Route 258

Having come to this Riverside Cabin alone, Benjamin had no other choice but to take another risk.

When Benjamin was a sailor on the Golden Tangerine, he had some dealings with Slave Traders from the Pattington Plane. They would often transport some Half-Elf slaves from this plane to sell on the Golden Tangerine.

This time, Benjamin and Abbott went to Padesto City and rented a small cabin to live in. They rarely went out, only going out to buy supplies when they were short of them.

The two stayed in Padesto City for two months, feeling that the storm had passed. During this time, Abbott studied the sea charts of the Endless Sea.

Benjamin was always worried that one day the Elf Ranger of the Guard Squad would suddenly come to their door, and then the two of them would not have time to escape. Could they possibly go back into the Magic Beast Forest?

He wanted to buy two Teleportation Portal to Padesto City, just in case.

He had just rented a carriage and set off when he unexpectedly ran into Roy on the street. If he hadn't been alert enough, he might already be locked up in the Guard Squad's prison.

In this city, no elf knows his or her secrets.

But Roy was different; Roy knew him and knew he was a survivor from the Golden Tangerine.

Once captured by the Elf Ranger, they probably won't even need to go to the Elven Council of Elders's trial court; they'll be heading straight to the Parrham Island Prison to see their old friends.

That's why he risked coming here this time, intending to talk to these local bullies and leave Padesto City as soon as possible.

The Chieftain of this group of Slave Traders was Half-Elf named Jones, and the other Half-Elf were Jones's subordinates. They had been trading Half-Elf in the Pattington Plane for a long time. However, this group of Slave Traders seemed to have a powerful background, as they could pass through the city's Teleportation Portal without any hindrance and without being checked.

Seeing the cunning grins of the Half-Elf, the Benjamin the Mage knew that leaving Pattington Plane safely this time might come at a price.

He steeled himself and went into the living room of the cabin, sitting opposite the Slave Traders Jones.

A nautical chart was laid out in front of Jones, showing the area of Castleton Bay. It not only depicted many small islands, but also connected them with dotted lines to indicate navigation.

"Benjamin, are you preparing to leave Padesto?" Jones looked up, a dark red scar on his left cheek, as if it had been left by the claws of some monster. This made his originally handsome face look somewhat ferocious and terrifying, which was rare among elves.

Benjamin lowered his head, took two Magic Crystal Stone out of his pocket, and pushed them in front of the Slave Traders Jones.

"Well, Jones, I need you to get me two Teleportation Portal tickets," Benjamin said.

Magic Crystal Stone are a form of hard currency, no matter where you are.

Jones neither agreed nor disagreed, simply accepting the two Magic Crystal Stone, then curled the corners of his mouth into a meaningful smile.

The Slave Traders nearby laughed along with Jones...

This made Benjamin realize that things were not going well. He secretly encouraged himself, telling himself that he must not back down at this moment.

Benjamin then stared coldly at the Slave Traders Jones. Sure enough, after a while, Jones stopped smiling and said directly:

"Benjamin, look, the Golden Tangerine is gone now. If you give me that sea chart that can cross the Endless Sea, I can not only help you leave the Pattington Plane, but also take you back to the Roland Continent. Our business here will always depend on opening up this sea route. That sea chart is of no use to you..."

Benjamin finally understood: the Slave Traders wanted to build their own ships and do the business of selling slaves at sea.

"Jones, you want to get into the sea slave trade?"

Jones smiled slyly and said frankly, "We can't keep selling slaves to those mine Boss. They've been driving down prices too hard lately. It's risky for us to capture slaves here. If we don't make any profit, we might as well hunt Wind Fox in the southern jungle."

Benjamin hesitated for a moment.

"But I don't have the Navigation Chart of the Endless Sea. However, I have been trying to draw that route recently. The Half-Elf young man next to me is actually very familiar with all the sea areas of the Endless Sea, but unfortunately he has not been able to draw a complete nautical chart yet."

Benjamin was referring to Abbott. Jones had met Abbott once and was deeply impressed by this young Half-Elf was obsessed with sea charts.

In reality, Abbott was only focused on finding the treasure at sea and had no idea of Benjamin's true identity.

The sea chart that spanned the Endless Sea was already firmly imprinted in Benjamin's mind, but he could never take it out under any circumstances.

Benjamin knew that once he handed over the nautical chart, Jones might throw him and Abbott into the sea to feed the sharks. Which of these Slave Traders didn't have their hands stained with blood?

