Goblin Heavy Dependence

Chapter 353 Giethoorn and the Tangerine

Long journeys are always accompanied by tedium and boredom.

Especially if your convoy has already made a clear, detailed, and reliable route plan in advance.

Perhaps at the beginning, Xia Nan was excited and in high spirits because she could experience the customs and culture of another world.

But as the journey gradually lengthens, and the scenery outside the carriage consists only of barren hills and unchanging bushes and shrubs, all enthusiasm is worn away by the bumps and the sound of the wheels.

From River Valley Town to Yangjiao Town, from the southeastern border of Panyun Province to the northern border of Subin Province.

The entire fifteen-day journey was so smooth that it could be described as almost boring.

Not only did they not encounter a single unexpected situation, but they also did not encounter any bandit attacks for which they had already prepared countermeasures.

For Xia Nan, who was following the caravan, the most anticipated part of the last few days of the journey, besides enjoying delicious food during the daily camping and rest periods, was the occasional attacks by the green-skinned goblins that would harass the caravan.

Only amidst the goblins' mournful howls, bathed in blood, and savoring the exquisite, fragmented feeling of their emaciated bodies being torn apart in his hands, could he find the long-lost peace and release.

However, the number of Greenskins attacking these convoys is usually not large, and the number they can be allocated to themselves during the battle is quite limited, which is not enough to satisfy their thirst.

He was performing his temporary guard duties, and it was impossible for him to abandon the convoy and go out alone to search for the goblin's lair.

It's like a small cup of water to a lost soul in the desert; it won't kill them from thirst, but drinking it won't satisfy them at all, and might even make them thirstier.

Xia Nan desperately wanted the opportunity to move freely.

Fortunately, the fifteen-day journey was nearing its end, and the caravan was about to reach its destination.

After a short rest in Giethoorn, we parted ways with everyone.

If nothing unexpected happens, I will be traveling alone for the next thirty days or so from the town to the southern islands.

When the time comes, you won't have so many worries about what you want to do on the way.

Subin Province is located in the southern part of the continent, near the sea. Even though Xia Nan is far from the sea, his excellent physical qualities and keen perception still allowed him to clearly perceive the changes in the surrounding environment.

Air humidity has increased slightly, and rainfall is relatively more frequent and the rain is fine and prolonged; oak and maple trees are still common in the forest, but the frequency of moisture-tolerant plants such as cedar and weeping willow has increased significantly.

Along with the occasional passing through the farmland of some remote villages, in addition to the golden swaying wheat, there are also some aquatic crops similar to rice.

Xia Nan turned his gaze away from a farmer working diligently in the fields outside the car window, nodded to the servant who had come over to remind him that the convoy was about to arrive at its destination, checked the equipment and luggage one last time to make sure nothing was missing, and then closed his eyes to take a short rest.

Meanwhile, the silver coin in his hand never stopped moving, as if it were submerged in water. The coin flew between his fingertips with a slow and light motion, making the most of the travel time to train his proficiency in [gravity control].

When the caravan stopped at the post station in Giethoorn, it was past noon, the hottest time of day.

Fortunately, summer is coming to an end, and the upcoming month of scorching heat, "Elijah," is the harvest season. The weather is slightly cooler, so even if you're fully armed with your armor lining on, it won't be as unbearable as the previous two months.

"I've already had the hotel booked in advance for everyone. They're all the best rooms, and all meals are included. Any extra drinks will also be on my tab."

"Just relax and rest. Leave all the other miscellaneous tasks to me!"

Horak was still wearing his expensive dark green silk robe, and he did not try to hide the dazzling light on his neck and fingers despite the various gazes from the surroundings.

After spending more than ten days together, Xia Nan had gained a deeper understanding of the personality of this generous businessman.

Knowing that the other person is dressed so conspicuously, there may be a small part of it being a display of power or wealth, but in reality, it is more out of personal preference and pursuit.

At least when dealing with the group and the other members of the convoy, they did not exhibit the condescending attitude that one would expect from someone dressed like this, even when dealing with the menial workers. They spoke to them with a calm and smiling tone.

