“Sorry, that was too close!” Clayton whispered.

“Those three were Qi masters from the castle.” Nick seriously explained, “What exactly is going on?”

“These were the only news we could get – there are people in the city who are randomly inspecting suspicious pedestrians.” Clayton replied.

“Alright. We have good news though. There is a huge caravan that soon will depart westwards. Currently it is having a fair near the southern gates and we can apply to become guards. What do you think?” Nick smiled.

“After what just happened, I think we should leave the city immediately!” Clayton said in agitated voice, “But, sigh, to depart ‘soon’ as caravan guards sounds good as well. What do you guys think?”

Others didn’t say anything. The hearts of the girls were still beating wildly and they wondered why they didn’t faint on the spot.

The group decided to proceed to the southern gate and for now refrain from discussing anything related to their private matters, and only do it in wide open spaces where they could control their surroundings – similar to how they rented the boat just now, but may be not that extreme since, obviously, this decision was made in panic.

From the greedy clerk’s description, Nick already figured out that the ‘golden triangle’ was the long route connecting Beliz, Guran and Urun cities and forming almost equilateral triangle between the eastern, western and southern parts of the continent. From the maps that they had, it could be judged that the distance between these cities was around four to five thousand kilometers and it should take around two months for a regular caravan to travel from one city to another, not counting the time spent at the fairs in the smaller cities on the way.

None of them wanted to spend two or three more months on this continent, but they had no choice judging from the search those men in black were performing. For now the group could only learn how to become caravan guards.

It took a while for them to reach the southern gates and the sky was already darkening. The wide area that the fair occupied was noticeable from far away and, before looking for their potential employer, they had another short briefing to decide on tactics.

“Hello, where can I speak to the leader of the guards?” Nick approached the nearest guard on duty and asked.

“Why?” The guard asked back.

“Our group wants to talk about the possible employment.” Nick smiled. This guy might become their travel buddy and there was no need to throw his weight around here.

“Oh, then you need to talk to the vice caravan leader Rushdi. He is responsible for us.” Guard smiled back, “Where are you guys from?”

Apparently he was bored and didn’t mind to chat a bit.

“We are from the Southern mercenary squad, but don’t misunderstand, we are only formally registered there. Basically we are just like you guys.” Nick leisurely answered when Clayton impatiently harrumphed.

“Sorry, boss is angry today.” Nick whispered.

“Don’t worry, mine is like that as well.” Guard winked back, “Go over there, you will find few bigger tents. The green is the one you are looking for.”

“Thanks a lot!” Nick smiled again and led them towards the distant tents.

“Why?” YunYun simply asked, but Nick immediately understood what she meant.

“We might have to spend two months or more with these people. Having a friendly relationship can only be beneficial.”

Vice caravan leader Rushdi made them wait for almost an hour. It was dark outside, so they sat nearby and snacked on nuts and fruits.

When they were called in, only Nick and Clayton entered.

“Good evening, sorry for the late visit.” Nick politely bowed and greeted the middle aged man in front of him.

He was dressed in a high quality clothing, but was not a fatty like Mustafa from the desert caravan. Nick could tell that this man was physically fit, but it was not clear if he was a Qi master.

“It’s late, so let’s cut the pleasantries. What do you want?” Vice caravan leader Rushdi plainly said. He was not impolite nor excessively polite either.

“We were recommended to apply to your caravan for a job, specifically the convoy.” Nick explained.

“Who are you, how many and for what period.” Rushdi’s way of expression was incredibly effective and in some ways he reminded Nick of Nigel – the cook the from palace, therefore Nick immediately switched to the similar way he talked with the old man.

“Southern mercenary squad, specializing in confidential convoy, but applying for the job will be only six trainees and the boss who is Qi master level. We will travel with you till Ulun.”

“Mercenaries?” Rushdi’s voice was full of displeasure.

“Sorry to disappoint you, but some clients ask for official status.” Nick bowed slightly again, “Boss?”

Clayton took out the golden token and after showing put it back in his pocket.

“Why would a high rank mercenary group work for us? This would be the first time anyone has heard of it.” Rushdi furrowed his brows after saying atypically long line.

“I can’t tell you much, but Boss wants to include this as a part of our three year training program. We have to experience the whole continent and a work in a convoy like this as well. Of course, we can’t decide our employment, but you do.” Nick explained.

“That sounds nice, but I need people who will listen to me, not their ‘boss’.” Rushdi obviously didn’t like it.

“Sir, all seven of us, including our Qi master, for the duration of the contract will directly answer to you or to the person you will appoint. Even though our Boss is a Qi master, he is here to monitor our performance and you probably understand that few thousand kilometers are nothing to him.” Nick bowed again, “But besides our pay, there are few other things that we would like to discuss, but please don’t worry, it won’t be anything excessive.”

“Speak!” Rushdi went back to his original way of speaking and Nick followed.

“We are not allowed to drink alcohol and have to prepare our meals ourselves, same goes for sleeping arrangements. Only I have the rank to freely communicate with outsiders.”

