Arriving at Greystone Town

Brando parted the trees, and the branches and leaves of the bushes rustled loudly, as if a window had been opened in the dense, overlapping boughs to reveal the scenery behind them. Looking down, they saw layers of rolling, overlapping terraces, with a bright, glinting mirror nestled among the mountains. This was Brown Bear Lake. Everyone let out a long, satisfied sigh. To avoid encountering Jorgendigon, they had spent the past few days trudging through the rugged mountains and wild forests, which had been anything but easy. After abandoning the carriage, it had been downright torturous for the pampered young ladies, young masters, and noble lords.

"Brando, there seems to be something over there!" Roman alone appeared tireless. She held Grand Duke Goren-Elson's youngest daughter by the hand—the girl's nursemaid, who normally cared for her, now needed someone to support her just to keep moving—and poked her head around, looking in every direction. Soon, she cried out.

Brando knew that her Perception Ability was extraordinary, so he quickly stopped and asked, "Can you make out what it is?"

"It looks like people. One, two."

"Are they alive or dead?" Chiara asked as well. Over the past few days, they had witnessed Merchant's Daughter's abilities more than once. At first, some had been skeptical, but their doubts had gradually turned into envy and amazement. Thanks to Roman, the escort of the diplomatic delegation did not even need to risk sending gargoyles into the sky for reconnaissance. Although gargoyles had a broad field of vision, they were also more exposed in the air. Jorgendigon had Harpies and Ridge Dragon Beasts serving as its Air Force, after all.

"I don't know. They're sitting back-to-back beneath a beech tree."

"Have they moved?"

"They don't seem to have moved."

"Then they're probably dead. Where are