384 Half Moon Village Delegates (1/2)
After signing the deal to help Axel find the desert poppy, Zero and Truen found themselves waiting for the trader to help them groom the sand walkers for their travel.
Dorgon brought the elves out for a drink and asked them once again. ”Do you understand the risks of finding a desert poppy? I can't believe that spriggan made you agree to it.”
Zero smiled. ”That's why we're asking you to give us detailed maps about Derby Desert. We got some from the traders at Little Stone Town but they aren't very detailed. There are a few places that we don't have detailed maps about. Other than Magnus Hilda, Lycantopia, Rocket Mountain and Smargdas, I don't have any detailed maps about the other five nations.”
The guild master twitched and took a sip of his wine, asking the barmaid for a refill before he glared at Zero. ”That's only natural. Do you know what kind of territory the other nations are? Indra Seagloo and Derby Desert are dangerous terrains that no other species can survive in except for the sea folk and the gnomes with their advanced technology. You were talking about dwarven or human traders, right? These people wouldn't have maps of these dangerous places. Even cartographers won't willingly explore these places without an A-rank party of escorts. It is that dangerous.”
Truen expected as much. However, he could guess why nobody had maps on the Great Altear Forest and the Mystic Meadows. The political situation didn't give cartographers the chance to explore them and the people of those lands want to live in isolation from the world in some sense. ”What about The United Nation of the Uncanny? Surely it wouldn't be hard to draw a map of it.”
Dorgon laughed when he heard that. ”Sure. Of course, it's easy to draw maps of it. How often do you think the kingdoms want to update them? With the constant civil war going on, territories are constantly changing. Oh, did I mention? Even their wizard tower had been destroyed twice in the last fifty years. How would a map help? You're better off asking the locals for the latest news when you get there instead. Nobody knows what will happen in that god-forsaken place.”
”What are you thinking about?” Truen asked when Zero stopped eating.
Dorgon also noticed the silence and grinned. ”Nervous? Going to the desert isn't for the faint-hearted after all. I've only been there twice myself and the times there were gnome escorts. I'll tell you that navigating through the sand sea is probably as hard as navigating in the open sea. It might even be harder because compasses don't work.”
Truen chuckled. ”I don't think Zero is worried about that. We've been travelling for a while now so we usually let fate take us to where we should be. There isn't any particular aim for us right now so life is an adventure. It's just that some friends of ours will be visiting tomorrow.”
Zero sighed when he heard that. ”Do you think Lady Zenobia will recognise me?”
Dorgon didn't understand that but Truen did. ”You might have changed a little externally but I'm sure she would recognise you once you start talking to her. Also, stop worrying so much! You'll be seeing the princess later to tell her about our departure. Don't make her worry.”
Dorgon nodded in agreement and they finished up their meal quickly so that Zero and Truen could return to the palace and bid their goodbyes to the Princess.
Princess Dorothy held back tears when her teacher said that she was going to travel to Derby Desert for a quest. The dwarven princess urged Zero not to go because it was dangerous but the doctor held out his adventurer tag proudly. ”I'm an adventurer now, it means that I am very strong. No sandworm or illusion can harm me. Besides, I have the protection of gods above. It'll just be a quick trip to find a gnome technician and the desert poppy. I think I still have some space in my bag. Would you like me to get you anything from the desert, princess?”