An hour later, Hawke's caravan had finished organizing and officially set off from Ximu Town.

The caravan moved slowly on the muddy road, wheels crushing the potholes, making a monotonous and heavy sound.

The cart Duke was on was arranged to be in the middle of the team, creating an invisible vacuum area around it.

The ordinary companions and coachmen, upon learning that the silent young man was actually a powerful Level 1 Awakened, were filled with awe in their eyes.

They instinctively stayed away from this cart, even lowering their voices when speaking, fearing to disturb this lord.

Duke was indifferent to this, he closed his eyes to rest while the Eye of Darkness maintained a watchful guard around.

He didn't casually release his Spiritual Power to avoid being detected by other Awakened.

Before having enough understanding of the Awakened, one should be as cautious as possible, as releasing Spiritual Power has a high probability of being perceived by Awakened.

The cart Duke was riding in was very simple, but it was already considered quite good in the caravan, at least clean and tidy, much more comfortable to live in than other carts.

He lay on the cart padded with dry straw and blankets, observing the situation inside the caravan with the Eye of Darkness.

There were two people in the caravan's guard team who appeared particularly distinct.

They were the two Apprentice Awakened whom Hawke's caravan relied on to travel dangerous routes.

One is burly as a tower, named Bal, with muscles like knots under a rough leather armor, carrying a thick tower shield and a heavy war axe, like a silent giant bear.

The other, named Finn, appeared lean and agile, with eyes sharp as eagles, two sharp daggers hanging from his waist, moving silently.

Duke had not yet seen them take action, so he couldn't determine what their Awakened Abilities were.

Bal and Finn were huddled together, speaking in low tones, their faces showing both excitement and unmistakable tension and reverence.

"Bal, is it really Level 1?" Finn's voice was extremely low, his eyes constantly darting towards Duke's direction.

Bal nodded heavily, his voice low and muffled, "Hawke has already said it, it's indeed Level 1. And didn't you see Lu Wen's attitude towards him, that's the Guard Captain under Lord Leighton, usually with his eyes on top of his head. For Lu Wen to be so respectful, who else could it be but a genuine Level 1 lord?"

"My heavens," Finn licked his somewhat dry lips, "Level 1! We've been risking our lives for so many years and haven't even touched the threshold. This lord looks so young..."

"People can't be compared, maybe we should go and pay our respects, not hoping for any guidance from him but we should maintain a good relationship, after all, the circle of Awakened is only so big." Bal was practical, rubbing his fan-like large hands together.

The two discussed in low voices a little longer, encouraging each other, and finally made up their minds.

They tidied up their leather armor and weapons, trying to make themselves look sharp, then cautiously and with utmost respect, walked towards the cart where Duke was located.

"Respected Jelot," Finn spoke, his voice clearly tense but trying to keep clear, "Both Bain and I are Apprentice Awakened, and we have come to pay our respects."

Duke had long noticed their little gestures, sat up and leaned against the cart door, the coachman also gradually stopping the cart.

"Is there something you need?" Duke asked casually.

Finn replied respectfully, "It's our honor to travel with Lord Jelot, so we specially came to offer a small gift."

As he spoke, he took out a small pouch, bulging inside, presumably filled with quite a few gold coins.

Finn still wanted to say something, but Duke waved his hand, "No need, you don't have to be so cautious, just don't disturb me often."

His meaning was simple; he wouldn't trouble Finn and Bain, nor cause trouble, there was no need for them to pay him tribute.

Finn was taken aback for a moment, clearly not expecting Duke to be uninterested in the gold coins in his hand.

But he quickly reacted, nodding, "Understood, Lord Jelot, we will ensure the caravan remains as quiet as possible, and no strangers will come to disturb you."

In the caravan, they had a say, often having a status higher than Hawke, especially when outside the town.

In the wilderness, Finn and Bal were the strongest reliance of this caravan, and also the most powerful guarantee of safety.

Duke's attitude towards Finn and Bal made the two both relieved and a bit disappointed.

This Level 1 lord didn't seem to care about their loyalty and offerings, only asking for peace.

The two backed away carefully, returning to their guard positions, at the same time instructing the surrounding companions and coachmen to keep as quiet as possible, so as not to disturb the lord's rest.

The caravan's atmosphere became even more solemn, leaving only the monotone sound of wheels rolling over the mud and occasional snorts from the pack animals.

The caravan was advancing in a relatively open gray rocky area, dotted with sparse low bushes, and in the distance lay rolling hills; further north under the sky, the outline of the forest could be faintly seen.

Time passed with the turning of the wheels.

After about another hour or so, the caravan entered a relatively narrow valley, flanked by heavily eroded rock walls.

Hawke appeared somewhat nervous, ordering the guards to stay alert, as this rugged terrain was an ideal spot for bandit and demon ambushes.

Suddenly, Duke's Eye of Darkness caught a hint of anomaly.

About three hundred meters ahead of the caravan, on the left hillside among the bushes, several weak but feral presences, carrying a cold killing intent, were lurking.

They moved extremely covertly, using rocks and bushes as cover, quietly maneuvering to encircle the front of the caravan.

Meanwhile, on the right hillside in the shadows, there were also a few presences synchronously moving, vaguely forming an encirclement.

"Demons, wolf-like?" Duke instantly judged in his mind.

These presences bore a unique aura that regular wild wolves do not have, with faint energy flowing within their bodies.

There were about fifteen to twenty of them, with two of them noticeably stronger than the others, nearing the threshold of Apprentice Awakened.

Duke didn't immediately sound the alarm; he wanted to see how the two Apprentice Awakened would handle this, as it was an excellent opportunity to observe the local fighting style and demon characteristics.

But he would also ensure the caravan's safety; with his capabilities, these demons couldn't harm ordinary people in the caravan under his watch.

Even though Hawke only paid a reward of ten gold coins, Duke would fulfill the duty that came with that reward, considering it a transaction.

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