Aiden strapped Bamba to the carriage, and then turned to look at the armored men around him. They looked like were ready to swallow him whole.
"One wrong move — and you're dead," said the man who spoke to him earlier. According to others called him, his name was Barney.
"Take it easy, pal," Aiden said as he turned toward the door. "I value my life a lot more than you think."
Aiden twisted the handle, and opened the door into the carriage. The lack of light forced his eyes to adjust, taking a short few seconds after he climbed inside.
A voice echoed from beside him.
"Thank you for accepting my invitation," the voice said. It was a youthful voice of a teen no older than Aiden. "I hope my men did not offend you."
Aiden turned toward the owner.
The owner of the carriage, and possibly the entire caravan, was a young man with brown hair and blue eyes. He wore a luxurious white suit, engraved with gold and blue. A cross-shaped earing dangled from his left ear.
"If I get offended by that, then I would be going around making enemies," Aiden said with a smile. "May I sit?"
"Of course, please," the youth said with slight embarrassment. "May I learn your name?"
"Andie," he chose an anagram for his name. "How can I help you? I doubt someone like me can offer anything of value to someone like you."
"Ah, I'll get straight to the point," the youth said with a smile. "I have certain items that I want to remain unseen by the guards of the city."
"You want a smuggler?"
"As sharp as I expected," the youth said. "My henchman, Barney, is quick hasty as you have seen. He made the decision to use you, a passerby, without my consent — something he will be punished for, I promise."
"And you are telling me this because you think I can do it?" Aiden pointed out, and the youth smiled.
"I could hear your answer to my henchman's offer," the youth said. "I was also vexed why a common passerby demand a gold coin, but it seems you realized the intention behind my henchman's plan."
"And if I did?"
"Then, you think could do it," the youth repeated, a sly smile playing on his lips. "You asked for a gold coin when you could have refused. If Barney agreed to pay, what would you have done?"
"Maybe I'm a fool," Aiden said with a shrug. "Someone who overestimates his capabilities."
"And that's why I wanted to see for myself," the youth said. "You don't strike me as a fool."
"Fools don't strike. They just run their mouths off," Aiden answered.
"I think you do just that," the youth pointed a finger at him, "but only to appear as a fool. I can't offer you a gold coin, but I can offer you sliver."
"You're quite the haggler," Aiden said with a smile. "I would accept, but on one condition — tell me what the item is, and why you need it smuggled."
"That's worth more than the silver."
"I know," Aiden said. "If you can't offer me gold, then give me intel."
"I knew you weren't a fool," the youth said, but he was no longer smiling. Instead, he pondered the offer before pointing a finger at himself. "Do you know who I am?"
"Not a clue."
"I guess you aren't from around here," the youth said. "What you will be transporting is not illegal, but it is rare. It's a skill book that I plan on learning to defeat my rivals. I want to be this year's Rising Star."
"Rising Star?" Aiden questioned.
"The strongest seeker under twenty years of age," the youth explained. "It's a chance to be recognized by powerful clans from the Middle Rings — a way for me to advance inward."
Aiden understood his aspirations, and nodded. However, the next instant, dread washed over him — and windows soon followed.
[You have received a new wish!]
Aiden felt a tingling numbness in his entire body.
"Are you alright?" the youth asked. Aiden nodded, and avoided opening the wish log at the moment — just in case the youth senses something.
"As I was saying, my rivals have planted spies in the guards, ones with abilities that would reveal what goods I brought back."
"And they wouldn't find the item with me?"
"They might, but it's less likely. No one would think I would give a skill book to a stranger," the youth said with a smile. "But I like to surprise those who know me."
"I might just steal it."
"You might, but that's better than going to fight with my weaknesses revealed," the youth said. "Between the two options, I much rather you steal the book — but I know you would not."
"And that's because?"
"Because you have seen me, my men, and the caravan I'm taking home," the youth said. "A skill book is worth more than a silver, but you know you'd get a lot more than that by associating with me."
