章 251: The Road to Heartland City

The road to Heartland City was a vibrant tapestry woven with the hustle and bustle of merchants and travelers alike. The towering, ancient trees of the forest hovered over the path, their canopies creating dappled patterns of sunlight that danced upon the worn cobblestone road. Many times, we passed large, rumbling wagon trains, hailing from distant corners of the continent, adorned with colorful banners and emblazoned with the sigils of various trading companies. 

Sorrin and Tana took it all in stride, merely gazing curiously at the summer bustle, but I eyed each merchant closely, my heart leaping in my throat, desperately searching for the dreaded "wealth" rune, the symbol of the Unbroken Chain trading company. We were coming from the west, while Brithlite and the company headquarters were in the east, but it was still a relief when we came across none boasting the affiliation.