Chapter 352 Emotional Intelligence and Generosity

There was no denying that Horac's timing was rather convenient.

A little earlier, and Xia Nan and the others would still have been in the nearby woods collecting honey.

A little later, and they might have already finished dinner.

For him to arrive right as they brought the Anvil Beehive back to camp, before they even had time to process it... it was hard not to wonder if he had known their whereabouts in advance and deliberately timed his appearance.

But considering Thordin had left the camp alone, and neither Margaret nor Xia Nan had mentioned a word about the Anvil Beehive to anyone else in the caravan...

And given the Perception of the strongest adventurers in their party, no one could have tracked or spied on them unnoticed.

In all likelihood, it really was just a coincidence.

At least, Xia Nan didn't notice anything strange in the merchant's expression.

"Good evening, my young friends!"

"Deep in the Wilderness, having only the starlight for company at night is far too boring!"

Horac walked at the front of his entourage, smiling and calling out his greeting before he even stepped into their small camp.

Over their seven days of travel, the wealthy, generous merchant had proven quite thoughtful and accommodating—a stark contrast to their first impression of his extravagant, overbearing aristocratic style, which made it seem like he treated the caravan's long journey as a mere picnic.

Never mind the adventurers specially hired by the caravan; Xia Nan hadn't even seen Horac openly scold the servants attending to the caravan members.

Even when someone made a mistake, his temper remained perfectly mild. The reprimanding was mostly left to the assistant manager following behind him—a stern-faced, skinny man. Xia Nan guessed they were playing "good cop" and "bad cop."

He was also incredibly generous with his money, frequently praising and rewarding caravan members for a job well done. Even if most of these rewards were just a few coppers or a silver coin or two, they added up. Xia Nan estimated that the extra bonuses he tipped the crew would be enough to hire two or three new hands.

Coupled with the Silver-Chained Pocket Watch Horac had shoved into his hands as a welcoming gift during their first meeting, Xia Nan's impression of the wealthy merchant was quite good.

"This old friend of mine always says we should enjoy the peace of solitude at night," Horac said, reaching out to pat the caravan manager's shoulder. "But I've always had a lively nature, and I especially love sharing good food with my travel companions."

The servants following behind hurried forward, taking the iron pot they were carrying and setting it over the campfire, its savory aroma already wafting through the air.

The lid was lifted, and a rich, mouthwatering aroma erupted with the rising steam. Beneath it lay a savory dish that, judging by presentation alone, was bound to be delicious.

Golden fat bubbled and churned in the thick, simmering broth. Onions, radishes, and root vegetables dotted the stew, complementing the main ingredient: a full pot of fragrant, fall-off-the-bone chicken.

"This is top-grade Black-Feathered Chicken from a farm near the Misty Forest, nourished by magical particles from the moment it hatched. Before we set out, I specifically had the best chef in Rivervale Town marinate it in special spices for a whole day," Horac said. "It's been slow-simmering over a low fire until the flavor steeped right into the bones. Come on, try it. You definitely won't be disappointed!"

With that, Horac settled onto a small folding stool a servant had prepared for him. His posture was so natural and relaxed that it felt as if they were sitting in the drawing room of his own home, rather than a crude, makeshift camp in the middle of the Wilderness.

Yet, paired with his warm, composed demeanor and the genuine gesture of bringing over high-quality food, his behavior didn't incite the slightest bit of resentment.

Possessing a keen eye, Horac noticed the group's reaction was a bit different from previous days and quickly realized something was up. His gaze swept over the cloth sack in Margaret's hand, then to the swollen, reddened back of the dwarf's hand, and a guess formed in his mind.

Without a hint of embarrassment, he smiled to ease the atmosphere.

"Haha, it seems... I came at a bad time?"

"No, not at all," the dwarf Thordin hastily replied, the metallic ornaments in his braided beard clinking softly. "We're travel companions. There's no such thing as a bad time."

He exchanged a glance with Margaret and Xia Nan. Seeing them both offer slight nods, he finally revealed to Horac across the campfire where they had just been.

"Anvil Bee Honey!?"

Whether he was feigning surprise to validate their efforts or genuinely amazed by the rarity of the ingredient, Horac's reaction was flawless. He sat bolt upright on his stool.

