The Narrow-Minded Goddess of Fortune

The caravan departed Changhe City, traveling east along a winding dirt road.

The land Xia Lin found himself in belonged to the Aria Kingdom, a kingdom with a long history but one that had seen a slight decline in recent years.

It was known for its commerce and complex border relations; royal authority was not absolute, and local lords and large city-states often enjoyed considerable autonomy.

And their destination for this journey—the provincial capital Orlando—was precisely the largest and most prosperous commercial center and transportation hub in the eastern province of the Aria Kingdom.

Orlando was not only famous for its vast market and incredibly busy inland port but also drew much attention due to the mage tower that towered into the clouds within the city, a structure even older than the Aria Kingdom itself.

Legend had it that the tower was a relic of ancient magic civilization, still attracting countless mages eager to explore its Arcana.

Xia Lin rode on his bouncing horse, watching the fields and sparse woodlands slowly blur past on either side of the road, his thoughts inevitably drifting back to the past.

Both the original owner of this body and he himself had been to Orlando more than once.

But back then, he had been inside a luxurious and comfortable carriage pulled by four pure-bred horses, with guards bowing respectfully outside the windows, and chilled fruit wine and soft cushions inside.

His mind then had been occupied not with the safety of the journey, but with which bustling tavern to visit upon arrival in Orlando, which beautiful dancer to seek out, or which hidden casino to try his luck at.

He had never paid attention to the guards running alongside the caravan, dusty and perpetually vigilant—much like he was now.

How ironic.

Today, he had become one of those people he used to ignore, traveling the same road for a mere four silver coins.

The scenery along the way was quite pleasant, though.

It was early spring, the fields were showing their fresh green, the trees by the roadside were sprouting tender buds, and the air was filled with the fresh scent of earth and grass. Occasionally, a few wild rabbits or foxes would dart across the road.

The sun was warm, and a gentle breeze brushed his face. If he hadn't needed to remain constantly vigilant, this journey would have felt quite like a spring outing.

Xia Lin possessed a naturally gregarious personality (Charisma 16), and combined with his current appearance and the confidence gained from his previous battles, he easily struck up friendships with a few of his temporary colleagues.

He chatted with the taciturn greatsword wielder, Kyle, about weapon maintenance. Although Kyle spoke little, he greatly admired Xia Lin's longsword, crafted by a stone fist Dwarf.

He also exchanged a few jokes with Pip, the seemingly clever Halfling, teasing her about whether she had pilfered some cheese from the caravan. This caused Pip to vehemently deny it while quickly tucking something into her sleeve.

As for the cold-looking female archer, her looks were to Xia Lin's taste. After praising her precise archery a few times, a faint blush appeared on her face.

He mused inwardly, it seemed Miss Shamir wasn't entirely a block of ice. When they reached the provincial capital Orlando, perhaps during the long nights, he could find an opportunity for a deeper exchange of insights on "archery" and "swordsmanship"?

Only the masked woman, who called herself Sera, remained aloof, trailing the group like a ghost at the very end, hardly interacting with anyone. Xia Lin tried to strike up a conversation twice, but only received a few perfunctory monosyllabic responses, so he stopped trying to force it.

The first day of the journey passed exceptionally peacefully.

Apart from a brief incident in the afternoon when five or six goblins, brandishing wooden clubs and shouting wildly, jumped out from the roadside woods, attempting to rob the seemingly "plump" caravan, there were no other disturbances.

Those green-skinned little monsters didn't even manage to reach the cargo wagons before Kyle at the front sent them flying with a few swings of his greatsword, and Shamir finished them off with precise arrows.

The entire process was as easy as swatting flies, more like a harmless diversion added to the monotonous journey.

The second morning remained calm.

Warm sunlight bathed the land as the caravan proceeded at a steady pace.

At noon, the caravan stopped to rest on a gentle grassy area near a stream.

Master Bolin generously produced some smoked meat and cheese to share with everyone, and the cooks began preparing meals.

After eating their fill, the idle guards and Adventurers quickly found amusement.

Someone must have suggested it, and soon a flat stone was cleared to serve as a temporary gambling table.

Several guards and Adventurers sat around it, taking out their respective copper coins to play a popular dice game—a gamble that involved matching numbers and combinations, with simple rules and relying entirely on luck, perfect for passing the time.

Xia Lin also joined, watching with keen interest.

Soon, he noticed that the Gnome, Fitzwick, had an almost excessive amount of good luck.

The dice he tossed with his small hands always rolled into various high-scoring combinations, and a small pile of copper coins quickly accumulated in front of him.

Xia Lin felt a twinge of temptation and joined in for a few rounds. Unfortunately, his luck was poor, and in the blink of an eye, he lost over twenty copper coins, causing him some heartache.

He didn't complain about bad luck like the others; instead, he observed quietly.

As the dice rolled in front of him again, he concentrated and activated [Item Appraisal].

A faint blue light screen flashed and disappeared.

