Goblin Heavy Dependence

Chapter 401 The Price, Seaview Room, Departure

"I?"

Hera's lips curled up involuntarily, her face beaming with joy; clearly, Xia Nan's words pleased her greatly.

"You think highly of me."

"To be honest, although I did receive their invitation many years ago, as you know, I couldn't attend."

“And since then, I have been excluded from their ‘Moonlit Feast’ list.”

Hera is the owner of the "Three-Legged Sea Dog" tavern and one of the largest intelligence dealers in Barracuda Bay. Through channels left by her father and her own years of hard work, she has established connections with many forces in the Southern Islands.

In this situation, things might be different in private, but on the surface, the complex relationships between those forces required her to maintain absolute neutrality.

If there is any bias, it can easily lead to the cutting off of some channels, or even antagonism with the forces behind those channels.

The "Moonlight Feast" that "Algae Scale" Dodd attended may have been large enough, but to be honest, the fact that even a wanted criminal like him could be invited to the banquet shows just how complex the guests were.

If Hera attends the banquet, she can certainly further expand her channels in the southern islands, but there are also considerable risks involved, as it could affect the network of relationships she has already established in Barracuda Bay.

Despite her ambition, she made a more prudent choice after weighing the pros and cons.

"but……"

Hera suddenly changed the subject.

A pair of emerald green eyes blinked, flashing a glint of intriguing light.

After spending some time with him, she realized that the black-haired young man in front of her was reserved and did not often reveal his thoughts. So she stopped being mysterious and directly gave him her suggestion.

"I do know someone who recently received an invitation to the 'Moonlit Feast' over there."

"If you'd like, I can introduce you to her."

"Of course, whether the other party is willing to take you along, or what kind of compensation they want to offer, is up to you."

Having understood the meaning behind the tavern owner's words, Xia Nan's expression did not change despite the breakthrough in the search for the [Dream Corridor] key. After a moment of contemplation, he raised his head and looked at the woman with a smile on her lips and long, dark green hair across the table.

"So...what's the price?"

How much should I pay for this introduction?

It seems that Xia Nan had already planned this out in his mind. Hera was not surprised by Xia Nan's question. In fact, she even raised her glass and took another sip with ease.

Then he replied with a light laugh:

"Hehe, no need to be so serious, it's just a transaction."

“I’ll explain this connection to you that allows you to go to the ‘Moonlit Feast.’ The reward for the information about ‘Algae Scales’ Dodd can also be included in this, so there won’t be any extra charge.”

"In return, I need you to do something for me."

really……

Knowing that the other party had a plan, Xia Nan remained outwardly calm, but her mind was racing.

Without replying, they simply gazed at each other silently.

"Don't worry, it's nothing difficult."

"If you're lucky, you'll be back in a few days, maybe without even having to draw those two longswords on your back."

"I need you to help me deliver a shipment."

……

……

"Wow..."

The gauze curtains by the window swayed and fluttered.

The sound of the tide crashing against the reef mingled with the hustle and bustle of people from the distant port, flowing into the warm room carried by the slightly salty sea breeze.

Xia Nan stood fully armed beside the desk, holding the [Honey Orange] short blade high in his hand, squinting as he examined it closely in the sunlight streaming through the window.

With a slight twist of his wrist, the sharp edge of the pink crystal reflected a translucent, glass-like luster under the sunlight, casting a dazzling pink reflection on the mattress behind him.

This trophy from the priest of Goat's Horn is of average quality, with little to offer except for its durability.

But it must be admitted that it looks really good.

When Xia Nan first got it, he was even a little reluctant to use it as a skinning knife to cut up the spoils of war. He felt uncomfortable seeing its beautiful and translucent blade stained with blood, but he gradually got used to it later.

He stood in the sunlight for a while, enjoying the view, before tucking the [Mandarin Orange] back into its leather sheath at his waist.

Three days have passed since the trip to the casino.

In exchange for the key to the [Dream Corridor], he agreed to a deal with Hera, agreeing to act as her bodyguard and transport a shipment of goods.

Today is the day we set off.

Three days is neither a long nor a short time.

