Overlord: Start from the Goblin Lair.

Chapter 14: A Turning Point in a Dilemma
"Unfortunately, you are right."

Ivy said helplessly: "Look at us, this is all that is left of the team that opened up the new trade route."

In fact, it was even worse, as she was the only one left.

"So..." Ron rubbed his chin, "Can we still buy water and food in the town now?"

"It's difficult, and the price is very high," Bunny said bluntly. "The mayor will supply the townspeople with normal water, but it's almost impossible to ask for more."

"A gallon of purified water costs three gold coins, which is almost six or seven times more than before." Lavinia gave the exact data.

Alchemy requires a large amount of solvents, and she was one of the people who was most affected.

"More than that!" A person who came to pray happened to pass by them and interrupted, "Today's market price is thirty-six silver coins. It's expensive again!"

"And the price of food is also rising. I don't know how long we can sustain this!"

The passers-by left chattering, but Ron and the others stood there looking at each other.

"What should we do?" Driver was also a little listless. "Ron, it seems that your previous promise is difficult to fulfill."

Purchasing supplies was extremely expensive; to get information, the only option was to go south. What should I do?
"Maybe you can try your luck with the mayor," Lavinia suggested. "I heard they are recruiting people recently. They are probably planning to 'ask' for some land and resources from the land of fantasy. If you can join the pioneering group, you will probably get a lot of funding."

"The pioneer group? He's just a mayor. Does he have that much power?" Ivy asked.

"There is only one mayor here, a half-elf." Lavinia glanced at her, "They have the final say over everything here."

"And the Delusion Land has never been truly occupied by anyone," Bunny added, "If he can really accomplish this feat, maybe he will really be recognized by other lords!"

"It looks like we have to go pay a visit to the mayor," Ron nodded. "Is he still seeing guests?"

"Now? That's a bit late." Bunny glanced at the sky outside. "But you can wait in town for two days. The mayor is going to hold a banquet the day after tomorrow. Anyone who is interested in participating in the development of the fantasy land can attend. I guess the details will be announced and discussed at that time."

"But before that, I advise you to buy yourself a set of clothes first."

Lavinia looked at the men critically. "If I were a guard, I would not let you in - you look like homeless people, especially this one who is almost as tall as me."

"What do you mean? I'm taller than you!"

Driver immediately stopped wanting to listen.

But looking at the three of them, Ron thought that what the two chattering halflings said made a lot of sense.

In terms of clothes, Ron was probably the better one, as he wore a set of cloth that matched the culture and times after traveling here, and there was nothing special about it except that he looked dusty. But Ivy and Driver were basically wearing rags - the only difference was that Ivy definitely didn't let her clothes become like that voluntarily.

As for the weapons, they were even more shabby: one short bow for three people.

Lavinia's statement that they might be stopped outside was indeed reasonable. "How about this, let's go have a meal first, then find a hotel to have a good rest for the night, and then go buy some equipment tomorrow?"

Ron briefly explained his thoughts: "Let's go to that banquet the day after tomorrow. If there is a chance, I think all the problems can be solved at once."

Take the goblins to that delusional place, and he and Ivy will leave on the pretext of something. It doesn't matter whether they go to Rose City or Yungang.

Ron had fulfilled his promise. As for what the goblins would encounter in that fantasy land that was believed to be fraught with dangers, that was not a problem for him to consider.

"Isn't this... bad?" After leaving the church, Driver hesitated. "That's all the boss's money. It's not for us to--"

"But Driver, don't you want to experience life under the sun?" Ron coaxed, "You can eat delicious food, sleep in a comfortable bed, wear new equipment..."

"Do you think that only dark and damp caves, hard rocks, and tasteless raw meat are what you should enjoy?"

"This... No, no no no!"

Faced with the authority of the distant hobgoblins and the enjoyment that was within his reach, Driver finally chose the latter. He put aside all his doubts and fears, and happily followed Ron and Ivy into the tavern.

The goblins do this not because they like living in groups and obeying authority, but because they are too weak.

Referring to their cousin race, the bear goblins, these large goblins who are powerful enough prefer to live a solitary and free life, and this is also the future that the goblins look forward to.

If it were possible to enjoy all this, only a fool would be willing to go back to that smelly and dirty underground cave!
Ron and his friends found a shop that combined the functions of a pub and an inn, with dining on the first floor and guest rooms on the second floor.

After sitting down, Ron ordered a sausage pie with a glass of ale, and Ivy ordered a soft fried veal with gravy. And Driver, who was just thinking about saving money for his boss, now spent a lot of money and ordered a table full of meat and a small barrel of the store's own wine.

Ron had to place nine large gold coins on the table before the store owner could dispel their suspicion that they were here to dine and free.

"You guys are still weird." It was only until here that Ivy showed some self-restraint and temperament. She wiped her mouth gently with a handkerchief and tilted her head to look at Driver who was still eating and drinking. "You can obviously endure such extreme conditions, but you still maintain your pursuit of food?"

"I guess he just wants to try everything he hasn't tasted before." Ron drank the last sip of beer. Just as he thought, in this world, the alcohol content of ordinary alcohol is very low, even for someone like him who doesn't drink much, it tastes like a drink.

"Speaking of which, I'm more curious about you—I thought you were a vegetarian?"

"What gave you this illusion? My elven blood?" Ivy winked mischievously, "I am a warrior, and I also have half human blood. It is simply unacceptable for me to live without meat."

"It's just that ordinary barbecue is too... simple. I prefer dishes like this that have been delicately cooked."

The half-elf was talking incoherently, but suddenly stopped talking. She nudged Ron with her elbow, signaling him to look in a certain direction.

"Hey, look at the way those guys are dressed, are they the barbarians we saw outside during the day?"

(End of this chapter)