Under the Gias City sky, which was beginning to show its light on the eastern horizon, the wooden wheels of the wagon creaked through the silence, continuing to move forward along the city's main streets at a constant, medium speed.
In the driver's seat, Wolvin handled the reins with great composure. The Night Wolf youth expertly guided the horses through every turn and intersection leading to Eralio's house.
The wagon continued to speed down the main street of Gias City, piercing the thin dawn mist, until it finally arrived and stopped right in front of an iron gate.
They had arrived at Eralio's residence without getting lost in the slightest.
In front of the gate, six fully armed guards were seen on standby, carrying out the night shift change. One of them narrowed his eyes at the newly arrived wagon. However, when his eyes caught the figure of the Night Wolf youth sitting in the driver's seat, his vigilant expression instantly relaxed.
The guard stepped closer to Wolvin.
"Do you wish to see our Master this early in the morning, Sir?" he asked in a polite tone.
"Yes, you're right." Wolvin answered straightforwardly and without hesitation. "Please open the gates immediately. There is an important matter we wish to discuss privately with Mr. Eralio."
Hearing the Night Wolf youth's answer, and remembering his master's strict orders that the two adventurers were to be allowed entry at any time without needing an inspection, the guard immediately raised his right hand high.
"Open the gates!" he shouted, giving the order.
Two guards stationed on the inside immediately opened the gates, providing wide access for entry.
In the driver's seat, Wolvin breathed a sigh of relief as they were allowed to enter just like that without any further inspection.
Once the iron gates were fully open, Wolvin snapped his reins again. The wagon rolled in across the front yard of Eralio's residence before finally coming to a complete stop right in front of the steps leading directly to the main doors.
A personal guard stationed by the terrace pillars quickly descended the stairs and approached Wolvin.
"Welcome back, Sir. Please wait here for a moment, I will immediately inform him of your arrival inside." the guard said with a professional demeanor.
"Please do." Wolvin replied casually.
The guard immediately turned around, opened the double doors, and stepped into the house to report to Eralio.
At the same time, Wolvin jumped down from his driver's seat. Not long after, Calian hopped down from inside the wagon's cabin. He walked over to his spouse while carrying a burden on his right shoulder, the small body of the alchemist boy, now wrapped and enveloped in a thick cloak.
"Did you intentionally cover his entire body with a cloth like that so his form wouldn't be seen by others, Darling?" Wolvin guessed quietly upon seeing the bundle on his husband's right shoulder.
"Yes, you're right, Wolvin. It is better to be vigilant." Calian replied in a serious tone. "This slave trade syndicate is vast. There could be spies disguised as one of the workers here in Mr. Eralio's residence. We cannot take even the slightest risk."
The cautious reasoning Calian provided sounded perfectly logical to Wolvin. He nodded in agreement, realizing there was no guarantee that everyone working under Eralio's roof was one hundred percent clean and loyal.
"I agree with you. If we act carelessly and this alchemist's identity leaks, then—"
Wolvin's words abruptly stopped. His highly sensitive ears twitched, catching the sound of hurried footsteps marching from behind the main doors.
Seeing his spouse suddenly halt his sentence, Calian immediately understood the situation.
Someone was coming.
Sure enough. A few seconds later, the doors swung wide open. Eralio stepped out onto the terrace, accompanied by the guard who had just reported to him. The man was still wearing his pajamas, his expression a mix of sleepiness and intense curiosity.
"Good morning." Eralio greeted as he descended the steps. His eyes looked at the two youths alternately. "Why have the two of you suddenly come to visit me this early in the morning?"
"Good morning, Mr. Eralio. There is a very important matter I must convey to you immediately." Calian answered, taking over the conversation in a calm yet highly dominating tone. "Please ensure that the area around your room, both outside and inside, is cleared of anyone, including your own family members."
Sensing the Imperial Prince's urgency, Eralio's sleepiness vanished without a trace. He nodded, his expression turning serious.
"I understand. In that case, let us speak in my private study upstairs."
With Eralio guiding them at the very front, Calian and Wolvin stepped inside, walked down the hallway, ascended the stairs, and continued walking until they arrived at a set of double doors on the second floor.
As soon as the three of them entered, Eralio locked the doors tightly.
Calian and Wolvin stepped toward the sofa set in the middle of the room and seated themselves. However, Eralio felt curious about the object wrapped in a cloak that Calian had been carrying.
"I apologize for my presumption, but... what exactly have you been carrying on your shoulder all this time, Your Highness?"
Calian did not answer with words. He slowly lowered the tiny body, then sat the little boy on his lap.
With one gentle pull, Calian unveiled the cloak covering the figure.
When his eyes saw what was underneath the cloak, Eralio's eyes widened. He was incredibly shocked to find that the thing the Imperial Prince had been carrying all this time was the figure of a little boy sleeping stiffly, whose age he estimated to be no more than six years old.
However, it was not the figure of the little boy that shocked Eralio so much, but rather a black collar encircling that tiny neck.
Are you kidding me?! Eralio growled inwardly. How could a little boy be fitted with that cursed object and turned into a slave?! They've committed a truly barbaric act!
Eralio stared at the poor little boy's face with eyes filled with pity and suppressed anger, then slowly shifted his gaze back to the purple-haired youth in front of him.
"W-Why... why did you bring this slave to see me here, Your Highness?"
"What I wish to convey and show you this morning is closely related to this brown-haired man, Mr. Eralio."
Eralio froze on the sofa when he heard what Calian had just said to him.
A man?! What does he mean?