"Exactly!"

Gasper's face was full of helplessness, "Since that's the case, there's no other way, then I wish the Chief Attendant success in completing the task and returning triumphantly!"

"Then I will take my leave, Chief Attendant."

Ackman glanced at him and was just about to let Gasper leave.

Suddenly he thought of something, and said, "You're quite the talker..."

Gasper's eyes widened, and he didn't have time to speak.

Ackman continued, "Then you shall play the merchant, and I will lead a few followers to become the guards of your caravan!"

Gasper hurriedly replied, "Chief Attendant, wouldn't this go against the Master's orders?"

"He instructed you..."

Ackman dismissed it nonchalantly, "Orders, what orders?"

"As long as the task is completed, does it matter who the merchant is?"

Gasper hesitated, "Alright then..."

...

A night passed.

With the help of over a dozen followers.

Three carts loaded with barley were fully packed.

With a shout from Ackman, "Set off."

Under the guard of six mounted followers, the caravan headed out of the estate.

On the third floor of a room.

Master Aiden's corpulent body stood behind a round window, watching the caravan leave.

Beside him, two twins wrapped their arms around his, letting the softness against their chests continually deform and distort.

...

On the gravel path between the farmlands.

The three carts moved steadily under the direction of the driver.

Fortunately, the snow and ice on the ground had long melted.

Two draft horse carts carrying about two thousand pounds of grain felt no strain.

Instead, they moved with ease.

As they traveled, the followers constantly watched their surroundings vigilantly.

They had already left the Morrison Manor Lord's domain.

They were in the wilderness.

Even though they knew the Iron Blood Brotherhood Bandit Corps had been annihilated.

In the current world, it was easy for another bandit group to emerge.

After all, raiding a caravan or a village was much simpler and quicker than toiling away at farming.

Ackman surveyed their surroundings and, seeing nothing amiss, turned to look at Gasper on his right.

He inquired, "Gasper, you haven't been Master Aiden's follower for long, have you?"

Also mounted, Gasper nodded quickly, "Indeed, Chief Attendant, it's been less than a month!"

Ackman acknowledged, continuing, "From Morgan Town?"

Gasper explained, "From Balawang Village in Morgan Town..."

"However, Balawang Village was almost completely wiped out by the attack of the Iron Blood Brotherhood Bandits."

"Only a few of us villagers working away from home escaped their wrath..."

Ackman nodded, ceasing his inquiries.

His tone shifted, "In a few hours, we should arrive at the town walls."

"Gasper, from now on, you're the merchant of this crop caravan, and we're your guards, following your lead."

"Once inside the walls, you'll negotiate with the Lord of the domain."

Gasper nodded solemnly, "Yes, Chief Attendant."

Ackman glanced at the four followers behind him, speaking in a deep voice, "You need not do anything but stay silent and surround the cart."

"Now, call Gasper 'Master'."

The followers exchanged glances, then called out, "Master Gasper!"

Hearing the uneven shouts, Ackman nodded in satisfaction.

"Very good."

A day quickly passed.

Until dusk.

Ackman and his group saw in the distance the towering town walls.

An indescribable tension appeared in each of their hearts.

Beside them stood large chevaux de frise made with iron nails and logs!

Ackman roughly estimated they were about two meters high!

Such height that even warhorses could not leap over.

Was it fear of enemy attacks that prompted the Lord to craft such chevaux de frise?

After briefly taking in the sight, Ackman and his group continued advancing their cart and horses toward the wall without pause.

As they approached, they could see figures clad in armor, gripping long spears atop the wall.

Ackman knew, just as Jeremy, whom he had killed, had said.

Those were fully armed soldiers!

Like the soldiers of the Dukas Sword and Shield Corps brought by Lawrence!

One quick glance revealed at least a dozen fully armed soldiers, and Ackman couldn't imagine how many more lay behind the wall.

Approaching the wall.

Before Ackman could remind Gasper, Gasper preemptively shouted to the wall, "Gentlemen, I'm a local merchant under Mr. Boer, here to conduct a transaction."

Gasper's voice echoed through the forest.

But there was no response from the wall.

Just as Ackman hesitated to have Gasper say something else, a low thud of an iron gate opening reached their ears.

Ackman quickly turned to look.

Over a dozen soldiers riding warhorses, clad in standard plate armor and wielding long spears, galloped out from behind the gate.

The rapid hoofbeats made the horses they rode neigh with fear.

The heavy, metallic presence, along with a sense of impending violence, instantly struck Ackman and his group's hearts.

As the heavy cavalry reached them and began an inspection, Gasper continued, "Gentlemen, I am a friend of Mr. Boer... Mr. Boer has sent me to transport grain for exchange."

Ackman glanced at Gasper, though he didn't know who this Boer was.

But evidently, the name Boer had persuaded these soldiers to open the gate.

A burly figure, mounted on a warhorse, slowly approached from behind.

The dozen cavalrymen surrounding them reined in their horses to make way for the burly man.

Rose glanced at Gasper, then at Ackman, speaking, "Submit to inspection, leave your weapons, and if you pass, you may enter!"

Listening to Rose's words, Ackman frowned deeply.

What a domineering rule!

Submitting to inspection he could accept.

But leaving their weapons?

If anything happened inside, they'd have no means of defense or resistance without their weapons.

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