Chapter 354 Sheep Horn Town and Sugar Tangerines

Long journeys were always accompanied by dullness and boredom.

This was especially true when the caravan had mapped out a clear, detailed, and completely safe route in advance.

Perhaps in the beginning, Xia Nan had been excited and in high spirits, eager to experience the local customs of another world.

But as the travel time stretched on and the scenery outside the carriage window reduced to an unchanging blur of wilderness, hills, and shrubland, all that enthusiasm was ground away by the bumps and the clatter of wheels.

From Rivervale Town to Sheep Horn Town, from the southeastern border of Cloudclimb Province to the northern frontier of Upstream Coast Province.

The fifteen-day journey was so smooth it bordered on tedious.

They encountered no unexpected incidents, and even the bandit attacks they had prepared for never materialized.

For Xia Nan, the only things he looked forward to during the final days of the trip—aside from a good meal when they made camp—were the scattered green-skinned goblins that ambushed the merchant group.

Only amidst the shrill wails of the goblins, bathing in blood and savoring the satisfying sensation of their scrawny bodies tearing apart in his hands, could he find a long-lost sense of peace and release.

However, these green-skinned attackers were few, and his share of the kills in battle was quite limited. It did not quench his thirst.

Since he was fulfilling his duties as a temporary guard, he could not simply abandon the caravan to go searching for a Goblin Lair on his own.

It was like giving a small cup of water to a lost traveler in the desert. They wouldn't die of dehydration, but drinking it was far from satisfying; it only made them thirstier.

Xia Nan desperately wanted a chance to move freely.

Fortunately, the fifteen-day journey was nearing its end, and the merchant caravan was about to reach its destination.

After a brief rest in Sheep Horn Town, he would part ways with the others.

If nothing unexpected happened, he would travel alone for the thirty-odd-day journey from the town to the Southern Archipelagos.

When that time came, whatever he wanted to do on the road—he wouldn't have so many reservations.

Upstream Coast Province was located in the southern part of the continent, bordering the sea. Even though Xia Nan was still far from the ocean, the sharp Perception granted by his outstanding physical constitution allowed him to clearly sense the changes in his surroundings.

The humidity had slightly increased, and rainfall had grown more frequent, falling in fine, drawn-out drizzles. Oak and maple trees were still common in the forests, but moisture-tolerant plants like cedars and weeping willows appeared much more often.

Consequently, in the fields of the remote villages they occasionally passed, aquatic crops akin to rice grew alongside the swaying golden wheat.

Pulling his gaze back from a farmer toiling in the fields outside the window, Xia Nan nodded to a handyman who had specifically come over to remind him that the caravan was about to arrive. He checked his gear and luggage one last time to ensure nothing was left behind, then closed his eyes to rest.

Meanwhile, the silver coin he was playing with never stopped moving. As if submerged in water, the coin flipped between his fingertips in a sluggish yet weightless manner. He was making the most of the travel time to train his proficiency with [Gravity Control].

When the caravan finally stopped at the posting station in Sheep Horn Town, it was past noon, the hottest time of the day.

Fortunately, summer was at its tail end. The approaching Month of Wither, Eli, was the season of harvest, and the weather had cooled down a bit. Even fully armed and wearing his armor padding, it wouldn't be as unbearable as the previous two months.

"I've already had someone book the inn for everyone in advance. They're all top-tier rooms, three meals included. Any extra expenses for drinks can be put on my tab."

"You all just rest easy. Leave the miscellaneous chores to me!"

Horac was still wearing his dark green silk robe that looked expensive at a glance. He didn't bother to hide the dazzling brilliance around his neck and fingers, despite the various stares coming from their surroundings.

After spending more than ten days together, Xia Nan had gained a deeper understanding of the generous, wealthy merchant's personality.

He knew that the man's flashy attire might be partly to show off his wealth and power, but it mostly stemmed from personal taste.

At least when dealing with their group and the other personnel in the caravan, he didn't display the condescending attitude expected of someone so ostentatiously dressed. Even when speaking to the handymen, he always smiled and spoke in an even tone.

He was still just as generous and meticulous, booking their accommodations without changing his tune just because they had reached their destination. He even extended the exact same treatment to Xia Nan, who was about to leave the caravan and had explicitly refused to help with the investigation.

