Volume 22 Chapter 3 Confluence
"Why are they trying to arrest the Levy Merchant Guild and me?"
Al asked Desmond and Reginald, confused.
It makes sense if they're after the Levy guild... but why me? I'm not that important!
Desmond looked troubled. "Well, the guild has made a lot of enemies. At first, I thought they were only targeting us. But if they're also after you..."
Being wanted by the authorities... that's something that happens to really bad people. Like bandit leaders who kill dozens.
Now there was even a reward for catching them.
But Al hadn't done anything like that.
If they think I have... what's going to happen to the Channing family?
Suddenly, Al heard a whisper in his mind.
'Ally, someone's coming. About ten people.'
It was Glee—his familiar spirit.
Just as Desmond opened his mouth to answer Al's question, Al quickly stood up.
"Someone's coming!" he shouted.
Everyone around the campfire froze.
Were they being chased?
They had been careful on their way here. No one should've followed them...
The mercenaries looked at each other, put out the fire, and grabbed their weapons.
The forest around them was growing darker.
They still couldn't see anything.
'Sensory Boost – Enhanced Vision'
Al activated his magic and looked where Glee had sensed movement.
He could see someone walking at the front of the group—and he recognized them.
'It's Orson. And Ruella, Barbara... even Leda! I know all of them!'
Al let out a relieved breath. "It's okay. They're friends!"
Everyone relaxed when they heard that.
There were ten people total. Only Leda was using magic, so it wasn't an illusion or disguise.
Then Orson broke into a run.
Al blinked.
He's running fast! I thought his leg was still bad...
"Al! Are you okay?!" Orson called out, hugging him tightly.
His leg must've healed completely.
"Al, you're safe!"
"Good, we're all together now."
Ruella gently took Al's hand.
Barbara gave him a firm handshake, followed by Desmond.
"I'm glad you're safe, Lady Ruella," Desmond said.
Ruella nodded. "Lady Leda contacted me. Orson has been helping us. When I told him Al was in danger, he said, 'If it's Al, I'm going.'"
That made Al's chest warm.
Even though Orson was wanted too, he still came.
Wait—Leda contacted her? Why?
Ruella explained.
"Sir Jonas told me in secret that the Levy Guild, Mr. Eric's family, and even Al were all being targeted. I left before the official notice went out."
Al paused. Jonas? Oh right! He was the knight who helped guard the caravan.
Jonas didn't like being called "Sir." Leda probably found him hard to deal with.
"He was close to my father," Leda added. "My father was his squire, but after he passed away, Jonas became very strict with me... sometimes too much."
Al nodded. If Jonas is helping us, maybe we really can trust him.
But that still left big questions:
- Why was the Levy Guild being attacked?
- Why was Eric a target?
- Where was Eric now?
"We don't have much time," Ruella said seriously.
"Let's share what we know. Desmond, you start."
They all sat around the fire again—Al, Leda, Desmond, Reginald, and Barbara.
* * *
Desmond explained what was happening in the capital.
Ruella listened carefully, frowning.
"What a mess. The entire Margrave family is sick with the plague—except Sir Stroud. No one mentioned anything about sickness before. And now my father and older brother are missing. They might even be dead..."
Desmond bowed his head. "I'm sorry. I couldn't protect them."
Ruella shook her head.
"You've been at Border City Parker. This is our mistake. We should've gathered more info from Lester and the capital. We were too focused on investigating the Tempest Kingdom with Sir Naresh."
Desmond and Reginald looked down, clenching their fists.
Desmond continued.
"The big orders in Border City Lester came just after Viscount Lester and his son, Sir Sanjay, returned. People were surprised. The Viscount had been in the capital for health reasons. Sanjay made excuses to stay away. But suddenly they both came back."
He looked grim.
"Important people—like the Internal Affairs Minister and the Guard Captain—were called to the government office. We don't know what they talked about. We were already on the run by then."
"But because they gave orders so fast, I think Lady Agnes and Baron Scully are trying to take power."
Ruella sighed.
Al didn't know Baron Scully, but he knew Lady Agnes was Sanjay's mother.
Al remembered something Barbara said—about a hair accessory Magic Tool.
Viscount Lester must've abandoned his younger son, Naresh.
Naresh always said he'd support Sanjay no matter what. But now... he was being ignored.
"Sir Sanjay was supposed to marry Lady Serena," Ruella said sadly. "But now he's back and acting like nothing's wrong. He used to seem kind when I met him... I feel betrayed. I couldn't even warn Viscountess Tara. I hope she's safe."
Barbara tried to reassure her.
"No one would dare touch her. But... I have to protect myself and the guild first."
Ruella nodded.
It turned out that most of the Levy Guild's business workers were hiding in a different place.
Only fighters were with Ruella now—like Adolf, Mina, and a few others.
"I have to survive—and still find my father," Ruella said.
"By the way, does anyone know how Mr. Eric is doing?"
She looked at Al and Desmond.
But both shook their heads.
"I only looked for the chairman," Desmond said. "I don't know about Mr. Eric."
Ruella nodded.
"According to Leda, only she, apprentice Mina, and some workers like Adolf were at Eric's house in Border City Lester. Eric and the other magicians—Fitz, Marcus, and Lucas—were in the capital. Lady Serena asked them to lead the magic team."
"I'll go check tomorrow," Al offered.
Ruella blinked.
"Al, you're a wanted person. If they find you, you'll be caught. You know that, right?"
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