Rumors in the Streets

Shortly after Big Brother's Merchant Caravan left the Border City, a large merchant caravan followed after them.

Nahash knew the manager of the caravan that had caught up with them. They were the ones who had bought Big Brother's Merchant Caravan's original goods at a high price.

Not only that, they were very enthusiastic, introducing Nahash to goods that sold well in the south and providing important commercial information for Big Brother's Merchant Caravan to stock up on.

"We're heading south too. Let's travel together. We can look out for each other on the road and be less likely to get attacked by bandits."

Nahash agreed to the proposal. Yet, on the night before the two merchant caravans reached their first Great City, they somehow miraculously merged into a single caravan.

The Western Border of the Empire was truly too simple and honest. After buying their goods at a high price, someone not only helped transport them for free, but upon reaching a major city where the goods could be exchanged for money, they even took the initiative to return the original goods to their owners.

"I didn't expect us to get targeted like this. Good thing we have Broly Big Brother."

The unfortunate merchant caravan had picked the wrong prey and was buried in the wilderness.

Big Brother's Merchant Caravan made a killing, earning a huge profit from the returned goods in the new city.

With money, finding out some specific addresses was no longer particularly difficult.

After a child from the Great Forest was sent home and learned that her parents had not sold her off, but that a Slave Trader had kidnapped and deceived her, the girl named Sera happily returned to her parents' side.

The other children were all happy that she had successfully returned home. Broly even gave the girl returning home a farewell gift, enough money to change a poor family's desperate circumstances.

"I hope you'll live happily from now on and be able to eat your fill every day."

Broly offered his heartfelt blessing.

"Thank you, Broly Big Brother."

Sera's eyes were red, and her parents thanked him again and again.

"If you want to go home too, I can give you some money to help you return home."

After leaving, Broly noticed envious looks among the people in the convoy and said this.

"Really, Lord Broly?"

Most of the bandits who had been subdued had only turned to banditry because they could no longer survive. Having left their homes behind, it would be a lie to say they did not want to return.

"Of course."

"We don't have homes to return to, but we want to start over somewhere else and build new homes. Lord Broly, can we receive money for that too?"

Broly thought for a moment, then nodded. Nahash seemed to want to say something from the side, but ultimately said nothing.

After two successful trading ventures, Big Brother's Merchant Caravan disbanded outright. Most of the money they had earned was distributed among the caravan members who wanted to return home or build new homes.

Everyone received a substantial farewell gift, enough to restart their lives. Some chose to return home, while others chose to build new homes.

Just like that, after dismissing them, the group that had expanded to over a hundred people was left with only twenty-one.

Of them, only eleven were simply following Broly. The rest wanted to go home but lacked the ability to return on their own and had to wait for Broly to take them back.

"Broly Big Brother, we don't have much money left."

After the caravan's funds had been divided up, Nahash began worrying about travel expenses for the rest of the journey.

"Don't worry. There are lots of good people around here."

Having been waylaid by all sorts of good people, Broly felt that he had already mastered the method of making a fortune in this world.

However, Broly overlooked the possibility that the dismissed caravan members might spread his story.

"Have you heard? The Red Devil Bandit Group and the Cassio Merchant Group were destroyed by some obscure little merchant caravan."

"That? I heard about it ages ago, but it must be a rumor that got exaggerated. How could one person defeat an entire large bandit group with just one move?

As for the Cassio Merchant Group, I used to travel with their caravan. The guards there were incredibly formidable..."

"I think it's true. A while ago, a merchant caravan came from the Border City, and according to them, the Red Devil Bandit Group that had been entrenched in the Red Ridge Area has now disappeared.

Also, someone found the bodies of the Cassio Merchant Group's people outside Nosa City."

All kinds of rumors were spreading through the tavern.

And the hottest topic lately was the mysterious merchant caravan that had destroyed several bandit groups and two large merchant caravans.

Some said it was a caravan sent out by a powerful Noble as bait, while others said it was actually a group controlled by a terrifying Humanoid Super Danger Beast.

They disguised themselves as an ordinary merchant caravan, specifically luring others into attacking them. Then the hidden Humanoid Super Danger Beast would leap out and devour the humans who attacked them.

Of course, another version claimed that the group was a Rebel Army that came and went like ghosts, specifically attacking unjust organizations and distributing ill-gotten wealth to the suffering masses.

It was said that some poor people who had not returned home for a long time suddenly went back with money, and that money had been given to them by that Rebel Army.

There were all sorts of claims about these rumors, and they grew more outlandish with every retelling. But there was one point everyone largely agreed on: if they encountered a group made up mostly of children or dwarves outside, they should not approach or attack them lightly.

Because quite a few bandit groups, along with some groups merely moonlighting as bandits, had already been wiped out.

"Honestly, those people outside really have nothing better to do. Some of them actually believe in something as absurd as a Humanoid Super Danger Beast."

"Miss Merraid, they are merely ridiculous rumors spread by people who have never seen much of the world."

Merraid Auberg, the future leader of the Assassin's Guild who was currently training, complained about the outrageous news her Maid had heard outside recently.

"Though it's most likely a rumor, if I get the chance, I really should look into it and broaden my horizons.

Oh, right, Cassandra. Did you register me for the Martial Arts Tournament like I asked?"

"Miss, are you really going to participate in a Martial Arts Tournament hosted by a merchant group?"

"Why not?"

"But we're assassins. It would be terrible if our identities were exposed."

"It'll be fine. I'll disguise myself and use an alias when I participate. Besides, weapons aren't allowed in that Martial Arts Tournament. As long as I don't use assassination techniques or the Oarburgh family's signature art of controlling insect-type Danger Beasts, it will be almost impossible for anyone to guess my true identity."

"If Lady Barbara finds out, she'll definitely scold me."

"Then are you willing to take the risk of being scolded for me?"

The scantily clad assassin girl lifted the Little Maid's Mandible and asked in a slightly charming tone.

At the movement of her fingertips, Cassandra could not help herself. She blushed and bit her lip.

"Miss Merraid, you know I am willing to do anything for you."

"A Humanoid Super Danger Beast? If something like that truly exists in this world, it really would make me want to hunt it!"

At the gates of Great West City, a girl with long ice-blue hair stood in line to enter the city, carrying a small cylindrical package. She muttered to herself about some rumors she had heard two days earlier.

However, there was no rush to investigate the truth behind those rumors. Esdeath had come to Great West City to participate in the merchant group's Martial Arts Tournament.

She wanted to see the powerful people of the Western Region, while also earning some travel expenses.