Caravan

"Ah, Master Mage, greetings! How may I be of service to you?" The portly middle-aged merchant scrambled to his feet, bowing respectfully toward Ryan.

The merchant stole a glance at the mysterious mage before him. A slender frame was draped in dark robes, and beneath a wide hood, a black veil obscured the face, leaving only a pair of deep, ocean-blue eyes exposed.

In Silverymoon, no one dared to pose as a mage to swindle others, for all true mages possessed certificates issued by the Mage Association and received monthly magic stone stipends based on their rank. If caught forging such credentials, the penalty ranged from imprisonment to summary execution by the enforcement mages.

Ryan nodded. As a member of this privileged class, he had grown accustomed to the awe and reverence others held for mages, though he still felt an unspoken sense of helplessness deep down.

This world of swords and magic was, at its core, a world defined by class and oppression, a reality that both the beneficiaries of power and the exploited commoners had long since accepted as the norm.

As a normal adult from his previous life—one who had received higher education and been deeply influenced by the red ideology of the Rabbit Nation—Ryan naturally found much to criticize in a world like Faerûn, where god-tier powerhouses could move mountains and drain seas, yet productivity remained stuck at a medieval level.

In Ryan's view, even though Faerûn's great mages included legendary figures whose names echoed across the planes—beings who could command the weather, summon storms, move mountains, suspend peaks in mid-air, and construct magnificent floating cities, or even traverse planes to vacation in the Abyss or the Hells—they never once looked down at the world below. They never concerned themselves with the lives of the common folk or the mundane struggles of humanity; many mages had even begun to view themselves as a species apart from the "rabble."

They seemed omnipotent, yet beyond flaunting their own power and prestige across the multiverse, they remained indifferent to the progress of civilization, contributing less to its advancement than simple, skilled craftsmen.

Having been in this world for so long, Ryan had naturally pondered these issues. After living here for sixteen years, he had gradually realized that his greatest cheat was the systematic, comprehensive education from his past life and the unique perspective gained from the vast information flow of the internet age. This had not only given him different ways to perceive the world but had also helped him understand the true essence and purpose of being human.

His experimental logs still contained research topics such as: "The Key to Apotheosis through Faith and the Possibility of Shaping Red Deities via Marxist Thought," "The Potential of Using Necromancy and Skeletons to Replace Livestock for Productivity," "Research into Developing Magic-Powered Engines via Modified Energy Sources," and "The Application of Magic in Daily Life: Constraints on Productivity Development."

Yet, Ryan understood what a bottomless pit this was. As a weak, mid-level mage, his current abilities were far from sufficient to support his grand ambitions.

Sigh, I really am too weak. If it were any other transmigrator, they would have punched the gods, kicked the Abyss, and crushed all opposition in the world by now.

Ryan sighed inwardly and pulled himself back to the present.

Facing the merchant who waited respectfully for his words, Ryan chuckled, his voice disguised by a cantrip into a unique, raspy, and unpleasant tone:

"Guildmaster Sphinx, I trust I have your name correct."

Sphinx was startled, nodding hurriedly. "Y-yes, Master Mage! Your memory is truly excellent; this humble one is indeed called Sphinx."

Sphinx silently racked his brain, trying to recall when he had ever met such a mysterious mid-level mage. As a competent merchant, he knew that if he had encountered such a "big shot" before, he would never have forgotten.

Watching Sphinx's confusion, a sly smile tugged at the corner of Ryan's mouth.

"Don't bother searching; you haven't. As far as I know, your Golden Rose Trading Company has been engaged in the trade of timber, spices, and herbs between Silverymoon and Waterdeep. I also hear you have a caravan departing from Silverymoon for Waterdeep very soon, is that correct?"

Sphinx looked at the mysterious mage hidden beneath the black hood in shock and asked solemnly, "How did you come by this information, sir? This should be internal business for our company. Please, speak plainly."

"I have no interest in your business; I simply wish to know if you are willing to give a mage a ride."

Ryan certainly wouldn't tell Sphinx that he had spent the entire night after his teacher's notification scouring records and even paying for a list from the Silverymoon merchant guild representative just to find a reliable, reputable company. Only after careful selection and deliberation had he settled on Sphinx's Golden Rose Trading Company.

Sphinx breathed a sigh of relief. While he knew it was unlikely a rival would hire a mid-level mage to cause trouble for his company, having one approach him directly by name had still made him nervous.

Now that he knew the mysterious mage's goal, Sphinx felt a bit wary, but he also realized that since the other party had done their homework, he had no real choice in the matter.

"Master Ryan, the Golden Rose caravan would, of course, welcome you. As you know, winter is approaching, and monsters like goblins and kobolds in the wilderness are becoming restless. With a powerful mage like yourself joining us, we couldn't be happier!"

A fawning smile spread across Sphinx's greasy, fat face. His merchant's instincts told him this was an opportunity. If he announced that a mage was guarding the caravan, the rough, barbaric mercenaries he'd hired would feel much more at ease, and he could even drive down their wages.

