Four Split Personalities

The same evening

Game Time AM09:18

Northwest Continent, Caselo Prairie, Eastern Horse Farm

This was the largest trade center of the entire prairie, as well as one of the most populous gathering places in Caselo. Every day, all sorts of people bustled to and fro. In addition to the 50% of merchants who specialized in the trade of warhorses and camels, there were also numerous pedestrians, travelers, and permanent residents engaged in various professions. There were countless stands and storefronts, such as the Steam Consortium’s enterprise ’Steam Fish Pot,’ which had three branches at the Eastern Horse Farm. And its rival, the Gold Coin Commerce Association, had established the Caselo-style Glazed Pavilion and an open-air bank here, while neutral organizations like the Mage Guild, Mercenary Guild, Adventurer’s Guild, and Cloud Traveler Inn also had branches in this area. However, unlike Anka Market or Black Tower City, the majority of buildings here were constructed from natural megaliths engraved with numerous reliefs. The spacing between them was relatively loose, so rather than turning this place into a bustling metropolis that clashed with the environment, it instead accentuated Caselo’s grand and expansive traits even more.

In short, the Eastern Horse Farm could be said to be one of Caselo’s facades. It did not belong to any single party and was monitored by all powers on the prairie, making it as safe and free as Anka Market.

"To be exact, it should be ’freedom’ on the surface, and ’safety’ is relatively speaking."

Sergei, a third-grade member of Viper Chamber of Commerce, said in a calm tone as he stepped down from the carriage, with a soft laugh to Iron Bolt beside him, a third-grade member with large ears: "It should have been two years ago when the Chamber took out number three heir of the Percy Family right here. So, about safety... ha."

The merchant-looking muscular man shrugged his shoulders and snorted with disdain.

"I recall you were part of that operation, weren’t you? In charge of backup and logistics."

Iron Bolt, with a mocking expression, scoffed as he carefully examined the ’helmet’ he held and said offhandedly: "And it seems like after that incident, our ’nest’ at the Eastern Horse Farm was taken down by the Percy Family."

Sergei raised an eyebrow, while checking on the slaves in the carriages behind him, he said, "So what? The reward we got from that was far more than the value of a stronghold, and even if we lost our ’nest’ here, aren’t we still able to do ’business’ just like before? It makes no difference."

At that moment, a cold and deep voice arose in both their ears...

"Have you had enough chat?"

Sergei and Iron Bolt both shuddered and hung their heads, not daring to speak.

"Discussing our ’glorious deeds’ in such a place, even if I execute you two right here and now, it would be considered appropriate. Go and finish your tasks immediately, and if I find you two ’third-grade’ members speaking another half word of nonsense... hmm."

"Yes, sir!"

"As you command, sir!"

The two immediately nodded their heads in a shivering manner and then ran off like fleeing from the carriage, not looking back.

Sergei needed to purchase provisions for the slaves, and Iron Bolt was to add the final few components to the helmet he was cradling.

Meanwhile, a hundred meters away from where the three carriages were parked, Jadka stood by the side of a wagon, talking to a middle-aged elf. Motan and Ji Xiaoge were chatting in front of a small stall selling Caselo handicrafts not far away. Anthony Dabus sat on the ground, munching on two different types of dry food, while Ya Ya kept sniffing around busily, seeming to smell something.

Minutes later, Jadka saw off the elf merchant who had traveled with them for half a day and mumbled ’I’ll be away for ten minutes’ into Dabus’s ear before quickly blending into the crowd and disappearing.

AM09:35

Jadka returned to the side of the wagon silently, clasping two roasted kidneys in his right hand and leading a well-fed and strong warhorse with his left.

AM09:39

Sergei and Iron Bolt returned to the black carriages, staying briefly before setting off again.

AM09:43

Motan and Ji Xiaoge, who had vanished quietly before, also returned to their vehicle. Anthony Dabus stood up and, with Ya Ya’s mumbled reminders, led everyone to continue their journey northward along the main road, soon leaving the Eastern Horse Farm behind.

"The speed of those bad dogs has changed,"

Ya Ya frowned and said with a serious little face in a low voice, "The smell has gotten farther away."

Motan, who had switched to a better horse, followed alongside the wooden cart and whispered, "That middle-aged man went to purchase some cheap food earlier, but apart from that, he hasn’t done anything worth noting."

"The goblin went to the market and picked up some parts."

Ji Xiaoge, seated next to Ya Ya, fluffed her wings, sorting out some of the dishes before her that even she couldn’t bear to look at. As she arranged them, she said, "I didn’t dare to follow too closely, but it all seems like common items to me, nothing suspicious."

"I’ll maintain this speed for now, if they start to accelerate and we immediately do the same, it would seem too strange no matter how you think about it."

Dabus, who was pulling the cart, frowned and turned back to speak to Ya Ya, "If you’re about to lose them, just bark, and I’ll catch up."

Ya Ya shook her ears and munched on a chunk of meat, mumbling with her mouth full, "Woof got it."

"From the East Territory Stables to the north, there’s hardly any proper roads. If we keep up this pace, in about half an hour or so, it will be hard to see any sign of people."

Jadka glanced at the increasingly sparse passersby and said with a furrow in his brow, "I can’t guess their destination, but they’re definitely heading to a very desolate place."

Ji Xiaoge sighed and looked up at the clear blue sky and white clouds above the prairie, "Using flight to track them here is too conspicuous, or else I could keep an eye on them by myself."

In just a few moments, as Jadka had said, there were almost no people to be seen around them. Although the scenery was still magnificent, it gave off the feeling that the land had never been developed - there was not only an absence of main roads but even trails were lacking. All one could see was an endless expanse of grass.

For some reason, with the exception of Anthony, everyone had a premonition that the slave traders would soon complete their task.

"Hopefully we can catch up in time."

As Jadka casually tossed a small handful of spice-like substances off the cart, he murmured under his breath.

...

Five hours later

Game Time PM 14:57

The three wagons of the Viper Caravan arrived in a lush wooded area and slowly came to a halt.

"We’re here."

Sergei, who was driving the lead wagon, jumped down and called out to Iron Bolt, who was groggily poking half his head out, "Stick to the original plan, we’re fifty minutes ahead. You’d better hurry up."

Iron Bolt, who had just woken from a nap, pulled a filthy bottle from his pocket, took a couple of gulps, and instantly his sleepy eyes turned bright. He then hugged the helmet he had gotten from the Anka Market and climbed down from the wagon, sauntering over to the second wagon, "Don’t worry, I’ve been adjusting this thing the whole way here, it’s pretty much a finished product now. Just need to test it a bit, it won’t take long."

After saying this, he yanked open the door to the wagon and flashed a grin at the cramped, sunlight-deprived orc slaves inside, "Come on, any one of you."

No one responded to him. The wagon, which had been simply expanded with low-rank space magic, was deadly quiet. The emaciated orcs just stared at Iron Bolt blankly, paying no heed to his words.

"You’ve all gone dumb, haven’t you? I told you that you’ve added too much of that drug into their food."

Sergei walked over impatiently, yanking a light-green-skinned orc out of the wagon, his expression wrinkling at the stench, "What now?"

Iron Bolt chuckled, tossing the oddly-shaped helmet to Sergei, exposing his ugly yellow teeth, "Put this thing on him."

"And then?"

"Then we see if he dies."

Chapter 484: The End