Chapter 343: Wealthy merchant

Regarding this long journey, for the sake of safety, Xia Nan made comprehensive and detailed preparations before officially setting out, even formulating a backup plan for how to survive in the wilderness if the most extreme situation was encountered and all equipment and supplies were lost.

Not to mention foolproof, at least he had a count in his heart, and had preparations for various possible emergencies.

Nearly fifty days of journey from the border of the kingdom to the southern coast.

The commerce of the Servia Kingdom was quite developed, and "Hegu Town" and "Shoal Bay" were both large human settlements with Adventurer Association branches stationed; how could there be no coming and going?

Perhaps the route Xia Nan planned existed in sections that were not convenient for pack horses and vehicles, but that was also specially formulated by him to save time.

Among them, the vast majority of the journey had clear and distinct route guidance.

Under multiple references, there were a large number of choices for towns and villages to stop and rest in the middle.

Xia Nan didn't need to pioneer and adventure like the predecessors on this continent; just follow the map.

Of course, after all, it was the first time to go to such a far place after crossing, no matter how detailed the preparation was, he always felt a bit bottomless in his heart.

So he thought about whether he could be a little lazy and take some shortcuts.

If there was a caravan that could take him along the way, it would be great.

This way, not only could they take care of each other on the road, but with experienced people leading, it would be more convenient to handle various things.

Unlike those bottom-level adventurers who had to entangle for half a day for a few Goblins, as a "veteran" who had already obtained a professional level, if Xia Nan didn't ask for gold coin rewards, just hitching a ride and helping the accompanying caravan solve some troubles on the road along the way,

He was actually quite popular in the station market.

After all, which caravan person in charge would look down on such a professional who was quite famous in town and willing to act as a temporary guard without remuneration?

The only thing to worry about was whether the other party's purpose was not just hitching a ride, but harboring other thoughts.

And this only influencing factor, after Xia Nan met two adventurers yesterday in the tavern who had some interactions and were also preparing for a long journey, and whose destination was even in a small town on his planned route, also ceased to exist.

"All prepared?"

Seeing the black-haired youth in front of the road from afar.

The capable woman with dark golden braids behind her head, accompanied by the Dwarf beside her, took the initiative to step forward and greet him.

Xia Nan carried his backpack, nodded while walking closer, and swept his gaze over the two figures in front.

——Oath-Keeping Black Wood Squad:

Captain "Margaret," lv4 【Swordsman】, combat style inclined toward offense and explosion, a veteran professional with many years of adventure experience, a calm and steady human woman;

"Solting," lv4 【Shield Warrior】, was the front row in the squad, responsible for attracting enemy attacks to create output space for teammates, also experienced, a Dwarf whose appearance, dressing, and character style all completely conformed to racial stereotypes.

Xia Nan's first interaction with the Oath-Keeping Black Wood Squad was the 【Iron Stomach Flail】 that had already been mailed to the Dwarf's distant nephew.

At that time, it was the other party who bought this weapon from his hands, allowing his bank deposit, which was close to drying up because of forging the 【Ember Meteor】 straight sword, to recover slightly.

Later, in a Goblin extermination mission that needed to go deep into the depths of the Mist Forest, he accidentally met their squad and cooperated to repel the Infernal Devil that occupied Abi's body.

It was precisely in that battle that he completely introduced 【Ember Echo】 and obtained the ability to open the second stage.

And the Oath-Keeping Black Wood Squad also lost two teammates because of the Devil's super strength.

Remembering... it was a newcomer Mage, and a Rogue with a mean personality?

Xia Nan's interaction with this adventurer squad ended after completing the mission and returning to Hegu Town and signing the commission reward sharing agreement.

He originally thought there would be no opportunity for interaction later.

But what he didn't expect was that just yesterday, in the White Tit Tavern, Xia Nan accidentally ran into the two.

In casual chat, he learned that after experiencing the last painful loss, the Oath-Keeping Black Wood Squad had no progress in recruiting teammates, and with two fewer teammates, the overall strength was far inferior to before.

But life had to go on; they couldn't just be depressed because of a little setback, so they accepted a relatively low-difficulty escort mission in the form of a two-person squad.

Xia Nan didn't think much about it originally.

Until he learned the destination of the escort caravan from the two, and found that it happened to be on his planned route.

So, for Xia Nan who was pondering whether he could hitch a ride... the subsequent development was a matter of course.

With the recommendation and guarantee of these two veteran professionals, for the caravan, the last bit of possible concern also disappeared.

In the capacity of a temporary guard, Xia Nan became a member of the caravan.

Compared to Margaret, who was relatively calm and only shook hands with him, the Dwarf Solting was exceptionally enthusiastic about Xia Nan's joining.

The copper rings hanging on the braids swayed and swung because of the walking steps, colliding with the surface of the light plate armor on his chest, making a crisp sound.

The Dwarf, who was no more than five feet tall, stretched his two muscular arms and laughed, giving Xia Nan a fierce hug.

Although the height difference between the two made Xia Nan feel a bit impolite if he reached out and could only touch the other's head, so he patted the Dwarf's shoulder as a return, appearing a bit awkward.

But he also felt Solting's heartfelt welcome.

It was a fact that he saved the two from the Infernal flames of the Devil and saved the Oath-Keeping Black Wood Squad.

Although he later also shared the mission reward of the other party, for this Dwarf with a frank and straightforward personality, Xia Nan had undoubtedly become a friend worthy of trust, and he clearly knew his strength.

Even if it was only a temporary teammate for ten or twenty days, it was enough to make Solting feel excited.

And Margaret, who was standing slightly behind, although she didn't express anything in words or actions, the face that was visibly relaxed after seeing Xia Nan's figure also showed the ups and downs in her heart.

Speaking of which, it was also interesting.

Remembering that when they parted at the Association lobby, Xia Nan, who heard the other party say a polite remark of "hope there will be cooperation opportunities in the future," associated it with the survival rate of his teammates since crossing, and joked in his heart, thinking for their sake, it would be best not to have this opportunity in the future.

He didn't expect that in less than a month, there would really be a "cooperation opportunity."

However, considering that this was just an ordinary escort mission, there shouldn't be too much risk.

Xia Nan arrived at the station almost at the time point; when he put his personal luggage on the carriage, the caravan was already ready to set off, and the team members were communicating for the last time.

He swept his gaze forward, carefully observing the details of every part of the caravan.

First, the most eye-catching was naturally the large four-wheeled box-type carriage protected in the middle of the caravan, which seemed to have been specially customized and equipped with reinforced spring suspension and wide oak wheel hubs. ===== CHAPTER 344 =====