognized by the ruler of the nation. And most of them are former criminals. They don't really honor oaths."

"Not everyone is like you." Cornelius shrugged.

"Hey listen here!"

He felt his face hot with frustration and embarrassment.

He was too upright and committed.

Darius had returned back with their meals.

It was bird roast with potatoes and beer.

"Sorry but we can't drink."

Both of them refused beer or alcohol.

Darius gladly chugged down their share of beer.

When he sipped some water he suddenly felt a sharp gaze aimed at him.

He looked up around the dining hall.

Several tables were now occupied. At each table there sat individuals wearing green cloaks.

"To think that we were followed till here." He grinned.

"Makes things easier. Let them do so." Octavius murmured.

"What! Are you insane?" He subconsciously raised his voice.

People glowered at him making things awkward for them.

"I wouldn't rIse my voice in this place if I were you." Darius coughed and stood up.

"Now fellas we're done eating for today so why not go rest?"

"Great idea!"

"Wait! I remembered we need to buy some rations to stock up for our next journey."

Octavius interrupted them and dragged Cornelius out of the hall.

"We'll come back soon! If something happens inform the headquarters."

They left the inn and nearly drunken Darius and strolled down streets.

After walking a few miles around in circles, Cornelius had enough of strolling aimlessly.

"Can we just go in and sleep already?"

Octavius was tired of his constant complaining.

He inhaled deeply and stopped near a down alley. He could see that prostitutes were busy entertaining their clients earning a silver coin for their service.

One silver was enough to get them by for a month.

"Now I'm convinced that you've become insane." Cornelius rebuked.

He was no longer shocked by his behavior.

"Get down." He threw two knives at him.

He instinctively ducked on the cobblestone road. A thud behind him made him leap away from that place.

"Are you planning on killing me?"

He ignored Cornelius and charged at the hooded individuals with his blade.

One of them cut him off by crossing a sickle knife with him. He was the same man Cornelius had encountered I'm the bazaar.

"We know where you travel. We shall wait on you till Zhonguo's northern borders. Make a deal there with us or be killed."

"And why should we make a deal with you?"

Octavius trusted his blade and was able to put a scratch on him.

He backed away instinctively and ended his words abruptly that neither could understand.

"Etihad ya Begangi."

Cornelius took out a mechanic dragonfly that glowed blue with his core energy.

"Follow them."

He ordered the creation and it flew away in the direction that the hooded individuals disappeared to.

"Etihad ya Begangi." He repeatedly mouthed the words trying to figure out the meaning behind strange words.

"They didn't seem like alley way looters."

Cornelius said.

"Indeed." He agreed.

"They're more disciplined." He felt something egging him about those strangers.

"We'll have to secure alternative routes for our backup." He sighed.

"Then let's do it before the sun dawns upon us."

Octavius consented to his suggestion.

"The earlier the better."

-"Though there is no knowing if they appear at the branch of Blue Van. At this rate we will have to reconsider passing through Mayan Islands. A waste of another month."

They retired back to the inn thinking of various ways to counter their persuers.

The next day before the sun dawned they ensured the routes with Darius to trick the odd men off their tails.

They set off on their garrons when the first light shine upon the dark world.

Darius guided them to the borders of Achaemenid. He sent them off with careful guidance with map and reassured them that upon reaching the capital they only needed to ask for Blue Van traders and show them their seal.

They crossed a part of desert that was a part of Kemetian borders. Then landed upon the hills surrounded by mist using the astronomical compass.

It took them a day and another half just to cross through the range due to thick fog.

"How long will it take us to reach the capital?"

" I can't say anything about it." Cornelius became concerned when the compass needled deviated completely from the desired direction.

" Another one of your ridiculous inventions." He sighed.

"Shut up!" He rebuked annoyed.

"There must be something wrong around here."

"I'm going to leave you behind."

Octavius galloped off with Cornelius catching up to him in a haste.

"Hey wait up! Don't you know such places also pose danger?"

"Hmm~? Like what?" Octavius scoffed.

"Road bandits. Are you only muscle in your head?"

"Says the man who didn't even know basic Kemetit."

"If it weren't for my inventions we couldn't have gotten till here!"

Their voices echoed in the secluded valley.

They suddenly stopped when Octavius stopped him from further rash argument.

"Something is approaching." He looked around.

The valley felt silent. The wind stopped blowing. The mist became thicker.

They were in the heart of the valley.

They both felt danger lurking around the trees.

"Bandits." Cornelius muttered.

"Around thirty men from west and south. Make haste. Do not stop."

They picked pace to quickly get out of the dangerous place.

"Watch out!" Cornelius shouted out.

Octavius barely got his garron to stop when the arrow glided close to his face scraping his cheek.

"Move faster!"

Cornelius galloped past him making his garron speed up on the rocky path.

This time more arrows showered from the blanket of mist.

"Take the forest!" Octavius called out to him.

"That would deviate us from our path."

"Just do it if we want to come out alive."

Without giving it another thought they steered their garrons into the lush green forest.

"Don't follow them!" The bandit halted and commanded his underlings to retreat.

"But boss!" One of them insisted to persue them got his neck blown from his body.

"That's the forbidden forest you fool! Unless any one of you wants to be trapped for the rest of your lives. Feel free to go after them."

The rest of them followed him back without a fight leaving the dead body to rot near the forest floor.