Chapter 13 Run Fast!

The campfire was extinguished?

This was no laughing matter!

The guards left at the campsite, though not rangers from any legendary tales, still possessed basic professional knowledge.

It was utterly impossible for the campfire to be extinguished at this time of night!

Could it be that these people had conspired to take off with the goods from the wagon?

Or had the residents of Black Mountain transformed into highway robbers and dealt with those guards?

Or had some sudden incident occurred, causing the campfire to be accidentally extinguished?

In an instant, various speculations flooded Ronald's mind.

But the campsite was far too distant, obscured by the dark and gloomy air, making it impossible to see even a silhouette, let alone verify the situation immediately.

So—

What exactly was going on?

Just as Ronald's pupils constricted and unease began to stir within him.

Nade, walking alongside him, clearly sensed something as well and subsequently glance back following Ronald's gaze.

Click—

In a moment, a slight metallic snapping sound emanated from Nade's hand.

Noticing the situation behind, this merchant's face might have remained expressionless, but his suddenly forceful fingers snapped the handle of the lantern!

"..."

Yes, this guy had noticed it too.

Walking side by side, Ronald, alert as he was, had no reason to miss that.

So amidst the silence.

Ronald and Nade exchanged a few seconds of intense eye contact before tacitly shifting their gazes forward.

As if nothing had happened.

However, both of them were well aware of the issue at hand.

—Going back to check the campsite was impossible.

The campsite, guarded by professional escorts, turning dark instantaneously without any forewarning—this was not a situation a few merchants could handle.

—Signaling to their companions was also out of the question.

Such an action would surely throw ordinary people into panic. Once the group was thrown into disarray, it would clearly serve as a warning to any potential 'dangers' nearby that they had been spotted, thus provoking a direct attack from the enemy.

Going back was not an option, nor was alerting their companions.

So, how should they address the problem?

In the ensuing silence, Ronald and Nade began to contemplate their next moves, while those ahead remained oblivious.

Aside from complaints about the difficult mountain road at night, their main conversation still revolved around whether Gai En could sell the fruit.

"..."

A few breaths later, having advanced about ten meters, Nade, holding his lantern, seemingly struck up a casual conversation with Ronald:

"Mr. Ronald, as a noble such as yourself, do you enjoy hunting?"

"I've heard that many nobles have now replaced the traditional bow and arrow with firearms for hunting."

"..."

Before responding, Ronald carefully observed Nade's expression.

Under the lantern light, the merchant's steel-blue pupils swayed, yet the spark within them was compact and profound. His upper eyelid was raised higher than usual, accentuating his current state of alertness.

Nade was very serious when he uttered that sentence!

He wasn't speaking just for the sake of casual conversation or to lull any surrounding dangers, but rather he was communicating intelligence and discussing their next steps with him!

"As for me, I've never used such novelties as firearms."

"Those are luxuries only the great nobles in the city can enjoy."

"Moreover, if we're talking about hunting, that's a memory from when my father was still alive. After his independence, I've had no such opportunities."

After answering Nade's question, Ronald also made sure to inquire with an equally serious look:

"Mr. Nade, do you ask this because you're fond of hunting?"

Exchanging glances, the merchant confirmed that Ronald had understood his thoughts.

Then, gradually, his expression softened, and he began to pay more attention to what lay ahead.

As if truly making idle talk, Nade responded:

"A merchant like me has even less leisure time than you nobles."

"I just brought some goods for hunting this time."

Saying this, Nade paused briefly before continuing:

"Ah, right!"

"I still remember this one time when I was traveling, I happened to encounter some nobles going on a hunt. I'll never forget that scene in my lifetime."

"Were you lucky enough to join them...?"

"Join?" Hearing Ronald's question, Nade shook his head regretfully, "I ran away at that time. Otherwise, getting tangled up with those guards and knights would have cost me two or three months' profits."

"I see..."

"Indeed, there was nothing else to do but run."

"Isn't it?"

"..."

After a brief exchange, Ronald and Nade had swapped the information they needed and laid out the next steps of their plan.

As for the content, it could be summed up in one word.

— Escape.

In reality, during the conversation.

Using hunting as a metaphor for the crisis they now faced, Nade spoke first, asking Ronald if he could fight and if he had encountered such situations before.

Ronald's answer was that he lacked combat experience and questioned the other's capabilities.

Unfortunately.

Nade mentioned that he carried a weapon, but admitted he was not much of a fighter.

That's why, in the end, he suggested fleeing.

— Then came the way to escape.

Firstly, turning back down the mountain was impossible; the extinguished campfire behind them spoke volumes of danger.

Charging into it was akin to courting death.

Thus, only two options remained.

Run into the mountains, using the terrain to try to escape, the extinguished lanterns offering natural protection in the dark;

Or speed up and seek help in the town on Black Mountain.

Though the town might pose dangers, according to Thomson who had been here before, the residents of Black Mountain were not particularly dangerous people.

With these considerations in mind, Ronald was actually more inclined to head into the mountains.

Even though Thomson, who had been to Black Mountain, found the town to be agreeable and believed the residents were straightforward during casual chats.

But one problem could not be ignored—

Just recently, they encountered a road destroyed by rain three days ago, which had not been repaired.

For a remote town like this, it was ridiculous that an important road was ignored.

This town in Black Mountain did not seem like a safe place.

Therefore, rather than relying on a merchant's experience, Ronald trusted his own judgments more.

The night air was heavy with dense clouds, and the small group quivered in the darkness, aided only by the three lanterns they had.

Especially at the back of the group.

Having already sensed the danger, the darkness around seemed to be lurking with hazards everywhere, as if predatory beasts ready to pounce at any moment!

The light provided by the lanterns was too meager to sustain any peace of mind.

Suddenly, someone among the merchants ahead shouted loudly, his voice tinged with confusion and a hint of panic:

"What is that up ahead?"

"Gai En, be careful!"

"What did you say..."

"Ah!"

After a scream, silence fell over the group.

Just a short distance down the road, Gai En, who was at the forefront carrying a crate of fruit, saw the end of the road.

The expected town had vanished without a trace.

In its place—

was a dark, roiling fog, deeper than the darkest night.

It was bottomless and topless.

The twisting, thick darkness was slowly creeping forward, fermenting eerie things within this dense fog, and the surrounding pitch black, like a desert devouring the land, brought despair.

This was a hint from their biological instincts.

It was dangerous!

Crack—

The fruit crate in Gai En's arms fell to the ground, scattering yellow fruits everywhere.

"I...I..."

"Run!"