Facing the goblin merchant's sincere praise, Loren nodded.

"You liking it is what matters, Mr. Racla."

"Now, it belongs solely to you..."

After saying this, Loren turned around with a smile and walked back towards his previous standing position.

After taking a couple of steps, he seemed to remember something...

His footsteps paused, and Loren lightly turned back, looking towards the goblin merchant who was utterly enamored with the revolver, and gave a slight lift of his hat.

"Oh, right, a friendly reminder. If you have mana crystals to feed it, there will be a little surprise."

"I hope it can compensate for the drawbacks of focusing solely on business and neglecting cultivation..."

"Perhaps, it might save your life at a time when you feel utterly helpless..."

Loren used an extremely meaningful tone, half-scaring, half-hinting, as he explained the revolver's usage to this goblin merchant.

Such a peculiar tone also made this goblin merchant, who was immersed in the atmosphere of admiring an artwork, suddenly feel a chill in his heart...

Why do the words of major figures always sound so vague...

Did this Mr. Loren foresee something?

Will I be in a state of helplessness in the future? Is this his warning to me...

Clearly, Loren's skill at bluffing, having been honed through numerous practical experiences, had reached a rather sophisticated level.

Coupled with the automatic "major figure" filter created by his current status and strength...

This somewhat shrewd goblin merchant was successfully fooled...

At this moment, this goblin merchant had secretly decided in his heart to keep this revolver, which could be called an "artwork," on his person at all times...

And, to find an opportunity to try out the "little surprise" the other party mentioned...

Racla withdrew his gaze from the green revolver in his hand, looked up at Loren's tall back, and couldn't help but say:

"Thank you for the reminder, Mr. Loren."

Hearing the words of thanks from behind, Loren did not offer any response, returning to his previous position with an aloof demeanor and standing there calmly.

The footprints on the snow also fit perfectly, as if he had never left...

And that goblin merchant named "Racla," after solemnly putting away the green revolver in his hand, turned his body to look towards Cook P. Jones's location.

"This great one is going to the City of Canbera to restart my business endeavors. Do you have anything else to say? My business partner—Mr. Cook, you bastard."

Cook P. Jones looked at his goblin friend, whose eyes had regained their sparkle, and shook his head slightly.

The other had been mixing in the Beastkin Star Domain far longer than he had; as long as it wasn't a case of being blinded by greed, he wouldn't suffer losses...

"Unfortunately, no, you goblin bastard."

"When I finish the matters at hand, I'll come to the City of Canbera to find you."

"I hope that by then, my merchant guild will have taken initial shape..."

Hearing Cook P. Jones's utterly inhuman words, this goblin merchant named "Racla," after cursing loudly, directly turned and headed off in the direction of the City of Canbera.

"See you next time, Cook, you bastard."

The small figure left two lines of tiny footprints in the thick white snow.

The group left behind all unconsciously watched that small receding back, their thoughts inexplicably drifting...

Everyone present saw a shadow of their own past selves in that small receding back.

---------

Federal Calendar 7708, December 6th, just before dawn.

The goblin merchant's small back completely disappeared behind a snowy slope.

Withdrawing his gaze, Cook P. Jones let out a soft sigh.

"This guy, still so stubborn..."

"He could have waited until I was done and gone to the City of Canbera with me..."

This soft sigh revealed it.

The friendship between this human hunter and his goblin friend was very deep...

However, this somewhat worried mood did not linger on Cook P. Jones for too long.

He also knew that if his goblin friend weren't so stubborn, he wouldn't have been kicked out of the Goblin Merchant Guild...

After his sigh, Cook P. Jones quickly composed himself, clapped his hands with a smile, and addressed the group present.

"Let's go! Time to attend to your business!"

"Let's move!"

Then, Cook P. Jones took the lead, walking into the boundless white forest...

Loren, after silently shrugging his shoulders, followed Cook P. Jones's steps.

Seena and the other two, bringing up the rear, exchanged glances with each other and then calmly followed behind the two men...

No matter what the path ahead was like, the group's steps showed no hesitation at all.

Since they had already come this far, there was no longer any reason to hesitate...

As the only one who knew the destination, Cook P. Jones, walking at the very front, dutifully guided the direction for everyone.

Loren, following behind him, trudged with difficulty through the snow-covered forest for a while and had already begun pondering a rather serious question.

"Why can't we fly? Why do we have to advance on foot?"

Just as Loren was about to ask this question, Seena, located at the very back of the group, couldn't wait and asked it.

As the group progressed through the snowy forest, she had gradually fallen to the very back of the group.

Although the mage profession could also strengthen her physique to some extent, it ultimately couldn't compare to her four teammates, who were all "muscle monsters."

By now, her neat mage robe had become somewhat disheveled.

Clearly, this noble ninth-rank mage hadn't walked in such harsh environments for a very long time.

Even though she had cast several Lightening spells on herself, barely managing to keep up with the group's pace.

She still didn't quite understand why a bunch of superhumans with considerable strength had chosen to walk through a forest filled with thick snow!!!

Cook P. Jones, leading the way at the front, heard Seena's extremely puzzled inquiry.

He stopped his guiding steps and turned around with a smile.

"Guess why that ruin hasn't been found by anyone for so many years?"

"Because to find it and see its entrance."

"One of the most hidden rules is: Those who fly within the forest cannot see the ruin's entrance."

"Understood? My dear Spell Lord lady."

At this moment, the four team members following Cook P. Jones, upon hearing his explanation, all fell into an expression that could be called "contemplation."