Forests Don't Support Idle Goblins

There's an old restaurant in Torch City near the deep-water port that makes incredibly delicious spicy grilled fish. It's always packed, and apparently, reservations are booked a month in advance.

The city is called Torch City mainly because it was formerly the residence of Baron Mello, whose family crest is a torch standing on the waves.

Similarly, the Earl of Valentine's residence was called Black Lion City because the family crest was a roaring black lion's head.

It's almost dinnertime, and all sorts of pedestrians are coming and going on the street. Many of them greet each other and walk hand in hand into that old shop.

Diagonally opposite the main entrance of the old shop, a hunched beggar draped in a dirty rag put away the wooden bowl in front of him, stuffed the few copper coins inside into his pocket, and then staggered away from the spot.

He wasn't wearing shoes, and his feet, covered in black dust, pattered as he walked across the stone path. Passersby around him covered their noses and hurried to the side.

Ignoring the disapproving looks from the crowd, the beggar went to a trash can and diligently rummaged through it, chuckling foolishly.

But this time there was no food in the trash can, so the beggar could only turn around and walk into a dark alley on the side of the street.

The alley was quiet, except for the squeaking rats scurrying along the walls. The beggar stopped deep inside the alley.

"Aren't you tired after following me for so long?" He turned his head slightly and said to the person behind him.

Several meters behind, a person wearing a long black cloak stood silently.

"You lackeys are really annoying." The hunched beggar stretched, and then, in a flash, he spread out his dirty rag to cover his body. The next moment, his left hand was already swiftly attacking the person's throat.

"Uncle Musa," the visitor called out.

The beggar stopped, his hand less than 5 centimeters from the other person's throat. "Are you Vivian?"

The newcomer removed the hood from his cloak, revealing blond hair and a pair of large, misty green eyes.

"It really is you." The beggar exclaimed in a low voice, then reached out to touch the other person's hair, but then thought of his own dirty body and withdrew his hand.

But Vivian rushed over, hugged the beggar's body, and sobbed softly.

"Alright, alright, don't cry." Musa stroked Vivian's hair and comforted her gently.

A few minutes later, the two leaned against the wall of the alley and started chatting.

"So you've been hiding underwater all this time," Musa said with a smile.

He no longer tries to hide his stature with a hunched back, and has returned to his original height of 1.8 meters.

"Yes, I've been hiding in the teacher's magic tower." Vivian lowered her head apologetically. "Please forgive me, Uncle Musa, for not coming to find you sooner."

Musa was an orphan from the Saros Islands. His tribe was defeated by the surrounding areas, and he ended up in Torch City. However, he was fortunate enough to be chosen by Charles's father to be his personal bodyguard, and he has been by his side ever since.

Musa witnessed Charles and Vivian's father get married, inherit the territory, have two children, and accompanied them as they grew up. You could say he was their "family" even though they weren't related by blood.

"Have you been waiting outside that grilled fish restaurant the whole time?" Vivian took out a handkerchief and wiped her tear-streaked face.

"Yes, I'm here every day. You two siblings really like eating at that restaurant, so I thought maybe I'd run into you again." Musa smiled, as if his perseverance during this time was nothing. "After the Baron was murdered, many people left and disappeared. This is the only way I can think of for now."

"I should have come to find you sooner."

"No, it's a good thing you didn't come. Back then, the two of you were carrying bounties, and the whole Torch City was full of bounty hunters." Musa's tone carried a hint of relief.

Then he asked, "You seem safe now, how's your brother Charles?"

"My brother..." Vivian paused, then said softly, "He's missing."

"Missing?" Musa frowned, his voice turning serious.

"I have no news of him, so I can only try to find his general location using divination." Vivian wiped her eyes with a handkerchief. "He's still alive. The divination results show that he's in the Nightmare Forest."

"Is that so?" Musa thought for a moment, then took the book and raised an eyebrow. "I see. That kid Charles is really smart. He's gone to be an adventurer."

"The adventurer profession is a mixed bag, and spending a lot of time in the forest, far from human settlements, allows one to hone their abilities. This brat is indeed as your father said; as long as he doesn't think about those messy pastimes, he's quite smart," Musa said with a smile.

"My teacher said the same thing, but I'm still worried." Vivian twisted her handkerchief and lowered her head.

"You didn't go to Valentine's territory, did you?" Musa asked.

"No, the teacher won't let me go, saying it's not safe."

"It's good that you didn't go. You two were carrying bounties, and your brother is even taller than you. It would have been dangerous if you had been recognized." Musa nodded, then asked with a smile, "So you came here to find help, right?"

"Yes, Uncle Musa, I've been searching carefully in Torch City for a week, and I finally saw you today." Vivian looked up at him, her emerald green eyes curving into crescents like a happy cat. "I never expected you to be disguised as a beggar."

"There's nothing I can do. The police are cracking down hard, and those lackeys and bounty hunters have very sensitive noses. This is all I can do." Musa laughed heartily a few times, while deliberately fanning his hands to dispel the smell from his body.

After laughing, he sighed and said, "Everything has changed. Your father's team has been destroyed. Some are dead, some have fled. Now, I heard that even Torch City is going to be renamed. I heard it's going to be called something like Golden Mountain City."

"Let them be." Vivian tilted her head, then silently considered her words.

"Want me to help you find your brother at the edge of the forest?" Musa said with a smile, ruffling the little girl's hair before revealing the answer.

"Yes." Vivian nodded, then tidied her ruffled hair.

"I don't really have a problem with myself, but what identity should I use?" Musa thought for a few seconds, then looked down at Vivian, "As a seasoned adventurer?"

"You're a bit too old for an adventurer. An adventurer around fifty years old is too conspicuous," Vivian shook her head.

Then she thought for a moment, grabbed Musa's hand and said, "Uncle Musa, why don't you pretend to be a businessman?"

"A merchant?" Musa repeated, puzzled.

“Yes, merchants, merchants from the archipelago,” Vivian said happily. “There are indeed archipelago merchants who will send ships up the Darren River, and their long voyages and battles with pirates can also conceal your warrior’s physical characteristics.”

"That's feasible, but ships and cargo will require a lot of money." Musa nodded, then asked, "What should I sell?"

"Let's just sell sugar and spices, that's what they sell." Vivian grinned mischievously and pulled out a small cloth bag.

"Money is not a problem; here is my teacher's bank statement."