Everything fell into place so naturally. Inwardly, Ruger praised this trip, praised the trading Island, praised Lord Kurt. He had absolutely no reason to refuse.
A market Island belonging to wizards—it sounded utterly enticing.
"With the two of you traveling alongside me, that would naturally be for the best," Kurt said with equal delight, smiling broadly. "Given your identities, it should be easier for you to earn trust. If there are any transactions beyond the usual, they may go more smoothly as well. And the journey itself will be safer."
With that, Kurt led the way.
Ruger glanced at the big fellow, and the two of them followed in step.
"The Stinkflame Grass you want isn't particularly rare, so this trip shouldn't disappoint you. As for Dragon Tear Grass and Redstone Mushrooms—I've only seen Dragon Tear Grass twice. Of course, that also has to do with how rarely I went out in the past. Usually, I only left once every few years, so my experience is limited."
Kurt said this with a cheerful laugh.
Ruger's smile widened at those words, and he stayed close on Kurt's heels.
The man was not heading out of the city, much less toward the docks. Instead, he was making for the cliffs at the rear of the city.
"This is my own private harbor. I only discovered it after I started going out more often recently. At some point, so many of the trees here were uprooted clean—"
As he spoke, Kurt arrived atop a bare stretch of rock. He first cast a Light Body Spell, then leaped down.
Ruger smiled. Those trees had already become the inn's stump chairs, or perhaps various other things. In any case, their many years of growth had not gone to waste. Following Kurt's example, he cast Light