Chapter 640: We're Going Back To the Training Camp
“Do you have everything, my little one?” Mother asked with a gentle smile.
I looked at Katsuki who was carrying my Pack of Folding and she nodded at me.
However, my sight was actually drawn to the group of people behind her. Namely, Crystal’s family and also Emilia by extension.
All of them looked extremely worn out and exhausted as though they were ready to collapse at any moment.
Just what did you put them through yesterday, Katsuki?
Look, even Emilia looks like she’s gone three nights without sleep over there…
If it wasn’t because of the fact that we are already packed and ready to leave, I would have suggested staying one more day just for them to rest.
Oh well… At least the most tiring thing we would do today is walk… Which admittedly is also a rather exhausting activity considering how far we have to walk…
And by the look on Katsuki’s face… It feels like she expected this to happen and this was merely just another part of their training.
I suppose all I can say is… Good luck guys! I’m rooting for you! Fighto!
I turned back to Mother, “Yes, Mommy.”
Emilia’s whisper came from behind me, “She calls her ‘mommy’?”
Yes, Emilia. Mother only likes it when I call her that. Take it up with her, ok?
Mother clapped her hands together, “Perfect~ Then let’s go, everyone~”
Vehyia and Dehyia saw us off at the entrance, the two Amraps would be staying behind and training the new slaves that Mother had purchased as the new servants here.
Outside, I found a giant pack of large wolves waiting for us and the same person who had brought us into the city was also waiting there for us.
First thing I noticed was the fact that there were way more wolves than last time and the wolves were also bigger than I remembered them to be.
I guess we would be using her services once more to bring us out of the city.
She raised an eyebrow when she saw us, “Huh… I thought you guys were joking when you said you had way more people this time. Must have spent quite a fortune buying new slaves, I see. Hop on then.”
No one bothered to correct her and we merely got on top of a wolf in preparation to set off.
Mother got me to sit with her on her wolf this time and she made sure to position me in front of her so that she could cuddle me while on it.
A few of the ninja wannabes looked a little concerned to be riding the wolves but it seemed like they decided not to say anything and climbed on one anyway.
Emilia however, looked at the wolf she was supposed to ride and the two of them seemed to scowl at each other before the Nekomata climbed on top of it.
Not sure what that interaction was about.
The wolf tamer took the lead mount again before whistling out a tune, prompting the other wolves to let out a howl in response before they all started running towards the city’s gate in unison.
Since this was the second time we were riding them, I wasn’t as surprised as the first time and had more leeway to enjoy the scenery instead.
That was when I realised something particular.
“Mommy… Seems like there’s quite a lot of people leaving the city right now?”
Just by looking at the flow of traffic and the bags they were carrying, I could tell that there were a lot of people trying to leave this city.
Mother giggled, “Ufufufu~ After what Emilia did that day, it’s not that big of a surprise that people would want to leave before they get caught up in another explosion, my little one~”
Ah…
To the normal people who weren’t involved, it would seem like some malevolent group had snuck into the city and bombed Emilia’s ship. Of course they wouldn’t think that it was Emilia herself who had bombed her own ship.
Geez, now I feel a little bad for them since nothing was really threatening the city.
Oh well, things would probably return back to normal after a week or so anyway so it should be fine.
As we neared the gates however, there was a checkpoint that was set up and there were distinctly more Nekomata guards than there were Mahun guards at said checkpoint. Moreover, they were checking everyone that was leaving the city rather thoroughly, including checking under carriages and inside luggages.
“Those leaving the city, please line up in an orderly fashion and be prepared to be inspected!” One of the guards ordered.
Someone in the crowd shouted back, “What is the meaning of this?! Why do we need to be inspected?!”
“We’re looking for the culprit of the bombing. Please understand and cooperate with the guards.”
I turned to look at Emilia and the Nekomata was looking back at me with worry.
Did they already figure out that Emilia was still alive? Or was this just a publicity stunt to show that they were doing their best to try and capture the culprit?
Mother patted my head, “It will be fine, my little one~ Even if they were to find your girlfriend, Mama will not let them take her away from you~”
She’s not my girlfriend… But I figured it would be quite boorish of me to say that so I just kept my mouth shut and nodded.
The wolf tamer brought us to a separate line meant for carriages and we joined the back of the line to wait our turn.
It was a slow crawl towards the gate as the guards inspected everyone meticulously.
I think we should be fine since Emilia was wearing the maid uniform properly so the enchantment should work on the guards.
When it was our turn, the Nekomata guard stopped us with a raised hand, “Halt. Who are you guys?”
The wolf tamer nodded at him, “Some nobles from Lehcarouc Kingdom. They’re leaving the city to head towards the Waystone.”
The guard leaned to the side to look at the large group of wolves behind her.
“That’s a big group you have here.”
The wolf tamer shrugged, “I’m just a taxi service employed by them. You’re asking the wrong person.”
He grunted before waving at his comrades, “Check all of them! Make sure they are clean!”
Clean? What are they even looking for to mark someone as ‘unclean’?
Several of them approached us with the lead one stopping beside Mother and I.
“So, who are you?”
Mother gave the man a look, “Ara, ara? To think someone from the Sieger Trading Company would not even recognise the Nilm Family? It seems like your company has sunk to a new low~”
The man froze when he heard Mother’s words.
“Ni… Nilm… Nilm Family?”
“Ufufufu~ At least you know how to say our name correctly~”
“My… My deepest apologies, Madam… But… Might you be the Matriarch?”
“Ara? If you are asking this question… Mayhap you be a newbie? Ufufufu~ Yes, I am the Matriarch of the Nilm Family. So what is the problem?”
He quickly bowed his head low, “My apologies Madam! But… Please understand… We are searching for the one responsible for the bombing of our most prized ship. We were instructed to check everyone who leaves the city without exception! They may have tried to infiltrate your convoy in an attempt to escape!”
“Ara, ara? Putting aside the fact that you even dare to think we would allow someone to infiltrate my family… Are you saying that you already know who might be responsible for the bombing?”
“Yes we do.”
“Ara? Is that so? Do you have a picture of them?”
The guard then reached behind his back and pulled out a piece of paper, revealing Emilia was drawn on it.
I was obviously surprised by that and Mother tilted her head at the revelation.
“Ara, ara? Isn’t this Miss Emilia von Sieger? She’s the captain of the ship is it not? And she’s the culprit behind the bombing?”
“That is correct. It seems like she had taken bribes and had been embezzling the company’s money before aiming to sell off the ship to another organisation. When she was discovered by the family head, she blew up the ship in response before running away.”
“Oh my, how terrible~ To think that Miss Emilia who had been such a gracious host to us when we were on her ship would do something like this…”
Hmm… Were they just pinning the blame on Emilia because they think she’s dead and they might as well use her as a scapegoat for this? Or do they know she’s still alive and are trying to catch her?
Either way, a quick peek behind me revealed the sight of a furious Emilia who was barely holding her anger in.
She was riding with Lisa so my Infrid was doing her best to calm her down and prevent her from revealing herself.
At least it looked like the enchantment was working properly and the guard inspecting their wolf didn’t even seem to realise that Emilia was right in front of him.
Mother then smiled at the guard, “So are we free to go now? I believe this has already held us up for quite a while, hasn’t it?”
“Ah! Of course! Everyone! Let them pass!”
Whew… Seems like we can leave the city without any problems at least.
Let’s hope that this holds up all the way back to the training camp.
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