Nero is actually the last place you should be heading. I don't remember incentivizing specifically through NPCs to go there. O_O You would honestly likely die. I only mentioned that if you want to get to Nero safely you would know to commission a knight. Which right now none could afford.

Now it's not too hard to ask around for monster sightings.

Every town has some kind of monster sightings and some are rare events if you ask around. Not much will drop on you unless you're out in the wild. 

Remember the goal is to get a full team of monsters. That's 3.