The boxes were the kind of containers used at ports. Connor's personal space could only fit two or three, so he couldn't fly straight to the capital like he did when sending someone to the hospital. They had to travel by land.
Connor asked, "Transportation on land is troublesome. Do you have any good ideas?"
Lilith immediately realized that this was a test from her master.
"There's a group spell in wind magic called 'Follow the Wind'. During casting, it can make all objects float and move towards a designated direction."
Connor nodded then shook his head. Although this solved the transportation problem, it consumed a powerful battle force which seemed uneconomical. So he asked again, "Can you use other spells during casting of this spell?"
The second question came!
Lilith nodded repeatedly like a student who had aced an exam: "Dual casting? No problem! But carrying goods while fighting will inevitably cause some reduction in strength."
Seeing Connor silent, Lilith added, "Don't judge me based on my appearance. I've also practiced hard. Converted into human world levels, I'm already an eighth-tier high-level mage."
"Eighth-tier high-level?" Connor silently remembered this data and asked further, "What level do you think you'll be after accounting for any reductions in strength?"
Lilith's heart sank as she quickly realized she lost on the third question.
She thought she had grown quite strong but compared to the great demon king before her eyes, it was nothing worth mentioning. The great demon king was already beyond mundane existence; how could he care about human world levels?
"Uh...maybe eighth-tier low-level?" Lilith guessed hesitantly.
After getting an idea of their own strength, Connor calmly said: "We still need to work harder."
Lilith felt ashamed and motivated herself to practice harder in secret as cold sweat dripped down her face.
Meanwhile, just to be safe, Connor decided to look for safer routes on the map with Cole Garrison's help.
Cole Garrison spread out the map on the table and introduced it to everyone: "From Lingport City to Changfeng City eastward is the most commonly traveled path via Sentry Mountain Pass. However, in recent years there's been a gang of bandits called Crimson Standard Gang who often rob passing vehicles."
"The kingdom has sent troops several times but without results," continued Cole Garrison. "Whenever our army approaches they flee into Thorny Forest near Sentry Mountain Pass and return after we disband."
"Later on," he added with disdainful tone "the King issued amnesty orders one after another; some even joined as grassroots officials but after eating their first month's military pay they fled back becoming bandits again...Anyway these guys are like dog plasters posted everywhere - unnecessary yet removable - now they're left alone causing us annoyance."
Connor quickly judged that the Crimson Standard Gang was a group of ruthless people who should be avoided for now.
He pointed to the map and asked, "What if we bypass Sentry Mountain Pass and go straight through Thorny Forest?"
Cole Garrison pondered for a moment and said, "Well...that's possible. However, Thorny Forest is a complicated environment with numerous monsters inhabiting it. If you're lucky, you might only encounter slimes but if you're unlucky, you could run into high-level magical beasts like petrifying lizards, jade frog-men or abyssal demon fish which are not easy to deal with."
"If we go deeper," he continued, "we may even encounter the woodland wolf clan's king Lan Ya Wolf. They are known for their ferocity and can fight against opponents at about fifth-tier strength alone. Of course, our people are not weak either; one-on-one or two-on-one fights won't be a problem."
"However," he warned Connor, "these beasts' most dangerous aspect is that they don't fight alone like other wolves do. They often act in groups where their head wolf reportedly has eighth-tier combat power. If we end up fighting many of them at once, our chances of survival will be pretty low."
Connor examined the map carefully.
Indeed, both routes were difficult: one had bandits while the other had beasts. No wonder this task was given to logistics centers instead of official manpower.
"Garrison Sir," Connor said as he pointed to a thick line on the map marked with a big red X. "Isn't there another route here?"
The shortest distance between two points is a straight line.
Sentry Mountain Pass was eastward while Thorny Forest was westward; neither was a shortcut from Lingport City to Changfeng City. However, right in the middle lay an open plain terrain that should have been the best route for merchants and travelers.
But oddly enough, there were no symbols indicating any post stations, eateries or stables along this road on the map as though it were an uninhabited area.
Connor didn't care much about whether anyone lived there or not since he could store food and water in his personal space for several days' travel without taking risks on either of those two roads where life and death hung by just probability.
Overall it seemed safer than risking his life on either of those two routes.
"What if we take this route?" Connor asked, pointing to the road with the big red X.
Cole Garrison's usually composed expression turned into one of terror. "No, no, no! Mr. Connor, absolutely not!"
"Why not? Is there something wrong with this route too?" Connor asked curiously.
"This route is... it's..." Cole Garrison stammered, unable to find the right words. "It's forbidden! There are no basic living facilities marked on the map because nobody dares to travel through there!"
"Why?" Connor pressed for an answer.
"It's because that place... that place is where Nexus Overlord resides. It's the location of Nexus Citadel!" Cole Garrison exclaimed, his face turning pale and his voice shaking.
"You're still young and don't know much about him. Nexus Overlord emerged as a new demon king with outstanding strength during Witch Night when all the demon kings competed against each other. He was recognized as the most likely candidate to become the next Demon Lord due to his incredible strength."
"Moreover," Cole continued, "Nexus Overlord is particularly fond of cultivation. It is rumored that he just made another breakthrough recently; do you remember those heavy rainstorms in broad daylight a few days ago? That was a sign that he is about to leave seclusion and dominate our continent!"
"If he were still in seclusion," Cole said desperately, "we might be able to try our luck and sneak past him. But now... I implore you, Mr. Connor, think carefully before making a decision."
All eyes were on Connor as he closed his eyes and remained silent for some time.
Suddenly he sighed deeply and slammed his hands onto the table.
"I have something to say," he announced loudly. "The bandits at Sentry Mountain Pass are forced into their lives of crime by circumstance while the beasts in Thorny Forest attack people to protect their homes. These threats may cause inconvenience but they aren't inherently evil."
"But Nexus Overlord's Nexus Citadel in the heart of our empire is like a dagger stuck right into our vital organs - half-colonialist society and half-feudalism! As an ordinary citizen named Connor, I will never forget my duty towards my country."
"I swear today that I will defeat Nexus Overlord and destroy Nexus Citadel once and for all! Let us see who survives after this battle!" His powerful speech struck deep chords within everyone present.
Cole Garrison and his men were moved by what they heard but couldn't bear seeing Connor throw away his life so recklessly: "Please don't do it, Mr. Connor!" they pleaded with him.
Connor waved them off and headed back into the carriage: "My mind is made up! Please go back now."