Chapter 402 At Enyingrad
"Nom...nom...nom..."
The sounds of chewing filled the air, accompanied by the clinking of utensils against a bowl, a steady cadence of someone savouring a long-awaited meal.
The air carried the aroma of freshly baked bread, the warmth of soup, and the refreshing coolness of water.
At a worn wooden table, a pair of hands grabbed a piece of bread. Each bite carried a desperate hunger as if the person hadn't tasted food for years.
The hands then reached for a bowl of soup and began to consume the nourishing liquid.
Finally, a cup of water was lifted to parched lips, completing the replenishment procedure.
Amidst this scene, Albert looks at the driver who had got him out of the kingdom with a discerning frown.
Disgust clouded Albert's expression as he watched the driver devour his meal with a lack of decorum.
"Can't you eat properly?" Albert remarked.
"Shut up! I'm hungry," retorted the driver, bits of food spewing out. "Why don't you eat as well? We still had a long journey ahead."
Currently, they are at one of many establishments in Enyingrad, the first city anyone from the east would reach once they enter Turtevekesia.
The clatter of cutlery, the conversations of other patrons, and the distant sounds of a bustling morning formed the ambience of the establishment.
Since it was morning when they arrived in the city, the driver took the opportunity to have his breakfast here and packed some freshly cooked food for the rest of their journey.
Albert shook his head, a heavy sigh escaping his lips. "I don't have the appetite to eat."
Worries painted all over his face, most likely consumed by thoughts of his family and the events that led him to this point.
He do suggested to the driver to wait in this city for all the wagons to gather here so they could move together. But his suggestion was rejected.
The driver continued devouring his meal.
"You sure? Just so you know, I won't share my food with you," he declared.
Albert's eyes twitched with a subtle irritation. "Nobody wants your food, damn it!"
"Okay, okay, I'm just saying..."
....
A few hours passed, and the two finally emerged from the establishment.
The sunlight casting a warm glow on them.
"Come again next time," the owner said, bidding them farewell with a wave and a smile on her face.
Her friendly demeanour reflects the gratitude of a satisfied business owner.
First, because the driver eats an impressive amount, and second, because he paid in Ryntum's currency which is valuable and well-received in neighbouring countries.
"Just how much can you eat?" Albert asked, astounded by the amount this seemingly average-sized man consumed.
"If you often travel for a long distance, you would have no choice but to eat a lot at one stop. There's no shop in the middle of the road and the distance between cities can be somewhat far. Also, stopping on the side road can be dangerous for your safety. It's better to stuff your stomach full and keep moving."
The two made their way to the wagon, preparing to continue their journey out of the city.
As they embarked on the path leading away from the gradually bustling streets, the driver's eyes caught sight of another wagon arriving at the city's entrance.
"Isn't that..." The driver mumbled. His voice trailed off as he processed the sight before him.
He squinted, trying to get a clearer view of the man driving the wagon.
Without a second thought, he manoeuvred the wagon towards his friend's direction.
As the distance closed, the features of his friend's face became clearer, revealing a look of palpable panic.
"Yo, Matt!" the driver called out.
"Mon! I'm glad to see you here," his friend exclaimed.
Relief washed over Matt's face as he caught sight of his friend.
The emotions on his face shifted rapidly between panic to relief and slight happiness.
Seeing his friend almost cry, Mon inquired. "Whoa, whoa, what's wrong?"
"I-I barely escaped..." Matt stammered.
He began to explain everything to him at the border crossing, recounting the events that had unfolded.
"You gotta be kidding, right?" Mon asked.
Matt slowly shook his head.
Albert, who had been silently listening to the story couldn't contain his disbelief any longer.
"What?! Are you serious? Stop lying! I paid you guys to get us out of the kingdom safely! Where's my family?!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with incredulity.
The weight of the information seemed too much for Albert to process, and his outburst reflected a mix of shock and frustration.
The old man was on the verge of jumping onto Matt's wagon and strangling him to death.
Mon, sensing the impending eruption, stepped forward to calm the old man.
"Easy, old man," he urged, his voice a soothing balm trying to quell the storm of emotions brewing within Albert.
Albert, however, pushed the driver aside. His mouth kept asking the same question like a broken record, "Where's my family? Where's my family?"
Matt, noticing the eyes of onlookers staring at them, attempted to defuse the escalating situation.
"Calm down. At least, I have your daughter with me so stop causing a scene. We're in the middle of the road."
On Matt's signal, the daughter emerged from the shadows.
"Dad!" she exclaimed.
"My daughter! You must've been scared."
The tumultuous blend of worry and relief painted his expression as he embraced his daughter.
Watching the touching reunion between father and daughter, Matt asked, "Now what?"
Either they return to the kingdom or proceed to Mindsza as initially planned.
"I'm going to Tutevekesia's capital and deliver the goods, receive the payment and flee to another place. You should do the same, Matt." Mon made it clear to his friend.
He had little to no hope that his boss would survive until the end of this year. So he might as well run with the money.
"Are you not planning to return to the kingdom?" Matt asked.
"Not in the nearest future." Mon replied.
Overhearing their conversation, Albert panickedly asked, "Are you going to drop us at Mindsza and run just like that?"
Mon, perhaps sensing the desperation in Albert's tone, responded matter-of-factly, "Yeah! What do you expect us to do? Go against the kingdom and save your remaining family? Sorry but don't drag me into this."
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