Chapter 349 Wealthy Merchant

To be safe, Xia Nan had made comprehensive, meticulous preparations for this long journey before officially setting off. He even formulated a contingency plan for Wilderness Survival in the extreme event that he lost all his equipment and supplies.

He couldn't guarantee absolute perfection, but he at least knew what to expect and was prepared for all kinds of sudden emergencies.

It was a journey of nearly fifty days from the kingdom's borders to the southern coast.

Commerce in the Servia Kingdom was relatively developed. Both Rivervale Town and Barracuda Bay were large human settlements hosting branches of the Adventurers' Association; it was impossible for there to be no traffic between them.

Perhaps some sections of Xia Nan's planned route were inconvenient for packhorses and carriages, but he had chosen those paths specifically to save time.

For the vast majority of the trip, there were clear, explicit route guides.

Drawing on multiple references, he found a wealth of options for towns and villages to rest at along the way.

Xia Nan didn't need to pioneer an expedition like the ancestors of this continent; he just needed to follow the map.

Of course, since this was his first time traveling so far since his transmigration, no matter how carefully he prepared, he still felt a bit uncertain.

So he considered whether he could slack off a little and take a shortcut.

It would be great if a caravan heading the same way could give him a ride.

That way, they could not only look out for each other on the road, but having experienced people around to handle various incidents would make things much easier.

Unlike those bottom-tier adventurers who would struggle against a few goblins for ages, Xia Nan was a "veteran" who had already obtained a Class Level. If he didn't demand gold in return and simply hitched a ride while helping the caravan handle minor troubles along the way...

...he was actually quite highly sought after at the post stations.

After all, what caravan leader would turn down a renowned Class Holder in town willing to act as a temporary guard without pay?

The caravan's only concern would be whether his true goal wasn't just catching a ride, but harboring some ulterior motive.

However, that single variable ceased to exist yesterday in the tavern, when Xia Nan ran into two adventurers he knew. They were also preparing for a long journey, and their destination was a small town right on his planned route.

"Are you all set?"

Spotting the black-haired youth on the road ahead, the sharp, heroic woman with her dark-gold hair tied in a braid stepped forward to greet him, the dwarf beside her in tow.

Xia Nan, carrying his backpack, nodded in greeting as he hurried over, his gaze sweeping over the two figures before him.

The Oathkeeper Blackwood Squad:

Captain Margaret, an I4 [Swordsman]. Her combat style leaned toward offense and burst damage. She was a calm, level-headed human woman and a veteran Class Holder with years of adventuring experience.

Thordin, a v4 [Shield Warrior]. He was the squad's vanguard, responsible for drawing enemy attacks to create openings for his teammates. He was equally experienced, a dwarf who perfectly fit his racial stereotypes in both appearance and personality.

Xia Nan's initial interaction with the Oathkeeper Blackwood Squad involved the [Iron-Stomach Flail], which had already been sent to the dwarf's distant nephew. They were the ones who bought the weapon from him, slightly replenishing his bank savings that had nearly run dry from forging the [Ember Fall] straight sword.

Later, during a goblin subjugation quest that required delving into the Deep Forest of the Misty Forest, he unexpectedly ran into their squad and cooperated with them to repel the Purgatory devil that had possessed Abi's body.

It was during that very battle that he fully reached the Novice tier with [Ember Echoes], gaining the ability to unlock Stage 2.

Due to the devil's overwhelming strength, the Oathkeeper Blackwood Squad had lost two members.

He recalled it was a rookie mage and a sharp-tongued Rogue?

Xia Nan's interaction with the adventurer squad had seemingly ended right there, after they completed the quest, returned to Rivervale Town, and signed the commission reward-sharing agreement.

He had thought there wouldn't be any further opportunities to cross paths.

To his surprise, Xia Nan had accidentally bumped into the two of them yesterday at the White Chickadee Tavern.

Through their idle chat, he learned that the Oathkeeper Blackwood Squad hadn't made any progress in recruiting new members after their tragic losses. Missing two teammates, their overall strength was far from what it used to be.

But life had to go on; they couldn't just wallow in despair over a setback. Thus, operating as a two-person squad, they took on a relatively low-difficulty escort quest.

Xia Nan hadn't thought much of it at first.

