The Kervas Mountains were covered in thick fog year-round, regardless of the season.

Grrrkk… Grrrkk…

The sound of a carriage rolling up the unpaved mountain road rumbled through the fog.

A knight asked with a grimace, “Why the hell is a carriage tagging along to an expedition of the Imperial Knights?”

“They say it’s a carriage to transport a criminal,” another knight replied.

“Criminal? Who are we going to arrest?” the knight asked.

“That’s what I want to know as well,” the other knight replied.

“Damn it… That damned carriage is slowing all of us down. It’s already annoying enough that I can’t see ahead because of this fog,” the knight grumbled.

The coachman ignored the knights’ complaints and continued driving the carriage.

Lenox, the captain of the Third Order of the Imperial Knights, observed the carriage from afar. As he watched its progress, someone called out to him. It was the captain of the Second Order of the Imperial Knights, Seyra.

“Lenox, I hope you gathered your resolve this time before coming to this expedition,” Seyra said.

Lenox nodded and replied, “Of course I did.”

Seyra grinned and said, “I still find it funny. It’s funny that you got scratched by a bunch of bandits, of all people.”

She was referring to the Crossed Swords Bandits. Lenox had a history of being stabbed while fighting against the bandit leader, Arkan.

“It might sound like nothing but an excuse, but the knights were exhausted from marching day and night. Also, I’m ashamed to admit that I fell into a trap,” Lenox replied.

“But the difference in level should have been massive,...