Starting with the goblin extermination

Chapter 98 New Home

The goblin Kruger was leading Logan and Elsa eastward along the wide guild avenue.

To Logan's right, there is an unobstructed view of the great river that runs through Riverwood.

The water was clear and azure. Along the riverbank, a huge wooden waterwheel turned slowly under the impact of the current. Barges and merchant ships with shallow drafts were moored at the dock. Birds flew low over the water, flapping their wings. The river breeze, carrying the fishy smell of dampness, brushed against Logan's face, making him feel dry and comfortable.

Although he had traveled this road countless times, Logan was still amazed by the breadth of the great river.

Guild Avenue is indeed a great place to see water. This great river, shimmering in the sunlight, is even more beautiful than the water that Logan saw in the scenic area in his previous life.

Elsa didn't have as many feelings as Logan. Having grown up in Riverwood, she was already tired of seeing the great river in front of her.

But whenever she walks hand in hand with Logan along the river, her tense body inexplicably relaxes.

A summer breeze blew by, and she gently tucked the golden strands of hair that were covering her eyes behind her pretty pointed ears. That serene and charming profile was softly imprinted in Logan's heart.

Across the river lies the southern district, where land prices are low, and the main inhabitants are dockworkers or other manual laborers. The hardworking workers earn copper coins with their sweat to supplement their family income. Under the scorching sun, young laundry workers and the workers' wives set up wooden racks to hang patched coarse cloth clothes and bedding to dry.

You can vaguely see several barefoot children chasing and playing in the mud on the opposite bank.

Living in the South District might not be so bad, at least it's lively, Logan thought.

But today's destination is not the crowded South District.

The goblin Krug was leading the way.

His short stature barely reached Logan's waist, yet his thin, short legs moved with incredible speed. Perhaps to embody the famous saying that also existed in the Kingdom of the White Eagle, Kruger walked along, constantly chattering and enthusiastically promoting their destination, Iron Sheet Alley.

As the name suggests, Iron Felt Alley is closely associated with dwarves. This is not only because its earliest inhabitants were mainly dwarves, but more importantly, because the houses there were all stone houses built by dwarven craftsmen.

Located in the safest and most bustling eastern part of Riverwood, a clean alley naturally attracted some wealthy merchants and adventurers with considerable resources to settle there.

Coming.

Logan saw a shield-wielding man approaching. The man keenly noticed Logan, his gaze sweeping over Logan's longsword before he nodded warily but respectfully and quickly moved away. In that short distance, Logan's eyes had already inadvertently met those of two other professionals; they merely nodded in acknowledgment and hurried on their way.

Kruger was right; there were indeed some adventurers living here.

As they continued walking, the wide river on their right was gradually obscured by towering buildings and eventually disappeared from view. Led by Kruger, they turned into a clean and spacious alley.

The entire street is paved with neatly cut gray-black flagstones, and the road surface is clean and tidy, without a trace of garbage or sewage. The buildings on both sides are mostly built of stone blocks, without any extra plastering, directly exposing the thick, original texture of the stone.

"Look at these masterpieces," Kruger said, pointing with admiration to the thick walls. "They were all built by dwarven craftsmen using ancient techniques. Don't let their unassuming appearance fool you; these houses are warm in winter and cool in summer, very safe, and living here... wow, it's simply a pleasure."

Kruger added in a low voice that if his stone house in Riverwood hadn't been sold, he would have loved to be Logan's neighbor right now.

In the alley, a few burly dwarves occasionally brushed past them, glancing briefly at Logan and Elsa before looking away.

Outsiders always come to Tiezhan Lane, and the local residents are used to it.

As Logan reached the corner of the alley, he immediately spotted the detached stone house and was instantly captivated.

It was a two-story cottage with its exterior walls made entirely of dark, interlocking stones. The dark red ivy scattered on the walls not only prevented the house from looking dilapidated, but also gave the otherwise hard and cold stone walls a touch of life.

The heavy iron gate was tightly closed and locked. The second-floor windowsill extended outwards, with several pots of colorful insect-repelling plants on it.

Kruger stopped right in front of the stone house and clapped his hands.

"We've arrived."

Seeing the satisfied look in Logan's eyes, Kruger knew that the deal was basically finalized.

The three of them stepped into the house.

The spacious hall on the first floor was exceptionally well-lit. The midday sun streamed in through the glass windows, making the room bright and airy. Logan was still wearing his heavy chainmail, which had made him feel somewhat stuffy in the sun, but once inside the stone house, he felt a refreshing coolness.

The dwarves' craftsmanship is indeed legendary.

In contrast to the rugged stone walls, the floor is covered with polished hardwood floors. Next to the sofa is a huge stone fireplace with a firebox large enough to roast a whole sheep.

Logan unsheathed his longsword and plopped down on the soft sofa by the fireplace. Although it was summer and the fireplace wasn't needed, Logan could easily imagine how comfortable it would be to sit on the sofa in winter, by the warm fire, with Elsa, who looked like a cat, in his arms.

Elsa's wanderer instincts led her to immediately begin checking every nook and cranny of the first-floor rooms and the locks as soon as she entered the house.

The restaurant, kitchen, toilets, and workspace were all fully equipped. When Elsa pushed open the door to the bathroom, she even discovered a stone bathtub with a dwarf-style design.

Fortunately, the bathtub was not designed for dwarfs; the interior space is large enough to comfortably accommodate two people.

Logan walked over and measured the bathtub. He glanced down at Elsa's slender, supple waist and long, shapely legs, and smiled. Elsa clearly understood Logan's look; her ears turned red, she glared at him reproachfully, and turned away, pretending to study the decorations on the wall.

Logan looked at the perfect scene before him and felt a little unreal. He had told Kruger that his budget ceiling was a maximum of 4 gold coins per month for rent.

This budget isn't low, but it's still not enough to rent this luxurious detached stone house in terms of location, space, and living facilities.

Was he getting carried away, or was Kruger just playing a trick on him?

Logan narrowed his eyes, about to ask a question, but Kruger had already seen through Logan's doubts.

"Don't worry, don't worry," the goblin slyly rubbed his hands together, interrupting his unspoken words, "This house is absolutely legal and compliant, there are no secrets, and no unknown wandering ghosts. Trust me, Mr. Logan."

Kruger lowered his voice, leaned closer, and revealed a shrewd smile befitting an investor.

"As for the rent, you don't need to worry... I'm good friends with the landlord. Consider it a congratulatory gift for the [Shadow of Ravens] team's successful advancement to Bronze rank. You know, I've always wanted to be friends with you."

Logan stared at the goblin for two seconds, smiled, and took the goblin's outstretched hand, accepting the favor.

Kruger bent down with satisfaction and led the two of them up to the second floor.