Goblin Heavy Dependence

Chapter 425 Harvest Inventory and Handling Plan

Xia Nan increasingly felt that fishing was a "good civilization".

Not only can it hone one's patience and composure, but it can also train most of the combat skills one currently possesses, and even one's perception attributes can be practiced imperceptibly.

The "fish taking the bait" itself can serve as a kind of reward for a certain stage, giving him an indescribable sense of accomplishment.

Compared to high-intensity training that relies entirely on willpower and self-discipline, this type of practice can greatly alleviate the boredom of the training process and increase motivation.

Xia Nan was genuinely beginning to consider the feasibility of incorporating "fishing" as part of combat skills training into daily practice.

Of course, that's something he'll need to consider later.

Right now, the more important thing is to treat myself well, have a few big meals, get a good night's sleep in the soft bed of the hotel's ocean-view room, and then take some time to find a couple of goblin lairs to have some fun.

He's not some ascetic; it's perfectly normal for him to relieve stress in his own way after finally returning to his resting place from an adventurous mission.

We can only suffer the goblins in the forest next to Barracuda Bay.

After taking a comfortable cold shower at the hotel, with her dark, tousled hair still slightly damp and wearing a newly changed black shirt, Xia Nan sat at the table laden with food, enjoying a spoonful of seafood cream mushroom soup.

As he savored the wonderful flavors that burst forth in his mouth, a perfect blend of the salty freshness of the ocean and the sweet sweetness of cream, and the crisp and tender texture of the mushroom slices soaked in the sauce, he unconsciously squinted his eyes.

Xia Nan has now returned to his base camp in Suoyu Bay, the "Three-Legged Sea Dog" tavern.

Even though it was morning and not lunchtime yet, and the hall wasn't too crowded, with about 60-70% of the seats occupied, Xia Nan still ordered a large table of delicious food.

Knowing he would be able to return to Suoyu Bay this morning, he deliberately skipped breakfast and waited until now on an empty stomach.

Of course, it's not for everyone.

Alton and Colin were sitting at the same table, while a large portion of the sailors on the Black Gull were drinking in the Three-Legged Sea Dog Hall. As for Captain Gregory, he and some of the senior crew members stayed at the Wavebreaker Wharf to handle the final work on cargo transportation.

Raising a wooden glass filled with chilled ale, Xia Nan lightly clinked glasses with Colin in front of him and casually asked:
"How is life at sea? Do you plan to continue working as a sailor in the future?"

To be honest, although Colin received special treatment because of his relationship with Xia Nan, his performance in this mission was quite remarkable.

This naive young man from a remote mountain village, despite being a complete novice at sea, still held the title of "apprentice sailor." Drawing on his experience as a hunter's apprentice, he displayed considerable courage and marksmanship in encounters with pirates, even playing a greater role than the more experienced crew members.

Later, as the only "non-professional," he followed Xia Nan and others deep into the northern cliff of Qiaoyan Island, behaving obediently and sensibly, doing whatever he was told without having any of his own ideas.

Even though the "Silver Claw Osprey" squad was wiped out, he was still able to return with Xia Nan and the others intact, proving that his character and qualities had withstood the test.

On the way back, it was noticeable that Captain Gregory paid more attention to the boy, making him do more tasks.

If Colin chooses to stay on the Black Gull, he will likely shed the "trainee" label and become a full member of the crew on the next voyage.

At such a young age, there is no doubt that he could advance further and become a high-ranking officer such as boatswain, second mate, or first mate.

But unexpectedly, when faced with Xia Nan's question, the boy shook his head very firmly, as if he had already made up his mind.

"No, Mr. Xia Nan."

"Actually, I had already figured out the answer to this question when I was still on Qiaoyan Island."

Colin, who was left outside the shark cave by Xia Nan and the others and was hiding in the crevices of the reef, shivered in the cold sea breeze. Listening to the terrifying roars that faintly came from inside the cave, he thought a lot.

From the concerned and earnest looks in the eyes of his parents and brothers when they saw him off from the village, to the bowed head and fawning smile of Uncle Paddy when he arranged for a boat for him...

Like the last straw that broke the camel's back, when Colin saw the mangled bodies of the three powerful professionals and the still terrifying shark-like creature on the raft, even in death, he made up his mind.

An adventurer, he lacks the courage to face monsters head-on, and the bravery to risk his life for wealth;
The sailor was not suited to the monotonous life at sea and was also afraid of the dangers he might encounter during the voyage.

Colin truly understood himself and accepted his flaws and shortcomings.

