Chapter 37 - Truck Graveyard

This side effect had become a signature of Anna’s potion making.But in the vast wilderness with neither village ahead nor shop behind, to have ample Healing Potions at hand was already an immense blessing—who could ask for more?

Those who drank Anna’s Healing Potions often let out a roar before their eyes turned red and they threw themselves into battle.

Those who were in the know understood that the users were fighting to alleviate the uncomfortable sensations in their bodies.

To those unaware, it appeared as though the person had entered a Berserk State, leaving many monsters stunned and scared, some even turning tail and running.

This incident became a source of amusement among the caravan, where the familiar guards teased Anna about it while simultaneously purchasing even more Healing Potions from her.

The kind-hearted Anna constantly apologized and actively offered them discounts or gave away extra bottles of Healing Potions.

Only halfway through the journey, Anna had already earned herself an old wagon and a variety of goods and oddities piled inside it, becoming one of the caravan’s business owners—much to Gaven’s surprise.

You’d think a Maiden Priestess would be too innocent for business, with her constant discounts and giveaways, and under such management, even a mountain of gold at home would soon be squandered.

Yet here she was, a legitimate business owner with a wagon full of goods; something he and Vick hadn’t achieved in their half journey across Felen.

“A big deal, Mr.

Gaven, Mr.

Gaven, I’ve found…

I’ve found a big deal,” Anna yelled while running, pulling Gaven out of his reverie.

Anna’s half of her little head poked in from behind the wagon curtain, her round cheeks flushed, and the mischievous golden locks on her forehead had broken free, quivering impishly, while her large eyes gleamed with excitement.

The Maiden Priestess had been led astray by those cunning merchants, getting hooked on business, and wherever she went, business was on her mind.

“What big deal?” Considering the Maiden Priestess’s odd luck, Gaven patiently prepared to hear which new business venture she was contemplating.

“Hehe…” The Maiden Priestess began to chuckle foolishly before she had even begun explaining, “This is something I discovered on my own.”

“Alright, what have you discovered?” Gaven asked, leading her on, lest the excited silly girl start rambling from head to toe.

“Wagons…

Old wagons…

The Lizardfolk Tribe we’re trading with, they’ve got a bunch of old wagons piled up…

I asked around, and the price is really cheap…

we could afford to buy all of them…

then Mr.

Goblin and I can use the Mending spell to fix them up, and it won’t be long before we have our own convoy!” Anna was a quick learner.

When the old wagon came into their possession, it was nearly undriveable, but thanks to Anna and Vick’s three Mending spells, they got it moving again, and with five more Mending spells, they restored it to ninety percent of its original state.

The business owner who sold them the wagon did so because fixing it was too costly, and since the route had much use for Gaven and the others, he decided to curry a favor and virtually gave it away to Anna in a half-sale, half-gift deal.

You don’t really think it was the Maiden Priestess’s innocence and kindness that touched those black-hearted merchants, making them feel too guilty to trick her, do you?

That Anna hadn’t been sold off by now was all predicated on the display of formidable martial power, especially that of the Goblin Sorcerer Vick, a spellcaster who mastered the third-circle Fireball Technique—quite a deterrent.

Moreover, Vick was completely obedient to Gaven, and though it wasn’t slavery, his behavior in all respects very much resembled it, causing those streetwise types to be puzzled by Gaven’s true capabilities, thinking he was feigning weakness to catch the unwary off guard.

They would not dare provoke him lightly, not to mention actively test his limits.

“What do we need so many wagons for?” This time it was Gaven who couldn’t keep up with Anna’s train of thought.

“To sell for money, of course.

A well-crafted wagon is worth at least three hundred Gold Coins, and buying them from the Lizardfolk costs less than three Gold Coins each—that’s a hundred-fold profit!” Anna’s calculations clacked away in her mind.

“The accounts are in order, but have you considered the transportation issues?

Not to mention how long it would take to repair them, just the cost of transporting them once they’re fixed—is that something you’ve thought about?

Our journey will get increasingly difficult, especially once we enter the Rocklands.

Most of our path will involve rugged mountain roads where a single horse will struggle to carry one cart.

We’re just three people with three horses; at most, we can manage one more cart.”

“Uncle Bede and his lot are the types that could squeeze oil from bones.

If there were truly a business with a hundredfold profits, they would’ve snapped it up and left nothing for you to find.”

“If I’m not mistaken, this may well be known as the graveyard of carts on this trade route.

Whether they are heading east or west, when they reach this place, the wear and tear on the carts is severe.

Some must be abandoned, or traders look for spare parts here to make do with repairs before setting out again.”

After several buckets of cold water from Gaven, Anna, who had been so excited thinking she had found a great treasure, was suddenly like an eggplant hit by frost.

“What are you staring at?” Gaven called to Anna, waving her over.

“What are we going to do?” Anna asked listlessly.

“Have a look at your ‘treasure’,” Gaven said with a smile.

“Mr.

Gaven is making fun of me again.” Anna pouted so much she could have hung a soy sauce bottle from her lip.

“I’m the very soul of propriety.

When have I ever made fun of you?” Gaven explained with a smile, “This is indeed a treasure.

After all, the value of the carts is clear for all to see, it’s just that with our current capabilities, we can’t unearth this treasure.

That doesn’t mean we won’t be able to in the future.

For now, let’s go assess it.”

“You’re the one who said it’s worthless, and now you’re also the one saying it’s valuable.

You always seem to have it both ways,” Anna muttered under her breath, kicking at clods of dirt with great force.

“What did you say?” Gaven pretended not to have heard her complaint.

“Nothing,” Anna drawled, “I said that Mr.

Gaven is smart, thinking of everything so thoroughly.

Let’s go, it’s not far ahead.”

Anna led Gaven onward, stepping in deep and shallow spots, trying to avoid the puddles as much as possible, not knowing whether they might be a marshy quagmire.

They had now entered the outskirts of Tun Marsh.

This was their second day staying here, and they would remain for at least three more days.

The village called Green Marsh, populated by Lizardfolk that were starting to show traces of a small town, appeared to be more civilized, at least more so than most of their kind.

Their first reaction upon seeing humans was not to raise weapons but to communicate through language.

When they saw the merchant caravan, their lizard faces would pile up with smiles much like those of the wily traders.

The news of a large caravan stopping here had spread through Tun Marsh since yesterday.

Starting from this morning, merchants from various swamp species, and even individuals with goods, came to trade.

These swamp species were not limited to Lizardfolk; there were Mad Frogmen, Ghost Witches, Gnolls, Goblins, Crocodile Men, and others.

As long as they belong to a Sage Race, they will have trading needs.

Merchants who roam the monster-infested forests always prepare for two outcomes.

If the monsters come wielding swords with malicious intent, they will meet them with swords drawn.

If they come with good intentions and goods to trade, they will welcome them with smiles and their own merchandise. Thɪs chapter is updated by NovᴇlFɪre.nᴇt

After all, who doesn’t conduct business?

As long as there’s profit, most merchants don’t care who their trading partners are.

They also have their own rationale.

Their trade will maintain the balance of supply and demand; without demand, the aggressiveness of monsters will significantly decrease, their caravans will be safer, and so will the surrounding people.

While some might overly tout their own contributions, there is also some twisted logic to it.