When the merchant got a clear look at the newcomer, a flicker of delight flashed through his eyes.
The knight's equipment was lavish at a glance, unmistakably the sort of customer with deep pockets.
He hurriedly rubbed his hands together, stepped forward with a broad, ingratiating smile, and lowered his voice.
"Sir, let me tell you something. I hear the main road ahead has already been sealed off by the Limgrave troops. They're even searching travelers now."
"Every time this happens, we end up bleeding money. Those lot are nothing but bandits!"
Huh?
The news caught Nolan by surprise. He glanced thoughtfully at the merchant beside him, who was still muttering curses under his breath.
Merchants who wandered from place to place always suffered the worst losses in situations like this, yet they were also the ones with the best information. Nolan decided to keep him close under the pretense of inspecting his goods.
A faint smile appeared on Nolan's face as he spoke.
"I see. As it happens, I'm rather interested in what you're selling. Would you mind stepping aside with me for a moment? I'd like to take a look at your wares first."
At those words, the gloom on the Nomadic Merchant named Kildor vanished instantly, replaced by eager delight and shameless flattery.
He nodded repeatedly.
"Of course, of course! Please wait right here. I'll bring everything over for you to have a look."
As he spoke, he enthusiastically led over a horse loaded down with bulging packs.
With no hope of moving forward, the people nearby had already lit blazing Bonfires, trying to drive back the night's cold and darkness.
Nolan sat across from the Nomadic Merchant, drew a few runes from his cloak, and bought some food and drink.
In the flickering firelight, Nolan studied the Nomadic Merchant more closely.
He knew very well that these Nomadic Merchants were anything but ordinary. Their murky entanglement with the Frenzied Flame was one thing, but more than that, they seemed able to appear in even the most remote and bizarre corners of the world.
After several mouthfuls of strong liquor, the mood between them gradually relaxed.
This seemingly unremarkable Nomadic Merchant turned out to be extremely talkative, with a breadth of knowledge that was hard to ignore.
From secret affairs in the Eternal Queen's bedchamber, to the scandalous romantic exploits of the Elden Lord Consort, to the tangled grudges and vendettas among kings and nobles, he spoke of it all with practiced ease.
Many of the stories sounded outrageous and impossible to verify, but one thing was obvious. This Nomadic Merchant bore little goodwill toward the Golden Order Dynasty.
'That one's got some nerve. Then again, Marika really is mad. She didn't hesitate at all in that sweet dream of mine.'
Nolan idly poked at the fire with one hand, taking small sips from his flask of strong liquor.
He listened without much reaction, but Her Highness the Princess puffed out her cheeks in displeasure, which was understandable, considering Radagon was her father.
Smiling, Nolan gently patted the doll's small head, as if she truly were a child in need of comfort.
He laughed softly without saying anything. As he casually lifted his head, his gaze happened to settle on a scene not far away.
Several figures were being dragged roughly out of a caravan by a group of soldiers, then hauled off toward the military camp.
"They've got no shame at all. This is what the Golden Order Dynasty uses our tax money for, raising a pack of beasts."
Kildor, who witnessed it from the side, darkened at once. His face was filled with undisguised contempt as he muttered bitterly.
A cool night wind swept through the air, sending dry, yellowed leaves spinning and dancing.
Sure enough, cries carried through the darkness. Men and women, old and young alike. The nobles really knew how to amuse themselves.
Staring at the swaying torches in the distance, Nolan frowned, just as another Nomadic Merchant came running over.
Before the other could even catch his breath, the impatient Kildor hurried over, thrusting a cup of fine wine into his hands and pressing him eagerly.
"Well? Did you find out what's really going on? Why did they suddenly block the road?"
The Nomadic Merchant took the cup and tilted his head back, downing a large gulp before finally answering between heavy breaths.
"Seems spies sent from Leyndell snuck in and killed Limgrave's Flying Dragon, Agheel. They're investigating now, so they sealed off the road."
At the news, the anxiety on Kildor's face froze solid.
But only a moment later, as if he had just heard the greatest joke in the world, he suddenly burst into unrestrained laughter.
"Hahaha… serves it right! That damned dragon had it coming. I'd been sick of it for ages. Nearly burned my cargo to ash more than once!"
"But are those nobles out of their minds? Or have their brains been crushed flat? Do they really think this will catch anyone? What a joke!"
...
Infiltration and assassination were jobs for professionals. Spies were not idiots. Who would stroll up to an army conducting searches and announce themselves as traitors?
Yet as they laughed, the voices of the two Nomadic Merchants gradually fell quieter, until the laughter faded away entirely.
Interrogations like this were bound to turn up nothing. Those bastards were making a grand show of it all simply to exploit the situation and squeeze out a hefty profit.
Nolan understood the truth far better than they did. He narrowed his eyes and rose to his feet.
"Sir Knight, where are you planning to go?" the merchant asked.
As the words fell, the Golden Needle Knight lowered his head.
Nolan paused for a moment. Then a gentle smile spread across his face as he replied calmly,
"That dragon… I killed it."
Kildor froze on the spot. It took him a long while to come back to his senses.
"Huh? Don't joke with us. It wouldn't be good if those beasts heard you."
Nolan only left them with a quiet remark.
"Be extra careful tonight, the two of you."
With that warning, he turned away without another glance and left the Bonfire behind. His figure gradually dissolved into the boundless night.
He walked on in silence, heading straight into the direction of the wind. The full moon hung high in the sky, and the night breeze carried a faint chill.
Within the ink-black darkness, Nolan's silhouette blurred, then vanished completely, as though he had become something intangible.
Bathed in moonlight, there was not a single shadow left on the ground beneath him.
"Why aren't we going straight to the Haligtree? We should be able to go around now. What are you planning to do?"
Her Highness the Princess covered her mouth with one small hand. Even knowing that the knight had already muffled their voices with magic, she still asked in a hushed tone.
"To deal with the problem," Nolan said, waving his hand lightly. Loose ends were always unpleasant. Since it was unfinished, it was better to see it properly resolved.
That was simply how it worked. Those with strength could do as they pleased. Some called him the Golden Needle Knight who saved the suffering. Others insisted he was an enemy sent from Leyndell.
Unconvinced?
Could the weak argue their case?
Sorry, but the weak could only end up as corpses beneath a blade.