The road was completely silent.
Rias wiped sword on the dead leader's cloak and sheathed it. He crouched in the dirt beside the massive body.
He patted down the assassin's pockets, pulling out a heavy leather pouch. It clinked pleasantly.
[Ding!]
[50 Gold Coins found. Added to Inventory.]
Rias grinned. He moved to the next body, collecting throwing knives, a few minor healing potions, and more coins. The System instantly absorbed the items, storing them in his spatial space.
It was incredibly convenient.
As he rolled the leader over to check for more loot, Rias noticed a strange bulge in the lining of the man's leather armor.
He drew a dagger and sliced the thick material open.
A small, dark iron token fell into the dirt.
Rias picked it up. Etched into the cold metal was the distinct image of a sleeping fox.
'Lucien,' Rias thought, a genuine laugh escaping his lips.
'My dear older brother couldn't even wait for me to cross the border. He hired cheap mercenaries to do his dirty work.'
He tossed the token into his inventory. It was a good piece of evidence to hold onto.
Rias stood up and surveyed the wreckage.
The luxurious carriage was completely ruined. The blast had shattered the front axle, and the left wheel was splintered into pieces. The elite Leonhart guards who fled into the woods were long gone. They weren't coming back.
"Well," Rias muttered, brushing dust off his blood-splattered black tunic.
"I guess walking is out of the question."
He walked toward the front of the ruined carriage.
The four Obsidian Horned Steeds were still strapped to the wreckage. They stomped their hooves aggressively, their red eyes rolling in panic.
Rias pulled a dagger and cut the thick leather harness of the largest steed.
The moment it was free, the massive black beast reared up on its hind legs. It let out a terrifying shriek, preparing to bring its heavy hooves down and trample the human in front of it.
Rias didn't flinch.
He stood his ground and simply released a fraction of his mana.
A heavy, crushing pressure dropped over the steed.
The steed froze mid-air. Its primal instincts flared, instantly recognizing the boy not as prey, but as a predator.
The horse lowered its front legs to the ground. It bowed its massive head, huffing a quiet breath of submission.
"Good boy," Rias said gently, patting its thick neck.
He grabbed the reins and hoisted himself up onto the horse's bare back. He didn't have a saddle, but he decided to manage for now.
With a sharp click of his tongue, Rias urged the beast forward.
They left the ruined carriage and the dead assassins behind, disappearing down the mountain pass.
Rias rode through the night and into the early morning.
He didn't need to sleep. His body processed fatigue instantly after absorbing the ambient mana in the nature, mana worked as a secondary energy source and the steady flow of mana kept him completely alert.
As the sun began to rise, painting the sky in shades of bruised purple and red, the thick forest finally cleared.
Rias pulled the reins, bringing the massive horse to a halt on the edge of a cliff.
Below him stretched a massive valley.
At the center of the valley stood the Iron Fang Fortress.
It was a towering wall of black stone, bristling with spikes and siege weapons. Huge banners bearing the twin-headed eagle of the Velmer Empire snapped in the morning wind.
This was the absolute edge of enemy territory.
Rias guided his horse down the winding path toward the main gates.
Waiting just outside the fortress walls was a formal reception detail.
Two dozen of Velmer knights sat on armored warhorses, forming a neat, disciplined line. At their center stood a tall man wearing the deep blue robes of an Imperial court official.
They looked bored.
The official checked a pocket watch and sighed. They were expecting a massive, gaudy Leonhart carriage. They were expecting a weak, terrified boy hiding behind elite guards. They were ready to mock him the second he stepped out.
Then, they heard the heavy, rhythmic clopping of hooves.
Out of the morning mist, a single rider approached.
The Velmer knights instantly tensed, reaching for their weapons.
It wasn't a carriage. It was a single, massive Obsidian Horned Steed—a monster usually reserved for high-ranking generals.
And sitting casually on its back was a teenager.
His blonde hair was windblown and messy. His expensive black tunic was ruined, heavily stained with dried blood and dirt. A stolen mercenary sword hung lazily at his hip.
He didn't look like a terrified political hostage. He looked like a survivor walking away from a massacre.
The knights drew their swords, alarmed by the blood-soaked rider and the terrifying beast he rode.
"Halt!" the Imperial official shouted, stepping forward with a deep frown. "State your business! We are expecting the Leonhart envoy. Where is the carriage?"
Rias pulled the reins, stopping his massive horse just a few feet away from the official.
He looked down at the armored men. The heavy, oppressive silence of his aura leaked out just enough to make the warhorses nervously step backward.
A calm, lazy smile spread across Rias's face.
"The carriage had a slight accident on the road," Rias said, his voice smooth and perfectly polite.
"But I didn't want to be late."
He tilted his head, his crimson eyes locking onto the official.
"I am Rias von Leonhart. I believe my fiancée is expecting me."