"A man that doesn't mind being robbed is a man I like to associate with," Aiden said, a cunning smile appearing on his face. "But if I am found, I will by risking my life."
"You will have me behind your back," the youth said.
"I don't even know you, pal," Aiden said. "You appear out of nowhere and want me to smuggle things for you. I hardly call that a good first impression."
"I believe that I made the best impression," the youth said, spreading his arms. "I have been nothing but honest, and even revealed the possible danger involved."
Aiden was silent.
The job was actually a lot easier than others think. As far as he knew, his inventory could not be senses by others. He could simply place the item there and meet with this lad later.
Although he had no idea how much a silver was worth here, he doubted it couldn't get him a good sword instead of the one he already broke.
Aiden was still cautious from others after what happened with Jack.
However, he couldn't see how the plan would go wrong with his inventory.
"I'll do it," Aiden said. "But you have to tell me your name."
"And I didn't intend to keep it hidden like you did," the youth grinned at Aiden. "My name is Raymond Cross."
"I think that surname would be a shock to anyone else, but I have no clue who you are," Aiden returned the grin and offered a handshake. "You got yourself a deal."
[---]
Raymond gave Aiden some instructions about how to find him after going into the city. The two then separated, with Aiden rushing ahead of the caravan to enter the city before they did.
The skill book rested in his hand, tempting him with power. It seemed to call for him to use it, but he knew that doing so would put a target on his back for Raymond Cross, whose servants had servants.
Although Aiden wasn't a smuggler, his latest ability allowed him to be the perfect one. Since this job had no risk for him, he stashed the skill book into his inventory and traveled without fear.
[An unknown magical item has entered your inventory.]
[Do you wish to analyze it?]
Aiden was surprised to see two windows appear while he pulled the reins on Bamba to run faster. He hesitated for a moment, but the curiosity got the best of him and he accepted.
[Analyzing magical item…]
[Estimated time: 3h, 33m, 33s.]
"I hope this doesn't affect the book somehow," Aiden muttered with a nervous laugh. "But I am curious to see the results."
Bamba was in high spirits after Aiden gave it another slab of hyena meat. It ran without stop until it joined a long line of travelers wishing to enter the city, which has now turned into a wall that touched the sky.
Aiden watched with curiosity and caution as he walked down the line. As Jack has told him, there were so many races among the travelers. The most common one were humans, while the least common ones were the Skyweavers.
As the line approached the gate, Aiden began to hear shouts from the guards and travelers. Some of them were denied entry, while others were allowed with ease.
"I guess bribery is a thing everywhere," Aiden muttered as he spotted a man with a thin mustache laughing with a guard and slipping him a pouch.
Raymond could have bribed the guards, but Aiden doubted they wouldn't double-cross him with his rivals.
"Halt!" the guard shouted when it was Aiden's turn.
He wore a red and black armor, with a helmet that covered most of his face. Two guards blocked his path while the third approached him from the side.
"What's the reason behind your visit?" the guard asked.
"I want to be a seeker," Aiden admitted. "I heard it's the best job there is."
"A seeker? You?" the guard looked unconvinced. "We have a mandatory search before you are allowed inside. Please leave your cart there and go through the doors."
Aiden didn't object, and abandoned Bamba to go through the inspection point. As he walked inside, he found a group of men and women in robes.
"Cast an eye of truth on this lad," the guard requested. The three mages nodded at the same time, and raised their hands.
Blue and green energy escaped their fingers as they intertwined to create a large eye above them. Aiden stood there, slightly nervous, as he awaited the results.
"The boy carries nothing important," the oldest of the three gave his verdict. "Other than residue rise and void energies, he is unremarkable."
"Rise and void?" the guard repeated. "You've encountered the Hungerborn, boy?"
Aiden nodded.
"And you survived?" the guard looked confused. "Well, the world is indeed full of surprised. You are good to go."