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-He committed suicide!-

-Is Glain taking over then?-

-It might be an assassination.-

-No. Maids saw him jumping off from the window.-

-Yeah, they saw him dropping in front of them.-

Rumors spread like the plague after Meletoba died. There was no speculation of an assassination because of the circumstances and the kingdom was bustling with the news. Marquis Donian himself moved to prepare the funeral and the other nobles joined in. The merchant group, on the other hand, was busy deciding on the successor.

-Glain was injured by the assassin!-

Rumors that Glain, who was most likely appointed to be the new leader, getting injured spread quickly. A lot of guards were killed every day and rumors of people dying because of it spread. Lots of stories were probably made up, but some had truths in them.

The Black Brotherhood began to change also. The mercenaries who had been gathering were mobilized to guard Glain and the rumors of them being up to something dissipated quickly.

Joonbum, who had been monitoring all the rumors, left the capital and headed back to Count Khalodian’s lands.

*

“All I did at the capital was learn how to cook!”

“I only washed dishes! I never want to return.”

Daryl and Louise ranted about their experience from behind Joonbum as he grinned.

‘They’re a lot better now.’

The short period of Spartan training had some results as they were now able to cook a lot better.

Daryl used a stick to find Goram, a potato-like vegetable, from within the fire and took it out. Louise prepared a stew. It was much better to eat than what they used to make before.

“It’s nice.”

“Really?”

They expressed joy at the compliment. Suddenly, Joonbum looked away.

“A guest is coming.”

“Guest?”

Daryl rose and looked out toward the road. Louise put his hand on his sword on the ground.

‘Merchant?’

“Sir, they’re merchants.”

A group of people and carriages were closing in.

“What should we do?”

Joonbum thought quickly.

‘Mercenary or knight? Let’s go with knight.’

There was no more danger as they were out of the capital and being a knight wouldn’t raise any suspicions.

“Joonbum Christos. You two are my servants.”

“Yes, sir!”

Both answered quickly, and they quickly adapted to changing their statuses.

Soon, five mercenaries closed in, riding their horses. One dismounted and took off his weapon before he walked up to them.

“Excuse me. I am Henderson, a mercenary guarding the Ress Merchant Group. We are trying to camp nearby, would you mind us doing that?”

“I am Daryl, a servant of Sir Joonbum Christos. That will be okay.”

Daryl answered and Henderson glanced over to where Louise and Joonbum were.

“Thank you.”

Henderson returned to his group and about thirty carriages began parking in a circle to set up camp. The horses were placed inside and several bonfires were started.

“Set up a perimeter with the carriages.”

It was done to prevent ambushes. Men began preparing dinner as others reinforced the wall made by the carriages.

‘That’s pretty large.’

There were a lot of people in the group. There seemed to be about three merchants, sixty workers, and thirty mercenaries.

Darkness fell and the smell of food filled the area.

“Someone is coming.”

Joonbum was about to eat when Daryl pointed it out.

‘They must be coming to greet us.’

They knew Joonbum was a noble, so they had to come. Joonbum didn’t like it, but it had to happen.

“Excuse me. I am Ress Bidin, the owner of the Ress Merchant Group. Thank you for allowing us to stay here.”

A young man came up, bowing to Joonbum. He was decorated all over with jewelry and had blue eyes that showed his eagerness.

‘He is a noble.’

He looked like a noble that had not been granted any land and became a merchant, like many others.

“You’re welcome. I am Joonbum Christos.”

Ress bowed politely.

“Haha. Oh, this is a present in honor of our meeting.”

Ress signaled his servant and the servant presented a small wooden box filled with good quality tea leaves. Daryl came up to receive the box.

‘Hmm. I guess I have no choice.’

Joonbum hesitated before asking Ress, “Would you want to join us for dinner?”

“Sure, if you so permit.”

“Come this way please.”

Ress laughed as Joonbum asked, but Daryl and Louise frowned as they bowed, standing up from their seats.

‘Most would refuse.’

Ress began speaking on different subjects so time didn’t pass as awkwardly as Joonbum expected. He described his experiences as a merchant and Joonbum listened with interest. After a while, Ress asked about Joonbum.

“So, where are you heading to? We are going to the Khaloda Village of Count Khalodian.”

“Khaloda Village? We’re going there too.”

Ress clapped his hands at Joonbum’s words.

“OH! Nice. How about you come with us?”

Joonbum hesitated as Ress continued, “The roads are supposed to be safe but I have my doubts. It’s my first time traveling this far outside the capital. I will pay you handsomely if you travel with us.”

‘Something’s up with him,’ Joonbum thought. It was a big group and he had thirty mercenaries with him. There was not much to fear.

‘Something’s off.’

The total number of men in his group was about ninety. Seventy of them were young enough to fight.

‘What am I missing?’

Joonbum was still hesitating as Ress spoke again.

“The roads have become dangerous. I figured it would be safer to travel together.”

“Dangerous? What do you mean?”

Joonbum frowned as Ress began to explain.

“Oh, I’m not sure if you already know, but there has been a lot of things happening in Khaloda Village. A noble from some place called the Daehan Empire visited with some fascinating dishes and a fire starter. The beer that the Ainos brought were big issues too. Also, the news of the Donian losing their exclusive trading rights with the Ainos has spread amongst the kingdom. Everyone is on their way to the Khaloda so they can get a share of the opportunities there.”

Ress stopped to catch his breath.

“It has resulted in an increase of thieves targeting smaller merchant groups like us. I heard the Jorson Merchant Group was attacked a while ago and about seventy of their men died. All of the nobles involved in the land and the merchant groups are frantic, putting bounties on the heads of the thieves and all that.”

Ress stopped again and drank some water.

“Not only that, there are thieves from Mount Bretta and Mount Argon going after merchants. That is the only route that merchants from the west can take to get to Khaloda Village. So small merchant groups are having a hard time passing through.”

‘I should join them.’

Joonbum was getting ready to decline the offer, but he changed his mind. All the areas that Ress noted were lands that he had to pass to return. The roaming thieves roaming were not to be ignored and the heightened security would require Joonbum to reveal his real status. But that also meant that it would require a formal invitation from the noble of the land.

His name was already famous among the nobles of Toria Kingdom because of the dishes he traded in the village. It was gaining extreme popularity, and the nobles were begging merchants to get their hands on them.