Chapter 20

An hour later, the coachman successfully bought twenty carriages, and a luxurious large carriage pulled by a Tudu Beast, estimated to have a combat aura of the first level of the second stage, for 120 gold coins. He bought it from a viscount who was leaving the capital to return to his territory.

"Respected Miss Mage, the viscount removed the family emblem from the carriage. You just need to change the color of the carriage, and it will be very comfortable to use," the coachman clapped his hands and smiled at Nalasha.

Nalasha nodded with wide eyes: "Okay, okay, why did he sell the carriage?"

"In response to Miss Mage, Viscount Owen's territory is in the Kanbi Province, over 2,600 kilometers away from the capital. It's a grassland that produces highland wool, as well as sheepskin and cheese. I must say, the cheese there is really delicious. It would be even better if the price were cheaper."

The coachman pointed in the direction of Kanbi Province, which was to the north of the capital.

Nalasha smacked her lips: "Mm-hmm! Salad sauce doesn't keep well, so you can also use melted cheese to make a delicious salad. It's a good thing in the desert, but unfortunately, few adventurers bring cheese because the desert is hot."

"Desert? Melted cheese for salad?" The coachman was puzzled. He had never heard of such a practice.

Moreover, from what the Miss Mage said, they must have come from the desert. What were they doing in the desert?

"Yes, the desert, a place full of sand, with occasional oases. Please continue," Nalasha explained what a desert was.

The coachman: "..."

"Alright, Miss Mage, every year at this time, Viscount Owen brings goods from his territory to the capital to sell. But this year, just three months ago, when the wheat fields were golden, the Empire's Houyindu Duchy successfully opened a waterway to the Empire, the Houyindu River, which was named after the duchy. The dangerous reef area has been made safe by the construction of a dam, no longer threatening large ships."

"Then, through the Li'anya River that connects the Empire and the Gels Duchy, they transported a large amount of wool, leather, and cheese from the Houyindu Duchy, when the wheat fields were golden again."

The coachman pointed to the west as he spoke.

This time, no further explanation was needed. Everyone understood that Viscount Owen arrived late, and the wool and other goods from his territory were no longer valuable.

"Poor Viscount Owen, he was like someone happily selling water in the desert, only to suddenly find himself standing next to an oasis," Nalasha frowned, feeling sorry for him.

"Selling water in the desert?" The coachman asked in surprise. What kind of profession was that?

"Yep!" Nalasha nodded: "Ten pounds of clear water can be sold for five copper coins."

The coachman's eyes widened: "Robbery, it's clearly robbery. Is there anything more profitable under the sky?"

"It's already very cheap." At least six adventurers spoke up in unison to confirm.

Moses emphasized: "It's the desert, not a pile of sand. There's not only the climate that can turn you into a mummy during the day and freeze you at night, but also the sand beasts lurking in the dark, ready to make you their delicious meal. If you have to search for water due to thirst, your anxiety and irritability can easily cost you your life."

"Yes, that's the rule," Kelliselle added: "The survival rule of the desert, and those who can easily break the rule are certainly admired."

Kelliselle looked at Nalasha, his eyes full of admiration, respect, and gratitude.

Nalasha gave him a bright smile and said to the coachman: "Thank you for telling us these things, then..."

The coachman's expression turned gloomy.

He knew they were about to leave, and this brief, pleasant time would soon end.

He might never see the cute Miss Mage or her protective group again.

Although the group looked like they were from the countryside, the warm and united atmosphere they had was something many people in the capital envied.

Because there were so many people coming and going in the capital, people had to be on guard and cold towards each other, trusting nothing but money and themselves. Oh, not even themselves sometimes.

"Alright... alright, respected Miss Mage, I... wish you..."

"We need a guide familiar with the capital," Gongsun Murong spoke up at this moment.

The coachman's eyes widened, his surprise evident. Then he remembered something and looked at the little girl, afraid the Miss Mage would refuse.

Nalasha blinked: "I'll listen to Brother Murong."

"Thank you, thank you, I... Stover Rodney was born in the capital. I know every corner of it. Even on a moonless night, I can easily recognize its face. No one is more suitable than me, no one."

The coachman, Stover Rodney, introduced himself enthusiastically, his body twisting as if dancing.

"How much?" Nalasha asked with interest.

Stover Rodney stopped his dance, bit his lip, and then forced a gentle smile: "While serving as your guide in the capital, provide me with food for three people, and ten copper coins a day."

Nalasha looked at Brother Murong, who was equally puzzled. They both realized they didn't know the price of a guide in the capital.

