Goblin Heavy Dependence

Chapter 388 White Cliff - Cormorant - Saltwater
Emerging from the back room of the "Salmon Roe" grocery store was a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties with graying hair and beard.

He was thin, but not weak. Instead, he looked lean and capable, as if he had been battling the elements for years and had shed excess fat. His skin was rough and dull, and his cheeks were full of wrinkles, especially around his eyes and mouth, which reflected his status as a small businessman who always had to greet people with a smile.

He was dressed neatly and cleanly, wearing a dark blue wool fitted short-sleeved shirt over a linen shirt. His gray-white stubble on his chin and upper lip was neatly trimmed, and his medium-length hair, interspersed with silver, was combed back and fixed on top of his head with cheap, light-smelling hair oil, revealing a clear and neat hairline.

Keenly perceive the silent effects.

Xia Nan's gaze swept over the other man subtly, summarizing and organizing all the information he observed in his mind to form his first impression of this middle-aged man:

—A not-so-wealthy, but somewhat unsuccessful small businessman who values ​​a respectable life.

But it was just not very successful; it was far from being a complete failure.

At least by observing the other person's appearance and demeanor, one can judge that their economic situation is decent, and that they have no problem with having enough to eat and wear.

"Welcome, two guests!"

"I'm Paddy, the owner of the 'Salmon Roe' Grocery Store. How can I help you?"

The middle-aged man forced a perfectly executed, habitual smile onto his face, which had long since become muscle memory. He took two steps forward to the counter and greeted the two men.

At the same time, those slightly blue eyes were carefully and attentively observing the two new customers in a way that was as unobtrusive as possible.

The fact that Paddy has been able to operate in a highly competitive place like Barker Bay for many years, even though his business has never had the chance to grow, but has managed to make a living to this day, proves his ability.

It may not be outstanding, but it is at least above average.

For a seasoned businessman, the ability to read people and their expressions is of paramount importance.

Of the two guests, the black-haired youth who was slightly ahead was clearly the leader.

He was probably not even twenty years old, very young, but very tall, almost 1.9 meters.

His demeanor was cold and composed, far from the frivolous and impetuous nature that one would expect from a young man his age.

The equipment he was wearing...

Paddy's expression suddenly froze.

Having worked in the industry for many years, I have a wealth of experience.

Almost at first glance, he could tell that Xia Nan's equipment was extraordinary.

The two sheathed straight swords behind him, with only their hilts remaining, were not fully visible and difficult to distinguish.

But he could clearly see the silver-gray iron armor the young man was wearing on his upper body, and the exquisite leg armor that shone brightly under the shop's lights.

Even without close-up touch and observation, and without being able to determine the specific materials used in its forging, one can still feel the unique toughness of the equipment itself through its exquisite craftsmanship and the high-quality metal finish.

Paddy could then almost make a judgment.

Even if these two items aren't enchanted, they're definitely top-quality items among regular equipment!

Combined with the refined aura emanating from the black-haired youth...

no doubt.

This is a highly skilled and experienced adventurer who has even achieved a professional level!
A thought flashed through his mind, and Paddy's smile became more natural, as if it came from the heart.

The gaze continued backward, landing on the obviously younger, more inexperienced boy behind the black-haired youth.

Compared to the young man in front of him who appeared to be a professional, this boy with a youthful face perfectly matched Paddy's stereotype of children his age.

He walks with a slight hunch, his head lowered, his gaze unconsciously looking down, appearing nervous and lacking confidence.

Their clothing was also exceptionally simple; their linen clothes had no design features, and the elbows, cuffs, and other frequently worn areas were patched.

He should be an ordinary person from the countryside...

"Ok?"

Paddy looked at the simple-looking boy in front of him, as if he had suddenly realized something.

No longer concealing his gaze, he stared directly at the increasingly familiar face, as if comparing it to a figure from his memory.

They gradually overlapped.

"You are... Colin?"

With a hint of hesitation, Paddy placed his hands on the counter, leaned forward instinctively, and cautiously asked.