For Xia Nan, a newcomer who had only recently arrived at Suoyu Bay, all he could do was familiarize himself with the environment or inquire about some less important information.

He had originally planned to find a blacksmith shop to try and repair [Purgatory Pulse].

This fine (green) quality equipment, forged by "Rockhammer" Barn using Infernal Steel and other special materials, was damaged in the battle with the priest in Goathorn, with a noticeable dent in the iron plate near the chest.

However, after inquiring, I learned that if I wanted to fully repair this armor, gold coins would be one aspect, but the most important thing is that it would take at least a week.

Xia Nan is about to set sail to escort Hera's cargo, and if he wants to repair his armor, he must leave it at the blacksmith's shop.

With the equipment in the shop being of only ordinary quality, and enchanted equipment requiring even more time to customize, the situation becomes even more challenging.

He decided to make do with what he was wearing for now and decide what to do after he returned from the mission.

The quality and materials of [Purgatory Pulse] speak for themselves; even with some damage, its defensive capabilities still far surpass those standard equipment that come out of the same mold on the blacksmith's shelf.

It is more than enough to handle ordinary combat.

Standing still, Xia Nan's dark eyes shifted slightly as he scanned the room.

His three-day stay had brought the upscale rooms in the "Three-Legged Seal" tavern, which cost 2 silver coins per night, to a more comfortable level than when he first checked in. The rooms now showed signs of age and life.

The arched window facing the sea was open, and the double-layered gauze curtains swayed, revealing the clear sea in the distance, which was as dazzling as a blue-green gemstone. You could vaguely see the ships coming and going and the seagulls circling and calling in the sky.

The floor was covered with a woven carpet from the East of the continent, and the walls on both sides were decorated with two-handed swords, pictures of star compasses, and navigation maps of the nearby seas.
In the center of the room stood a huge four-poster bed, large enough for three people to sleep in. The dark oak bedposts were carved with delicate spiral patterns, and an indigo curtain hung halfway above them.

They're eating well now.

This is the first time Xia Nan has stayed in such a high-class room since he transmigrated to this point.

But it must be admitted that the price of those two silver coins for one night was indeed worthwhile. On his first day after checking in, he slept soundly and undisturbed for six hours on the soft, comfortable bed in his room, fully recovering his energy. As he groggily got out of bed, the moment he saw the vast blue sea outside the window, he had already confirmed it in his heart.

In my previous life, a sea-view room of this caliber would probably cost four figures, or even tens of thousands, for just one night during peak season.

In Barracuda Bay, a bounty of just one and a half goblins is enough to stay two nights comfortably.

Compared to custom-enchanted equipment that costs hundreds or thousands of gold coins, Xia Nan finally had a real sense of the purchasing power of the more than eight hundred gold coins he had.

I checked the room one last time to make sure nothing was left behind.

Xia Nan picked up the luggage he had prepared in advance and placed at the entrance, pushed open the door, and walked towards the tavern's main hall.

……

We had just arrived at the lobby of the "Three-Legged Sea Dog" tavern.

A cheerful and enthusiastic voice came from a nearby table by the window.

All that could be seen was the halfling Alton waving his hand vigorously in Xia Nan's direction.

He was chewing something, which made his voice a little muffled, and he was tightly clutching a half-peeled mandarin orange in his waving palm.

"Over here, Xia Nan! Over here!"

He nodded and greeted Hera behind the bar.

Xia Nan walked towards Alton, put down his luggage, and sat down opposite him.

"The mandarins here are indeed much sweeter than any I've had before, hehe, I made the right choice!"

Alton peeled the orange in his hand with a smug look on his face, while gesturing to Xia Nan with a slight nod of his chin towards the table full of food in front of him.

"Yesterday I asked the chef in the tavern's kitchen how to make their cream of mushroom soup, and it's definitely different from the one in Riverdale. I heard they use mushrooms that were specially picked from caves along the coast, and it tastes much saltier than the ones from the forest..."

"Oh, by the way, when I was wandering around town the night before last, besides the two food shops I told you about before, I also found a furniture shop. I heard that many wealthy people in Baiya District go there to order custom furniture, I..."

