At dusk, they arrived at the place where Sio's caravan was attacked. The camel was still tied to the carriage. Not far away, there were horses that had run away. More than ten bodies were lying on the sand dunes, including several armed bodyguards. Night Wolf had killed so many people with just the two of them. They were indeed ferocious. Perhaps it was because the size of the caravan was not large, so the Night Wolf did not bring a large group of people. Unfortunately, they had run into Amon's hands.
Amon ordered Aesop to stop the carriage and sighed. "What an unfortunate encounter. We can't bring all their bodies back this time. Let's bury them properly first."
That night, after burying the victims, the camel and the horses were taken away, but the other carriage was left behind. Amon split the carriage into many long wooden strips and stuck them into the sand dunes where the bodies were buried. It looked like a small forest, leaving a recognizable mark. When he and Aesop were doing all this, Sio was watching. He did not want to destroy a carriage, but he did not stop them.
Amon had a very strange discovery. The ability he obtained from the Underworld did not disappear. He could still sense the emotional changes of the master and servant, but he had to enter a deep state of meditation. What was going on? Did he "bring out" this special ability from the Underworld, or did some of the original ability he had awakened by chance?
Amon did not think too much about it. The various magic he practiced was already an incredible power for ordinary people. Of course, it would be better to have one more.
This time, Sio was transporting goods to Uruk City. He did not bring many things back. He only had the cash he got from selling. That was why Night Wolf followed him so closely. He carried a bulging money bag in his arms. He was careful not to take it out along the way. Even when he slept, he hugged his arms.
In the early morning of the next day, the three continued their journey. With a covered carriage, they could constantly change horses along the way. It was indeed much more convenient and comfortable. At noon, Amon held Schrödinger in his arms and took out a water bag to feed it water. He moistened his lips bit by bit and gently moistened it, as if he was feeding a baby.
Sio tried to strike up a conversation. "You must be from the Eygut. Only the people of the Eygut would love cats so much. Cats are the symbol of the gods, and they are worshiped and loved. I have a few cats at home. If you like them, I can give you the best one. It can catch mice. "
Amon shook his head with a smile. "Keep it for yourself. How can I snatch what others like? This cat isn't a pet. It's my friend. It's been sick recently. " Then he asked a question that made Sio very nervous. "How much money did you bring this time? Did the robbers target you?"
Sihathor subconsciously folded his arms and shrank back. He replied, "Not much, just a dozen parangons."
Ten parangons were hundreds of gold coins, which was a lot. But Amon knew that Sio was lying. Even without Detection Magic, he could tell from Sio's reaction and tone that the merchant was not telling the truth. In fact, Sio had more than twenty-five parangons with him. Yesterday, he made the same promise as the robbers, which was to pay Amon three times the amount of money. That was at least seventy-five parangons, which was an unimaginable amount of money for ordinary people.
When he came back to his senses, how could Sio not feel the pain? So he spoke in a very serious tone. He was very anxious, afraid that Amon would see through him or insist on checking his money bag. Fortunately, Amon was just asking casually. Sio breathed a sigh of relief. He felt that his back was already sweating.
Amon could see Sio's reaction clearly. He couldn't help but feel a little amused. Amon just wanted to save people. He didn't want to ask for the huge reward, nor did he want to blackmail this merchant. He was just playing with Sio. This man was timid and stingy. He was always sweating, which was very funny. Most of the men in Duc were tall and strong. It was rare to see a man like this.
At this time, Amon had just turned sixteen. He looked very mature, but he still had the temperament of a young man. What Amon did next surprised Sio. He took out a delicate copper bottle from his leather bag, opened the stopper, held the cat in one hand, and put the mouth of the bottle to the cat's mouth with the other. He fed it little by little.
The tempting aroma of wine wafted in the carriage. Even the driver, Aesop, couldn't help but take a deep breath. This was obviously the best wine. Amon bought this bottle in Som. It was originally prepared for Schrödinger. At that time, he bought two bottles. Schrödinger drank one and left. Amon didn't touch the remaining bottle. He kept it in his leather bag, waiting for Schrödinger to come back and drink it.
There was no wine in the carriage. Sio, who had just recovered from the shock, felt a little hungry. He licked his lips and said with surprise and pity, "You actually fed such good wine to your cat?"
Amon explained, "This cat is my friend. I know it likes to drink. The better the wine, the better it likes it."
"We are also friends," said Sio.
Amon raised his eyes and looked at him, "I saved you. Do you feel sad about the huge reward you have to pay? Are you complaining that I fed wine to the cat but didn't treat you? "
Amon was really straightforward. It was as if he could see through Sio's thoughts at a glance. Sio avoided Amon's eyes and replied in a panic, "No, of course not. As soon as we reach Cape States, I will pay you thirty parangons. I can't thank you enough!"
