Reborn as an Extra Chapter 524: To The Dwarf Kingdom! Part-2.

"Take this file; read through every page during your travels, then incinerate it. Ensure no eyes but yours ever see its contents..."

Rio accepted the papers from Ashtel, his expression clouded with confusion.

"What exactly is this? I can sense a formidable enchantment radiating from these pages. There is a high-level privacy spell woven into the document..."

Ashtel gave a small nod in response to Rio’s observation, answering in a composed tone,

"This contains every piece of intelligence you'll require to navigate the dwarf kingdom solo. I have compiled the most profound details I possess regarding their society, including several well-guarded secrets..."

"It also outlines their national defense strategies and military assets, along with precise profiles on their most powerful experts and their frequent haunts..."

Rio was stunned by Ashtel’s revelation.

"Wha—what!? Why are you handing me something like this? I’m not heading there on some assassination contract, you know!"

Ashtel rubbed the nape of his neck sheepishly as he addressed Rio’s outburst.

"Well... as you are aware, I once had a bit of a scuffle with their top brass... so, I might have 'acquired' their vital records, including their internal military data and such... cough..."

Rio’s jaw nearly hit the ground, leaving him speechless as he processed the shock.

"N-no wonder they declared a permanent ban on you and your entire lineage from entering their territory... that actually seems like a very fair reaction now..."

Ashtel could only offer an embarrassed cough at Rio’s remark. In his younger days, he had been far more impulsive and reckless.

"Ahem! Regardless, just study it when you find a moment; once you’ve memorized it, burn it or destroy it by any means you see fit. A potent privacy spell is already active on the parchment..."

"The text is legible only to you. If anyone else attempts to read it, the papers will trigger a self-destruct mechanism."

Rio took the documents and secured them within his space ring.

"Oh, one more thing: try to avoid using your space ring openly while you are in their kingdom..."

"The dwarves are master craftsmen, yet space rings are perpetually scarce in their land because they utilize them all to house various significant artifacts..."

"You might find yourself targeted by bandits or unsavory characters if they spot a space ring on you... While you could easily handle such thugs, it is wiser to maintain a low profile while traveling in foreign territories..."

It felt ironic receiving a lecture on being 'low-key' from the man who had single-handedly caused chaos throughout the dwarf kingdom, yet Rio took the warning to heart.

He swapped his shadow robe for attire that made him look like a common traveler.

Rio draped himself in a brownish cloak adorned with black sword patterns; his hands were encased in fingerless gloves that concealed most of his skin.

The hood of his earthy-colored robe was pulled forward to shadow his face.

In this manner, Rio obscured both his space ring and his features, even going so far as to transform his blade into a mundane-looking 'flute.'

"Alright, from this point forward, I am merely a modest performer. Rio 'The Wandering Bard'... that has a nice ring to it..."

Ashtel watched in surprise at how swiftly Rio had masked his identity.

"Wha—what kind of outfit is that? It shifted on its own; I've never witnessed anything quite like that... Is it some form of artifact?"

"Even I failed to realize you were wearing an artifact until you altered its appearance; that is quite impressive... it explains how you managed to become such a terrifying assassin in a matter of months..."

A nostalgic smile touched Ashtel’s lips for a brief moment.

"You... you truly take after your father, you know... Sigh, if only he were here to witness this. He may not have been a great husband, but he was a decent man at the very least... sigh..."

Ashtel shook his head, pushing aside the melancholy to avoid dampening the mood.

He gestured toward the airship moored nearby and explained in a steady voice,

"That is a merchant vessel; one of my subordinates runs a firm that frequently trades with the dwarves, and this ship operates under his banner..."

"The vessel is currently preparing for departure and will remain in the dwarf kingdom for trade for approximately six months... I have handled the logistics; you can simply board and travel with the crew..."

Ashtel looked at Rio intently before continuing,

"You can disembark once you reach the dwarven docks; after that, you are on your own..."

"The documents I gave you contain the location of the weak node leading to the spirit realm; aim to return to this ship within that six-month window..."

"Should you miss your window, you'll be forced to wait a full year for the next vessel, or find a way to smuggle yourself back across the border..."

"Our diplomatic ties with the dwarf kingdom are strained, so trade traffic is minimal... the smuggling route might actually be your best bet if you get stuck..."

Ashtel rested a hand on his chin, lost in thought as he spoke.

"Hmm... though that would be complicated... after all, you will have Liam with you upon your return, making stealth difficult... Wait, that dragon girl can fly. Yes, you could simply ride on her back..."

Rio waved his hand dismissively to stop Ashtel’s rambling.

"No way, I plan to be back as fast as possible. I don't want to leave my girlfriend waiting at home. I intend to reunite with her very soon!"

"I will definitely return within a month or two at the latest!"

As they spoke, a man wearing thick spectacles approached and introduced himself as the vessel's captain.

It was clear that Ashtel had already coordinated everything with the ship's commander.

"It is a privilege to assist the 'Hero' of our land! Uh... cough... my young daughter is a huge fan; would it be possible to get an autograph... cough..."

Rio felt a bit awkward but couldn't bring himself to refuse the man’s hopeful gaze, eventually signing the autograph.

"Oho, you've become quite the celebrity, kid. Just don't let little Lia find out you're giving autographs to fangirls, haha..."

As Rio was signing for the captain, a familiar voice reached him. Turning around, he saw Jin in a wheelchair, being steered by Anna.

"Professor Jin... You came too? Shouldn't you be recuperating?... Wait, shouldn't you be enjoying some time with your future wife?"

Jin nearly lurched out of his seat at Rio’s playful jab.

"COUGH!!! Ahem... W-well, I'll certainly be spending time with her, you little brat!"

"I only came to see you off! Furthermore, I wanted to express my gratitude for your help in saving me... though, when you were using that mind penetration technique... did you happen to see anything embarrassing about me... ahem..."

Rio rolled his eyes at Jin’s concern.

"Not a chance. I have no interest in peeking into the dull life of a grumpy old man! I have far better things to do!"

In response, Jin hurled a slipper at Rio, which the young man easily sidestepped.

"You little punk! Ugh! Youth today are so incredibly disrespectful..."

Rio smirked at the complaints and gave Anna a polite nod of greeting.

Joining them were Raji, Link, and Riya, who had all come to bid him farewell.

Raji presented Rio with a sealed artifact.

"Take this; I have stored three of my most potent spells within it. Save them for dire situations. Be sure to maintain a safe distance when triggering them, as these spells cannot distinguish between friend and foe..."

"I have calibrated the device to respond to the resonance of your sword intent... even if your mana is depleted, you can activate the spells using your intent alone..."

Though Raji couldn't accompany him, she was a formidable demi-god-level wizard; her greatest strength lay in her preparation. She had ensured Rio had a powerful trump card.

Riya handed over several top-tier potions she had crafted using her own legendary skills; they were potent enough to cleanse even the deepest miasmic corruption.

Link had no physical gift to offer, but he shared a fist-bump with Rio and gave him an encouraging pat on the shoulder.

Carrying the well-wishes and expectations of his friends, Rio followed the captain and climbed the boarding ramp.

He waved a final goodbye to the group watching from below as the massive hatch hissed shut and the airship began its ascent from the docks.