Having long been accustomed to Alton's seemingly boundless curiosity about everything, Xia Nan consciously filtered out the useless information in the other's words and extracted the key points.

His gaze swept across the table in front of him.

Knowing that they were about to set sail and that they probably wouldn't be able to enjoy such a sumptuous meal of "three-legged seal" at sea, Alton ordered a whole table of dishes.

This naturally includes the creamy mushroom soup with its unique seafood flavor—after spending so much time together, this thoughtful and kind halfling has already remembered Xia Nan's preferences.

It looked like it had just been served, with fragrant, steaming white smoke rising from the air above the soup.

Despite it being early morning, she didn't feel greasy at all. Her eyes unconsciously squinted as Xia Nan picked up a soup spoon and began to enjoy her meal.

Three days ago, when he was exchanging information about the "Moonlight Feast" with the tavern owner Hera, Alton was also present.

Unsurprisingly, he became interested in the large banquet event held at the Sea Rhyme Festival.

And immediately after Xia Nan accepted Hera's commission, he asked him if he could go along as well.

Of course, it's impossible to refuse.

Even setting aside other factors, considering that the halfling was one of Xia Nan's few close friends, he was willing to grant the other's wishes, provided that safety was guaranteed.

Moreover, Alton himself was favored by the goddess of fortune, Tamora.

To put it bluntly, even if this short guy had no fighting ability whatsoever and was just a mascot in the team, Xia Nan would still have to bring him along.

The three exaggerated and memorable experiences of using the "Coin of Destiny" gave Xia Nan a full understanding of "luck," an invisible and intangible phenomenon.

Having someone as favored as Alton by your side is equivalent to entering the Smile Lady's field of vision.

And as long as this being above the divine realm winks at them, "good fortune" will follow.

This is an irresistible temptation for any adventurer on the continent of Efala.

To some extent, this may be why Hera specifically discussed the "Moonlight Feast" with Xia Nan in front of the halflings.

If the escort team had someone with a close relationship to the legendary "Destined Gambler" "Arlene," the journey would undoubtedly be much smoother.

Alden is lively yet sensitive, and his halfling racial traits give him an extremely strong sense of responsibility towards his friends.

Even though Xia Nan had already agreed to his request, he couldn't just sit back and do nothing, waiting for the other party to complete the task before going to the "Moonlit Feast".

Naturally, he also became a member of this escort mission.

Thinking of this, Xia Nan's expression suddenly became somewhat strange.

I remember the first time I met him was during a caravan escort mission, but things took a little longer than expected.

He suddenly had an inexplicable sense of déjà vu.

Does that also mean this mission...?

Just as I was pondering this, I heard footsteps coming from the side.

Her long, dark green hair, resembling seaweed, was simply tied back, with strands swaying gently beside her temples.

Hera's gaze swept over Alton, the halfling on the other side of the table, before settling on Xia Nan, a smile playing on her lips.

"How's it going? Are you all ready?"

"Don't worry, I've invited many long-time friends who have extensive sailing experience. If you have any questions about maritime matters, just contact them. They're very reliable."

She leaned slightly forward, took a mandarin orange from the plate on the table, and casually broke it open.

"This meal is on me, you can all eat as much as you want."

"Once we arrive at the port, just give me your name and the people in charge there will make all the arrangements for you on the ship."

Hera had already discussed the specifics of escorting the goods with the two of them, and now she was making final arrangements before setting off.

Knowing that both Xia Nan and Alton were experienced adventurers, they didn't need him to say anything more.

After briefly mentioning a couple more points to note, the tavern owner took his leave and returned to the bar.

He put the last spoonful of cream of mushroom soup into his mouth, squinted his eyes to savor the lingering sweetness on his tongue, raised the wine glass beside him, and drank the last bit of lemonade in one gulp.

Xia Nan looked at Alton, the halfling who had already finished eating and was curiously observing the passersby outside the window.

"So, is there anything else you need to prepare, or should we just get straight to it..."

Alden turned his head with a grin and jumped off the wooden chair with great enthusiasm.

"Let's go, let's go!"

(End of this chapter)