Chapter 62 - 24: [Imperial Military and Norman Passat]

Chapter 62: Chapter 24: [Imperial Military and Norman Passat]

Sunlight shone through the floating dust of the Kana Plain. On the horizon, the churning dirt looked like rolling golden-brown waves.

A covered wagon pulled by two fine horses burst out from the waves of dust. The horses wore ragged dust-filtering muzzles over their snouts—a necessity for long-distance travel on the Kana Plain. Every hoofprint left behind bore the crest of the Ederic Empire: the Iron Crown forged from five sharp swords.

Samael and Talia sat in the wagon, squeezed among a pile of looted grain. They leaned against a large iron chest containing pouches of Divine Era Ancient Coins, poking their heads out from the back of the wagon to study the hoofprints between the wheel ruts.

Samael pondered the information Talia had shared earlier, wondering why the Empire’s warhorses would appear in a bandit camp. However, Assassin Elliot of the Randall Squad was riding in the same wagon, making it inconvenient for the two of them to openly discuss the matter.

The wagon gradually slowed down. Before they knew it, the gates of Luojie City were right in front of them.

There were too many adventurers and merchant caravans coming and going at the city gates. Driving the wagon, Randall and Glad pulled tight on the reins, slowing their pace to avoid crashing into other carriages.

"Uncle Robin, Uncle Carlisle, good morning!" As the wagon passed through the gates, Randall habitually greeted the two Alliance Guards stationed at the entrance.

"Good morning, you brat! You’re finally back!" Guard One raised a hand in response. "Arms and legs still attached? Everyone alive?"

"Good morning..." Guard Two replied absentmindedly. He suddenly stopped mid-sentence, his expression complicated, as if he had just seen something unspeakable. He abruptly raised his spear, blocking Randall’s covered wagon.

"You, get down," he growled. "Come with us for a second."

"What’s wrong? What’s gotten into you..." Guard One stepped forward to stop Guard Two, but suddenly caught sight of the item hanging at Randall’s waist.

A Longsword, entirely blood-red, with a curved, barbed tip.

A complicated look crossed his face. For a split second, he looked panicked, but then he placed a firm hand on Guard Two’s shoulder.

"Let’s ask him clearly first. Don’t accuse the wrong person." Gripping Guard Two’s shoulder, Guard One pulled the spear back. "Randall, come with us for a second," he added, beckoning to Randall with a pensive look.

"Uh... We need to go hand in our quest first. Can you wait until I go to the Alliance Hall to..." Randall, caught off guard, hesitated.

"Cut the damn crap and get down here!" Guard Two roared uncharacteristically. "Tell your teammates to hand in the quest. You, come here!"

Randall gulped and turned his head to look at Eliot, Samael, and Talia inside the wagon.

"I’ll drive the wagon, Randall," Samael offered, stepping forward to take the reins. "It’s not far to the entrance of the hall. We’ll be there in no time."

"Ah... alright. Thank you, Samo Cultivator." Randall handed the reins to Samael and hesitantly jogged toward the two guards.

"We’ll talk inside the watchtower," Guard Two said with a dark expression.

The two guards grabbed him by the shoulders. Half-dragging and half-escorting him, they hauled him into a rough, white stone bunker shaped like a fortress, connected to the city wall.

The members of the Randall Squad looked at each other in dismay.

"I’m the vice-captain, so listen to my orders for now. We’ll head to the Alliance Hall first to report and submit the quest." Eliot let out a dry cough. "Once we hand in the quest, claim the bounty, and sell off the loot, we can figure out the rest. Let’s not block the gate; other adventurers and caravans still need to pass through."

Samael wondered if there was something special about that Blood Steel Longsword. He thoughtfully watched Randall’s back as he was flanked by the two Alliance Guards, disappearing into the dim doorway of the watchtower.

He wondered if he shouldn’t have given the Magic Sword to Randall so easily, especially if it was only going to cause trouble. Hesitating, he flicked the reins, unable to suppress a twinge of regret.

SLAM! The heavy door slammed shut. The two guards stood in the dim room, staring at a bewildered Randall.

Spears and Crossbow Arrows were scattered around the watchtower. An armor stand sat in a corner, surrounded by a mishmash of empty wine bottles and lunch boxes. Hanging on the wall was a dark blue tapestry bearing the Alliance’s golden giant eye and iron-cast hands, along with a crude map of the Kana Plain and a guard duty roster.

A low table and several old chairs sat in the cramped room. On the table were a teapot and chipped iron cups—since the Alliance stronghold was located in the Barren Land, the journey was long and treacherous. Transporting goods from the habitable zone required a grueling trek, making fragile items like pottery difficult to move. As a result, cups and bowls were usually wooden or iron.

However, the iron cups on the table were very old and bore chipped marks from sword strikes, clearly having been used on the battlefield.

The two guards remained silent, staring at the restless Randall.

"Run. Right now," Guard Two suddenly said. "We won’t leak your whereabouts—don’t harbor any illusions, and don’t expect the Imperial Army not to investigate. You have no idea how terrifying they are..."

"Carlisle!" Guard One interrupted. "We are Alliance Guards! We are the Alliance’s law enforcers! Rules are rules, and we cannot condone this! Ask him clearly first! If Randall really made a mistake, then he must pay the price for his actions. If he didn’t..."

Suddenly, Guard Two raised his spear, pressing the shaft flush against Guard One’s neck!

"What the hell is wrong with you now!" Guard One cursed.

"Run! Randall! Run! I’ve got Robin pinned!" he growled. "Whatever you do, don’t show that damn sword in front of any other Imperial Soldiers or Alliance Guards! Run!"