Goblin Heavy Dependence

Chapter 160: Everything will be alright.

The relationship between Newme and the town of Riverdale is very special.

The latter is near the Misty Forest and is a major adventure town with the Adventurers' Guild. It contributes a large amount of tax revenue to the province and kingdom every year and produces countless monster materials.

Furthermore, because the town is a gathering place for a large number of adventurers with extraordinary powers, the related industries are incredibly developed, far exceeding what the town should have.

As the largest city in the surrounding area, the former's favorable geographical location and the official development strategy that suited the city's characteristics led to its commercial prosperity and attracted a large number of ordinary residents and upper-class nobles.

River Valley supplies Newm with a range of specialties from the Misty Forest, including monster pelts and timber; in return, Newm, with its massive size, continuously provides River Valley with resources such as manpower, steel, and food supplies.

To some extent, a large portion of the adventurers who died in the forest during the Hunting Days and became nutrients for the soil came from the slums of Newme.

"Adventurer," a high-risk profession where risk and reward are directly proportional, is often the last choice for those unfortunate people whose real lives are so miserable that they can no longer survive.

In this context, the large influx of people from neighboring Newme also influenced the prevailing fashion trends in the Valley.

Street vendors who make a living by reselling goods are particularly sensitive to this.

Even a down cloak that had just gained fame at a noble banquet last month has already been placed on the shelves of a clothing store in Riverdale this month.

Keep in mind that this includes a journey of nearly twenty days.

Farrillo, the owner of "Fairy Wind," did not deceive Xia Nan. Recently, the "Sheep and Deer Statue" has indeed become very popular among the noble circles of Newm City.

And it was far more popular than Farillo had initially described.

The vast distance between the two cities caused information to lose its timeliness.

Just like a cockroach that suddenly jumps out of the house, when you stomp it to death, thinking that's the only one, the dirty corners of your home shrouded in shadows may already be crawling with its brothers and sisters.

When the [Sheep and Deer Figurine] arrived in River Valley after more than twenty days of transportation and transfer from Newme, it was put on the shelves as a "new gadget popular in big cities".

Its influence in Newme had long since expanded beyond the original aristocratic circles, and even ordinary people had heard of it.

"what happened?"

Jamie adjusted his glasses, looking puzzled.

The guest dressed as an adventurer was the benefactor who had saved his father's life, and his good upbringing made him dare not be negligent.

Bending down, under Xia Nan's gaze, he simply picked up the [Sheep-Deer Statue] that had fallen to the ground with one hand.

He turned the front of the wood carving towards Xia Nan and explained:

“I’m currently working on a historical project about the evolution of the sculptural style in the Kingdom of Serbia.”

"This wood carving is what my tutor asked me to bring back as a reference for completing my assignment."

"Is there... something wrong with it?"

"No! Put it down first, don't face it like that!" Seeing that the other person was holding the wooden carving in their hand and facing it directly towards her.

Subconsciously recalling the eerie experience in the general store, Xia Nan looked away and asked the other person to put the wood carving back in the bag.

Across the table, Jeff, a seasoned driver with many years of experience, gleaned some clues from the conversation and behavior of the two men.

His relaxed expression instantly turned serious, and he said in an almost commanding tone:

"Jamie, do as Mr. Shanan says!"

He clearly holds considerable authority at home.

Jamie, who was about to go upstairs to his room, was suddenly stopped by Xia Nan, looking completely bewildered.

Without uttering a single unnecessary word, he deftly stuffed the wooden carving back into the cloth bag, tied it tightly, placed it on the ground, and sat back down at the dining table alone.

Sensing the sudden tension in the room, and the questioning and uneasy gazes from Jeff and the others around him.

Xia Nan remained silent, pondering the matter carefully.

First, it can be confirmed that...

The statue lying quietly on the floor inside the bag in front of him was not the [Sheep-Deer Statue] he had seen in "Fairy Wind".

This was a feeling that came from his body's instincts.

Secondly, although I only caught a glimpse of it briefly.

He also found himself drawn to the wood carving.

