Gentlemen, welcome to Vacuo

Through the scalding sun of the desert, in a place were the dunes would stretch until where the eyes could see, a few figures could be seen threading the arduous path.

These figures collectively formed what it seemed to be a caravan, there were people riding camels that were packed with supplies that were positioned on the front and along the edges of the convoy, most armed in some way and wearing clothes you'd expect from people that live in the desert like tunics that cover almost the whole body.

Some others were wearing more combat oriented uniforms that still had various characteristics similar to the previous group and were more heavily armed, which leads one to believe that they're guards or something of the sort, they either walked on foot alongside the convoy or rode on the outside of the carts.

Those carriage carts were filled with all sorts of goods, which revealed that particular caravan to be a trading caravan, making the trip through the desert in order to sell their goods.

But those carts were filled with more than just merchandise, there were also people inside some of them, being transported by them in order to be left in one of the destinations they'll stop at on the way.

The carts were mostly simple wooden ones with animal propulsion, but there were a few motorized vehicles mixed in here and there. From that, it's very clear that this caravan isn't one unified group but instead many different groups that have banded together to travel.

The deserts of Vacuo are very perilous, not only for the environmental conditions that one travelling them are subjected to, but also due to the threat of being ambushed at any moment, be it by the Grimm or bandits. So while larger caravans can travel on their own, smaller caravans tend to join one another in order to increase their own safety in numbers.

Merchants, civilians, nomads, adventurous tourists and many more could be found if one were to look into those caravans, each contributing in safety, knowledge, navigation or supplies so that all can have the highest odds to reach their intended destination.

A cooperation born, not of trust, but the unfavorable circumstances.

The same can be said about many other aspects of life Vacuo, or even the origins of the Kingdom itself.

...

Ahead of the group, there were two people riding camels, their outfits were very much that of locals and they were having a conversation with each other in a very strong Vacuan accent.

"How are the predictions for the weather, boy?" The first one says, he's very old by his voice and consequently must have a lot of experience, showing a lot of confidence that the second will be able to answer him.

"It's going to be clear until we reach our destination, no sandstorm as far as I can sense, but I wouldn't put so much faith on my semblance, it has its limitations." The second says, a much younger man that seems to have entered the group not a while ago, showing a bit of discomfort at how much trust is put into his semblance and their group's reliance on it. It basically gives him a sixth sense when it comes meteorological conditions and allows him to feel the changes in it.

"It hasn't failed us yet." The older man simply says.

The young man becomes a bit burdened with all the trust put into himself, so he decides to change the subject. "Uhmm, so what is their role? They've been placing those things on the sand and removing them the entire trip, what exactly are they doing?" He points to a few people that are a bit behind them, they're carrying a bunch of technological apparatuses on them and will periodically insert a long rod into the sand bellow them and then remove it after some time, they actually look like ghost hunters with all the strange gadgets they carry on themselves.

"Them? Well, they're just the ones keeping us from being buried in Grimm." The older one casually says.

"Huh?" Hearing this, the young one becomes a bit perplexed.

"I don't really understand the science of it, but apparently those machines on them are some kind of vibration sensors, by burying that metal rod in the sand they can detect anything moving both bellow and on top of the sand." The old man says, trying to make it easy to understand.

"So they can find grimm using that?" The young man, asks now starting to understand what is their role.

"Yep, it's handy specially because it can even detect those buried deep beneath the sand, and I can tell you from experience that if we get ambushed that way, the scene wouldn't be pretty." The old man tells in a somber tone, probably reminiscing a past experience.

The young man shudders to imagine the scene, he's heard stories of the horrors buried beneath the desert, many parents tell stories to their children of monsters that will emerge from the sand and drag them beneath it in order to scare the children not to wander into the desert and be well behaved. But as those children grew up, they realized that the stories were more than just a way to make them behave.

But the conversation between the two is interrupted as one of the lookouts shouts:

"We picked up some movement ahead! A dozen of them, heading towards this direction fast!" He shouts in a very worried manner.

"Is it Grimm?" One of the riders near, asks the lookout.

"No, by the pattern, it seems to be organized and moving to intercept us. Probably bandits or a team sent by another caravan." Another lookout responds, showing much more calmness and giving information more objectively.

But this answer doesn't bring relief to the others, it actually makes their expressions become darker and the fear become more palpable.

Grimm, for all their danger and ferocity, can be easily avoided if discovered far enough away, all you need is experience and knowledge of their habits. But people on the other hand, can be much more complicated, while Grimm would simply kill you, they could do much worse.

"Should we change our course?" Hearing that, someone gives a suggestion.

"Don't bother, it won't work. Better prepare for the worst." Another responds, clearly showing that their situation isn't very simple.

