Starting With an SSS-Rank Swordsmanship Talent

Ahh!!

"Enemy attack!"

"Protect the young lord!"

Cody's lust was extinguished when he heard his subordinates' screams and shouts.

"What's going on?" He pushed the naked woman and took a peek at the situation outside through the carriage window.

He could see his subordinates circling the carriage in a defensive formation. Some of them appeared to be injured with various wounds all over their bodies.

Seeing this, he was flustered.

"What the hell! Who dares to attack us near the capital?!" He couldn't believe that someone would actually dare to ambush them on their way to the capital.

"My lord, what happened? Are there bandits outside?" The naked woman asked, shaking with fear.

Cody didn't want to appear weak in front of his woman so he snorted and put on a confident smile. "It's nothing. My subordinates can handle them. It's just a small group of thieves. No big deal."

"Let's continue where we left off." He smiled evilly as he pulled the woman into his embrace.

He fondled her breasts and kissed her neck.

"My lord…" The woman was still afraid, but she didn't want to offend the viscount's son so she could only follow along with him.

Seeing that she was offering no resistance, Cody smirked.

"Use your boobs this time." He pushed the woman down.

Just as she was about to grab his cock, the carriage door suddenly sprang open, making her yelp in surprise.

Cody was also startled. "Hey! Can't you see that I am in the middle of-"

To his horror, a masked man entered the carriage and grabbed him by the neck.

"W-Who are you?!" Cody was terrified. He tried to push the man away, but he found himself unable to muster his strength.

"Release him! He is the second heir of House Lineker!" The naked woman grabbed a dagger and attacked the masked man, but she was quickly subdued.

The masked man slapped her dagger away and struck her on the neck which made her fall unconscious.

Seeing how quickly she was subdued, Cody no longer resisted, fear gripping his heart.

"I can give you money. Just spare me!"

The masked man didn't respond and just stared at him coldly.

In the next moment, Cody slowly lost consciousness.

Thud.

Caecus grabbed the unconscious Cody and dragged him out of the carriage. He then stripped the guy naked and tied him upside down on top of a tree.

After doing this, Caecus left the scene.

…

"I don't see Sir Caecus." Shin Dol-seok mumbled while searching for Caecus.

"Don't worry about him. He should be hunting right now." Warrick sent him a smile.

"I see. Should we wait for him?" Shin Dol-seok asked.

"It's fine. He can find his way back. We can just leave tracks that he can follow." Warrick waved his hand.

"Alright." Shin Dol-seok no longer pursued the matter.

It has been half a day since they left Ulmunsan and the sky was gradually turning dark.

"Commander Shin, is the road still safe at night?" Alaric's voice drifted into his ear.

"Bandits rarely come here and the warriors are still active at night so it should be safe." Shin Dol-seok responded right away.

Hearing this, Alaric rubbed his chin thoughtfully before he made his decision. "Then we will continue the journey. We can rest tomorrow night."

"Yes, Your Highness!" The group replied in unison.

Half an hour later, Caecus returned with a wild boar tied on his horse.

No one asked him why he disappeared. Although Shin Dol-seok was curious, he didn't bother to ask when he saw that no one seemed to be interested.

…

A few days later, a magnificent city came into their view.

It was surrounded by tall earthen walls with hundreds of mounted mana cannons and ballistas.

Alaric also sensed the various defensive engravings on the wall.

So this is Sorl, the capital of Veronica…

He could already see the tall buildings and the exquisite infrastructure within the city.

"We are here, Your Highness. That is Sorl." Shin Dol-seok pointed to the city with a look of pride.

Alaric smiled faintly and said. "Let's go."

The group later arrived in front of the city's main entrance where a long queue of people was waiting to enter the city.

"You are special guests from Astania so we don't need to queue up. Just stay here for a moment while I talk with the person in charge." Shin Dol-seok eagerly said.

While he was looking for the leader of the gatekeepers, Alaric and the others calmly waited.

They looked completely different from the locals so their presence immediately attracted the attention of the crowd.

"Who are those people? They look like foreigners."

"Those barbaric faces… I think they are from Astania."

"Why are Astanians here?!"

The locals looked visibly displeased when they heard this.

At this moment, an old gatekeeper suddenly approached these Astanians together with his subordinates.

The locals watched the scene with interest. They expected some kind of action, but they soon became disappointed.

"Your Highness! Please come this way! I will escort you all the way to the imperial palace!" The old gatekeeper smiled warmly.

Alaric was pleased. He thought that the gatekeepers would make things difficult for them, but they were surprisingly hospitable.

"I would greatly appreciate your help." He didn't reject the old gatekeeper. Having him join them would make things more convenient.

"Haha! You are a decisive man, Your Highness!" The old gatekeeper praised him.

Alaric exchanged pleasantries with him.

A moment later, the old gatekeeper led them inside the city under the mixed feelings of the crowd.

"Sorl has developed steadily after Her Majesty rose to the throne. This place was once inhabited by lawless people, but they quickly vanished as soon as Her Majesty stepped onto the throne." The old gatekeeper was a chatterbox.

He repeatedly praised the Veronican Empress with a look of veneration.

He introduced the city's most popular spots and he also gave them a rough introduction to the city's history.

Because of his non-stop praises to the Empress, Alaric became even more excited to see this famous figure.