That was until he heard the escort caravan's destination from them and realized it lay right on his planned route.

Consequently, for Xia Nan—who had just been pondering how to hitch a ride—the subsequent developments fell into place naturally.

With the recommendation and guarantee of these two veteran Class Holders, any lingering doubts the caravan might have had completely vanished.

Acting as a temporary guard, Xia Nan became a member of their caravan.

Compared to the relatively composed Margaret, who only shook his hand, the dwarf Thordin was exceptionally enthusiastic about Xia Nan's inclusion.

The copper rings adorning his beard braids swayed and swung with his strides, clinking crisply against the Light Plate Armor on his chest.

The dwarf, barely over five feet tall, spread his thick, corded arms and laughed boisterously, pulling Xia Nan into a fierce hug.

The height difference meant that if Xia Nan reached out, he would only end up patting the dwarf's head, which felt somewhat impolite. So he awkwardly settled for patting the dwarf's shoulder in return.

Even so, he could feel Thordin's heartfelt welcome.

It was a fact that he had saved the two of them from the devil's Purgatory flames, rescuing the Oathkeeper Blackwood Squad.

Although he had received a cut of their quest reward as a result, to this frank and straightforward dwarf, Xia Nan had undoubtedly become a trusted friend whose strength he recognized clearly.

Even if they were only temporary teammates for a dozen or twenty days, it was enough to make Thordin jump with excitement.

Standing slightly further back, Margaret didn't express much through her words or actions. However, her face, which had visibly relaxed upon seeing Xia Nan, betrayed her inner relief.

It was quite amusing, in a way.

He recalled how, when they parted ways in the Association hall, he had heard her polite remark, "I hope we have a chance to cooperate again." Thinking back to the survival rate of his teammates since his transmigration, Xia Nan had jokingly thought to himself that for their sake, it would be better if that opportunity never arose.

He never expected that less than a month later, they would actually have another "chance to cooperate."

Given that this was just an ordinary escort mission, however, there shouldn't be any major risks.

Xia Nan had arrived at the post station right on the dot. By the time he placed his luggage in a wagon, the caravan was ready to set off, and the crew members were holding their final briefing.

His gaze swept across the caravan, carefully observing all the details.

First and foremost, the most eye-catching thing was naturally the large, four-wheeled box carriage protected in the very center of the formation. It appeared custom-made, equipped with reinforced spring suspension and broad oak wheel hubs.

It was visibly larger than the surrounding wagons, painted entirely in a deep, dark green. Its side walls featured an inconspicuous yet exquisitely detailed golden line drawing of a wheat stalk—symbolizing that this caravan belonged to the Golden Wheat Merchant Guild and operated under its protection.

Every metal component on the carriage, including the door handles, hinges, and frames, was crafted from rust-resistant brass and polished to a mirror shine. Even the horses pulling this carriage appeared much sturdier, their coats sleek and glossy.

Without a doubt, this carriage belonged to the owner of the caravan—a member of the Golden Wheat Merchant Guild, the wealthy merchant Horac.

Xia Nan didn't know why someone with Horac's status and wealth would personally participate in transporting goods.

Yet clearly, his presence lent an air of opulent extravagance to the entire caravan.

All the cargo wagons were top-tier goods far exceeding the market average. Uniform in size to facilitate easy loading and arrangement, they were covered with taut, heavy waterproof canvas. The cargo inside was securely strapped down with ropes and cushioned with anti-collision padding, making the whole setup sturdy and durable.

Their personnel deployment was streamlined and professional:

The caravan supervisor was a stern, highly experienced, and gaunt middle-aged man. Rumor had it he was Horac's capable assistant, in charge of coordinating the caravan's march, rest breaks, and camp setups.

The private coachman was exceptionally skilled. The guards wore uniformly colored, durable studded leather armor, armed with standard-issue Fine machetes and short crossbows. They maintained strict discipline and had sharp gazes, looking as though they all came from a military background.

Furthermore, they had brought along several servants responsible for chores, tending to the daily needs of everyone in the caravan.

By contrast, Xia Nan, Margaret, and Thordin—wearing wildly different "strange outfits" and giving off a relaxed, easygoing vibe—felt completely out of place.

In reality, of course, the exact opposite was true.

