Chapter 433: 407 Who may I ask is speaking?
Reiger’s ultimate destination for this journey was naturally the Neutral Zone located between the Kingdom of Genas and the Leiblu Kingdom, the city of Xinyele built by a Sword Saint, which housed the ancient ruins associated with the Sword of Moslo.
However, before departing, Reiger had heard from Marilyn that entering the Neutral Zone seemed not to be easy.
"I heard that to enter the Neutral Zone from the Meipros territory, one must obtain the lord’s permission."
Because of what Marilyn said, Reiger planned to find a guide in the Meipros territory to ask what this was all about after he arrived there.
On the way to Karudi, Reiger had already asked Gel to clarify the matter for him.
"This was an order personally issued by the Meipros Earl, to prevent spies from enemy countries and those planning to cause destruction in this territory from entering and leaving at will, the Meipros family has been building a defense line on the border with the support of the kingdom for a long time."
"That defense line seems to have been officially completed in recent years, and it was put into use starting from last year, I hear. The Meipros family not only dispatched people to guard it but also arranged many magical mechanisms, enhancing the defense line’s ability to repel and warn off external enemies, and even erected a Tactical Barrier of tactical level scale, completely cutting off enemy intrusions."
"Also, starting from last year, if people from the Genas Kingdom wish to enter the Neutral Zone and leave Meipros territory, they must obtain the lord’s permission to do so."
In other words, if Reiger wanted to enter the Neutral Zone, he couldn’t avoid dealing with the Meipros family.
Otherwise, once he went to the borders of the Genas Kingdom and reached the boundaries of the Meipros territory, the guards there and the Magic Barrier would certainly stop him.
"Can they stop me?"
Upon learning of this situation, Reiger was unconcerned.
After all, Reiger now possessed various teleportation magics, unless that so-called Tactical Barrier and the myriad magical mechanisms on the border had an effect that could hinder teleportation; otherwise, it would amount to Reiger moving in and out as he pleased.
Unfortunately for them, this world differed from the Overlord world, where almost all transportation magics with teleportation effects were of the spatial transference type, only those with high aptitude for spatial abilities could comprehend and cast them.
The number of such aptitude holders in this world was exceedingly low, even lower than Tactical Level Magicians, resulting in very few magical effects in the magic of the Akashic continent being able to target spatial transference magic.
Reiger didn’t think the Tactical Barrier and magical mechanisms at the border had effects that could hinder teleportation, and so he didn’t pay much attention to this issue.
Besides, even if there were effects that could hinder teleportation, what of it?
If he decided to break through, would he really be stopped?
Only if the Border Guardian Sword Saint himself came, that might be possible.
So, Reiger no longer cared about this matter, planning to send Fannie and Gel to Karudi first and then head directly to the border defenses to pass through there and enter the Neutral Zone.
Of course, doing so was very likely to provoke the Border Guardian Sword Saint.
After all, the military city of Bessare located in Meipros territory was near the border defense line, and it was also the city closest to the Neutral Zone; if Reiger caused a commotion there, it was highly probable that he would alert the Sword Saint stationed in Bessare.
Still, Reiger was prepared to do so, and if he really couldn’t make it through, he could also try a test of his skills.
When Reiger said his destination included Bessare, it was not said without reason.
Bessare was located near the border defense line, indeed, right on the obligatory route to the border defense line.
If Reiger planned to go to the border defense line and enter the Neutral Zone without using teleportation magic, he would necessarily have to pass through Bessare.
Since their routes coincided, Reiger didn’t mind traveling together with Nipede and Fannie.
"Is that so?"
After knowing Reiger’s plan, it was then that Nipede was tempted.
"Alright," Nipede nodded and said to Fannie, "However, I will only allow you to accompany me when investigating matters related to your brother, beyond that, I’m sorry but I cannot let you join in everything else, is that acceptable, Miss Alicel?"
"Yes, that’s fine."
Fannie wiped the teardrop from the corner of her eye and agreed.
"Now that it’s decided, let’s prepare to leave." Reiger stood up and said to Gel, "As for your family matters, you deal with them yourself; I don’t want to end up being blamed by that Viscount Alicel."
Gel could only nod with a resigned and bitter expression on his face.
Liz had no objections at all and, seeing Reiger stand up, she immediately prepared to bring the carriage over.
However, at this moment, Ophelit just so happened to return at the perfect time.
Now, the eldest son of the Hadi family was no longer sweating profusely and looking anxious as before but approached Liz with a refreshed smile.
