Chapter 517: Chapter 263: Humanity, Desire, and the Bottom Line (Part 2)
From the weapons of two veteran experts, since the journey was long and inconvenient to carry, they were all disposed of by Xia Nan.
Lawson’s fine sword had decent attributes on the information panel, but after all, it was not enchanted equipment, so it was sold as second-hand at a discount.
He sold it to the blacksmith in Vilgrove Town; the offer was average, but pressed for time, he couldn’t be bothered to waste more words there, settling for 95 Gold.
Terry William’s heavy longsword, the family motto engraved on the blade made its recognition very high, combined with the fact that the Morton family was investigating Terry William’s disappearance.
After careful consideration, for caution’s sake, Xia Nan ultimately chose not to sell it, and the idea of melting it into metal materials to sell was abandoned due to not finding a trustworthy blacksmith in a short time.
Finally, he found a suitable place in a remote wilderness far from human habitation and buried it.
For his own safety, there was no need to covet the profit of these dozens of Gold Coins.
Of course, the silver ingot left by Terry William, being easy to carry, Xia Nan had yet to sell; it was currently lying quietly in the depths of the backpack behind him.
He planned to find Barn for appraisal after returning to River Valley Town, perhaps it could give him a surprise.
Adding up like this, plus his original savings, he finally reached a four-digit amount again!
——1246 Gold, 3 silver, 7 copper
Such a large sum of money, even if placed in the bustling big city of Neum, with slight financial management, would be enough for a family’s expenses for many years.
With Xia Nan’s habit of spending money only on adventure-related expenses or food and accommodation to not treat himself poorly, he could do nothing and enjoy just lounging at White Sparrow Tavern for five or six years.
However, the village chief of Grey Valley Village was unclear about Xia Nan’s character and actual situation.
From the other party’s perspective.
In a disaster that could potentially destroy the entire village, a foreign adventurer suddenly appeared, helping the villagers resolve the trouble.
Although he looked fully armed, the metal armor he wore was obviously mottled, with signs of damage; combined with long walks in the forest, it would inevitably be covered in fallen leaves and dust, not at all associated with “wealthy.”
Yet in such circumstances, he coldly refused the generous reward the chief offered through gritted teeth, only asking for a hot meal.
It’s hard not to overthink, even increasingly feeling anxious and uneasy.
If it wasn’t for Xia Nan’s forceful persuasion, the chief would have even brought out one of the village’s essential working tools, the few head of oxen, to slaughter for him.
Then, he scooped up a spoonful of hot soup, glanced at the table across from him, at the few incredibly nervous men.
Xia Nan did not speak, but he understood their behavior.
In this fantasy world full of extraordinary power and strong individuals.
For a small place like Grey Valley Village, located remotely and lacking protection from regulatory institutions.
An adventurer can do many things.
The only thing that can restrain them is the fragile moral baseline in their hearts.
In this world, low level adventurers have generally not received much education; mastering the Universal Language well enough is commendable, and their virtues depend entirely on the teachings of parents and elders.
Even the slightest thought, or a tiniest idea, could lead them to fall into the abyss.
Amplifying the ugliness of humanity through instinctual desire ad infinitum.
To put it bluntly, if Xia Nan were to demand the villagers move out of Grey Valley Village and find another place, threatened by death, they could only pack their bags immediately and leave their ancestral home.
Of course, he wouldn’t do that.
It seemed he could no longer endure the oppressive atmosphere within the room, and after a tense exchange of glances among others.
Driven by restless unease, Grey Valley Village’s chief “Clapam,” very carefully seized the moment when Xia Nan had finished chewing food in his mouth and swallowed it, before lifting his soup spoon.
With extreme caution, and utmost prudence in wording, fearing to anger the adventurer before him, carefully opened up:
“Mr. Xia Nan, all the villagers of Grey Valley Village sincerely and earnestly thank you for your heroic deeds.”
“Although we are all country farmers dealing with crops all our lives, it does not mean we are ignorant of moral etiquette.”
“You helped the village deal with those sinister cruel green-skinned goblins, compensating you is proper and reasonable.”
“If you feel these are not sufficient, we…”
Xia Nan waved his hand, interrupting the other party’s words.
Initially wanting to probe a bit about the village’s situation.
But given the current situation, if he didn’t speak up now, these people probably wouldn’t be able to even sleep tonight.
He put down the spoon in his hand, with a solemn attitude and gentle tone, spoke slowly:
“I accept your gratitude, but to be honest, these rewards are not tempting to me, and I have no intention of asking you for them.”
“Those goblins were dealt with merely as a casual act, they are not particularly difficult enemies for me. I won’t use this to blackmail or demand anything from you.”
While speaking, Xia Nan showed no emotional fluctuations, maintaining a very serious demeanor.
Yet, because of this, the few opposite him visibly relaxed, attentively listening to his words.
“Although I briefly mentioned two sentences earlier, limited by the occasion, I might not have been clear, so I will explain again now.”
“I am indeed not a lost wanderer in the forest, nor an adventurer accidentally entering here while on a mission.”
“Grey Valley Village is definitely and affirmatively my destination.”
“And the reason I came here is because of a friend’s request.”
Xia Nan did not utter any polite remarks, nor use ornate, complex words to dress up his intentions.
Just plainly and directly, with considerable straightforwardness, explained to the few in front of him the reason and purpose of coming to Grey Valley Village.
In the face of his frankness, Clapam and the others visibly relaxed a bit, clearly his straightforward explanation had soothed the original tense and uneasy mood of these village farmers.
“So, may I ask the specific reason for your visit… If possible, all villagers from Grey Valley Village are willing to assist you in any way, as long as you request.”
“Hmm…” Recalling the day of their separation, after Vier handed him the note with Grey Valley Village’s address, regarding the content of that small request.
Xia Nan pondered for a moment, looking at the Grey Valley village chief before him, opened his mouth, and tentatively asked:
“In your village, is there someone named ‘Leon,’ who should be quite young, in his teens?”
At the moment of hearing the name “Leon,” the people opposite him visibly reacted, clearly not unfamiliar with this name.
As soon as the words fell, someone under the village chief’s indication carefully stood up, walked swiftly outside.
“If the person you are looking for is a fifteen-year-old young man named ‘Leon,’ there indeed is one in our village.”
Village chief Clapam, appeared somewhat hesitant, answered cautiously:
“But the ‘Leon’ from Grey Valley Village has been here ever since birth, never leaving the village.”
“We know the few outsiders who have seen him, they are all ordinary people working in the fields.”
“Perhaps… not the same ‘Leon’ you are looking for.”
In response, Xia Nan’s face remained expressionless, but felt somewhat subtle internally.
He simply replied:
“So, there truly is a young man in his teens named ‘Leon’ in Grey Valley Village, right?”
“Yes, Mr. Xia Nan.”
“That’s fine then.”
After all, that is all the information Vier provided him with.
Any more information… Xia Nan himself doesn’t know either.