"And one more thing, this white fog was also created by one of them."
She gently lifted a corner of the tent flap, staring at the rolling white barrier.
"This mist doesn't just severely interfere with vision; it's mixed with special components to shield spiritual perception. But more covertly," she lowered her voice, "it contains substances similar to highly effective sleeping incense. People will inhale it without realizing and gradually fall into a deep sleep."
Then, Hyacine dropped the flap, her tone carrying a hint of undetectable contempt.
"Unfortunately, it simply has no effect on us."
"Then what do we do?" Hong Guoguo gripped the handle of her dagger and asked in a low voice, "Should we go out now and capture them all?"
"Wait and see." Hyacine's answer came without the slightest hesitation. "After all, they've worked so hard to put on a play for us; why shouldn't we fulfill their wish?"
"I understand!" Hong Guoguo reacted immediately. "So our current situation is that of two kind-hearted adventurers who know nothing after helping a caravan out of trouble."
"A teachable student." Hyacine nodded approvingly. "For now, do what you should be doing. Just relax."
"Understood!"
Hearing this, a relaxed expression returned to Hong Guoguo's face. She lowered her head and began to focus on maintaining her two silver-white daggers, as if the previous conversation had never happened.
...
"Boss, this target is too tough... how about we forget it?" Inside the carriage, a guard looked at the gloomy Cole across from him with a long face, rubbing his chest. "That cat girl is too fast and ruthless! The Shadowclaw Wolf the brothers worked so hard to tame—we didn't even get a chance to order a retreat before several were slaughtered... that's real gold and silver, boss!"
At this moment, Cole's temperament was vastly different from when he interacted with Hyacine and her companion.
In front of the two of them, Cole gave the impression of a sunny and cheerful knight, but now he radiated a malevolent aura, looking nothing like the same person from before.
"Give up?" Cole let out a cold snort from his nose, his eyes scraping over the guard's face like knives. "Is your damn brain filled with swamp mud? We've taken such a big loss this time, and you want to return empty-handed? Are you waiting to drink the northwest wind and starve to death?!"
"But... but you said before, if we encounter a hard bone that can't be chewed, life comes first. You'd rather not make a profit than..."
The guard tried to argue, but his voice grew smaller and smaller under Cole's icy gaze.
"I also said before, as long as the bait is fat enough, even the greatest risk is worth a gamble!" Cole suddenly leaned forward and slapped the back of the guard's head. "Do you have any idea how much oil can be squeezed out of those two fat sheep?!"
"How... how much?" The guard clutched his head, grimacing as he asked.
"First, let's talk about that woman named Hyacinthia," Cole flicked his somewhat dry lips, his eyes greedy. "That face, that figure, tsk tsk... if we take her to the black market, based on her looks alone, selling her to those noble lords with special tastes as a private slave would be several thousand gold coins at minimum! And that's a conservative estimate!"
Then, he paused, his voice suddenly rising as he continued with irrepressible excitement:
"The main point is that white-haired cat cub next to her! Look at her appearance! Silver-white hair, azure pupils—that is a member of the Snowshadow Feline Demi-human clan from the Frostlands! I'm seeing such a legendary rarity for the first time on the outskirts of the Emerald Forest!"
"The Frostlands? The Snowshadow Feline clan?!" The guard sucked in a breath of cold air, his eyes bulging. "Boss, are... are you sure?!"
"Hmph, these eyes of mine have never failed when looking at people or beasts!" Cole crossed his arms, his chin slightly raised. "There are plenty of ordinary white-haired Feline Demi-humans, but this combination of traits belongs only to that clan! Think about it, a powerful and beautiful Snowshadow Feline being sold to those wealthy nobles who pursue the ultimate spiritual pet as a humanoid pet..." Speaking to this point, he deliberately dragged out his tone, "The starting price is at least this much—"
He then extended two fingers and rubbed them together.
"Tens of thousands of gold coins! And that's the minimum!"
"Tens... tens of thousands?!"
The guard's breathing instantly became heavy, and it was as if a mountain of shimmering gold coins had already appeared before his eyes.
"How about it? Still feeling cowardly?" Cole looked at the guard's greedy, drooling expression and let out a sneer. "After we finish this big job, I'll keep my word. You can have... twenty percent! That's enough for you to live in luxury for several years!"
The guard snapped his head up, the last trace of hesitation completely devoured by naked desire. He gritted his teeth and gave a heavy nod:
"Boss, let's do it! What do you want me to do?"
Seeing this, Cole narrowed his eyes with satisfaction and whispered:
"Go, continue to maintain the fog, especially reinforcing the effect of the spiritual shielding. I'll send someone to give those two 'distinguished guests' some 'bedtime snacks' right away to test the waters and see if they take the bait."
"Understood! Leave it to me!"
Ferocity and fanaticism flashed in the guard's eyes, and he immediately got up and ducked out of the carriage.
Watching the guard's silhouette disappear into the thick mist, the corner of Cole's mouth curled into a cold arc. He whispered in a voice only he could hear: "Hmph, dog, pretending to be cautious in front of me... your kind is the greediest! If it weren't for your skill in controlling fog being somewhat useful... I would have dealt with you long ago."
...
Inside the tent, Hong Guoguo was originally maintaining her daggers when suddenly, a deliberately gentle voice rang out from outside the tent.
"Miss Hong Guoguo, Miss Hyacinthia, do you have time? Sorry to bother you."
Seeing this, Hong Guoguo looked up at Hyacine, wanting to ask for her opinion.
Hyacine gave her a look that meant "respond as usual."
After receiving the instruction, Hong Guoguo lifted the flap and saw a guard holding two wooden meal boxes, a smile plastered on his face as he stood outside the tent.
"Miss Hong Guoguo, the captain saw it was getting late and was afraid you might be hungry, so he specifically had me bring some hot food to fill your stomachs." The guard's tone was attentive.
"Thank you for the kindness, but we aren't hungry," Hong Guoguo refused almost instinctively without thinking. "And Sister Hyacinthia said you should just treat us according to the employment relationship; there's really no need for special care."
"Oh, you've misunderstood." The guard waved his hands hurriedly, his smile unchanging, then turned sideways to point at the other guards sitting around the campfire not far away. "Look, everyone is eating the same thing. It's time for dinner anyway, and this is just our caravan's normal food distribution. How is this special care?"
Following the direction he pointed, Hong Guoguo indeed saw several guards eating from the same type of meal boxes.
Seeing this, she looked back at Hyacine with some hesitation.
Hyacine gave a nearly imperceptible nod.
Only then did Hong Guoguo turn back and take the two meal boxes:
"Then... alright, thank your captain for his kindness."
"It's only right! Please enjoy your meal, you two!"
The guard completed his mission, his smile deepening, and he immediately bowed and retreated.
Once the person had left, Hong Guoguo closed the tent again and then held the two meal boxes in front of Hyacine.
"Sister Hyacine, these meal boxes... how should we handle them?"