Chapter 130: Convoy
"It's been a long time, Mr. Holmes," Franco said with a bow.
"It truly has," Raven replied with a nod, glancing at his status screen.
"Please, have a seat."
Franco sat on the opposite sofa and pulled several documents from his spatial ring, handing them over to Raven.
"These are the pieces of evidence we've gathered so far. We've been tracking Inspector Bennett's movements over the past six years and discovered that he visits a village named Humming Villa, near Azmar Ruined Town, every two weeks to meet someone."
"Oh? Did you find out who?" Raven asked.
"We did send a few informants to Humming Villa, but they all vanished without a trace. It's likely they were either captured or killed, my lord. Although we reported these incidents to the Police, no action has been taken so far."
"Because of Inspector Bennett?" Raven guessed.
"Yes. That's why we started digging into his background. Surprisingly, we found that his current identity is completely forged. He has ties to Crest Merchandise and appears to have been receiving their support for quite some time. What's more puzzling is that he seemed to appear out of thin air about a decade ago in Giaris and somehow became the Inspector of RA02 Station. When we visited the address he listed as his home, we found that his birthplace, his parents' names, and even his original name were all fabricated. No one in the village knew of his existence."
Raven smiled faintly.
"Forget digging into Bennett's background. Focus on the Duskbane Family of the Viser Kingdom. That's where you'll find his true identity."
He waved his hand and asked,
"What about Crest Merchandise? How are they acting so boldly?"
Franco took out another document and replied,
"That's because Crest Merchandise is a branch of the merchant guild Sparrow."
"Sparrow? Isn't that one of the top five merchant guilds in the Empire?" Jacob interjected.
"Why would they target the Holmes Family?" Quincy asked.
"We still don't know," Franco said, pausing briefly before continuing.
"We also sent scouts to the outskirts of Azmar Town and found over fifty people stationed there, monitoring the area continuously."
"You mean they've been there for over a decade? What are they doing?" Quincy asked, confused.
"We're not sure. But I believe we'll find out once we arrive," Franco said with a smile.
It seems Selene hasn't informed anyone yet, Raven mused, then asked,
"Are you planning to tag along?"
"I was going to back off after handing over the information, but after seeing the strength of the Sepoy Mercenaries, I've changed my mind."
"Oh? You can sense their power?" Raven asked, checking Franco's status.
Strange… He's still at peak Radiant Rank? Compared to Elizabeth, his affinities are much higher. But didn't she say those born in the mainland have very low affinities? Raven furrowed his brows.
"It's actually the opposite, Mr. Holmes. When you visited me seven years ago, I could clearly sense the strength of Sir Jacob and Sir Marcellus. But now, I feel nothing. It's as if they've turned into mortals."
He paused, then turned his gaze to Selene.
"And Lady Selene… I can't even sense her presence. It's as if she's standing there, and at the same time, not."
Raven was aware of this as well. Since becoming a Radiant Wizard, Selene had built four spell models and started comprehending them.
One of them was Spectral Body, the counterpart of the Wraith Form spell.
To truly understand this spell, one had to remain in Wraith Form most of the time.
Is Franco tagging along because of the Sepoy Mercenaries' strength? No… it's more like he wants to gather more information about me and them, Raven pondered.
[Why are you hesitating? It's better to bring along an informant who can spread word of your success. After what happened at yesterday's banquet, many people are watching you, waiting to see the outcome.] Zera's voice echoed in his mind.
Will the reporters follow too? Raven wondered, just as he noticed them approaching.
Florence Collins stepped forward and asked,
"Can we join the convoy too? We won't slow your progress in any way."
"You can join us, but I can't guarantee your safety during the mission," Raven replied.
Some of the reporters hesitated, but Florence instantly responded,
"It's worth the risk, Mr. Holmes."
Even though she's just a mortal, she's brave enough to take risks, Raven thought, nodding slightly, then turned to Franco.
"Did you find anything else about the Holmes Family? Why is this large group targeting us?"
He asked despite already knowing the answer.
Franco shook his head in disappointment.
"Hmm. Let's show these documents to the reporters, especially those involving Inspector Bennett."
Raven then presented the collected evidence and allowed them to take photocopies of the important ones.
"Send the original documents to the local magistrate," he ordered coldly, before turning to the reporters.
"I hope you will report the news truthfully and seek justice for the Holmes Household."
"Where is Stephaine?" he asked.
