Gray dropped down to the stomach and peered over the edge of the wall. Tens of cloaked figures were moving around below. It was still before dawn; the sky had not even started to change color. There should not have been so many people up and about.

These people were careful not to make noise as they went in and out of the nearby houses, carrying wooden crates and heavy bags. Soon after, more people arrived with a large number of horses and eight full-sized horse carriages. It was enough for a proper caravan, one that was capable of traveling for several weeks and cross entire regions.

With so many people and animals, it was impossible not to make noise. And yet, no guards or any townsfolk came to investigate. It was as if this section of the town was completely deserted.

"Hurry up!"

"It doesn't matter as long everything is loaded!"

"Quickly!"

The people below whispered to each other urgently. They worked to load up carriages with supplies and tie everything down. A particularly heavy-set man stood at the front, near the south gate, with a small group of associates. They were conversing under their breath but Gray could still hear them.

"How many still need to be loaded?"

"Four."

"Hurry up!"

"Yes, Director Baba!"

"Any sign of the guards?"

"None at all..."

"Good!"

These people were related to Amin Baba so they had to be from the Southern Seas Trading Company. With the caravan and the amount of supplies, it was clear that they were trying to flee Jade Hill Town.

Gray wasn't really surprised by this. Merchants were useless for anything except making money. They were people that loved profits and hated anything that caused losses... like war. They did not have any loyalty to a border town like Jade Hill Town. Merchants weren't going to sacrifice their lives protecting a piece of dirt, not when they could simply leave for better opportunities.

"Uncle, the gate is still locked. Only the lord has the key, how will we get through?"

Gray frowned, he recognized that voice. It was Amin Baba. The short and fat merchant seemed somehow even fatter than before.

"Are you as dumb as you’re useless? Do you think I haven't thought of that?" The elder Baba hissed, "Foreman Wu, get the stuff!"

"Yes, director!"

It was another familiar person, the same Foreman Xiang Wu that had attacked Gray within the open-pit mine months ago. The crazy foreman disappeared into one of the houses and came back with a circular object the size of an egg with a knobbly surface.

"This..." Amin asked in confusion.

"This is a thunderbolt grenade. Once activated, it will destroy a small area with the power of thunder and lightning!"

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

Amin sucked in a frightened breath, "Oh my Holy King! A spiritual device!"

"Heh, that's right. It won't be enough to break the gates but that fancy lock won’t be a problem!"

The elder Baba pocketed the item and went back to directing his people.

By now, the eastern sky was turning purple as the first light of morning was fast approaching. The caravan finished preparing and lined up against the southern wall in single file. They were waiting for the signal, the explosion of spiritual energy that meant the lock was broken and the gate was wide open.

Gray was still above the fray, lying atop the wall. Before he could leave and get out of the way, chaos broke out!

"Don't move!"

"Stop, merchant scum!"

Rows of town guards emerged from the darkness in all directions. There were at least a hundred of them, easily outnumbering the merchant caravan which only had fifty people at most. The guards took up positions between the houses and all the way to the wall. They even blocked off the gate that was still tightly shut.

A man wearing the distinctive polished armor of a guard captain stepped forward.

"Tarek Baba! Show yourself, don't hide like cowardly flying chicken!"

It was Harsh Patel and he seemed quite pleased with the situation.

The large man waddled forward, "Captain Harsh Patel, what is the meaning of this? Why are there so many of the lord's guards here?"

"Hey fatass, don't try to act dumb." Another captain walked up beside Harsh, "Hurry up and tell your people to get off their horses and kneel down! Unless you want me to drag them down by force!"

"Captain Zheng Bai, what nonsense is this? We have done nothing wrong! You can't treat us this way!" Tarek Baba said angrily.

"Yeah!"

"That's right!"

Those with the caravan joined in the complaint.

"Silence!" Zheng Bai bellowed.

His spiritual energy billowed out as he drew an oversized sword. The guards followed suit, brandishing their weapons.

Tarek Baba wasn't deterred and stood firm against the two captains. The head merchant was fat but he was also strong. As an expert at the peak of the Spiritual Strengthening Realm, he didn't fear cultivators at the same level.

"You all will answer for this, I promise. Do you know who I am? I am a director of the Southern Seas Trading Company. We aren't people you can offend!" He spat. "Where is Lord Reddy? I want to speak to the lord!"

"I'm right here." A soft voice sliced through the predawn air.

Lord Reddy emerged, their small stature clashing with the rows of tall and powerful guards.

"Lord Reddy! Tell your guards to back off!” Tarek Baba demanded without a trace of respect.

The lord pointed a slender finger at him, "Tarek Baba and every member of the Southern Seas Trading Company present... are all under arrest for the crimes of desertion and aiding the enemy in a time of war. If you surrender peacefully, that would be appreciated. If you don't, that will be an additional crime of resisting the authority of the lord!"

"No! I'm not a deserter!"

"Don't arrest me!"

The merchants started clamoring, each one professing their innocence. Gray had no idea what was going on but was funny to see someone like Amin Baba beg and cry on his knees.

"Silence! You useless scum!" Tarek Baba snarled and kicked Amin Baba aside. He then shouted at the lord with a thundering voice, "You can’t arrest us. You can't make us surrender. You can't make us stay in this shithole town any longer! You have run this place into the ground. Defeat after defeat. Do you think you can defeat the Duanmu Clan? I've seen it with my own eyes. What kind of a tragedy are the defenses? The conscripts you so arrogantly forced to fight don't even have proper weapons. How long can we survive the siege without starving? You can't even feed the people one a square meal every day. And don't you dare think there's help coming from the south. There is none! Absolutely none!"

Tarek Baba looked around at the town guards around him, his eyes wild with rage, "All of you will die. Staying in this town is certain death. We're leaving and you can't stop us! You all can stay here and follow the Jade Hill Lord to the grave but leave us out of it!"

"Are you done?" The lord asked flatly.

"No! I know the truth about you. You can pretend but I already know." The fat merchant said with a savage smile, "The real lord, Disha Reddy, has long since left this region and now resides in New Ocean City. You are not Disha Reddy. You are not the lord. Therefore, your decrees are invalid and you have no right to stop us from leaving!"

"Oh? You seem to know a lot. Then tell me, who am I?" The lord replied without a trace of worry in their voice.

Tarek Baba laughed, "Hahaha! That's right! I already know who you are. Why don't you take off that veil and show everyone the truth... Alisha Patel!"