Hernán discovered that the roads in Andalusia were completely different from before. Although large caravans still charged a fee, the roads were now much smoother, saving a lot of time compared to the past. Furthermore, there were no wild animals or bandits, making the journey much safer. They weren't the only caravan on the road either; they would occasionally encounter other merchants, and even if wild animals were nearby, they wouldn’t dare to appear.

The caravan passed through a forested area, and along the way, Hernán noticed that the serfs in the fishing villages near Calpe, although not particularly strong, were full of energy. They wore smiles on their faces,...