When Cadina left her house, she kept her head down the whole way, not speaking. She just silently followed Erwin.

Erwin also didn't speak. The two of them walked in silence.

The sun was already slowly setting in the west.

It wasn't until they reached the entrance to Erwin's house that he stopped and turned around, and only then did Cadina slowly lift her head, smile, and say, "Thank you."

The smile was sweet but somewhat awkward. Her cheeks were as dirty as ever.

"No need to thank me." Erwin wiped the dirt from her cheeks with his hand and said softly, "From today onwards, we are partners. No matter what difficulties we face, we should confront them together, even personal ones."

"Mm." Cadina nodded dazedly, pausing for a moment of silence. Her eyes suddenly turned red, and tears started to fall drop by drop.

Erwin was startled: "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing, it's just... I'm very happy." Cadina said while wiping her tears.

...

It was already around four in the afternoon.

In this leisurely little city of White City, by around four in the afternoon, people generally started packing up to head home.

An uneventful life.

However, for the new captain of the Silver Moon Knight Fifth Squad, the day seemed to be just beginning. At this moment, he was full of energy.

"Gorden… What was Gorden's last name again? I can't remember all of a sudden."

After tying his horse to the roadside, he took an address and arrived at the flea market in White City.

Yes, the flea market, a place that sells second-hand goods. With the world in turmoil, with chaos and disorder, the second-hand market was flourishing instead.

After all, life has to go on, and if you can't afford something new, then you'll use something old.

In the small White City, there was unexpectedly a flea market that occupied half a street. Everywhere were busy merchants, and every store was filled with peculiar items.

Some shops even emitted strange smells, and people stood in the streets, raising their voices to haggle.

Or rather, to bargain.

"Excuse me, do you know Gorden?" Erwin stopped a passerby.

"I don't know him, I'm just here to sell stuff."

...

"Excuse me, do you know Gorden?" Erwin stopped another passerby.

"I don't know him."

...

This time Erwin found a shop owner: "Excuse me…"

"Buying something?"

"No, I'm looking for someone."

"Don't bother me if you're not buying."

"Oh…"

Erwin could only walk away quietly.

The crowd bustled around him, leaving Erwin like a lonely boat in a vast ocean, lost and without direction.

The only clue left was the yellowed piece of paper in his hand.

This was an address from five years ago, when he once met Gorden by chance. Now he wasn't sure if he could find him again.

Feeling defiant, Erwin had no choice but to keep asking around.

"Gorden? Gorden who sells things?"

"Yes, yes! That's him!"

"In his forties, tall and thin."

"Err… no, he's about my age."

"Oh, sorry, I don't know him."

...

"Hello, do you know Gorden?"

"I know a Biden."

"But I'm looking for Gorden."

"It's close enough, mate. This is a flea market, you can't always expect to find perfection. You can make do for now."

"Thanks for the suggestion, but I'm just looking for Gorden."

...

With the note in hand, Erwin searched the flea market until he was dizzy, and by the time the sun had completely set, he still hadn't found anything.

He even approached the management of Flea Street, but still found nothing, as if Gorden had never existed.

Whether it was merchants or customers, people gradually drifted away, leaving the once lively street cold and deserted.

"Maybe I arrived too late, yes, who would've thought those old dreams could come back to life?" Erwin could only sigh helplessly.

Gently crumpling the note into a ball, he tossed it into a nearby trash can, then turned to leave. As he did so, he found a young man standing behind him.

A young man in his early twenties, around Erwin's age, with short golden hair cut like a bowl, looking sly. He wore a burlap robe somewhat resembling one from a church monk.

"Erwin?"

"Gorden?" Erwin could hardly believe his eyes.

"See, I told you to find Biden first as a stand-in." A guy packing up nearby muttered softly.

"So, your name is actually Biden?" Erwin couldn't believe his ears either.

"No, I'm just Gorden." Gorden shrugged and said, "Biden is my... stage name."

"A stage name? I've only heard of actors and writers having stage names. Do you need one for business too?"

"Of course, especially when the things you sell often have problems. A stage name can ensure that when someone wants to find you, but you don't want to be found, they will never find you."

"How does that sound like a scam?"

"Please don't insult my profession, thank you." After thinking for a moment, Gorden added in a low voice, "Actually, scammers are slightly more advanced than us, since they can make money without needing goods. Hahaha. So, Biden is the ultimate form of Gorden."

...

Starry night, the entire White City was silent, viewed from the sky, it looked like a dark pancake sprinkled with glowing seasonings.

...

"So, you're now the Silver Moon Knight Fifth Squad leader?"

"Yes!"

"No funding at all?"

"Yes!"

At Elvin's house, Gorden craned his neck to closely examine the magic armor Erwin had placed on the table.

