The daytime breeze blowing through the trees could not banish the remnants of tension still hanging in the air. Around the caravan area that had pulled over, the members of the Black Axe party were on full alert in their respective positions, ensuring not a single follow-up threat approached.
Alfred, the elf, crouched with perfect balance atop the roof of one of the wagons. His bow was in a steady grip, while his pair of sharp eyes meticulously swept the lush area around them.
On the roof of another wagon, Nora sat with a vigilant posture. Her magic staff rested on her lap, yet the tip of its crystal stone emitted a faint glow of light, indicating that the mage was ready to cast a spell at any moment should danger come to ambush.
Meanwhile, on the ground, Robert, Catrina, and Esteban formed an invisible triangular formation beside the row of carriages, protecting the caravan's perimeter.
However, even though his body was on full alert, Robert's mind was not in the present. The man gripped the handle of his axe tightly, but his eyes kept stealing glances toward the carriage where Eralio was.
As a veteran adventurer, Robert deeply understood the unwritten hierarchy of this world. Wealthy merchants were the holders of gold coins, and they always positioned themselves higher than hired adventurers. Yet, what he had witnessed today completely turned that logic upside down.
A renowned and wealthy merchant like Eralio suddenly obeyed every word of Calian without the slightest objection, even willing to delay the journey and bear the risk of financial loss.
Who exactly is that purple-haired youth? Robert thought, swallowing hard. His curiosity began to gnaw at his common sense. I know he is very strong. But physical strength alone is not enough to make a merchant of Eralio's caliber submit obediently like a servant. There must be something much larger behind his identity.
Robert stood frozen for quite a long time, weighing the risks. He wanted very much to ask, but he also doubted whether Eralio would be willing to open his mouth.
After remaining silent, grappling with his own thoughts, that curiosity finally won out. With heavy yet certain steps, Robert walked up to Eralio, who was standing near his carriage, looking like he was watching his resting workers with a tense facial expression.
"Pardon me for interrupting your rest, Mr. Eralio." Robert said politely, opening the conversation with a voice he deliberately lowered to avoid attracting the attention of others.
Eralio was slightly jolted from his reverie. He turned his head and found the leader of the escort party standing near him. "Yes, Robert. Why did you come to approach me? Is there enemy movement?"
"No, the situation around us is secure." Robert answered straight to the point, looking directly into the middle-aged man's eyes. "I only wish to ask you one thing. Who exactly is the youth named Calian to the point that you—"
"Shut your mouth!"
That extremely sharp and sudden interruption came out of Eralio's mouth, leaving Robert stunned. The plump man stared at the man in front of him with an incredibly serious gaze, lacking even the slightest ounce of fear despite knowing that Robert was a fully armed Rank C adventurer.
"I don't wish to say anything about that youth!" Eralio hissed firmly, his voice trembling with a mixture of assertiveness and deep-seated fear. "And you had better never ask me about that again... let alone dare to ask the two of them directly!"
Without giving Robert a chance to process the harsh rejection, Eralio immediately turned his body. He took a few steps away, intending to approach his workers who were sitting leaning against the roadside.
However, before truly leaving, the merchant turned his face slightly, looking at the adventurer.
"Listen, Robert. If you still value your life and the life of your wife, you had better throw your curiosity regarding that youth far away!" Eralio said, delivering a final warning that sounded very heavy. "In this world, there are some secrets that are not appropriate for you to know. If you continue to behave like this and dig into such matters, one day you will surely be killed by your own curiosity."
After dropping that stern warning, Eralio walked away, leaving Robert who could only stand frozen, staring at the middle-aged man's back.
Instead of feeling afraid, the stern warning acted like gasoline poured onto the embers of his curiosity. The natural instinct of an adventurer who always wanted to know about dangerous things was provoked even further.
Just how massive is Calian's influence? Robert thought in frustration, rubbing his rugged face. The more he tells me not to think about it, the more curious I become about that youth.
Not long after, extremely light and nearly soundless footsteps were heard approaching from behind.
"What are you thinking about, Champ?"
A very familiar voice greeted his ears. Robert turned his head and found his wife, Catrina, already standing beside him. The Mountain Cat beastfolk woman looked at him with a puzzled expression, staring at her husband who appeared disheveled.
"Are you feeling curious about who Calian truly is?" Catrina hit the mark perfectly. Her cat ears twitched slightly.
Hearing such a precise guess, Robert could only smile wryly and let out a long sigh.
"It seems... I will never be able to hide anything from you, Catrina." Robert muttered in resignation.
The man finally recounted everything honestly. He explained how his peaking curiosity pushed him to ask Eralio, as well as the stern warning the merchant had just thrown at him to not cross the line.
Hearing her husband's story, Catrina did not show a surprised expression. The woman instead smiled understandingly. Her hand reached out, gently rubbing her husband's arm.
As a wife who loved her husband very much, Catrina did not want the man to be involved in a vortex of problems that might threaten his life at all.
"It is better that you just follow what Mr. Eralio told you, Champ." Catrina said, offering sincere advice. Her gaze locked deeply into Robert's eyes. "He is a major merchant who has many connections and knows many secrets of the underworld. If even he is terrified to the point of not daring to talk about it... it is definitely a highly classified matter. It will be very dangerous for us if you try to find out the truth."
"But, Catrina—" Robert tried to argue, his ego slightly pricked.
"You saw Calian's power yourself earlier, didn't you?" Catrina cut in firmly, her grip on Robert's arm tightening slightly. Her tone was no longer relaxed, but full of emphasis. "You saw how dozens of arrows stopped, and how a dozen people died in the blink of an eye without being able to fight back. You had better just stay quiet and not provoke his anger, lest you make Calian do exactly what happened to all those foolish bandits."
Instantly, Robert's mouth locked shut. His arguments crumbled to nothingness.
The image of Calian standing amidst a sea of bandit corpses with an innocent face flashed back in his mind. Robert was very aware of the insane power Calian possessed, a power that could easily obliterate all members of the Black Axe party if the youth desired it.
Even though that curiosity still resided in his heart, when he saw his wife's gaze, which was so serious and radiated genuine worry for the safety of both of them, his stubbornness slowly softened.
Robert let out a long sigh again, this time releasing all the tension in his chest.
"Very well..." Robert finally decided, his hand rising to cover the back of his wife's hand. "You are right. I will never talk or try to find out about that again. The safety of our party and yourself is far more important than my curiosity."
Hearing the rational decision from her husband, Catrina smiled in relief. The worry on her beautiful face instantly faded.
"A wise decision!" Catrina said softly. She then took a step back, returning to the posture of a professional adventurer. "Now, let's stand guard again in our respective positions. We must make sure this place is safe until Calian and Wolvin return from the forest."
Robert nodded firmly.
The married couple parted ways, walking back to their respective positions around the row of wagons, awaiting the return of the two Rank A adventurers from within the forest.