Chapter 120: The Worried Adam Smith
Time passed in a flash.
April 22.
The sky was clear, as blue as a wash.
The blazing sun hung high in the sky, like a massive fireball, enthusiastically releasing its energy.
Blood Moon City, southeastern warehouse district.
Adam Smith's Thorn Caravan had purchased a massive warehouse here.
Outside the warehouse was bustling, crowded with pushcart workers preparing to depart.
Inside was still busy, as the final batch of goods was being loaded onto the carriages.
In the center of the warehouse, boxes of magic crystals were carefully placed onto the carriages.
Adam Smith directed them while anxiously glancing outside the training ground, always feeling a sense of foreboding.
Last time they returned to Blood Moon City.
Adam Smith thought that with the clay golems brought from Bay Territory and the elite soldiers representing his status, he could quell the greed of those guys.
But he never expected that those people were so arrogant.
Not only did they show no intention of negotiating, but they even attempted to assassinate him!
Adam Smith nearly died!
That lethal arrow, before anyone could react, shot straight towards his chest!
Even his personal guard captain, Mellen, didn't expect someone to be so bold as to attempt an assassination in Blood Moon City!
In the split second when he couldn't dodge, Adam Smith could even see the faint blue poison gleaming on the tip of that deadly arrow.
They wanted him dead!
Fortunately, people hesitate out of shock, but the clay golems do not!
Adam Smith, still haunted by fear, vividly remembered the towering clay golem stepping in front of him, bringing a wave of relief and anger to his head!
Thus, when Adam Smith received the secret letter from Bay Territory, he decisively chose to comply.
He waited a few more days, gathered more supplies, and recruited more refugees.
At the same time, Adam Smith spread the news of the assassination attempt throughout Blood Moon City.
Conveniently, he also promoted his Thorn Caravan and Bay Territory.
The purpose was to warn those guys— "I know it was your doing!"
Adam Smith checked the time, then glanced at the caravan members performing their final inspections.
The time had come!
He led two clay golems into the heavily guarded teleportation chamber.
As the blue teleportation light flashed, 50 figures appeared before Adam Smith.
Adam Smith instantly recognized the burly Beelzebub, feeling a surge of tension as he saw the dark red armor he was wearing.
"Has his strength grown even stronger?"
The other barbarian soldiers, also clad in thick steel armor, simply standing there, exerted an invisible pressure on him.
Adam Smith could clearly feel that the strength of these barbarian soldiers had also greatly increased!
He felt a deep sense of gratitude that the lord had not abandoned him!
At that moment, a cloaked figure stepped out from behind Beelzebub.
It was Matthew's illusion clone!
A "mysterious" Arcanist!
Half an hour later.
With Adam Smith's order, the massive convoy set out.
At the forefront were the well-armed soldiers from Bay Territory.
Marching in formation, they chanted loudly as they exited the city gates, drawing the envious and curious gazes of onlookers.
Following the soldiers was a convoy covered in oilcloth.
In the convoy of over 200 carriages.
More than 2,000 pushcart workers strained together.
On both sides of the convoy, adventurers who had agreed to join them followed along.
Many of them were curiously discussing:
"Does Bay Territory really reward 50 gold coins for killing a troll?"
"Unless it's a guarding or patrolling task, you don't get paid for killing a troll. But if you capture one, you can earn 50 gold coins!"
"That's right, I came back specifically to call everyone to make some money!"
"There are over 400 adventurers in our group alone, right? Are there that many trolls in the Dark Forest?"
"Heh, this is just the start! There are millions of trolls in the Dark Forest! Enough for everyone to get rich for life!"
"Did the lord of Bay Territory set a limit on how many trolls we can capture?"
"No limits at all. I heard from Butler Ralph that the more, the better!"
"And I heard that Bay Territory is already preparing to develop Troll Valley."
"Some people have already gotten rich. See that group over there? They've already been recruited!"
"What's in those carriages?"
"Food, weapons, materials, and clay golems. Bay Territory is developing rapidly now..."
"The most important thing is that the lord is incredibly generous, willing to spend gold coins!"
"..."
Unlike the adventurers, who felt joy and anticipation, the refugees at the rear of the convoy appeared anxious.
Most of the refugees wanted to stay in Blood Moon City and were unwilling to venture into the dangerous wilderness.
Too many had already fallen along the way.
Unfortunately, Blood Moon City didn't welcome them.
To be more precise, almost no territories or towns welcomed them.
Their identities were unclear, and not every refugee possessed skills or abilities that could make these towns give them a chance.
Most of the refugees recruited by Adam Smith with promises of food and a bright future were families, the elderly, or those who couldn't survive on their own.
So, even if it was just for a bite to eat, they chose to continue following Adam Smith.
The only thing that gave them some reassurance was that Adam Smith had purchased over 500 carriages with fitted compartments.
He allowed the weak, elderly, and children who couldn't handle the long march to ride in the carriages, while others traveled light.
Adam Smith wasn't just looking out for them; he was also considering the convoy's speed.
He turned his head, gazing at Blood Moon City perched halfway up the mountainside, feeling as if someone was watching him.
"The enemy's intentions must still be malicious!"
Filled with some worry, Adam Smith glanced at the clay golem beside him and said to his vigilant guard captain, Mellen:
"Notify the adventurers around us to scout the surroundings, making sure they travel in groups of at least five. If anything seems off, tell them not to act rashly..."
Guard Captain Mellen didn't think Adam Smith was overreacting; instead, he nodded in full agreement:
"No problem, I'll remind them. Maybe you should head inside first..."
Adam Smith didn't argue and climbed into the carriage—a specially designed armored wagon that had cost him 9,000 gold coins.
It could defend against sword strikes and resist long-range attacks from crossbows.
It even offered decent protection against destructive spells like Fireball.
As soon as Adam Smith got inside, he saw Matthew peeking through the window, quickly starting a conversation:
"I heard that the territorial guards have increased their patrols. Those guys shouldn't dare to attack on the main road, right?"
Pulling his gaze away from Blood Moon City in the distance, Matthew heard Adam Smith's question and, looking at the ominous scene outside, calmly replied in a deep voice:
"Prepare for the worst while hoping for the best!"