"Captain Gregory gave me a small sum of money as a reward for my performance on this mission."

“I plan to save the money or give it to Uncle Paddy and then continue to learn how to do business from him.”

"When I've saved enough money, I'll go back to the village and build a big house for my parents and brother, and buy some cattle and sheep; or if things develop better, I'll bring them here and the whole family can live in Suoyu Bay."

"From now on... I won't go to sea anymore."

Faced with the young adventurer who had helped him so much, the boy's answer was extremely sincere, revealing his true feelings.

Xia Nan naturally had no objection to this, and even felt a little gratified.

Although he has only been in the industry for a little over a year, he has already seen too many adventurers who have gotten lost in the quagmire of wealth and power and eventually fallen into the abyss.

Abby was a prime example.

If it were Xia Nan himself, and he found that he had no talent for combat, no attribute panel, and no subsequent opportunities after transmigrating, he probably wouldn't have chosen to become an adventurer.

Instead, they would look for downstream industries related to adventurers, such as general stores that sell simple adventure tools or second-hand equipment recycling.

They certainly don't earn as much as adventurers, but they don't have to face monsters like they do. The danger is greatly reduced, and they can still enjoy income far exceeding that of ordinary people in the extraordinary realm.

Seeing Colin so lucid, he was genuinely happy for him.

I couldn't help but scoop up another spoonful of seafood mushroom soup and put it in my mouth, the spoon lightly tapping the side of the bowl.

"If you've been craving something lately, come find me at 'Three-Legged Seal,' and I'll treat you to a big meal."

"Hehe, thank you, Mr. Xia Nan!"

When the conversation turned to food, the somewhat serious atmosphere at the table immediately became lively.

"Ta-ta..."

Her skirt swayed, and her leather ankle boots made a crisp sound as they stepped on the floor.

Hera carried a large platter of smoked meat and personally delivered it to the table.

His jewel-like emerald eyes looked at Xia Nan and Alton, and a hint of apology appeared on his sharply defined face as he explained:
"I'm so sorry, I only learned about the 'Flying Fish Oil Barrel' after you set sail. I discovered that they had taken on the mission to Cliff Rock Island and had the same destination as you."

The halfling chuckled, remaining silent as he studied the paintings hanging on the wall beside the table. He patted Xia Nan's arm, indicating that the decision was up to him.

Xia Nan did not reply immediately, but pondered it in his heart.

The matter is actually quite simple in essence.

He and Alton joined the Black Gull temporarily for this escort mission because they accepted a commission from Hera, the tavern owner.

The other party hopes to use this mission to test the credibility and strength of the two individuals, get to know them and deepen their relationship, while also earning gold coins by completing cargo transport. The reward for the mission includes, on the one hand, information about "Algae Scales" Dodd that had already been given to Xia Nan, and on the other hand, information on how to participate in the "Moonlit Feast" after the mission.

Dodd, the "Algae Scale" who attacked Lelomorton and is suspected of possessing the key to the [Dream Corridor], will be attending the "Moonlit Feast" in three months. Xia Nan needs this opportunity to find the key.

The relationship between the two parties was purely transactional, and the appearance of the "Flying Fish Oil Barrel" fleet was completely unexpected; no one had anticipated it.

Judging by the outcome, the "Flying Fish Oil Barrel" adventure team that attacked the Black Gull did not actually pose much danger to them. On the contrary, they provided information about the monsters on Cliff Island and a lot of loot.

Given that Hera was genuinely unaware of the "Flying Fish Oil Barrel" operation, the fact that the other party is now proactively expressing remorse is quite dignified.

Seeing this, Xia Nan waved his hand and changed the subject:
"The 'Moonlit Feast' is just around the corner, so just arrange your channels as soon as possible."

"Don't worry, I started contacting them after you left port. Judging by the time, we should have results soon," Hera nodded in reply.

Compared to his behavior when he first met Xia Nan, the intelligence merchant's attitude was noticeably more enthusiastic after returning from Qiaoyan Island.

If it were an ordinary adventurer, she would never have done what she's doing now, bringing food and apologizing proactively.

The reason for this was Xia Nan's performance during the mission.

Despite having been in the intelligence business for many years, Hera quickly learned about the crew's experiences during their voyage and on the rocky islet by simply asking around among the Black Gull crew.

She knew perfectly well that the "Flying Fish Oil Barrel" squad, which had earned a notorious reputation in the Southern Islands, would be wiped out in a single encounter when faced with Xia Nan's advance.

