"What the---Why is this super advanced item lying around here?" Rayven muttered, confused by the sudden appearance of such a precious artifact.
Still, he controlled his expression as he analyzed the Appraisal Result. He actually learned quite a lot from this information.
Although the level of his Appraisal Skill seemed too low to know its full effects and its rarity, it gave him enough.
He learned that he could actually obtain a Market Value estimation, and perhaps, only low-level items could have some value estimation at the moment.
Of course, this also made him curious why he felt something was off about this item that should just be ignored by normal eyes… If not for Thyruz's hint, he wouldn't have realized why he was having those unfamiliar senses at all.
'Do I have a special sense or something?' Rayven thought as he was sure that his system didn't give him powers to sense some hidden treasures...
But as he reached this idea, he suddenly recalled that the previous Rayven indeed had an eye for profitable items!
R-right… all those times—
Flashes of his past surfaced: shrewd trades, chance finds at markets, spotting hidden value in what others dismissed as junk. Back in his clan, this knack had made him a natural in business despite his youth.
It wasn't magic. It was instinct or maybe an innate eye for profit. And now, it had just led him to an artifact that everyone else thought was worthless.
"Thirty copper coins," the shopkeeper said, clearly eager to get rid of it…
Rayven didn't hesitate. "I'll take it."
The box was his for less than the price of a cheap dagger. The seal had fooled every magician's Mana Sense and the eyes of ordinary folk alike. To them, it was nothing but a trinket collecting dust.
'This is great…' Rayven celebrated in his mind.
***
With the rest of their supplies bought and their horses well-rested after several hours, the group departed the village before dusk. The road ahead was quiet with fields stretching out on both sides…
The village they had just entered certainly had a huge farming business.
But that peace journey didn't last.
Hoofbeats echoed behind them.
Glancing back casually, Rayven saw seven riders closing the distance. They were not at full gallop, but keeping a steady pace in the same direction.
At first glance, they could have been travelers moving in the same direction… But Rayven knew better.
Two of them were the magicians he'd sensed earlier. This time, they had five armored warriors riding with them.
Danger? Possibly.
But for Thyruz, Miki, and Nara, a different thought lit in their eyes.
If these riders had better, faster mounts…
Then this might just be an opportunity to change their horses!
***
"They're being patient…" Thyruz said after a few hours.
The riders never closed the distance with them at all. They simply shadowed Rayven's group, always just far enough to seem harmless.
By the time it started getting too dark and there was only moonlight to guide them, Rayven's group found a flat, quiet stretch of open ground by a small stream and decided to make camp.
They unpacked their gear, built a small fire, and cooked a simple dinner of dried meat and foraged herbs. The smell of warm broth drifted into the night.
It was then, just as they were finishing their meal, that the seven riders finally drew near.
The lead warrior was a broad-shouldered man with a short beard, and he did his best to appear kind.
As he got closer, he raised a hand in greeting.
"Evenin'. I'm Jade of Rose Mercenaries… We've been on the road since dawn. Mind if we share this spot? Safer to sleep near more swords in these parts."
Thyruz leaned back lazily, letting his gaze sweep over them without hiding the scrutiny. "Plenty of ground here," he replied, his tone was friendly, but he was obviously telling them that he would be keeping an eye on them.
Rayven, on the other hand, just kept his expression neutral.
He used his Detect Mana Source once again and spent another gold coin.
[ 1 Gold Coin deducted. Current Balance: 142 ]
He did this to ensure that the other five were indeed warriors and not hidden Mages.
Although he already confirmed it through Thyruz's Mana Sense, he just wanted to be sure…
Soon, Rayven felt the faint pulse of mana from the two mages. With how weak it was compared to Thyruz, he guessed that they were indeed Initiate-level or Tier 1 Mages.
Against Thyruz, a Tier 3, they were just children with wooden sticks.
Still, there were five warriors with them. Enough to cause trouble if they struck at the wrong moment.
At this time, Thyruz looked at Rayven for confirmation…
"Sure, let them stay here." Rayven said. "Just don't get too close to our horses. They bite."
The strangers chuckled politely and began setting up their own camp a short distance away.
From the outside, it was like a scene of a road camaraderie—two groups sharing the same stretch of land, separated only by the campfire…
But Rayven's group didn't relax.
Then, just as they expected, hours later, when the night deepened, the suspicious group made their move…
During this time, the campfire had already burned low…
Niki, who was assigned to guard for at least three hours, seemed sleepy, but her sword lay beside her.
In the meantime, Thyruz just lay on his back with his eyes closed while Miki was curled up with a blanket in the tent.
Finally, Rayven was on the ground, with his cloak pulled over him,…
To anyone watching, they were a group getting into deep, defenseless sleep.
Seeing their vulnerable figures, the others could no longer wait…
The first move came when one of the warriors crept forward, barely making a sound on the grass. He stopped just outside the fire's glow, waiting for them to fall deeper into their sleep.
Then, as he gave a signal to others, they also made their move and got closer…