Was it too much, or too little?

Actually, Gongsun Murong didn't care about the small amount of money. He always haggled with others to indulge Nalasha.

Nalasha liked to haggle over small amounts of money.

So Gongsun Murong acted the same way.

Because he felt very lonely on this planet, with only an AI butler for company. But when he saw the little girl in the crystal coffin in the ruins, he realized he wasn't the loneliest.

So why not make two lonely people no longer lonely and happy?

Moses didn't know his young master's thoughts, but he knew how to handle the situation, asking about the price to avoid being cheated.

So he shouted loudly to another coachman coming their way: "Hey~! Are you willing to be our guide? We'll provide you with food for three people and five copper coins a day."

"Pig, I'm not a dirty beggar. I'm a free coachman. Don't even think of finding a guide for less than three silver coins a day. Get out of the way, poor country bumpkins." The coachman waved his whip and cursed as he left.

"Master, Miss, I now know the approximate price, but I'd rather tie up that fool and take him to Sasa Town to teach him how to respect adventurers struggling to survive in the desert," Moses said angrily, like everyone else, disliking being insulted and discriminated against.

Gongsun Murong ignored Moses and stared at the coachman Stover Rodney until he was at a loss, then said: "The food for three people remains the same, and your pay will depend on your performance."

"Thank you, respected Master, Rodney will serve you wholeheartedly," Stover Rodney bowed and said.

He knew his income would likely be higher than three silver coins a day, but he was also worried that the other party might suspect his motives.

He finally confirmed that this quiet young man was the core of the group, even though the young man hadn't released any combat aura or shown any signs of magic.

Gongsun Murong nodded: "Gongsun Murong."

Nalasha immediately followed: "Sophia Nalasha."

"Alright, Master Murong and... and the beautiful Miss Nalasha," Stover Rodney said, simply remembering their names.

He thought they were ordinary names and didn't pay much attention.

But Moses and Kelliselle, the adventurers, understood what these names represented in Qishui City and its surroundings.

They would be legends that the sands could not cover, tales sung by bards, and rhymes recited by children in their games.

No adventurer dared to desecrate or forget the name of the little girl who sold water... Sophia Nalasha.

******

The group set out again on the journey to Celeste Capital.

The adventurers' families loaded their luggage onto the carriages, along with the elderly, women, and children. Older men took turns sitting near the carriage to speed up the group's progress.

The families of the adventurers once again felt the benefits of having a powerful master. People in the capital could call them country bumpkins and dirty pigs, but when the young lady stepped forward, the people in the capital had to be humble.

Dignity, so simple.

Most importantly, the young master never scolded them, and the young lady never bullied their children for fun.

******

The group, consisting of twenty carriages and one carriage pulled by a Tudu Beast, was not small.

The places where the caravan stopped on the journey were always different from where other travelers stopped.

This was because others had to reach the next resting place, mainly where there was water.

Now, with Nalasha's presence, the caravan would go directly to avoid unnecessary contact with others before reaching the capital.

Even conflicts and battles.

The adventurers from Qishui City didn't feel guilty about killing and weren't afraid of fighting or slaughtering. They just didn't want to waste time on unnecessary trouble.

So, except for resting the horses, the group didn't stop anywhere else. Even the hay for the horses was bought quickly at the rest stops and then they left immediately.

Stover Rodney was very competent. He could take care of every horse, oil the axles in time, and greet everyone skillfully.

To outsiders, he gave the group an excuse of being refugees.

He also introduced the conflicts among the nobles in the capital to the group in great detail.

The group covered over 300 kilometers in four days and a morning. The horses pulling the carriages didn't lose weight; instead, their coats became even shinier.

Everyone in the caravan was happy, including the Tudu Beast, which always liked to nuzzle Stover Rodney affectionately with its head.

At the entrance to Celeste Capital, there was a long queue. Unlike Qishui City, Celeste Capital required an entry fee.

Nalasha could only watch the slow-moving queue, occasionally turning to Stover Rodney to ask about the pronunciation and writing of words.

PS: I want to mention something about paragraphing. Paragraphs are not divided by content but by reading habits.

Because some people read on their phones, a long paragraph can fill the screen, making it hard on the eyes.

So many authors now divide paragraphs.

I do the same, not telling readers that I write long paragraphs and it's not my problem if their eyes hurt.

If I did that, probably no one would read my book.

Fortunately, no reader has picked up on this issue, and most understand, but I still want to mention it.

Finally, I hope those with votes will support me. Thank you!

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