Chapter 90

Li Huailin followed Gast, and the two of them went out together. As they walked, Gast started to introduce: "Actually, I just remembered. A few days ago, I heard from a friend named Jared that they are about to return to the City of Divine Blessing. Since you also want to go back, I thought it would be better to have them take you along."

"Oh, I see." Li Huailin nodded. "That works."

"Here it is, Jared and his group are temporarily staying here." Gast walked to the door of a place called Snow Sea Inn and said.

Entering the inn, Li Huailin took a quick look. It was a fairly large inn, but of course, it couldn't compare to the inns in the main city. If one word could describe the entire inn, it would be "old." Everything was really old, even the wooden chairs had turned black from long use.

Like other inns, the first floor of the Snow Sea Inn was a bar. To keep warm, everyone was gathered around the fireplace, drinking. As soon as Gast entered, he saw an acquaintance and walked over.

"Jared!" Gast patted a fat NPC who was drinking by the fireplace, greeting him with a slight hint of joy.

"Gast!" The fat man, Jared, turned and saw Gast, looking equally happy. He stood up, spreading his arms, and the two gave each other a light hug. "You have time to come here during the day? Just in time, we are about to set off. I was planning to go to your place to say goodbye, but now I don't have to. Let's have a drink together."

"I'm still working, you know..." Although Gast said this, he still took the glass of wine Jared offered. "Come, let's have a drink first."

"Cheers." Jared and Gast clinked their glasses and then both tilted their heads back, finishing their drinks in one go.

"Jared, are you leaving today?" After finishing the drink, Gast started to talk about the main matter.

"Yes, we must leave today." Jared said.

"Is that so? Then it's perfect. Old friend, I actually came to you today because I need your help, and it just so happens that it coincides with your farewell party." Gast said.

"Oh?" Jared nodded and then looked at Li Huailin, guessing that the help needed was related to this person.

Sure enough, Gast pulled Li Huailin over and introduced him to Jared: "This brave warrior is Li Huailin. He has done me a great favor, and now he is in trouble, so I must help him."

Then Gast introduced Jared to Li Huailin: "Warrior, this somewhat fat guy is Jared, my old friend. He works for the De'an Chamber of Commerce, mainly responsible for trade between the City of Divine Blessing and the northern region."

"Hello." Li Huailin extended his hand and shook Jared's.

"Here's the situation. This brave warrior wants to return to the City of Divine Blessing, but he can't use the teleportation array yet. I remembered that you mentioned yesterday that your chamber's group is about to return to the City of Divine Blessing, so I was wondering if you could help him get back." Gast said to Jared.

"Oh, that's a small matter, no problem." Jared immediately agreed and then said to Li Huailin, "Since you have done a favor for Gast, you are also my honored guest. I will arrange it and make sure you get back."

"Thanks." Li Huailin nodded.

"Hehe, I knew you would help." Gast patted Jared's shoulder and then asked, "Didn't you say yesterday that you would leave in a few days? Why are you leaving so soon today?"

"It's because of the bandits around here." Jared complained. "I just received news that Baron Balian is really preparing to send troops to suppress the bandits. So I think we should leave first. If there's a military curfew, we won't be able to leave the city. It's better to go back now."

"It seems that Baron Balian is really angry this time." Gast nodded. "You should go back early. It looks like there's going to be a war here."

"Be careful. In times of chaos, anything can happen. I don't want to come here next time and not see you." Jared smiled.

"Damn, why are you cursing me?" Gast laughed and scolded. "Do you think the bandits are so powerful that they can capture Yorkmok City? I won't be in danger in the city, will I?"

"That's true." Jared nodded. "Alright, after this drink, we will set off. You are still working, so go back early. Don't worry, I'll take care of your benefactor. You can rest assured."

"Alright, I wish you a safe journey. I won't come to see you off." Gast raised his glass and said.

"Like you ever came to see me off before." Jared smiled. "Alright, finish your drink and let's go."

"Whatever..." Gast patted Jared and then turned to Li Huailin, saying, "Alright, hero, follow Jared's group back. I'll go back to work."

"Oh, okay, thanks." Li Huailin felt a bit embarrassed and patted Jared's shoulder. "I didn't expect you to be such a good person."

"You're welcome. Your favor to me is something I can't repay, so it's great to be able to help you." Gast said.

"Alright, see you later."

After saying goodbye to Gast, Li Huailin sat by the fireplace for a while. Soon, another NPC came in from the inn's door and said to Jared, "Leader, everything is ready, we can set off."

"Alright." Jared nodded, stood up, and raised his glass, saying, "Everyone, finish this drink and get ready to set off. Haven't you had enough of this cursed weather? I certainly have. Let's set off early and get back to the City of Divine Blessing to hug our wives and sleep!"

"Ha ha ha ha ha." Laughter filled the inn.

"Let's go, brave warrior." Jared said to Li Huailin.

Following Jared out of the inn, Li Huailin saw that there were already more than ten carriages parked at the entrance of the Snow Sea Inn. The first few were passenger carriages, and the last few were cargo carriages. Since it was snowing lightly, the cargo was covered with burlap, and Li Huailin didn't know what was inside.

Next to the carriages stood a squad of soldiers, probably a small unit, with fewer than twenty members. They were all wearing iron armor and leading horses. The squad looked like a well-trained, professional unit, not like ordinary mercenaries.

"There are no extra carriages, so you can ride with me. My carriage is only for me, so there's plenty of space." As they went out, Jared pointed to the largest carriage and said.

"Oh, okay." Li Huailin nodded and got into the carriage.

"Let's go!" Jared looked around to see that everyone was ready and then waved his hand.

"Mount up!" The captain of the squad shouted, and the group mounted their horses in a well-coordinated manner, clearly the result of extensive training.

"What's up?" Jared saw Li Huailin looking at the squad and asked, "They are the chamber's guard. Is there a problem?"

"They look like a regular army..." Li Huailin said.

"They are a regular army."

Jared said, "What's so strange about that?"

"Is the regular army now doing part-time jobs?" Li Huailin asked.

"Oh, hehe, I understand what you mean."

Jared smiled. "Generally, the chamber's guards are hired mercenaries, but we are the De'an Chamber of Commerce. You haven't heard of us, right?"

"Right." Li Huailin nodded, indeed he hadn't.

"Our patron is Baron Firmte, so the chamber's guards are all former soldiers." Jared said. "On the surface, it's said that soldiers are retired and then hired by the chamber to give them a livelihood, but in reality, they are directly assigned from the army and forced to retire to join the chamber's guard."

"Baron Firmte is so arrogant." Li Huailin said. "This is no different from directly mobilizing the army. Isn't anyone going to stop him?"

"Who dares to stop him?" Jared smiled. "This is already very public, and no one has come to stop it."

"I see." Li Huailin nodded. "Alright, I have no issues."

"Sit tight, the road ahead might be rough. Once we leave the Udesa Province, the road will get better." Jared said.