Chapter 156: Moving Forward

As usual, entering a new city was the same experience. Guards monitoring every entrance from start to finish, their curious eyes behind armor, watching a large caravan like this. Even though he had experienced something similar before, Strax was now in a state... a bit awkward, after all, he couldn't even use his real name since it was clear he needed to keep up appearances...

Well... Fortunately, he was one of the lesser-known and little-spoken sons of Albert Vorah, so naturally, he would have to use a different name, like Dante Antares or something like that, just to stay discreet. But his fame was as small as his strength compared to the outside world, so changing his name wasn't necessary, but... the nervous feeling in his stomach still lingered...

"Do you think they'll recognize you?" Samira asked, seeing him mounted on Apocalypse, looking at the convoy line with a somewhat complicated expression. He indeed had these thoughts ingrained in his mind, but... it wasn't just that... "I have a bad feeling," Strax commented, feeling as if he was being watched by something... or rather, by someone.

"Don't worry so much, even if they find out it's you, I don't think it'll interfere with anything," Samira replied, but Strax shook his head. "By now, the spy must be keeping an eye on and aware of all the city's problems. He's provoked someone far too powerful for him. There's no way he's not watching the flow of people in and out of the city.

At least, I would if I were him." Strax said as he looked ahead, the convoy finally stopping at the small management post.

Strax remained silent, standing beside the carriage where the girls were, while he watched Lyana getting out of the main carriage from afar. She looked as tense as Strax, her face set in a serious and bitter expression. She stepped out of the carriage, and the first thing she did was turn toward Strax and start walking. She was rigid and clearly unhappy...

"It's not enough to deal with two tigers and a golden lion; now I have to deal with this very angry lady," Strax muttered, and the girls heard him and looked at each other, wondering what he was talking about. That was the question they asked themselves as they saw his less-than-happy expression.

Strax already had some strong opinions about Lyana, though he didn't know how true they were. He also didn't help much with his actions. From the beginning, he made mistakes with her several times, and spying on her bath was definitely the worst of all his errors. Not that he wanted things to be that way, but she was contributing to the animosity between them.

Although, of course, Strax was someone quite understanding, even with strangers...

She approached him as he sat on Apocalypse, watching the scene. Her steps were long and firm, and her face was serious. The enraged Lyana didn't exist; it was just the serious Lyana he had met inside that carriage.

"Lady Evelyn asked me to deliver a message to you," she said neutrally, no longer resembling the woman who had been screaming at him in embarrassment, though there was a slight blush on her face. Her serious and disciplined gaze completely hid that discomfort from knowing that after so many years of taking care of and hiding herself, a man... had seen her immaculate body in such a defenseless state.

"She seemed pretty calm..." Monica murmured. She was sitting by the window, having overheard the entire conversation. "Especially after what you did..." Monica added, almost as if cornering him. "At least now we know she really is an elf," Strax said, looking ahead. "Do you still think we can handle this?" Beatrice asked.

"I'll try to be more friendly with them; I at least want a lead to find an alchemist. We still have the issue of Xyn to resolve. I don't know why, but I feel like we need to do this quickly; I have a bad feeling..." Strax said, looking toward the horizon, where he saw the knights checking the first carriages as they approached his.

Carlos, who was just watching the situation, couldn't help but think about how this gang of crazies was... Everything they did somehow worked out, and even when they caused problems, they still came out on top. Their power was simply against the whole universe.

Just thinking about how this man spied on the immaculate bodies of two maidens and suffered no consequences was already too much, even for him. He couldn't help but sigh as he pondered all the events of the journey.

Strax remained silent after thinking about what he would do next. He needed to find the man Samira had mentioned, then locate Christine to get his bearings. With her, he would help get into the auction and find the spy he needed to capture and bring to Diana...

"Ah... this journey has already been problematic... I can only imagine what's going to happen in this damn city," Strax said with a sigh as the knights approached, checking the luggage in the carriage ahead.

"Stop grumbling to yourself; the problems won't just disappear, you know? We just need to finish this and get back home. You also need to cultivate, or you'll stagnate and won't be able to advance. I believe you'll reach Grandmaster level in six months," Samira said, interrupting his complaints.

She usually stayed quiet at times like these, but the amount this man had been complaining was driving her crazy!

"Yes, yes, alright, I'll keep quiet," Strax said, surrendering, realizing she was growing impatient.

As they continued their calm conversation, a soldier approached to check if there were any issues with the carriage, from drug transportation to anything involving the city's illicit activities. And well... "Nothing here?" he asked, seeing that they didn't even have luggage, since everything was in Strax's inventory... "They're in the convoy ahead.

These lovely ladies didn't want the carriage to be cramped," Strax said with a smile. The knight didn't quite understand, but he knocked twice. "You may go."