Castleton City Merchants

On the beach right next to the pier in the southern West Reef Islands, a row of wooden cages stood outside the dense forest, holding more than two thousand Gray Dwarf prisoners of war.

Under the blazing sun, even with gusts of sea breeze blowing, the Gray Dwarf Bandit in the wooden cages were still drowsy from the cruel sun.

They huddled in the wooden cage, afraid to move, lest any unnecessary movement cause them to lose too much body fluid.

These Gray Dwarf prisoners of war have been locked up on the beach for nearly half a month. Roy is worried that these Gray Dwarf dwarf prisoners of war will cause trouble, so he only provides them with one meal and two waters a day. In the past half month, the Gray Dwarf prisoners of war have become visibly thinner.

The main island's dock has been repaired by the Silver Moon Elf, and this time the rebuilt dock extends another twenty meters into the sea.

A fleet of medium-sized sailing ships docked at the pier, and a group of Silver Moon Elf Warrior began unloading various military supplies from the cabins. Commander Berkeley also disembarked from the sailing ships. This time, in addition to delivering military supplies to Roy, he also wanted to take the group of Gray Dwarf prisoners of war from the West Reef Islands.

In order to transport these Gray Dwarf prisoners of war, Commander Berkeley brought a total of seven medium-sized sailing ships.

The weather in West Reef Islands was rather hot; the sea breeze didn't feel refreshing on the face, the beach was steaming, and the trees at the edge of the dense forest were wilted by the sun.

In this kind of weather, the best thing to do is to hide under the shade of trees and take a nap, and ideally, have a glass of ice-cold coconut juice.

The victory at the Battle of West Reef Islands gave the Silver Moon Elf on Empress Ivini Islands a much-needed boost, and they regained their confidence in defeating the Gray Dwarf Bandit.

Recently, even the Silver Pegasus Battle Group has not achieved any particularly outstanding results, causing the entire Silver Pegasus Legion to be filled with anxiety about the future.

For this reason, Earl Swynborne even wrote a letter to his old friend in Buenos seeking help.

Commander Berkeley breathed in the warm air as he walked out of the sampan on the dock and immediately saw the Gray Dwarf prisoners of war lined up under the scorching sun.

If the wooden cage hadn't blocked half the sun, these Gray Dwarf would probably be roasted into jerky by now...

They lay listlessly in their cages, looking as if they didn't even have the strength to breathe.

Then the Commander Berkeley saw Roy waving at him from under the shade of a tree. He quickly walked over, Roy had Commander Berkeley hand him a cup of fruit tea before saying:

"It's too hot on the beach right now. Let the soldiers rest for a bit, and we can move the supplies when the heat dissipates in the evening! Commander Berkeley, please allow me to express my sincerest gratitude for being able to deliver the supplies at this time!"

"If I hadn't been worried that the island's resources wouldn't be enough to support so many Gray Dwarf prisoners of war, I probably wouldn't have come over for another three days..." Commander Berkeley said.

He walked over to Roy, pointed to the row of wooden cages, and asked with some concern, "Did you let these Gray Dwarf prisoners of war die from the sun?"

"How could that be! We provide them with water every morning and evening, and a free lunch at noon. Since the day they were imprisoned, not Gray Dwarf Bandit in the wooden cage has died," Roy assured Commander Berkeley.

Hearing Roy say this, Commander Berkeley felt a little relieved.

"Roy, do you know that the battle in the West Reef Islands completely reversed the decline of the Silver Pegasus Legion? Currently, the Silver Moon Elf Guard Regiment stationed on the outer islands of Empress Ivini Islands are also imitating your combat methods, maneuvering in the jungle with the Gray Dwarf Bandit and fighting jungle warfare against them."

Commander Berkeley, sitting in a deckchair under a tree, said to Roy.

"So... how much longer are we going to stay on the West Reef Islands in the Empress Ivini Islands?" Roy asked Commander Berkeley.

"Um... it's hard to say for now!"

The Commander Berkeley couldn't answer that question.

"The military's commendation might be delayed. I'm not only here to replenish your supplies, but also to escort these Gray Dwarf Bandit to the Prisoner of War Camp," Commander Berkeley whispered to Roy.

Roy chuckled and said:

"Our supplies are indeed running low. Although we are only provided with one meal a day, these Gray Dwarf Bandit have almost eaten everything edible on the island."

