Thorin was startled by his own guess and asked carefully: "You are only thirty years old?"
When Peckert heard this, he knew that this person must be an outsider.
"Uncle, do you think I look old? I'll tell you, I look relatively young. Look at the person next to you. He is only twenty-five years old. Doesn't he look older than me? Hahaha!"
"By the way, uncle, you haven't said where you are from."
"Oh! Oh! I am from the territory of the Moore family next door." Thorin still couldn't believe this was true and replied as if in a dream.
As soon as the four or five people sitting at the same table as Thorin heard about Thorin's origin, they all stood up instantly.
Peckert even grabbed Thorin's collar, opened his eyes wide, and asked loudly: "Where did you say you are from?"
Seeing the other party's sudden change of face and being surrounded by several big men, Thorin was suddenly a little panicked!
"What's wrong, everyone? Don't... don't do anything! Let's talk nicely!"
"Say it again. Where are you from?"
Because Peckert's voice was so loud, the attention of the entire tavern was attracted by him.
Everyone thought that a spy had sneaked in and surrounded them with unfriendly expressions. Some even drew their swords.
Thorin didn't know what had happened either. But seeing that everyone was surrounding him, he was almost scared to pee.
Peckert saw him stunned and shook his collar vigorously.
"Tell me quickly. Where are you from?"
"Neighbor... the territory of the Moore family." Thorin replied stutteringly.
Suddenly, the entire tavern became quiet for a moment.
Suddenly.
"Fuck! You guys are finally back!"
"Fuck!"
"Damn it! You guys are finally back!"
...
I don't know who shouted first. Immediately, there were bursts of cheers in the tavern.
Thorin looked at the cheering scene and was completely confused.
Peckert immediately put on a smiling face, released Thorin's collar, and when he let go, he didn't forget to smooth it out for him.
At the same time, he said excitedly: "Brother, you guys are finally back!"
Thorin still doesn't understand what they mean by coming back without any context.
But before he could ask clearly, people around him all picked up chairs and sat beside him, surrounding him in three layers inside and three layers outside.
"Brother, what did you bring this time?"
"Brother, last time I specifically asked you to bring me a wife. Did you bring it?"
"Brother..."
...
Amidst the respectful shouts of "brother", Thorin finally understood that these people were all waiting for the family to deliver goods to them.
Thorin originally wanted to tell them that he didn't bring anything this time. But looking at their weather-beaten faces and their expectant looks, he really didn't want to make them sad.
So he said: "Everyone, can I say a word?"
Only then did everyone realize that they were only asking questions and forgot to give Thorin a chance to speak. Immediately, they became quiet again.
Thorin cleared his throat and then said: "I understand your feelings. But now you also know that winter is coming and the sea will freeze. Our ship can't come in. Only after next spring will the goods arrive."
"I was sent by the family to build the port first. Otherwise, the goods won't be unloaded when the time comes."
When everyone heard that there were no goods coming this time, they immediately lost interest. However, thinking that the goods would arrive next year, there was always hope.
So they asked concernedly: "You won't have any accidents this time, right! I heard that your place has been attacked by orcs and bandits several times."
"We thought you wouldn't come back. This time you must hold on! If it's really not possible and there is danger, notify us immediately. The brothers here have money but nowhere to spend. We will help you kill the enemy for free."
"Don't worry! There will definitely be no problem this time. Just wait for next spring and then come and get your goods."
When everyone heard this, they immediately beamed with joy and gathered around to place orders.
Some want women, some want southern wine, some want lace underwear, black... Anyway, they want everything.
Originally, Thorin came to recruit people, but it turned into an ordering conference.
Many people came after hearing the news. For a while, the tavern was surrounded tightly.
The reason why they are so eager for goods is really not their fault.
In this northern land, if you say there is nothing here, it's not entirely true. There is plenty of land here and the forest resources are also very rich.
But if you say this place is rich, maybe food and housing are not a problem. But you can't even buy a button here, let alone other goods.
The fundamental reason for all this is the various checkpoints on the road leading to the northern land.
These checkpoints are firmly choking the neck of the northern trade route. The high tolls and various exploitations.
At the same time, the lords along the way collect high tolls but do nothing, resulting in rampant bandits. Some lords themselves are bandits.
This leads to a significant increase in the cost of goods transported to the north. At the same time, there is also the risk of being robbed.
Therefore, many merchant teams are unwilling to trade in the north. Because a trade trip may result in a total loss.
And the soldiers here are fighting desperately with orcs every day. There are plenty of bonuses.
But if they have money but can't buy anything, it is equivalent to scrap iron.
Now hearing that the Moore family is going to deliver goods to the north again, can they not be happy?
However, although everyone was very enthusiastic, there was one person in the tavern who sat quietly in the corner and did not participate.
His name is Vado. He is a magic apprentice. When he heard the news, he quickly finished the wine in his cup, put on his coat, and hurried home.
"Teacher, the Moore family is back again! We will be able to buy affordable Magic Crystals soon."
As soon as he got home, Vado couldn't hide his excitement anymore and couldn't wait to tell his teacher this good news.
Lassad, who was writing and writing beside the desk, paused his quill when he heard this. But soon he continued to write on his own.
"Where did you get the news?"
When Vado saw that his teacher didn't seem very happy when he heard this good news, he couldn't help but be a little puzzled: The teacher is really strange. Wearing a mask every day is fine. But hearing such good news, he seems a little unhappy.
Although Vado was puzzled, he didn't dare to ask more. Instead, he replied honestly:
"A person from the Moore family's territory came to the tavern and is registering the goods that everyone wants to buy. I didn't want to register with those savage soldiers, so I came back first and told the teacher."
"Teacher, when shall we call that person over? We don't have enough of many magic materials."
"I know!" Lassad still didn't raise his head and continued his writing. He said faintly: "Make a list of what you lack. Give it to him all together later."
"Teacher, is it really not necessary to call him over? Don't you have any special instructions?"
"No. Go and organize it first."
"Okay! I'll go and organize the materials now."
After saying that, Vado walked out of the study happily.
And after Vado left, Lassad finally stopped writing. Leaning on the chair, the only pair of eyes exposed on the silver mask showed a sinister look.
He murmured to himself: "They actually dare to come back!"