4 Sitting Ducks

"Here you go, the food is ready." Hugo served the food in Roul leaves, and placed them on the table -the upside-down flipped carriage.

It's been three days since they started their journey. Every noon and night, Hugo would make food. While getting some help from the Antels to do the chores.

Merion and Xahi didn't have to lift a finger. But his attitude was still the same as when they first met him.

"Thank you," Xahi nodded with a smile.

"Mr. Hugo, we could help with things if you want us." Merino had tried multiple times to convince him to let them help. But…

"I don't want you to work. Just eat. We need to leave. More so, it would be an inconvenience if my lord found out I worked you Chronos." Hugo shook his hand in front while his broad shoulders hung low. Any shrewd one would've seen through his facade.

"You three also sit down and eat properly. I have made plenty today." He urged the three 5ft tall Antels.

Their big eyes shone in joy at Hugo's word.

"We could eat more?" One of them asked carefully and put down the wooden block he was about to throw in the small pit of fire that Hugo made to cook.

With low intelligence, Antels were good laborers. They didn't have complicated emotions like humans but still could feel the basic ones like happiness and sadness. In other words, they were an innocent race doomed to slavery.

Timo had sent them along as the Chronos' servants who could help them with chores when they would be settled in the human kingdom.

"Yes, absolutely! You can." On Hugo's nonplussed words, all three short human-like figures with yellow skin and white hairs moved in unison and sat beside the table.

"Now eat as much as you want, then help me with reassembling the carriage." The beast master glanced at the donkeys, who were tied by the tree near the fire, for their safety. Hugo hadn't wanted his ride to be swallowed by some monster.

"Merino, I need to meet with someone." He pointed at the cliff behind them and said, "I will show you to a cave. I have been maintaining it throughout my journeys to Fintor."

Her expression twisted with hate at the mention of the country, which gave nothing but misery to her family. Merino looked at Xahi and opened her mouth but didn't speak.

Hugo sensed her hesitation, so he said, "There's nothing to worry about. It's a safe place. No monster and beast will come near it."

'I won't let such a precious chance be ruined by some monsters.' Hugo really had hit big this time. First, the boy who had assured him the possession of Sage fruit, and now he had two Chronos. 'I wonder if the Lord Duke would like Sage fruit more or the Chrono skin?' He shook his head, it wasn't even a question. The little Chrono girl was too beautiful, 'The Lord will cherish the gift. It's a pity that I can't hand her alive or make her slave. Neither can I kill her.'

When everybody was done eating, Hugo flipped the carriage and attached the wheels with the help of three boys.

"Hope on, it won't take long."

And as he said, it didn't take long. The sensation of the shocks from roadblocks still lingering behind their backs butts. For some reason, Hugo had whipped the donkeys to move faster than usual. They were standing in front of a two-meter tall cave beneath a cliff.

"Is it really safe to stay here?" This time Xahi was the first to ask.

"Yes, it's more than enough. Anyways, you wouldn't even need to stay here for more than a day. I would be back in just 8 to 12 hours, max. You can even take some sleep while I am gone." Hugo said.

He smiled and thought, 'and sure you will have a sound one when the food you ate shows the effect.'

They entered the cave following behind Hugo. Unlike the entrance, the inside of the cave was big enough to fit even three elephants.

"I will put the carriage in front of the entrance. It won't let any rodents in."

"But what if you are late."

"Come on, you have trusted me till now." Hugo breathed out through his mouth heavily, annoyed. "In case I am late or won't return, push the carriage out. And use the donkeys, whip them, and feed them leaves. They are trained to return to their hometown from this path."

He cooked up whatever lie he could. 'I never knew I would be using the chamber to process Chronos.' The beast master thought while watching Xahi, expecting more questions from her. But she didn't ask, seemingly satisfied.

Hugo turned around, giving one last look to the big rock lying on the other side of the cave. 'I Still have to do something about Trino.'

He couldn't let Trino know that he was trafficking Chronos. Hugo had to process the Chronos before they entered the kingdom. Otherwise, it would be all for nothing.

'Guess I'll have to kill him once he hands me the Sage fruit. He is an Immortal anyway.'

"I will be back before dark," He said and thought, 'But you won't be awake when I am back.'

After sending the donkeys in and blocking the entrance, Hugo left to meet the assassin he commissioned. While Xahi and Merino fell asleep as soon as they supported themselves along the walls of the cave.