Sophia

As they passed through the stone mountain, the caravan encountered numerous desert folk diligently mining stone. The woman observed them closely before whispering to the elderly mage Simon beside her, "These people are clearly working for that lord. Although their physical strength isn't remarkable, their spirits are high. They don't appear to be enslaved."

Simon nodded in agreement, "Your keen observation is astute, young lady. It seems that the lord isn't malevolent, which is good news for us."

Soon, they followed the Royal Knights into a dense forest.

"The vitality in the air!" the woman exclaimed. "It's hard to believe this is the Karar Desert. If not for the sandstorm behind us, I would think we were back in the Forest of Life!"

Simon, however, wore a look of utter astonishment. "Last year, when I passed through the Golden Oasis, this forest wasn't here. The entire oasis spanned only a few hundred meters. Now, it stretches for thousands. Only a mage of immense power could have transformed the Golden Oasis like this. At the very least, such power would belong to a sage!"

The woman gasped, grateful that they hadn't resisted further. Otherwise, they might not have lived to tell the tale.

Emerging from the forest, they were greeted by a breathtaking view. A sapphire-blue lake, serene and mirror-like, lay before them. Lush green grass spread out, dotted with sturdy date palms and giant cacti. An orchard of magical fruits added to the enchanting scenery, making everyone in the caravan feel a sense of tranquility and awe.

The woman's blue eyes sparkled with wonder. "Incredible! The Golden Oasis is more beautiful than the legends say!"

"It wasn't like this before," Simon muttered, shaking his head. The last time he visited, it was just an ordinary oasis. The stunning transformation was undoubtedly the work of the mysterious lord, who must possess extraordinary power. The greatly expanded sapphire lake reinforced Simon's belief that the lord was a powerful sage with mastery over domains.

Soon, the woman and Simon were led into the Town Hall. The caravan's goods and the dozen swordsmen accompanying them were stationed at the training grounds, guarded by Royal Knights who kept them immobile.

In the elegantly decorated Town Hall, Hao Tian sat atop a grand chair while the woman and Simon stood before him, looking up with a mix of curiosity and respect. Butler Hoden's introduction revealed that Hao Tian was the lord of the Golden Oasis, surprising them both. Despite his youthful appearance and being only a ninth-level practitioner, they didn't underestimate him. They were convinced that a powerful sage must be supporting him.

"Honored lord," the woman began with a bow. "I am Sophia, president of the Crystal Chamber of Commerce. Meeting you in this beautiful Golden Oasis is a privilege. This is Simon, our guild's mage."

She removed her hat, letting her dark red, wavy hair cascade like a waterfall. Despite the light dusting of sand on her face, it couldn't conceal her delicate features, especially her striking blue eyes, reminiscent of the sapphire lake.

Hao Tian, however, was unfazed by her appearance. He smiled, thinking of how he had been contemplating ways to profit from the newly established market, and now, a trading caravan had arrived at his territory. Perhaps his market was already proving effective.

"Sophia, I've heard you come from Forest City?" Hao Tian asked.

"Yes, my lord," Sophia replied. "Forest City stands in the heart of the Forest of Life, built by the elves. It's a bustling trade hub where various factions converge."

She explained that Forest City was a melting pot of human kingdoms, desert kingdoms, and other races, with the Ais Free Union, her origin, located northeast of the Forest of Life. To the north lay the Icy Wasteland, to the southeast the Stanlow Kingdom, and to the west, the vast Karar Desert. The northwest bordered the Beastmen's Prairie.

Hao Tian nodded, intrigued by Forest City's potential as a trade center. "Your Crystal Chamber of Commerce seems quite small," he observed.

Sophia, confident, replied, "We are on our way to Vastian City to trade with a desert noble. Securing this route will help our guild grow significantly."

"And what are you trading?" Hao Tian inquired.

Before Simon could speak, Sophia answered, "Gold and silverware, fruit wine, and fine fabrics, which are highly sought after by the desert nobility. Once these goods are sold, we plan to bring back spices, oasis gems, and desert pearls to sell in Forest City."

As she spoke, Simon winced. The young lady had revealed all their trading secrets, showing no fear that the lord might harbor ill intentions. At that moment, Hao Tian leaned forward and said, "You need not go to Vastian City. I propose a trade right here."

Sophia smiled, evidently anticipating this. "What kind of trade, my lord? If you're interested in our goods, I can offer them to you at a discounted price."

Hao Tian shook his head. "It's not your goods that interest me. I have something to sell." He produced a vibrant red fruit and tossed it to Sophia.

She caught it and examined it closely. "A Red Dragon Fruit, a type of magical fruit," she identified, taking a bite. "Sweet and melting in the mouth, with substantial magical properties. Such high-quality fruit could fetch ten gold coins each in Forest City. With good marketing, the price could rise by thirty percent."

Hao Tian's smile widened. He had nearly six thousand pounds of Red Dragon Fruit, around fourteen thousand pieces, potentially worth over a hundred thousand gold coins. Converted to lord's currency, it amounted to over ten thousand coins.

"And this is just part of the deal," Hao Tian continued, nodding to Hoden, who handed Sophia a bottle of milky-white liquid.

Sophia opened it, sniffed, and her face lit up with delight. "Lord, is this Elven Spring Water?"