Because the border between the Spirit Kingdom and the Siren Theocracy was blocked by a vine wall stretching hundreds of miles, the caravan could only choose another route.
One option was to travel by water and land in the Siren Theocracy near the Holy Kingdom.
The other was to make a huge detour around the desert peninsula, then cross a river into the Siren Theocracy.
The merchant overseeing the caravan chose the first option. Even though traveling by water was more expensive, there was no other way. The wagons loaded with Spirit Kingdom specialties simply could not move across the sand.
Looking toward the border from the side near the Siren Theocracy, everyone saw a "green line" running from east to west.
The fat merchant sighed again. That wall had completely separated the Spirit Kingdom from the Siren Theocracy, while soldiers guarded the other borders. Traveling by water was the most cost-effective option.
Even so, the caravan's costs had risen considerably. The merchant did not plan to do business in the Spirit Kingdom again—not only because of the coming war, but also because of that irritating green wall.
It not only wasted time, but also cost a great deal of money. After making the round trip, he might even lose money.
The caravan encountered no obstacles along the way. They were only stopped by soldiers upon reaching the docks, but after the merchant produced documents granted by a great noble, the soldiers merely conducted a casual inspection. Once they confirmed there were no elf slaves in the wagons, they let them pass.
The fat merchant chartered a ship and had all the goods unloaded from the wagons, then carried aboard by the merchants' private guards.
The work was in full swing, while the other hired adventurers showed no intention of