Chapter 197 - Come Ride With Me, My Ex-fiance

Episode 190- Come ride with me, my ex-fiance

But… Eugene tilted her head, "Why would they attack you?" She found this particularly odd. The organization has always been targeting Euria. Well, they targeted her as well because she had Euria's body. But after they found out that their bodies had been switched, they went after the real Euria. So why Ron? Of all people, why Ron?"

"That… I don't know." He hesitated as he answered her. 

"Is it possible that there is a member inside the academy?" Suddenly a quiet Con asked. 

'Inside?' Eugene's hands twitched. There was some truth to Con's words because Ron spent most of his time inside the academy and it was possible that he had offended a member inside the academy whilst he was studying there. 

"Did you offend anyone?" With her brows raised, she asked Ron. 

Ron faked a laugh and he scratched his head, "Well... If it is offending. I might've offended people outside the academy as well?" Despite being just fifteen, he already has a high record of the people he has offended. 

Eugene didn't understand what Ron meant at first. But after pondering upon his words, she couldn't help but agree. 

'This man's bad habits of leaving the academy. There was no way to say that he did not offend anyone outside.' Eugene shook her head and gave him a short sigh. Even when she was living outside, she had already been offended numerous times by him.

"Did you tell anyone that you were leaving the academy that day? Or does anyone know what you do to leave the academy secretly?" Eugene asked. She didn't think it was a random attack because this organization was very smart. So it was unlikely that they camped outside and especially waited for Ron to come out. 

So it has to be that someone who overheard Ron was leaving that day, or someone he told about leaving that day. And as to why the organization was targeting Ron, especially after all these years, he must've done something to offend them or know something he shouldn't know. Some information that is vital to the organization.

Ron didn't think hard and an answer came up almost immediately. The moment the answer appeared in his head, he wanted to bang his head against the wall. He thought that it was a random attack all this time that's why he didn't think much of it,  however, with the button he was holding, he was sure that the attack was indeed intended. 

"It was a guy I met at a bar. He was a mercenary who had come back home from his trip out in the sea. I found him very comfortable so I told him about how I sneak out of the academy. The day I sneaked out was the day I set an appointment with him."

Eugene's eyes flashed, "And do you know why he suddenly attacked you?" There was a mutual understanding between Ron and Eugene. And it was that the mercenary was the culprit.

Ron nodded, "If he wanted to attack it can only be about the gold." 

Ron's sudden mention of gold made Eugene flabbergasted, "G, gold?" Hesitation could be seen in her face as well as heard in her voice. 

"Yes. During my… adventurous 'youthful' years, I encountered a cave full of gold. It was gold with bat cravings."

"Bat carved into gold? That's odd…" Eugene became skeptical.

Ron nodded,  "It was very odd. What's odder is the amount of gold now."

Eugene leaned forward, "And? Is it still there?" It wasn't her money radar reacting and making her ask the question. It definitely wasn't her greed. 

"It's still there. The last time I went ahead and checked was 2 months ago and it was still there." Of course, it was a pain direction-wise, so whenever he wanted to check up on the gold, he would spend many days searching. 

"And when did you discover this?" she asked. Why has he never told her -cough- about it. Again, this was not her money radar reacting.

"When I was really young. Maybe 6? 7?"

"..." So you mean, he could've taken the gold and become rich but he purposely… didn't. 

"Was there anything else you talked about?" Con asked from the side. 

Ron shook his head, "When I mentioned gold with bat cravings, his expression changed for a split second. I thought that it was his desire for money as a mercenary but now… I don't think it's a desire for money anymore."

"Where is the gold?" Eugene leaned in and asked Ron.

Ron was not hesitant and he replied, "At Raden. Right by the border of Zene and Lelips."

'Raden…' Eugene rubbed her index finger and she thought quietly. Eugene trusts Ron enough to know that he wouldn't have mentioned the location to the man. 

"I don't think it has much to do with the gold." 

Eugene and Ron turned to Con.

"If it had been truly about the gold, the man would've just informed his superior and moved the gold. And this matter would've been closed quietly. But the fact that the organization went out of the way to attack Con, one of the Great Noble's sons,  I think there is something the organization wanted to hide even if it meant offending one of the great Nobles."

Eugene thought about Con's words carefully and nodded in agreement, "You have a great point."

Ron began thinking deeply and his brain began to make connections after connection, "For the organization to leave the gold at a random place was not a smart move. If it was me, I would leave the gold at my house where security was at its best state or a place not far from my house where I can keep track of the gold at all times."

Eugene and Con's facial expression was serious as they listened to Ron.

"I don't dare say it is their headquarters. But for that amount of money, I would say it is one of their crucial bases. Their financial base."

"We need to inform the Dukes," Eugene said suddenly. 

Ron nodded, "After we get confirmation from your hidden guard who is following after Euria, we will send the Duke the location of the gold as well as Euria's current location."

Eugene nodded, 'If all goes well with Noelle, they might be able to uncover another base."

.

.

.

Just as they were about to head out to the transportation center of the capital city, Noelle's messenger bird flew in Eugene's direction and landed on her. 

"Herrow, heading north. Youngest Miss is alright. Met up with 1 enemy who is headed west. Might leave the country through Zene or Lelips." Eugene read the note out loud and handed to note to Con who then handed the note to Ron.

Con left to pay for three horses. Horses were faster than carriages not to mention, time was of the essence. 

Three horses galloped with an explosive speed as they went through the dense forest and headed their way to Herrow. Like the rider, the horses resonated with their thoughts of only getting to their destination as fast as possible.

However, no matter how fast they could reach Herrow, Eugene, Ron, and Con knew that no way would they make it in time to catch Euria. Not to mention, they had yet to make a plan on how to retrieve Euria back or how they would do it. 

"Eugeneia, we have been riding for over 3 hours. To get to Herrow would take 2 more hours. I know you are energetic but the horses don't feel the same. They will need to take a break once we get to Herrow." Ron's shout could be heard from behind Eugene. His meaning was obvious and it was that they will not be able to go after Euria today. 

Eugene could only make out a few words he said because of how fast they were going but she got the general gist of what he had said. Truth to be told, she was feeling a bit muddle-headed and her body felt sluggish because of what happened just this morning. Not to mention that she had used her blood to heal Moniqua, so her body was completely exhausted right now.

She knew that it wasn't a good idea to go this fast so she signaled Con and Ron who were riding behind her that she was going to ride a bit slowly. She signaled them so that they would not accidentally crash into her with their horses. 

"Huh? What's wrong?" Ron was very surprised that Eugene would suddenly go slower. He had caught up to her when she slowed down and also slowed down himself. Though he has advised her just now, from the Eugeneia he has known for a decade, and know that she wouldn't listen to his advice.

Eugene wasn't going to tell them her condition but remembered back to Zene when she told no one her condition and suddenly fainted on them, scaring everyone out of their wits. She didn't want Con and Ron to react the same in case she fainted so she confessed, "I feel dizzy."

"....." Ron stared blankly as if her words didn't register in his mind. When it did, his eyes widened tremendously, "What!? Why? What's wrong? Are you tired? Are you okay?" He exploded with worries as he turned to Eugene with concern. 

"I… used my blood on the Duchess." She had explained to Con and Ron earlier about Occul and everything related to that. Of course, they had many questions but they also know that Eugene didn't know that much more than what she told them so they didn't ask.

"Let's stop. Here, come ride with me, my ex-fiance." Ron motioned Eugene with his hand.

Eugene and Con stared at Ron blankly.