Amon smiled. He knew that his words just now were a little mischievous and made Sio very uneasy. He lowered his head and continued to focus on feeding the cat. Schrödinger didn't seem to be really unconscious. It was just too lazy to move or open its eyes. When the wine was brought to its lips, it stuck out its pink tongue and licked its lips. It seemed to be enjoying the wine very much. It drank half a bottle of wine in a row before it let out a slight burp and snuggled its head in Amon's arms. It seemed to be asleep.
It was the first time in two days that Amon saw the cat move. It seemed that it was recovering. He couldn't help but feel relieved. He put the remaining half bottle of wine back into his bag and left it for Schrödinger to drink tomorrow. Since Schrödinger could drink, he could feed it some meat soup at night.
At dusk, Amon ordered the carriage to stop for a rest. He got out of the carriage and placed a pot in the sand dunes to make a pot of fragrant meat soup. After letting it cool, he brought the cat over and fed it a little. Schrödinger didn't eat as much as before, but it still closed its eyes and drank half a pot of meat soup before falling asleep again. This time, Amon wasn't stingy. He made a pot full of thick meat soup and invited Sio and the driver, Aesop, to eat it together.
Aesop was a slave and couldn't sit and eat with them. After Amon and Sio finished eating, he thanked them profusely. The meat soup made by Amon was much more delicious than the dry food brought by the caravan. Sio ate it with relish and praised it. It might not be as good as the food in the city, but where else could it be better in the desert?
It was already dark after the meal. The starry sky above the desert was exceptionally beautiful and bright. Amon found a flat sand dune, sat down quietly and began to meditate. He had experienced so many things these days. Even if he had a trip to the Underworld, he hadn't stopped meditating on the basics of magic for a single day.
In the early hours of the morning, when the sky was just beginning to brighten, they continued their journey. Sio looked at Amun curiously and asked cautiously, "My benefactor, are you a mage?"
Amon asked calmly, "Why do you ask?"
Sio explained, "I saw you meditating under the starry sky for half the night. Only a noble mage would meditate like this, so I took the liberty to ask. If you are a mage, please forgive Sihathor's rudeness. "
Amon shook his head, "No, I'm not a mage."
At this time, Aesop sat on the shaft and explained, "My lord, in my hometown and even further places, there are many people who like to meditate like this. They think about life, existence, and other esoteric questions. They are not mages. Sometimes, I also like to sit under the starry sky, feel everything with my soul, and think about all kinds of stories in the world. "
His words helped Amon out of the awkward situation. There was no need for further explanation. Needless to say, they met other caravans along the way. After a few days of trekking, the sand dunes gradually disappeared into the Gobi Desert. Shrubs and weeds grew in the Gobi Desert. Finally, they arrived at the border of the Empire of Eygut, the Cape States.
Amon wanted to take out the customs clearance document, but unexpectedly, entering the Eygut was smoother than expected. Sio had been on this road many times and was very familiar with the tax collectors and soldiers guarding the checkpoint. He paid the fee and entered directly. Aesop was his slave and Amon was his bodyguard. They entered the border without being checked. They didn't even need to prepare the documents.
After entering the border, Sio said to Amon with some embarrassment, "We're already in the territory of Eygut, but I have to go to Cape City to have a business. Only there can I pay you." What he meant was that he hoped Amon would continue to escort him until they reached the main city of Cape States.
Amon smiled and said, "I'm going to Cape City too. Let's go together. I heard that you're going straight back to Montefiore. I have something to do in Cape City. Let's part there. "
There was still a long way to go from the border checkpoint to the main city. Along the way, they passed by many villages and towns. The largest town was a port near the sea in the north. It had tens of thousands of residents and looked very prosperous. It was almost like a small city. Sio explained to Amon that since the land communication with the Hittite Kingdom of Syah was cut off by the flood, the trade between the two city-states relied on shipping, so the port town became prosperous.
However, the trade of the entire city-state was somewhat affected. More than half of the three important trade routes had been lost.
It was more convenient for the shipping trade between the Empire of Eygut and the Hittite Kingdom to depart from the ports of Montefiore at the mouth of the Nile River, so there was no need to make a detour to the Cape States. Cape States was currently a transit point for goods trade between the Kingdom of Bablon and the Hittite Kingdom, and the land transportation between the Empire of Eygut and the Kingdom of Bablon still passed through Cape States.
A few days later, they finally entered Cape City. Amon saw the prosperity of the city with his own eyes. He had been to the capital of Bablon. Of course, he had seen everything there was to see. However, the atmosphere of the people was different from place to place. Most of the land in the Cape States was barren and not rich in agricultural and livestock products, but the trade was quite developed. Therefore, there were countless shops in the city, and one could see specialties, delicacies, and wines from all over the world. There were also entertainers performing in the streets and alleys. It was a dazzling sight.
This was a city full of vitality, chaotic but rippling with vitality. It was very lively. Wandering through the streets and alleys, smelling the aroma of various delicacies, looking at the dazzling array of goods, and those who were enjoying fine wine and food, watching the performances of entertainers, or haggling over prices, there was a sense of vitality rushing towards them.
