Chapter 143: Preparing for the Journey

Greetings...

...The battle at the Bakurad Fortress is only intensifying as day passes by...

...Due to certain circumstances, I had no choice but to delegate such a dangerous task to my one and only daughter...

...I have specifically chosen your party because of your ages...

...I can’t get into too many details, so I hope that you will understand...

...Please protect my daughter until you reach the Bakurad Fortress before escorting her to the rendezvous point indicated in the map attached to this letter...

This is a request from a father.

–Aurum Midas

***

Regis squinted his eyes as he finished reading the contents of the letter.

A slight frown also appeared on Pandora and Killian’s faces as they tried to engrave the information they had just read to their minds.

"We understand." Regis spoke with a smile as he kept the letter.

"So in short, you’d want us to act like you’ve run away from home due to you being in your rebellious phase?"

Aurelia nodded, "Exactly."

"But wouldn’t it be too obvious?"

"You don’t have to worry about that, we have already prepared everything."

They talked about the setting that had been prepared by Aurelia and his father in order for their act to be seamless.

Their plan was not really complicated. The only thing that they needed to do was to avoid exposing Aurelia’s true motives which, in itself, has a nigh impossible chance of happening.

At most, people would only realize Aurelia’s true identity which would encourage others to investigate her.

And even in the low chance that they did discover her identity, they would simply find out that she was a rich kid who had run away from home.

Of course, it would also spell trouble for them, but it wouldn’t compare to the completion of their end goal.

After all, due to their ages, it didn’t seem like they were up to anything serious at all.

It was what Regis had understood from the contents of Aurum’s letter. He was essentially taking advantage of their young ages in order for this covert mission to have a high chance of succeeding.

After a while, they finished talking about the details of the mission and they began to assess what they would need for their journey.

Since it was extremely long– one that would take months.

"Then what should we do first?"

Aurelia asked, looking towards Regis as she did so.

The conversation that they had earlier was enough for her to determine that he was the one who called the shots.

As expected, Pandora and Killian also looked at him and waited for his answer.

"Hmm, we need to go back to the mansion first in order to further discuss the route we’re going to take."

The other two also agreed, prompting Aurelia to agree as well.

They then didn’t waste any more time as they left the alley with light steps, making them look like a group of normal children who were friends with each other.

However, before they left the alley, Regis looked at a certain corner as a subtle smile appeared on his face.

...

"Did you think they sensed us?"

"Don’t be silly. They’re just kids."

"You’re right..."

"It’s a pity that we got here late, though."

"It doesn’t really matter. Just the fact that we can report how they met with another person is enough for Boss Pogar to reward us."

"If you say so..."

Two bulky men chatted as they walked out of a corner a few moments after the four children left the alley.

Upon a closer look, it was precisely the corner that Regis had set his eyes upon earlier.

***

In the Gladius Mansion...

Regis and the others were seated at the table with a map placed on top of it.

It was a map that entailed all the places within the Acheron Kingdom with their goal, the Bakurad Fortress, encircled with red ink.

"This is Bakurad Fortress, our destination." Said Regis as he pointed at a certain part of the map before pointing towards the part where the Corelli Fortress was located, "While this is our current location."

Aurelia also placed her full attention as she looked at the map.

Regis had a satisfied expression on his face as he continued, "We’ve also studied the three routes that we could follow."

"However, before that, I need to know what you prefer."

"The first is here, then the second, and finally, the third." He traced his fingers on a few sections of the map, "The first route is the longest, but also the safest. The second is the shortest but also the most dangerous."

"What about the third one?" Aurelia asked with a curious face.

Regis awkwardly smiled, "Well, it’s just a contingency plan so let’s hope that we won’t have to use that. In short, that is the backup route we prepared in the moment that we’re met with danger..."

"Alright." Aurelia nodded before she looked at the map and said, "Do you have an estimate on how long our journey would be if we go with the first route?"

"Since it’s both the longest and the safest, we will reach Bakurad Fortress in about seven months at the earliest and eight months at the latest."

"How about the second one?"

"Five months and a half at the earliest and about seven months at the latest. However..."

Seeing Aurelia’s stare, Regis frowned slightly as he said, "If we’re met with danger, we will have to go with the third route which will add a month or two in the estimate."

"What are the chances that we’ll meet something dangerous that you can’t resolve on the way?"

"Since we based the route we made on our own capabilities, it will be about thirty percent."

"I’ll take it."

Regis raised his brow, "We’re taking the second route? Are you sure about this?"

"Yes. I need to get there as soon as possible so it’s just a risk we’ll need to take." Aurelia spoke with a serious expression.

Regis nodded in understanding, "Very well. Let me brief you on the places that we’ll be going through first, just so you have an idea about it."

He then pointed at the sections of the map as he began to explain.

"We will take the carriage and get off at one of the villages in the periphery of the Corelli Fortress Territory which will take at least three weeks at the earliest."

"From there, we’ll travel on foot through the Falkor Valley, Vistruk Swamp, and Delimoro City. After we reach the city, we can replenish our supplies and—"

"Wait. Wait. Wait." Aurelia waved her hands, preventing him from continuing.

Regis looked at her and asked, "What is it?"

"I just want to clarify something... how long are we going to travel on foot?"

He looked up for a moment before answering with an unsure expression, "Falkor Valley and Vistruk Swamp are famous for their uneven terrain along with the monsters that roamed them... I think two and a half months?"

"Oh..." Aurelia’s expression visibly darkened as she gulped subconsciously, ’What the hell have I gotten myself into...’

Due to her willingness to help her father, she volunteered to be the one to help deliver this "thing" to the general of the Bakurad Fortress.

However, upon hearing Regis speaking, her mind that was filled with bravery was doused with cold water.

"Alright..."

Regis noticed the slight pout on her expression and softly chuckled, "Okay, that’s it then! Do you have any more questions?"

"None. When can we depart?" Aurelia shook her head as she looked to the side.

She had already accepted her fate deep inside.

"Killian, can you order someone to prepare a carriage for us–"

Regis abruptly stopped as he saw Pandora and Killian dozing off in their own chairs with drool leaking from their lips.

"Killian!"

Pow—!

"Ouch! Who the hell hit m–" Killian suddenly froze as he saw Regis’s face right before his.

"B-Boss! Haha, how are you?"

"Were you sleeping earlier?"

"Sleeping? Pshh, who’s sleeping? No one’s sleeping." Killian shrugged as he pointed at Pandora, "She’s the only one sleeping, Boss. Should I wake her up?"

Hearing his denial, Regis couldn’t help but hold the bridge of his nose, "Whatever. I was asking if you can prepare a carriage for us. Inform the driver that it’s a journey that will take four weeks at most."

"You can leave it to me, Boss! But where are we goi–" Seeing that his boss’s expression darkened, Killian stopped speaking.

He hurriedly stood up, "I’ll inform the butler, Boss!"

Seeing him running outside the room so quickly, a small smile crept its way onto Aurelia’s face.

However, she soon remembered something as she spoke, "Oh, by the way."

"What is it?" Regis asked in reply.

"Just tell me the amount of funds that you need so I can give it to you, okay?"

"Eh?"

"Yes. As you may know, I’m the daughter of the owner of Midas Merchant Organization. Money will never be a problem as long as I’m with you."

Hearing her words, Regis didn’t really look impressed.

After all, he had been exposed to Killian in the past year which changed his perspective of money from that of someone who grew up in the slums, to that of a kid who was friends with a noble.

Though unbeknownst to the current him, he would be surprised in the next few days.