Chapter 41 " A Cargo Secret "

  The wagon rolled along a narrow dirt path, its wooden wheels bumping gently over the uneven ground. Tall trees stood on either side, their trunks covered in moss, while thick green ferns and wildflowers grew along the edges. Sunlight streamed through the leaves, casting shifting patterns of light and shadow on the trail. Large rocks, softened by creeping vines, peeked out from the grass. The scent of earth and pine filled the air as hoofbeats echoed through the silent forest.

  I scanned my surroundings, searching for the bandits' ambush site. In the daylight, the forest looked different—unfamiliar. That night, darkness had cloaked everything, making it hard to recall exact landmarks. Still, I pressed on.

  After wandering for hours, I finally came across three large rocks arranged in an odd formation—almost like a tomb. I took a closer look, and then it hit me. This was it—the very place where we had fought the bandits. As I recalled, three adventurers had fallen in battle here, and these must be their graves. Not far from them, I spotted a patch of disturbed earth, as if something had been hastily buried. This was likely where the bodies of the bandits had been discarded—without even a tombstone to mark their passing.

  To the right, where we had chased the fleeing bandits, I decided to take precautions. I unhitched my horse from the wagon and needed to hide it from any travelers using this path. I maneuvered it near the roadside and carefully concealed it with branches, ensuring it was well hidden. Once satisfied, I set off into the forest, leading my horse by the reins. I placed empty barrels on either side of the horse, making it look like I was merely transporting goods.

  The late afternoon sun was already sinking toward the horizon. Time was running out—I needed to reach the bandits' hideout before nightfall.

  Then, I saw it. A towering, ancient tree stood before me, its sprawling roots twisted like the limbs of some old, slumbering beast. At its massive base yawned a dark opening. This was it.

  I stepped inside the narrow cave and secured my horse. The air was thick with dampness and decay. Using a dragon magic stone to illuminate my path, I ventured deeper into the cavern.

  The stench hit me first—overwhelming, putrid. Then, I saw it. The decaying corpse of the bandit we had chased. His body was rotting, the flesh peeling from bone, and the sight nearly made me gag. I covered my nose and forced myself to move past it.

  At last, I reached the heart of the cave.

  Before me lay a treasure trove beyond imagination. Overflowing chests brimmed with gold bars, gemstones, and ornate jewelry. Intricate necklaces and rings spilled from their containers, their gems shimmering in hues of blue and silver. Gold coins and precious stones were scattered across the cave floor, glistening under the glow of my magic stone. Among them rested aged books. The treasures remained exactly as I remembered when Van and I first discovered them, meaning no one had been here since.

  I used a horse to transport the treasure faster. By the time I moved the last batch of gold bars, night had already fallen.

  After placing the bars beside the wagon, I pushed it to the roadside and hitched the horse to it. Carefully, I loaded the treasure one by one, then covered it with sacks of vegetables and potatoes to conceal it. Just as I was about to place the last sack, the sound of approaching hooves echoed through the night, accompanied by the glow of a lantern. Travelers.

  I quickly threw the sack over the pile, ensuring the treasure was well hidden. Moments later, they arrived.

  Their covered wagon, pulled by two sturdy chestnut horses, creaked along the dusty trail. The wooden frame bore large spoked wheels and a canvas cover, sheltering the cargo within. Two cloaked men sat at the front, guiding the reins. Behind them, two more wagons trailed along.

  One of the men spoke first. "Hey, is there a problem?" His voice carried concern.

  "Yeah, my wagon’s wheel had an issue, so I had to replace it," I replied smoothly. Since arriving in this world, lying had become second nature to me.

  "Need a hand?" he asked.

  "No, I just finished when you arrived."

  He nodded. "I see. Are you heading to Fromel Port?"

  "Yeah, I am."

  "Then why don’t you come with us? We’re heading there too. This area used to be notorious for bandit attacks. They were wiped out about a month ago, but we’re not sure how safe the roads are now. Honestly, if we weren’t in a hurry, we wouldn’t have taken this route."

  Traveling in numbers was always safer, especially at night. "I’ll accept your invitation," I said.

  I climbed onto the front of my wagon, took the reins, and guided my horse forward, following their convoy.

  After several hours, we reached Fromel Port. It was already evening, but there were still many people at the port. It wasn’t as crowded as during the day, though. The lanterns, powered by magic stones, kept the area brightly lit.

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  One of the men leading the convoy that had invited me to join them approached me again and said, "Where are you heading from here? Oh, by the way, I’m Jude."

  "I’m Caelan," I replied. "I’m headed to Liras City."

  "We’re going there too. Want to travel with us again?"

  "Sure, but we’ll need to find a ship."

  Jude smirked. "No worries, we know these ships well."

  He spotted a familiar face—a bulky, bald man standing by the dock. "Hey, Pete! Still got space on your ship? You’re heading to Liras City, right?"

  Pete eyed us before grunting, "Three gold coins per wagon."

  Jude scoffed. "What? That’s a rip-off!"

