Chapter 13: Adventure Party
The five-day enlightenment instruction allowed Xilutiya to quickly understand the common knowledge of this world, such as copper coins, silver coins, gold coins, and how to judge their origin, year, and value based on the leaf patterns printed on them.
100~110 rotten copper coins=1 silver leaf coin
100 silver leaf coins=1 gold flower coin
“Most silver coins have leaf patterns on the reverse side because the earliest silver coins were silver leaves taken by elves from the World Tree used as currency, and later when various races minted their own currency, they followed this design, mostly using leaves as patterns, with some following noble family crests, such as the eastern Warren Marquis, who uses a wolf beast as the pattern.”
“Although silver coins have pattern distinctions, they have unified size standards, gram weights, and silver content requirements, which are universal across the continent.”
“Then there are gold coins, also known as gold flower coins, because many gold coins have floral patterns on the reverse side, representing the royal family that minted those gold coins.” Winnie introduced.
“If other nobles, not the royal family, just marquises and earls, can’t they use floral patterns on silver coins?” Xilutiya asked curiously.
“They cannot.” Winnie shook her head very directly.
“Only the royal family can use florals as crests, which involves very ancient history and the world’s top powers.”
After understanding the currency classifications, Winnie told Xilutiya about the general situation of the Regas Kingdom today.
The current reigning monarch of the Regas Kingdom is the 17th generation, Asatis, residing in White Cliff City. Due to decline, Regas is no longer a kingdom but has been downgraded to a duchy, and the monarch is called Grand Duke Regas.
Every autumn, large merchant caravans set off from various places to the Royal Capital White Cliff City for trade, then return before winter.
This trade will stockpile supplies and grain for the entire winter; if some territories lack winter grain reserves, they will spend huge amounts in trade to buy excess grain from other territories to get through the difficulties.
“The domestic terrain is mostly forests, mountains, and plains, with different local products in each area. The Jiaoshi City area where we are now is mainly forest, so every autumn, merchant caravans are sent to purchase grains for reserves to prevent grain shortages in winter.”
“Of course, we also have our own specialties, such as cedar wood, tree sap, fur, smoked meat, and some pickled fruits.”
Then Winnie gave Tiya a rundown of the approximate prices of various common daily necessities in the local area to prevent this worldly young lady from being cheated.
……
Four days later, Winnie’s home.
“Congratulations, Miss Tiya, you have completed all the courses. Now you know more about the local situation than 95% of the people on the street.” Winnie closed the book and smiled as she congratulated Xilutiya.
The maiden recalled the various knowledge she had learned these days, from the growth times of local crops and livestock points, the map terrain distribution of the Regas Kingdom, the meanings and origins of various nobles’ crests, the general structures and functions of many guilds, etc. Winnie had given her a comprehensive introduction to the local environment.
“Thank you, Teacher Winnie.” She stood up and bowed.
“I am also very happy to have such a smart student.” Winnie sighed. Tiya’s learning speed was the fastest she had ever seen; many complex concepts didn’t need much explanation—just mentioning the term, and she could quickly figure it out and understand based on patterns and logic.
With such talent, Talil probably couldn’t catch up in her lifetime. She glanced at her absent-minded sister nearby, and Winnie could only helplessly press her head.
“That’s it for today. You’ve learned a lot these days; it’s time to go out and walk around.”
“Talil.” She called her sister’s name, startling the distracted girl awake.
“I’m here, what is it, sister?”
“Go out with Miss Tiya this afternoon.” Winnie directly stated the task.
“Okay, no problem.” Hearing this, Talil was especially happy; finally, she didn’t have to study here.
……
After lunch, Xilutiya and Talil walked on the streets of Jiaoshi City. It was sunny today as usual, and the city was still lively.
Xilutiya, wearing a red-brown cloak, stepped on the gray-black stone bricks, her hands naturally at her sides, her steps leisurely.
“By the way, can ordinary people go to the Adventurer’s Guild to take a look?” She remembered the letter of introduction Frien gave her.
“Of course, but those adventurers are far stronger than ordinary people, so commoners don’t dare to get close to them.”
“I see.” Xilutiya suddenly wanted to know the general level of adventurers in the city.
“Let’s go take a look.”
“I want to go too.” Talil was actually very interested in adventurers, but unfortunately, her strength was insufficient, and she had only recently suppressed the idea of becoming one.
The two soon arrived at the main gate of the Adventurer’s Guild, sized up the tall doorframe, and then walked inside.
The front hall here was exceptionally spacious; it could even be used as a bar, but no alcohol was sold here, just leaving many empty seats for people to rest.
As far as the eye could see, adventurers and mercenaries carrying weapons were everywhere. Most wore leather armor, a few equipped with half-body chainmail. Unlike soldiers, these adventurers carried various tools, such as rope, iron tongs for capture, net cages, fire oil, etc.
At this moment, some people were gathered under the bulletin board, viewing the bounties above.
“Monsters attacking merchant caravans near Shuǐgōu Town, form unknown, bounty 60 silver coins.”
“Buying first order beast teeth, 3 silver coins per tooth, long fangs 20 silver.”
“Wanted: ‘Mist Orchid’, 23 silver coins per plant, need three plants total.”
“Kill the mutated otters upstream of Linxi Village, 2 silver per one, approximately twenty.”
……
Under the bulletin board, a team that Xilutiya found slightly familiar was also standing there, searching for doable bounties.
“Brother Jieluo, how about we go kill those otters? This one looks easy.” A boy in simple leather armor spoke up; his slightly elongated eye corners made his face look somewhat fierce.
“Otters are not easy to deal with.” The strong man called Jieluo shook his head, his broad palm pressing on the boy’s head, almost covering it entirely.
His rough fingers ruffled the boy’s hair as the man grinned and explained: “If we want to take down otters, we have to go into the water, but once in the water, our combat power is much weaker than on shore.”
“Those otters should be wild beasts tainted with nature power; they’re extremely fast in water and very smart. If we use a boat, they’ll drill holes in the bottom.”
“I’ve seen many adventurers suffer losses on this before.” He spoke of his past experience.
“Ah, then how do we do this task? Do we have to hire professional hunters to help?” The boy supported the hand above his head with both hands as he asked.
“Hahaha, no need for that. I have plenty of experience dealing with otters. Let’s go; first accept the task, then head to the Apothecary Guild next door to get some things.” He patted the boy’s shoulder, then had his companion squeeze to the front of the bulletin board to accept that bounty.
“We accept this task.”
“Okay, I’ll register it for you. Per the rules, please pay 5 silver coins deposit first.” The front desk miss came over upon hearing.
“Hehe, this time let’s have some appetizers first.” Saying that, the group headed to the counter nearby to register.
After they left, it quieted down a bit under the bulletin board, with people discussing other bounties in low voices.
“The monster at Shuǐgōu Town is 60 silver; looks very tempting.”
“I bet it’s a first order fang beast; otherwise, the bounty wouldn’t be that high.”
“If it’s first order, 60 silver is a bit low.” Saying that, one person shook his head.
“It depends on the loot. If that first order fang beast has a lot of valuable things on it, just the hunting value would make up for the bounty.”
“Look at Jieluo and them; last time with that red wolf they killed, the bounty money was only a small part—the bulk was the wolf pelt and materials from its body.”
The discussion made the adventurer hall noisy nonstop; these people who licked blood from blades gazed hotly at those bounties.
Even if the process was full of danger, the tangible silver coins were so wonderful. Just taking one bounty equaled a year’s hard work; such temptation was hard to resist.