Colin was overjoyed to finally see his long-lost relatives and hear his name called out by others in a foreign land.

She suddenly looked up and stared at the middle-aged man behind the counter.

"It's me! Uncle Paddy, it's me!"

"My father, mother, and eldest brother asked me to give you their regards!"

His tone fluctuated with the turmoil of his emotions. Colin took out a letter from his backpack, written by the village chief who was literate and had been entrusted by his family. He stepped forward and handed the envelope to the chief.

Having not seen his family back home for a long time, Paddy couldn't maintain his professional smile any longer, and his expression turned into an indescribable emotion.

He looked at the boy in front of him, who was now almost as tall as himself, and kept comparing him to the more innocent child in his memory.

He reached out and took the envelope, carefully opening it while asking in a gentle tone:

"How's the village lately? Has anything happened?"

"Uncle Jack encountered a raging wild boar while gathering firewood and had his leg broken; the village chief's youngest son had a fever two months ago and hasn't recovered, he might not make it through the winter; and Aunt Lina's situation, they say..."

When faced with questions from his relatives, Colin was exceptionally honest. Regardless of whether the person in question was close to his family or not, and regardless of whether it was a big or small matter, he poured out everything he had even a slight recollection of, as if spilling beans.

Paddy showed no impatience in response.

He simply kept his head down, reading the letters the Colin family had sent, and only spoke again after the young man had finished recounting everything he had to say:
"Have your parents and brother encountered any trouble recently?"

After receiving a negative answer from Colin, he breathed a sigh of relief.

None of my family members are literate and have never received a systematic education.

This letter, dictated by them and written down by the village chief, could not possibly contain any elegant or ornate language. However, it used extremely simple yet sincere language to introduce the family's recent situation, express their helplessness regarding Colin's insistence on going out to work, and apologize for possibly troubling Paddy.

Of course, the letter also mentioned the goblin tribe around the village that had been completely wiped out, as well as the entrustment and promise between Xia Nan and the village.

Standing behind the counter, Paddy carefully read the letter from top to bottom twice. Only then did she finally raise her head, fold the letter neatly, and lock it in the cabinet.

Looking ahead, Xia Nan, who was patiently waiting and examining the numerous goods in the store, spoke sincerely:

"Mr. Xia Nan, thank you very much for your help to our village."

"Without your help, I'm afraid the village would be gone by the time I return."

"It was just a small favor, and besides, I received payment for the supplies, so it's nothing." Xia Nan waved his hand, indicating that the other party didn't need to worry about it.

"Also, Colin caused you trouble. If he offended you in any way on the way, I apologize on his behalf."

Paddy was very concerned about his youngest nephew and was afraid that the boy might offend the seasoned adventurer because of his young age and lack of manners.

"To my shame, I'm quite old and haven't made a name for myself in town. The power I can mobilize is nothing compared to yours."

"But after so many years in business, I've developed some connections and have a decent understanding of Suoyu Bay."

"If there is anything I can do to help, please don't refuse."

Upon hearing this, Xia Nan nodded slightly, showing no sign of politeness.

After all, the reason he was willing to slow down the pace a bit and bring Colin all the way to Barracuda Bay was to use his relationship with Paddy to help him understand and integrate into the environment.

He stated his demands directly, hoping that Paddy could find some time to take him for a short tour of Barracuda Bay and introduce him to the power structure and various hidden taboos there.

"Easy to say! Easy to say!"

Xia Nan's directness in stating his needs actually relieved Paddy.

Now, he's even closed the shop. He came out from behind the counter, locked the slightly more valuable items on the shelves in the cabinet, and then led the two of them out.

In Paddy's words, "Anyway, there's not much business lately, so taking a break for a day or two won't hurt at all."

……

With a local guide, this maze-like, complex, and narrow alleyway seemed to become familiar and welcoming.

Xia Nan and his companion had originally taken a long and winding journey, which took them several tens of minutes to complete.

