Trade Post

The blood slaves and wolf riders rode on direwolves, while Serea mounted the Carrion Beast she had just transformed. After sending Little Boo to scout ahead, everyone made their way safely to the outskirts of the trade post.

By now, it was already afternoon. Using the cover of the jungle, they observed from a distance and saw that the camp named ‘Xiyun Trade Post’ was situated on an open space not far from the edge of the jungle. The entire trade post was constructed from stone, with an area comparable to their own camp. Moreover, it was still being expanded, promising to become even larger in the future.

“Having money really is nice,”

Serea remarked with a sigh.

“This was originally the camp of the Fox Clan’s ‘Cangyue’ clan, just slightly renovated,”

Aruka replied.

“I do know that, but since the Cangyue Clan sold the camp, what happened to their tribespeople?”

“They still live there.”

“Huh?”

Serea was utterly bewildered.

“Non-humans living in a human trade post?” she asked.

“Yes. Likely because of hardship—they are a weak group. They get ostracized in the jungle, but can’t live in human kingdoms. In this situation, the Xiyun Merchant Guild’s support is their only hope for survival.”

“I see.”

But supporting the Fox Clan was only one reason. Avril mostly wanted to use peaceful coexistence with them to win over more non-humans…

Now understanding this, Serea looked toward the camp from a distance. Outside the camp, adventurers and mercenaries were lined up for inspection before entering. Nestled close to the Corrupted Jungle, this place offered trade, lodging, and meals—it was truly a great place to stop and rest.

This was also one of Avril’s strategies. To prevent Maregof from making trouble at the trade post, she attracted a large number of human adventurers and mercenaries to reside there. That way, if Maregof wanted to launch a sneak attack, he would have to think twice—whether he could win was one thing, but whether he could withstand human retaliation after attacking humans was another.

Avril could use the ‘death by another’s hand’ tactic Maregof was so proud of, and being human herself, she wielded it even more skillfully than him.

“Looks like I’ve found myself a reliable ally,”

Serea said.

“Yeah, I trust the Madam. She will bring prosperity to the jungle here.”

“Heh, just now you kept saying ‘her, her, her,’ but now it’s ‘Madam’?”

“Uh…”

Caught off guard by the question, Aruka scratched his head sheepishly.

“All right, I won’t tease you anymore. Let’s head in.”

“Mm, let’s go.”

With that, they proceeded on foot, and to avoid unnecessary trouble, Serea put on a mask and instructed Chips and Little Boo to wait outside the jungle.

They headed straight for the camp. Upon hearing there was a tavern inside, the blood slaves became increasingly excited. Besides, there was someone else as well—

“By the way, leklis, why are you coming along? Done flattening the ground?”

“I just came over to buy some things. Isn’t Park there for the flattening?”

“Shopping? Why not just ask us to get things for you? Why come yourself?”

“Well… the stuff I want is a bit special, so… hehe.”

“All right, but once we’re inside, remember not to draw too much attention.”

“Of course,”

Leklis assured her.

After giving some final reminders, they arrived at the main gate of the trade post.

“Guests, please stop. I need to check your identities,” a person in Xiyun Merchant Guild’s guard uniform came over. On closer look…

He had a pair of ears on his head and a white tail behind him.

A Fox Clan member!

There were twelve guards at the gate, eight of them from the Cangyue Fox Clan.

Hiring non-humans as guards? That was bold…

As the guard came over for inspection, Serea produced a badge that Avril had given her.

“Will this do?” she asked, handing over the badge. The Fox Clan guard inspected it and then smiled.

“Of course,” he replied.

He waved to the guards behind him, who immediately stepped aside to clear the way.

“Let’s go,”

Serea said, and they confidently walked in.

Seeing this, the queued up mercenaries and adventurers were dumbfounded. Why would a human leading a band of non-humans be treated with such respect by the Xiyun Merchant Guild, one of the Holy Dragon Empire’s three major merchant guilds?

“What are you looking at? Keep with the inspection!”

“Oh, oh, oh…”

…

Once inside, they took in the scene of the camp. It wasn’t as bustling as a human town, but though small, it had everything one could need. All the basic facilities were present. Though most were still closed, the tavern and shops were already open for business.

The sight of the tavern made the blood slaves’ eyes light up.

“You all go join up with Leon and the others at the tavern,”

Serea instructed, pointing at the building. The blood slaves responded at once.

“Yes, Your Majesty!” x10

Leon, together with the White Blade Mercenary Group, had also settled in this trade post. With Leon there, Serea wasn’t worried about the blood slaves causing trouble.

“Leklis, if you want to buy something, go ahead. Meet at the tavern in half an hour.”

“All right!”

Leklis replied excitedly and hurried off.

“Let’s go find Miss Avril first then,”

Serea suggested.

“Okay”,

Aruka agreed. The two of them led the rest of the werewolves towards a three-story building in the trade sector—the Xiyun Merchant Guild’s branch at the trade post.

Along the way, they encountered many humans. Seeing werewolves walking through the camp, every single human stopped and stared.

Although the trade post was open to both non-humans and humans, the sight of outsiders like them so soon after the post’s establishment was definitely novel.

Ignoring the curious gazes, Serea and the others arrived at the merchant guild branch. But as soon as she got to the front door, Serea immediately sensed a ‘serious’ atmosphere.

The building and its courtyard were filled with guards, but not merchant guild guards—these were noble retainers, all around level 17 bronze elites.

“Halt! Who are you? What’s your business here?” a guard blocked their way.

Faced with the question, Aruka frowned. How could these people not know him?

Then, spotting the ‘Qili Family’ crest on the man’s chest, he realized Avril must have called him over for some particular reason this time.

Wanting to get to the bottom of it, Aruka answered directly, “My name is Aruka. I’m here to see Avril. If you report my name to her, she’ll understand.”

The guard’s eyes widened in surprise at the answer. “You’re Aruka?”

“Yes.”

Receiving confirmation, the guard stepped aside. “Please come in. My mistress has been waiting a long time.”

With that, Aruka prepared to enter, but the guards stopped the others.

“He goes in alone. Not you.”

This move made the rest of the group a little unhappy. When Aruka tried to speak up for them, Serea quickly said, “It’s fine, Aruka. You go ahead.”

“Well… All right. I’ll inform Madam, and have her let you in as soon as possible.”

With that, Aruka went inside the building, while Serea waited outside with the werewolves.

After several minutes, Aruka still hadn’t returned. Though Serea was puzzled, there was nothing she could do except wait. Instead of idling here, it would be better to go see Leon and the others and get news about Sedis City and this place. The tavern was right next door anyway.

“I’ll go sit in the tavern. If Aruka comes out, call me over, all right?”

“Yes, queen Serea,” the werewolf replied.

Serea then turned and walked toward the tavern.

(To be continued…)

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