“Are you some army forces?” This time Rushdi was really surprised. He was expecting that the fancy squad will ask some special treatment from him, but they asked to have worse conditions compared to the other guards and on purpose at that.

“No, we only perform confidential convoy services.” Nick shook his head.

Vice caravan leader thought for a while, then asked, “Skills?”

“Very good.”Nick plainly replied, dropped his bag and took a step forward as if ready to get tested.

Rushdi got up, then suddenly attacked him with few punches, but Nick easily evaded and at the end even placed his palm on Rushdi’s back.

“But that’s only you.” The latter didn’t look convinced, albeit was inwardly shocked – they didn’t use any Qi, but he would have been trice dead if it was real fight.

“One of you, get in!” Nick shouted, “I don’t care who!”

When, obviously, YunYun came in and he instructed, “Non lethal defense!” and stepped aside.

The new boy was even smaller than their spokesperson and Rushdi couldn’t feel anything special about him, just that his eyes looked a bit weird and he had atypical sword on his back. Rushdi took step forward and punched like he did at Nick just to receive a kick in his chest.

“Stop!” Nick shouted and ran over to help vice caravan leader up, “Are you trying to kill our employer? No dinner tonight for all of you!”

Then turned to Rushdi and said in embarrassed voice, “I’m sorry Sir, I’ll discipline them later.”

“No, it’s fine. Was my own mistake.” Rushdi replied while still holding palm on his chest. YunYun’s kick did hurt quite a bit.

“Shall we talk about our pay?” Nick smiled.

“If this is a training session for you, don’t you think that you have to pay me for this opportunity?” The old fox grinned back. He was not the first day on the road and, even if he saw a bunch like this for the first time, he had seen many different people in his life before.

“Everyone on this trip has their own training and doing negotiations is a part of mine.” Nick continued to smile, “Sir, please don’t make it difficult for me while my Boss is still watching.”

“Hahaha!” Rushdi sat back down, “Although I like you, boy, what can you offer me so that both of us can make a satisfying deal?”

Nick thought for a minute and replied, “Me or my brother you just met will guard you personally during the time we stop at each city during fairs, but only during the daytime. All seven of us would receive regular guard pay in addition to the compensation for food because we will prepare it ourselves.”

“You’re a smart one, huh?” Rushdi looked at him for a while, “In addition your boss will take part in every emergency meeting and battle arrangement discussion if we have such.”

Nick looked at Clayton and the latter nodded.

“Alright, unfortunately I will have to take part as a spokesperson as well.”

“Deal!”

They discussed few more nuances and then left. The caravan would leave in nine days and they would start their convoy duties then as well. All they had to do now was to prepare for the long, really long road ahead.

Even though vice caravan leader was entertained by this encounter, he soon forgot about it since he had few hundred merchants in addition to the double amount of guards and quadruple amount of servants to take care of. The job was exhausting, stressful and he was doing it already for many years.

Clayton and his six ‘trainees’ sat in a grove not far from the fair. It was late, so they decided to spent he night here and find a simple tavern the next day. Nick made a small campfire, boiled some water and made herbal tea.

“How did you know he will call someone?” YunYun asked while sipping sweet and a bit bitter tea.

“I didn’t. I didn’t even know if he would test me or even talk to us. But if I was employing a bunch of boys, I would have tested them for sure.” Nick shrugged.

“Alright, but how can you act like that? In the Mercenary guild today, then the black Qi masters and now here? You were like three completely different people!” YunYun was quite bewildered. This was another side of Nick that was new to her.

Nick lied down and looked at the stars, “Sigh, you think I wanted it? I wish I could be like when we were on our raft all the time – carefree and joyful without any need to pretend or play theatrics. But sometimes life is cruel and we have to act in a way we dislike or even despise.”

“Did you have to do this before?” She asked.

“Back when I was a captive in the Holy Order, I had to pretend to be a demon and to be friendly with people who murdered my family and tortured me.” Nick said in low voice, “Then on “Queen Elizabeth” I had to basically become a pirate and only because of that I was able to bring my friends food, but only once every two days while they lived lives worse than … Sigh, sometimes life is just too cruel.”

“Nick, but if you didn’t, all of us would’ve been dead.” Steven comforted his friend.

“I know, I just hate it. Why can’t we just … Ah, forget it. In fact, we have more pressing matters! Our girls are in big trouble now.” Nick sat up and looked at the barely visible faces of the three ‘flowers of Aurora’.

“Why? Shouldn’t we now be safe now for few months?” Conny was confused.

Nick stood up and ceremoniously bowed, “First of all I would like to congratulate your highnesses with the first payed job of your lives. In addition, during the next two months you will have the amazing opportunity to enjoy up to five thousand kilometers of Nestri continent’s roads.”

Then he sat down while YunYun giggled at his performance. The girls finally understood the problem, not only they will have to work as guards, but cover thousands of kilometers on foot as well.