Chapter 200 A Short Visit to Great Fores (2/2)

'They are not stupid, I must admit. Although, I don't intend to share any information for free' I thought. After a while, I said ”I've been there, but if you want information, I will not give them to you for free”. The guy didn't seem to mind it and said ”We can pay you. Especially, if your information is useful to us”. I said ”I don't need money. What else do you have?”.

The guy seemed surprised and asked ”What would you like then?”. I said ”Show me what you got, and I will tell you. Don't worry, my informations can save your lives. If you think I'm lying, you may continue on your journey”. The guy turned towards the rest of the group, and they discussed in hush tones between themselves.

Although they used hushed tones, I could still hear them very well. ”We shouldn't trust him. Look at him, he is dressed in animal skins. What can he possibly know” one of them said. The leader guy argued back ”That is exactly the reason, I believe him. He seems to know how to survive, and if he really went to the North, his information could really be useful to us”. Another person butted in ”He is collecting some grass, near the pond! You want to believe that kind of guy?”.

Most people in the group wanted to simply leave, there were only two people who wanted my informations. Those were the leader guy, that I spoke with, and another guy, who seemed scared of the North, and wanted any information he could get his hands on.

After a while of debating, the leader guy turned towards me, and said ”I, and my friend here, will show you what we have”. Then they took out their bags and started taking out things. I took a look at them and started walking towards the group. The four that were against paying for my information, immediately grabbed for their weapons.

The two guys taking out the stuff, also stopped and didn't know whenever to prepare or wait. I decided to help them out on that, and said ”I'm just coming closer to have a look. Besides, I already heard your conversation”. The whole group was stunned, but even more on guard now.

I stopped about 5 metres away from the group and said ”Just show me everything. If I wanted to rob you, I would've done it a long time ago”. With that sentence, the four people took out their weapons. 'I'm not a great negotiator…' I thought. The leader guy, finally decided to go for it, and dumped everything out from the bag.

I said ”That's the spirit”, then took a closer look. I noticed a bow inside that pile and asked ”Are you an Archer?”. The guy was still a bit dazed, but managed to answer ”Yes”. I nodded my head and said ”It's a good skill to have. This will come in handy to you, when you meet Corpse Dogs”. The whole group was dazed this time, while one of them managed to squeeze out ”We already knew about Corpse Dogs”.

They must've realised, that I probably didn't lie. I replied ”I never said, you didn't. You also didn't pay me anything”. I took a look at the pile and said ”How many arrows do you have?”. The guy replied ”Around 200”. I shook my head ”And for how long are you going to the North?”. He replied again ”We don't know yet. A month maybe?”. I asked again ”Do you have provisions?”. This time, a woman answered a bit impatient ”Of course we have! We are not idiots, we know that it's very hard to get food in the North”.

I said ”Good. Make sure you have more than you assume”. I then continued ”I can see you have some pots and whatnot. I want those in exchange for some information”. They seemed shocked and looked at me, as if looking at an idiot. The leader guy said ”Are you sure?”. I replied ”Yes, that pot with the lid, as well as some utensils. I will need them in the future. You don't really have anything else of interest to me. I would take arrows, but you only have 200”.

The guy nodded and said ”Sure, You can have the cooking tools”. I then turned towards the other guy and asked ”What about you?”. When he saw that my selection was some pots, he was no longer scared and dumped all the things inside his bag, onto the ground. I examined the stuff, but ultimately there was nothing of interest to me.

I turned towards the leader, and said ”For this pot and stuff, I will explain some of the locations on your map. Do you have it?”. The leader nodded his head, and took out a map. I walked over and took it. When I opened it up, I saw some locations on the map, that I didn't have. Those were the locations in the Great Forest. The amount was quite substantial, but all of them were minor. I looked at the Northern section and saw the Sludge Factory, displayed on the map. I also saw the Vulture Cliffs and Obsidian Mountains. There was a location of a city, that I saw from the Vulture Cliffs, when one of the Avians transported me.

I said ”Don't go to Vulture Cliffs. If they see you, you will die”. I then pointed at the Obsidian Mountains and said ”There are Lava Sludges living in there. If you only have physical attacks, don't go there. There are also some Flaming Horses or whatever they are called. They will be much faster than you, so I wouldn't try to go against them either”.

I then pointed at the Sludge Factory and said ”This thing is alive. I was shocked when I saw it for the first time. Just don't step on it. You might've already know that, but I suggest to not get close. The city on your map is of limits. You will die or worse, whenever they spot you. Humans are not very well received over there”.

I continued ”With your strength, and the fact that this is your first time going there. Make sure to first get accustomed with that place. You can enter and exit whenever you wish, so don't try to be brave, and go around dangerous areas for stupid reasons. There are no seasons in the North. Watch your food supply, as you will not be able to count days or nights. There is no sun or moon, you will miss them after a long time”.

”That is all, I will offer you. I wish you luck, in your journey”. The leader thanked me and asked couple of times, if I wanted something else. They all thought, that a simple pot was worth to me more than gold. In a sense, it was true. It was a solid pot, and I needed one in order to make medicine or poison. With that, I would be able to do it properly.

The group left, and for once, I was glad about the fact, I was wrong. 'They seemed to be decent people. Although wary, but who wouldn't be, when they met someone for the first time. I hope they do alright' I though, as I went back to my herb collection.