"Haaah... That greedy bastard, I told him to be more careful with who he includes in the caravan." The older man says in a tired tone, the 'greedy bastard' he's referring to being the leader of the caravan they're a part of.

"W-What do you mean?!" The younger one says, already hyperventilating and showing clear signs of panic.

"What I mean boy, is that we already have a 'guest' inside the caravan, they probably already know our current location, our route and maybe even our possible alternative routes."

This guess is one that can be made due to decades of experience on the matter, all thanks to many small clues about the situation.

Each caravan has its own route so the chance of meeting another is very low and a team requesting aid wouldn't be as big or already be heading towards there even before entering detection range. So they're most likely bandits.

They're approaching from the front, so they aren't following a trail and the lookouts paid extra attention to any birds in the sky since they are commonly used to find and keep track of the target's position.

So the next most probable means they used to know their exact location is to put informants inside the caravan in order to get a constant update of their current location, something that could've been avoided if their leader wasn't so greedy and made sure to check the background of who he let in more thoroughly.

But now there's nothing that can be done, even if they found and dealt with the informant, it would already be too late, as they probably already have the exact location of the caravan.

So as long as the informant remains, trying to flee is pointless.

But, despite knowing all that, there was a single thing that was confusing the old man.

Their number is too small, not nearly enough to attempt a raid in a caravan of their size.

Their combined caravans have more than 100 members and even if only half of that number is armed and capable of fighting, that is more than enough to deal with a dozen raiders. So it's strange that they found no other group approaching, it makes him suspect that maybe the group aren't bandits.

"Are there any other groups approaching?" The old man shouts, making sure there aren't any surprises waiting for them.

"Nothing! And the group's that's approaching isn't slowing down, it will arrive in a few minutes." The lookout once again checks his equipment and then responds.

At this rate, even if there are reinforcements arriving later, by the time they arrive the first group would already be wiped out, it simply makes no sense.

"No point delaying the inevitable, let's prepare our welcoming committee, shall we?" The person who seems to be the leader of the caravan steps out of one of the vehicles and says.

Then he takes a walkie-talkie and says into it: "Guards! At the front. Anyone that can't shoot a gun, get inside one of the carriages. Hurry!" Though sometimes blinded by greed, the leader of their caravan knows how to take command when is necessary.

The other caravans that were traveling along them also followed suit and started preparing for contact.

"What should we do?" The young man says, being lost in what to do in that situation.

"Just keep your mouth shut and let me handle it, and if things can't be solved with diplomacy, then just try to get out of the way and not get shot." The older man sincerely says, then he rides to the very front so he can try to talk with the group once it arrives.

The boy follows the suggestions and just goes to the back in order to not be a hindrance. His role is just to use the semblance he awakened by pure luck when he experienced a moment of strong emotion and warn the group of any incoming sandstorms or other environmental hazards. He isn't a combatant.

And in just a few minutes, the majority of guards are stationed at the front with a few at the back protecting the merchandise, you never know when someone decides to use the chaos to pillage some goods. They used the vehicles and a few of the carriages to form a barricade and provide them cover.

...

Meanwhile, inside one carriage much further in the back.

Two figures could be seen sitting inside the carriage, the curtains were closed and the interior was completely isolated from the exterior, but the commotion outside having been clearly heard by them despite that.

"Should we go outside and check it out?" One of the figures that were currently leisurely reading a book suddenly questioned, not showing much concern when it comes to the situation outside.

But after that, there's a brief period of silence inside the ambient.

"I agree, let's wait and see how they handle the situation. I'm very curious about the 'Vacuan hospitality' I've heard so much about." He talks again, despite no answer being able to be heard from the other person.

Despite their unconcerned looks, their senses are keenly focused on everything going on outside, not letting a single detail slip.

...

After a few minute's have passed, the sound of hooves colliding with the sand could be heard, signaling the arrival of who they've been waiting for.

And from behind the dunes, emerges several people wearing black clothes that cover their whole bodies riding horses.

From a glance, it can be seen that they're armed, but considering how dangerous this trip could potentially be, it would be strange to find anyone that isn't.

But their choice of mount is quite particular, horses just aren't that common so deep into the desert.

Camels are better adapted to the desert, don't consume as much water during the trips and have a very convenient diet that can consist of cactus. Horses meanwhile are faster but simply too inconvenient to keep due to the supplies they consume. Unless there's a need to chase someone, such animals aren't used.

Which completely dispels the notion that they may be a team sent by another caravan that got lost or suffered a crippling attack.

From the group, a single figure rides forward towards the caravan while the rest stay a short distance away and the old man from the caravan does the same.

