Chapter 399: Out On A Hunt. The king departed with his guards, leaving Noah with his closest friends who had chosen to remain rather than immediately returning to their duties. Valeria settled more comfortably into her seat, clearly enjoying the opportunity to simply spend time with Noah without formal obligations. Although she was familiar with the king, as he was the father of her closest friend. He was still the king, and his aura wasn’t something you could brush away. Valeria still couldn’t understand how Noah was able to talk to him like he was a close friend. Kipp and Alissa moved closer as well, the cat siblings visibly more relaxed now that the serious negotiations had concluded. Princess Elara’s attitude didn’t change after her father left. The atmosphere shifted from strategic planning to genuine camaraderie—friends who had fought together, supported each other, and built trust through shared experiences. Kipp’s enthusiasm bubbled up as he looked around at the assembled group. His tail began swishing with growing excitement as an idea formed in his mind. He jumped up from his seat with boundless energy. "Why don’t we go on a hunting trip?" Kipp suggested enthusiastically, his ears perked forward with eager anticipation. "It’s been forever since we all went out together! We could head to the Darkwood Forest—I heard there are some master-rank beasts that have been causing problems for merchants travelling the eastern trade route." His eyes sparkled with the prospect of adventure and the chance to test his improved abilities. "Plus, Master Noah could see how much stronger we’ve all gotten! And we could practice working together as a team before... You know, the bigger challenges ahead." They headed out of the shop together, Noah leading the way with Kipp bouncing excitedly beside him, Alissa moving with her grace, Valeria walking with confident purpose, and Princess Elara maintaining her royal composure despite the casual nature of their expedition. As soon as Noah opened the door and stepped outside, however, they realised the plaza had become significantly more crowded during their extended conversation inside. Many powerful practitioners and high-ranking nobles had gathered outside the shop, clearly waiting for an opportunity to enter and purchase items. Noah recognised several faces—master-rank adventurers who had made names for themselves in the kingdom, wealthy merchants who controlled significant trade operations, and nobles whose families held considerable political influence. The moment Noah emerged, the crowd’s attention focused on him immediately. Several people stepped forward with respectful greetings. "Lord Carter! We came as soon as we heard your shop had returned to Esta," called out a master-rank warrior Noah had sold items to previously. The man wore expensive armor and carried himself with the confidence of someone accustomed to respect. "Lord Carter, welcome back," said an elegantly dressed noblewoman with jewellery that proclaimed her wealth. "We’ve been waiting anxiously for access to your new inventory." A grizzled adventurer with scars marking his face bowed respectfully. "Shopkeeper, I’ve been saving specifically for one of your premium enhancements." Noah raised his hands in polite acknowledgement, his enhanced Charisma making his apologetic smile feel warm and genuine rather than dismissive. "I’m honored by everyone’s patience and interest. I apologise, but I’m actually heading out for a brief expedition with some friends at the moment." He gestured to his companions, several of whom the nobles recognised as Princess Elara and other notable figures from the kingdom’s upper echelons. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖 "The shop will officially reopen after I return," Noah announced clearly so everyone could hear. "I expect that will be later this evening or possibly tomorrow morning, depending on how our hunting trip progresses." Some disappointed expressions appeared in the crowd, though most seemed understanding given that Noah had just returned after an absence. "I’m sorry for the extended wait," Noah continued with genuine contrition. "To make up for the inconvenience, I promise I’ll provide some good pleasantries when you arrive for purchases." The crowd’s mood immediately brightened at that promise. Several people laughed good-naturedly, their earlier disappointment evaporating. "That’s more than generous, Lord Carter!" "We’ll definitely return later. Take your time with your expedition!" "Safe hunting, Viscount! We’ll be here when you get back!" The gathering began dispersing in better spirits, people making plans to return once the shop officially reopened, while others simply remained in the plaza to wait and ensure they would be first in line. Noah and his companions made their way through the crowded streets of Esta, heading toward the eastern city gates. The transformation of the city was evident everywhere they looked—buildings had been repaired and expanded, new shops had opened to serve the growing population, and general prosperity was visible in the quality of goods being sold and the clothing people wore. At the gates, the guards recognized both Princess Elara and Noah immediately, snapping to attention and opening passage without requiring the usual documentation or questioning about their departure. "Safe travels, Your Highness! Lord Carter!" the gate captain called as they passed through. Once outside Esta’s protective walls, the landscape opened into rolling fields that gradually transitioned to denser forest as they moved east. The well-maintained trade road stretched before them, showing evidence of recent travel from merchant caravans and adventuring parties. Valeria took the lead position, her knowledge of the surrounding territories making her the natural guide. "The Darkwood Forest that Kipp mentioned is about an hour’s travel at normal pace. But we don’t need to go quite that far initially—there are several hunting grounds between here and there that should provide suitable challenges." She gestured toward a forested area visible in the distance. "That region has been experiencing increased beast activity lately. Master-rank creatures have been spotted, and there are persistent reports of adept-rank packs causing problems for travellers." The group moved at an enhanced pace that would have exhausted normal people but was comfortable for practitioners of their level. Their enhanced attributes made covering ground effortless, and they reached the forest’s edge in less than thirty minutes. This time, their group went straight for the more challenging encounters, completely ignoring the weaker beasts below adept rank that would have posed serious threats to common adventurers.