Chapter 138
Caron's preparations for departure were completed in the blink of an eye. Thanks to the personal letter from the elven regent, there was practically no one who could stop him. The regent, after all, was effectively the leader of the Southern Great Forest. When the ruler of an entire nation requested cooperation through a personal letter, there was hardly a justifiable reason to refuse.
And so, Caron was a free man.
"You're really just running off on your own?" Leo muttered, clicking his tongue.
They were standing at the train station of Azureocean Castle. In front of them was a train specially arranged for Caron and his companions.
"Let's see how things stand when you come back," Leo added with a smirk.
"Before I come back, you better master the sixth form completely," Caron said sternly. "And don't slack off on your training. I'll check when I return, so be prepared. Even from far away, I'll keep an eye on you... Got it?"
After giving this warning, Caron turned his attention to the figure standing hesitantly beside him. It was his towering butler, Urhan—a deserter he had personally taken in long ago.
"Urhan," Caron said. "You won't have much to do while I'm gone, so spend some time reporting Leo's every move to me, alright?"
Urhan immediately straightened up and shouted, "Understood, Young Master!"
"And make sure to take good care of my parents," Caron continued. "If I hear they're unwell... Well, you know what that means, right? Get them the best tonics and make sure they exercise regularly."
It was an order essentially asking Urhan to look after three people with focused attention. While Urhan had grown used to his duties as a butler, this demand would push him to the limit. Still, he showed no sign of complaint.
"I'll do my utmost!" Urhan declared.
"Good. Slack off even once, and you're going straight down to the underground prison," Caron warned with a razor-sharp smile. "Don't forget, there's no statute of limitations on your bandit days."
Fayle, who had been quietly watching the scene unfold, chuckled wryly and said, "Caron, Urhan is more capable than you think. Heinrich himself vouched for him."
"Father," Caron retorted, shaking his head. "He's a former deserter and a bandit. Let your guard down, and he'll show his true colors. Anyway, if you sense anything off, you know what to do—just call Sir Zerath and... You know."
"Y-Young Master!" Urhan protested, nearly in tears. "Please don't doubt my loyalty! I'm ready to dedicate my life to you until my last breath!"
Leo sighed heavily and said, "You should've just gone to the underground prison, Urhan. I'd take better care of you than Caron ever will."
"I'm overwhelmed by your generosity, Young Master Leo!" Urhan exclaimed, bowing dramatically.
"You two are a perfect match," Caron teased.
"Don't insult me," Leo muttered.
Caron turned to the others and continued, "Leon, don't forget to keep working toward reaching 7-Star. And Hugo... Well, do whatever you want."
The farewell was far from quiet. Aside from Caron's parents and Leo, there was quite a crowd at the station. Starting off with Hugo, Leon, and Third Elder Ulrich, there were Sir Zerath and even several knights from the Oceanwolf Knight Order. Unlike Caron's previous, silent departure from Azureocean Castle, this send-off was nothing short of boisterous.
"Young Master Caron," Sir Zerath called, stepping forward to hand him a crystal orb. "This is a communication orb designed for long-distance use. Please use it sparingly, as long-range communication is inherently vulnerable to breaches in security."
"Thanks," Caron replied, taking the orb. "I'll stop by Thebe and ask Foina to enhance it."
"Yes, that would be great," Zerath agreed with a nod. "I trust you've familiarized yourself with the information on the Pajar Sultanate."
The target in the Pajar Sultanate was the spring water from Ali Oasis, a massive desert at the heart of the nation. Known as the Desert of Death, it was a harsh place, making this mission far from easy. To complicate matters, the Pajar Sultanate was a hostile nation to the empire, further increasing the difficulty.
But Caron wasn't particularly worried. He said with an air of calm confidence, "I'll be careful and come back safely."
After all, it was still a place inhabited by people. Besides, he had visited the Pajar Sultanate once before, over fifty years ago. Of course, the world had changed at least five times over since then, but that didn't faze him.
"Your reputation has likely spread even to the Pajar Sultanate," Elder Ulrich advised with a kind smile. "Do your best to keep your identity hidden. The assassins there are vicious—especially in the desert."
Despite Caron's past rebellious streaks, Ulrich still regarded him fondly. To the elder, Caron was a gem among his otherwise unremarkable nephews.
Better than those loafers who do nothing but leech off the family. This boy forged alliances with the elves and even the giants—what an extraordinary child, Ulrich thought to himself.
