Goblin Heavy Dependence

Chapter 348 Wealthy Merchant
To be on the safe side, Xia Nan made comprehensive and meticulous preparations for this long journey before the official departure. He even made a contingency plan for how to survive in the wilderness if he encountered the most extreme situation and all equipment and supplies were lost.

While we can't say that everything is foolproof, at least we have a clear understanding of the situation and are prepared for all sorts of possible emergencies.

The journey from the kingdom's borders to the southern coast takes nearly fifty days.

The Kingdom of Servia has a fairly developed commercial sector. Both River Valley Town and Harpie Bay are large human settlements with branches of the Adventurers' Guild, so how could they not have contact?

Perhaps there are some sections of the route that are inconvenient for pack animals and carts to travel on, but that is just something he deliberately designed to save time.

The vast majority of these itineraries have clear and well-defined route guidance.

After consulting various sources, there are also a large number of towns and villages to choose from for a break and rest.

Xia Nan doesn't need to explore and adventure like the ancestors on this continent; he can just follow the map.

Of course, since it was the first time I had gone to such a far place after time travel, no matter how meticulously I prepared, I was still a little unsure.

So I wondered if I could be a little lazy and take some shortcuts.

I wish there was a carpool that could give me a ride along the way.

This way, not only can you look out for each other on the road, but you'll also have experienced people to guide you through various situations, making things much easier.

Unlike those low-level adventurers who struggle for half a day even with just a few goblins, Xia Nan, as a "veteran" who has already obtained a professional level, would not ask for any reward in terms of gold coins. He would simply hitch a ride along the way and help the accompanying caravan solve some minor troubles along the way.

He was actually quite sought after at the post station.

After all, what caravan manager would look down on a professional who is quite famous in town and willing to act as a temporary bodyguard without pay?

The only concern is whether the other party's purpose is not just to hitch a ride, but to have other ulterior motives.

This sole influencing factor disappeared after Xia Nan encountered those two adventurers he had interacted with in the tavern yesterday—adventurers who were also preparing for a long journey, with their destination even being a small town on his planned route.

"Are you all ready?"

From a distance, I could see a black-haired youth on the road ahead.

A capable-looking woman with a dark gold braid tied behind her head stepped forward to greet them, accompanied by a dwarf beside her.

Xia Nan, carrying a backpack, walked quickly closer, nodding in acknowledgment as his gaze swept over the two figures in front of him.

—The Oath-Keeping Blackwood Squad:
The captain, Margaret, is a level 4 swordswoman. Her fighting style leans towards offense and burst damage. She is a seasoned professional with many years of adventure experience and a calm and collected human woman.
"Soldin", level 4 [Shield Warrior], is the front-line of the team, responsible for attracting enemy attacks to create space for teammates to deal damage. He is also very experienced, and his appearance, attire and personality are completely in line with racial stereotypes of dwarves.

Xia Nan's initial interaction with the Oath-Keeping Blackwood Squad was through the Iron Stomach Flail, which has now been sent to his distant dwarf nephew.

It was this other party who bought this weapon from him, allowing his nearly depleted bank savings, which had been drained due to forging the [Emberfall] straight sword, to recover slightly.

Later, during a goblin extermination mission that required venturing deep into the Misty Forest, he unexpectedly encountered their team and together they defeated the Infernal Demon that had possessed Abi's body.

It was during that battle that I fully mastered the [Echoes of Ember] technique and gained the ability to unlock the second stage.

The Oath-Keeping Blackwood Squad also lost two teammates due to the devil's overwhelming strength.

I remember... it was a novice mage and a mean-spirited wanderer?
Xia Nan's interaction with this adventurer team ended after they returned to River Valley Town and signed a commission reward sharing agreement.

I thought there would be no more opportunities for contact after that.

But unexpectedly, just yesterday, Xia Nan ran into the two people at the White Sparrow Tavern.

During a casual conversation, I learned that after suffering heavy losses last time, the Oath-Keeping Blackwood Squad had not made much progress in recruiting members. With two fewer members, their overall strength was far inferior to before.

