The relationship between Neum and River Valley Town is very special.
The latter is adjacent to the Mist Forest and is a major adventurer town with an adventurer association stationed there. It contributes a large amount of tax revenue to the province and the Kingdom each year and produces countless monster materials.
Because the town gathers a large number of adventurers with extraordinary power all year round, the related industries are extremely developed, far beyond what its size should possess.
As for the former, as the largest city in the nearby area, its good geographical location and officially aligned city development strategy make its commerce prosperous, attracting a large number of ordinary residents and upper-class aristocrats.
River Valley Town supplies Neum with a series of specialties from the Mist Forest, including monster furs and timber; in return, Neum provides River Valley Town with human resources, steel, food supplies, and other resources on the basis of its large-scale.
To some extent, during Hunting Day, many adventurers who die in the forest and become fertilizer for the soil come from the slums of Neum City.
"Adventurer," this high-risk industry where risk and reward are proportional, is often the last choice for those whose real lives are already too miserable to survive.
In such circumstances, the large population from neighboring Neum also influences the fashion trends of River Valley Town.
On this point, the street vendors who make a living by reselling goods are particularly sensitive.
Even a goose down cloak that gained fame at an aristocratic party only last month has already been placed on the shelves of a clothing store in River Valley Town this month.
Bear in mind, there is almost twenty days of travel in between.
The owner of "Fairy Wind," Farrello, didn’t deceive Xia Nan; recently, the "Sheep Deer Statue" has indeed been very popular in the Neum City’s aristocratic circles.
And it is far more popular than Farrello had originally introduced.
The long distance between the two cities makes the transmission of information lose its timeliness.
It’s like a cockroach suddenly jumping out of the house; when you stomp it dead thinking it’s just one, the shadowy and dirty corners of your home might already be filled with its brothers and sisters.
When the "Sheep Deer Statue" was transported from Neum to River Valley Town over twenty days, and when it was placed on the shelf as a "new trend from the big city,"
Its influence in Neum City had already expanded beyond the original aristocratic circle, even ordinary citizens had heard of it.
Jamie adjusted the glasses on his nose, looking puzzled.
The adventurer-dressed guest before him was the benefactor who saved his father’s life; his good upbringing made him dare not neglect the guest.
Bending down and leaning in, under Xia Nan’s gaze, he directly picked up the "Sheep Deer Statue" that had fallen to the ground with one hand.
He aimed the front of the wooden sculpture at Xia Nan and explained:
"Lately, I happened to be involved in a historical study concerning the ’evolution of the Sevia Kingdom’s carving style.’"
"This wooden sculpture was something my mentor asked me to bring back for reference while completing an assignment."
"Is there... a problem with it?"
"No! Put it down first, don’t face it towards me!" Seeing the other party holding the wooden sculpture in his hand with the front facing him.
Subconscious memories of a bizarre experience in the grocery store flashed through Xia Nan’s mind, causing him to unconsciously avert his gaze and ask the other to put the wooden sculpture back in the bag.
Across the dining table, Jeff, who had been driving for many years with rich experience, also vaguely saw some clues from the two people’s conversation and behavior.
The relaxed expression on his face suddenly sank, and he commanded seriously, almost imperatively:
"Jamie, do as Mr. Xia Nan says!"
He was evidently quite authoritative at home.
Just as he spoke, Jamie, planning to go upstairs back to his room but suddenly called upon by Xia Nan, was at a loss.
Without a word, he swiftly put the wooden sculpture back into the cloth bag, tied it tightly, placed it on the ground, and sat back at the dining table alone.
Feeling the room’s atmosphere suddenly become a bit tense, with questioning and uneasy looks from Jeff and others around.
Xia Nan didn’t speak, contemplating carefully.
First of all, it can be confirmed.
The statue lying quietly in the bag in front, on the floor, was not the same "Sheep Deer Statue" he initially saw in "Fairy Wind."
This was a feeling from his body’s instincts.
Secondly, although he had only briefly glanced at it.
He had indeed made eye contact with the wooden sculpture.
Yet it did not capture his consciousness and induce the horrific sense of consciousness sinking as it did in the grocery store.
Perhaps... there are differences between the statues.
Or was it a particular action of his at that time that had a similar activating or catalyzing effect on that wooden sculpture?
As his thoughts flowed, he had already organized his language in his mind and asked:
"So, is this wooden sculpture your mentor’s?"
Sitting upright, with his hands nervously placed on his knees like awaiting judgment, Jamie nodded quickly and replied to Xia Nan’s question:
"Yes, this kind of wooden sculpture has become very popular among the faculty at the academy recently, even my mentor had to pull some strings to buy it from a noble in urgent need of money."
"I only borrowed it for one night because of an assignment, and I have to return it tomorrow morning."
"From what you’re saying, the number of wooden sculptures in the city isn’t many?" Noticing the hidden information in Jamie’s words, Xia Nan asked further.
"That’s right; they are primarily circulated among nobles and wealthy merchants. Ordinary people like us generally don’t see them."