Instructor Eleanor hid in the shadows of the closet behind the living room of the cabin. She wasn't interested in the topic the Slave Traders were discussing, but she understood what was going on: the human mage wanted to buy two Teleportation Portal, but the Slave Traders were clearly trying to make things difficult for him.

This was indeed Slave Traders's hideout, but she couldn't find Woods inside the house.

Despite the laws prohibiting the slave trade being in effect for so many years, these Slave Traders brazenly built their stronghold in an orchard, which was not only incredibly audacious but also an unspeakable irony.

The orchards on the outskirts of the elven town have always been controlled by the Silvermoon Elven Nobles.

It would be difficult for Half-Elf to own such a prosperous orchard.

I never imagined that this group of Half-Elf would not only be slave traders, but also live in an orchard like this...

Instructor Eleanor stopped letting her imagination run wild; she wanted to know where Woods was being held.

She searched for the basement entrance in the kitchen and storage room, but it wasn't there.

Instructor Eleanor was hiding in the shadows behind a door. She could become completely invisible in the shadows, but this secondary invisibility required her body to be in the shadows. Even if someone walked by with a candlestick, the faint candlelight might reveal her.

Any glaring light would expose him directly.

So Instructor Eleanor could only wait patiently. While the Slave Traders chatted in the living room, she made her way to the back of the stairs and found a wooden door to a cellar. The door was locked, and the handles were gleaming from being touched, indicating that it had been used frequently.

Instructor Eleanor waited quite a while before seeing a Half-Elf carrying a bucket of apples walk to the cellar door. He pulled a key from his waist, unlocked the wooden door, and lifted it open. Inside, there was a strong, nauseating smell.

The Half-Elf pinched his nose, picked up the bucket, and went inside.

He didn't close the door. Instructor Eleanor followed the Half-Elf into the cellar. Perhaps because it wasn't well-ventilated, the stench gave Instructor Eleanor a headache...

She then discovered that there were many iron cages in the basement. These iron cages, each only a meter square, contained many Half-Elf, both male and female. They could only sit huddled inside, wearing dirty clothes, and were emaciated from hunger.

The Half-Elf Slave Traders then picked up a few apples and tossed them into the cage like pigs. The Half-Elf quickly caught them with both hands and wolfed them down, even swallowing the cores.

Some sat listlessly in their cages, completely ignoring the apples being thrown in...

Instructor Eleanor hid in the shadows behind the steps, checking each iron cage one by one. Sure enough, in a corner near the cellar, she found Woods, his arms wrapped in bandages, locked in an iron cage. His face had obvious bruises and scars, indicating that he had been severely beaten by the Slave Traders.

Upon seeing Woods, Instructor Eleanor had no intention of lingering.

She slipped away quietly while the Half-Elf was feeding her apples.

Roy followed Instructor Nora and hid in the bushes on the hillside, waiting from dusk until nightfall.

If it weren't for Instructor Nora's composure, Roy would have rushed into the cabin long ago to check if Instructor Eleanor was alright...

During this time, Instructor Virgil brought along the Magician Scarlett and Instructor Gru.

After a long wait, the grass in front of them finally rustled slightly, and Instructor Eleanor appeared before them. The instructors were already used to this, Instructor Nora whispered to Instructor Eleanor, "Have you found Woods?"

Instructor Eleanor then took out a handkerchief, wiped the sweat from her brow, and whispered, "Found it. It's in the basement of the cabin. There's a group of Slave Traders in the cabin, six Half-Elf, and a human mage inside..."

Instructor Nora frowned upon hearing that there was a human mage inside the house.

Instructor Virgil stroked the hilt of his sword and said:

"Let's storm in and rescue Woods!"

Instructor Nora grabbed Instructor Virgil's wrist and said to him:

"Wait a moment..."

Instructor Nora's gaze fell on the front of the wooden house.

Inside the cabin, after much persuasion, the Benjamin the Mage finally convinced Jones that the nautical chart was not in his possession and that Abbott was the key to its creation.

The Benjamin the Mage smiled slightly and said to Jones:

"I will urge him to draw the nautical chart as soon as possible when I get back. Even if there are some errors, it doesn't matter. I will also accompany him on the ship. Although I can't remember the route on the nautical chart, I still remember some of the islands we pass by. If there is any deviation in the route, I can correct it in time."

When Slave Traders Jones heard Benjamin say this, he felt that Benjamin was quite sincere, and his expression softened...

Benjamin then said, "Things are getting tense lately. The Elven army is cracking down on slave traders. You must be careful."

Upon hearing Benjamin's words, Jones laughed heartily and said confidently, "Benjamin, if you knew who was backing us, you wouldn't have such worries."

One update today.