A woman in her forties came running from the left corridor and bowed.
"Good morning, my lord."
"We'll be away for a few days. Take care of the house until then," Raven instructed.
"Yes, my lord."
He turned to Selene and handed her a dozen books.
"These are spell books I've personally prepared for you. Stay here and accompany Lady Anastasia and Young Master Daley. Who knows? You might even get another fortunate encounter during the mission."
Selene looked surprised.
"Yes, my lord," she replied with a nod.
Meanwhile, Raven walked toward the mansion entrance with Jacob and the others close behind.
At the foyer, they saw twenty young men and women assembled in the front yard.
There was also a Clarence carriage, two stagecoaches, and five wagons for transporting goods like food, clothing, and tools.
Raven noticed some unfamiliar faces in one of the stagecoaches and furrowed his brows.
"They're from the Lucus Company, my lord," Jacob explained. "They sent their top architect, two civil engineers, a surveyor, a carpenter, a foreman, and a site manager to inspect the area and assess resources."
"Good."
Raven adjusted his monocle and examined the status of his elite team.
Not bad. Thirteen out of twenty are Radiant Walkers… and some are even at the intermediate stage.
"Wait… So many Radiant Walkers?" Franco muttered in shock.
His heart skipped a beat when a blonde girl with amber eyes glanced at him.
She's dangerous!
As Franco reeled from the pressure, Jacob stepped forward and shouted,
"Mount!"
Thirteen members rushed toward the carriage house, mounted their horses, and rode forward. Seven remained standing.
"Why aren't they mounting?" Raven asked.
"Wizards don't ride horses, my lord," Selene replied.
Seeing his puzzled look, she sighed and explained,
"It's an unspoken rule. Wizards prefer to travel in carriages rather than on horseback."
"Foolish thinking," Raven said coldly. "If we're ever dispatched to a warzone, will they bring a coachman and a carriage? I want you to train War Wizards, not peacekeepers."
He paused, then added,
"Let them ride the carriage for now. But once our territorial matters are settled, they must learn horsemanship and how to cast spells while riding."
"Yes, my lord," Selene responded.
Raven then turned to Jacob.
"Can we buy Mutant War Horses?"
"Aside from the military, only the twelve ancient noble families breed them, my lord. And due to their strength and durability, each horse costs 10,000 to 20,000 gold coins," Jacob answered.
"Money isn't the problem. Normal horses are fine for small skirmishes, but for large-scale battles, we need Mutant War Horses. Try to buy twenty for our Household."
He turned toward the young knights on horseback.
"Is everyone ready to depart?"
"Yes, my lord!" they all responded in unison.
Then he looked at the seven robed individuals.
They looked like storybook wizards in black robes.
"You should disguise yourselves as knights in future battles. It'll keep you from drawing attention and becoming targets."
He remembered how Runeth had nearly died in battle for wearing robes.
"You don't need to worry, my lord. All of them are peak Acolytes, and Rebecca is already a Radiant Wizard. They're all skilled in different ways. With real combat experience, they'll become our trump cards," Jacob said solemnly, with the others nodding in agreement.
"Except Rebecca, the others barely meet the academic standard of Crow's Misery," Raven muttered as he entered the black Clarence carriage.
"Mr. Franco, Mr. Marcellus, and Rebecca—join me."
"Yes, my lord," they said and followed him inside.
The other Sepoy Mercenaries headed to the carriage house. The Acolyte Wizards entered the second stagecoach and settled in.
Only Selene, the reporters, Stephaine, and a few servants remained in the yard, watching the convoy depart.
Three carriages, five wagons, and twenty armored riders soon exited onto Bristol Street Road.
As the morning sun bathed the road in gold, the cobbled streets of Salford gave way to uneven dirt paths. The countryside stretched out before them.
The journey was mostly uneventful, the silence broken only by the rhythmic clatter of hooves and wheels. Raven kept a watchful eye on the shifting treetops, alert for any hidden threats.
Their first stop was Old Willow Village, surrounded by wheat fields and apple orchards. With only 300 residents, its most notable feature was the ancient willow tree in the center. The convoy halted near a tavern, and while the knights ate breakfast, Raven watched the villagers.
One old man sitting near a well caught his attention.
"Olivia! Oh my dear love! I'm sorry for running away. But I was scared of him. You should understand me." He kept a headless stuffed doll by his side and muttered to its ears like a crazy man.
