The carriage stopped behind an earthen slope.
When Qin Ran jumped down from the carriage with his belongings, dawn was in its final moments, and full daylight was almost upon them.
From the height of Thunder Fortress, even someone who was no expert marksman could see clearly into the distance with sufficiently sharp eyes.
And most of the steppe invaders were expert marksmen.
As long as their commanding general was no fool, he would know how to exploit that advantage.
So both Qin Ran and Bosco were extremely cautious.
"This is as far as I can take you!"
"May you return safely!"
Bosco spoke with a seriousness he rarely displayed.
"All right!"
"Say goodbye to Mary for me-though I wanted to tell her myself earlier, but..."
Qin Ran shrugged and said no more.
Earlier, Qin Ran had wanted to say goodbye to Mary in person, but the look on the girl's face had left him at a loss. By the time he recovered, he was already in the carriage.
Naturally, he regretted not saying it himself.
But having someone pass it on would be just the same.
That was what Qin Ran thought.
Yet he had not anticipated Bosco's reaction.
"Please tell Her Highness yourself..."
"A farewell like that carries far too much weight. Forgive me, but I cannot deliver it!"
With that, Bosco climbed into the carriage and left.
Watching the carriage disappear into the darkness, Qin Ran raised an eyebrow.
He knew Bosco had misunderstood something, but he no longer had a chance to explain.
He could not shout after the departing Bosco.
That would expose him as well.
Shaking his head, Qin Ran put these trivial matters out of his mind and concentrated on examining Thunder Fortress in the distance.
The secret passage lay in the mountainside