On the road to Undvik city, Yory and Joe rode in their cart, making their way toward their destination. Joe broke the silence, saying, "Yory, look, there are some other merchants. Let's ask them for some information about the road ahead. Knowing more details won't hurt."

Ahead of them were fellow merchants travelling in their carts. One was a striking red-haired woman in a lovely black dress, partly concealed by a black robe. Beside her cart a big man with black hair and a long beard, showing signs of aging. On the other side of the road, a beautiful brown woman with blue eyes donned a yellow dress, also concealed beneath a black robe, a common choice among female merchants to protect their attire from getting dirty. Accompanying her a bigger cart of a young man with long brown hair and a pleasant face, displaying a slim build, but with the look of someone who could hold his own.

As they approached, Yory greeted them with his best attempt at a friendly smile, saying, "Hello, fellow merchants. Would it be too bothersome to ask you a few questions?"

The bearded man smiled and responded while scratching his beard, "Of course, young blood. We're sharing the road until our paths diverge."

Joe, appreciating the friendly response, added, "I'm Joe, and my friend here is Yory."

The bearded man nodded, introducing himself, "I'm Aldwin, and that red-haired woman is Estel."

Estel nodded in return, acknowledging Yory and Joe with respect. Aldwin continued, "The young lad is Akibrus, and the lovely woman is Avilyn." Both Akibrus and Avilyn waved to Yory and Joe, who responded with warm smiles.

Yory then inquired, "We're heading to Undvik city. Do you have any advice?"

Akibrus, after a moment of thought, replied, "You can proceed directly to the city once you reach Quinn village, but we're taking a detour to Cryptid village."

Joe mentioned, "I've heard about that village. People say they don't like to associate with outsiders."

Aldwin chimed in with a smile and a hint of mischief, "That's precisely why their market is small and has limited offerings. We aim to be their suppliers."

Yory was intrigued and asked, "Interesting, but why are you sharing this information? It's quite valuable to be giving it away to strangers."

Akibrus explained, "Because it's not all that valuable, my friend. Travelling merchants often pick up news faster than most people, sometimes even faster than the army, thanks to the information networks we create during our journeys."

Avilyn contributed, "As my friend mentioned, every merchant knows about this village. However, we, as a group of merchants, have certain customs among us. A place that refuses to associate with outsiders is seen as detrimental to business. That's why, apart from us, no one else is heading to Cryptid Village."

Estel, wearing a bright smile, chimed in, "We could play a crucial role in introducing this village and its market to the outside world, being among the first to reap its rewards. However, venturing alone isn't advisable in our times. Join us in our travels, that would offer us the benefits of numbers and protection."

Seeing an opportunity, Joe added, "Yory, this could be your chance to make a name for yourself as a merchant."

Yory, convinced, flashed his natural, average smile and said, "You've made a compelling case, my friends. Let's go."

Everyone smiled and began chatting, sharing tales of their journeys as they continued toward their destination.

After a day's travel, the merchants reached the gates of Cryptid village. Despite being called a village, it gave the impression of a much larger city due to its high stone walls, unlike the wooden barricades found in other villages Yory had encountered on his journey. The gate was made of steel and was raised to the top by two enormous wooden wheels, connected by massive chains, as if it were meant to contain a legendary dragon the size of a small village. The guards kept a keen eye on the approaching merchants, and Joe greeted them with a smile and nod. Regrettably, the guards ignored him and walked away.

Once inside the village, in front of the inn, Estel remarked with a half-smile, "I don't think they want us here, guys."

Akibrus observed the street and the house windows, commenting, "Even if there was no entrance fee, this is plain rudeness."

Joe said, "Nevertheless, we need to rest and prepare for tomorrow." Everyone agreed, and they entered the inn. Inside, they approached the reception and met the owner, who was seated and engrossed in a book.

Upon seeing them, the innkeeper sighed, his expression turning sour as if he were irritated by the arrival of more merchants. He asked with a gloomy face, "What do you want, outsiders?"

Aldwin, feeling frustrated with the owner's attitude, remained composed and attempted to speak, but Joe took the lead, saying, "We'd like you to entertain us. Go on, start dancing for us, my jester friend." The innkeeper glared at Joe

But remained silent. Joe continued, "If you won't dance for us, then provide us with rooms. We've had a long journey to get here."

The innkeeper, his wicked grin appeared, and he announced, "Six silver coins per night."