"Don't those bees usually only inhabit high mountains and mining regions? I never expected them to be found out here in these plains," Horac said. "But it's a good thing you're here. If it were the lads in my caravan, they probably wouldn't recognize a hive even if it was right in front of their faces."

With just a few casual words, the rotund, wealthy merchant had smoothly paid them a quiet compliment.

He was also incredibly tactful, knowing better than to ask about the exact location of the Anvil Beehive or how much honey was left.

Even when Thordin later offered a portion of his own share for the merchant to taste, Horac only took a symbolic few spoonfuls. Refusing to take a drop more, he insisted he was already taking advantage of them and promised to treat them to a lavish feast once the mission was over and they returned to Rivervale Town.

Associating with someone so generous and emotionally intelligent was an utter delight; even the most thick-skulled individual would feel completely at ease around him.

'No wonder his business is so successful. He really knows how to deal with people,' Xia Nan thought.

Throughout the meal, Horac was a fountain of cheerful conversation. He mostly shared travel anecdotes and local customs from various regions, carefully steering the topics toward things the adventurers found interesting so they could easily join in.

Whenever Thordin recounted his adventuring exploits, Horac responded with the perfect amount of astonishment and asked insightful questions that hit just the right notes. This only fueled the dwarf's enthusiasm, showcasing the merchant's masterful art of communication.

Under normal circumstances—provided there were no obvious conflicts of interest—it was practically impossible to dislike someone with such a personality.

Throughout all of this, of course, Xia Nan primarily played the role of a listener.

He was entirely focused on eating.

While he was certainly interested in the experiences of other adventurers and the customs of distant lands, the appeal of the food was undoubtedly much stronger at the moment.

The stew made from the Black-Feathered Chicken—raised amidst the magical particles of the Misty Forest, just as Horac had described—was every bit as rich and savory as he had claimed.

Hours of slow simmering had drawn out every drop of marrow and essence from the bones, blending seamlessly with the natural sweetness of the vegetables. The fibrous chicken meat retained a pleasant chew while soaking up the hearty broth, ensuring it wasn't the least bit dry.

The moment he placed a piece in his mouth, the meat practically melted off the bone with a gentle press of his tongue. Coated in a richly spiced, incredibly complex broth, the chicken slid smoothly down his throat.

It was richly savory, velvety smooth, and wonderfully aromatic...

Perhaps this world lacked the advanced culinary tools of his previous life, and it certainly didn't offer the same vast array of seasonings.

But when the supernatural powers of a fantasy world were combined with the sheer weight of money, they could elevate food into an "enjoyment" truly worth savoring.

Even more surprising to Xia Nan, however, was the Anvil Bee Honey they had just extracted from the hive.

On its own, it didn't emit a particularly strong aroma. Only by leaning in close could he catch a faint, almost cool fragrance.

But the moment the honey entered his mouth, the instant his tongue touched the viscous, amber-like liquid, a mellow sweetness—a perfect fusion of crisp mineral notes and fresh fruitiness—exploded across his palate.

It was difficult to describe the taste in words.

Undoubtedly, though, it was the most delicious honey Xia Nan had ever tasted in both his lives combined.

When paired with hardtack, the thick texture of the honey coated the bread's rough exterior. The sweetness easily compensated for the blandness, perfectly balancing the slight sourness of the grains with its own rich flavor.

When eaten with dried meat, the amber liquid masked the tough, fibrous texture of the jerky. The mellow sweetness harmoniously neutralized the meat's saltiness, creating a wonderfully complex mouthfeel. Furthermore, the crisp mineral aftertaste of the Anvil Bee Honey expertly cut through the grease, eliminating the constant need to drink water to cleanse the palate.

If only Xia Nan had a steaming, aromatic bowl of creamy mushroom soup in front of him right now.

And if he could just stir a few spoonfuls of Anvil Bee Honey into it...

The resulting flavor... he couldn't even fathom how divine it would be.

As Xia Nan continued to savor the meal, the atmosphere around the campfire grew increasingly convivial under Horac's influence. The group even felt comfortable enough to broach topics that might normally be considered intrusive among strangers.

Thordin, pinching a piece of silk cloth between his thick, radish-like fingers, carefully wiped his braided beard; he had accidentally spilled a bit of soup on it earlier.