Speaking of which, based on Xia Nan's observations over the past few days, the two from the Blackwood Squad seemed to have discussed the matter and were subtly showing signs of accepting the man's temporary quest.

It was perfectly normal.

After all, the reward Horac was offering was far too generous, vastly exceeding what a standard investigation quest of this level should pay.

Under the circumstances, for the Blackwood Squad—who had just suffered casualties, a massive drop in overall combat power, and a sharp decline in income—there was no reason not to accept if the conditions in town were right.

Even Xia Nan's own thoughts had changed significantly compared to the previous week.

Of course, it wasn't because of the bounty Horac was offering.

What truly made him hesitate was the Pastel Gemstone the man had pulled out during dinner that one time.

Compared to Horac's usual extravagance, his behavior regarding that fingernail-sized stone bordered on stingy.

In the full fifteen days from Rivervale Town to Sheep Horn Town, he had only shown that Pastel Gemstone to the group once.

It was a stark contrast to how he would scramble to gift them his expensive accessories the moment they showed the slightest interest.

There was no doubt about it; for the same person to show such a massive discrepancy in attitude toward two similar items was highly unusual.

And that fleeting glimpse that night had made Xia Nan vaguely aware of what made the Pastel Gemstone so special compared to other common minerals.

Coupled with what Horac had mentioned while chatting with them—"a special variety never before seen on the continent," and "suddenly appearing in the small town"—

For Xia Nan, who had already experienced many similar incidents, it was hard not to overthink things.

Besides, he had originally planned to rest in Sheep Horn Town for a few days anyway, leaving only after he was fully rested and resupplied.

Now, he could just use this time to gather information and see what exactly was going on in the town.

And if it really was as he suspected—delaying his journey in Sheep Horn Town for a few days wasn't unacceptable.

The architectural style in Sheep Horn Town wasn't all that different from Rivervale Town.

They were both built from common inland wood and stone, leaning toward a simple style that prioritized practicality.

After all, it was only a fifteen-day journey. With no unique geographical barriers in between, the overall climate and terrain were largely similar; there was no way it would feature any exotic alien architecture.

The same went for the town's residents.

Weather-beaten carriage drivers, porters dressed in short linen jackets, clean and wealthy-looking merchants—

Perhaps the level of prosperity was much lower than that of Rivervale Town, but the people coming and going on the streets showed no obvious differences in their overall appearance or habits.

To some extent, even an experienced traveler would have a hard time distinguishing this place from any other ordinary town around Rivervale Town.

The accommodation Horac had booked for the group was an inn called the Woolen Rusty Nail.

Its exterior was rather plain—a three-story wood-and-stone building that looked like it had been around for a while.

A weather-beaten wooden sign hung beneath the porch, creaking as it swayed in the wind. The image on the sign depicted a rusted iron nail driven into a small tuft of wool.

Pushing open the heavy wooden door, the scene inside the inn was much livelier.

The first thing to hit them was a warm wave of mixed scents: toasted bread, stewed meat, and ale. The main hall was quite spacious and brightly lit. Several square wooden tables were scattered across the room, most of them occupied by patrons. Thick oak beams supported the somewhat blackened ceiling above, and a few faded landscape paintings hung on the rough wooden walls nearby.

Perhaps because it was mid-afternoon, the inn's hall wasn't overly rowdy. The patrons conversed with one another, forming a low background hum.

The shelves behind the bar were lined with a dazzling array of glass bottles and metal tankards of various sizes, all wiped spotless. The variety of drinks didn't look particularly large, but they were neatly arranged. A small basket rested on the counter, filled with orange-red fruits.

The owner of the Woolen Rusty Nail, a slightly plump, ruddy-faced middle-aged man, stood behind the bar, wiping a glass with a white cloth.

Seeing the group walk into the hall, he immediately set down the glass and greeted them with great enthusiasm, "Welcome to the Woolen Rusty Nail! Are you folks looking for a room or a meal?"

Since they had already sent someone ahead to book the rooms, the caravan's steward—the stern-faced middle-aged man—stepped forward to handle the arrangements.

