Published at 12th of July 2026 6:57 am

Chapter 1842: Trade Road

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The Trade Road was one of the most important trade routes of Centerra, a well-travelled passage that stretched along the supercontinent’s west coast.

In the far north, it began in the frozen tundras of Winterdale, where hardy folk traded furs, whale oil, and rare minerals wrested from the ice. From there, the road wound southward through city-states and fertile heartlands before passing through the Free City of Davos.

It continued ever onward until it reached the golden sands of Al-Qalimar, where caravans carrying spices, silk, incense, and precious gems awaited northern merchants.

Day and night, the road bustled with activity. Merchant caravans, adventurers, mercenaries, nobles, and travelers from every corner of the world could be found upon it. Wagons creaked beneath the weight of cargo, mounted couriers rushed between settlements, and caravans carrying fortunes crossed paths beneath the open sky.

For many nations and city-states, particularly the members of the Free City Alliance, the Trade Road was more than just a route. It was an economic lifeline. Goods, wealth, information, and people flowed along its length like blood through the veins of a living body.

Countless settlements had risen along its path, prospering from the endless stream of travelers. Inns, stables, markets, and fortified waystations dotted the route, ensuring those who journeyed upon it rarely remained far from civilization.

Adam rode a black destrier along the Trade Road, the sound of hooves filling the air. Valerian sat comfortably in front of him, looking around in wonder.

Behind him, Davos slowly faded into the distance. Its walls, towers, and buildings grew smaller with every passing kilometer, until they became little more than shapes on the horizon.

The youth studied the map of the West Coast that he had borrowed from Hannibal before he left.

"Hmm, Marbleford is about two hundred and fifty kilometers from here," he muttered under his breath. "That should take us about six days."

"Kilometers?" Valerian raised his head, his round topaz eyes shining with curiosity.

"Yes." Adam nodded. "They don’t use miles here. Or anywhere else, for that matter. It was just a Tron thing, I guess."

To his right stretched the Sea of Storms, a vast body of water known for its frequent storms and rough waves. It was on those waters that Adam had first arrived in this world.

To his left, in the distance, stood the Deravin Forest, a sprawling woodland of ancient trees. The forest stretched for kilometers, its depths hidden beneath a thick canopy of leaves. Elves resided there. Rumors suggest that it was also home to a dragon. And east of Deravin lay even greater, more ancient woodlands.

Adam turned eastward and squinted his eyes.

A dragon, huh?

He took a deep breath and felt a grin spread across his face.

To his right was a vast sea filled with storms, treasures, and mysteries. To his left stood an ancient forest where elves dwelled, and where, for all he knew, a dragon might be sleeping beneath some forgotten mountain.

And ahead?

Ahead lay the road that stretched across kingdoms, city-states, deserts, mountains, and lands he had never seen before.

Countless people walked that road. Merchants, adventurers, kings, beggars, scholars, monsters, and heroes.

Every bend in the road promised something new. Every distant horizon hid another story waiting to be discovered.

This was the sense of adventure he had yearned for.

A new world lay before him, vast and unknown.

Adam couldn’t help but throw his head back and let out a boisterous laugh.

Valerian turned and mimicked. Together, they laughed and laughed and laughed.

"Fun! Fun!" The little guy eagerly clapped his hands.

He turned toward the distant horizon and excitedly pointed. "Brother, look! The moons are coming up!"

The moons of Myrrandor were breathtaking, no matter how many times one saw them.

Four great moons hung in the heavens, accompanied by more than ninety smaller moons that scattered across the night sky. Together, they formed a sight unlike anything Adam had ever witnessed.

The largest one was especially famous. According to the locals, the giant handprint on its surface was known as the Hand of God.

Adam was endlessly fascinated by the lore of this world.

In just the last three months while working at the Rabbit Hole, he had overheard endless stories about ancient civilizations, lost empires, dragons, otherworldly species, and mysteries beyond count. Every answer seemed to raise two more questions.

After completing this mission and properly settling down in Davos, he wanted to spend more time studying the history of Myrrandor.

There was simply too much to learn. Too much to explore. And Adam intended to uncover as much of it as he could.

Just as he was admiring the moons rising over the horizon, his senses, which had already been spread outward in search of any danger, picked up on an anomaly.

His eyes narrowed, and in an instant his expression turned solemn. He instinctively put his hand around Valerian.

"Myu?"

From behind a grassy mound emerged a group of riders.

One became three. Three became six. Soon, a dozen mounted figures were galloping across the plains toward him. Their weapons were drawn, their faces hidden behind rough scars and helms.

And judging by the way they spread out to cut off escape routes, they clearly had no intention of exchanging pleasantries.

Adam’s creased brow gradually relaxed.

Only one of the riders — the apparent leader — was a Cavalier Paladin. The rest were Squire Paladins, which were the equivalent of Apprentice Magi.

In other words, they weren’t much of a threat.

For someone like Adam Constantine, of course.

"Grrr!" Valerian snarled menacingly, waving his paws midair. "Brother, let me teach them a lesson."

Adam frowned again. But soon, he let out a sigh.

Always telling him to return to my spirit sea will not be conducive to his growth.

Besides... I can tell he gets depressed whenever I don’t allow him to stay outside.

"Okay," Adam said, fondly rubbing his head. "Just wait a minute."

The bandits finally arrived, and they had surrounded him.

Adam raised his hands in surrender and said, "We’re just one human and one cat. No need to go that far, right?"

"Shut it, boy!" the bandit leader growled. "They pay good coin for a live human, you see. The horse will fetch a decent sum too. And the cat... hmm, the cat can die."

Adam’s eyes narrowed.

These people are selling humans too? Just how much are those Magi paying for live test subjects?

There was something else that caught Adam’s attention.

"The horse will fetch a good sum, huh?" He asked with an arched brow. "How much are we talking?"

"The dead don’t need to know!" The bandit leader waved his hand, commanding his men to attack.

But before a single bandit could take a step, a barrage of [Magic Missiles] tore through the air.

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