  Pete folded his arms. "No, it’s not. I know you. Your wagons are loaded, which makes them heavy. That’s a fair price."

  Jude let out a sigh, then turned to me. "Do you have enough for yours? We could look for something cheaper."

  "I can pay. I need to leave right away," I said.

  "Alright then."

  We boarded the ship, the heavy scent of livestock thick in the air. Cattle shifted restlessly in their pens, their low, rhythmic grunts blending with the creak of wooden planks beneath our feet. The salty breeze from the sea did little to mask the earthy odor. As soon as the last wagon was secured, the ship groaned and lurched forward, cutting through the waves toward Liras City.

  "If anyone's sleepy, you can use the crew cabin," Pete said, his voice gruff but casual. Without waiting for a response, he disappeared into the ship’s interior.

  I longed to sleep, but unease settled in my chest like a weight. If a crew member checked my wagon, they'd discover what I was truly transporting. Yet, standing too close, watching over it like a hawk, would only make me look suspicious.

  Jude and his companion took Pete’s offer and disappeared into the cabin. I followed, but sleep never came. The wooden walls felt too thin, the ship’s constant sway too unpredictable. I lay awake, listening to the rhythmic crash of waves against the hull, my mind racing with every possible scenario of discovery.

  Before dawn, the ship reached Liras City. The skyline loomed ahead—stone towers and timber-framed buildings mere silhouettes against the deep indigo sky. The air was crisp with the scent of damp wood and distant spices from the marketplace.

  We prepared to disembark. My fingers tightened around the reins as I led my horse forward, feeling the slight resistance of the wagon it pulled behind. The ship was docked, its sturdy gangplank extending from the cargo hold to the cobblestone pier. A horse-drawn wagon, laden with sacks of goods, was already making its way down ahead of me, its horse stepping carefully onto solid ground.

  I urged my own horse onto the gangplank, guiding it slowly down the sloped wooden planks. The wagon’s wheels groaned against the weight, rattling over the uneven wood. Cold air nipped at my face despite the warmth of my cloak, and though I kept my expression composed, my heart pounded. If the guards decided to inspect my cargo, it would be a disaster—not just for me, but for Arthur’s family as well.

  I was taking a risk by using their family emblem. If caught, I’d claim I stole it—take all the blame myself. But with luck, the emblem alone would be enough to grant me safe passage. Business shipments from established merchants in Liras City were rarely scrutinized. I just had to hope that pattern held true today.

  At the port, guards stood in formation, their sharp eyes scanning each arriving vessel. The faint glow of lanterns reflected off their polished armor in the pre-dawn darkness. One of them stepped forward, his stance firm as he blocked my path.

  "This ship came from Fromel Port, transporting cattle, correct?" His gaze flicked to my wagon. "What’s inside?"

  I didn’t answer right away. Instead, I reached into my cloak and pulled out a well-worn but carefully preserved emblem—Arthur’s business family crest.

  The guard took it, studying the engraving with a discerning eye. "Craftwoods Furniture," he muttered, recognizing the name. "What do they trade in?"

  Before I could respond, a sudden commotion erupted behind me.

  A deep, panicked bellow tore through the air as one of the cattle broke loose, its massive frame slamming into the wooden railing. Crew members shouted, scrambling to restrain the beast as it bucked and thrashed. The guards’ attention snapped toward the chaos.

  "You two, help the crew!" one of them barked.

  Another hesitated, casting a glance back at me. "What about him? Shouldn’t we check his cargo?"

  The first guard barely spared me a second look. "No need. That’s Craftwoods Furniture—an established business in Liras City. It’s just one wagon. Hardly worth the trouble."

  With that, they rushed off to contain the frenzied animal.

  The remaining guard handed back my emblem. "You can go."

  I took it smoothly, inclining my head. "Thank you."

  Keeping my movements measured, I led the horse past the checkpoint, guiding it a short distance away. Only once I was clear of the guards did I step onto the wagon and take my seat. Gripping the reins, I gave a slight flick, urging the horse forward. The wheels rolled smoothly over the cobblestone street, merging with the quiet rhythm of the slumbering city.

  The streets lay in darkness, veiled in the last whispers of night. The cold air clung to the stone, and the market stalls remained shuttered, their awnings still in the absence of wind. A few figures moved in the gloom, their breath curling like mist in the pre-dawn chill. Now was the perfect time to move unseen.

  At last, I reached the house I was renting. The building loomed before me, its weathered wooden beams and rough stone walls unchanged from when I last left them. Small, latticed windows lined the fa?ade, their wooden frames darkened with age. I reined in the horse and slowed the wagon to a stop before climbing down, boots thudding softly against the uneven cobblestone street.

  The door creaked open, releasing the stale scent of dust and aged wood. Inside, the space remained untouched, empty except for a wooden table and a few chairs shrouded in shadow. Without wasting a second, I moved to unload my cargo.

  I didn’t bother to organize it—there was no time for that. Instead, I hauled the treasure inside, carrying load after load as quickly as possible. Right now, nothing mattered except getting it hidden before the first light of day fully touched the city.