(Yesterday, for the first time since I started writing this book, I didn't write a chapter all day. To celebrate this first, I have done a double update today. Seeing as I am sincere, I ask walking friends for a collection and recommendation.)
"Hey, ladies and gentlemen." The old driver's laughter came from the front of the coach, waking the four dozing passengers: "We've arrived at the Crying Cave Camp, time to get off the coach."
Although it's called Crying Cave Camp, it was just a flat land of about four hundred square meters. It was surrounded by stones and wood to prevent beasts from invading, with no defensive facilities or any guards. The camp was divided into two areas, the fenced area near the camp gate was the outer area. Four large tents were built here side by side. The first was an open-air blacksmith shop with a furnace and anvil outside the tent, mainly for repairing armor and weapons. The second was a tailor shop that was responsible for repairing cloth and leather armor. The third was the pharmacy, selling various herbs and antidote potions. Occasionally you could see topical healing potions and oral spirit recovery potions, but the price was more than twice that of the pharmacies in nearby towns. The fourth was a general merchandise store, which mainly sold low-grade Crystals and some small items such as lock picks used by thieves, flints and tinder for making fire, and various cooking seasonings.
Past the row of four tents was the inner area, a large open plot of land scattered with a few temporary tents, which served as the adventurers' rest area. In front of the rest area and closest to the outer zone was another large tent. A pot of potato soup was stewing on the fire inside the tent and kegs of beer were set next to the fire. Outside the tent were a dozen tables and chairs where a few people were seen dining, indicating a temporary tavern in the camp.
This small camp mainly served the hired coachmen, adventurers who came out of the cave temporarily for rest, and the very few travelers who passed by here. Occasionally, hungry beasts who came to forage around the camp would be promptly dealt with by adventurers resting in camp. While the goods here were of little value, the camp was safe, and it was where the adventurers were willing to spend some money to relax after long, tense battles inside the cave.
The three members of Nellie's adventure team and their temporary ally jumped down from the coach. Catherine walked to the coachman: "Sir, according to our agreement, we have hired you for sixteen days. However, you don't need to wait here all the time while we are exploring the cave. You can go back, and come back for us after fifteen days."
"There's no need for such trouble, Miss." The coachman replied cheerfully: "Last time, Scart told me that you wouldn't stay in there for more than two or three days but would come out disappointed. That was a short-term adventure, so I waited here for you guys. If you're sure you're going to adventure long term, do you see the stables ahead? You can find any coach in there to return. I'll also wait at the stable and leave as soon as someone comes to rent a coach to return. This way, I won't have to wait for you, and you won't have to waste a lot of money. Just pay me one gold coin for today, that's enough."
Catherine understood and looked at the sky worriedly: "But, it's late. Aren't you going back tonight? You won't be able to make it back to the town before it's dark. What if something unsafe happens…"
"Haha, don't worry, Miss. All the coachmen here know that they can't return past noon, or they will definitely have to travel in the dark."
"Then where will you stay tonight…" Catherine gave the coachman a gold coin, but she was still not at ease with where the coachman would stay for the night.
"We coachmen always sleep in the coach, not spending money to rent a tent inside. That would be a waste. You better hurry in, don't worry about me." The coachman said as he waved and drove the coach towards the stables.
"Mr. Pannis." Catherine watched the coachman leave, her face a little unhappy: "Why didn't you tell us these things?"
"What?" Pannis asked back with confusion: "Tell you what?"
"About what the coachman said." Catherine asked Pannis seriously, staring at his eyes: "You must have known it clearly, why didn't you tell me?"
"It's none of my business." Pannis shrugged indifferently, responding breezily: "I'm only concerned with issues related to the adventure. As for the rest? Ha, whether you spend more or less money, what does it have to do with me?"
"It does now." Catherine emphasized, "If there's something like this in the future, you have to remind me and point out the problem."
Pannis sneered and countered sarcastically, "So, if you chew your food less or forget to sleep at night in the future, should I also remind you of that too?"
Catherine didn't get angry, she simply stated flatly but insistently: "This is an order."
Pannis opened his mouth wide, looking at Catherine with her absolutely firm expression, he sighed in resignation after a momentary mental tug-of-war: "As you wish, Madam Captain."
"Let's go in then, rest a little, and prepare to enter the cave." Catherine nodded and started moving forward. No one noticed the slight smile on her face as she turned around.