Chapter 148: Into the Jura Eastern Continent
Stepping out into the crisp air of the Varanial Region, Roy paused at the threshold of his mansion.
Waiting in the courtyard was an imposing carriage, harnessed to two eight-legged, horse-like Beast-stage F-class abominations.
Bred and tamed by the people of Varania for heavy transportation, the beasts stomped their powerful hoofs, their dark coats glistening in the morning light.
The vehicle itself was built to befit the Apostle’s personal station, boasting pristine dark wood reinforced with steel, with both the ornate insignia of Varania and the divine crest of the Church deeply engraved into its panels.
Standing beside the transport, Duchess Alisa waited with her arms loosely folded.
She was clad in a tailored battle suit designed for mobility and defense.
A refined smile touched her lips as she watched Roy and Eurenia approach.
As they drew near, Alisa bowed her head with practiced grace. "Greetings, Apostle of the God of Beasts."
Roy offered a light smile, looking over her combat gear and then glancing at Eurenia, who was similarly attired. "You two certainly look the part. Why all the heavy preparation just for a trip?"
Alisa kept her smile, though her tone grew earnest. "We are stepping beyond our borders into one of the ten continents, My Lord. Caution is only natural. Who knows what dangers might be waiting for us out there?"
Roy let out a low laugh, shaking his head. "You don’t need to worry as much as you think, Alisa. Just as cultivators are exceptionally rare among the beastmen, they are equally rare and treasured among humans.
The people inhabiting the Jura Eastern Continent are almost entirely mundane humans and beastmen."
He paused, his expression shifting to a more calculating look as he continued. "Across the ten Continents, however, F-class abominations roam freely.
Unlike the Varanial Region, which primarily encounters Beast-stage F-class abominations, we may run into wild creatures of much higher tiers.
In that sense, readiness is essential. But combat suits aren’t everything—make sure you pack ordinary clothes as well. Infiltration may become necessary, and we cannot afford to expose our identities until the timing is absolute."
Both Duchesses nodded in understanding. Without missing a beat, they turned and re-entered the estate.
They returned a short while later carrying travel bags packed with civilian attire before stepping into the carriage.
Inside, the layout was spacious and luxurious. Roy laid back comfortably against the plush seating, crossing his legs.
Eurenia took her seat directly to his right, while Alisa settled in on his left.
With a sharp signal given to the driver, the eight-legged beasts surged forward, and the heavy wheels began to roll.
The journey from the Holy City toward the borderlands of the Jura Eastern Continent was long, but secrecy demanded it.
As high-ranking Duchesses, both Alisa and Eurenia possessed faces that would be instantly recognized in any major settlement. Discretion was their greatest shield.
Landscape swept past the carriage windows as hours bled together.
The Holy City faded behind them, replaced by rolling countryside and the distant outlines of two neighboring Duchies as they pushed steadily toward the edge of the realm.
Breaking the quiet inside the compartment, Roy turned his gaze toward Alisa. "The map drawn by our hidden cells in the Jura Eastern Continent—do you have it?"
"Right here, My Lord," Alisa replied smoothly. She retrieved a rolled parchment sheet from her side bag and handed it over.
Roy unrolled the document across his knee, his eyes scanning the detailed ink lines and notes.
"Hmmm..."
He gently stroked his chin.
According to the scouts’ intelligence, the local geography was dominated by four distinct Hashian mountain regions.
Kaelos City was situated firmly within the Northern Hashian Mountains—a territory governed directly by the Glorious Mythical Sect.
A dark, insidious grin curled the corners of Roy’s lips as he noted the sect’s positioning.
He traced his finger further along the route. Crossing the borderlands would lead them straight through the territories of Veztero village and Hammaris village.
Both settlements were led by elderly Martial Warriors whose physical strength had long since waned with age.
They posed no real threat to the party, but to guarantee absolute secrecy, Roy resolved to slip past both villages without alerting a single soul.
Beyond those lay six additional villages scattered across the terrain, leading up to the wide stretches of the Jure River.
The report noted that the river was infested with venomous Beast-stage F-class abominations.
Interestingly, the surrounding primitive villages worshiped these lethal beasts as guardian deities.
Roy’s eyes narrowed with quiet calculation. Rather than avoiding the river’s inhabitants, he decided he would slaughter the venomous abominations to harvest their mana cores.
Those mana cores would serve as prime resource material to fuel the ongoing cultivation of both Eurenia and Alisa.
Once cleared, they would cross the Jure River into the Eastern Hashian Mountains, which bordered their primary objective in the north.
Roy laid out the precise details of the path to Eurenia and Alisa.
Both women listened intently, silently approving the strategy with firm nods.
Time moved swiftly as the carriage maintained a steady, relentless pace.
After several more hours of travel, the terrain shifted, becoming rugged and sparse.
The carriage gradually ground to a halt.
They had arrived at the borderlands linking the Varanial Region to the Jura Eastern Continent.
Stepping down from the carriage, Roy was greeted by the sight of a heavily fortified perimeter.
Soldiers stood at strict attention, while disguised agents lingered in the shadows, watchful for any potential security breaches.
One of Alisa’s elite intelligence agents approached the group at once.
Alisa stepped forward, receiving a swift briefing on the surrounding perimeter status before giving her own orders.
The agent offered a deep, respectful bow to Duchess Eurenia and the Apostle, then turned to signal the border forces.
The heavy iron barricades swung open, clearing the path ahead.
With the line cleared, Roy, Eurenia, and Alisa prepared to step beyond the known borders and venture forth into the wild expanses of the Jura Eastern Continent.