Caron had continually exceeded expectations, and Ulrich's lifelong goal of building an even stronger Ducal Family of Leston seemed achievable through Caron, who was simply remarkable.
"I'll keep that in mind, Third Elder," Caron said, bowing his head respectfully.
"Good," Ulrich replied with a nod. "I trust you. Always take care of yourself."
"Thank you," Caron said.
After finishing his conversation with Ulrich, Caron embraced his parents one by one. He promised, "I'll return safely again this time."
"If anything happens, contact us immediately," Fayle said firmly.
"At the very least, make sure to check in once a month. Understood?" Sara added with a touch of worry.
With that, their farewells came to an end. Caron boarded the train bound for Thebe, where his companions Orion and Utula were already waiting. He exchanged brief nods of acknowledgment with them before settling into his seat. Staring out the window, he waved to those seeing him off.
"Off I go," he murmured.
Whoosh.
The train's mana engine roared to life, sending a low hum reverberating through the station.
Over the din, Fayle called out one last time, "Caron! I'm telling you again—you don't have to visit the Academy! Remember my words!"
"Sorry? What was that, Father? You want me to definitely stop by the Academy? Got it!" Caron replied with deliberate mischief.
"I said you—" Fayle started, but was cut off.
"I promise to live up to your expectations! Thank you for the encouragement, Father! I'll make sure to deliver great news!" Caron yelled over the noise.
With that, the train let out a long whistle and began pulling away from the station.
Fayle sighed as he watched the train disappear into the distance, then said, "I can't help but worry, my dear."
His wife, Sara, gently took his hand and said, "He's a clever boy. He'll return safely, just like he always does."
Their son had a knack for stirring up chaos wherever he went, and this time wouldn't be any different. That much was certain.
That was why Fayle knew he had to work even harder. He had to focus on turning the alliances his son had forged—with the elves and giants—into tangible realities. That way, even if Caron caused trouble, he would have something to tell the elders.
"I'm not worried about Caron, my dear," Fayle murmured with a wry smile, leaving the rest of his thoughts unspoken.
It's the people who have to deal with him that I'm worried about, Fayle thought.
He hoped that Caron's mischief would remain within reasonable bounds.
The Mad Dog, having taken a brief break, had once again been unleashed upon the world.
***
The train departing from Azureocean Castle made steady progress toward Thebe. Since it was a direct route to the city, Caron and his companions arrived before sunset.
"As expected, this place is magnificent. The rumors about it being second only to the capital of the empire are true," Utula said, marveling at the bustling cityscape as they disembarked at Thebe Station.
Even though it was nearly evening, the streets teemed with action. Merchants shouted to advertise their wares, and cargo was transported ceaselessly, showcasing the city's vibrant energy.
"Caron, isn't your destination the capital? There's no need to go out of your way to look after us," Orion said, his voice calm as he glanced at Caron from beneath his hood.
However, Caron only grinned and shook his head, then said, "I needed to meet with Lady Foina anyway."
In his haste to return to Azureocean Castle, Caron had missed receiving something important from Foina—a pouch of dimensional space promised as a reward for rescuing the slaves captured at Reben. With that pouch, he could endure long periods in the desert, where resources were scarce.
Lightly tapping the hilt of Guillotine, Caron led the group out of the station.
But after a moment—
Boom!
Fireworks exploded over their heads, and soon, a beautiful woman with fiery red hair greeted them with a radiant smile. She said warmly, "Welcome to Thebe, the city without night."
With a wave of her hand, she conjured necklaces made of flowers. Placing one around Caron's neck, she added with a playful smile, "A flower necklace suits the hero of the elves perfectly. Don't you agree, Orion?"
The woman was Foina, the Chairwoman of Caligo and an archmage of the Eighth Circle. Her voice was rich and captivating.
Orion removed his hood and bowed respectfully, then said, "Lady Foina, it has been a while. I hope you've been well."
"Nearly twenty years, isn't it?" Foina replied with a soft laugh. "It seems you've grown close to Ifrit during that time. You've become much stronger."
"I've been fortunate," Orion said humbly.
"And how is the regent?" Foina asked.
"She is well. The regent asked me to send her regards to you," Orion answered.
The two elves fell into a cordial conversation, catching up on old times.
Meanwhile, Caron removed the flower necklace from his neck and draped it over Utula instead. He then turned his attention to an elderly man who had appeared behind Foina. Waving cheerfully, Caron greeted him.
