Hai An

Just like Xia Nan had seen in all kinds of films, anime, and novels in his previous life.

The owner of the White Tit Tavern was a middle-aged man with a pair of handlebar mustaches, intently polishing a wineglass.

Having seen countless adventurers, the man naturally did not give Xia Nan a second glance because of his youthful appearance.

Even when Xia Nan walked straight over and sat at the bar, the Tavern Owner merely raised his eyelids.

"Rooms are one Silver Coin per night, right?"

Referring to the information provided in the [Adventurer's Manual], Xia Nan confirmed.

The man gave a slight nod.

"What about long-term stays? Any discount?" Drawing on experience from his previous life, Xia Nan followed up.

"That depends on how long you're staying."

Hearing that, he nodded and did not ask further.

The White Tit Tavern's price of "1 Silver Coin per night" was already relatively cheap for the town. Any lower, and neither comfort nor safety could be guaranteed.

Although long-term rentals came with a discount, if he wanted to continue deeper down the path of an adventurer, this sort of temporary lodging still lacked a sense of belonging.

There were also certain risks involved in storing belongings and going about daily life.

Xia Nan actually preferred to buy a property of his own in town.

Of course, that was assuming he had a certain understanding of the surrounding area and sufficient funds.

Perhaps I can find a few real estate agents to talk to? he thought.

At the same time, driven by the hunger in his stomach, Xia Nan began looking over the menu hanging on the wall.

"Set meal number three, please."

It cost two Silver Coins—the daily wage of a laborer.

It included a large serving of tender, fragrant stewed meat, a bowl of rich mushroom soup, several slices of white bread with butter and Cheese, and a large mug of refreshing ale.

For a single meal, it was perhaps a little expensive.

But for Xia Nan, who had just finished a dangerous journey and gained a "windfall," it was the best possible choice for soothing both body and mind.

Honestly, it tasted pretty good.

The stewed meat was savory and flavorful, while the mushroom soup was especially fresh and sweet. It was particularly good with bread dipped in it, letting the soup's flavor soak into the soft crumb, paired with a small slice of soft Cheese with a salty-sweet taste.

Even Xia Nan, who had grown accustomed to countless delicacies in modern society during his previous life, felt somewhat amazed.

Of course, it was also possible that after gnawing on jerky and flatbread in the forest for so many days, everything tasted good to him now.

Once the food had settled in his stomach, his whole body seemed nourished, warming pleasantly.

Sitting at the bar, Xia Nan swept his gaze across the tavern.

Come to think of it, despite arriving in another world with a Western fantasy setting, he had not actually seen many intelligent creatures of other races since transmigrating here.

Perhaps only one or two out of every ten people.

And most of them were Gnomes or Halflings. As for the Dwarves and Elves that had often appeared on screen in his previous life, he had not seen a single one...

Xia Nan's gaze suddenly paused.

"Well, now I've seen one."

By a rectangular wooden table near the window sat four distinctly different figures:

A blonde girl in her early twenties with a slender figure and pretty features. Her arms were folded across her chest, her legs crossed, and she wore an aloof expression;

Beside her was a slightly plump man dressed in lavish, gaudy clothes, leaning toward the girl with a fawning smile.

Yet the one who drew Xia Nan's attention was the last person, a tall man sitting alone on one side of the table.

His shoulder-length silver hair, revealing his Elven bloodline, was neatly tied behind his head. His features were delicate and gentle, his skin fair, and his eyes the silver-gray unique to Elves.

But upon closer inspection, his ears, though pointed, were not as long as those of traditional Elves. His build was slimmer than that of an ordinary man, yet not as slender as an Elf's.

"So, probably a Half-Elf?"

Xia Nan made a guess based on his scant knowledge of this other world.

"He's carrying a longbow on his back. That fits my traditional impression of Elves' career choices. But are these four a party?"

"Wait! Four?"

He suddenly realized that he seemed to have overlooked something.

Like a television remote that was right within reach but could never be found, or a phone held in one's hand yet assumed to be lost.

The moment he sensed that something was wrong, the final person he had subconsciously overlooked entered Xia Nan's field of vision.

A middle-aged man in tight, practical clothing, with an utterly ordinary face.

Compared with the other three around him, there was nothing noteworthy about the man at all, as though he were merely a passerby seated at the same table.

And it was precisely because of that that Xia Nan's heart suddenly lurched when he realized something was amiss.

His gaze swept over the Short Dagger at the man's waist, wrapped in coarse cloth, then snapped away as if he had been electrocuted.

"Wood, what is it?"

Hai An tightened the slightly loose ponytail at the back of his head. Catching the strange behavior of his Guard from the corner of his eye, he could not help but ask.

"It's nothing, young master."

Wood frowned slightly and glanced in the direction of the bar. Only after watching for a moment did he turn back and reply.

"There's no need to be so tense. Though this place is close to the Misty Forest, this is River Valley Town. With so many adventurers coming and going on the streets, there won't be any danger."

At those words, a trace of helplessness appeared on Wood's usually expressionless face.

"Young master, it's precisely because this place is full of adventurers that we should be even more careful."

Hai An naturally understood what his Guard meant, but perhaps because he trusted the other man's strength—or perhaps it was simply his nature—he merely smiled and replied:

"Relax. The Adventurers Association is right next door to this tavern. Who would be bold enough to cause trouble here?"

"Rather than worrying about that, we should discuss our plans from here on out."

In response, Guard Wood's frown only deepened.

"Young master, although I've said this countless times, I still have to remind you once more."

"The Misty Forest is extremely dangerous!"

"Even I might not be able to make it out safely if I went too deep. You—"

"Alright, alright." The silver-haired Half-Elf waved his hand. There was no impatience on his face, but he still cut the other man off and joked, "Then let me reiterate it too. Our target this time is on the outskirts of the Misty Forest—the outskirts!"

"Fine." Wood had already compromised in his heart long ago. Otherwise, he would never have allowed the other party to come here. "But there is one thing you must agree to."

"Go on."

"We need to add a few more people to our party."

Following his Guard's gaze, the Half-Elf looked at the two people sitting across from him, and a hint of agreement appeared on his face.

"You're right."