Published at 14th of July 2026 8:06 am

Chapter 1843: Unexpected Windfall

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Just after nightfall, Adam and Valerian arrived at a bustling market set up alongside the Trade Road.

Serving as a way station for travelers, the settlement was alive with activity despite the late hour. Merchants hawked their goods beneath lantern-lit stalls, caravan guards shared drinks around campfires, and weary travelers sought food, rest, and shelter before continuing their journey.

For those traveling between cities, it was a welcome haven amid the long road.

Adam entered the market with four horses in tow.

Dealing with the bandits had been easy. Catching their horses, however, had proven far more troublesome.

As it turned out, there were very few things capable of stopping a terrified horse from bolting across an open plain. By the time the fight ended, most of the animals had already vanished into the darkness, fleeing as fast as their legs could carry them.

As a result, of the dozen bandits he had killed, Adam had managed to recover only four mounts. The rest were long gone.

After looking around the market, he finally found a merchant who showed interest in purchasing his horses.

"Twenty-five gold. Final offer." The portly man crossed his arms and declared.

"You think I’m a fool?" Adam sneered.

He grabbed the reins and prepared to leave. "The resale price of a riding horse is way more than that!"

"Wait! Wait!" The round man barred the raven-haired youth’s way.

"Thirty gold! Not a copper more!"

Adam squinted his eyes, his gaze drilling into the merchant. And yet, the latter didn’t back down.

Looks like thirty is good, he thought.

"Fine," he said. "They’re all yours."

The merchant let out a sigh of relief. Ubeknownst to him, his back was drenched in cold sweat. He couldn’t understand. The customer looked like a teenager. Why was he so intimidating?

As he instructed his men to take the horses and inspect them, he strode closer to Adam and asked curiously, "Young man, just where did you get these horses from?"

Adam replied casually while looking at the horses’ inspection. "Bunch of bandits attacked. I killed them and took their mounts."

The merchant frowned. "Bandits? On the Trade Road?"

"Is that odd?" Adam turned to the portly man, a faint premonition welling up in his heart.

"Hmm, somewhat yes." The merchant nodded, stroking his chin.

"You see, young man, the Trade Road is routinely cleared by the Free City Alliance. So it’s rare for travelers to encounter bandits and orcs and the like. But it still happens from time to time, I suppose."

Huh, that’s what the gnome at the Guild said as well, thought Adam.

I guess it’s nothing to worry about then.

A few minutes later, after the merchant’s men had finished examining the horse, the portly fellow fished out a small pouch containing a hundred and twenty gold pieces and handed it to Adam.

Noticing that the youth was counting the coins all over again, the corner of the merchant’s lips twitched.

What a miser! He thought.

After Adam had finished confirming the money and was about to leave, the merchant barred his way once again. He rubbed his hands in a shady manner and said:

"Young man, please wait! I noticed that you weren’t carrying a backpack with you. Or any other type of gear, for that matter. Pray tell, are you traveling to someplace close by?"

Adam’s eyes narrowed. What does he want now?

"No," he said, shaking his head faintly. "My destination is about a week away. Why?"

"Hehe." The merchant cackled. "Then, were you planning to stay at inns along the way for the entire week? Purchase food and drinks at taverns? That would cost you a lot more, young man."

Of course, Adam knew that. But it wasn’t as if he had left Davos with much money. He planned to sleep beneath the stars and hunt for game along the way.

Earning money from selling horses had been an unexpected windfall.

In fact, he had earned nearly three times what he would have received completing the E-rank mission.

The lives of most adventurers weren’t all that glamorous. Guild rewards rarely paid much. Their main source of income came from what they discovered in ancient ruins or from selling things such as monster parts, rare materials, and other treasures found during their travels.

Adam sighed. "So, what is it? What do you wish to sell?"

The merchant said with a fawning smile, rubbing his hands even slower now.

"An adventuring kit, of course. It’ll contain a backpack, a bedroll, waterskin, mess kit, rope, flint & steel, one week’s rations, and a small tent. I see that you’re already wearing some fine leather armor. You don’t have a weapon, though. A young Paladin like you should carry a grand sword or spear!"

"Just a sturdy dagger will do," Adam said, resisting the urge to roll his eyes.

"Fine! Fine! A dagger it is," said the merchant as he tallied up the total cost. "It would usually cost 8 gold, but since it’s you... ahhhh, I’ll reduce it to five—"

"Four. Not a copper more," Adam said flatly.

The merchant’s face turned red. Whether it was from anger or annoyance or both, no one could tell.

"Hehe." He forced a dry chuckle. "Four gold it is then."

Adam retrieved four gold pieces from the pouch and handed them to the round man. "Tell your men to load them onto my horse."

"Sure, sure, that goes without saying." The merchant displayed a genuine smile again when he caught sight of the gold. "Anything else you’d like? A map, perhaps?"

"No, I’m good." Adam waved his hand.

He waited a few minutes for the goods to be loaded onto his mount. Then he bid farewell to the merchant and rode to the edge of the market, where he found a suitable spot to lay camp.

After tethering his horse, Adam lit a small fire and prepared dinner for himself and Valerian.

The two sat beside the campfire and ate in silence.

Above them hung the moons of Myrrandor.

Four great moons and countless smaller ones filled the night sky, bathing the land in pale silver light.

Adam chewed slowly as he gazed upward. Valerian sat beside him with a bowl between his paws.

A man, a dragon, a campfire, and the moons of Myrrandor.

The youth turned to his little brother and noticed how the little guy was eating with great relish while enjoying the view of the night sky. Adam couldn’t help but ruffle his furry head.

"Myu!"

Valerian protested but didn’t move away.

Adam chuckled.

Soon, however, his thoughts drifted back to the bandit attack earlier in the day.

The smile on his face slowly faded.

The faint sense of foreboding rose in his heart once again.

Attacks along the Trade Road were said to be very rare, yet a group of bandits had attacked him on the very first day of his journey.

Adam shook his head and pushed the thought aside.

Probably just a coincidence...

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