infodatos Chapter 175 Substitution
Chapter 175 Substitution
Chapter 175 Substitution
The convoy slowly drove toward the city gate, where soldiers and sheriffs stepped forward to begin routine checks.
"Line up and get checked!" the lead sheriff shouted.
Old Jack nodded slightly to the caravan leader beside him.
The massive grain convoy obediently turned into the designated inspection area and slowly came to a stop amidst the dust.
The city planning of the royal court of Sussas differed from that of Nords. The west gate was specifically for the entry and exit of goods, and caravans passed by in an endless stream every day.
For this reason, the soldiers guarding the city usually do not conduct a thorough inspection of each vehicle, which is too tedious.
For example, convoys transporting grain, which are crucial to the food supply of millions of people in the capital, are generally subject to more lenient inspections.
Usually, only the cargo manifest is checked, and a few vehicles are randomly selected for inspection. If there are no problems, the vehicles are released.
After a long wait, it was finally Old Jack's turn to drive his convoy.
"Stop! Caravan leader, come forward!"
"The sheriff gave the order."
Old Jack, with a calm expression, went to greet him and handed over the documents.
For him, dealing with such inspections was a routine matter.
The soldiers began conducting spot checks.
Just then, the leading sheriff suddenly gave old Jack a deep look, then whispered a few words to the businessman beside him.
The businessman's face instantly turned ugly.
"What's wrong?" Old Jack asked in a low voice.
"This is troublesome," the businessman said, his voice tense. "We received a tip that there's a wanted criminal hiding in our convoy, plotting something sinister."
Old Jack's face darkened.
The businessman was so nervous that sweat beaded on his forehead.
The sheriff waved his hand, and the soldiers immediately surrounded the convoy, separating it from the rest of the procession.
"We received a report that your convoy is suspected. Take the entire team aside for a thorough inspection!"
Old Jack gritted his teeth and shouted to those behind him, "Do as I say! Pull the car over to the side for inspection!"
Seeing this, Oliver and the flying squirrel, who were mixed in with the mercenaries, secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
The flying squirrel leaned closer to Oliver, lowered its voice, and couldn't hide its excitement: "Don't worry, once we find those wanted criminals, we just need to show them the bounty contract to prove that we reported them, and we'll be fine."
The credit and the money are all ours.
Oliver, however, stared at old Jack's retreating figure as he negotiated with the sheriff, his voice low and menacing: "What about Boss Jack and his men—"
"Hmph," the flying squirrel sneered.
"Even the noblest knight will waver in the face of enough wealth."
Old Jack has treated you well over the years, but you've also made a lot of money for him. We're even now.
Don't be silly.
Oliver stopped talking and just lowered his head.
Because of the "whistleblower's report," the sheriff and his men kept a close watch on the situation and ordered the mercenaries to unload and inspect all the wheat from the cartloads.
However, one, two —
They searched every single truck, but found nothing but golden wheat grains.
As the examination progressed, the flying squirrel and Oliver's expressions grew increasingly grim.
"How is that possible!" the flying squirrel exclaimed. "I clearly saw those four people get into the car with my own eyes! How could they not be there?"
His voice was loud enough to draw the attention of several mercenaries around him.
Old Jack turned his head sharply and glared at him with eyes as sharp as knives.
The flying squirrel panicked immediately.
He knew that Old Jack, as the head of the underground black market, had connections everywhere, and he was afraid that he had gotten himself into big trouble.
He instinctively looked to Oliver for help, only to see Oliver with his head bowed, his face a mixture of red and blue, his fists clenched white.
"Alright, let's go."
Seeing that he had found nothing, the sheriff waved his hand impatiently.
The convoy was given permission to proceed and slowly drove into the city gate.
Old Jack glared fiercely at the flying squirrel and Oliver, his eyes cold and piercing.
The two looked at each other and saw fear in each other's eyes.
On the other side, a warehouse in Xicheng District.
Kane and Arundel jumped off a truck loaded with wheat, while Risa and Ella crawled out of another truck next to it.
The group brushed the wheat ears off their clothes.
Risa complained, "Kane, couldn't you think of a more respectable way?"
Kane glanced at her. "So you prefer going through that tunnel and dealing with your demonic fellow countrymen?"
"Heh—then let's forget about it," Risa said awkwardly.
She might be able to manage things in her dreams, but the demons in reality are not someone she can easily deal with.
Arendl surveyed the large warehouse, filled with all sorts of goods and bustling with wagons, and asked疑惑地问道, "Sir, this doesn't seem to be the caravan we initially followed?"
"Just in case, we switched to another team midway."
Kane explained.
He didn't trust the motley crew of mercenaries under Old Jack, so last night he discussed with Old Jack and arranged for two caravans, one open and one covert.
The convoy visible in the open was the vanguard led by Old Jack, carrying grain.
The convoy hidden in the shadows was actually another temporary hired team, transporting groceries, and followed closely behind.
While the two lines were briefly parallel, two trucks from each line quietly switched places while waiting to enter the city.
Throughout the entire process, all the mercenaries, including Oliver, remained completely unaware.
It was this "switcheroo" that allowed Kane and his three companions to successfully enter the city and arrive at the warehouse while Old Jack's convoy was intercepted and thoroughly investigated.
Just then, the sound of footsteps came from behind.
Arundel's expression hardened, and he instinctively tried to cast a spell to conceal himself, but Kane shook his head slightly to stop him.
The warehouse door was pushed open, and a figure walked in—it was Ashran.
She was dressed in ordinary Sussai women's clothing, and smiled when she saw Ella.
"Ella!"
"Ashland!"
Ella rushed forward with delight, and the two held each other's hands tightly.
"I'm so glad to see you again. Thank you, elven gods."
"Thank you for bringing everyone here safely."
"It's alright, it's all over now, as long as you're safe."
Ashland gently patted Ella's hand, softly comforting her.
Ella was completely relieved.
She has been living in fear these past few days.
Risa is a mysterious demon, and Arundel is preoccupied with her own worries, making her feel like she's about to be exposed every time the sheriff boards the ship for inspection.
Seeing her trusted friend, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Now she only wants to use the power of the magic academy to clear the name of the Finafine family for assassinating the royal family.
Even if they fail, they can escape to the Free Cities through Ashran's connections.
Ella looked up, about to confide in her best friend.
She noticed, however, that Ashland's gaze was fixed on Kane, and there seemed to be an unusual glint in his eyes.
Ella was slightly taken aback.
Arundel straightened his robes and asked Kane, "Sir, how do we contact the mage academy next?"
Kane shook his head and relayed the information Ashland had given him: "The academy is now under personnel control, and mages who are not from Susas are prohibited from contacting the core members."
He looked at Arundel.
"As a lecturer in the Illusion Department, don't you have any other channels of communication?"
Arundel frowned and recounted how he had tried to contact them using a carrier pigeon but only received a reply asking for his hiding place.
"This sounds like a trap."
Kane spoke frankly.
"I also have my doubts, so let's—"
"Agree to their request, but give them a fake address," Kane said.
"Agree?" Arundel asked, puzzled.
"Although we will eventually return to the academy, we must first understand the situation inside."
Since that's the case, why not throw out a hook first and see how the other party reacts?
Only by understanding their intentions can we decide on our next step.
Arundel pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "I understand."
Kane said no more, but turned to Risa, who was cleaning the ears of wheat off her body not far away.
Her ability to infiltrate dreams and gather intelligence will be key to the subsequent plans.
Just then, the warehouse door was flung open, and a mercenary rushed in, panting, shouting to Kane, "Sir! Something's happened! Boss Jack—he's been stabbed!"