As expected of the dragon's road, You enter from the mouth and you exit at the tail.

Actually rather than a tail, its more like a corridor that gets smaller as you walk. At the end is a portal about the size of a barn door. It has that space galaxy starry wavy look.

"Psst, psst, hey! Did you just graduate? How about some new weapons and armour? I can make it cheap! Just put in a few good words so they would be more lenient to my business."

Our new travel companion never gives up. He tried that on every single one that is within earshot. Their caravan is just behind ours so I can see him trying his sales talk while being tied to the coachman's seat.

"Hmmpghpghpgh!!!! Hmmmpphgmp! Mmmmmmph"

*bang* *bang* *bang*

The other noisy guy is the one who lost his brother. I do feel bad that the army has to arrest him because he vented his anger and grief to the army students but would someone please knock him out. I don't want to go to the central island with a tied up sausage slamming the walls like a freshly caught fish. That would just be annoying and not a good image for the academy business.

Now that we are in front of the gate, do we just continue forward? Is there some kind of etiquette so we don't enter as someone is exiting?

"Alright, we are finally here. We will stop at the rest area just at the side to discuss some rules and guidelines on the central island."
"Yes, teacher!"

The alchemist teacher is riding with us in the passenger carriage to not only protect us but watch the detainees. The army escorts are already there but they are too close to us for comfort.

The usual flirters went quiet and for that I am very thankful. However, please don't do an improve alchemist class session right in the middle of the carriage. You do know that things get explody when alchemist are involved!!

Wait!!! Is this why they put the top [Holy Magic] proficient classes in the same group!?!? Tsk, I should have seen this coming.

"Fire in the hole!!"
"Aaaaaah!!!!"
"Whaaaa!!"
"Run!!!"

I told you so, I really told you so! Why make a delicate potion that has a tendency to explode on a rocky wagon!?!?

"Don't even try to activate that shield rune chatterbox. Pocket that and just run! Do you want to die a heroic death by trapping the explosion along with you?"
"Eh? Ah?"
"Tsk, This is why I told you to experience travelling without your hundreds of defense magic items!!!"
"Just drag him with you victor. It is no time to argue about his inexperience when dealing with pressure!!!"

*Grab* *Run*

"Well, now that everyone is assembled outside I will now list what not to do at the central island. I will start with the very forbidden one. Make sure not to do it or your, and all of us depending on the situation, will be 1,000,000,000,000,000% certain."

This bastard! Do you really have to force a scare tactic just to assemble us like this!

*Boooom!!!*

Ah, I see. It wasn't a threat but a real intentional bombing by the teacher. That is even more extreme. No wonder, the alchemist students ran too. There goes our passenger carriage. It's a good thing I don't have a lot of things.

"First forbidden act, Don't start a war, or those who provoke and those that accepted the provocation, and their group, will be wiped out."

Easy enough, since the island's very existence is to improve the relation of the different continents.

"Second forbidden act, Do not collude with the other races to cause chaos to their own continent. Don't be a smart ass and try to be a mastermind behind the scenes to takeover all the continent."

"...Hey, chatterbox. Does that mean someone tried this before?"
"...The hero king of the humans tried to do it but failed. The guardians subdued the followers quickly, while the hero kind lost half of his powers. It was a popular topic among merchants since a sea dragon crawled out of the ocean to hunt the followers at the central island."

"Forbidden act three! Don't force anyone to anything they don't want. No coercion, no harassment, rape, kidnapping, shady businesses and no stealing. This is a bit vague of a rule but it basically means be a goody goody while on the island."

"No killing, no slavery and no littering. Don't forget to clean up your own mess, no one likes a dirty island. We came here to do business a very clean business so use proper washrooms, don't spit on the ground and properly dispose of your waste."

It's weird how killing and littering in the same sentence make a very grim 'cleaning' perspective.

"Those are the big parts and the lesser rules are depending on the respective race. The central island may seem like a neutral ground but it is still divided for the different continent, everyone sticks with their own after all."

Herd mentality but it can't be helped since the last time the biggest impression everyone has of the different continents is that huge war.