They were still very generous and meticulous in booking hotels for the group, and their attitude did not change even after they had arrived at their destination. Even Xia Nan, who had previously refused their request to assist in the investigation and was about to leave the convoy, was still treated with the same level of hospitality.

In fact, based on Xia Nan's observations over the past few days, the two members of the Blackwood Squad seem to have already discussed it and are subtly indicating their willingness to accept the other's temporary mission.

That's normal.

After all, the reward offered by Horak was far too generous, far exceeding what a normal investigation mission of this level should offer.

In this situation, for the Blackwood Squad, which had just suffered personnel losses, a significant drop in overall combat strength, and a sharp decline in income, there was no reason not to accept if the conditions in town were suitable.

Even Xia Nan himself has changed his mind significantly since last week.

It wasn't because of the fees offered by Horako, of course.

What truly made him hesitate was the pastel gemstone that the other party had taken out during that dinner.

Compared to Horak's usual lavishness, his behavior toward this fingernail-sized stone could almost be described as stingy.

During the fifteen days it took to travel from River Valley to Giethoorn, he only showed the amethyst gem to everyone once.

This is in stark contrast to her previous behavior of eagerly offering them her expensive accessories whenever they showed even the slightest interest.

There is no doubt that such a huge difference in attitude towards two similar items by the same person is absolutely unreasonable.

That brief glimpse that night made Xia Nan vaguely realize the special characteristics of pastel gemstones that distinguish them from other common minerals.

Then, recalling what Horako and the others had mentioned during their conversation—"a special species never seen on the continent" and "suddenly appearing in the town"—...

Having experienced many similar events, it's hard for Xia Nan not to overthink it.

Anyway, my original plan was to rest in Giethoorn for a few days after arriving in the town, and then set off again after getting enough rest and supplies.

This is a good time to gather information and see the specific situation in the town.

And if it really is as he guessed... staying in Gieshorn for a few days is not an unacceptable thing.

The architectural style in Giethoorn is not significantly different from that in River Valley.

Both are constructed from wood and stone commonly found in inland areas, but the latter is a simpler type that emphasizes practicality.

After all, it's only a journey of about fifteen days, and there's no particularly special geographical environment along the way. The overall climate and terrain are quite similar, so it's impossible for it to showcase any unique exotic style.

The townspeople were the same: weary coachmen, porters in short jackets and linen clothes, and well-dressed, wealthy merchants…

It may be less bustling than River Valley, but the residents on the road are not significantly different in terms of overall appearance and behavior.

To some extent, even experienced travelers would find it difficult to distinguish between the two if they were placed here or in any ordinary town around the Valley.

Horako booked accommodation for everyone at a hotel called "Cashmere Rusty Nails".

The exterior is rather simple; it's a three-story wooden and stone building that looks quite old.

A weathered wooden sign hangs under the porch, creaking and swaying in the wind. The sign features a rusty nail driven into a tuft of fluff.

Pushing open the heavy wooden door, the interior of the hotel was much more interesting.

The first thing you feel is a warm current mixed with the complex aromas of toast, stew, and ale. The main hall is quite spacious and brightly lit, with several wooden square tables scattered throughout, most of which are occupied by guests. Several thick oak beams support the somewhat darkened roof above, and a few faded landscape paintings hang on the rough wooden walls nearby.

Perhaps because it was afternoon, the hotel lobby wasn't very lively. The guests were talking to each other, but it only created a buzzing background noise.

The shelves behind the bar were filled with a dazzling array of glass bottles and metal glasses of various sizes, all wiped very clean. The selection of drinks didn't seem particularly extensive, but they were neatly arranged. There was also a small basket on the counter containing some orange-red fruit.

The owner of the "Cashmere Rust Nails" hotel, a ruddy-faced, slightly overweight middle-aged man, was standing behind the bar, wiping a wine glass in his hand with a white cloth.

Upon seeing everyone enter the hall, he immediately put down what he was holding and greeted them very warmly:
"Welcome to 'Cashmere Rust Studs'. Are you here for a stay or a meal?"

The rooms had already been booked in advance by someone, and the manager of the convoy, a middle-aged man with a serious expression, took the initiative to communicate with them.