Within seconds, most of the professional adventurers, including the spellcasters, were killed by the black-haired youth before them.

Its actual combat strength has probably far exceeded her expectations.

The monsters that the crew hunted on the rocky islet were clearly not easy to deal with, even though the crew did not witness the battle firsthand. Based on their descriptions of the size and appearance of the corpses, they were obviously not the kind of monsters that were easy to deal with.

As an intelligence broker, Hera naturally understood the importance of cultivating good relationships with such promising and powerful adventurers.

Now that such an opportunity has presented itself, how could she possibly let it slip by?

Noticing the change in the other party's attitude, Xia Nan didn't think much of it. Instead, while Hera was still there, he asked her about the handling of the spoils of war.

His trip to Qiaoyan Island was incredibly rewarding.

In terms of equipment alone, it includes the [Azure Blade] left by "Oilhand" Byrne, the [Type III Practice Staff - 1007] of an unknown spellcaster with special skills, the [Fishbone Snail] of the Shahua merman priest, as well as Nick's twin swords and the wooden bow of the half-elf Leda.

Xia Nan had already asked Gregory and the others about the latter two. The "Silver Claw Osprey" team didn't have any relatives or friends in Harbor Bay, so there was no need to leave them as keepsakes. They could just sell them to pay for their food.

The first three enchanted equipment items—a green-quality scimitar and two plain-quality staves—are all quite valuable.

He needs a specific solution.

Hera's answer was almost identical to what Barn had told her back in the town of Vale.

There are three options in total:

1. Sell to local blacksmiths or general stores;

2. Send it to the auction house;
3. Place it on consignment through the association.

Each of the three solutions has its own advantages and disadvantages, and the selling price, waiting time, and probability of a transaction all differ. They need to be carefully considered based on the quality and rarity of the equipment.

Xia Nan has nothing urgent at the moment, nor is he short of money, so he can take his time to think about and choose the most suitable solution.

Then, needless to say, the hundred gold coins collected and distributed on the pirate ship also became Xia Nan's spoils of war, and the "Flying Fish Oil Barrel" was now docked at the Broken Wave Wharf.

Xia Nan thought about spending a little money to slightly modify the pirate ship before putting it back into service.

It might be some kind of mental fastidiousness.

The interior furnishings of the ship can be preserved, but the exterior, such as the figurehead, must be changed. It would be best to repaint it, so that others cannot recognize it as the predecessor of the "Flying Fish Oil Barrel".

Otherwise, if he just drove it out like that, people would think that he, Xia Nan, had also become a member of the "Flying Fish Oil Barrel" gang, which made him feel uncomfortable.

Of course, being in an unfamiliar place, he also needed to contact the shipyard specifically responsible for the renovation through Hera's channels.

Finally, and most importantly right now.

These are materials that Xia Nan extracted from the shark beast as spoils of war.

Whether he sells it directly or makes it into equipment, he needs shops like "Rock Hammer" and "Grass Crucible" to find reliable professionals to appraise it and plan a solution.

In response, Hera immediately gave Xia Nan several shop names, which varied in quality and function, but were all of the type that had a good reputation among adventurers in Harbor Bay.

I carefully noted down the address and scooped out the last spoonful of mushroom soup.

Xia Nan nodded to Hera in gratitude and then explained his destination to Colin and Alton.

He got up, preparing to leave.

A keen perception subtly takes effect.

He suddenly realized that the atmosphere inside the Three-Legged Seal Tavern seemed to have subtly changed.

Especially when I stood up from the table, gazes swept over me as if I were electrocuted and then abruptly looked away, accompanied by whispers that were quite different from the atmosphere of a pub.

You can vaguely hear keywords like "young", "flying fish oil barrels wiped out", "'Oil Hand' Bourne", "cut off heads", and "shark beast monster".

Clearly, Xia Nan's exploits had begun to spread as the crew of the Black Gull were boasting about them in the tavern lobby.

A feeling of déjà vu welled up in my heart.

I remember when I was in River Valley, after I came back from Calanfort, it was something like this.

He became famous after killing "Gap Tooth" and earned the nickname "Gray Sword".

If things continue to develop in this direction, his second nickname will probably be quite similar.

I wonder what the adventurers of Shuttlefish Bay will call themselves in the future.

Based on the most obvious features... "Black hair"? "Dual swords"? Or is it some kind of "Wolf Howler"?
Xia Nan found it amusing to speculate wildly.

With each step, under the watchful eyes of everyone, they walked out of the tavern.

(End of this chapter)