However, it did not have the same terrifying feeling as the grocery store, where one's mind is captured and consciousness sinks.

Perhaps... there are differences between the statues.

Or was it some action of mine that had a similar activating or catalytic effect on the wooden sculpture?

As his thoughts raced, he had already organized his words in his mind and asked:
"So, this wooden sculpture belongs to your mentor?"

Jamie, sitting ramrod straight with his hands nervously resting on his knees as if awaiting judgment, nodded quickly in response to Xia Nan's question:
"Yes, this style of wood carving has recently become very popular among the professors in the academy. Even the professor himself had to pull some strings to buy it from a nobleman who was in dire need of money."

"I only borrowed it for one night because I needed to finish my homework. I have to return it tomorrow morning."

"So, you mean there aren't many wood carvings in the city?" Xia Nan asked, sensing the hidden meaning in the other person's words.

"That's right. They're mostly circulated among nobles and wealthy merchants. Ordinary people like us rarely see them."

“I’ve heard from others that the statue was sculpted by a master sculptor,” Xia Nan recalled the information Farrillo had given him. “So, this master didn’t produce many statues?”

Jamie simply scratched his head, looking even more puzzled.

"Master... I don't think so."

"At least for now, no one knows who made this wood carving."

“My mentor complained to us during a lecture a while ago that there were too few statues. They used to be cheap, costing only the price of a meal, but now the price has been driven up to the sky.”

Upon hearing this, Xia Nan was taken aback.

After pondering for a moment, it dawned on me.

They realized that Farillo's initial statement was only partially true.

It is true that wood carvings are popular in Newme, but the claim that they are "from a certain master carver" is most likely a fabricated lie made up to facilitate sales.

Suddenly, it was as if she had thought of something.

His brows furrowed, and his expression grew even more serious.

As if to confirm some suspicion in his heart, he asked Jamie in front of him:

"Since no one knows the exact origin of the statue, could we assume that..."

"The wood carving appeared out of nowhere in Newme."

Not knowing why the man in front of him asked such a question, Jamie simply pondered for a moment, based on the man's idea and the information he had gathered.

Then he slowly nodded.

"Yes."

Tsk.

Upon hearing the other party's reply, Xia Nan felt a tightness in his chest, sensing that things were spiraling out of his control.

What comes to mind is the attribute panel that pulled me back to reality that day.

Recalling the information on the panel at that time, fragmented clues were vaguely connected in my mind.

"Origin unknown", "appeared out of nowhere", "distinct style"...

It gave him an eerily familiar sense of déjà vu. It was like the [Gravity Core] that had helped him achieve his professional level, and like the dark serpent's lair that had given him [Invincible Bones].

He remembered that when he was traveling deep into the forest with the half-elf and others, he encountered many classical buildings in the Eastern style that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere.

Even if those "buildings" are now replaced with "wood carvings", their appearance is essentially the same.

Could it be that……

Xia Nan suddenly turned her head, looking at Jeff, who had been intently listening to their conversation since the beginning, and asked:

"Has anything strange happened in Newme or the surrounding area lately?"

"For example... a strange building that suddenly stands up overnight, or the corpse of an unknown monster that appears out of nowhere."

Jeff thought carefully, recalling everything in his mind, including the rumors he had heard in the bar, before slowly shaking his head again:

"Strange things that happened around here... If I had to name one, the explosion in Caranford would be one, but you should have been in River Valley at the time, so you must know about it."

"Aside from that, there was only the 'sewage' incident last year."

Jeff hadn't retired yet at the time and was out earning money with the racing team, so he didn't know much about the details of the incident.

Here, I paused briefly.

His wife Daisy, sitting beside him, immediately understood and smoothly took over the conversation.

"I remember that at that time, the water sources of several streets in the lower city were polluted, many people died, and the streets were full of guards."

"Although we are not affected here, just to be on the safe side, I always ask the pastor at the church to purify the water I use at home in advance."

"This went on for many days before the situation gradually improved."

"Later I heard from others that it was an evil druid who was conducting some kind of experiment in the lower city, which caused the water pollution."