After waiting for about three to five minutes, I saw the other person fill in something on the registration form that the hotel owner had given them, and when they came back, they had a large bunch of keys in their hand.

He handed over a few of the more sophisticated-looking weapons to Xia Nan and the others, said goodbye, and then hurriedly left the hotel with Horak.

This wealthy merchant from Newme seemed unable to contain his excitement, even arranging for his subordinates to handle his luggage. Upon arriving in Giethoorn, he immediately began investigating information about the gems.

Xia Nan wasn't in a hurry to participate; he simply stood aside and observed silently.

I went to my room on the third floor of the hotel alone, carefully checked it, and packed my luggage before slowly going downstairs.

I wanted to discuss our thoughts with Margaret and Solding.

Looking around, however, they didn't see the two of them in the hall; they were clearly still packing their things in their respective rooms.

He then took a few steps forward, sat down at the bar, and asked the hotel owner for a glass of lemonade.

Good afternoon, friend!

The tavern owner had a loud voice and a round face full of smiles, behaving with exceptional enthusiasm.

"This cup is on me. Welcome to Giethoorn."

Without a doubt, Xia Nan's fully armed adventurer attire, along with the other members of the caravan that had been with him, clearly indicated that he was an outsider passing through the town.

He smiled and nodded, accepting the lemonade offered. He took a sip, savoring the slight sourness on his tongue, and casually said:

"Boss, your shop is doing good business. It's almost full at this time."

"Well, I only earn a meager living through hard work, nothing compared to you guys." The innkeeper waved his hand with a smile, then grabbed a few plump oranges from a basket on the counter and handed them to Xia Nan.

"Honey tangerines are a specialty of our Giethoorn town. They're very sweet. You should try some."

Xia Nan has always had a great passion for food.

Although he had other motives at the moment, he couldn't refuse since the other party had said so.

He thanked her and accepted the oranges.

The size of the mandarin oranges is just right, slightly larger than a golf ball. Their shape is round with a slight flatness, and the peel has an extremely pleasing and vibrant orange-red color, just like a ripe persimmon set against the backdrop of autumn maple leaves.

Just by looking at it, it gives you an appetite that says "it must be very sweet".

With a gentle pinch of your fingers into the peel, a refreshing orange aroma bursts forth. Peel back the skin, revealing very few thick white veins, and the plump, translucent flesh inside.

Break off a small piece and put it in your mouth. The moment your teeth bite through the rind, a torrent of juice bursts in your mouth. The delicate flesh almost melts into the sweet and clear juice, bringing an incredibly cool and refreshing taste.

With just a gentle sip, the sweet, citrusy juice slid down your throat.

No wonder it's called a "local specialty," these little tangerines do taste quite good.

Xia Nan was quite enjoying himself, pondering to himself.

You can pack a few bags in your backpack before you set off to satisfy your cravings on the road.

I'm not worried about it spoiling, since it's said that this so-called "specialty" of mandarin oranges is quite common throughout the entire Suobin Province. I should be able to buy some in any village along the way after I finish eating them.

While peeling oranges, Xia Nan casually chatted with the hotel owner in front of him about everyday things.

Most of the topics were rather pointless, ranging from "How hard do you work usually?" to "How many people are in your family?" to "What are your future plans and goals?"

Although he has 6 points in charm, his eloquence is definitely not his strong suit.

It was precisely for this reason that when Xia Nan somewhat awkwardly shifted the topic from "the strange things that have happened in Giethoorn recently" to "the nonsense of a drunken merchant about special minerals" that he had heard from Horac,

The tavern owner realized his intentions almost instantly.

Xia Nan could clearly see that when he mentioned the matter, the other person's smiling face suddenly stiffened, and resistance and aversion unconsciously rose in the depths of their eyes, but before the negative emotions could spread outward, they were forcibly suppressed by the other person.

With a smile still present, but one that was noticeably colder and more wary, a forced, insincere smile, he replied politely:

"Don't believe what a drunkard says."

“Dear guest, such a thing has never happened in our town before.”

　It's the beginning of the month, does anyone have any extra monthly passes?
　　
　
(End of this chapter)