Ilucia felt extremely uneasy.
She sat in the luxurious carriage of the Barov Family, feeling somewhat lost about her future fate.
She knew that the Barov Family had been utterly defeated and had become outcasts of the Human Kingdom.
Lordaeron only allowed them to survive because they had lost even the ability to resist.
She had originally thought that after signing the contract and saving the souls of her parents and relatives, she would be strictly guarded by the Scourge, never able to leave Caer Darrow in this life, becoming their puppet.
Ilucia's actions would aid the growth of the undead, and might even trigger a disaster that would sweep across the entire human civilization, but she could no longer feel even a trace of sorrow in her heart, only an endless numbness remained.
However, after she signed that contract and sold her soul, Scholomance reined in their behavior and even stopped trying to influence the normal residents on the island.
This behavior of the undead made Ilucia very confused; if they continued to stay in Caer Darrow like this, it would completely contradict their previous actions.
After a brief period of confusion, Ilucia gave up on thinking about this problem; she only needed to know that she was a pawn in a huge conspiracy.
However, just when she thought her remaining life would be confined to Caer Darrow Island, living as a noble young lady, a transfer order from the Dark Dean made her leave Caer Darrow and go to the capital of Lordaeron; it seemed that a high-ranking existence wanted to meet the current head of the Barov Family.
Miss Ilucia, who had already given up thinking, did not want to know why Gandling had such a request, but her habits as a noble still made her believe that this might be the starting point of a larger scheme by the Scourge.
So, accompanied by the guards from Scholomance, she left Caer Darrow and headed to Lordaeron, preparing to accept her orders.
The wheels of the carriage rolled over the smooth cobblestone road.
Ilucia looked at the exquisite pastries and fruits on the small table in front of her, but she had no appetite whatsoever.
Gradually, the carriage slowed down.
Ilucia heard the guard's knock on the door.
She perked up slightly, because she knew it was time for her to "play" the role of the young lady.
Ilucia elegantly pulled back the curtain with her hand and asked softly, "What is it?"
The guard bowed his head and reported, "Miss, there's a First Legion checkpoint ahead.
I came to remind you that the journey might become slow."
Ilucia nodded slightly, and calmly lowered the curtain.
She leaned back on the comfortable seat inside the carriage and sighed softly—the First Legion was the most elite unit in the Human Kingdom, but they were just ordinary people and could not detect any problems at all.
Moreover, the Barov Family's convoy was not transporting any goods; there was only Ilucia's private carriage and the noble family crest, so the soldiers guarding the checkpoint had no room for inspection.
Could she possibly expect the First Legion soldiers to detect the loyal apprentices trained by Scholomance, whose purpose was to become Death Knights and necromancers?
They were all living people now, and they had magical concealment.
Unless people from the Holy Light Church were setting up inspections at the checkpoint, it would be impossible to find even a tiny abnormality.
However, Paladins of the Silver Hand and priests of the Church rarely set up inspections at checkpoints unless in an emergency, because if it was a convoy transporting goods, specialized Church personnel would conduct inspections before entering the town, making it unnecessary to waste manpower at such ordinary checkpoints.
Paladins and priests were favored by the Light, and their numbers were too few compared to ordinary soldiers to be assigned everywhere across the country.
The carriage slowly moved forward.
Finally, it was the Barov Family's convoy's turn for inspection.
After simple document handover and search, the soldiers retreated to the side, ready to let them pass.
"Wait!"
A voice stopped the convoy.
The coachman had no choice but to pull the reins, bringing the just-started carriage to a halt.
"Lieutenant Kaven!"
The soldiers of the First Legion saluted one after another.
A young officer in silver armor walked over and picked up the documents placed on the table.
He quickly scanned them and nodded.
"Hello, Miss Ilucia Barov, I am Kaven Dylon, a Paladin of the Silver Hand and a Lieutenant of the First Legion," Lieutenant Kaven introduced himself simply.
"Please forgive me for stopping your carriage, but recent directives require us to conduct further inquiries on vehicles that have not recorded travel traces for a long time."
Facing Lieutenant Kaven's questions, the guards around the carriage remained silent, and even the coachman lowered his head, pulling down his straw hat.
Feeling the strange silence outside, Ilucia sighed silently.
She, of course, knew what she should say at this moment, "Lieutenant Kaven, the Barov Family's territory is Caer Darrow Island, so it is not strange that our family's carriage has not appeared on the roads of Westwealde."
Lieutenant Kaven then asked, "Then, if possible, please tell us the reason you chose to enter the capital of Lordaeron at this time."
"This concerns the Barov Family's business; there's no need to explain the more specific reasons, is there?" Ilucia's voice from inside the carriage carried a hint of annoyance, as if she was tired of Kaven's impolite actions.
"I think a Lieutenant of the First Legion should not pry into a noble's information, right?"
Lieutenant Kaven quickly apologized, "I am very sorry, Miss Barov, please forgive my rudeness.
Prince Arthas has ordered us to strictly inspect all vehicles.
Please excuse any offense."
After speaking, Kaven shouted loudly to his soldiers, "What are you standing around for, let them pass immediately!"
"Yes, Lieutenant!"
Watching the Barov Family's carriage depart, it seemed Kaven's inquiry was useless and had even angered a noble.
The checkpoint guards who were familiar with Kaven gathered around and whispered, "Lieutenant, what's wrong with you today?
That was the Barov Family's carriage! And it had documents approved by the Royal Family of Lordaeron!"
Although the Barov Family had declined, they were still a once-great noble family, not someone a small Lieutenant like Kaven could afford to provoke.
And it was clear that Kaven's questioning had already made the young lady of the Barov Family very unhappy; these soldiers were somewhat worried about whether Kaven would be affected by this matter.
However, the humble demeanor Kaven had just displayed was now completely gone.
He gazed at the departing carriage and simply replied to those few soldiers, "No problem, we are just doing our duty.
Prince Arthas has ordered it.
Even if Your Majesty's carriage passes, we must ask what needs to be asked."
Upon hearing the title "Prince Arthas," those soldiers immediately became serious, but Kaven also did not want to continue this topic.
"Alright, you guys stop gathering here to watch the show.
There are still so many people behind to inspect.
Do you think you've done a good job already?"
Lieutenant Kaven reprimanded them a few times, and after watching those few soldiers retreat sullenly, he himself shook his head, casting aside his previous thoughts: he always felt that the convoy was a bit off, but Miss Ilucia's performance showed no abnormalities, and the convoy had a royal approved pass, which was a certification recognized by the Secret Intelligence Agency.
Ultimately, Kaven only thought that he had become overly nervous due to the incident at the Thirteenth Camp—that camp, where corpses lay everywhere overnight, remained a scar for the soldiers of the First Legion.