This place itself is not too far from the city.
eting travelers by the roadside and inviting them over for a chat isn't a dangerous move.
Ronald roughly understood the other party's intentions.
So he returned a smile and led Costate into the camp.
The rchants' attitude seed more than just superficial warmth.
As soon as Ronald and Costate entered the camp, they were imdiately invited to sit with everyone and share the rchants' prepared dinner.
The pitch-black night gradually blanketed the sky.
Conversing with these rchants before and after the al made the ti fly by quickly.
And quite coincidentally, these rchants' destination was the sa as Ronald and Costate's.
They also planned to head to the capital of the "Nine Commandnts eting".
However, traveling along the official road, they would pass through two more cities and make several trades before reaching there.
And so, night fell completely.
The rchants returned to their wagons to rest, but before resting, one of them invited Ronald and Costate:
"It's so late now, and in the middle of nowhere."
"It seems inconvenient for the two of you, why not rest with us?"
Ronald naturally had no reason to refuse, so he nodded imdiately:
"Since that's the case, thank you for having us."
This is only a temporary camp, so the rchants naturally slept in their wagons.
The one taking care of Ronald and Costate was obviously very attentive; he even hung a white cloth inside the carriage before bidding goodnight:
"Given the circumstances, this is the best hospitality I can offer."
Ronald replied imdiately:
"Don't ntion it, we should be thanking you for such hospitality."
"..."
Ti passed, and snores gradually echoed through the convoy's camp.
After a day on the road, these ordinary rchants quickly fell asleep to restore physical and ntal energy.
But Ronald and Katherine were different.
Their energy was sufficient to sustain high-intensity activities for days, and their usual sleep was more out of habit and for enjoynt.
The environnt inside the wagon was obviously not comfortable.
So once the rchants adjacent to them slept, they silently left the wagon and sat by the still-burning campfire.
The Nightwatchman spotted them and imdiately asked:
"It's late. Aren't you two going to rest?"
Ronald shook his head slightly:
"Actually, we're both Casters; our spirits are fine."
"Ah, I see." The nightwatchman seed slightly surprised but not overly so. "Indeed, if it weren't for powerful Casters like you, ordinary people rarely dare to tread the wild this late."
At this point, the Nightwatchman seed to recall sothing and shook his head with a soft chuckle:
"Even in a place like this..."
Hearing the unfinished tone, Ronald did not pursue further.
Instead, he began more detailed self-introduction:
"Sir, we just entered this country. Even with just a few days' experience, we find the people here much friendlier than outside."
The rchant laughed imdiately:
"Isn't it?"
"Though this country hasn't been established for long, compared to those war-torn places up north, it can be considered a paradise."
Seeing the rchant in a good mood, Ronald continued to advance the conversation:
"Then, sir, could you tell us more about this place?"
"Of course." The rchant replied decisively, "I'm just looking for sothing to do, and telling stories to soone like you is perfect!"
With that, the rchant began recounting his experiences.
As traveling rchants who sell and transport goods, they are particularly observant and sensitive to society. Yet, such a person honestly acknowledged the rule of the "Nine Commandnts eting."
According to the rchant, within the territory of the "Nine Commandnts eting," every class is clearly defined, and the law is strictly enforced. The wealthy and the powerful enjoy life, while even the lowest class can secure a al.
Compared to other countries of this era, calling it a nation ruled by Saints seems humbly overstated.
Especially since Ronald had activated the reconnaissance magic of the "Divine Cody - Hell." He knew the rchant before him wasn't speaking out of fear or reverence but really believed so.
The judgnt of the "Nine Commandnts eting" by the "Greed" fleet before they set sail seed not accurate at all.
Claudia, who is still preparing forces in the north...
To conquer this newly established nation outright seems no longer possible.
...
The sky tonight was clear without a cloud in sight.
The rchant recounted his observations bit by bit until late into the night, marking the shift change for the nightwatch.
He naturally stopped his storytelling.
"Gentlen, the conversation tonight was pleasant. But it's ti for the shift change, so we must part, whether we like it or not."
Ronald showed great respect towards the rchant who had provided so much information.
So he stood up voluntarily, escorting him away from the campfire.
"We are the ones causing trouble. Please go and rest."
"..."
The newly awoken rchant on shift was clearly less spirited than the previous one.
Ronald exchanged a few words with him but didn't wish to deplete his energy, so he fell silent, rely sitting by the fire, observing it.
——What exactly does the "Nine Commandnts eting" intend to do?
From past inclinations during the Barrier Mountain period, the "Nine Commandnts eting" displayed contemptuous attitudes, paying no heed to ordinary people, to a remarkably extre degree.
And such matters don't align at all with the current observations.
Ronald didn't believe this could deceive him since apart from the rchant's account, he saw the images within the city himself.
The things in ordinary life are the hardest to disguise.
So this likely represented the current state of the "Nine Commandnts eting."
Then the question arises.
What factors could cause such a profound change rooted in organizational doctrine?
Could it be, just as during the "Hamon" era as Demon Ra said?
Could a rely erging rookie Caster change everyone's mindset, leading the organization in a drastically new direction?
"How could that be possible..."
Ronald murmured softly, then shook his head with a smile.
He didn't deny the existence of such individuals, but achieving such a miracle in re one year seed impossible.
To figure things out...
He would have to dig in earnestly, observing firsthand the occurrences on this land.
At that mont, Ronald raised his head, shifting his gaze from the flickering campfire to the sky.
The starry night was dazzling and magnificent.
It felt like wise giants, silently watching over all things on Earth.
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