Chess Mage of Faerûn

Chapter 172 Fleeing with the Money

The carefully selected goods, along with scattered coins, gold certificates, and jewelry, totaled about eight hundred gold coins, and more than three hundred in cash.

According to Lawrence, the value of those goods was already underestimated. In reality, if they were taken to Waterdeep and sold, the price could probably double, reaching nearly a thousand gold coins, which is no small sum.

So how should we make a move?

Having cooperated with Flame Fist for many years, the Seven Suns Merchant Alliance, practically inseparable from him, has a branch in Deepwater City. They have no shortage of connections, and even selling directly to them wouldn't result in any loss.

The team leader collected and distributed all the supplies and money.

Everyone was delighted to receive such a windfall, and Zhang, of course, wouldn't be stingy and spoil their fun.

Since no battle broke out, the more than 300 gold coins that were essentially free were divided equally, leaving each person with about 80 gold coins. As for the goods, they couldn't be divided like that, since the contract wasn't a pure profit-sharing agreement, and everyone was aware of that.

Anyway, these goods can't be used as money right now. They can't even be transported if they're not in their own captain's storage bag. The Canaan team members weren't envious of this extra income. They had only been in the team for a short time and already had a large sum of extra income, which was already quite satisfactory.

Especially Kegan and Bard, who had already tasted the benefits, looked at someone as if they were looking at Vol'jin's chosen one, almost suspecting that the captain in front of them was a gold coin priest disguised as a mage.

After tidying up, the caravan continued on its way. The journey that followed was surprisingly peaceful. Apart from the occasional wild animal that wandered across the trade route, nothing disturbed the small caravan.

Not to mention trolls, we haven't even encountered goblins or kobolds, which grow wildly everywhere like weeds.

However, those who understood the situation felt no joy, because it wasn't due to the team's good luck, but rather the intimidating presence of the trolls as the number one predator.

The entire Troll Mountain Range stretches for dozens of miles and covers a vast area, so it's impossible that there isn't a single hunter from another race present.

However, near some large troll colonies, apart from harmless herbivores, no other species would dare to risk becoming food and stay there; even wild beasts are extremely rare.

Having figured this out, the Canaanites wore expressions of both solemnity and relief. All the signs along the way indicated that the nearby troll tribe was no ordinary force.

If it weren't for the previous caravan's "sacrifice" to satisfy these beasts' appetites, even if they had won in a head-on confrontation, it would probably have been a Pyrrhic victory.

As for the blood debt of those who died, and what about the possible survivors?
Everyone subconsciously avoided the question.

The current Canaan is just an adventure team, not a behemoth like Flame Fist that upholds justice and order. Even Flame Fist headquarters would not rashly invade a large troll tribe for the sake of a small, unfamiliar merchant guild.

While pursuing great profits, one must be prepared for the risks behind them. These people are not upright paladins, nor are they wandering Elminsters. If they were kobolds or goblin tribes, they would do it without hesitation, but the risks they face are simply too great to bear.

Arranging his funeral was all they could do; all they could do was lament his fate.

The journey continued peacefully, but it was far from easy. On one hand, they wanted to leave this dangerous area as soon as possible, and on the other hand, they had to be on high alert. Apart from one mage who remained calm and collected, the rest of the team, including the two half-ogre brothers, all carried an unspeakable anxiety in their actions. Rick and Morty may be dull-witted, but their instinctive sense of danger and perception were far more acute than that of ordinary people.

However, no matter how fast they traveled, they still had to follow the basic principles. Traveling all night without rest was certainly not in accordance with objective laws, so as night fell, the group stopped, got off the carriage, and took out food and water to comfort the horses that had been tired all day.

As usual, this task was done by Münster, and the barbarian was happy to take it on. He asked the mage for the horses' fine feed, which was mixed with a lot of soybeans and oats, and filled several basins with water from the Water Elemental Pot. The big man gently soothed them while placing these things in front of them.

The others weren't idle either; they lit campfires, cooked meals, and went about their own business. Naturally, one of the monks had to return to his old profession and reopen Leomon's youth hostel.

After rushing along the way, we finally arrived at the foot of the solitary peak of Troll's Claw. Looking east—that is, to the right of the road—an extremely steep rocky mountain rose abruptly from the ground, forming a crescent shape along the bend of the winding river not far ahead, with two peaks on it.

On the opposite bank of the river, a sharp peak rises into the sky, echoing this place, forming what looks like a three-fingered claw pointing to the sky, which is the origin of its name.

The trade route passes through the west side of Troll Claw, crosses the winding river, and extends northwestward all the way to Waterdeep.

The team deliberately drove off the main road and parked at the foot of the mountain on the right side of the road, drawn by the towering, rugged peak known as the Troll's Claw. The peak was covered with jagged rocks, but not a single tree or even a blade of grass, making it as bald as a programmer's forehead.

Given this terrain, no species would survive on the mountain. Moreover, the terrain is treacherous, so when setting up camp, one can have their back to this place and their front against the river. Even if an enemy attacks, they can only break in from the left side, which greatly increases the safety factor.

That night, everything was kept simple. The Canaanites, who tried to minimize their activities, even gave up hunting. They simply took out the prepared dry rations, either roasted them over a fire or soaked them in hot soup, and that was how they had their dinner.

At night, just in case, even Little, the top fighter, was summoned to accompany Kegan on his night watch, accompanied by two orc warrior pieces.

Several chess pieces were guarding the gates of Leomon's sanctuary, while also protecting two important carriages, which, to put it bluntly, were the team's most important shared assets at the moment.

Kegan, who was on night watch, rested for a day and then stood guard behind the door, occasionally observing the outside situation through several lookout points.

As for Little? He was summoned and given the task of guarding this place and watching out for the enemy by his master. He also has the right to command the other two pieces.

only. . .

She blinked her truly sapphire-like eyes. "Master wants me to obey that short guy's orders?" But wasn't that guy hiding behind the door someone I threw into the air before?
He's so weak! Xiao Xiao thought bluntly.

And he's really short! Xiao Xiao completely forgot about her own height back then.

The whole night passed quietly in this state of vigilance and peace. Nothing happened that night, I suppose?

(End of this chapter)