After waiting for a few minutes, they watched him fill out the registry. When he returned, he had a large ring of keys in his hand.

He handed a few of the keys—which were noticeably higher in quality—to Xia Nan and the others. With a quick greeting, he hurriedly left the inn alongside Horac.

The wealthy merchant from Nym seemed unable to suppress his excitement any longer. He had his subordinates handle his luggage, and the moment he arrived in Sheep Horn Town, he immediately set out to investigate the gem's origins.

Xia Nan, on the other hand, was in no rush to get involved. He simply stood to the side and watched silently.

He headed up to his room on the inn's third floor alone. Only after carefully inspecting it and unpacking his luggage did he slowly make his way back downstairs.

He had originally wanted to discuss his thoughts with Margaret and Thordin.

But looking around, he didn't see either of them in the hall; they were clearly still unpacking in their respective rooms.

So he sat down at the bar and asked the innkeeper for a glass of lemonade.

"Good afternoon, my friend!"

The innkeeper's voice was booming, his round face full of smiles as he acted exceptionally welcoming.

"This glass is on me. Welcome to Sheep Horn Town."

There was naturally no need to overthink it; Xia Nan's fully armed adventurer attire, along with the caravan he had arrived with, clearly marked him as an outsider passing through town.

Smiling and nodding, he took the lemonade the man handed him. He lowered his head and took a sip, savoring the slight tartness on his tongue, before casually remarking, "Boss, business is pretty good here. It's almost full even at this hour."

"Ah, it's just hard-earned pennies. We definitely can't compare to you folks," the innkeeper said, smiling and waving his hand dismissively. He then grabbed a few round tangerines from the basket on the side of the counter and handed them to Xia Nan.

"Sugar Tangerines. They're a specialty of our Sheep Horn Town, sweet as can be. Have a taste."

Xia Nan had always been quite passionate about food.

Although he currently had an ulterior motive, he couldn't possibly refuse since the man had offered so kindly.

He thanked the man and took the tangerines.

The Sugar Tangerines were just the right size, slightly larger than a golf ball. They were perfectly round yet slightly flattened, and their skins were an incredibly pleasing, vibrant orange-red—like a ripe persimmon set against autumn maple leaves.

Just one look was enough to give someone the appetizing impression that they were "definitely very sweet."

He gently pinched the skin, and a crisp citrus scent burst forth. Peeling it open, there was very little of the thick white pith, revealing the plump, crystal-clear flesh inside.

He broke off a small wedge and popped it into his mouth. The moment his teeth pierced the membrane, a surge of juice exploded in his mouth. The delicate flesh practically melted into the sweet, pure juice, delivering an incredibly cool and refreshing taste.

With just a light press of his tongue, the sweet, citrus-infused juice slid down his throat.

'No wonder they're called a specialty. The taste and texture of these little tangerines are indeed quite good.'

Xia Nan enjoyed the fruit as he pondered.

'Before I set out, I can stash a few bags in my backpack to satisfy my cravings on the road.'

'I don't have to worry about them spoiling either. After all, word is that this so-called "specialty" Sugar Tangerine isn't actually that rare across the entire Upstream Coast Province. Once I finish them, I should be able to buy more in any village along the way.'

As Xia Nan peeled the tangerine, he casually made small talk with the innkeeper in front of him.

They were mostly trivial topics, ranging from "Is the work hard?" to "How many people are in your family?" and "What are your future plans and prospects?"

Although he had 6 points in his Charm attribute, eloquence... was definitely not his strong suit.

Because of this, it felt a bit stiff when Xia Nan transitioned the conversation from "strange things happening in Sheep Horn Town recently" to the "drunken merchant's ramblings about a special mineral" that he had heard from Horac earlier.

The innkeeper noticed his intentions almost instantly.

Xia Nan could clearly see that when he brought the matter up, the man's originally smiling face suddenly stiffened. A subconscious wave of resistance and disgust welled up deep in his eyes, but before those negative emotions could spread, he forcefully suppressed them.

Maintaining a smile that was noticeably colder and more guarded—a smile that didn't reach his eyes—he feigned politeness as he replied, "You shouldn't believe the words of a drunkard."

"Esteemed guest, our town... has never had anything like that happen."