Seol Jihu stared at the march of hundreds of beasts as they kicked up a mighty dust storm on the rugged terrain.

“O~iii!!”

Ian raised his hand and waved it while shouting out. Someone from the march also raised a hand as if to reply back. When that happened, the cavalry slowly decreased their ground-shaking march.

A beast boasting the greatest size among them approached the location where the expedition team was. Shortly thereafter, the beast stopped in front of Ian.

When the rider pulled on the reins hard, the horse-like creature growled and reared on its hind legs.

“I didn't expect you to arrive before us, Ian.”

A voice that sounded light and energetic but also refined rang out from the top of the beast.

Ian replied with a short bow and a smile.

“What gentleman would dare to be tardy when invited by Princess Teresa Hussey?”

“Thank you for your kind words. I was worried that you might ignore the invitation.”

Teresa smiled before turning her shapely chin away to shout at her men.

“We will take a short break here! With the exception of the soldiers entering the Arden Valley, the rest will immediately prepare to return to Haramark with the carriages and the Horuses!!”

Instantly, lots of activity broke out behind her.

Ian slowly rubbed his beard.

“But isn't there a road leading to the fortress? By riding on Horuses, we should get there much faster compared to running on foot.”

“Well, the communication with the sentries posted on the road to the fortress has been cut off as well.”

Teresa replied in a clear voice and elegantly dismounted from her Horus. When her feet landed on the ground, a loud metallic clank resounded out.

“Which means….”

“It's obvious. The sentry posts have been lost already. And we don't know if there's an ambush lying in wait for us. Rather than taking on the risk, it'll be better to climb up the Dawn Peak to survey the situation first.”

Ian nodded his head as if he understood her intention.

With a fatigued look on her face, Teresa Hussey scanned her surroundings, and upon finding the team of Carpe Diem silently standing to the side, she winked at them.

“Been a while, Dylan, Chohong, Hugo.”

Dylan bowed slightly to greet her, while Hugo raised his hand and waved it. A cold aura was oozing out of Chohong as she deliberately avoided the princess's gaze.

Next up, Teresa's disinterested gaze shifted over to an unknown young man staring back at her; he kind of...