Although the guards who stayed at the carriage camp were not the rangers in the legendary stories, they still had basic industry knowledge.
It is completely impossible to put out a campfire at night like this!
It couldn't be that this group of people calculated together and ran away with the goods on the carriage, right?
Or is it that the residents of Black Mountain turned into ruthless bandits and took care of the guards over there?
Or maybe some emergency situation occurred and the campfire was accidentally extinguished?
In an instant, all kinds of speculations emerged in Ronald's mind.
But the camp was too far away, and even a silhouette could not be seen clearly through the dark and gloomy air. It was impossible to verify it immediately.
so--
What exactly is going on?
Just as Ronald's pupils tightened and he felt uneasy in his heart.
Nessos, who was walking side by side with him, obviously noticed something, and then looked back following Ronald's eyes.
Click——
In an instant, a subtle sound of metal breaking came from Nessos' hand.
Noticing the situation behind him, although the businessman showed no expression on his face, his fingers suddenly exerted force and directly pinched the ring of the lantern!
"..."
Yes, this guy discovered it too.
There was no reason why Ronald, who was walking side by side and cheering himself up, couldn't discover this.
So there was silence.
Ronald and Nessos stared at each other for a few seconds, and then turned their gazes forward in tacit agreement.
It's like nothing happened.
But in their hearts, both of them knew the current problem.
- It is impossible to go back and check the camp.
Without any warning, the camp guarded by professional guards suddenly dimmed. This was definitely not a situation that could be solved by just a few traders.
——It doesn’t work to remind your companions loudly.
This kind of behavior is bound to make ordinary people panic. When the team is in chaos, it is clear that they are reminding them of possible 'dangers' around them and that they have discovered the other party, thus triggering a direct attack from the enemy.
It's not possible to go back or remind your companions.
So how to deal with the problem?
Ronald and Nessus, who fell silent, began to think about countermeasures, but the few people in front were not aware of this yet.
In addition to complaining about the difficulty of walking on the mountain road at night, their main conversation revolved around whether Gain could sell the fruit.
"..."
After a few more breaths, and after advancing about ten meters, Nessos held a lamp and spoke to Ronald in a seemingly casual manner:
"Mr. Ronald, does a nobleman like you like to hunt?"
"I heard that many nobles now use muskets instead of bows and arrows for hunting."
"..."
Before answering, Ronald looked carefully at Nessos's eyes.
Xing Shang's steel-blue pupils swayed under the light of the lamp, but his expression was condensed and deep. His upper eyelids were raised higher than usual, which further highlighted the other person's current mental state.
When he said this, Nessos was very serious!
This guy is definitely not speaking for simple chatting or to numb the dangers around him, but to communicate information with himself and discuss the next countermeasures!
"As for me, I have never used such a novelty as a musket."
"That's something only the big nobles in the city can enjoy."
"And when it comes to hunting, that's what I remember when my father was still alive. I won't have that opportunity after independence."
After answering Nessus' question, Ronald did not forget to ask the other party with the same serious eyes:
"Mr. Nessos asked this, do you like hunting very much?"
During the exchange of glances, Xing Shang also confirmed that Ronald understood his thoughts.
Immediately, his eyes gradually calmed down, and more attention began to be directed forward.
As if they were really chatting, Nessos also responded:
"A noble like you doesn't have time for entertainment, let alone a businessman like me."
"It's just that I brought some hunting supplies this time."
Speaking of this, Nessos paused before continuing:
"Ah, right!"
"I still remember one time when I was rushing outside and happened to meet a big noble out to hunt. I will never forget that scene in my life."
"Could it be that you were lucky enough to be a part of it...?"
"Participate?" Hearing Ronald's inquiry, Nessus waved his hand regretfully, "I ran away at that time. Otherwise, I would have been entangled by the escorting knights, and I would have made two or three months of profits.
"
"That's it..."
"Then we really have no choice but to run away."
"is not that right?"
"..."
After a few brief exchanges, Ronald and Nessos completed the exchange of information and also determined the next action plan.
As for the content, it can be summarized in one word.
--escape.
Actually in the conversation.
Using hunting to refer to the current crisis, Nessos asked Ronald whether he could fight and whether he had ever encountered such a situation before.
Ronald's answer was that he had no combat experience and asked about the opponent's abilities.
The result is regrettable.
Nessus said that he was armed, but he also had no fighting ability.
That's why I finally made the suggestion to escape.
--Then there's the way to escape.
First of all, it is impossible to turn back and go down the mountain. The danger of the extinguished campfire behind you is self-evident.
Hitting him like this is tantamount to self-destruction.
As a result, there are only two options left.
Run into the mountains and use the terrain to try to escape. Turning off the lamp in the dark is a natural and powerful protection;
Or speed up and seek help in the towns in the Black Mountains.
Although dangers may also exist in the town, according to Thomson, who has been here, the residents of Montenegro are not particularly dangerous people.
With these things in mind, Ronald was actually more inclined to go to the mountains.
Although Thomson, who had been to Montenegro in the team, had a good impression of the town, he also thought the residents had simple folk customs during the chat.
But there is one problem that cannot be ignored——
Just now, they encountered a road that was destroyed by rain three days ago and has not yet been repaired.
For a town in such a remote place, it is outrageous that important roads are ignored.
This small town in Montenegro doesn't look like a safe place.
Therefore, Ronald still trusted his own inference more than the businessman's experience.
The air was low in the cloudy night, and with the help of only three lanterns in the team, the small team swayed and sneaked in the darkness.
Especially at the end of the line.
From the perspective of the two people who were already aware of the crisis, the darkness around them seemed to be hiding dangers everywhere, as if some man-eating beast was lurking in it and would pounce at any time!
The light that a lantern can bring is too small and not enough to support people's hearts.
Suddenly, someone from the merchants in front shouted loudly, with a confused voice mixed with a hint of panic:
"What's that thing in front of?"
"Gain, be careful!"
"What did you say..."
"ah!"
After a scream, the team became silent.
Not far along the road, Gain, who was holding a fruit box at the front of the team, saw the end of the road.
The planned town has long since disappeared.
Instead--
It was a thick, dark fog that was constantly churning and deeper than the dark night.
The top cannot be seen from the top, and the tail cannot be seen from the bottom.
The twisted and sticky darkness is slowly spreading forward. Something strange is brewing in this thick fog, and the darkness surrounding it in all directions is as despairing as the desert devouring the land.
This is a reminder from biological instinct.
It's dangerous!
snap——
The fruit box in Gain's arms fell to the ground, and the yellow fruits scattered all over the ground.