It was clearly the lady who spoke earlier.

"Mr. Reed, who is this...?"

The Lion Paladin took his wine glass, drank a sip, exhaled a bit of white mist to dispel the chill on him, and then introduced, "This is Lady Kuisu. Her crew is the best lumberjack team in this vicinity."

Kuisu extended her hand to Fang Hong, who then noticed it was a hand full of callouses, firm and strong. "It's an honor to meet you, Captain."

"Likewise, Lady Kuisu." Fang Hong, though slightly puzzled, stood up politely to shake her hand and replied.

The Big Cat People then took off the cloak covered in wind and snow, hung it on a chair, and pulled out his pipe, handing another to Kuisu at his side: "Care for a puff, Lady Kuisu? It might warm you up a bit."

"Thank you, Reed," Kuisu didn't refuse, accepted the pipe but didn't light it. Her expression was somewhat anxious, a persistent vexation seemed to linger between her eyebrows. Holding the pipe, she examined the young Alchemist and asked in a hoarse voice, "I heard you need a team to head south to the Mangrove Forest?"

Fang Hong couldn't help but glance at the Big Cat People beside him.

Earlier, he had asked Reed to find out how many woodcutters in this town were willing to head south with them in this weather, primarily to gauge the 'market', yet unexpectedly, Reed brought someone directly back.

But already back in Elpaxin, Fang Hong understood that the Lion Paladin was an experienced old hand who wouldn't act recklessly; he made his judgement, surely having his reasons.

Indeed, the Big Cat People gently scraped the sharp claws with a flint stone, sparking some Mars to light the pipe, then lifted his head and replied, "The weather outside is colder than the coldest winter I've ever seen in Rotao. I should go out less in such weather from now on."

He sighed first, then returned to the subject, "Ade, this Lady Kuisu is willing to go south with us. As for the others, once they heard we plan to pass through the Ash Woods, not a single person wanted to accompany us."

"It's natural," Kuisu finally spoke, "The Ash Woods were once part of the Verdant Speak Forest; generations ago, it was lush and green, one of the best forests north of Dulun. But after the battle between Yoshude and the Evil Dragon there, the forest was destroyed, leaving only rubble in the valley, with a legend that the place is cursed by the Dragon's blood, and everyone who goes there will be haunted by the curse."

She shook her head. "Whether the curse is real or not, no one knows, but for those working in our trade, going to the Ash Woods is a taboo. If it weren't for certain reasons, I wouldn't agree to your request either."

"Certain reasons?" Fang Hong asked.

Kuisu glanced at them. Frankly, Fang Hong's youth made her uneasy, though the ability displayed by the Big Cat beside him slightly convinced her, especially since in this place, there's probably no one else to help her.

She hesitated for a while before decisively speaking, "Yes, my people and I can go south with you, even if it means passing through the Ash Woods. However, before departing south, I hope you can do me a favor."

Fang Hong was taken aback.

Before he could respond, the lady continued, "I need to find someone. A month ago, he was seen heading to the Blood Thistle Forest with a group, and then went missing in that vicinity."

Kuisu looked into Fang Hong's eyes and said slowly, "I intend to personally search for his whereabouts there, but in this place, no one is willing to approach that area — I can only turn to you for help. If you're willing to assist me, whether successful or not, my people and I can work for you free of charge for the next six months — "

Fang Hong hesitated for a moment. Free labor was certainly appealing, but he knew there's no free lunch in this world. He had no idea what kind of place the Blood Thistle Forest was, but if others are unwilling to go near it, it certainly wouldn't be friendly.

Although they are also an Adventure Group, they don't specifically head into dangerous places where others would avoid; Dolifen and Fenris's group was merely an accident, not the inherent attribute of their team.

And Kuisu naturally understood why the young man hesitated, continuing, "Captain, north of Dulun, you won't find a more experienced lumberjack crew than mine. Not to mention, others are unlikely to accompany you to the Ash Woods, which is the biggest taboo among Forest Guardians."

"Of course, you could also hire lumberjacks from south of Dulun. But I believe you are aware that hiring workers from those warmer southern regions comes with a much higher price tag than people like us."

"Moreover, those places are bustling with various forces, hiring people locally inevitably means dealing with local Guilds and factions. The trouble involved there far exceeds hiring our people here."

Probably this last statement convinced Fang Hong.

Indeed, the reason he chose to hire people from the Masongke Creek base for the southern journey was precisely to avoid getting entangled with the complex Guild forces in the south. The murky waters there are much more intricate than the few clear-cut forces in the north's Grand Guilds.

He then asked, "So, the person you're looking for, what is your relation to him?"

"He is my son, the only bloodline left by my deceased husband, so regardless of whether he is dead or alive, I must know his whereabouts." Kuisu placed the pipe aside and said faintly.

Fang Hong suddenly went silent, thinking that after missing for a month, the lady's son was likely in dire straits. However, looking at her, he suddenly thought of Atira.

Their experiences are so similar.

He couldn't help but look at the Big Cat People beside him; Mr. Reed likely brought her over for this reason as well.

Fang Hong pondered for a moment, then made his decision: "So where is the Blood Thistle Forest?"

"It's south of here," but it wasn't Kuisu who answered, but Hilveld, "That place used to be known as Aimumu Fortress, but it's been mostly abandoned for over a hundred years— "

...

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