As veteran Class Holders, they were the caravan's primary countermeasure against particular troubles, placing their status second only to Horac and his assistant.

Whenever they crossed paths, whether it was the coachman, the servants, or those guards with suspected military backgrounds, they all treated the adventurers with immense respect, not daring to slight them in the least.

The moment Xia Nan arrived at the post station, the caravan owner, Horac, having learned of his arrival from the servants, proactively pushed open the door of his luxurious carriage and came over to greet him.

"Ah!"

Before he even got close, a sincere and enthusiastic exclamation drifted through the air.

"You must be the renowned Mr. Xia Nan, the 'Greysword' of our town, yes?"

Coming into view was a slightly chubby, round, and affluent-looking middle-aged man.

He was around forty or fifty years old, with a stocky build, yet he kept his back perfectly straight. He exuded the plumpness of someone well-fed, carefree, and accustomed to a pampered lifestyle.

A warm, deeply approachable, and sincere smile—unique to a seasoned merchant—hung on his affable, rosy, round face.

He wore a velvet robe dyed the same deep green as his carriage. It seemed tailor-made, perfectly cut to flatter his figure without looking baggy or tight. Golden wheat patterns were embroidered along the collar, cuffs, and front lapel, once again highlighting his identity as a member of the Golden Wheat Merchant Guild.

This Horac seemed completely unconcerned that others might covet his wealth, flaunting his fortune in a manner bordering on ostentatious.

All five fingers on his left hand gleamed with the luster of wealth.

A deep red chalcedony ring engraved with a family crest set in gold, a guild signet featuring a clear blue gemstone, a wide-band gold ring carved with intricate patterns, a translucent band carved entirely from amethyst...

On his right wrist, he wore two bracelets woven from gold thread and strung with beautiful small stones of various materials. Xia Nan had seen many similar sparkling stones on the shelves of the Fey Wind general store, and they were priced at double-digit gold coins at the very least.

'He really has a lot of nerve...'

Xia Nan clicked his tongue inwardly, marveling at the man's sheer audacity.

To flaunt his wealth so openly in a place like Rivervale Town, swarming with adventurers and a motley mix of fish and dragons—was he truly unafraid of trouble knocking on his door?

From what he had observed, just in the short walk from the carriage to where he stood, Horac had already been swept by no fewer than five malicious glares.

It was only because of the distinctive wheat stalk crest on the carriage, the caravan guards, and the presence of his own squad that those onlookers restricted themselves to merely glaring, not daring to step closer.

"I heard earlier from the two adventurers of the Oathkeeper Blackwood Squad that a highly capable Class Holder was willing to travel with us."

"I never expected you to be so young upon finally meeting you today."

"This is simply wonderful!"

Despite his nouveau-riche attire, Horac himself appeared incredibly amiable, showing none of the haughtiness of an employer.

His emotional intelligence was remarkably high.

In just a few words, he displayed his respect for Margaret and Thordin while smoothly complimenting Xia Nan, never betraying the slightest doubt about his youthful appearance.

"This is our first time meeting, and I came rather unprepared..." Horac's face beamed with an enthusiastic smile, much like a kindly elder.

He casually unhooked a Silver-Chained Pocket Watch—its casing inlaid with pearl decorations—from his waist and pressed it into Xia Nan's hand.

"Just a small token of my appreciation. Please take good care of us on the road, Mr. Xia Nan."

'Bro, are you kidding me...'

Out of the corner of his eye, Xia Nan caught the lustrous gleam of the pearls, feeling the warm, smooth texture of the metal watch casing against his palm.

For a moment, he almost lost his composure.

Although his own income was quite high—only occasionally falling short on funds because of equipment forging since his transmigration—and he rarely ever worried about food or lodging, to actually encounter an eccentric, wealthy merchant who shoved an obviously expensive Pocket Watch into his hands as a greeting gift on their very first meeting... it inevitably stirred up his emotions.

Fortunately, thanks to his immense control over every muscle in his body, he maintained a polite and calm expression in the face of Horac's gift, at least to outside observers.

Thoughts raced through his mind in a split second.

He had no prior relationship with Horac. While the man's sudden generosity might just be his personality, it still inevitably raised a few suspicions in Xia Nan's heart.