Spirit Taming

Chapter 650: Merchant News

Getting back to the rest of the group, Clark couldn't hand over the things he bought fast enough before hitting the bath.

It was easily an hour before he returned to everyone looking like a new person altogether. But that's what happens when you track through a literal jungle, you might not look the same afterwards.

Isa naturally was a little jealous that Clark had gone to the enchants. But, when she saw the few items, she didn't mind at all.

These things were useful for the first finch to grow which would help Grace. Then the barley seeds were an easy sell to any farmers of generally any merchant that Isa ran in to. Not to mention anyone that needed them as beast food.

As everyone relaxed in the comfort for a real building and not tents or camping rolls they had in the jungle, Clark began to think about how long it would be worth staying here.

He knew well that everyone could take a trip in to the mines if they desired. It was a small fee and often the ores mines could be sold to the one in charge of it for a profit. But that work would be hard, although, it would be good strength and endurance training.

This would limit the group though. They could not get more materials that everyone needed here. They were also only a short few day journey back to Nova City.

There were surely developments when it came to the pursuit of the blood moon cult. On top of that, the group needed to prepare to deal with all the corrupt figures within their home.

The corrupt figures could easily have been acting up. There were many of them and very few within Nova city that were able to resist them. Not to mention that the strongest figures had been called to different places to handle the issues related to the blood moon cult. Therefore, those left behind could have taken more power for themselves.

The idea that the Mourne family might have become stronger was not something that Clark even wanted to entertain. Right now, he still needed to rely on the Mane family to be able to take down the strongest of the Moiurne family. The head of that family and the father of Maria. Not that he was accepted as her father any longer. That very fact made Clark very proud of Maria.

"What are you looking at me for?" Maria caught Clark's eyes and he just smiled a little. I was just thinking about all the things that had changed since we set out. But today, we are getting a tour of the village here, right?" Clark didn't dwell any longer and everyone just accepted it.

Especially since Isa was moving back toward the entrance to the small village house they had been able to rent for a few days.

"So, I got a little information from those merchants. They said that some of the nearby merchant routes have been bothered by armed and organized bandits. That means they are actually from families that are trying to steal away resources to become stronger. They also said that this is getting worse." from what Isa was showing with her body language, she already had a theory.

But Reese had the same theory, everyone was also somewhat thinking about it too. "So the merchants should be leaving there if they can, does that mean your family?"

"My oldest brother actually just made big news by returning with the head of Nova academy and Alexander from a large dungeon with immense rewards due to their efforts fighting back a dungeon break that could have been a massive beast wave since it would have cut off a large number of dungeons which would have had breaks as well."

There was pride in this. It was something that many people would gossip about since there was a chance that everyone would be safer. It also meant that Isa's family had been able to make a massive set of waves in the merchant world. They could sell many of the beasts and materials they found within that dungeon.

"But my other brother has already closed his jewel shop within Nova and left to Terra City. my father is planning on going there too, half of the stores my family owned are closed. Remember to always ask for the real news when you speak to a good traveling merchant." Isa winked trying to play off her worries.

The news of one of the most prominent merchants who should have been thriving suddenly closing many shops in one city was nothing to hide. Many traveling merchants, travelers in general, and other businesses would spread that information.

However, Isa's family was not small in the merchant world. They had multiple roots in other cities and not just the one that they had started in. Nebula City had multiple shops that their family had recently opened. Isa knew this even before they had all gone on their journey in to the deep wilderness. Terra city welcomed her family's shops as well.

It was just a matter of time before they grew in fame there.

"So when we get back to Nova, we can make sure we begin stealing away goods from other shops that might not have gained them the right way. I wouldn't mind using our sword aura to slash away at a few prices." Reese joked a bit, but they all knew he did not mean they would be slashing prices.

"Hello? I am sorry to bother you all, but I am one of the tour guides from our lovely cliff village." Before the group could keep hearing what else Isa had heard from the merchants, a younger girl wearing a lighter cliff goat coat came up to them. She appeared to be very energetic and glad to see them.

"Yes, we know there are a lot of rules and such because of your unique village's location and partners with local beasts. We are ready to learn whatever we can." While Clark found it odd that they were touring a village instead of getting stronger, that wasn't all they were doing. As if reading his mind, the woman spoke up.

"Then we will first go over the basics. Do not touch the cliff goats. They are often grazing on the various shrubbery that grow on the cliff sides. If one charges at you, stand still and do not attack. Once they are attacked, they will group up. They can also climb cliffs that you would think are impossible to scale.

They are earth type beasts after all."

"Lastly, if you notice a very young cliff goat, do not offer it food. This will make it latch on to your side for quite some time. One foolish visitor was forced to enter a taming bond with five after they would not stop following him. He is not a resident here since it is the only place that they can live easily.

Not that his life is sad, he actually became one of the best climbers we have in our village for searching the cliff side caves that open up from time to time during new excavation."

The oddly positive tone made it seem like this was actually a fairly common thing that had just been accepted by the villagers. However, the entire group had a feeling that the people who made mistakes weren't always so lucky that they just gained a new beast or had to relocate their lives to this village for the ease of caring for a new beast.

"Now, if you will follow me, we are going to head to the small square where many will spend time enjoying music and other small events. We even have open air schools for the children there." the guide brought them toward a set of stairs. As they moved, the group noticed that there were ropes set up to stop travers from falling on their stairs.

The carved stairs had enough wind giants that those unfamiliar would be unsteady on their feet.

As they moved down through, multiple offshoots of carved hallways in to the stone and earth were cut right there to connect to these stairs. It was clear that some of them could only be traveled by one way in and out. This was just the reality of this unique village.

Other spots there were platforms carved in stone to allow rest spot for people to allow others to pass by. Even spots where water had been set up in barrels for others to drink. Everything looked to be carefully planned out. Especially the more intricate carvings.

The stone aspects had carefully carved murals of nature and the seasons. This village had been unique since the very first day that it was created, through rt, they also ensured that the village itself would show this even after the people had been and gone with time.

After just a few moments, Clark noticed similar mop like fur out of the corner of his eyes. The perfect chance to use the analysis on the cliff goat.