"Mayor Grine!" Caron said.
"Ah, Mr. Caron! How have you been?" Mayor Grine asked as he approached with a warm smile.
Caron immediately retrieved a small pouch from his coat and slipped it into Grine's hand as they shook. He said with a grin, "I've been regretting not giving you a donation last time."
"Ha! What's this now?" Grine chuckled, quickly tucking the pouch away.
"How's everything going these days?" Caron asked.
"Thanks to you, all is well," the mayor replied with a pleased expression.
"Well, that's good to hear," Caron said.
The brief exchange of pleasantries reinforced their mutual trust.
"It's getting late. Will you be staying the night in Thebe?" Grine asked.
"I need to head to the capital, so I'm only here briefly to meet Lady Foina. I came to retrieve something," Caron explained.
"What a shame. The city's nightscape has grown even more beautiful with all the new buildings. I was hoping to show it to you," Grine said wistfully.
"But is it really fine for the mayor to be seen openly with the leader of an underground organization?" Caron teased with a smirk.
"Underground organization?" Grine laughed lightly. "Watch your words. Lady Foina is a respectable construction company president."
It seemed Caligo's venture into the legitimate world was progressing smoothly.
Well, of course it should be, Caron thought.
With the full support of the Ducal Family of Leston and the mayor, any obstacles would have been easily overcome. Thebe, once an independent city, had firmly fallen under the Leston family's influence after the train heist incident four years ago.
The Leston family had spearheaded the empire's development project in the northwest, and Thebe was one of its greatest beneficiaries. All goods traveling to the northwest passed through Thebe, making it a vital hub of commerce.
And if trade with the elves began, the city was certain to enjoy even greater prosperity.
After wrapping up his light conversation with Mayor Grine, Caron turned back to Foina and said, "Lady Foina."
Foina smiled warmly and gave a small nod, then replied, "Yes? What is it?"
"The item you promised me?" Caron asked.
"Here it is," Foina said. She retrieved a luxurious pouch and handed it to Caron as if she had been waiting for this moment. The pouch exuded a palpable magical aura.
Mayor Grine, eyeing the pouch, cleared his throat with a forced cough. He remarked, "Hmm, so you're accepting tribute now, Mr. Caron? You're quite the greedy one for someone your age... not like the young people these days."
"It's a pouch of dimensional space," Caron said.
"...Oh, not tribute, then," Grine muttered, quickly correcting himself.
The pouch, an invaluable artifact crafted only by archmages, was a symbol of immense wealth. Grine swallowed nervously as he stared at it. The cost to produce such an item could easily rival a territory's annual budget.
"This was made with my own money, so don't misunderstand," Caron said with a grin.
Foina shrugged and began explaining, "It can hold about the capacity of four large wagons, and I've enchanted it with all the conveniences you might need. Anti-decay magic, semi-permanent durability spells, and more. Food won't spoil inside it, and you can adjust the pouch's size at will."
Everything Caron had requested was included. He nodded in satisfaction, fastening the pouch securely to his waist. "Perfect."
"I'll calculate the cost of the materials and send you an invoice later. That works for you, right?" Foina asked.
"Sure, you can do that," Caron replied nonchalantly.
After all, this was precisely why he had been working so hard to earn money. While the pouch was undoubtedly expensive, its unparalleled convenience made it worth every coin.
"Oh, by the way, I have a question for you, Lady Foina," Caron added.
Foina tilted her head curiously and asked, "What is it?"
"Is it possible to put living things in the pouch of dimensional space? For example... humans?" Caron asked.
Foina froze for a moment, unsure how to respond.
"I'm genuinely curious," Caron said with an innocent look. "Really, just curious."
The pouch of dimensional space was a marvel of advanced magic, a masterpiece combining countless high-level spells. But Caron's peculiar train of thought left Foina questioning his sanity. She wondered if it was wise to entrust such a rare artifact to someone like him.
...I don't even know anymore. A promise is a promise, she thought, shaking her head.
"I'm not sure about that," Foina answered.
"I guess I'll have to test it out someday," Caron mused aloud.
"...Pardon?"
"I'm the kind of person who can't ignore my curiosity. I'll just grab a few bandits off the road and see what happens," Caron said with a casual shrug.
And so, the moment marked the beginning of Caron's ownership of the pouch of dimensional space—an artifact that would later earn the ominous nickname, "The Chamber of Truth."