Leon looked dumbfounded at Erik.
"A trip? Also, I thought I was too injured to adventure?"
Guild Master Erik shrugged with a beaming smile.
"Well, this year it is our guilds turn in the rotation to take the taxes from Verin to the Orsini. We are supposed to provide adequate protection for the convoy, but since I wanted to visit a friend in Orsini I decided to go for our guild. I think I am plenty of protection, but I feel like I would get bored so I decided to take you along since it is just riding in a carriage and you still can't adventure yet."
With his jaw-dropping, Leon couldn't help be surprised. Leon had barely traveled far from Verin, which was located near the border of Partha. Verin itself was a big city and it was only a couple of hours away by horse from the northern border that separated Partha from many countries, even including one of Partha's historical enemies, the Akkad Empire.
The Akkad Empire rose to power as an official nation around the same time as the Kingdom of Partha. Due to the close proximity of the kingdoms, they had warred many times throughout the history of the two nations. Both conquered many of their neighbors and had expanded their respective powers and influence. However, both empires were always close in power no matter what they did. Currently, the Akkad Empire and the Kingdom of Partha were in a frail truce of temporary peace.
Due to this, Leon never really traveled from the city of Verin and the furthest he had been away from the city was the small village of Xert from back then. Even Xert was west of Verin and still situated itself near the border. However Orsini was one of the four major fortresses that Partha had, they acted as a closer branch of the capital and its rulers to control places further away from the capital. The four cities also acted as strongholds that would be tough to break, if any invaders ever came. They also collected taxes from cities in their respective region, Orsini was the fortress in the north.
Leon could not help but want to see the famous fortress with his own eyes, as his adventurous personality dictated. He enthusiastically nodded and Guild Master Erik told him to get ready.
The next day, Leon and Guild Master Erik went to the city of Verin's administrative buildings and received a cart full of gold and reports that the city needed to send to the fortress for the annual taxes and reports for the capital. After taking the convoy, they set off without a worry and headed south to Orsini.
-One day later. In a large forest, just a days ride from Verin towards the city of Orsini -
A group of ten people was dressed in black ragged clothing, that made them look like ordinary highway bandits. They were all muscular and carried various weapons from staffs to swords. Their faces could not be seen due to the black hoods that draped over their heads, however, the group was made of three ladies and seven men.
A tall man, that stood at 190 centimetres with a halberd spread across his back, stood at the front of the group and quietly spoke.
"We all know what the mission is, from the intel gathered the people guarding the convoy should be low-tiered adventurers. Since we are enemy territory and stealing from Partha, we have to be silent and swift about this. No survivors. Remember a convoy has not been raided ever, so the guilds probably sent weaklings, but they are adventurers regardless."
The man who spoke exuded an aura of leadership and power. The other nine did not say a word and merely nodded at the information. If most adventurers knew this group was attacking them, they would most likely wet themselves. This is all due to the fact that everyone in the group was at least in the mid-rank of C Tier in terms of combat power, although they weren't Adventurer's. Holding his halberd in one hand, the leader of the group gave a signal with his hand that meant their target was approaching.
Riding a wagon in a forest just a minute away from the group hidden in the trees alongside the path, Leon and Erik were still on their journey with all the taxes and reports in the wagon. Leon sat in the driver's seat leading the horse, while Erik snored next to him. With incredible balance and strength, Erik had fallen asleep sitting upright with no back support a couple of hours back.
While Leon thought the journey would be exciting with the Guild Master there, Erik had taken Leon along to drive the cart as he slept, since he was too bored and lazy too.
As the wagon passed by a bunch of dense vegetation and trees, Erik acted with the speed of a snake striking out and used his thick muscular arm as a shield. He pushed Leon out of the way and an iron arrow coated in a weird substance bounced off Erik's arm like a pebble.
Erik roared.
"Who's there? Who dares attack my guild member and even had the nerve the do it while I was napping."
As if they wanted to answer his question, the ten figures popped out from all directions and surrounded the wagon that had stopped in the middle of the road.
Erik could immediately get a vague sense of their powers with his enhanced battle senses and gestured to Leon.
"Leon listen to me carefully. You are still recovering and whoever these people are, they are quite strong. Lie in the wagon and don't interfere or leave yourself exposed. I will personally take care of this."
Leon wanted to protest, but he saw the serious face that Erik had put on and did what he was told and angled himself in the wagon so he could see the battle that was about to unfold.
Everyone stood still like time had stopped, the sound of leaves could be heard rustling as the wind glided through the forest. All of a sudden everyone started moving and the hooded assailants approached Erik.
They all used their weapons normally and used no skills or special effects behind their attacks. The various arrows and slashes without any real powers behind them, could not even leave a mark on Erik.
However, the tall man who wielded the halberd saw this and decided to get serious, a bright red aura surrounded the man and he swung down as he jumped at Erik. Sensing the power and energy behind the attack, Erik decided to use his skills, and his muscles expanded and doubled in size.