Ki turned to face Rayleigh and Lumi then asked. "Are things like this common in the north?"
While Ki did know a little about the north and had learned a little more from Rayleigh and Lumi or from the reports on the businesses in the north, there were some things that she did not know about that well.
Lumi and Rayleigh had been taught from a younger age within their sects and had made visits to certain areas of the north so they knew more than Ki did about the culture and the environment.
Rayleigh looked over the wooden fences and everything else then spoke coldly. "This is fairly common among the tribes and nobles. Wild animals are not a rarity in the north so they threaten many lives and need to be reduced in numbers often. If a hunting party is not sent out then such traps will be set to lure in a large amount and to kill or capture them. Those captured would be used in hunting games or would be sold off to others."
Lumi nodded in agreement to show that she knew the same information. "Un.."
Ki sighed. "So what is the likelihood that this is just an accident or is intentionally set up for us?"
Rayleigh responded quickly. "Hmm.. I would go with it being intentional. It is no coincidence that they had been let loose and abandoned so close to the path we had been passing through. There are not many routes we could have taken and this path would be the most obvious for a larger group moving together."
Ki observed the ground nearby but could not detect anything that showed there being any humans nearby. "I thought so…"
She walked further away from where she stood until she found an area where the trees were more spaced out and it was more accessible. "The cold environment sure does help to preserve some things."
There were some tracks which had been made by a carriage or large sled which were dragged towards one direction as if it had entered the forest and then went back to where they came from.
It just so happened to lead back onto the path and went towards the capital or one of the smaller human settlements nearby.
Due to the cold weather, the soil had frozen and become more solid so the tracks had been left behind.
If the tracks were preserved in a normal environment then the date since they had been there would not be too difficult to guess but since it was so cold, the ground could remain like that for a long time.
If someone had let the animals out and left then there was a low chance of Ki or others catching up to them.
Ki looked a little annoyed but then took a short breathe. "Hah… if we encounter them then it would be difficult to confirm that they were even behind this. There is no use continuing to worry about these matters. Let's return."
There was nothing that could be used to identify who was behind it and there was nobody around so there was no way for Ki to vent her anger.
Ki thought that so many wolves had died unnecessarily due to some humans that had plotted against her family and that their lives could have been put to some use if she had caught them.
Unfortunately they were in a dangerous state and posed a threat to those she wished to protect so they had to be killed.
If it was another time and she did not need to worry about the consequences then gaining more wolves for the white wolf division to contract with was something Ki would want to achieve.
Each division that had been raised within the Bombyx family had grown quickly and among them were the group which her own brother was given leadership over.
Those that had contracted with a beast and more specifically a wolf had been under his command.
As his elders sister, Ki wanted her younger brother to be safe and grow up strong so that she could get to witness what she had not in her previous life.
It was natural for her to be protective of him who was the first to disappear from her life and to wish to see him thrive.
Ki, Rayleigh and Lumi carefully walked back to the carriages and sleds then when everything had been dealt with, they continued on their journey.
With a flick of her wrist, the lead jolted and caused the snow dogs to move as she called out. "Hike!"
Many other similar commands came afterwards as everyone followed behind.
The cold winds hit her face but Ki remained unfazed as her gaze was directed forward towards the capital which was still very far into the distance.
She did not know what was awaiting her in the capital and if her plans were going to be successful as she had wanted but it was worth taking the risk entering the capital anyways.
It did not matter what the stance of the various nobles of the north was because she would aim to change their minds.
In the face of the wealth and goods that her family possessed even the most resistant to her would have a change of heart if they got to sample the finest of delicacies and got to experience what they never had the chance to have once in their life.
What was considered as common and normal within the central lands was considered as a delicacy or rarity in the north which was filled with beasts, had poor crop production and was less developed.
If there was one way to appeal to then it would be to what they were lacking in and had not got the chance to experience.
Even the nobles and royals who would he most opposed to her family had various needs and wants which could not be satisfied unless her family remained connected to the north.
Anything they had gained in the past through her trading in the north would be cut off with a single word from her if they offended her but it seemed as if some still chose to do so.
Whether they did not know the result or had chosen to ignore that point was unknown and those that had acted could just be a part of another faction.
The wolves attacking her group could have been the work of those in the capital or it could have been a rogue group acting alone to cause problems so Ki had calmed her mind a little before finally reaching the main road which lead to the capitals gates. "We are finally here."
It had been a long and difficult journey which required many breaks for eating, resting and sleeping but they had all arrived safely without any more major disturbances.
Ki looked towards the large gates off in the distance and smiled. 'No major incidents have happened along the way so who ever had been behind it must have believed there would be no need for a backup plan to ensure that we did not arrive. Hmm? There seems to be a crowd ahead so it looks like we will have to wait to gain entry.'
Ahead of her was the gates and there were some carriages, sleds and some people waiting outside to be granted entry so there had been a queue which had formed.
Ki signalled to slow down and then gradually came to a stop not too far away from those ahead of her. "Easy! Whoa!"
Behind her, many others gradually came to a halt and started to slowly step back onto the ground after exiting their carriage or sleds.