If there was a person who was tired of the world and wanted to commit suicide, he should bring him to such a place to walk around and experience it. It was very likely to dispel the idea of suicide. Amon, who had just escaped from the gloomy Mansion of the Underworld not long ago, felt very good coming to this place. He had a tough temperament, but for a teenager, the things he had experienced were a little too heavy. He needed to relax in such a place. It was the age where he should be lively and cheerful.
Sio gave face to his savior. Not only did he arrange an inn for Amon, but he also let Aesop drive a carriage and take Amon around the city for two days, visiting all kinds of lively places. Although Aesop was a slave, he was very knowledgeable and had a stomach full of stories to tell. It was very interesting to have him as a guide.
On the third day, Sio invited Amon to the shop he opened in the Cape States. He asked the shopkeeper, Humbert, to count 30 parangons in front of him and put them on the counter. "My savior, this is your reward. Please don't be shy, you must accept it."
Sio's expression and tone were as sincere as possible, but Amon could feel that his body was a little tense, as if he was grabbing something and trying to pull it back. He felt as if his heart was being clenched. — — anyone who took out such a large amount of wealth would feel heartache.
Amon didn't want to make things difficult for him. Why should he create a grudge after saving a person? He waved his hand and said in a calm and firm tone, "Sio, you should be glad that you are still alive, so you can continue to enjoy these things. But don't forget that the bodyguards and the people you hired are all dead. I will only take ten parangons. Thank you for your reward. The rest of the money will be used as compensation for the families of the deceased. "
Sio was so moved that tears almost flowed down his cheeks. He took a few steps forward and grabbed Amon's arm. "Thank you, my savior. If you have time to pass by Montefiore, please come to my mansion. I will give you the best treatment."
Aesop was also very moved. He picked up ten parangons from the counter, knelt on the ground, and handed them to Amon with both hands. "Hero, I thank you on behalf of those unfortunate people. I pray for your bravery, integrity, generosity, and kindness."
Amon took the parangons and put them in his pocket. In his excitement, Aesop had forgotten one thing. The law of the Empire of Eygut also stated that slaves were not allowed to touch parangons. Every time they violated the law, one of their fingers would be cut off. However, Aesop had picked up ten parangons at the same time.
Without anyone noticing, the shopkeeper, Humbert, suddenly shouted, "Master Sio, Aesop has touched ten parangons. This is a serious violation of the imperial law. He has used his sharp tongue to say and do things that are out of bounds. This is intolerable!"
No one would have thought that such a thing would happen in such a touching scene. Humbert's voice was so loud that everyone in the shop heard him. Aesop's face turned pale in an instant, but he bit his lips and said nothing. Amon was shocked. Looking at the slave, he suddenly remembered the scene when he was interrogated by Priest Shog in the town of Duc.
Sio was obviously angry. He was very dissatisfied that Schubert had shouted out Aesop's mistake. Why didn't you just pretend you didn't see it? Aesop was a very capable slave. He was eloquent and knowledgeable. He was highly valued by Sio. Had it not been for Aesop's quick reflexes, Sio would have been dead by now.
But under the watchful eyes of everyone, Humbert had spoken out loud. Sio could not openly violate the imperial law.
Amon glanced at Humbert. He saw that when the shopkeeper looked at Aesop, there was anger and hatred in his heart, as well as gloating. Why was that? It was not hard to understand. Just like how Shog wanted to punish the innocent Amon, it was out of deep jealousy and hatred.
Sio had suffered a great loss this time. Although it was all his master's money, it was also the losses of the shops in the Cape States. The thirty parangons just now were taken from the accounts of the shops here. As a slave, Aesop had become more and more important to his master in recent years. His status was even higher than that of the shopkeeper. Humbert had long disliked him, and Aesop had even mocked him several times.
This time, Aesop had saved his master. Wouldn't he be even more restless in the future? Humbert had caught him at one of his mistakes. Of course he would punish him.
Sio did not know what to do in front of the shopkeeper. He looked at Amon with pleading eyes. "Benefactor, what do you think of this slave?" He obviously did not want to cut off Aesop's fingers. Otherwise, he would not have asked. Slaves were also his wealth. Crippling a slave, especially the most capable one, was a loss. He could not bear to do it.
Amon knew that he was not as eloquent as Aristotle, and the situation was completely different. He asked Aesop kindly, "If I want to keep your fingers, what reason do I need?" He wanted to hear how the slave would defend himself. If that did not work, he would buy the slave on the spot with a large sum of money.
Aesop knelt on the ground and looked up. He tried to keep his voice calm and not trembling. "Master Sio, hero, it is true that the imperial law states that slaves cannot touch parangons, but there is another law. Slaves are the property of their masters. As long as there is no dispute with others, the master can decide how and when to deal with them. "
Sihathor nodded and said, "Yes, I am. But I cannot violate the laws of the Empire. Everyone saw that you touched the God's Stone. Amon asked what reason do you need to keep your fingers. Can you tell me a legitimate reason? "
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