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of the exquisite ring on Horac's right pinky. It was solid gold, inlaid with a deep crimson chalcedony, and he spoke up without thinking.

"Hey, Mr. Horac. That stone on your pinky—the one that looks like a drop of solidified flame—that's chalcedony, isn't it? Back in my days in the mines, I used to dig up similar stones every now and then."

Hailing from a very traditional Dwarven Clan, Thordin had practically grown up in the mines, giving him extensive knowledge of such minerals.

Horac showed not the slightest resistance to discussing his wealth. Instead, he let out a hearty laugh, gently twisted the ring with his left hand, and slipped the gold-and-chalcedony piece off his pinky.

"Good eye, my friend! I commissioned a jeweler in Nym City to forge the band, but the crimson chalcedony itself was won at an auction. Rumor has it that it came from an ancient kingdom long swallowed by the sands."

Without a trace of hesitation, he handed the ring to the dwarf with a smooth, sincere motion so Thordin could examine it.

Dwarves were naturally drawn to such minerals.

Ignoring the intricate patterns engraved along the gold band, Thordin pinched the ring between his fingers and held it up to the firelight, carefully scrutinizing the chalcedony itself.

He couldn't help but click his tongue in awe at the gem's exceptionally pure, high-grade quality.

He examined it in his hand for about five or six minutes. Just as he was about to return the ring to Horac, his movements suddenly froze.

The wealthy merchant—a prominent member of the Golden Wheat Merchant Guild—had actually pushed the dwarf's hand back.

"The most precious gems should naturally belong to the bravest of warriors," Horac said. "Since you like it so much... consider this ring a gift from me to you."

"No, no, no!" Thordin cried. He clearly hadn't expected the man to be so lavish. No matter how dense the dwarf might be, he knew better than to accept such a priceless item for no reason—especially considering he was already being paid a handsome fee well above the market average to serve as a guard.

He waved his hands frantically, causing his beard to sway wildly.

"Mr. Horac, I was just looking! Just looking! This piece is far too valuable. I really cannot accept it!"

Sitting off to the side, Xia Nan observed the exchange very closely.

With his Perception, he could clearly tell that Horac's offer to gift the ring wasn't just a display of superficial politeness.

It was entirely genuine; he truly wanted to give the ring to Thordin as a gift.

If Thordin accepted, the wealthy merchant wouldn't hesitate for a second. He might even volunteer to find a craftsman to resize the band to fit the dwarf's stubby fingers.

However, Thordin was a veteran adventurer with principles, and he knew he couldn't just accept such a high-value item without merit.

After several flustered rejections, he finally convinced Horac to take the gift back.

"Alright, alright, my apologies for being so forward," the wealthy merchant said, twisting the ruby ring back onto his pinky. "Still, Thordin, my dwarven friend, your eye for appraisal is far sharper than many self-proclaimed experts I've met."

Those few short sentences not only dissolved the tension born from the awkward back-and-forth but also lifted Thordin up. The dwarf felt a sense of pride, and his somewhat flustered expression smoothed over once more.

Boasting incredibly high emotional intelligence, Horac knew better than to favor one person while neglecting the rest. Even as he continued chatting with the dwarf, his gaze shifted subtly. He first glanced over at Margaret's hands and ears; seeing she wore no jewelry, he correctly deduced that the female Swordsman had no interest in such trinkets.

Setting her aside for the moment, his eyes landed on Xia Nan on the other side of the fire.

His eyes immediately lit up.

This black-haired youth rarely spoke and looked exceptionally young, yet he inexplicably held a rather high standing within their makeshift three-person squad.

In stark contrast to his cold, ascetic-like personality—which seemed entirely devoted to training and completing missions—the young man was actually wearing quite a few accessories!

Not only were there Silver Rings on both his right index and ring fingers—which appeared plain and simple at first glance but were actually crafted from incredibly refined material—but there was also an inconspicuous metal necklace hanging around his neck.

Although the pendant itself was tucked deep beneath his armor's inner lining and out of sight, the sheer craftsmanship of the exposed chain made it obvious that it was no cheap trinket.

'Could it be that he shares my taste for the finer things?' Horac wondered.

Mentally organizing his words, Horac adopted the gentlest, most inoffensive tone possible and deftly steered the conversation toward Xia Nan.