Chapter 87: The Journey Begins

Words : 1014 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

Chapter 87: The Journey Begins But the Knight Order was meant to be a backup force—it would be best if everything could be resolved without needing to use them. Dominic’s father, Lord Gabrant, had returned to the border between Arcadia and Nabradia. From there, he would move his troops north, toward the southern banks of the Narethil River, which marked the border with Dalmasca, and wait. Officially, the current operation was described as a joint military exercise with the Korisha Fortress. The royal army was making clear that this was not an act of military pressure toward the Dalmasca Kingdom. That was important, because within the kingdom of Rosaria, the government still hadn’t decided how to respond to Dalmasca’s movements. According to the commander of the border security forces, there had been no signs of military movement from the Dalmasca Army so far. Although people in this southeastern area of Dalmasca were becoming somewhat restless due to rumors that troops might be coming soon, the hostility toward the Kingdom of Rosaria wasn’t as strong here as it was in the capital. "This region is far from the northeast, where the conflict happened," the commander explained. "No local families lost soldiers in that battle. And the government propaganda that’s being spread around in the capital hasn’t reached out this far." "So they still haven’t made any clear moves," Dominic replied. "That probably means even within the Dalmasca military regime, they’re not all on the same page." "There are also rumors that some people want to bring back the royal family that was overthrown twenty years ago," the commander added. "It seems they have many internal problems." The commander’s explanation matched Dominic’s own thoughts. The Korisha Fortress stood along a major road that ran from Dalmasca, through the Rosaria, and south to Nabradia, the breadbasket region of the south. Positioned right at the border, the fortress was a crucial location for monitoring crossings. With so many people coming and going, plenty of information from the neighboring country naturally came with them. "We’re ready," said Aaron cheerfully. "Captain Dominic, you better hurry up too." Dominic turned at the sound of Aaron’s voice. The tall man with silver hair was dressed in a bright green wool coat and dark green fur-lined boots. He held a coat made of golden fur with spotted patterns, from a large mountain cat, in his hands. Dominic frowned without thinking. "Aaron, isn’t that a bit flashy?" "I’m a merchant from Pristina City, remember?" Aaron answered with a grin. "This kind of outfit is normal around here. Actually, I toned it down a lot. But no matter what I wear, I stand out. And honestly, being noticeable works for the role I’m playing. That’s why I’m perfect for this job." Dominic sighed and rubbed his temple. If Aaron drew attention, then people wouldn’t look too closely at him or Shiao Yi. That was probably the best way to think about it. "Alright then, Commander," Aaron said, turning to the fortress officer. "Here, take this. I’ll explain how to use it..." As Aaron began explaining how the magic tool worked, Dominic quietly left the room and headed toward the chamber where Shiao Yi was waiting. "Take care, Lord Dominic," the commander said respectfully. "I’m counting on you to guide the rest of the second division when they arrive," Dominic replied. With farewells from the commander and the soldiers of the fourth division who protected the Korisha Fortress, Dominic and his team crossed the border into the Kingdom of Dalmasca. They were disguised as a merchant party. Aaron played the role of the merchant, while Amal who is dressed as a coachman, drove the wagon loaded with goods. The wagon was pulled by three horses and had both a covered section for passengers and a large cargo area attached behind. It was the kind commonly used on the main road between Pristina and Rebanastre City, the capital of Dalmasca. The road was wide and well-maintained, making it suitable for this type of heavy carriage. When Shiao Yi first saw the wagon, he had said in surprise, "It looks like a trailer truck." Apparently, there were similar transport vehicles in the world he came from. Rex, with his smooth ash-gray hair flowing to his shoulders, and Louis, whose red hair was cropped short, rode alongside the wagon on horseback. They were assigned the role of private guards hired by the merchant. Everything was in motion now. The mission had begun. Along the road, there were not only wagons like the one Aaron used but also six-horse freight wagons pulling several cargo boxes, as well as peddlers’ carts. A few travelers walked along the edge of the road, trying to stay out of the way of the larger vehicles. Seeing all this traffic, it was hard to believe that the relationship between Dalmasca and Rosaria was on the brink of war. "For regular folks, what matters most is just getting through each day," Aaron said, speaking from inside the wagon while looking out at the road. "They’re too busy trying to survive to worry about what the people in power want. The only ones shouting about war are the ones lounging around inside their fancy stone buildings." At first, Aaron had been tense, casting nervous glances at Dominic’s face. But now he had relaxed around him. His usual sarcastic tone was back. "And when war does break out, it’s always the innocent, unrelated common people who suffer the most," Dominic murmured quietly as he gently stroked Shiao Yi’s hair. Shiao Yi sat on his lap. His hair was now dyed brown—his natural black hair stood out too much and they had no choice but to change it. Dominic missed the beauty of Shiao Yi’s original hair and felt a small ache in his heart because of it. Shiao Yi had most likely taken on this job to prevent the war from happening. He had lived through the horrors of war himself and knew its pain. It must have been hard for him to face those memories again.

Chapter 87: The Journey Begins

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