After explaining the final arrangements, the representative from the Royal family ordered everyone to move.

Thirty hooded figures exited the tavern together and ran toward the mountain path, outside of Vonduhr.

Meanwhile, right outside the city, on the opposite side from where the group from the Royal family went.

Sixty men wearing the emblem of the Muwlos family marched at a steady pace inside the town.

Samuel was in the center of the group, he was wearing an anxious expression and his eyes darted every time he heard a loud sound.

"Young master, please calm down. The Royals would never attack inside the borders of a city. The danger will come on the mountain path."

Abel was right at his side, whispering with a soft voice to his ear.

The soldiers around them were simple guards, unaware of the political struggles that the Muwlos family was creating.

If they knew that they were against the schemes of the Royal dynasty, their determination might crumble and they might even refuse to continue in their mission.

"I know but I can't help it. It's the first time that I'm in such a dangerous situation."

Samuel whispered.

As the heir of a large-size n.o.ble family, he had never faced a deadly danger.

Jumping from his lofty position to being an enemy of the overlords of the nation was a heavy blow on his mind.

"Don't worry. With me here, there are few things that can hurt you."

However, Samuel wasn't satisfied with that same answer when the danger was about to crash on them.

"What makes you so sure that they won't send someone on your same level or stronger?"

Abel heard Samuel's complaint and organized his thoughts to give him his best answer.

Yet, when he opened his mouth to speak, what came out was a question.

"Why do you think the Royals didn't stop you from buying those techniques?"

Samuel thought for a bit before answering.

"Because I followed the rules."

"Exactly. To create the current peaceful situation between the n.o.bles and the Royals, the Elbas family had to always stick to their own rules. You must understand that if all the n.o.ble families were to fight together against the Royals, they would ultimately win."

"What are you implying?"

"I'm saying that the moment they break their own rules, the other n.o.ble families will feel authorized to act. Two thousand years ago there was no one that could match the Elbas family but now our nation is flouris.h.i.+ng and every n.o.ble family has increased their power by a lot. They indeed have many large-size families as allies but the situation will change if they personally interfere with matters that happened according to their rules. Tell me, would you trust an ally that doesn't respect his own agreements?"

"Of course not!"

Samuel's answer was immediate, he was beginning to understand Abel's reasoning.

"This is exactly what is happening. If they were to kill you directly, their allies will lose their trust toward the Royals and s.h.i.+ft their support to the Cause. That's why they will probably use cultivators unrelated to them to make it look like an accident. I bet they have emptied their cells for this mission."

Abel concluded, releasing a small laugh to relax his young master.

"So, you are sure that you will be enough?"

"Obviously, my body is specialized in protracted fights. Even if someone on my level appeared, I will just hold him back to give you enough time to escape. Also, these soldiers are the best that the family could give you, each of them has a rank 3 martial art!"

Samuel nodded and finally showed a smile.

For simple guards of a n.o.ble family, having a rank 3 martial art meant that they had performed many valuable services, which also meant that they weren't inexperienced.

"Then we should hurry up. Let's refill our stashes of food in the city and move toward the Muwlos domain."

.

.

.

Noah and the others in his group reached for the mountain path and waited for further instructions.

The representative stood with his eyes closed inspecting a rune in his hand.

That rune was the inscribed item through which the spies of the Royal family sent information to him.

The other hooded figures were around him, waiting in silence.

After a few minutes, he opened his eyes and pointed toward an area.

"They will cross that area. Hurry, prepare the trap with Jean's poison."

The cultivators hastily dug the terrain where the representative indicated and Jean carefully lowered her barrel inside it.

Then, the hole was covered and they went on their respective positions in hidden parts of the mountain over that point.

A group of ten cultivators stood in a newly created cave, hidden with roots and branches.

Noah was among them, they had to attack as soon as the effects of the poison vanished, they were basically the vanguard of the mission.

"Do you want to make a quick warm-up?"

Jean's almost-naked figure was behind him, speaking with a tempting voice.

Noah still didn't know how she could exude such a peculiar aura.

"Why do you bother me? There are others that would gladly take my place."

He answered her, keeping his focus on the road below.

She tried to lean on him but was stopped by the appearance of a saber pointing at her chest, Noah had wielded it as soon as she became too close.

"See, that's why."

She said, pointing at the blade.

"Because you are the only one that refuses me."

"I'm just focused on the mission."

Jean chuckled and shook her head.

"I believe that you are saying the truth but I also believe that you simply don't care about my body."

Noah turned and looked at her figure from head to toe.

"You have a nice body, so what? Should I drool over you?"

If that was a normal situation, he would just ignore her.

However, since it was during a mission where he wasn't clear about the strength of the enemies, he would prefer to end the conversation as soon as he could.

"No, I just thought that since you don't care about my body, you might not mind my face."