But life must go on, and we can't let a little setback get us down. So, we took on a relatively easy escort mission as a two-person team.

Xia Nan hadn't thought much about it at first.

He learned the convoy's destination from the two men and discovered it was exactly on his planned route.

So, for Xia Nan, who was wondering if he could hitch a ride... the subsequent developments were quite logical.

With the introduction and guarantee of these two experienced professionals, the team's last possible concern disappeared.

As a temporary bodyguard, Xia Nan became a member of the other party's convoy.

Compared to Margaret, who was relatively calm and only shook hands with him, the dwarf Soldin was exceptionally enthusiastic about Shanan's arrival.

The copper rings hanging from his braid swayed with each step, striking the surface of the light plate armor on his chest with a crisp sound.

The dwarf, barely five feet tall, stretched out his two muscular arms, laughed heartily, and gave Xia Nan a big hug.

Although the height difference between them meant that if Xia Nan reached out, he could only touch the other person's head, which would be somewhat impolite, he simply patted the dwarf's shoulder as a return gesture, which seemed a little awkward.

Yet they also felt Soldin's heartfelt welcome.

It is a fact that he rescued two people from the devil's infernal flames and saved the Oathkeeper Blackwood Squad.

Although he later received a share of the mission rewards from the other party, Xia Nan had undoubtedly become a trustworthy friend to this honest and straightforward dwarf, and was well aware of his strength.

Even if it's just temporary teammates for ten or twenty days, it's enough to make Soldin feel excited and overjoyed.

Margaret, who was standing slightly behind, didn't show it in words or actions, but her face, which clearly relaxed when she saw Xia Nan, revealed the turmoil in her heart.

It's quite interesting, actually.

Xia Nan remembered hearing the other person say "I hope we'll have the opportunity to cooperate in the future" when they parted ways in the association's hall. Thinking about the survival rate of her teammates since she transmigrated, she jokingly thought to herself that it would be better if they never had that opportunity again.

Unexpectedly, in less than a month, another "cooperation opportunity" actually arose.

However, considering that this is just a routine escort mission, there shouldn't be too much risk.

Xia Nan arrived at the station almost right on time. When he put his luggage on the carriage, the convoy was already preparing to depart, and the team members were having their final discussions.

His gaze swept across the front, carefully examining the details of the convoy.

First and foremost, the most eye-catching vehicle was the large, four-wheeled box carriage, seemingly custom-made, protected at the very center of the caravan. It featured reinforced spring suspension and wide oak wheels. Significantly larger than the surrounding carriages, it was painted a deep, dark green, with a single ear of wheat outlined in subtle yet exquisite gold lines on its side—symbolizing that the caravan belonged to and was under the protection of the "Golden Wheat Merchant Guild."

All the metal parts on the carriage, including the door handles, hinges, and door frames, were made of rust-resistant brass and polished to a shine; even the horses that pulled the carriage looked more robust and had shinier coats.

This section of the carriage undoubtedly belongs to the owner of the caravan, Mr. Horaco, a wealthy businessman and member of the Golden Wheat Chamber of Commerce.

Although it's unclear why someone of their status and wealth would personally participate in the transportation of goods.

But clearly, the presence of the other party added a touch of wealth and extravagance to the entire convoy.

All cargo compartments are high-end goods far exceeding the market average, with uniform dimensions for easy loading, unloading, and assembly. They are covered with taut, waterproof, thick canvas, and the internal cargo is properly secured with ropes and anti-collision pads, making the whole structure sturdy and durable.

Streamlined and specialized staffing:

The team manager was a serious-looking, experienced, lean middle-aged man who was said to be Mr. Horako's right-hand man, responsible for coordinating the team's progress, rest, and camping.

The private coachmen were skilled, and the guards wore uniform, durable, studded leather armor. Their weapons were standard, high-quality machetes and short crossbows. They were disciplined, had sharp eyes, and seemed to be from the military.

In addition, they also brought several servants to handle miscellaneous tasks and take care of the daily needs of the caravan members.

In contrast, Xia Nan and Margaret, dressed in very different "strange costumes," created a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere, giving off an incongruous feeling.

