Chapter 139: Roads and more Roads

"Cristine sent money this morning and a letter for you," he said, pulling out a letter from his pocket that looked far from noble, more like crumpled paper. After all, she was an assassin, not a grand duchess or something like that.

Strax glanced at his hand and took the tattered letter. Unwrapping it, he noticed Cristine's quick handwriting. He began to read silently, his expression changing as he absorbed the words.

Dear Strax,

Well, I'm currently on a mission, so I won't be able to keep in touch with you. I know I should have warned you earlier, but on the same day we met, I had to go to a meeting. In short, there will be a dangerous auction that our Main Guild has been tasked with providing security for. Things have been busy here, but nothing I can't handle.

Be vigilant on the roads; I've heard rumors that they are being taken over by a guild called Zaratz.

Be careful, and remember not to trust anyone blindly, even if they seem to be working together with you or something like that.

PS: I sent money because dealing with that insufferable Carlos deserves real payment, sorry about that. Did he offend you? Probably... Anyway, have a good trip and take care.

Cristine

As he finished reading the letter, several thoughts crossed his mind. He was now quite interested in what might happen when he met her again. "An auction, huh..." Strax murmured as he saw the girls getting into the carriage.

The morning sun was already high in the sky, it was a calm morning, and everything was ready for them to continue their journey. The carriage began to move through the wide streets of the quiet village. Strax was still deep in thought about what he had read. "Roads taken over, huh..." he murmured while mounted on Apocalypse, following alongside the girls' window.

As the carriage moved on, Monica turned to Strax, observing him with concern. "What did the letter say?" Strax looked at her, pondering whether to share everything. He decided to be honest. "Cristine warned that the road is taken or being watched. We need to be extra vigilant."

Beatrice agreed. "Yes, it has a strange feeling. Like something is watching us."

Monica, always the most practical, placed her hand on the dagger she carried at her waist. "Let's stay alert. It might just be our imagination, but we can't take any risks."

Strax looked at the forest ahead, his eyes narrowing. "Let's slow down. I want everyone to stay vigilant. Carlos, keep the carriage on the main trail and let us know if you see anything suspicious."

As they advanced, the forest became increasingly dense. The tall, twisted trees blocked most of the sunlight, creating a dark and silent environment. The sound of the horses' hooves and the creaking of the carriage wheels were the only audible noises, breaking the oppressive silence of the forest.

"There's something wrong with this place," Beatrice murmured, looking around with distrust. "It feels like we're being watched."

Monica held Beatrice's hand, trying to calm her. "Calm down, we have a strong team here, nothing will happen." Monica said, but Beatrice replied, "I'm not scared, I just feel a very strange sensation..."

Carlos remained alert, his eyes constantly scanning the surrounding vegetation. "We're almost at the heart of the forest. Stay ready for anything."

Carlos abruptly stopped the carriage, raising his hand in a signal of alert. "There's something on the road ahead," he whispered. "Something big."

Everyone fell silent, trying to hear any sound that might indicate the presence of danger. The silence was almost deafening, increasing the tension in the air.

Strax dismounted from Apocalypse and approached the carriage. "Stay here. I'll check."

Monica grabbed his arm. "Be careful."

The mana in the environment was somewhat scrambled, and even expanding his mana, it was impossible to identify what was around... as if a barrier was preventing them from getting closer.