Published: July 3, 2025
Two days after the assault by the monster and the five people.
The merchant caravan proceeded along the Old Highway without incident and arrived at the second city of the eastern region, Slanzewi.
If the Roh Bridge was intact, they should have reached the City of Run in two days via the Eastern Highway, but due to detouring through the Old Highway, it took them six days.
As it had been a long time since they had stayed in a large city, the entire caravan checked into an inn where they could all stay.
That inn was the Ruby Pavilion, which served as a regular lodging for the Gecko merchant group in Slanzewi.
"It’s been a while since we’ve stayed at an inn. Please take your time to rest. Oh, you can eat whatever you like in the dining hall on the first floor. The cost of meals here will be covered by our shop."
Upon hearing Gecko's words, Ryo and the members of "Switchback" couldn't help but cheer.
Basically, this trip was non-stop to the Capital City of Aberdeen.
Of course, they would stay at inns in the cities, but they had no intention of conducting trading or sales during their stops.
The highest priority was to deliver the items they already had to the capital as quickly as possible.
Therefore, even if they stayed in a city, it was communicated to them from the start by Gecko that it would only be for one night.
Ryo felt a desire to sightsee since it was almost his first time in a city, but he understood it was unavoidable due to the request.
He rationalized that he could explore various places on the way back to the City of Run from Aberdeen.
However, not all c rank swordsmen were able to rationalize like that.
Ra had tried to sneak out of the inn but was caught and brought back by the scout, Sue.
What on earth was he trying to do… Ryo had no way of knowing…
However, Ra would later come to be thankful for being brought back at that time.
In the outskirts of Slanzewi.
There was a group of about ten people dressed in black.
"Lord Shaafi, urgent message from headquarters."
One of the men in black respectfully handed over a letter.
"What? At this timing?"
The man called Shaafi frowned as he received the urgent message and read it.
He then let out a small groan.
"Seriously. Those fools at headquarters. It can't be helped. Change the third target. Assassinate the merchant Gecko, who is staying at the Ruby Pavilion. Methods are not questioned. The destruction of the Noble District, which was the third target, will be made the fourth target. The fourth target will be taken up by the unit that finishes the first to third targets quickly. That's all."
"Understood."
They all remembered the faces of the people near the central government of various countries.
Gecko was the merchant for the Duchy of Inberri and was the civilian closest to the Duke of Inberri.
Therefore, his face had already been memorized.
At two-thirty in the morning, during the witching hour when even the grass and trees were asleep.
Ryo suddenly awoke to a loud roar.
"An earthquake?"
But he remembered that he hadn't experienced an earthquake since coming to "Fai."
For now, he changed from his inn pajamas into his usual clothes, slipped two knives into his belt, threw on a robe, and opened the window to look outside.
In his line of sight, a large building was engulfed in flames.
"Wasn't that the Lord's Manor?"
An unsettling atmosphere.
He dashed out of the room and raced up the stairs.
On the floor above, Gecko and his subordinates, as well as half of Max's guard squad, were staying.
When Ryo reached the upper floor, Max was standing in the hallway giving instructions.
"Max!"
"Ryo. I’m relying on you to protect Gecko and the others."
It seemed Ryo had gained Max's complete trust when it came to protection.
In the largest room at the far end, Gecko and his subordinates were gathered.
Considering they had already changed clothes, one could say they were acting quite swiftly.
"Oh, Ryo. It seems something serious is happening outside."
"Yes. I saw the Lord's Manor burning from the window."
"What!?"
Gecko was shocked by Ryo's report.