Nicola still owned that house inside the city since a decade ago, but he had no need for it anymore so he chose to sell it. Even though it is an almost medieval world and without technology, there were still certain institutions that existed within countries such as banks. During those years at the Six Rings Academy Nicola had opened a bank account that operated within the Melkor Empire, the Pluto's Bank. This was the largest bank within the continent and had headquarters within almost all cities in the affiliated countries.
The bank paid taxes to the Empire to operate and charged after service fees, but still had a profit margin, enough to match the power of a smaller country. After the conversation with Rhicina. Nicola realized that such an institution could not exist without any support behind it. Certainly there was a powerful cultivator maintaining order for it to thrive.
Of all the countries, the only ones that did not accept the presence of Pluto's Bank are the Country of the Church of Light and the alliance made by demons, orcs and undead. In addition to keeping its affiliates' money safe, the bank also invested in other services such as property sales, investment in services, contracts and patents for new discoveries. Nicola, for example, has applied for a patent for his sound device and receives part of the profits from sales on it monthly.
Now, once again he has come to another of these services, the sale of his home. It was enough to give the news to the bank and deliver the documents of the house, as soon as they managed to have the residence sold, the money would be transferred to Nicola's personal account and the service fees would be deducted.
After that he left the city. The way to the City of Opus was smooth, in less than a day he managed to reach his destination. What before it took a considerable time. Now with his higher cultivation, he arrived in his hometown in just one day.
Opus seemed to have improved its standards and it became a better city. It was still possible to find the slums on the outer areas of the city and close to the border with the forest, but they were much less than it was before. Some beggars passed in the streets, asking for change or food. Nicola came to recognize some of them from his time as a beggar, but he had no sympathy at all. After all, they were the ones who stole the bread from his hands when he got some and attacked him when they saw Nicola pass, for being half a demon.
He decided not to spend much time inside the city and soon arrived at the branch of the city Mercenaries' Guild. The girl at the counter was still the same one he found when he signed up the first time. She didn't seem to have changed at all, Nicola had read in one of the academy's books that elves lived at least five hundred years and even half-elves live much longer than normal humans.
"Rena? Do you have a mission for me?" He arrived asking and handing his medal over the counter.
The girl did not recognize Nicola and found it strange that he had called her by her name. Until she saw the name inscribed on the medal that Nicola handed over. "Nicola Kanata ..." She gaped in amazement at the name she hadn't seen in years. "That boy who lived under a dark cloak .... Is it really you?" She looked incredulously at Nicola's body.
He was not very muscular but some muscles still sprang to tight clothing, his slim figure matched his oriental appearance. The reddish skin and the four arms of the demonic descent made her understand why Nicola had worn that hood for so many years. But those eight pure white tails dangling behind him, have the power to cancel out in her mind any relationship he might have with demons. She even raised her hand to pet one of the nearest tails before coming back to reality and stopping halfway.
"Ah! I'm sorry, Nicola." She said and remembered something, she looked again at the medal Nicola gave her and saw the silver color and the four stars engraved on it, once again keeping her mouth open. Even during all this time, if she were to classify herself, she would still have six bronze stars, but Nicola had managed to surpass not only her as the master of the branch, and in just a little over ten years.
"No problem Rena" He said smiling, which made the clerk blush. "Is there anything for me on the mission board?
"Ah! Let me check it out" she asked for a moment, the shock was so great that she had even forgotten Nicola's request. As always, the Guild Hall was full, many looked at him with disgust and contempt, the typical looks that Nicola got used to over time and started to ignore. Unlike the City of Jambel, Opus was a backward and prejudiced city, Nicola received many bully looks for his demonic ancestry, but after seeing Rena return the silver medal many of them swallowed and gave up trying to do anything for him.
Nicola decided that he would no longer wear the cloak and hide from anyone, it is not as if anyone within this city could act against him in any way. Furthermore, he released some of his imperial aura even though he was unconscious about it, persuading that any weak person would not have the bravery to do something against him.
"Oh right, you could update the medal for me? I am no longer at the level of four silver stars." he had forgotten to update his medal in the Jambel City guild branch.