Typically the leader of the caravan would be the one to handle these kinds of situations but in their's case, despite having no lack of charisma, he just lacks the perception and mental fortitude to participate in negotiations, so he delegates this role to one of his more capable subordinates.

They meet in the middle ground of the two groups, as the two aproach, the old man speaks first.

"How can I help you friend?" He says in a friendly tone, but mixed with a deep suspicion.

"There is many ways you could help me, but first of them would be to tell the people behind you to lower their weapons." The man, who appears to be surprisingly young, says in a light tone, showing arrogance and a friendliness that in the other's ears seem more like mockery.

"What do you want?" The old man seeing the other party's attitude quickly changed his own an asked in a very serious tone, meanwhile the weapons remained firmly aimed at the newcomers.

"Well, you're going to have to be more specific with this questions since I currently want a lot of things, among them: a cold drink, a vacation on a beach surrounded by beautiful women and being able to laze around all day playing video games are certainly on the top." The man says putting a very innocent act, showing that he isn't taking the situation they're in very seriously.

But most of all, he's showing confidence. As if everything is under control and that's enough to make the old man weary, the person in front of him may seem infantile and immature but on this parts, you don't get to lead a group of people without a certain level of talent, which means that he's hiding it.

"Look friend, I know what you are and your intentions, but I'm advising you to turn your back and leave. You've seen our firepower and you know that the Grimm would be attracted if we were to have a bloody fight, leaving our tattered forces as easy prey. So be reasonable and try to not escalate the situation for both our group's sakes." The old man tries to convince him with logic, knowing that they both stand to lose if a battle were to occur.

The leader of the bandits becomes silent for a moment and finally says, this time completely throwing away the pretense "You know, I see that you're a smart person, so you should have already figured out how we've been keeping track on you, but ask yourself this: 'When we found such a perfect opportunity to mix our people into the caravan, why would we put only a few?'

"...What is your meaning?" The old man says, feeling a chill from the young man's gaze.

"What I mean is, you're confident that we won't attack because your numbers make it impossible for us to end the battle quickly and leave before the Grimm arrive to kill us both. But have you ever wandered how many of those man are truly your own?" The man says in a relaxed tone, visibly taking amusement from the whole situation.

*Bang*, *Bang*, *Bang*, *Bang*, *Bang*...

But before the old man could say anything, a series of gunshots were heard behind him, then silence...

When he turned his back to look at the caravan, he saw that several guards had died without even a chance to fight back and the killers were non other than the other guards which had their guns smoking after having gunned down their 'allies' without any remorse.

The old man felt the chill spread through his whole body as the last piece fell into place.

They only brought a few men to raid a caravan because they didn't need to fight at all, they just needed to create a distraction big enough to allow their people inside to take care of the unaware guards.

They already have control of the caravan and they didn't even need to fight, just stand back and watch their plan come into fruition.

At this moment he's truly cursing at their leader's haste in recruiting guards, but he's cursing even more himself that didn't notice anything until it was too late. He's already seen bandit groups using informants but this is the first time he saw them infiltrate a large chunk of their fighting force into the caravan, such a thing should be almost impossible! Their leader became sloppy and hasty due to having received some 'very valuable contraband' from some 'dubious connection', so he wanted the get it out of his own hands as soon as possible and the same could be said about the rest. But that proved to be their downfall.

After the gunshots were heard, the rest of the bandits quickly rode towards the caravan to deal with the remnants.

Though most of the guards had died at the initial attack, due to the caravan consisting of many smaller caravans that are only sorta working together, many of them weren't affected by the betrayal.

But in the end it wouldn't matter, once they realized what was happening, they didn't have any thoughts of fighting back. It's ironic really, at first they were confident due to their much higher numbers and thought they had control of the situation, but now the situation had reversed itself and shown them how little control they had from the start, several guards had died, there were bandits riding on horses in front of them and they were afraid of being shot from behind. Some may call them cowards for surrendering without a fight but they knew that their struggle would be pointless.

The situation was already beyond repair.

"It's so nice that your friends decided to be 'reasonable', it seems that they decided to avoid 'escalating the situation' for 'both our group's sakes', isn't this the ideal outcome you wanted?" The bandit leader first throws the words that the old man uttered before back to him in a sarcastic manner, finally showing how poisonous he really is.

"You old fossils always think that you know best, but your visions are simply too narrow! Did you really think that this would be a climatic and heroic fight like in the movies? When such a rare opportunity presents itself to me? Your thinking is too outdated." Now, all of his previous politeness was gone and he's showing open disdain to the person in front of him.

"Let's see what were you transporting that made your leader so anxious to keep it hidden and to get it out of his hands. Actually, aren't we helping him by taking it off his hands? A bandit helping a trader... It isn't everyday that you see it." The leader than says, making it known the reason their caravan was targeted. Someone must have leaked some information about the cargo and their leader's behavior.