The two walked arm in arm toward the temporary camp.

Just as Roy had said, the camp's military supplies were almost gone...

Commander Berkeley had also noticed the wooden wall between the main island and the West Island. He hadn't seen it the last time he came here, but it was there this time. Clearly, Roy had put a lot of effort into securing victory in the West Reef Islands naval battle.

Commander Berkeley also saw a lot of local products at the temporary camp, and even saw a group of Silver Moon Elf residents carrying some fruit into the camp.

"You seem to have a pretty good relationship with the local Silver Moon Elf residents?" Commander Berkeley asked curiously.

The Silver Moon Elf have always looked down on Half-Elf, which is almost the norm in the Silver Moon Kingdom. However, the Silver Moon Elf on the main island are quite different and are very friendly to the Half-Elf Warrior.

"It's alright, we fought off the Gray Dwarf Bandit, so even if we didn't do anything special, we certainly put in the effort!" Roy said casually. "You're here just in time; I was wondering how to get off the island! Where are you headed next?"

"The first step is to transport these Gray Dwarf prisoners of war to Parraram Island, then the fleet will arrive at Pattington Island to load a batch of supplies before returning to the main island of the Empress Ivini Islands. What's going on?" Commander Berkeley asked.

"I'm planning to take four days off to go home and visit my family, which will allow me to catch your boat," Roy said.

"Taking a vacation... Who told you we have the right to take a vacation at this time?" Commander Berkeley asked with a look of disbelief.

"Miss Christine told me that we have four days off every month," Roy replied.

"Alright! I can take you to Pattington Island, and then to the supply Supply Ship bound for Castleton. However, you will only have one day in Castleton City. You will return to Pattington Island with that Supply Ship the following day, and then I will arrange for a ship to take you back to West Reef Islands. You cannot delay on the way, as the situation here is constantly changing." Commander Berkeley solemnly instructed Roy.

"No problem!"

Roy readily agreed.

The thought of returning to Castleton City in two days filled Roy with anticipation.

Roy boarded Commander Berkeley's supply Supply Ship, passed through Parraram Island, and returned to Pattington Island in just half a day.

With the help of the Commander Berkeley, he boarded a supply Supply Ship bound for Castleton City directly at the docks on Pattington Island. The Supply Ship would depart overnight for the port of Castleton City.

The Commander Berkeley knew a bit about Roy's affairs.

For example, his business dealing in low-level Magic Herbs in the Pattington Plane, and his transporting large quantities of Metal Ingots produced in the mines to Castleton City for sale—such information was on the desks of almost all the high-ranking Silver Pegasus Legion. If Roy hadn't possessed a trading license signed by Earl Swynborne, he probably would have been sent to Military Tribunal by now.

Even though Roy wasn't sent to Military Tribunal, negative news about Roy has been frequently reaching the ears of the Silver Pegasus Legion's high command lately.

Clearly, he had touched something that was on the Silver Moon Elf' Silver Moon Elf, which is why he was constantly being betrayed by them...

In fact, Commander Berkeley has been subtly reminding Roy recently, but Roy doesn't seem to be paying much attention.

The two consecutive naval victories in the West Reef Islands have provided Roy with a thick protective shield, and at least for now, no one in the legion's high command has mentioned Roy's business dealings.

Commander Berkeley watched Roy board the ship and waved to Roy from the dock.

A row of Five-Masted Sailing Ship is moored at the Deep Water Pier of Castleton Harbour, and these giant Five-Masted Sailing Ship almost fill the Deep Water Pier.

Early in the morning, the Supply Ship for Pattington Island arrived at Castleton Harbour.

Roy stood on the deck, looking toward the spot where the Black Pearl was aground, but his view was blocked by the row of Five-Masted Sailing Ship.

Cargo was being continuously transported onto the large ship, and the Half-Elf boatmen lined up in a long queue at the dock.

These ships flew the flag of the Silver Moon Elf Kingdom and a flag of a Gryphon Sword and Shield. Roy had seen such flags on that human merchant ship before, and he knew that these Five-Masted Sailing Ship must have come from the Roland Continent.

Roy's gaze swept across the dock. Castleton Harbour was still the same as always; the bustling place was always the Fish Market on the other side of the dock.