"I wonder if they've caught them yet."

Upon hearing this, Xia Nan nodded slightly.

I didn't express disappointment, but I didn't feel any other emotions either.

The explosion at Caranford was an aftermath of the battle between the barbarian Forgon and his enemies.

The sewage incident in Neum had already been posted on the Adventurers' Guild's bounty board; it was the work of that Spore Society druid.

There was no obvious connection between the signs of the "secret realm" that I had imagined.

He fell into deep thought, frowning and remaining silent for a long time.

This clearly made the parents of the two children in front of him somewhat anxious.

Daisy glanced at Jamie, who was fidgeting beside her, and asked with a worried expression:

"Mr. Xia Nan, is there anything wrong with this wooden sculpture? Will it have a negative impact on Jamie?"

In response, Xia Nan simply stared intently at Jamie in front of him, his expression serious.

"When you first saw this statue and touched it, did you have any strange feelings?"

"A state of being entranced, feeling a chill down your spine, feeling drawn in... anything goes, right?"

"No, sir." Under everyone's gaze, Jamie, whose forehead was already beaded with cold sweat, shook his head and replied.

"Has your tutor's personality changed noticeably lately, or has he/she done anything strange?"

"No, Mr. Xia Nan."

In this light, the influence of the wood carving may only be directed at himself, or rather, it may only come from the statue in "Fairy Wind".

The things circulating in Newme right now, at least for now, do not seem to have any real ability to affect the human body.

Of course, the possibility of an incubation period cannot be ruled out.

Perhaps, it's just waiting for some opportunity in the future to erupt completely, dragging the carrier into the abyss.

After thinking for a moment, Xia Nan concealed only the information on the attribute panel and told Jeff and his family, who had hosted him, about his experiences in River Valley Town.

"At least for now, Jamie appears to be safe."

"The statue itself may not be as sinister as I've described."

"but……"

despair--

Tap the desktop with your fingertip.

On the plate, an iron spoon, still covered in thick soup, slowly rises about the height of a fist, hovers for half a second, and then falls back down naturally.

"My personal advice is to avoid touching this wooden carving as much as possible."

"Squeak!"

The chair legs scraped against the ground, making a screeching sound.

Jeff moved very quickly.

Even his wife Daisy, who was standing next to him, hadn't had time to react before she got up.

He took off his coat and tightly wrapped the cloth bag containing the statue inside it.

"Jamie, what's your advisor's address?"

Jamie was taken aback for a moment, then instinctively replied:
"No. 35 Eagle Emblem Avenue".

He nodded, offering no further explanation, and as he walked towards the door, he hurriedly instructed Daisy:
"Daisy, take the children to the Church of the Moon, I'll be there soon."

Having driven sports cars for many years, this experienced middle-aged man devised an emergency evacuation plan in just a few seconds.

If what Xia Nan said is true, that mere eye contact can have an effect, then everyone, including himself, had already seen the wood carving with their own eyes.

Whether it's purification or exorcism, seeking help at a church is the only option for ordinary people like them.

If the wood carving is actually just an ordinary statue, as Xia Nan guessed, only the one in River Valley Town was cursed.

By personally delivering it, Jamie's mentor, who had gone through so much trouble to acquire it, wouldn't take his anger out on his own child because of the statue's loss.

He could, of course, destroy the wood carving on the spot or take it to the church.

But who knows what changes this "evil thing" will undergo after being stimulated by the outside world?

He had heard of many similar horrific accidents when he was a driver in the truck.

Out of selfishness, he didn't want this ticking time bomb to spend even a second longer with his family.

When it comes to the safety of his loved ones, Jeff wouldn't be as kind-hearted as usual; at most, he would offer a few words of advice to the mentor when returning the statue.

Their steps were hurried.

He walked straight to the gate and grasped the handle.

Jeff seemed to remember something, turned around, and looked at the black-haired youth in the restaurant.

“Mr. Xia Nan, we’ll all be alright…”

"Is it right?"

(End of this chapter)