"So this is a farewell, it was a pleasure talking to you." The bandit then says before taking out a pistol and aiming at the old man.

*Bang*

The young man says nothing more as the old man is shot in the head, making his corpse fall from the Carmel he's ridding, right into the sand bellow.

"You're smart and the cargo your caravan is carrying is too valuable, you should already know why I can't leave any witness." He says to the corpse, showing no remorse in what he did.

He then rode out towards the caravan to claim his prize.

...

Getting closer, the situation had already been mostly dealt with by the bandits. Being fast and efficient is one of the requirements for being a bandit if you don't want the Grimm breathing down your neck while you're taking the spoils.

All the remaining caravan guards had already been disarmed and subdued by some of the bandits while the rest were dealing with the many non-combatants that were hiding inside the carts, processing them as fast as they could.

Seeing their leader approaching, one member hurriedly came to report.

"Flawless operation boss! The convoy was neutralized without a single casualty on our part, all thanks to your wisdom and insight!" The bandit which was still wearing the caravan guard clothes wasted no time trying to curry favor with his boss.

"Has anybody been alerted?" The leader questions in a cold voice, clearly showing no positive emotion at his subordinates actions.

"No one! We had sabotaged their communications before the attack as per your instructions, their calls for help will remain unanswered." The subordinate proudly responds.

"Then go back to your job! I want this caravan stripped clean of everything of value before the Grimm comes, as smooth as this operation has been, even the tiniest mistake will cost us our lives." The leader then shouts, relaying the order not only to the subordinate in front of him but also every other in the vicinity.

The subordinate then heavily nods and returns to checking the many carts and vehicles.

"Sir, what should we do with the captives? As it is, they're likely to attract the Grimm if we don't do something." One of the bandits responsible for looking over the guards they captured, suddenly questions their leader, noticing that all their negative emotions may bring them problems.

"Must I do everything myself? Find some way to calm them down or deal with them yourself, but don't damage them too much, there's a lot of market for able bodied man in these parts, so they're as valuable as the rest of the cargo." The leader says, feeling a bit irritated with how dull-witted his subordinates are.

"Sir, it seems that we got quite lucky, there are some tourists at the back and they seem pretty rich, payed for the trip up front and hired an exclusive carriage for themselves. I'm willing to bet both my eyes that they're going to get us a very large ransom." Another subordinate then appears, bearing some good news.

"Oh? Yes, that seems to be good news indeed. Where are they? I will handle it myself." The leader says easing his expression, for all other products they need to find buyers which for some of them can take quite a while. But for a ransom they just need to film a video and if they're lucky the money will be transferred without a fuss.

"Y-You don't need to boss, we've got it covered, I'll send some-"

"You don't need to second guess my orders, only follow them. Lead me to where they're at, I'm quite curious about what kind of tourist would make a trip all the way to here." The leader interrupts his subordinate, making it clear that he won't tolerate anyone second guessing his orders.

"Y-Yes!" And the subordinate clearly understood the message, then leading him to where the tourists are.

Reaching there, they saw a carriage that was very similar to the rest, not appearing very special, but on closer inspection they could see that aside from the external appearance, the carriage was outfitted for maximum comfort.

High quality wheels, folding curtains, an electronic lock at the door and other small upgrades were made to the carriage while trying as much as possible to appear unremarkable.

Whoever was inside it must be rich without a shadow of a doubt.

"*Ahem* Sorry to interrupt the trip of the distinguished passagers, but the caravan is going through a bit a change in leadership, so we're currently solving a few issues, I hope you aren't bothered." The leader puts the best act he can trying to sound like a simple caravan hand, which is quite pointless considering the gunshots that could be heard, nonetheless he was looking forward to the expression that whoever is inside will make as soon as they notice the situation they're in.

Will they desperately beg him for mercy? Will they try to buy them out? Or will they remain arrogant and defiant to the very end? He's quite curious to know what will be their reaction.

"..." But to his disappointment, no answer comes.

"There's no need to be afraid, I don't know what got you tired of the beaches and tourist attractions along the coast and made you decide to travel inland. But you can trust me when I say that I have no intention of harming any of you." He says, trying his best to convey sincerity in his voice.

"..." Seeing that there's still no response, he finally decided to change strategy.

"*Sigh* I'm really trying to be conscientious and polite, but it seems that you simply don't value it, the rough way it is then." The leader says while signaling his men to start taking apart the carriage, even if they installed security in it, it's just a matter of time until they get it opened.

"Oh! And I almost forgot that you're new in these parts. I should have given you guys a proper welcome. Where are my manners?"

"Gentlemen, welcome to Vacuo."