Under the stars at midnight, a strange caravan halted in a wilderness on the road to Crimson Castle and camped in an orderly manner, ready to survive the moonless night.

Although Byrne in the south is already one of the richest territories in the empire, there are still a large number of thieves and mutated monsters in the wilderness and dense forests, and the journey at night is no different from suicide, and even the most prosperous Red Blood Fortress does not have large and small inns for pedestrians to rest and stay on every stretch of road, and occasionally sleep in the wilderness.

It's just that... There are just too many of them.

Around the brightly lit camp, you can see heavily armed, taciturn wandering knights patrolling around, loose but very orderly formation, which is enough to prove that each of them is an elite of ten.

In the wilderness outside the camp, there are also a pair of eyes lurking in the darkness to act as scouts, ensuring that the surrounding area can be alerted to the camp if something unexpected happens.

Of course, such a well-guarded guard could not be an ordinary mercenary, but was hired by the Yod Chamber of Commerce at a high price, and the wandering knights who were famous in the south of the empire - Silver Blood.

In Byrne, becoming a wandering knight who travels and adventures in the wilderness, travels far away from other countries and even overseas, is the first choice for many second sons and concubines who do not need to inherit the family business... They often travel far from their hometowns to find worlds that are not marked on the map, and earn a meager "blood money" with the sword in their hands.

And when a wandering knight travels for four or five years, he often becomes the target of the Byrne lords' recruitment—especially the kind of formed knights, which often become the main force of the legions under the knight lords in times of war.

“...... So, how did you get hired by the Yodder Chamber of Commerce?"

Beside the campfire, the leader of the Silver Blood, Hirel Lightlane, looked at the dusty man, the soup bowl blinking like a curious baby, and the young man who called himself "My name is Asrael, Asrael from Lothair", sighed tiredly.

"This is already the tenth problem, I knew you were a little talker, and I wouldn't have saved you when I passed by that wood. ”

The owner of the voice was a tall female knight with a somewhat indifferent expression, her upright and soft facial features could also see the traces of weathering, and a huge two-handed sword was always carried on her right shoulder.

"Hmm... Indeed, a lonely, innocent and lovely boy like me would not end well in that kind of woods, right?" Asriel shrugged, his scarlet eyes glinting with a sly glow:

"But who made the cold big sister Shirell have a kind heart... Since you saved me, you have to let me know who the savior is, otherwise who will poor Asriel call to repay the favor in the future?"

"You'd better think about how to get back to your hometown of Lothair......"

Shrell glanced at the boy he had saved in the forest before, and sighed softly... Although it looks a little dusty, whether it is the demeanor and gesture when speaking, as well as the obviously expensive little dress on his body, it is enough to prove that the other party is indeed a nobleman.

Although it was really not the time to save people because of the special nature of this mission, Shirell decided to take the boy with him after hesitating... Of course, it's not because of who he is, it's just that he really can't turn a blind eye to a child who has wandered in the wilderness.

Although this talkative and self-acquainted teenager has been reluctant to say why he is alone in Byrne, Shrell is not completely incomprehensible... The smarter the child, the more vigilant the child's heart will be, and coercion will only backfire.

So the female leader sighed: "Because the price offered by the Yode Chamber of Commerce is high enough, the salary of a mission can make us not have to worry about expenses for half a year - this money 'silver blood' is very important." ”

"Really... Then they are willing to pay such a high price, and the goods escorted must be very valuable, right?"

"That's not a question for us to ask, Silver Blood is only in charge of the mission, and the rest is not to be asked... This is professional ethics. ”

"Alas... I didn't expect to be a big sister who is good at playing official, it's so boring. ”

"It's that you have too many questions, little talker. ”

"After making a fortune in my hometown, where is the big sister going?"

“...... How did you get from the previous question to this one?"

The female chieftain, who sat by the campfire, chatted with the boy without saying a word, her eyes never leaving the dark wilderness outside the camp, and the quiet midnight seemed to reach even the stars in the dome.

The caravan will arrive at Crimson Castle by noon tomorrow, so it's tonight... Someone is bound to raid this caravan tonight.

However, it is the tradition of "silver blood" to ask their employers, but it does not mean that they are stereotypical fools - a mere caravan, and the fact that the Yodger Chamber of Commerce is willing to pay a lot of money to escort them proves that they believe that they will be robbed!

But it's been two days, today is the third day, and it's already midnight... Shirel's "long-awaited" enemies still show no signs of showing up.

Is it really just that I'm worrying too much... The female leader frowned slightly, and subconsciously clenched the hilt of the big sword behind her back.

Outside the camp was a dead silence in the pitch-black wilderness.

"Is Big Sister waiting for someone?" asked Asrael, who had an innocent face, blinking his eyes again.

"Well, guess what. Shirrell coped casually.

"Hmm, it can't be the man that some big sister likes... Or a man who likes a big sister?"

"Yo, you're jealous?"

"Maybe I'll wait a little longer. Asriel shrugged his shoulders and looked indifferent, "But now... I still don't 'play fair' with them. ”

"Who told you it had to be a man?"

"Uh... In our time, that kind of thing doesn't seem to be recognized by the world, right?"

"Little talker, shut up. ”

Frowning, the female leader's expression flashed a hint of astonishment, vaguely aware of something.

That's right, it's too quiet... It wasn't supposed to be so quiet.

The woods around the camp were filled with the Order's attendants, the most elite scouts and light infantry, and the eyes of the Order in the night.

According to the agreed arrangement, someone will come to report the situation in the vicinity after a while, but there is still no movement at all.

Are you too nervous and sensitive?

Shirell shook his head... No, no matter how sensitive you are at this time, you can't be too sensitive, safety comes first - not only is you carrying a mission, but also the life and death of nearly two hundred people up and down the Knights, and it is always taboo to let your guard down.

"Robin!"

The knightess, who had made up her mind, called her lieutenant, a pale-skinned knight of Ellemont who was always vigilant with two short swords on his back, and a pair of short bows at his waist.

"Boss?" Robin, with a serious expression, walked over to the campfire and said nothing more—just didn't ask, which was the main reason why Shirrell had him as his deputy.

"Go around the neighborhood and make sure they're safe. The female knight's expression was much more solemn: "Today is the last night, cheer up!"

The vigilant lieutenant nodded, turned away without saying a word, and before leaving, he threw down a phrase "Be careful yourself" and disappeared into the darkness outside the camp.

"This gentleman named Robin... I seem to have a good impression of my big sister.。 ”

Asrael, who had been sitting and watching, did not suddenly speak until the man had left for a long time, with an indescribable smile on the corner of his mouth: "Is it the person that the big sister likes... Or do you like big sisters?"

"Shut up. ”

Next to the bonfire, the female knight with the big sword on her back turned slightly red, and the smile on the corner of the young man's mouth deepened.

"Robin... He joined us on a mission in Ellemont, and although he was not tall, his swordsmanship was unmatched, and he was also the best scout of the Order. ”

"Hmm......" Asriel blinked, vaguely remembering another guy who was also from Elleman: "It seems that the big sister really cares about him." ”

"If you don't want to be beaten, shut up, gossip. The knightess's face turned even redder.

"It's just a suggestion...... smiling teenager suddenly interrupted, "If the big sister really cares about him, it's best to let him come back quickly." ”

"Well, what do you say......"

As soon as the words fell, with an abrupt loud bang, a golden-red fire rose in the woods!