"Of course, the whole point of forming the alliance is for exactly this!" George declared loudly.
"I've already talked things over with the people in the other carriages and got them to give up their spots. From now on, we of the Golden Flower Alliance will ride in the nearby carriages! The Black Robes have given their approval!"
"Moreover, we noble gentlemen will form a guard detail and take turns protecting these carriages! Naturally, this will be in addition to the Black Robe Knight's efforts. As for the lovely ladies, you'll be responsible for logistics, cleaning, and the like!"
"As for weapons, don't worry—I've made preparations and even managed to get my hands on a crossbow!"
George announced his plans at the top of his voice.
After a round of discussion among the young men and women, everyone expressed their support.
"Great! We agree!"
The position of guard captain naturally fell to George, who immediately pressed his advantage and laid out a few tasks.
After that, the banquet was declared to continue, but clearly everyone's enthusiasm had cooled considerably.
"I was originally planning to find you another Cross Sword, but it looks like that won't be necessary now!" George walked up to Leilin with a cup of wine in hand, pointing at the sword hilt at Leilin's waist.
"Is it true that every Wizard caravan that crosses the Great Prairie suffers deaths?" Leilin asked.
"Of course. In the best case, only one or two die. The worst time we lost about a dozen." George shrugged. "Otherwise, why would I go to all this trouble just to form an alliance that dissolves the moment we reach the coast?"
"Once the seed is planted, there will always be a harvest," Leilin said with a smile.
Regardless of anything else, banding together could indeed improve their survival rate. And every apprentice who survived would feel goodwill toward George and the family behind him. If even one of these apprentices eventually advanced to Wizard rank, the returns would be enormous.
Even if that didn't happen, nothing of real value had been lost, had it?
"Your intelligence is just as impressive as your swordsmanship!" George's eyes lit up. "All of this was actually my father's idea."
"Then—will you come and help me?" George extended his hand.
"As you wish." Leilin smiled, and the two hands clasped together.
…
Leilin's acceptance of George's request was no mere impulse but the result of careful deliberation.
He didn't know much about the dangers of the prairie. Under the circumstances, joining a group and cooperating to get through was not a bad approach.
Whoosh…
Gusts of bitter wind struck their faces like knives. Leilin sniffed and caught the scent of fresh grass.
"It's been fifteen days since we entered the Death Prairie…"
Leilin looked back at the carriages, studying the marks scored across several of them. His expression darkened.
The marks were three parallel lines connected together—claw marks left by some kind of creature.
"The dangers of the Death Prairie are truly beyond what ordinary people, or even Preliminary Knights, can withstand!"
Ever since entering the prairie, the Black Robes and White Robes had stepped up their patrols, and the apprentices had huddled together in groups, yet casualties still occurred.
The marks on the carriages had been left by a pack of Scavenging Wolves—an ambush the caravan had suffered shortly after entering the prairie.
Though no one had died, the wolves had charged all the way to the edge of the carriages and even damaged the wagon bodies, leaving a deep impression on Leilin.
"After that incident, the apprentices were no longer allowed to camp outside the carriages. Everyone sleeps on board now. Even so, casualties have still occurred." Leilin's expression remained grim.
Even with the protection of the Black Robe Knights while aboard, the young people still had to go outside to rest and attend to bodily needs. On this danger-ridden prairie, that meant risk.
One youth had been bitten by a venomous insect while stepping off a carriage and died.
"According to the Chip's analysis, the insect's venom reaches the brain's nerves within thirteen seconds—far too fast for any treatment. Even the White Robe Wizards could only watch the boy succumb to the poison…"
After that, the apprentices refused to leave the carriages unless absolutely necessary. But the interiors were cramped, and with so many people confined together, the smell was hardly pleasant.
Leilin had earned the chance to get some fresh air in exchange for driving a carriage for the Black Robes.
Sitting outside on a carriage might seem more dangerous, but with a Black Robe Knight right beside him, it was actually safer than being cooped up inside.
As for driving skills? Leilin had followed the Black Robes for only a short time before the Chip had fully recorded the technique.
"It's getting dark! Everyone, circle the carriages and rest on board!" A voice rang out from the front, and the entire caravan came to a halt.