44: Chapter 33 Conditions (4k)_2 44: Chapter 33 Conditions (4k)_2 “Oh…” Xia Nan hugged the wooden basket, his expression somewhat surprised, but still nodded in thanks, “Thank you.”

He initially thought of exchanging a few more words of pleasantry, and perhaps discussing some matters about this mission.

Unexpectedly, Larry seemed to have come just to deliver something and, leaving only the sentence “When we return to Neum, let me invite you to have fun in the city for a few days,” he ran back with small steps under Doris’s urging.

Zila——

Under the scorching flames, the cheese sliced by the dagger melted partially and stuck to the reddish-brown jerky, exuding a creamy fragrance.

Putting it in his mouth, the sweet and salty taste of the Otherworld cheese made the originally dry and tasteless jerky seem like a different ingredient.

Xia Nan’s eyes suddenly lit up, and the fatigue and exhaustion in his body and mind eased considerably.

He looked at Larry and Doris in the distance, who were saying something in low voices, his gaze a bit complicated.

When he first joined this small team, he thought they had the clichéd “pursuer” and “being pursued” relationship that often appeared in his past life.

After all, with Larry’s fawning demeanor and Doris’s indifferent attitude, it was hard not to think that way.

But now, after spending the whole day together.

Xia Nan found that although Larry always had a sycophantic manner, he wasn’t flattering without boundaries; and although Doris often seemed disdainful, she didn’t always act so distant.

“I don’t understand.”

He shook his head in puzzlement.

“Quite strange, right.” As if perceiving Xia Nan’s gaze, the Half Elf beside him smiled and spoke.

“What if I tell you that actually, the two of them grew up together since childhood?”

What?

Childhood friends?

Xia Nan became even more confused and instinctively asked:

“Then why do they…”

“Seem awkward, right?” Hai’an watched the two from afar, lowering his voice, “The actual situation is indeed a bit complicated.”

“Larry’s father is a famous merchant in Neum; and before opening their cheese shop, Doris’s parents used to work as stewards for the Larry family.”

“That’s how they got to know each other from a young age, and after that…”

At this point, the Half Elf seemed to realize his current behavior might be inappropriate and stopped speaking, concluding with:

“What happened next is like those stories in the plays.”

Xia Nan still didn’t understand.

But since Hai’an wasn’t planning to continue, he didn’t press further and instead shifted the topic back to him.

“And you?

Why did you come to the Mist Forest?”

Hearing this, Hai’an paused.

His silver-gray eyes flickered with a flash of thought, hesitated for a moment, then, as if letting go of something, he let out a long sigh.

He took out a pitch-black wooden sign from his pouch.

His fingertips gently rubbed its surface, speaking softly:

“When I was young, every night before bed, I would always pester my mother to tell me stories.”

“Though it was always the same few stories, and she didn’t tell them as vividly as Aunt Polly.”

“But…” The evening breeze blew, revealing the Half Elf’s elongated ears under his silver hair, “Those stories all came from my mother’s homeland.”

“Elves known for mischief, tree men who guide lost travelers, dreams woven with jade and green jade…”

“Only on those nights, in my mother’s gentle voice, could I stop thinking of other people’s gazes during the day, and not have to care…

about myself.”

The unique silver-gray eyes of the Elf reflected the flickering firelight before him.

Hai’an suddenly turned his head, glancing at Wood who seemed about to speak.

He sighed.

“I actually know that the design of this wooden sign differs from the style of my mother’s clan’s heritage.”

“But this is the last chance, I must try.”

“After this mission, regardless of success, I’m afraid it’d be hard for me to leave home again.”

“No, young master!” Wood replied resolutely but then seemed to think of something, a hint of hesitation and struggle crossing his face as he muttered again, “No.”

It was just a casual question, yet surprisingly, it had left the team in a silence.

Xia Nan glanced at both of them, his brain working swiftly, then changed the topic, saying:

“By the way!

I’ve always wanted to know, Wood, are you a professional?”

“The kind that truly achieved a Professional Level,” he added.

In response to this, Wood’s expression seemed somewhat odd.

“Didn’t you know?

I thought you would’ve figured it out by now.”

“Haha, after all, this is just my second mission.” Xia Nan scratched his head and laughed.