Avilyn reacted with surprise, her face displaying disbelief, "Why six silvers for... Are you mocking us?!"

Akibrus stepped in with a calm voice, "Avilyn, calm down." Although still annoyed, Avilyn managed to keep quiet.

Akibrus raised an eyebrow and commented with a hint of humour, "I didn't know that Rulanko, the great king of the dwarves in the past, stayed in this place for it to be this expensive. Or perhaps Mulosims, the elven king, discovered his love here while she was cleaning Krogbakh's stables?"

The innkeeper's smile vanished, and his eyes flared with anger, but he managed to speak in a barely calm tone, "Take it or leave it. I'm the owner of the only inn in this village."

Joe, maintaining his grin, replied, "We can sleep in our carts. There's no need for this inn. Have a good day, sir."

The innkeeper, still wearing a wicked grin, retorted, "In this village, my word carries weight, and I've built a respectable reputation."

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Aldwin interrupted him, "I doubt that given your attitude."

The innkeeper cut him off, saying with a sinister grin, "Nevertheless, people will listen to me. For instance, I could say that you're good people, right? Besides, you need friends who will vouch for you, especially in villages or cities where you lack acquaintances. Isn't that so?"

Aldwin stayed silent, but Yory, raising his arms in the air, said, "Alright, lad, you do make some solid points here and there, so I'll pay."

Akibrus let out a sigh, remarking, "Seems like there's no other option. This is just part of the merchant's life, I suppose." After everyone paid for their rooms, they headed towards them, walking with exhaustion from both the long journey and the unpleasant interaction with the greedy innkeeper.

At the same time, on the crossroads that connected Cryptid Village with Roxana City and Quinn Village, the mysterious black-haired woman observed the signs pointing towards Quinn Village. She then caught a whiff of the air and, with a serious look, turned her attention to the sign indicating the way to Cryptid Village. She muttered to herself, "Yoranios travelled this road. I can catch up to him." With cold breath, her cart started moving toward Cryptid Village.

In the night, Cryptid Village was ruled by silence. From the houses to every corner of the streets, an eerie quietness prevailed. Inside the inn, three burly men with faces marred by scars entered, carrying weapons that ranged from large clubs to small daggers. They spotted the innkeeper reading and approached slowly until they were behind him. One of them asked, "What are you reading?"

The innkeeper was startled, nearly falling from his chair had one of the men not caught him. Laughter erupted among the intruders at the innkeeper's alarmed reaction. However, the innkeeper looked at them with an expression that hinted at his annoyance and said, "You nearly gave me a heart attack, you idiots. Now is not the time for games. You know what you have to do, Futch."

Futch, the man who had startled the innkeeper, responded with a sinister grin on his dirt-covered face, "Kill the merchants, bury them deep in an undisclosed location, and take everything they have."

The innkeeper sighed and said, "It's midnight, and they are exhausted from their journey, from what I've seen. Take them to the prison this time, and don't ruin my beautiful inn like last time. Now, leave me. I want to sleep."

After that, on the third floor of the inn, Yory was asleep when faint noises woke him. Yory muttered to himself after rubbing his eyes with his dry hands, "That's not Joe. These footsteps are from bigger people." Yory then used his magic skill to see through the walls and was surprised to find three men approaching, weapons in hand. He glanced at Joe's room and noticed it was empty, the bed dishevelled as if there had been a struggle.

When the three men reached Yory's room, their leader, Futch, commented with a smirk, "This magic spell to make our steps and actions silent works well. Let's hope this one won't put up a fight like his neighbour. Now, the last trader, and we call it a day."

One of his associates opened the door, and they entered cautiously, making an effort to avoid alerting their target. However, to their surprise, Yory was sitting on a wooden chair, holding a small dagger and staring fearlessly at them. Futch remarked, "Did we interrupt your..." but was abruptly cut off by Yory, who said, "I've always been the type to ask questions before resorting to killing people, you know, trying to be reasonable. So, let me ask you, are the merchants you captured dead or in prison?"

Futch responded with a stern expression, "In prison, but I should mention that our spell cancels..."

Yory interjected, "I'm not interested in your subpar spell. There's only one way this night will end, lads. Free my companions who are in prison, and everything will be forgotten. Otherwise, I'll start killing without questions. It's your choice."

Futch whispered to one of his companions, "He looks intimidating, but we can't let him leave. He'll inform the Royal guards, and we'll be in big trouble..."