"Since you all plan to travel to Bessare together, why not take my family’s carriage?" Ophelit said to Liz with great enthusiasm, "Our carriage is large enough to comfortably fit ten people, and this beautiful lady doesn’t have to do the type of driving work meant for coachmen."
"No, I should say, such a task should not be undertaken by someone as beautiful as you."
"Come, please join me, to my carriage over here."
As he spoke, Ophelit unconsciously prepared to take Liz’s hand, but quickly restrained himself considering Reiger and Nipede were nearby.
"Ah, this..."
Liz, seeming not to understand what had happened, saw Ophelit suddenly approach her with his friendly offers, she was initially stunned, then murmured a weak response.
"Um... may I ask who are you?"
With that single phrase, Ophelit’s beaming smile froze.
"Pfft!"
Antie burst into laughter without any consideration for decorum, turning Ophelit’s frozen face into the color of a pig’s liver.
Reiger couldn’t even be bothered to pay any more attention to this young master.
"Let’s go."
Having said that, Reiger was the first to walk out.
"My apologies."
Liz hurriedly bowed to Ophelit and then quickly followed Reiger.
Fannie and Gel engaged in a brief conversation, clearly discussing matters related to visiting the Meipros family.
Gel seemed to be trying to persuade something, but Fannie was stubbornly shaking her head, resolute in her decision, which caused Gel to sigh repeatedly.
After a while, Gel appeared to give up and followed Reiger and Liz back to the carriage with Fannie in tow.
Ophelit was thus ignored, resulting in the pig liver color on his face lingering for a long time.
"Master Ophelit," Nipede finally called out to Ophelit, saying, "We are ready to depart."
"Does the young master no longer wish to join us?" Antie taunted with a hint of mockery, "If so, that’s fine too. After all, Lord Brilliant’s carriage is quite spacious, I believe it should have no problem accommodating two more people."
Ophelit was nearly bursting with anger.
"I, I will join now."
Struggling to suppress the urge to lash out, Ophelit managed to force a strained smile towards Nipede and Antie.
Nipede shook his head slightly and turned to leave.
Antie went even further, making a rude face at Ophelit, sticking out her tongue, and then hurriedly followed Nipede towards the direction of the carriage.
"Rumble rumble..."
After Nipede left, the small stone pavilion on the grassland seemed to have lost the force sustaining its existence; it shook and began to collapse and disintegrate, kicking up a thick cloud of dust.
"Cough cough cough...!"
Ophelit, caught off guard, inhaled the dust and immediately started coughing violently, looking extremely disheveled.
"Damn it!"
Ophelit’s pig liver-colored face now turned iron blue.
He was angry.
He was furious.
He was angry that Reiger wouldn’t give him face, furious that Antie held him in such contempt, scorned him so thoroughly, and disdained him so much.
But suddenly thinking of something, Ophelit let out a cold laugh.
"You all be arrogant," he sneered.
When the time comes for this young master to claim that long-desired prize, it will be your faces that turn ugly.
......
Outside the gates of Carudy, two carriages set out together, no longer entering the city but moving towards the direction of Besare, located on the southern border.
Reiger and his companions’ carriage took the lead, while Ophelit and his party followed behind, surrounded by many fully armed knights, forming a mighty convoy on the main road, stirring up a resonant chorus of wheel and footstep sounds, far greater than when Reiger had arrived at Carudy.
At this moment, the benefits of having a large formation became apparent.
Due to the overwhelming presence and the solemnity of the advancing knights resembling an army, the ever-emerging bandits were nowhere to be seen, having stopped appearing altogether.
As expected, the refugees were also gone, seemingly deterred by this formidable display and not daring to approach and obstruct the way.
Not even magical creatures dared to challenge this convoy that clearly seemed troublesome to provoke, granting Reiger and his company their first unobstructed, peaceful journey since entering the Meipros territory.
By the way, the bandits, horses, and equipment captured by Reiger had all been taken by a forcedly smiling Ophelit to be disposed of in Carudy, earning Reiger a substantial sum of money.
Without those bandits, horses, and equipment, Reiger’s carriage was significantly lighter, and its performance and speed were not much different compared to Ophelit’s carriage.
Continuing southwards like this for about six or seven hours, the day once again gradually darkened.
The two carriages racing down the main road then came to a halt, allowing the knights escorting them to slow their pace as well.
It must be said, these knights truly had some skill; after following two rapidly moving carriages for so long, they appeared unfazed and not the least bit winded, worthy of being knights under an Earl’s command.
These knights then proceeded to unload tents and other items from the cargo racks once the carriages stopped, found an open space, and set them down.
After that, everyone began to set up camp.
Tonight’s moon was a little fragmented.