[Item: Cheating Loaded Dice]

[Evaluation: A simple and crude tool for cheating, with shifted weight, making it easier to roll specific high numbers. The craftsmanship is slightly rough, but it's sufficient for dealing with fools who have poor eyesight.]

Who are you calling a fool?!

Just then, the guard leader, who had been losing money, also lost his temper. Unwilling to accept defeat, he fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a small bottle filled with a deep red liquid, slamming it onto the table: "Damn it! I'm out of copper coins! I'll bet this last round against you! This is a life-saving item!"

Fitzwick's eyes lit up, and he agreed without hesitation.

The outcome, naturally, was that the Gnome won again, taking the bottle of potion as well.

The guard leader's face turned green with anger. He grumbled a few curses about his bad luck but failed to notice the problem with the dice.

Xia Lin waited until the gambling session temporarily broke up. While Fitzwick went alone to the stream to ostentatiously wash his greasy little hands, Xia Lin quietly followed him.

"Hey, Fitzwick." Xia Lin leaned against a tree, a friendly smile on his face, blocking the Gnome's path.

"Hm? Oh, it's Mr. Xia Lin!" The Gnome was startled to see Xia Lin, then puffed out his small chest, a smug expression of a winner on his face. "What can I do for you? Do you want to share in my good luck too? Can't be helped, who else could it be but me, the most beloved lover of Lady Luck!"

"That's truly amazing. But you see...", Xia Lin's smile didn't change, it even became brighter, "I just find your dice rather special. The sound they make when you roll them, the way they tumble... it's all quite different from ordinary ones. Tell me, if Captain Marcus and the others were to 'appreciate' them closely, do you think they'd also find them special?"

Fitzwick's face instantly paled, his eyes darting away, but he maintained a tough facade, "What... what nonsense are you spouting! My dice are just ordinary bone dice! You're just a sore loser trying to slander me!"

"Slander?" Xia Lin took a step closer, his shadow nearly engulfing the gnome. He paused, his smile taking on a meaningful glint, "If your dice truly won through luck, then you naturally have nothing to fear, right?"

Fitzwick's face turned ashen, cold sweat immediately breaking out.

"No! You... you can't tell him! Please! I... I'll return all the money I won!"

"Forget the money," Xia Lin waved his hand, his smile becoming even more meaningful, "I'm more interested in the potion you just won. You know, out here, having an extra life-saving item is always good."

The gnome clutched at this lifeline, hastily pulling a small vial filled with deep red liquid from his chest and offering it with both hands, "Here! Take it all! Please, I beg you, don't say anything!"

Xia Lin took the vial. It was warm to the touch, and the stopper was sealed tightly.

He activated [Item Appraisal] again.

[Item: Inferior Strength Potion]

[Effect: Grants a +4 bonus to Strength attribute for 10 minutes after consumption.]

[Evaluation: Another half-finished product from some alchemy apprentice? Crude ingredients, volatile effects. It can make you incredibly strong for a moment... and then likely leave you bedridden for half a month due to severe muscle strain. Friendly reminder: Use with caution, or your bones might complain first.]

"Strength potion?" Although the evaluation was still unimpressive, Strength was precisely the attribute Xia Lin currently lacked.

He nodded with satisfaction, tucking the potion into his space bag, and patted the gnome's shoulder, "Very good, I like people who know how to read the room. Don't worry, your little secret is safe with me."

Xia Lin walked a few steps, then turned back as if remembering something, grinning at the gnome and baring his white teeth. He added slowly:

"Oh, and Fitzwick, remember – Lady Luck doesn't cheat."

Fitzwick acted as if he'd been granted a great pardon, repeatedly expressing his thanks.

Once his shock subsided, perhaps feeling he had won through his "skill," or simply wanting to brag about his luck to the crowd again, he straightened his collar, puffed out his little chest, and strode towards the group he had gambled with, clearly intending to flaunt his recent "glorious victory."

Xia Lin watched his comical demeanor, finding it amusing. He followed along, wanting to hear how the gnome planned to boast, treating it as a bit of entertainment.

The sun was shining, the stream gurgled, and the well-fed people were feeling a bit lazy, the atmosphere peaceful.

Fitzwick walked back to the stone where the gambling had taken place, cleared his throat, a triumphant smile on his face, about to begin recounting how he had "won a fortune through superb skill and invincible luck"–

However, this joke, Xia Lin would not get to hear.

Squelch–!

A dull thud of a sharp weapon piercing flesh suddenly exploded in the quiet afternoon.

A crude, dark red-stained spear, like a venomous snake, emerged from the air behind Fitzwick and pierced his throat with pinpoint accuracy. The spearhead, trailing bloody flesh, protruded from the front of his neck.

The triumphant smile on the gnome's face instantly morphed into extreme terror and disbelief. A wheezing sound escaped his throat as his small body crumpled forward like a puppet with its strings cut.

Warm blood sprayed out like an open faucet, splashing onto the stone table that had witnessed his "glorious achievement," staining the afternoon sun red.