Chapter 2877 An Unexpected Encounter In The Mountains
The night in the deep mountains was incredibly beautiful. Far away from the pollution of the city, the starry sky appeared much clearer.
The crown prince found it difficult to sleep. He leaned against the tree branch, keeping a watchful eye on his surroundings while appreciating the rare beauty of the scene. Or perhaps he was too troubled to find sleep.
It seemed like, for the first time in his life, he genuinely cared about someone.
"How naive. He was taken away without leaving any clues, leaving us scrambling around like headless flies."
After muttering to himself, he was about to close his eyes and rest when he heard Fitz softly calling from beneath the tree.
"Prince, we've caught some game. Would you like to come down and try some?"
The crown prince sniffed the air and caught the aroma of roasted meat. He spat out the bamboo leaf in his mouth, gracefully descended from the tree branch, and landed firmly on the ground.
"You guys need to keep watch tonight. Don't let your guard down. Sasha is still with us."
After reminding them, he took a bite of the roasted rabbit.
"Not bad, but it's a bit too dry. If only..."
Before he could finish his sentence, he suddenly stopped. His men were about to inquire about the matter when they saw him signal for silence. In the tranquil environment, only the crackling sound of the fire could be heard.
Soon, a rustling sound emanated from a short distance away.
Considering the long journey, except for Kasen's sniper team, everyone else was lightly armed with only pistols. Upon hearing the noise, they swiftly drew their guns and pointed them in the direction of the sound.
Under the bright moonlight, a figure gradually emerged from the dense forest and slowly approached the crown prince and his men.
"Halt, who goes there!"
"My god! Crown Prince, it's been a while!"
Upon hearing this familiar voice, the crown prince was momentarily stunned, then his eyes lit up.
"Oh my god, it's you, Baldy!"
As the figure drew nearer, the firelight illuminated his face. It was Paintaker, whom they hadn't seen in a long time.
"Put away your guns. He's an old friend."
Encountering an old friend in a
a
foreign place was indeed a joyous occasion. It had been almost half year since they last saw each other in Bainbridge.
With a smile on his face, the crown prince pulled Paintaker over to the fire.
"Baldy, what brings you to Seraphis?"
"I've been traveling south.
Witnessing the suffering of the villagers here, with no access to medicine for their illnesses and their lives hanging by a thread, I decided
to stay for a while."
The crown prince looked at Paintaker's bare feet and his thin, tattered robe and was taken aback. "You walked all the way here?" Paintaker remained silent and simply nodded calmly.
The crown prince couldn't help but roll his eyes. "You're as stubborn as ever, Baldy."
Although he admired Paintaker's detached spirit, it didn't stop him from teasing him.
"By the way, Baldy, didn't Matthew give you a set of clothes? Why aren't you wearing them? Are you planning to keep them as heirlooms?"
At this, Paintaker displayed a faint smile. He slowly removed the faded bundle from his back.
"I've always cherished Master Larson's kindness!"
Upon seeing the brand new, clean robe and cotton-padded jacket, the crown prince couldn't help but smile wryly. "Then you should wear them."
"A warm heart is sufficient. The cold and heat of the body are merely tests of the mind and part of cultivation!"
After showcasing the new attire, Paintaker carefully folded it neatly and packed it away.
Knowing Paintaker's character, the crown prince understood that even Matthew couldn't persuade him, let alone himself. So, he changed the subject. "Baldy, how did you find us?"
Paintaker replied straightforwardly, "l
heard from the hunters in the village that a group of bandits from outside had come to exploit them in the mountains..."