Raven approached him and began a conversation—starting with light questions about him.
"Who are you talking to, old man?" He asked.
"Hmm? Who else? I'm talking to my wife." The old man gave him a weird look and started talking to the doll again.
"What is your name?"
The old man stopped his talking and answered.
"Mason. What about yours?"
"Thomas Holmes." Raven responded.
"Humph, saying such a fake name. That family has long dead."
A chuckle escaped out of Raven's mouth.
He then kept interrupting him and asked more questions.
Most of his answers were fully idiotic and crazy. When he asked about where he was from, he actually responded that he came from death!
When he asked about his family, he told Raven that other than his wife, his children were being captured by a demon.
After a while, he shifted the topic to Azmar Town.
"Y-You shouldn't go there, kid. The Humming Villa became the territory of that demon. People going missing, including my sons. The dead are rising again…" As he spoke, he shivered uncontrollably.
The old man also warned him not to camp outside if they planned on visiting anywhere near Azmar Ruined Town, and then he went on his way while talking to the stuffed doll and laughing on his own.
'He has lost his mind, huh?'
Afterward, the group resumed their journey, reaching Brighthorn Hamlet noon. Unlike Old Willow, this village was livelier, with bustling streets and merchants selling dried meat, honey, and handcrafted goods. While the others took a short break, Raven took the opportunity to visit the village's small archive and peruse old maps. He found a few notes about Humming Villa—though nothing concrete, there were vague mentions of an ancient cemetery near its outskirts.
"Because of the strange deaths happening near the cemetery, no one dares to go near this place, huh?" Raven decided to check that place after solving the territorial issue.
The convoy continued their journey to Hollow Brook, a riverside village known for its fisheries. Here, they refilled their waterskins and let the horses rest.
After that, their journey continued.
The convoy entered Humming Villa around evening. The village was shrouded in an unnatural silence. The houses were intact but looked lifeless, as if no one had lived there for years. The only signs of life were a few villagers peeking through their windows, their eyes filled with wariness.
Raven and the others stopped at the Blackwood Inn, a two-story building with a faded sign hanging above its entrance. The innkeeper, an old woman with sharp eyes, greeted them cautiously.
"We don't get many visitors these days," she said while showing them to their rooms.
"Mind if I ask why?" Raven asked.
"It's the eastern edge of the Empire. Beyond this village is nothing but wilderness. After Azmar Town's fall, even most of the Humming villagers left this place in fear," the old lady said with a sigh.
"What about you? And why do the villagers appear cautious?" Raven questioned.
"A convoy filled with knights isn't something we see every day. From the looks of it, you seem like a noble kid. Although I don't know your purpose, I have a vague feeling you might be after something in the ruined town—just like those hooded guys. We already got into a big mess because our village chief confronted them once... and suffered a loss. We don't want to make another mistake." A bitter look appeared on her face.
"Loss? What did he lose?" Raven couldn't help but ask.
"His whole family ended up dead before his very eyes. After that, he has gone crazy and left the village. From that day onwards, our village's population started declining. Some went missing, while others fled overnight—afraid of getting killed or kidnapped by those people."
'Village chief went missing?'
"Can you tell me more about those hooded guys?" Raven asked further.
The old lady gave him a sharp look and shook her head.
"I still want to live for a few more years, young man. Stay at the inn for a day or two and return to where you came from. I sense you're poking your nose into something dangerous."
"It's the other way around. Those guys poked their noses into my business," he said while taking the keys from the old lady.
Raven took a small private chamber on the upper floor while the rest settled in the common rooms below.
They stayed in Humming Villa for a night, gathering information from reluctant villagers. Most refused to speak, but one drunken man muttered something about disappearing travelers while clutching a rum bottle. He even told Raven about a middle-aged man with handlebar mustache. From the man's words, Raven realized he was the one who had killed the village chief's family.
"Ya won't believe me even if I tell you, kid. But that bastard just snapped his fingers—Olivia's neck twisted backward. After killing Mason's wife Olivia, and their two children, that demon—" His whole body shook, as if he had recalled something terrifying.
"What did he do?" Raven asked.
"He made them crawl back from the dead! But there was no life in their eyes. Like some puppet, Mason's family quietly followed him. That guy is a demon!" As he spoke, he drank the rum in one go and angrily smashed the empty bottle.
Raven asked a few more questions but didn't get much additional information.
The morning sun rose as the convoy departed once again.