"Also, you can't enforce your justice, law and the like over there. The only rules you need to follow are the island rules, that island is made by the hero and defended by the hero's monsters. If you have a problem with their rules you can take it up to them however, please remember they are a horde of naval monsters and all powerful dragons."

I would like to see them in action just once so I hope there is a fool that tries to provoke them.

"Well, that is all set and done so we can proceed to enter. We can't bring our prisoners inside since they are detained with our laws not the islands, someone needs to watch over them here."
"We will continue our duty and watch them until the end, teacher."
"No, I will stay behind. You and your group go and experience the island. This is part of the trip experience so experience it until the end. I won't have much to do there since an old fashioned miner like me doesn't need such fancy things. I have a pickaxe that can break everything I come across and that is all I need. Go and have fun."

What a manly teacher!! or a more accurate description, what a lazy teacher. He wants to rest here while letting the other teachers manage our group all the while, finding business partners for the new academy business. I won't be the one who will be doing all that annoying stuff anyway so I won't care much more.

"All right, that is done. Negotiations should be easier with the muscle idiot away so let us get going."

Looks like the alchemist is the one in charge of the business transactions. Wait, more importantly there is this thing you forgot!!

"Teacher, you destroyed our carriage!!!"
"Is that so? Well fix it!"

How can you act like its a small matter!?!?

"You broke it so please fix it!"
"Extra charge plus overtime pay."
"........Fine, let's go classmates."

I need the money after all.

"You backed down quickly there brill."
"Yeah, your thirst for money got you. You need a loan? My family will give you a good rate."
"Shut up! Go and get some wood. We can piece together the wheels and reinforce it with some spare metal. Unload all the logs we use for firewood, we will use it all. We just have to make sure we won't forget to buy some firewood at the central island. And finally, Don't drum up business for your family chatterbox. I would never take a loan from anyone!"

I don't and won't like the idea of being in debt to someone. The weight of gratitude that you are forced to bear when you owe someone is too heavy. You take a step back to ask for help and you keep taking a step back until you fully repay the favour. It's too passive even for me.

"Welcome to the central island. I have been informed by the council of your arrival. There is already a spot reserved for you to set up your stuff. It would take some time to sell everything but you get the most money. If you are in a hurry then you need to sell it directly to the hubs. Each continent has their own hub and they charge depending on the needs of their own continent. They don't sell anything but strictly buy for their own continent use, so if you want to sell leftover good in a hurry, sell it to the other continent's hubs. Ah, if you sell at your stall please don't charge more than 3 times the market price."
"Understood, thank you for helping us."

three times? Is it because everyone has different demand and supply? The hero probably made the markup wide to make sure people can still make a killing in case one continent has a merchandise that is in high demand at their continent.

"Alright, Miners, alchemist, combat healers, army students go ahead and explore the island. Remember the rules, alright! Actually let's go and see our stall spot before you go off on your own."
"What about us blacksmiths?"
"We need you to do a final maintenance. We will do a live maintenance in front of the passersby. It can help promote our merchandise and our skills. It would also earn you some spending gold too."

At least our own teacher explain things like this. The alchemist teacher would probably just say 'maintenance, extra pay' and be done with it. I would still do it since I need the money.

This is our spot? The council has a pretty serious powers. This may be the back but we are next to the hub. Nice traffic and we are near the inns. Perfect place.

"Alright, don't forget this place and our inn is that one over there, the 3rd one. Go and explore. We will leave after 5 days so be sure to finish whatever you are doing by then."

"Brill, chatterbox, let's go finish this so I can head out to the arena."
"You are going to fight straight away?"
"I only have 5 days to experience this so I want fully experience fighting with other races. Do you two want to join me?"
"I'm going to check prices and demands from the other continents. My family left me a list of things to check too that would sell really well in our continent. We might just start our own company if things play out right."
"No thanks, I will go check what this place has to offer too. Especially the equipment of the other continents, I hope to find some exotic designs that I can use as reference."

Reference for making my stuff in the future life that I will have.