"Hmm. I may intervene if necessary, but do not expect me to do anything more," Ryan said coolly.

"Understood, Master Ryan, understood! The reputation of the Golden Rose is plain for all to see. The guards and mercenaries we choose are old partners we've worked with many times; they are all top-notch.

We will set aside a carriage specifically for you, so you need not worry about any of the travel arrangements."

Hearing Ryan's reply, Sphinx was overjoyed. Securing the guarantee of a mage without much cost was like a pie falling from the sky.

Ryan felt a surge of excitement as well; the matter was finally settled.

Due to the nature of his quest item, he could not use the teleportation portal in Yefalin's Mage Tower to reach Waterdeep directly, leaving him no choice but to travel overland. Being able to set off with a caravan familiar with the route, while having time to study new magic during the journey, was simply perfect.

Neither party was aware of the other's secret delight, both believing they had gotten the better end of the deal. Naturally, the transaction was a happy one for both.

Sphinx beamed, enthusiastically saying to Ryan, "Master Ryan, our caravan departs this afternoon. Will you be coming with me to the Golden Rose headquarters now, or...?"

"No need. I have an attendant waiting for me. I know where your company is located; I will head there myself this afternoon."

Ryan declined the invitation and turned to leave the still-bustling tavern.

By the afternoon, golden sunlight spilled lazily across the well-ordered street corners of Silverymoon, bringing a touch of winter warmth to the city.

Before the partially open vermilion gates, Ryan stood in his deep blue mage robes, his wide hood completely concealing his sun-bright golden hair. He squinted at the "Golden Rose Trading Company" plaque, which shimmered in the rare winter sun. Behind him, Bill stepped forward nimbly to push open the gates, and the sounds of a busy crowd and livestock rushed out to meet them.

Ryan stepped inside to a scene of frantic activity. Laborers in simple clothing loaded bags of sealed spices and herbs onto mule carts, while a clerk dressed as a scholar stood to the side, recording numbers in a ledger. The spacious courtyard was packed tight with vehicles and a bustling throng of people.

Seeing Ryan enter, a small, nimble gnome immediately stepped forward, calling out enthusiastically, "Master Mage, you've finally arrived! The Guildmaster has been waiting for you for a long time. Welcome, welcome! Please, this way!"

Ryan nodded at the gnome and was led into a luxuriously decorated mansion, where he met Sphinx, who was discussing matters with several mercenaries.

As soon as Sphinx saw Ryan, he stopped talking and strode forward to greet him warmly, "Master Ryan, you've arrived! I was worried I might miss you.

Come, come, let me introduce you to the mercenaries our company has hired; they are all trustworthy experts."

With that, Sphinx led Ryan toward the group who were currently sizing him up.

"This is Kasla, a dwarven shield-bearer. He is a qualified vanguard who once held off the attack of three Orc warriors single-handedly."

The dwarf named Kasla shouted in the booming voice characteristic of his race, "Sphinx, you weren't bluffing this time! You actually got a mage to join the caravan?!"

"This is Jelona, an outstanding half-elf ranger. With her here, you can rest easy regarding the caravan's scouting and security." The beautiful half-elf nodded at Ryan without saying a word.

"And this is Arata, an 11th-level Barbarian Warrior. When it comes to combat, he is absolutely the most reliable comrade-in-arms." The tall, burly barbarian grinned at the mage and boomed, "Mage, welcome to the team!"

After introducing the mercenaries before him, Chris said with a hint of pride, "We also have a group of well-trained guards to protect the caravan, so you can rest assured and place your trust in us, Master Mage!"

Ryan sized up the mercenaries—or rather, adventurers—standing before him and nodded. In Faerûn, there was never a shortage of adventurers; they existed in every corner of the land, capable of handling trivial tasks like finding lost cats or clearing out goblins, yet also frequently participating in perilous endeavors such as dragon slaying, treasure hunting, and exploring ancient ruins.

The few individuals before Ryan were clearly quite capable, belonging to the upper-middle tier among adventurers. It had to be said that the Golden Rose Trading Company possessed impressive strength. Ryan was naturally pleased to see this; the stronger the caravan, the fewer troubles he would face, and he was quite satisfied with the arrangement.

"Mm, it is a pleasure to meet you all. I shall leave the upcoming journey in your hands," Ryan said to the group of adventurers in a flat tone. His raspy voice sounded as if his throat had been scrubbed with sandpaper, causing the three adventurers to freeze for a moment.

"We are about to depart, so I shall head to my carriage now." Ryan nodded at Finks and took his leave.

"Another mysterious fellow!" Watching Ryan's back as he disappeared into his dark robes, the hearty dwarf Kasla muttered under his breath, though with a dwarf's booming voice, his companions heard him clearly.

"Aren't all mages like that? Always acting all mysterious," the barbarian replied nonchalantly.

"Forget about all that nonsense and hurry up to pack your gear; we're about to set off." The handsome half-elf ranger urged his companions, "At the very least, having a mage will save us a lot of trouble. I just hope he isn't all show and no substance."