Chapter 164: North

"Agreed."

"That’s a great idea."

"For roasted meat, we’ll need to hunt a few wild boars, Zharok, Mirelle, let’s go." Walter called out to Zharok and Mirelle, and they walked into the forest, they were likely heading off to hunt forest boars.

Watching them leave, Ethan bottled the rest of the rice wine and put it in the refrigerator, he poured himself a cup of coffee.

"Did you come for a specific reason this time?"

"Can’t I come if there isn’t a reason?"

"Haha, of course not."

"I really can’t hide anything from you little ones, yes, I came this time because I have a favor to ask of you."

"Please, go ahead."

"I want to ask you to make a trip to the Black Mountain Range, the sooner the better."

’The Black Mountain Range?’ This was the first time Ethan had heard this place name, he looked at Pearl in confusion.

Pearl explained, "The Black Mountain Range is where the dwarves live, meow, it’s further north from the Elven Kingdom and is covered in ice and snow year-round, meow~"

"Covered in ice and snow... why do you want to go to a place like that?"

"There is a plant there that I am very interested in."

"What plant?"

"The Snow Velvet Flower."

Ethan looked at Pearl again, who proudly explained, "The Snow Velvet Flower is a flower as pure white as a snowflake, meow, after the flower withers, it bears the Snow Velvet Fruit, as long as you crush the fruit, it can freeze everything around it, meow~"

"What a magical plant, what do you need it for?"

"I want to use it for an experiment, originally, I wanted to make a trip there myself, but I truly cannot get away recently."

"Can’t you just fly over there, meow?"

"Giant dragons are forbidden from entering the Black Mountain Range."

"Is it because of the pact from back then?"

"Correct, the dwarves are extremely terrified of giant dragons and deeply reject them, a long time ago, they were ruled by evil dragons, even though much time has passed, their fear and hostility toward giant dragons remain deeply ingrained."

"Don’t you know a dwarf from there, meow? Couldn’t you just ask him for help, meow?"

"He has already been exiled from the Black Mountain Range and can no longer enter."

’Just what exactly did he do to get exiled?’ Ethan thought, however, this wasn’t a difficult task for him, besides, he was already planning to go to the Dwarven City in the winter to look for the Soil Tree anyway, he could easily make a side trip to the Black Mountain Range on the way.

"I understand."

"Then I’ll leave it in your hands, as a reward, I’ll give this to you." The giant dragon brought out a black scale, it was a dragon scale — a precious material that alchemists and dwarves could only dream of, it was given to Ethan just as casually as that.

The giant dragon finished the rice wine in her bowl and asked, "May I have another cup?"

"Of course."

Night fell, bringing the long-awaited dinner time.

Mirelle gulped down rice wine while stuffing her face with roasted meat, hearing Ethan mention an upcoming winter trip, she asked in confusion, "Where are you going for the winter?"

"To the Black Mountain Range."

"What for?"

"It’s a request from the giant dragon, meow, plus, he needs to visit the dwarven city there, meow~"

"Those guys will very likely go there too..."

Mirelle’s words silenced the once-lively dinner table, everyone knew that those guys referred to the forces of Chaos, in other words, Ethan’s winter journey was highly likely to result in a clash with them.

"It... shouldn’t be that much of a coincidence, right?"

"Let’s hope so." Ethan hoped this trip would be safe and smooth, he smiled and refilled Mirelle’s bowl with rice wine.

Mirelle downed it in one breath, pointing at Zharok, who was hugging a wine jug and chugging from it, she asked, "Then who are you planning to take with you? Him?"

"No need, Pearl and I will go together, that’ll be enough." Ethan planned to seek Leon and Elara’s help once he reached the Elven Kingdom, as for the Black Mountain Range, he would figure out a way to find a guide when the time came.

Hearing Ethan’s words, Mirelle poured herself another full bowl of rice wine, she tilted her head back, drained it, and slammed her hand on the table. "I’m going with you."

"There are many monsters in the Black Mountain Range, do you know why they gather there? Because that place harbors immense power!"

"What kind of power?"

"A long time ago, Chaos once descended upon that place, although Chaos has now vanished, its influence remains, monsters continuously spawn in many parts of the Black Mountain Range, including many high-tier monsters."

"Then how do the dwarves survive there?"

"That’s why they hide inside the dwarven city and don’t dare to come out, furthermore, the dwarven city’s defenses are incredibly sturdy, ordinary monsters simply cannot break through," the giant dragon explained as she gracefully took a sip of rice wine.

The group murmured in amazement.

The giant dragon swept her gaze across the room before resting it on Mirelle. "Mirelle, have you truly decided to go along? Those monsters are highly likely to attack you because of your identity, which will bring trouble to the dwarven city."

The monsters had always hoped Mirelle would join them, if she followed Ethan to the Black Mountain Range, it would definitely draw their attention.

"It’s fine, I’ll just stay outside the dwarven city, as for those annoying pests, I’ll just eat them all," Mirelle said confidently as she speared a piece of roasted meat and popped it into her mouth.

"You eat monsters too?"

"More accurately, I eat mana cores, I can survive even without eating normal food."

"Really? Then give me this piece of meat." Just as Zharok reached out to grab Mirelle’s roasted meat, she shot him a vicious glare, Zharok chuckled sheepishly and poured her more wine, only then did she withdraw her gaze in satisfaction.

"However, since you’re going to the Black Mountain Range, it’s best you make some preparations."

"Then I’ll leave it to you."

"It certainly isn’t free, you understand?"

"Haha, I understand, I’ll take care of your meals for the entire journey."

"Hehehe, you said it~" Mirelle happily patted Ethan’s shoulder.

Ethan smiled, shook his head, and took a sip of rice wine.

The months following the rice harvest passed by quickly, the weather turned cold, the first snow arrived quietly.

Looking at the mountains of provisions piled up in the storehouse, Ethan’s heart swelled with a sense of accomplishment, the storehouse held not only various crops like sweet potatoes and Rock Potatoes, but was also packed to the brim with rice and wheat.

"Are you heading out today?"

"Yeah, Mr. Leon should be arriving soon."

Ethan loaded the prepared goods onto a newly built, massive flatbed cart, aside from the items meant for trade with Leon and Elara, this cargo included many prepared gifts, although this cart was several times larger than the previous one, it was still packed completely full.