Chapter 380: The Secret Room

“Can you get me out of Sord City? I need to reach Silver Beach City,” Helag asked directly.

Sam pondered, “Silver Beach City…”

He knew Helag wasn’t asking about normal routes; otherwise, he wouldn’t need Sam.

Using unconventional means to transport a person was tricky.

Sam’s usual business involved smuggling goods, though he had transported people before, but without guaranteed safety.

Previously, he accepted risky jobs, but this was different.

Helag’s life was tied to his; if Helag died, so would he.

Sam explained, “There’s a way. We usually hide people with goods, then sneak them out at the destination. We have people at loading and unloading, so it can be arranged. But airships sometimes inspect cargo. If they find someone, they’ll arrest and interrogate them.”

“Those caught usually have issues, so it ends badly…”

Sam laid out the risks, hoping Helag wouldn’t take the chance.

After listening, Helag asked, “I see. Is there another way, like forging an identity?”

A legitimate identity would avoid risks, allowing normal travel to Silver Beach City.

Sam replied, “Sir, forging an identity is easy, but one that withstands city checks isn’t. It takes at least six months, and I doubt you can wait that long.”

Helag nodded, understanding the difficulty.

Creating a verifiable identity was like inventing a person.

With the magic network, information was hard to fake; forging such an identity was beyond Sam’s capabilities.

Helag couldn’t stay in Sord City for six months; too much could change.

Another option was using Sam’s communication stone to contact Seranthiel, informing them of Helag’s situation.

But this was risky; wizard organizations could monitor stone communications, and Sam’s stone was likely watched.

Sending a message might expose Helag before Seranthiel could respond.

Helag decided, “Then let’s use the previous method. If there’s danger, we’ll adapt.”

“Sir… alright, I’ll do my best to ensure the cargo isn’t inspected,” Sam agreed reluctantly, determined to succeed.

“When?” Helag asked.

“In three days, a smuggling shipment will leave. I’ll arrange everything to ensure your safety,” Sam said.

“Good. Prepare a quiet room where I won’t be disturbed,” Helag requested, planning to stay there for three days.

Sam, with some influence, offered a safe haven.

“Sir, I have a secret room, completely secure,” Sam said.

Helag nodded, glancing outside.

Dawn had arrived, sunlight streaming through the window onto the sleeping Joelly.

“Take me to your secret room,” Helag said, looking away.

“And the woman…” Sam suggested again.

“Don’t cause trouble,” Helag replied, avoiding complications.

Sam nodded, “Alright.”

Sam led Helag through the floor to a painting of a nude woman, yet dignified.

Channeling magic into the painting, it rippled.

The woman in the painting came to life, her eyes focused on them.

Sam commanded, “Open.”

The woman nodded, waving her hand, revealing a door in the wall.

Sam opened it, “Please, sir.”

Inside, Helag found a well-equipped room.

Though small, it had potions, armor, weapons, food, and water—Sam’s hideout.

The room’s only flaw was the lack of windows, relying on artificial light, which could feel stifling.

Helag didn’t mind, saying, “Good. Go handle things and inform me of any news.”

Sam replied, “Let me know if you need anything.”

Helag nodded, watching Sam leave, then lay on the bed to meditate.

Sam hurried out, eager to start preparations.

This time, everything had to be perfect.

Bribes would be more extensive, and expenses couldn’t be spared.

With lives at stake, saving money wasn’t an option.

***

For three days, Helag stayed in the secret room, meditating and preparing.

“Sir, everything’s ready,” Sam reported.

Helag, still in his Changer’s Potion guise, had taken another dose to maintain it.

Sam, for convenience, had sent Joelly home.

It was late at night, and Sam planned to move Helag under cover of darkness.

Most of Sord City slept, but the airship docks were just starting work.

Cargo needed loading and unloading before dawn.

At dawn, the airship would depart for the next city.

Following the plan, Sam took Helag by carriage to the docks.

Sord City’s docks lay east, a vast plaza where a massive airship awaited.

Though smaller than the one Helag took to the Land of Dawn, it was still huge, about 300 meters tall.