"Tsk tsk tsk tsk, new product. This is definitely the latest magic armor from Giant Snake City."

"You recognize this?"

"I definitely do not recognize it, but I have certainly heard of it." Pointing at the patterns on the armor, Gorden took out a magnifying glass and handed it to Erwin, "Take a look yourself. These patterns, they're all runes. It's undoubtedly magic armor. The only place on the continent producing magic armor is Giant Snake City. It's the hottest item on the grey market now. Do you know how much a set of armor like this is worth?"

Studying the patterns carefully, Erwin casually asked, "How much?"

Gorden held up a single finger.

"A thousand Gold Coins?"

"Ten thousand."

"Ten thousand!" Erwin was stunned.

"Yes, ten thousand, and you can't even buy it for ten thousand. The newest model has a very limited production. Actually saying a hundred thousand Gold Coins is reasonable, but a hundred thousand is simply too much, maybe only the Blood Clan Lord has the means to take it. Of course, the great lords can definitely take it, but if they can directly deal with Giant Snake City, there's no need to buy it on the grey market. I once resold an early magic wand, sold it for three thousand Gold Coins. Yet, I only made thirty Gold Coins in profit. Anyway, these things are extremely valuable. Compared to this, any funding... is simply insignificant."

Saying that, Gorden's lips slightly curved up, his eyes widened as he looked at Erwin.

Erwin was dazed, and it took him a while to recover: "What are you thinking?"

"What am I thinking?" Gorden shrugged and said, "No, I'm not thinking about anything, I'm just stating an objective fact."

"Do you want to sell it?"

"Did I say that?"

"You didn't say it, but you thought it."

"Uh... yes, I thought about it." Gorden frowned slightly and added straightforwardly, "This is a financial opportunity. Weren't you just worrying about funding? Without money, having just a name, not everyone is willing to work with you. If you can't find the best people, you can't achieve results. Without results, you can't gain further support. It'll become a vicious cycle. If they confirm that they'll provide magic equipment for everyone, all we need to do is sell one set and then we'll have everything. It's all for the Fifth Squad."

Erwin quietly listened to Gorden finish talking, and then said coldly, "We don't need the best people, we just need those with the strongest conviction. Those who require a lot of rewards to join are clearly not."

"Then I can only wish you good luck." Gorden spread his hands.

...

"Get out!"

"No, wait! Erwin, listen to me!"

"I don't want to hear!"

"Listen to me, we won't sell the equipment! We won't sell it! We just need to use the connection with Giant Snake City to turn it into a channel for goods! I can provide lots of customers, we just need to earn the difference! We're comrades who've fought together, we can split the profits!"

"Get out! Out! I don't know you! Not my comrade either!"

Finally, Erwin managed to push the clingy Gorden out of the house, making him fall heavily to the ground.

Climbing up from the ground, Gorden dusted off his clothes and, helplessly, looked at Erwin.

"When you come to your senses, you can come find me anytime."

After saying that, Gorden sighed and left.

Watching Gorden's departing figure, Erwin felt a bit bewildered.

It wasn't until Gorden completely disappeared at the entrance of the alley that Erwin turned around. As soon as he turned, he saw Cadina standing behind him. The two silently stared at each other.

"You heard everything?"

"Yes, heard it all."

"Not everything will go smoothly, but that's no reason for us to give up on our dreams."

Feeling dejected, Erwin brushed past Cadina and walked into the house.

Cadina followed in.

Entering the kitchen, Erwin picked up the kettle, poured a glass of water, and put it in front of Cadina, then drank directly from the kettle.

After drinking, he wiped his mouth and said helplessly, "I admit, I'm a bit discouraged now. I wasn't mentally prepared for Gorden's change. In my heart, he always maintained the Knight's dream. I thought he would join without hesitation upon hearing this news."

After a pause, Erwin continued with a bitter smile, "However, the first thing he thought of was money."

Cadina sat on the chair, blinking at Erwin.

"It's okay, we have fifteen people, besides me and him, there are thirteen others. I can go find them one by one."

Hesitatingly, Cadina said softly, "My father says... I've been hired by you, so from now on, I have to eat at your place. No more breakfast, lunch, or dinner prepared for me at home. If my younger siblings grow a bit more, he wants me to move directly to your house."

The voice got smaller as she spoke.

"Got it." Erwin sighed and turned towards the kitchen, "My father will come home late tonight. I'm responsible for cooking. I'll arrange a room for you later."

"I'll help you!" Cadina lifted her skirt and hurriedly followed.

By the stairs, Simon held onto his skull from the second floor and watched them from afar.

...

Things don't always go smoothly, especially at the beginning. Bad news often outweighs good news.

At such times, a positive attitude and tenacious will are often more important than intelligence.

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