After waiting a while, the sky finally began to grow light.
Graham came to report to Liyakade and the others.
“Lord Fied, I’ve arranged for two carriages to be cleared out. You can have those people come over now.”
Graham stood outside the tent, respectfully reporting to Liyakade and Field, who were inside waiting for news.
At the same time, Field had specifically instructed him about certain requirements—the origins of those women—and Graham had passed those along properly.
“I understand.”
Field responded to Graham outside the tent, then glanced at Liyakade.
Taking the hint, Liyakade followed behind Field as they walked out of the tent together.
Lifting the tent flap, they stepped outside.
The sky was already faintly bright.
Graham stood respectfully outside.
When he saw them emerge, he stepped forward.
“Lord Fied, we’ll be departing soon. I’ve already cleared the carriages and brought them to the camp entrance. Would you like to go check them?”
“Yes, lead the way.”
Field nodded.
Graham smiled ingratiatingly and led Liyakade and Field to the camp entrance.
Two carriages were already parked there.
Liyakade inspected them; just as they had requested, the cargo had been completely cleared out, and the interiors were furnished quite comfortably.
After Liyakade finished checking, Field let Graham wait there with her while Liyakade went alone to where the women were being kept to bring them over.
Soon, Liyakade arrived at the forest beside the road.
The women were resting around the campfire she had built earlier.
Seeing her return, they were very happy.
“Lady Liyakade, you’re back.”
“Yes. I’ve already arranged things for you. We’ve freed up two empty carriages. Also, we’ll say you’re travelers who got lost in the mountains, so you don’t have to worry about others looking at you strangely.”
Hearing Liyakade’s words, the women were even more moved.
They hadn’t expected Liyakade to not only quickly settle the transportation issue but also provide a cover for their identity, sparing them from gossip during the journey.
Liyakade’s respect for them was truly sincere.
“Oh, and about Alice being able to heal you—you must keep that absolutely secret. Don’t breathe a word to anyone.”
“Yes, Lady Liyakade.”
Liyakade gave these women a specific reminder.
She didn’t use threats or anything of the sort—they were still in a fragile recovery period mentally, and coercion might backfire.
So she simply reminded them without explaining why.
She knew these women, out of gratitude, would absolutely never reveal anything she had told them.
After letting the women compose themselves, Liyakade brought them all to the camp entrance.
In front of Graham and Field, she had them board the carriages one by one.
At first, Graham didn’t understand why he needed to cover up the prisoners’ identities.
But when Liyakade brought them all before him, he finally got it.
Every single one of them was a woman, some even quite attractive.
At a glance, nothing seemed obviously wrong, but on closer inspection, their expressions betrayed unease and timidity.
These were definitely not ordinary prisoners.
They were probably Star Wrath women who had been passed around who knew how many times in the bandit stronghold.
That cover story was likely meant to prevent them from facing stares from other travelers in the caravan.
Moreover, if other travelers found out they were traveling with a bunch of Star Wrath women rescued from a mountain stronghold, some hot-tempered passengers might take offense or even cause trouble.
That would be hard to handle.
So it also served as a kind of protection for the caravan.
Still, one thing puzzled Graham.
On the exposed skin of these women—their faces, arms, calves—he could hardly see any scars.
They were a bit rough and dry, but otherwise looked clean.
They actually resembled people who had been lost in the mountains for a few days without a decent meal.
Could it be that the bandits hadn’t treated them all that harshly?
Graham thought that couldn’t be right.
As a caravan head, he had seen women who escaped from the mountains before.
They were always disheveled, covered in scars, with rotting skin and a foul stench.
These women weren’t in nearly as bad a state.
Graham stole a glance at Liyakade.
If these women really were prisoners rescued from the stronghold, then Liyakade must have been the variable.
Thinking this, Graham shook his head and pushed aside those thoughts.
Whatever miraculous abilities Liyakade and her group possessed, they weren’t his business to pry into.
Just as Field had said before, his only task was to meet their demands.
Anything he wasn’t supposed to know, he kept his mouth shut about.
“Mi La, come over here.”
As the women boarded the carriages, Liyakade pulled Mi La out from among them.
She had promised to let Mi La stay with her, so she wasn’t about to leave her on the carriage with the others.
“Okay, Sister Liyakade.”
Liyakade took Mi La’s arm and led her out of the group.
Mi La nodded in acknowledgment.
When the other women saw Mi La being taken away by Liyakade, their eyes were filled only with envy.
But Liyakade had said she wouldn’t take anyone else, so they had no choice but to accept it.
Among them, Ni Li was probably the most envious.
Unlike the others, who wanted to follow Liyakade for different reasons, Ni Li’s envy stemmed from her admiration of Liyakade.
Just as Ni Li had thought before, after witnessing Liyakade’s incredible strength and her kindness toward the weak, she had developed a deep admiration.
She yearned to become someone like Liyakade.
That was why she also wanted to stay by Liyakade’s side—to observe and learn from her qualities.
But now was clearly not the time for Ni Li to make her case.
She could only follow along with the other women in line, and before boarding the carriage, she wistfully glanced at Liyakade and Mi La’s retreating figures.
Liyakade led Mi La over to stand beside Field and Graham.
After all the women had boarded the carriages, Graham asked about Mi La, who was holding Liyakade’s hand.
“Miss Liyakade, isn’t this girl going to ride in the carriage with the others?”
“Yes.”
Liyakade nodded, then explained, “She’ll be staying with us from now on.”