"As the main road running north to south across the Eastern Continent and connecting the Lord Alliance's major cities, the Road to Prison served far more purposes than escorting heinous criminals to the Great Wall for penal service.
"It was a shortcut, a trade route, and a broad avenue where every refugee could seek an opportunity.
"If you wanted to be a robber, lying in ambush along a caravan's route was a safe bet—provided you were ready to fight your fellow robbers for a share of the meat. Whether wandering goblins or bandits with established camps, they clearly knew this road better than you did.
"That meant if you wanted to be a merchant, you had best hire a mercenary band or an adventuring party. Of course, that wouldn't guarantee the safety of your property. At most, they might spare your life when necessary.
"After all, whether mercenaries, bandits, or adventurers, weren't they helping you for those few gold coins? Those with so-called professional integrity were ultimately a minority. You couldn't expect justice from a bunch of people who lived with their heads hanging from their belts.
"So we should all understand that being alive, sitting in this tavern in Wheat Ear Town, and tasting its signature white wheat ale was already a rare blessing—
"It was chaos out there, but at least we were still alive."
Wheat Ear Town was the largest settlement between the Plague Outpost and Wilderness Village. Wilderness Village to the north had a sizable population, but most lived scattered in small groups throughout its townships.
The outpost to the south was oppressive and desolate. Though populous, it wasn't a city where ordinary people could live permanently. A few dozen kilometers farther south lay the Gray Mountains, beyond which stretched sparsely inhabited wasteland.
This made the