Goblin Dependency

A silent night.

To Xia Nan's surprise, the adventurer team that unexpectedly arrived at Grey Valley Village, after his silent warning, genuinely refrained from causing any trouble, remaining quiet throughout the night.

However, this did not change his decision.

Having breakfast at Tom's house, he delightedly drank a bowl of hot, sweet, and savory mushroom broth, meticulously adapted to his taste by Lady Janice, and advised young Leon to rest well at home and not wander aimlessly in the forest.

Fully outfitted and armed, Xia Nan left the small house and headed towards the village entrance.

Not rushing into his previous plans, he found a hidden spot with a wide view nearby and waited silently.

Just as anticipated, after waiting among the dense underbrush for more than twenty minutes, the four members of the adventurer team appeared in his line of sight at the village entrance.

The scar-faced captain with a scimitar at his waist, the tall ranger carrying a longbow, the green-skinned half orc, and the slightly overweight dwarf.

None missing.

Compared to their dusty and irritable state last night, a night's rest seemingly didn't rejuvenate them much.

Especially the burly green-skinned half orc, looking frustrated while frequently glancing back at the village behind, as if regretting not causing trouble there.

Their backpacks noticeably bulged more than before.

They were filled with provisions for the villagers' winter needs.

Perhaps not a huge quantity, but he had no doubt if they had a convenient cart or any spatial storage tool, they would empty the entire warehouse.

Xia Nan observed all of this.

His dark eyes seemed calm and unlit, yet some profound light brewed within them.

He was not adept at lurking and possessed no related skill specialties.

Fortunately, his experiences in the Dream Weaving Corridor as Teeth Hunting, viewing the Winter Wolf Clan covertly from a barbarian's perspective, granted him some experience, relieving him of his original clueless state.

He had gained some understanding of how to sneak and what to be cautious of while sneaking.

Plus his outstanding perception ability allowed Xia Nan to maintain a considerable distance from the adventurer team, thus minimizing his chances of being discovered, while keeping them firmly in sight without losing track.

Time gradually slipped away, and they moved farther from the village.

"It's about time."

Xia Nan thought to himself but suddenly realized that the adventurer team's path ahead strangely overlapped with his own route from yesterday.

Their direction was... Grey Valley?

Thoughts surged in his mind.

His first thought inside his mind.

This adventurer team's reason for passing through the village, could it be due to Grey Valley?

Had they heard some news, or accepted a related commission, coming here with "Grey Valley" as their goal?

If that's indeed the case, they might have more information about Grey Valley than he does.

And if they only coincidentally arrived here while unknowingly moving towards Grey Valley...

It doesn't seem entirely valueless to him either.

After all, Grey Valley is shrouded in mist and danger is unpredictable; having some people paving the way for him during today's intended solo exploration would definitely be beneficial to Xia Nan.

Artificial mine-clearing method, letting them bear all the valley's dangers, while the potential gains would ultimately fall into his pocket, designated as the "oriole".

As for whether the adventurer team might shrink back in fear...

Let's just say, based on Xia Nan's understanding of such adventurers, the prospect of a substantial reward, like a potential ancient ruin, even with only a one percent chance, is enough for these fortune-hungry desperados to charge in headfirst.

They'll be fully motivated, with no need to worry.

And indeed, that's how it was.

From Xia Nan's perspective, when they first arrived at Grey Valley and laid eyes on the strange environment filled with grey rocks, a hint of hesitation was noticeable.

But when they cautiously advanced and stumbled upon the building ruins he explored yesterday,

Their faces left only fervor.

"An old house! Ruins, it's definitely ruins! Gorg is going to strike it rich!"

The green-skinned half orc struggled to keep his volume down, almost growling in ecstasy.

He swung his iron-clad giant club through thin air, stirring up the mist in waves.

The immensely greedy mountain dwarf's reaction was even worse, his short frame nearly glued to the ground, inch by inch inspecting for any hidden treasures.

His focus was so intense, his whole attention so absorbed, that he didn't even hear the inquiry from Marcus, the Blood Blade Squad captain he usually feared.

Only when a harsh kick pounded into him, nearly sending his chubby and sturdy frame tumbling on the stone-dust-covered ground for two rolls,

he patted the stone dust off his body as if nothing happened, stood up, and in a tone full of extreme excitement, said:

"This is absolutely not in the style of the Sevia Kingdom!"

Greed is one thing; the extreme pursuit of wealth made this shorty acquire much knowledge related to it.

"While the main structure retains heaviness and solidity, the internal decorations and patterns are incredibly intricate and ornate, the overlapping use of ironwork and wall patterns, this unique style, as far as I know, is rare across the entire Aifala Continent nowadays."