Chapter 51: Merchants Are the Best Cover

Chapter 51: Merchants Are the Best Cover

Merchants were always the best cover. After the division of labor emerged in society, commercial activities became an extremely common and indispensable human activity. Because they were common and indispensable, they could naturally blend into local life, looking completely harmless.

The delegation and the caravan formed two probing tendrils into the Northlands, one in the open and one in the dark, watching each other’s backs. The Royal Capital only needed to insert a few inconspicuous people into the caravan to secretly obtain a lot of valuable information. In a large caravan, having a few more guards or a few less guards was hardly noticeable, as long as they didn’t slip up during the investigation. Bran believed there were probably others like them in the entire joint caravan, and today’s events couldn’t be kept secret. This kind of thing was simply unavoidable; once this channel was opened, such things were bound to happen.

They could only blame these few for being unlucky. If the ability used when approaching the Mountain Villa wasn’t this one of transforming oneself into a form of Mana, then the outcome might have been different.

The entire operation met no resistance, only two people died: one Big Bear, one Giant Rat.

…

Lily complained, “One got away.”

Bran replied, “No, we captured them all.”

“One is missing, the Giant Rat.”

Bran sighed. He pulled the mass of Mana that had been constantly wrapped and dragged underground up to the surface and held it in his hand, saying, “It’s here.”

A mass of Starlight wrapped as if by darkness appeared before everyone’s eyes. The Starlight swirled and undulated with a certain rhythm. It was beautiful and mesmerizing.

“What is this?” Lily asked.

Bran answered, “I don’t know. Maybe it’s the Giant Rat. Maybe it’s the organ the Giant Rat used to manifest its ability. Maybe it’s the Mana form after the Giant Rat used its ability. How could I possibly know what this thing is?”

Letting go, Bran bound this mass of Starlight in front of him. Now it floated quietly as if it had no weight. After being assimilated by his own Mana, this Starlight seemed to have become part of his own Mana, obeying his will. But what use was this thing?

…

Bran sat on his horse and did not participate in the remaining tasks. He knew the subsequent matters should be taken over by his father and his Knights. Now his two older brothers were conducting the search. Bran only needed to quietly be an onlooker. As for that Eagle Eye, he hoped that after being cleaned up, it could be handed over to him for some recycling.

Looking at his sister who was watching the excitement beside him, Bran said, “If I were you, I would go deal with that corpse right now. That was a Wizard with an ability similar to yours.”

Then Bran followed behind his sister as they walked towards the corpse.

Bran cast his perception over the corpse. With life gone, the biological interference that had always hindered Bran also dissipated. Now Bran could easily let his perception penetrate every part of this corpse. The Mana on the corpse still operated instinctively, though it was constantly weakening. That Mana seemed to have a life of its own, exuding a sense of unwillingness, anxiety, and panic within Bran’s perception.

When Lily’s hand touched the corpse, Bran could clearly perceive that the remnant Mana quickly flowed along Lily’s hand into her body, then disappeared from his perception due to interference.

Lily also felt this. Although she couldn’t disperse, penetrate, contact, and perceive her surroundings with her own Mana like Bran could, she had a very clear awareness of this Mana flowing into her. It was like a cool stream of water flowing into her stomach, then vanishing. In surprise, she looked at her brother, and in his eyes, she saw the same surprise.

…

After the Knights from the Castle arrived, everyone except Bran’s two older brothers was sent away. So the siblings returned to the Mountain Villa together.

“What was that situation?” Lily asked.

“It probably wasn’t a bad thing. You two had similar abilities. After he died, you took his portion of power. Or perhaps it wasn’t taking, but that power, unwilling to die, merged into you.”

“Can anyone take it? Or could anyone present at the time have been chosen?”

“Probably not.” Bran pointed at the mass of Starlight still bound before him. “Each of us seems to be a different container, only able to receive what is similar.” Bran shrugged and continued, “I’m just making a rough guess by comparing you and me. Who knows for sure? Test your power, and it’ll be clear.”

Seeing his eager sister, Bran advised, “Actually, you don’t need to rush to pursue power now. We Northlanders’ physical fitness far surpasses those outsiders’. After the Trial, our strength becomes even more incomparable to them. Even today’s killed strength-type Wizard wouldn’t surpass us in physical fitness.”

“Pfht… Then why did you let Danny kill him first?”

“Just to be safe and act carefully.”

…

The day after they seized the Loki caravan, Eileen, who was preparing to ask for news, ran to the Mountain Villa excitedly and began asking all sorts of questions. Bran couldn’t be bothered to deal with this straightforward little girl and prepared to close his eyes to rest. Then Zoya also came to the Mountain Villa and gave Eileen a vivid, extensive lesson.

Zoya asked with a concerned look, “I heard Danny took you to seize the Loki caravan yesterday?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“How dangerous! Were you hurt?” She looked like she wanted to inspect him carefully.

“No, I just sat on my horse watching the excitement, didn’t even get off.” Bran sighed helplessly.

“Did Sister Danny kill many people again?” Zoya asked with a mix of curiosity and fear.

“No, just one. Someone hiding in a tent trying to ambush us.”

“Wow! That’s amazing, even someone hiding in a tent was discovered.” Zoya looked admiring, then asked, “Did the Loki caravan do bad things again?”

“Mm-hmm. A few Wizards from their caravan ambushed the Mountain Villa, so we cleared them out.” Bran answered absentmindedly.

“Wizards! You’re really amazing, even Wizards can be removed so easily. I heard the Mountain Villa caught a Wizard the night before last.” Little stars began to appear in Zoya’s eyes.

“Mm-hmm. Not exactly caught, just hung directly on that wall.”

“Wow, take us to see…”

Looking at Eileen who was rolling her eyes beside him, Bran smiled and patted Zoya’s head, thinking to himself, What a nice little girl, how did she turn out like this…

…

Bran, Eileen, and Zoya stood before that Mural. A blurred, struggling figure trying to emerge imprinted itself in the two little girls’ eyes. Only then did Eileen understand why her family’s two Dragon Knights had been frightened away. She now felt cold all over. Even though it was just a vague figure, she still felt cries and wails rising from the depths of her heart. It was a Wizard who, after struggling hopelessly to the end, left behind a final emotional imprint. But this emotion was too pure, too extreme, too intense, even affecting reality—despair.

“Let’s go back. This place isn’t really suitable for you.”

Bran’s words pulled the two little girls out of their horrified state. They were silent, obediently following Bran to leave.

“Why bother? Insisting on coming to see such a thing.”

Facing Bran’s words, the two little girls remained silent. Bran took their hands, slowly feeling their grips tighten. Bran felt a pang of heartache. They were scared. Sigh, if he had known it would be like this, he wouldn’t have frightened them…