Yory said, ignoring Futch, "Time is running out, lads."

Futch continued his whispered conversation with his partner, "We have to kill him to prevent our operation from being exposed. I'll distract him while you run to the village and sound the alarm, understand..."

Suddenly, the two thugs were left in shock, their eyes bulging with disbelief, as they stared at Futch, who had the sense that something was amiss. He glanced to his right and noticed blood on his chest armour. He then looked at Yory, who was now dangerously close, dagger in hand, and had moved so swiftly that neither of the thugs had even seen him move.

Futch, bleeding profusely, attempted to speak, but all that came out was a garbled, "I di...wh...." before he fell to the ground, his lifeblood pooling around him. The two other thugs were horrified, their faces drained of colour, while Yory remained as cold and composed as ever. He looked at them, about to say something, but one of the thugs used fire magic on Yory before the other one sprinted away.

Yory quickly raised his hand and effortlessly extinguished the flames with his own magic. He then lunged at the remaining thug, swiftly stabbing him in the neck. The thug clutched his bleeding neck in shock, but the blood loss was swift, and he succumbed within moments. The third thug had been attempting to escape to the second floor and the stairs leading to the first floor, but he was suddenly yanked back by some form of magic, pulling him closer to Yory, who was walking steadily and calmly. Yory commented, "Is this how you operate? Using a spell to move silently and then dragging victims while you smile and kill them, taking their belongings and calling it a day?"

The thug was screaming while he was dragged to Yory who said: "Didn't you use the spell to cancel your voices to your surroundings, I think that you don't know how to cancel it yourself without your friend so I am the only one who can hear you, my lad, it a bit ironic that you will die the same way you killed those people, right?"

The thug screamed as he was dragged toward Yory, who calmly remarked, "Didn't you use the spell to silence your voices to your surroundings? I think you don't know how to cancel it yourself without your friend, so I'm the only one who can hear you, my lad. It's a bit ironic that you'll die the same way you killed those people, right?"

The thug began to cry, haunted by memories of every victim they had killed, each innocent person they had dragged away while they cried for help. He recalled every soul that had screamed to no one's response. The thug's cries echoed those of their victims, mimicking the same terror and desperation. However, the same fate that befell their victims now awaited this thug, and no one came to help him. Eventually, silence overcame him.

Meanwhile, outside the inn, Yory walked onto the street, his clothes stained with blood. He muttered, "The prison should be in that direction. Three guards are blocking my way. It's funny that they think their operation is clean, assuming merchants are too exhausted to put up a fight. It's smart, but not smart enough, lads."

In the prison, Joe gripped the bars, his face marred by bruises. He looked at Aldwin and inquired, "How's that injury looking, my friend?"

Aldwin, holding his left side where the wound was, replied, "I didn't even hear them coming. I fought back, but they stabbed me with a sword. You stopped the bleeding, and that's enough. Thank you. I'll survive until morning before they do anything more."

Joe chuckled lightly and said, "If we die, I suppose I can say I had a good time with you lads. I regret some of the things I've done in my life, but overall, it was nice."

The other merchants smiled in agreement. Estel added, "I feel the same. All I wish is to return to Undvik city, my hometown where I was born and raised."

Joe shifted his attention to the guard who was watching them and taunted, "So, it's true. There are no children or elderly folks here. This village is indeed run by lowly thugs like you, isn't it?"

The guard wore a sinister smile as he approached Joe and the imprisoned merchants. He commented, "After enduring numerous disasters, from heavy rains to earthquakes and the surging population of wild and magical creatures, the original villagers fled this place. When we arrived, exhausted and on the brink of death, we found water to drink and animals to hunt. What was a curse to them turned out to be a blessing to us."

Joe, wearing a mocking expression, retorted, "You may have survived your hardships, but it seems you haven't changed for the better. You're still the same sons of a pestilent reptile-brained..."

Joe’s words were cut off as the guard reached through the bars and grabbed his throat. The burly guard, clad in high-quality armour, sneered, "I could snap your neck right now, and no one would even care."

Suddenly, Joe seized the guard's arm, exerting all his strength as he pulled it. The guard's head slammed into the hard iron bars three times in quick succession. The guard, now on his knees, gasped for breath, and Joe, still behind the bars, began to choke him. Joe whispered in the guard's ear, "If I'm going to die, I'll take as many of you with me to the grave as I can. I won't go alone. You, my comrade, bought the first ticket with ME!"