107: A completely different world

Chapter 106: A Radically Different World

The grain convoy arrived in the afternoon.

Whispering Place and Lookout Fort are not too far apart; a fast horse could cover the distance in half a day.

Thanks to the power of the ley lines, the grain produced at Whispering Place is of excellent quality.

However, due to the local priests' beliefs and xenophobic attitudes, few people were willing to trade grain with them.

Arthur only proposed the grain trade to the temperamental Priestess after igniting the ley lines.

His initial thought was to find a cheap source of food and seeds for Qingfeng Valley.

But he soon discovered that the grain stockpiled at Whispering Place was more than enough to feed the entire Lookout Fort.

Aside from the land becoming fertile due to divine power, another reason was that Night Mist had destroyed some villages near Whispering Place, preventing a large amount of grain from being sold.

So Arthur agreed to help deal with this batch of grain.

Now this grain was sold to Lookout Fort.

With this back and forth, he could earn a good amount of money from it.

Godwin watched with satisfaction as cart after cart of fresh food was sent to the military camp's warehouse.

Although they hadn't yet reached Qingfeng Valley, business had already started.

This way, Catherine's complaints would surely lessen.

As the head of logistics and finance, Catherine had earned the nickname 'Iron Shovel'.

She always racked her brains to save money, pleading poverty to everyone who applied for funds.

Due to her departure, logistics work was entirely handed over to Newt.

Godwin noticed that this usually quiet half-elf was extremely meticulous and responsible in his work.

No wonder Catherine always liked to bring him along before Philip arrived. Of course, another reason was that Newt was a survivor of the Longfeather Mercenary Group and knew most of the Pioneer Group.

Having him and Iron Shovel issue orders could achieve twice the result with half the effort.

“Newt, don’t send our things to the warehouse too,” Godwin reminded him.

Upon hearing this, the half-elf quickly had someone direct one of the carts into the camp. That cart was filled with all sorts of fruits.

Philip asked somewhat puzzled, “Sir, are these fruits for us to eat?”

“No, they have an important purpose,” Godwin explained. “You’ll see in a moment.”

“Ah, Isabella, you’re here.”

The girl turned around at the sound.

As one of the few people in the Pioneer Group who could both read and do arithmetic, Isabella and her parents had always worked under Catherine.

“Sirs, I need to borrow your daughter for a bit,” Godwin said to Isabella’s parents.

The girl’s parents quickly nodded in agreement.

“Come, let’s talk in the room.”

Thus, Philip and Isabella went to Godwin’s room together.

After closing the door, Godwin said to the two, “I think you both should know that we’re about to confront the Black Goat Caravan.”

“Once they discover we’ve taken their business, retaliation will follow.

“So I need someone to keep an eye on them, to observe their movements.”

Philip frowned slightly and asked, “Sir, do you want me to stake out?”

“Have you done this kind of thing before?”

Philip nodded, “A few times when I was a water bandit.”

Isabella beside him looked curiously at the sturdy young man.

He wasn't much older than her, perhaps four or five years.

He was tall and slender, but not sickly thin; rather, he was as firm as a fish.

Isabella believed that once Philip entered the water, he would swim faster than a fish.

“You’re too conspicuous, my friend,” Godwin chuckled. “Good food has made you sturdy.”

“If you were like you were when you first left Wolf Den City, you could still disguise yourself as a commoner to stake out.”

Philip was a bit puzzled and asked, “Then, Sir, you want me to—”

“I need you to protect her and some other children.” Godwin turned his gaze to Isabella.

He walked up to the girl and asked, “Are you willing to serve Lord?”

“It is my honor,” Isabella replied. “Please, Sir, just give the order.”

“No, don’t be so quick to agree. This job has a certain danger, I must—”

“To die for Lord is also our honor,” Isabella replied firmly.

Godwin nodded with satisfaction; this was precisely why he valued this girl.

From their brief conversation that night, Godwin had judged that Isabella harbored a deep fascination for Arthur.

This was not the usual admiration of an ordinary young girl for a handsome noble young master.

Instead, it was more like a religious fervor. Upon learning more, the Randall family were devout followers of Mother Earth,

and after witnessing Arthur being proclaimed a saint in Wolf Den City and repeatedly displaying divine miracles, the Randall family had become fervent followers of Arthur.

“Very good. I want you to take a few clever children and go sell fruits at the Black Goat Caravan’s location.

“That place has front and back doors, and there are also some vendors on the street. You can blend in. As long as someone enters or exits that place, you come and report to me.”

Isabella’s eyes darted around, and she said, “I know what to do. I’ll go do it now.”

“Don’t rush,” Godwin stopped the girl and continued to instruct, “Your identity has been exposed, so don’t linger there.

You are meticulous; just hide in the dark and compile the information.

“Philip is responsible for protecting you all. If you encounter difficult merchants, or if your identities are exposed, he will help you evacuate.

“Remember, both of you, the enemy is very cunning, so don’t underestimate them.

“Also, at all times, your own safety is the top priority.”

Black puddles, like dark mirrors, were scattered across the muddy road.

On both sides of the road, towering trees stretched upwards, disappearing into the gray dense fog.

Their branches twisted like claws, obscuring the sky and sun, letting only a few faint rays of sunlight through.

The tree trunks stood tightly together, and the forest was silent, as quiet as a tomb.

The moment the carriage entered Qingfeng Valley, everyone in it felt a chill.

Flora slowed the carriage; the two sturdy packhorses clearly became restless after entering this place.

Arthur, sitting in the co-driver’s seat, began to chant a spell, and soon, a shining light appeared at the top of his staff.

The alchemist poked his head out of the carriage and said to Arthur, “Lord, you should come inside. It’s not safe out here.”

Arthur waved his hand, “It’s fine. I’m more comfortable outside.”

At this moment, they heard the first sound since entering Qingfeng Valley—the cry of a crow.

The carriage continued forward, and Arthur soon discovered the reason for the crow’s cries.

In the bushes not far from the roadside, several scattered corpses lay.

The stench of decay permeated the cold air, and like the lingering mist, it made one’s heart heavy.

The corpses looked like commoners.

Their clothes were torn to shreds by claws, their bodies covered in mud, and there were many wild beast claw marks around the bodies.

Crows were pecking at the corpses; these black creatures seemed to have no fear of their arrival and continued to enjoy their meal.

“I think they must have been trying to escape this place,” Flora speculated.

Arthur agreed with this, lamenting, “But we madmen are rushing in without hesitation.”