Of course, the reality is quite the opposite.

As seasoned professionals, these individuals are the most important solution for the entire team when facing certain special troubles, second only to Horako and his assistant in status.

When they came and went, whether it was the coachmen and servants or the guards who seemed to be from military backgrounds, they all treated them with great respect and dared not neglect them.

When Xia Nan arrived at the post station, the owner of the caravan, "Horako," who had learned the news from the servants, took the initiative to push open the door of his luxurious carriage and come forward to greet him.

"what!"

Before we even got close, a sincere and enthusiastic exclamation echoed through the air ahead.

"This must be the famous 'Grey Sword' Xia Nan from town, right?"

What came into view was a slightly overweight, plump, middle-aged man.

He was around forty or fifty years old, with a stocky build, but his back was ramrod straight, giving the impression of someone who had lived a life of ease and comfort, and was quite plump.

On his amiable, ruddy, round face hung a warm and sincere smile, characteristic of a seasoned businessman.

He wore a goose-down robe in the same dark green color as the carriage, seemingly custom-made. The robe was well-tailored, cleverly flattering his figure without appearing sloppy or tight. The collar, sleeves, and front edge were embroidered with golden wheat-ear patterns, further highlighting his status as a member of the "Golden Wheat Chamber of Commerce".

Mr. Horako seemed completely unconcerned about others' covetousness of his wealth, displaying his riches in an almost ostentatious manner.

The five fingers of his left hand gleam with the luster of wealth.

A ring engraved with a family crest, set in gold, featuring a deep red chalcedony ring; a merchant guild ring with a clear blue gemstone as its face; a wide gold ring with intricately carved patterns; a clear band crafted entirely from amethyst…

On her right wrist were two bracelets woven from gold thread and strung with small, beautiful stones of different materials. Xia Nan had seen many similar sparkling stones on the shelves of the "Fairy Wind" general store, each priced at least in double digits of gold coins.

"That's incredibly bold..."

Xia Nan secretly clicked his tongue in amazement, marveling at the other party's courage.

To flaunt one's wealth so openly in a place like River Valley Town, a place teeming with adventurers and a melting pot of all sorts, isn't it a good thing to be afraid of getting into trouble?

From what he observed, in just the short distance Horak walked from the carriage to him, no fewer than five malicious gazes had swept over him.

However, due to the special "wheat ear" pattern on the carriage, as well as the presence of the caravan guards and themselves, they ultimately only kept a "line of sight" and did not dare to get closer.

"I heard from the two adventurers in the Oath-Keeping Blackwood team that a powerful professional was willing to travel with us."

"I never expected to see you so young today."

"that is really good!"

Compared to his "nouveau riche" attire, Horak himself appeared exceptionally kind, showing no trace of the arrogance one would expect from an employer.

She has very high emotional intelligence.

In just a few words, he showed both his respect for Margaret and Soldin, and also complimented Xia Nan very gently, without revealing the slightest doubt about his youthful appearance.

"It's our first meeting, I'm not prepared at all..." Horak's face was beaming with a warm smile, like a kind elder.

He casually took a silver chain pocket watch with pearls inlaid on its body from his waist and put it in Xia Nan's hand.

"This is just a small token of my appreciation. I hope Mr. Xia Nan will take good care of me during my journey."

Not bro...

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of the pearl's lustrous sheen, and felt the warm touch of the metal case against his palm.

Xia Nan almost lost his composure for a moment.

Although he had a high income, he only occasionally ran out of money after transmigrating because of equipment forging. He basically never had to worry about food and housing.

But when he actually met this kind of extraordinary and wealthy merchant on their first meeting, he directly gave him a pocket watch that looked quite valuable as a gift.

My heart was inevitably filled with some turmoil.

Fortunately, thanks to his strong control over the muscles of his body, at least to outsiders, he maintained a polite and calm expression in the face of Horak's gift.

Thoughts raced through my mind in an instant.

He had no connection with Horak, so the other man's sudden display of generosity was perhaps just a reflection of his personality...

However, this inevitably caused Xia Nan to have some doubts.

(End of this chapter)