The night wind blew a little harder, carrying a bone-piercing chill. However, after cleaning themselves in the river, Calian and Wolvin's bodies felt much lighter and refreshed.
After finishing dressing neatly, the two youths walked side by side in a comfortable silence, heading back to their caravan entourage's camp area which was beginning to be blanketed in quietness.
Most of the workers and adventurers had fallen asleep, leaving only a few who had guard duty near the hearths whose flames were beginning to dim.
Instead of heading straight to their wagon to sleep, Calian's gaze was drawn to a carriage parked somewhat apart from the row of cargo wagons.
On the steps of the carriage, Eralio could be seen sitting alone, pulling his thick coat closer while flipping through a small notebook under the illumination of a magic lantern.
Calian glanced briefly at his spouse, giving a subtle signal through his eyes. Wolvin nodded in understanding.
Their trained footsteps made almost no sound at all as they navigated the grass, until they finally stood right in front of the merchant.
The sudden presence of two shadows made Eralio jump in surprise, nearly dropping his notebook. The middle-aged man looked up, and his eyes immediately widened upon realizing who was now towering before him.
"O-Oh Gods..." Eralio whispered in a stifled voice, hastily closing his book and intending to stand up to pay his respects. "W-Why are the two of you approaching me this late?"
"Remain seated, Mr. Eralio. Do not draw the attention of the others." Calian commanded in a whisper, yet his tone indicated absolute firmness.
Eralio swallowed hard and landed his bottom back on the carriage steps.
"I just want to confirm one thing with you." Calian continued, leaning his body slightly so his voice would not be blown away by the night wind. "Make sure you keep your mouth shut tight. Never leak any information about our true identities to anyone in this caravan, or when we arrive at our destination later."
The purple-haired youth looked straight into Eralio's eyes. "He and I took this mission because we want to adventure freely like ordinary adventurers, without anyone knowing our identities. Do you understand?"
"I-I understand. I understand perfectly, Your Highness." the middle-aged man answered with a trembling voice, feeling nervous and intimidated by the natural authority radiating from the future emperor. "I swear in the name of the Gods, I will never leak the secret of the two of you."
However, before Eralio could breathe a sigh of relief, Wolvin stepped forward. He lowered his body, aligning his face with the middle-aged man's face.
The pair of golden eyes of the Night Wolf youth flashed sharply under the lantern light, radiating an icy, murderous aura.
"You had better keep that oath, Mr. Merchant." chimed Wolvin in a very low whisper, as if hissing into Eralio's ear. "If by chance that secret ever leaks from your mouth... I assure you I will search for and find you wherever you hide. And when you are caught, I will make you beg for death, because the torture you will experience will be far more horrifying than death itself."
A verbal threat coming from the mouth of a possessor of the [True Assassin] blessing was not an empty bluff, and Eralio knew that very well.
That sentence made the merchant's breath hitch in his throat. He was fully aware that if the secret were exposed due to his carelessness, it would not only be his life threatened, but everything would turn into a disaster.
However, amidst the fear that nearly paralyzed his logic, a principle he had held firmly for decades suddenly awoke.
As a veteran merchant who had built his reputation from the ground up and highly respected his clients' privacy, Eralio refused to freeze helplessly out of fear.
The middle-aged man took a deep breath, brushing off the remnants of his nervousness, then straightened his back. He was no longer trembling. With his newly gathered courage, Eralio met Wolvin's sharp glare with a look laden with absolute conviction.
"I am a merchant!" replied the middle-aged man, staring back at the Night Wolf youth without the slightest hesitation, even though he kept his voice low. "It is taboo for me to leak the crucial secrets of my own clients. If one day it is proven that I leaked your identities, simply come to my residence in Gias City. I swear, I will not put up the slightest resistance when you come to take my life!"
That firm and dignified statement rendered the atmosphere silent for a moment.
The threatening and vigilant expression on Wolvin's face slowly relaxed. He looked at the plump man's face before him carefully, scrutinizing the merchant's pupils and body language, trying to ensure there was not a single speck of a lie in the middle-aged man's eyes.
However, he found no such thing in Eralio at this moment.
"Very well... I will try to trust you." said Wolvin in the end, his murderous aura evaporating into the night air. He took a step back, standing beside his husband once again. "But in exchange for this trust, provide us with comprehensive information that you know regarding the ins and outs of Gias City once we arrive there later. We need accurate information."
Eralio let out a long sigh, feeling as if a mountain had just been lifted off his shoulders. He nodded firmly, agreeing to the fair terms of exchange.
"I understand. I am willing to provide all the information I know about Gias City once we arrive there later." he promised in a professional tone.
Wolvin nodded in satisfaction then turned his head, looking at his husband with a small smile, signaling that it was time for them to leave and rest.
After Calian gave a nod of agreement to conclude the conversation, the married couple turned around and walked away, heading back to the cargo wagon in the middle of the procession to rest for the night.
Eralio remained seated on the steps of his carriage, watching the backs of the two formidable youths as they slowly disappeared behind the row of wagons.
Thank goodness... it is fortunate that the two of them could trust my words, Eralio thought with immense relief. He rubbed his tired face. Besides, I never had the slightest intention of leaking anything related to important figures of the empire. It would be extremely dangerous for me, my business, and my family if I were to get too deeply involved in the empire's political vortex.
After calming his heartbeat, the middle-aged man gathered his belongings, went back inside his carriage, and prepared to rest to face tomorrow's journey.