Jake couldn’t help but feel suspicious.

He hesitated for a moment before asking.

"Sir Garrick... with someone as powerful as you, why does the caravan need to recruit so many extra people? Isn’t that a bit much?"

At those doubt, Garrick shook his head.

"Good question, kid. But let me ask you this, have you ever traveled to another island?"

Jake shook his head honestly.

"No, I haven’t."

Garrick nodded as if he had expected that answer.

"Ah, that’s why. Well, to put it simply, this isn’t just a simple escort. The journey to Haunfen City requires taking a large merchant ship across the sea, and once you’re out on the open water, things change completely."

He gestured with his big hands as he explained.

"Sea monsters are unpredictable. Some are massive and can attack the hull, others swarm in groups. There are also sudden storms and, worst of all, lawless pirates who specifically target rich merchant vessels."

"So no matter how strong one person is, they can’t be everywhere at once on a big ship. That’s why we need a proper escort team, people who can fight on deck, handle boarding actions, and protect the cargo and passengers."

Garrick looked at Jake and Grace seriously. "50 Gold upfront is the standard rate for this kind of dangerous sea voyage. Of course, if you perform well, the bonus can be even higher."

He paused for a moment, then smiled again. "Of course, I won’t force you. But it’s a good opportunity for young adventurers like you to earn real money and gain valuable experience. So... what do you think?"

Grace remained quiet beside Jake, but her golden eyes were now filled with clear interest after hearing about the sea trip and the high reward.

It was the same for Jake.

For one, staying in this town while it was still embroiled in conflict between the nobles wasn’t a wise choice , even if they had a hidden safe place.

Secondly, whoever was still pursuing Grace might still be on her trail so leaving for a different island could be the perfect way to shake them off.

Plus, Jake himself wanted... to explore more of this world.

Finding a peaceful island to grow his bond and strength with Grace sounded like a good idea for the time being.

Jake glanced at Grace.

She gave him a small, almost imperceptible nod, clearly leaving the final decision to her Captain.

After a brief pause, Jake looked back at Garrick.

"...We’re interested. But we’d like to hear more details about the job first, the exact departure date, how long the trip will take, what kind of threats we might face, and what our specific responsibilities would be."

Garrick’s smile widened, clearly pleased with their response.

"Good! I like cautious ones. But you should go check the guild for the detailed information. The official quest notice should have most of what you need. And once you’ve decided, come to the southern port. You can hand over my personal card or the guild letter, and the guards there will let you through."

Garrick patted Jake’s shoulder once more and stepped aside, signaling his men to open a path through the gate.

"For now, go turn in your quest and rest. We depart in three days, so you still have time to prepare. Don’t be late if you choose to join us."

He gave them both a final nod, his eyes lingering on Jake for a moment as he whispered,

"And kid... keep improving that Appraisal skill. It might save your life one day."

"...?"

With that, Garrick turned and walked back toward his men as the armed group finally opened the town entrance.

_

_

_

Jake and Grace stepped through the gate, the heavy sacks still weighing on their shoulders.

As they walked a short distance into the town, Jake couldn’t help but replay Garrick’s last words in his head.

Grace walked beside him, occasionally glancing up at his face.

"Jake? Is something wrong?" she asked softly, her golden eyes showing concern.

Jake shook his head and forced a small smile.

"It’s nothing. I’m just thinking about that offer but let’s turn in the quest first and check the guild board for the full details of the caravan mission."

The two continued walking under the warm glow of the street lamps toward the Golden Scale Merchant Guild as night slowly settled over the town.

Soon after arriving at the guild, they received their quest rewards without issue, along with a decent amount of contribution points after selling the monster materials as well.

After asking the guild staff, it seemed selling the monster materials directly was quite difficult.

It required special techniques to prepare them in top condition, so the market price was roughly the same as selling to the guild even if you sell outside.

So Jake decided to sell everything to the guild to save the hassle.

While there, Jake also asked for the full details of the Vivian Merchant Caravan Escort Quest.

The guild staff handed him an official notice.

Quest Summary: Destination: Haunfen City (by sea)

Departure: 3 days from now (morning)

Duration: Approximately 14–20 days (depending on weather and sea conditions)

Pay: 100 Gold Coins (50 Gold Coins upfront per person + performance bonus)

Requirements: Combat-capable Common Class or Rare Class fighters (priority for those with ranged or area skills)

Note: High-risk sea voyage. Main protection provided by the caravan’s elite guards.

Jake read through everything carefully.

’This is actually a pretty good quest... We’re basically there just in case something goes wrong. The main protection should be handled by Garrick and his elite guards. And yet they’re paying us 50 Gold upfront? That’s ridiculously generous.’

It was the perfect excuse to leave this town for a while, escape any potential pursuers after Grace, and explore the wider world while getting paid handsomely.

Grace stood beside him, her hand lightly holding onto the edge of his sleeve.

"Jake... are we really going?" she asked quietly, a mix of excitement and nervousness in her voice.

Jake nodded and smiled. "Yes. We’re going."

Grace’s golden eyes lit up with visible happiness.

A bright, genuine smile spread across her face as she leaned closer to him, her hand tightening slightly on his sleeve.

She stood on her tiptoes and whispered softly into his ear, her voice turning sweet and unmistakably lewd.

"Then... in the three days before we leave, we should spend every night properly strengthening our bond, Captain~"

Her warm breath tickled his ear as she continued in a hushed, playful tone.

"I’ll make sure you feel really good every single day..."

"..!!"

Jake’s breath hitched.

His member hardened slightly in his pants at the lewd promise.

Without wasting another second, Jake accept the quest and leave the Guild.

Once outside, he grabbed her hand firmly and started walking faster, almost rushing toward their hidden shelter.

Grace let out a soft, delighted giggle as she followed closely behind him, her fingers interlacing tightly with his.

But as they walked out of the guild building...

...Neither of them noticed the shadowy figure standing on the roof of a tall building nearby.

The mysterious person watched them silently from above, their eyes locked onto Grace’s back in particular.

After a long moment, a cold, low murmur escaped their lips.

"...Found you."

The figure’s lips curved into a smile as they disappeared into the shadows once more.

It is time to bring some good news to the Young Master.