Ascension from Dual Professions

Chapter 38: Chapter 38: The Sojourner Arrives at His Loyal Birch Town

Birch Town, the heart of the Birch Territory.

It was situated in the middle of the Bolaya River Valley, connected to the Shery Mountain to the west, the Heta Paths to the north, and the Nula River, known as the ”River of Gold,” to the south.

Such convenient transportation routes naturally attracted countless merchants to gather here.

Every spring, they set out from here to the various villages and towns near the Shery Mountain, purchasing goods like furs, beast bones, and medicinal herbs. They would then return to transport the goods elsewhere, reaping exorbitant profits in a repeating cycle.

Birch Town, which collected taxes on all this trade, naturally became the most prosperous of the Heta Seven Towns.

However, even a town as wealthy and bustling as this couldn’t avoid grinding to a halt every winter.

Heavy snows blocking the roads and cutting off transportation was a major reason, but it was more that the biting winds and snow of the Northern Territory were too much for many visiting merchants to bear. They could only hire locals to mind their shops while they returned to the warmth of the south to wait out the season.

After a year of hard work, a rest was well-deserved.

But this year, Birch Town was different.

The town, which should have been growing listless with the arrival of the snow, was uncharacteristically filled with a restless energy.

The stone-paved roads were being trampled by crowds of people, the freshly fallen snow instantly turned black by the mud on their soles. The town gates were also wide open, and riders on fine horses, covered in snow, could be seen galloping in and out from time to time. The hot breath from both horse and man practically formed a single white cloud.

The idle and bored townsfolk, naturally prone to gossip, all started trying to find out the reason.

Had the Matia Religious Country to the south invaded? Was there some new development in the Imperial Capital? Or had Viscount Birch’s daughter run away from home again?

When this situation persisted for a whole day without stopping, and even seemed to be escalating, the answer was finally revealed.

The daughter of Yed Xavier, the chairman of the Heta County Noble Union Chamber of Commerce—Reya Xavier—had been attacked and was now missing, her fate unknown.

In an instant, a wave of unrest swept through the entire town of Birch Town!

One must understand that in a nation like the Harvia Empire, founded on the principles of nobility and knighthood, attacking a noble was the gravest of crimes. Anyone caught would face nothing less than capital punishment!

Those who dared to do such a thing were either crazed desperados or ambitious schemers with grand designs!

And people like that had actually appeared in the Birch Territory!?

Given this, it was easy to understand why the people from the Noble United Commerce Association were acting so anxious and agitated.

Even the esteemed daughter of a Viscount had met with a vicious attack; the lesser nobles with less power and status naturally felt that they were all in danger. If the truth of this matter wasn’t uncovered, they probably wouldn’t be able to sleep a wink!

But while the townspeople watched the excitement, they also secretly grew vigilant: ’This winter probably won’t be a peaceful one. We have to make preparations early...’

It was in this restless atmosphere that Jon entered the town, unhurried.

The gate guards glanced at his attire, then at the large pile of strange golden carapaces on his back, and wisely refrained from any petty shakedown schemes. They simply followed procedure, confirming he wasn’t a wanted criminal on the Empire’s records, collected the 10-Copper-Coin entrance fee, and let him pass.

After entering the town, Jon didn’t wander around aimlessly. Instead, he headed straight for the Commercial District, where the merchant associations were concentrated.

Along the way, the residents and pedestrians who saw him carrying a large pile of monster materials showed no surprise or fear, seeming quite used to such sights.

In fact, many shop assistants minding their stores rushed over enthusiastically when they saw him, trying to lead him to their own shops to ”negotiate a deal.”

There were even idlers looking for work in the winter who came up to ask if he needed help with carrying his things.

But how many times had Jon seen scenes like this?

He remained completely unmoved, neither responding nor breaking his stride.

It wasn’t until he arrived in front of an imposing brick and stone building that these people reluctantly dispersed.

’He was headed straight for the Noble United Commerce Association. Nothing more to be said. Let’s scatter.’

Jon’s steps paused for a moment. He looked at the sign with its elegant script, magically illuminated to flicker and shine even in the wind and snow. Though his expression didn’t change, his heart was filled with nostalgia.

”Golden Maple Leaf... It really has been a long time...”

Any player who hailed from the Harvia Empire inevitably had dealings with this organization, which would later develop into the Harvia Royal Chamber of Commerce.

Whether buying or selling, the Royal Chamber of Commerce—well-organized and fairly priced under the management of the ”Flame-haired Princess,” Reya—was always the best place to go.

Although the Birch Town of that era had been expanded several times due to player influence, and this very guild hall had become more spacious and imposing, the iconic Golden Maple Leaf logo had always remained the same.

Even the Harvia player trading board, which players organized themselves on the forums, used this icon.

So much so that as Jon stood here, he couldn’t help but recall how he felt the first time he came here to sell things in ”Yino.”

Excitement, curiosity, and a desire to explore a vast fantasy game world.

But now, he had already traveled through many parts of this world and was about to do it all over again.

For survival, for the sake of returning home, he thought more, schemed more.

His state of mind had naturally changed as well.

That pure joy of simply enjoying the game was likely lost to him forever.

The feeling was truly hard to describe.

However, Jon didn’t linger in his emotions for too long. After a brief, quiet sigh, he stepped onto the guild hall’s stairs.

He hadn’t come here today just to sell materials.

The two attendants, a man and a woman, standing beneath the Golden Maple Leaf sign had actually noticed Jon long ago. It was just that the rules of a ”Noble Merchant Association” forbade them from shamelessly soliciting customers like other Ordinary merchant associations.

But now that they saw Jon ascending the steps, his status changing from ”passerby” to ”customer,” they could no longer maintain their reserved demeanor.

The two of them bowed to Jon in unison with a graceful and appropriate gesture that was neither too fawning nor too arrogant.

”Greetings, Adventurer. Are you here to sell monster materials?”

”Or perhaps you require equipment to be crafted?”

Jon accepted their bows without returning the gesture and stated his purpose directly.

”I want to rent a temporary warehouse to store my materials.”

”And then, I have business to discuss with your supervisor here, Rosalind Bennett.”

Upon hearing Jon’s second sentence, the two attendants glanced at each other, their faces immediately showing hesitation.

Finally, the female attendant stepped forward, placing a hand over her chest apologetically.

”My apologies, sir. Under normal circumstances, the supervisor would certainly not refuse your request for a meeting.”

”But right now, there are some urgent matters to attend to within the association, and she is not in the guild hall. I was wondering if you would be able to—”

However, before she could finish, Jon interrupted her unceremoniously, his tone dripping with dissatisfaction.

”I said, I have business to discuss with her.”

”Very. Important. Business!”