I'm not a Witcher anymore.

After cleaning up the battlefield, everyone immediately packed up and prepared to move on.

Although the goblin's corpses had been burned, the air was still filled with a strong smell of blood.

This pungent smell acts like a giant magnet in the wilderness, attracting all sorts of carrion-eating beasts.

About one kilometer from the original campsite, the group chose a relatively safe location.

This is also a slightly raised plateau with a wide view and huge rocks as a barrier behind it.

Although no new defensive fortifications were built, given the time constraints, everyone decided to make do with what they had for now.

The sky was already beginning to lighten, and there were only a few hours left until dawn.

The sky gradually changed from deep black to dark blue, and then to grayish blue.

The stars began to fade, and the moon gradually lost its light.

Dawn is approaching.

Considering the limited time, no one planned to lie down and go back to sleep.

Anyway, there are only a few hours left, and I won't be able to sleep soundly even if I do.

Everyone sat down to rest, quietly waiting for dawn to arrive.

In this relatively relaxed atmosphere, Zieg suddenly noticed something.

Ingram and Finn glanced at him every now and then.

The two were still whispering to each other, clearly discussing something.

However, judging from their expressions, this was by no means a malicious conspiracy.

They seemed to be discussing how to invite Sieg to join their adventure team.

But they were clearly a step too slow.

A short, slender figure quietly sat down next to Zig.

Then, Ravenna took out a small package wrapped in coarse cloth from her bosom and gently opened it.

Several bright red wild berries were visible inside.

The berries looked especially tempting in the firelight, emitting a faint fruity aroma.

It's obvious that she collected it at some point, but couldn't bear to eat it, and is now sharing it.

"Want to try some?"

She spoke in a very natural tone, handing the cloth bag towards Zig.

Seeing this, Ingram and Finn also came over and each reached out to take a berry.

They clearly intended to join the conversation just like that.

However, when they saw Ravenna's eyes, which clearly conveyed a sense of assertiveness, the two instantly realized something.

There was a gentle smile in his eyes, but it also carried a signal of unwelcoming intrusion.

The two exchanged a glance and tactfully took the berries and retreated to a slightly farther place.

Ingram even shook his head, giving Finn a look that said, "It's too late."

Zig also took a berry and put it in his mouth.

The sweet and sour juice bursts in your mouth, carrying a hint of the fresh, wild aroma.

It does taste good.

Ravenna sat to the side, watching Zieg savor the berries with a hint of satisfaction.

By sharing food, the two of them found themselves much closer.

So she started talking to Zieg.

She was a little nervous at first and tried to break the silence by talking about something trivial.

But this kind of awkward small talk is clearly not her forte.

Her voice sounded somewhat stiff, and the topic she was discussing also seemed dry and awkward.

This is not the behavior expected of an experienced adventurer.

She quickly abandoned this roundabout approach and got straight to the point.

Ravenna turned around and looked at Sieg earnestly, asking:

"Does Mr. Sieg have a regular team?"

"I prefer to work alone and currently have no plans to serve a particular squad long-term," Sieg replied calmly.

Upon hearing this, Ravenna's pointed ears, hidden beneath her brown curly hair, drooped slightly. She stared at the soil beneath her feet, as if weighing something.

But then she heard Zieg add:

"However, if the pay is right, it's not impossible to temporarily team up to solve some problems."

The halfling girl suddenly raised her head, her previous gloom vanishing. A highly infectious smile bloomed on her chubby face.

"Then it's settled."

Ravenna extended her slender hand, marked with rough bowstring punctures, and made a very formal handshake gesture:

"If I have a suitable request in the future, I will approach you with sincerity."

Zieg reached out and took her hand. "Okay."

……

As it turned out, Joel's concerns about this wilderness trade route were far from unfounded.

For the next two days, the team barely had a moment's peace.

The wilderness was like a greedy stomach, constantly spitting out malicious provocations—an alligator they encountered at dusk on the second day, and a group of gnoll raiders who tried to ambush the wagon at dawn on the third day.

Fortunately, the gold coins Joel spent were well worth it. Thanks to the combined efforts of the four adventurers, the carriage suffered no real damage, except for a few deep claw marks on the carriage.

When everyone's nerves were stretched to the limit by exhaustion and the smell of blood, the journey finally came to an end.

On the third day at noon, when the scorching sun reached its scorching peak, a simple settlement nestled among the mountains finally appeared in front of the carriage.

This so-called "undead settlement" looks more like a makeshift bandit hideout than a proper settlement.

The entire stronghold was surrounded by a rough wooden fence and piled stones, and the walls were patched up everywhere, clearly having been through many battles.

Several crooked watchtowers stood in key positions, with guards leaning lazily against the wooden railings, but their sharp eyes never left the approaching carriage.

Joel signaled the carriage to stop when it was still a hundred meters away from the gate.

Then he went up alone and communicated with the guards on the stockade wall.

After a considerable period of negotiation, the wooden gate of the village slowly opened, creaking loudly enough to make your teeth ache.

Sitting in the carriage, Zig observed the surrounding environment after the carriage entered the mountain village.

He discovered that the conditions here were far worse than those in the border town.

Everywhere were muddy dirt roads, and dilapidated wooden buildings were crammed together in a crooked manner, with a nauseating stench permeating the air.

The group arrived at the only inn in this bandit's den.

The building was very simple, the wooden exterior walls had turned black, and the lettering on the sign was blurry.

But at least there is shelter from the wind and rain, which is enough for a weary traveler.

Joel took the initiative to step forward and negotiate with the hotel owner.

Surprisingly, the boss seemed very kind.

He was a middle-aged man in his fifties, with a smile on his face and speaking very politely.

After a brief negotiation, the shopkeeper handed Joel two brass keys.

Due to the limited conditions of the Undead Settlement, it was impossible for many outsiders to come to this place.

Therefore, the hotel was built to be very small.

With no other option, the group had to squeeze into two rooms.

Zig, Ingram, Finn, and Ravenna share a room.

Joel and his two buddies were in another room.

None of the adventurers had any objections.

Rather, in such an obviously unsafe place, it would be wise for everyone to huddle together.

With more people, they can look out for each other in case of an emergency.

Ingram even suggested that they continue to take turns keeping watch at night.

Although they were not currently in the wilderness, this place was not much better than the wilderness, and no one could guarantee their safety.

It's best to be cautious.

Everyone agreed to the proposal.

After everyone went upstairs, a man sitting in the corner suddenly got up and walked towards the bar.

The hotel owner's friendly smile vanished instantly.

He didn't speak, but cautiously glanced around before waving his hand and opening the heavy wooden door behind the bar that led to the basement, gesturing for the man to go inside.