The dock was filled with various Wooden Box, Half-Elf was carrying these large Wooden Box into the cabin of the Five-Masted Sailing Ship.

Before Roy could even disembark, he saw Woods and Klayr standing on the dock, with several servants following behind Klayr. Woods and Klayr were holding two lists in their hands, seemingly checking the goods on the dock.

Roy, holding onto the gunwale of the Supply Ship ship, shouted Woods and Klayr's names towards the dock.

Woods didn't hear it, but Klayr, who was exceptionally sensitive to sound, immediately picked up Roy's voice.

Klayr looked up and immediately saw Roy standing on the deck of the Supply Ship. He waved vigorously at Roy and called out to Roy with joy, "Roy, you're back?"

Woods then looked up as well.

The three friends met at the dock, hugged, and then Roy said to his two friends, "I'm just back for a visit. I only have one day off. I'll be taking this Supply Ship back to Pattington Island tomorrow night."

Klayr looked visibly disappointed, and he couldn't help but mutter, "Why were you in such a hurry?"

Woods, however, couldn't wait to grab Roy's arm, point to the cargo boxes on the dock, and excitedly said to Roy, "Roy, come and see our deal! Those merchants from the Grimm Empire bought up all the basic magic potions and Magic Herbs in our trading company, and they also bought up all the iron ingots and Mithril Ingot. I was planning to head to Pattington today to bring back all the Magic Herbs from their warehouse..."

Then he said to Roy with a delighted expression:

"We had a lot of these Elementary Magic Herbs and potions piling up in the warehouse, but now they've completely emptied our stock..."

Klayr added, "They've swept up all the Magic Herbs in the entire Castleton City!"

It turned out to be a major herbalist from the Roland Continent. Judging from the looks in Woods and Klayr's eyes, Roy knew that this deal was sure to be profitable.

"Roy, would you like to take a look at our Alchemy Workshop?" Woods asked eagerly.

"How much longer will it take you to finish here? I'll go home and check first, then we'll meet up at the Alchemy Workshop Alchemy Workshop. I know where it is!" Roy said.

"We can hand over our tasks to them anytime!" Klayr said to Roy, gesturing to the servants following behind her.

"Alright, then see you at the Alchemy Workshop later!"

Roy was eager to get home, so he waved to the two of them and ran toward Brown Street.

As Roy passed by the Goddess of Freedom Temple, Roy noticed that the temple's large iron gates had become rusty, and weeds had grown in the cracks between the stone slabs in the front courtyard. It had been abandoned for the past few years.

It was originally said that a shelter for Half-Elf children would be set up here, but it seems that it has never been built.

Further ahead is the Cross Street Intersection of Brown Street, where Roy can hear the gurgling of the Da Nei River.

Just as he passed Mrs. Winnie's Potion Shop, a dark, oily head peeked out from a gap under the bushes, staring at Roy with a pair of vertical, green crystal-like pupils, making a muffled sound as if expressing its dissatisfaction.

Roy quickly went up, squatted down by the bush wall, and reached out to pat the big cat on the head.

"Waaah..."

The Night Blade Leopard immediately let out a disgruntled whimper.

"Sorry I've been out for so long, I'll bring you some more food tonight!" Roy muttered to the Night Blade Leopard, patted its head, and then left.

Roy arrived at his doorstep. The street outside the yard was very clean. He pushed open the gate and went inside. The yard was well-maintained. He knew without a doubt that it must have been Sabrina and Moira who took care of it.

There were no signs of clothes drying on the clothesline on the terrace, and the doors and windows were all tightly closed.

Seeing this, Roy couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. Ms. Belinda's trip was not over yet, and she had not returned to Castleton City.

The neighboring yard was also quiet. At this time, Sabrina and Moira should have gone to the Elf Academy, Ms. Jillian should have gone to the Fish Market to sell fish, so no one was home next door...

Roy opened the door and saw that all the furniture in the living room was covered with gauze, and there was a layer of dust on the floor.

He pushed open the bathroom door, found a bucket inside, filled it with water from the Da Nei River across the street, poured it into the bathtub, and then took a comfortable cold shower. He changed into clean clothes, tidied up the bedroom briefly (since he was only staying one night), and then hurriedly headed to the Alchemy Workshop.