Following Paddy, it took less than ten minutes to return from the quiet alleyway to the bustling main street.

During the journey, the middle-aged man, who had been operating in the area for many years, also introduced Xia Nan and Colin to the general situation of Suoyu Bay today.

Just like when the two of them walked out of the cave and looked down from their vantage point, they saw the distinct architectural styles and street layouts of the different urban areas.

The entire Suoyu Bay is divided into three areas according to its geographical structure and functional positioning.

First, the top level, which is also the area furthest from the dock:

——“Baiya District”.

The governor's mansion, the maritime court, the grand temple, the private estate; the kingdom's nobles, wealthy maritime merchants, high-ranking professionals...

Those who frequented and lived there were basically prominent figures from Suoyu Bay.

It was exactly the tranquil urban area that Xia Nan had seen before, with its view blocked by lush tropical plants.

Although there are no overt restrictions on access, ordinary people can also go in for sightseeing.

But the price of any item in a street shop can equal the entire year's income of ordinary people in the upper and lower districts;
An unintentionally offended stranger could be your boss's boss's boss, whose single sentence could decide your life, death, and future.
Even if you do nothing, just because your clothes and appearance don't conform to the regulations of Baiya District, you have to go through three checks by guards when you walk down a street.

People are invisibly separated on either side of the city boundary by power, wealth, and strength.

The middle layer is called the "Cormorant Zone".

The famous "Silver Anchor Avenue", "Booby Square" and "Bank Street" of Suyu Bay are all located here.

Adventurers' Guild branch, Gulf Merchant Guild office, church for ordinary people to pray...

It is a buffer zone between the "upper class" and the "ordinary people", and neither the pedestrians on the road nor the buildings on both sides have such a strong hierarchical attribute.

This can also be considered one of Xia Nan's destinations on this trip.

Finally, the one closest to the port is also the largest of the three urban districts in terms of area.

Naturally, this was the place where the three of them were currently located—a densely packed area with countless alleyways, a place where order mingled with filth, and shadows lurked beneath the bustling atmosphere.

"Saline water area".

Breaking Wave Wharf, Tidal Market, Bend Lane... This place is home to nearly 60% of the population of Suoyu Bay, a diverse mix of fishermen, smugglers, pickpockets, and low-level adventurers.

To some extent, in the eyes of those "masters" at the top, this place was the "slum" of Suoyu Bay.

Right now, Xia Nan and his two companions are on one of the main streets in the Saltwater District, a street called "Cable Street".

As Xia Nan emerged from the alley, he consciously restrained his senses to avoid excessive mental exertion, while carefully listening to Paddy's introduction of the general situation of Fish Bay.

I felt more and more certain that my choice was wise.

Although I had learned a lot about Suyu Bay before I came, I knew that it was divided into three urban areas: "White Cliff", "Cormorant" and "Saltwater".

However, after Paddy's explanation, Xia Nan realized that he knew far less about each area than he had imagined.

The distance from River Valley to Fish Bay is so vast that even the most accurate intelligence is bound to be distorted, especially since this information often comes from the dinner table of hotel guests.

It's common to exaggerate slightly or to add some "artistic touches" suitable for boasting.

For example, Xia Nan originally thought that the "Saltwater District" was similar to the slums of Newme, filled with a large number of poor laborers who could not make a living and gang forces.

But after actually learning about it, I realized that the "saltwater area" was so vast that it almost merged the areas where ordinary people lived with the so-called "slums".

Only a few streets have characteristics similar to "slums", "gangs", or "underground organizations".

The unspoken rules of the upper-level "White Cliff District" are completely incomprehensible without the help of locals. You'll feel like you're constantly hitting roadblocks, as if everyone is targeting you.

If Xia Nan, just as planned, ventures alone into Sucker Bay using only the limited information he gleaned from River Valley Town.

I'm afraid I'll run into countless pitfalls.

Moreover, many of the traps within cannot be avoided simply by being a professional or having the strength to do so.

(End of this chapter)