Reborn As Noble

Chapter 1302: A Keen and Alert Gaze ( 1302 )

Two days later.

”Halt!”

The coachmen slowly pulled the reins, bringing the horse carriages to a stop as elven patrols surrounded them from all directions. The elves moved with practiced precision, some positioned on the ground, others on their magical horses, creatures with sleek bodies and spiraling horns that gleamed under the morning light.

The patrol leader, a tall elf with sharp, angular features, wore an official elven forest patrol officer’s uniform, a deep green tunic embroidered with silver thread, a flowing forest-green cloak pinned at the shoulder with a silver leaf brooch, and polished leather armor that allowed for silent, agile movement. A curved blade rested at his hip, and his eyes were keen and alert.

He guided his horned horse toward the first carriage, his hand resting casually near his weapon, while the other elven guards kept their hands close to their own weapons, their gazes sharp and unyielding.

”State your business, humans,” the patrol leader said, his voice calm but carrying an edge of authority. ”It is rare for humans to be traveling through these lands, especially this close to our border. What is your purpose here?”

The coachmen raised both hands in a placating gesture, forcing a friendly smile onto his face. ”We’re just a merchant group, sir. Heading to the Elven border town for trade.”

The elven leader narrowed his eyes, studying the carriage and its occupants with growing suspicion.

”A group of merchants? From the Human Nation? That’s strange. Most Human Nation merchants who wish to trade with the Elven Nation take the route through the Beastkin Nation first, then cross into our territory. It’s unusual for merchants to approach from the Dwarven side, especially without prior notice.”

The coachmen swallowed hard, maintaining his smile as he scrambled for an explanation.

”Ah... that was our original plan, sir. But we made a mistake. We were conducting business in the Dwarven Nation first, and we intended to head toward the Beastkin border afterward. However, the road we planned to take was overrun with monsters, and we had no choice but to take a more dangerous route. We traveled from the Dwarven Nation through the Halfling Nation, doing our best to avoid the Amazarak region entirely, and now we’ve arrived here.”

The elven leader’s eyes remained fixed on him, suspicion clear in his gaze.

”Did you report this monster activity to the Dwarven authorities? It is standard procedure for travelers to report such dangers to the local guard.”

The coachmen smiled warmly, trying to maintain a friendly demeanor.

”We intended to report it, sir, but the situation forced us to move quickly. We couldn’t risk staying longer, so we decided to push forward and find a safer route.”

The elven leader nodded slowly, his gaze shifting toward the back of the carriage where Gorak and his party were seated, their weapons visible but their postures relaxed.

”And those people in the back? They look like adventurers.”

The coachmen smiled again, nodding eagerly. ”Yes, sir. We hired them as guards to protect the carriage and our goods during the journey.”

The elven leader’s eyes narrowed slightly. ”If they are hired guards, why didn’t they fight the monsters you mentioned? Surely a group of adventurers would be able to handle a few monsters on the road.”

The coachmen let out a nervous chuckle, rubbing the back of his head.

”Ah... well, sir, these adventurers are only D-rank. The monsters we encountered were too strong and too numerous. Fighting them would have been too risky. Our priority was to escape and ensure the goods were safe.”

The elven leader exhaled slowly, his hand still resting near his weapon.

”I see. In that case, I will need to inspect the goods you are carrying. It is standard procedure for us to verify the contents of merchant carriages entering our territory. Please open the cargo compartments for inspection.”

The coachmen smiled and nodded, climbing down from the carriage. ”Of course, sir. Right this way.”

The elven leader dismounted from his horned horse, his movements fluid and silent as he followed the coachmen to the back of the carriage. The coachmen unlatched the cargo compartment and swung the doors open, revealing neatly stacked crates of dried goods, dried fruits, salted meats, preserved grains, and bundles of herbs.

The elven leader inspected the contents, picking up a few pieces of dried fruit and examining them closely before placing them back.

”Mm... Are you sure you’re going to trade these goods in our nation?” The elven leader smiled and shook his head. ”I doubt these will be in high demand here. Our people prefer fresh food, fresh meat, fresh fruits, and vegetables. Dried goods are useful for long journeys, but they aren’t what most Elven people seek.”

The coachmen let out a nervous chuckle. ”It’s... hard to bring fresh goods without them rotting, sir. We thought these would be more practical.”

The elven leader chuckled softly, shaking his head. ”You must be new to this, aren’t you? Most merchants from the Beastkin Nation and Armand Nation use magical freezing carriages to transport fresh goods. They can deliver frozen meat, fresh fish, and ripe fruits without any spoilage. It’s common practice among experienced traders.”

The coachmen rubbed the back of his head, letting out a sheepish laugh. ”Ah... I see. We’re still learning, sir. We’ll keep that in mind for the future.”

”Very well,” the elven leader smiled, his gaze shifting toward the adventurers. ”But before I allow you to proceed, I need to see all the adventurers you’ve hired. Please have them step out.”

”Yes, sir.” The coachmen nodded and signaled to the second carriage, instructing the other coachmen to have Jaigar and his party climb down. He then turned and called out to Gorak and his party, who slowly stepped out of the first carriage, leaning casually against the side of the vehicle.

”Wow,” the elven leader remarked, his eyebrows raised slightly. ”This is quite a large number of adventurers for a new merchant to hire. Are you sure you need this many guards?”

The coachmen rubbed his palms together with a sheepish grin, leaning in slightly and making a subtle rubbing gesture with his fingers. ”Well... they were all desperate for work, sir. And they came dirt cheap. Ehehehe... Couldn’t pass up the deal, you know?”

The elven leader let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head. He raised a finger and pointed it at the coachmen with an amused smile. ”Clever. Very clever~. Just make sure they don’t cause any trouble once you reach the border gates. We elves are not lenient with those who disturb our peace. If any of them step out of line, they will face our full authority.”

He turned and climbed back onto his horned horse with practiced ease, adjusting his cloak before leaning forward slightly.

”Good luck with your merchant career. I hope your goods fare better than your navigation skills.”

( End Of Chapter )