The shopkeeper's codename is Black Shark, and the fat man goes by Red Horse.
Elric and Red Horse had just reappeared inside the carriage.
Earlier, Elric had cleverly hidden himself beneath the carriage, while Red Horse used an invisibility sigil to avoid detection by the patrols.
The air inside the carriage was still thick with the strong scent of herbs.
Both Elric and Red Horse wore expressions of tension, but there was also a sense of relief that they had narrowly escaped danger.
Had it not been for the internal conflict between Sally and the short-haired young man within the Blackstone family, they likely would have been discovered and captured.
As the carriage moved along the narrow mountain road, the oppressive cityscape slowly gave way to the desolate wilderness.
Red Horse spoke in a low voice, recounting how he had long been hiding within Blackstone City.
He explained how he used various trading opportunities to interact with local powers and how he leveraged his position to pass along crucial information.
After learning of General Keynes' failure, their entire spy network had nearly collapsed.
The Blackstone patrols became increasingly strict in their search for spies, which forced him to accelerate his plans for evacuation.
Black Shark also shared his story, explaining how he had lived undercover as a shopkeeper at the Stone Forest Apothecary.
He used his job as a cover to secretly connect with fellow spies within the city while also being responsible for relaying information.
His identity had nearly been exposed on multiple occasions, narrowly escaping arrest by the patrols.
In the end, to protect sensitive information, he was forced to burn several important documents.
Elric listened quietly, absorbing all the information without betraying his thoughts.
Before long, he learned a crucial piece of information.
Neither Red Horse nor Black Shark were agents of the Swan Empire—they were spies from the Twin Swords Empire.
Both had been working undercover in Blackstone City for years, gathering intelligence for the Twin Swords Empire.
General Keynes' failure had dealt a massive blow to their operations.
Eventually, they turned their questions to Elric, curious about his background.
Elric's heart raced, but he kept his composure, replying calmly.
"I grew up in Blackstone City. I've never been to the Twin Swords Empire.
Wasp raised me and said I was well-suited for this kind of mission."
Red Horse and Black Shark exchanged a glance, seemingly satisfied with Elric's explanation.
After all, "Wasp" was a notoriously secretive figure, known for withholding information.
As the carriage continued to bump along the mountain road, Red Horse's voice carried a hint of weariness.
"Should we keep heading south?"
"Yes, our identities will be exposed sooner or later.
It's better to return now while we can."
Elric sat inside the carriage, still struggling to calm his nerves.
This was his first time truly leaving Blackstone City, embarking on a journey to unknown lands.
His hand gripped the corner of the carriage, feeling every bump and jolt with growing unease.
He continued to listen closely to their conversation.
The Swan Empire and the Twin Swords Empire had long been locked in a complex struggle for power.
Keynes had originally been a child of the Blackstone Duke, but he defected to the Twin Swords Empire, where he was even granted the title of Blackstone Duke.
His domain lay in the northern part of the Twin Swords Empire, close to the territory of the Blackstone Duke within the Swan Empire.
Elric was surprised to learn how unique Keynes' position was, clearly a pawn in the game of expanding influence over this region.
"Kid, your superior's gone.
What will you do when you return to the Empire?"
Red Horse suddenly asked, breaking the silence and directing his question at Elric.
Elric thought for a moment before responding.
"I want to become a sigilist."
His answer surprised Red Horse.
"Alright, I'll report back to our superiors once we're back.
After all these years of hiding, we should be due for some rewards."
With that, Red Horse turned his attention back to Black Shark, and they resumed their conversation about what they planned to do after returning to the Empire.
Black Shark expressed his desire to settle down and start a family.
After spending so many years in Blackstone City, always on edge and fearful of being caught or killed, he was exhausted.
He longed for a stable life and hoped to leave the world of espionage behind him.
Red Horse, on the other hand, seemed eager to continue his work as a spy.
...
"We're here. Get off the carriage and change your clothes," Black Shark's voice interrupted the silence, breaking the heavy atmosphere inside the carriage.
He was the first to jump down, pulling out two sets of black clothing and casually tossing them to Elric and Red Horse.
Elric quickly caught the clothes and changed into them.
The black outfits were tight-fitting and designed for stealth.
They were simple and practical, made to minimize visibility in the darkness.
Red Horse was just as swift, silently slipping into his own black attire.
They exchanged a glance, both growing more serious.
The carriage had come to a stop at the edge of a remote forest.
Ahead, they could faintly see a river.
The water flowed quietly, casting faint ripples in the moonlight.
This river marked the natural border between the Swan Empire and the Twin Swords Empire, a dividing line between the two nations.
Soldiers were stationed on both sides of the river, with patrols regularly monitoring the area, ensuring tight security.
Black Shark looked at the river in the distance and whispered to Elric and Red Horse.
"We're near the border of the Swan Empire. Once we cross this river, we'll be on Twin Swords Empire soil.
Someone will be waiting for us on the other side tonight. Once we're across, we'll be safe."
A flicker of tension crossed Elric's eyes.
The three of them, led by Black Shark, quietly retreated into a dense thicket deep in the forest, hiding behind the thick bushes.
From there, they could observe the movements along the riverbank.
At this point, the moon had not yet fully risen, and the darkness provided excellent cover for them.
Red Horse let out a quiet sigh, stretching his arms, his face showing signs of exhaustion.
After days of tense fleeing, all three of them were physically and mentally drained.
Black Shark gestured for them to rest.
"The people haven't arrived yet. Get some rest while you can. Don't waste your energy."
The three leaned against the trees, closing their eyes and slowing their breathing, trying to recover some of their strength.
The faint chirping of insects filled the air, and the soft rustling of leaves accompanied the breeze.
It was unclear how much time had passed before Black Shark suddenly spoke in a low voice.
"They're here."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Red Horse and Elric swiftly got to their feet, crouching low and following closely behind Black Shark.
They moved toward the riverbank in silence, the night air filled only with the gentle rustle of tree branches.
After walking for a while, Black Shark stopped and signaled for Red Horse and Elric to stay put.
He then carefully approached a guard tower, mimicking the sound of a cat.
Not long after, two soldiers emerged from the tower.
Black Shark quickly exchanged a few coded signals with them.
Once the soldiers confirmed the codes were correct, they silently nodded and extended their hands.
Black Shark hesitated for a moment before pulling out a few gold coins from his pocket and handing them over.
The soldiers accepted the coins without hesitation, slipping them into their pockets.
Watching this, Elric whispered to Red Horse.
"Are all the soldiers at the Swan Empire's borders this corrupt?"
Red Horse let out a quiet chuckle, his tone laced with cynicism.
"Not just the Swan Empire's soldiers.
Soldiers from any empire are the same.
Power, money—those things can easily bend their will.
As long as the reward is high enough, they'll do anything you ask."