Waiting in the carriage line, Marius had a self-assured smirk on his face. Having opened the small treasure box, he discovered 3 valuable golden coins. He was holding the reins and had the box on his lap.
He firmly believed he could bribe the guards, convinced that human nature is unchanging and will always prevail.
From what Marius learned from the goddess as they waited patiently, was the currency in this world was quite simple:
It comprised five types of coins: bronze, silver, gold, platinum, and mythril.
Bronze coins were the most common, the everyday currency of the people. A handful of bronze coins could buy a loaf of bread or a night at a modest inn.
For more substantial purchases, silver coins were used. One hundred bronze coins equaled one silver coin, which covers a month's rent for a small home.
Gold coins were reserved for significant transactions. One hundred silver coins made up one gold coin, enough to buy an enormous home, or pay for a year's education at a renowned academy.
Platinum coins, one hundred gold coins, equaled one platinum coin, suitable for grand purchases, like acquiring land.
At the peak of this currency were the mythril coins. One hundred platinum coins equaled one mythril coin, the rarest, often exchanged in monumental deals.
These coins were so rare and valuable that only the royals possessed them.
Mythril coins funded the construction of cities, defense, and the waging of wars. In the hands of royalty, they were symbols of immense power and influence, capable of changing nations.
Marius speculated that giving gold coins to the guards would feel like a downpour of wealth, worth more than a year's salary for them. Hence why he was so confident.
Ayla sat beside him, captivating every gaze that fell upon her, even though half of her face was covered. She nonchalantly ignored the attention and instead fanned herself, despite not feeling warm.
Not only did she gather a small crowd, but the guards, who were increasingly annoyed by the crowd causing a delay in the line, had to take action and disperse them.
However, an increasing number of individuals continued to approach Ayla, leading the guards to escort them to the front of the line, to a secluded area, which Marius used as an opportunity to hide the gold coins inside his helmet.
"I apologize, sir. It's difficult to concentrate on our work when many people keep approaching your wife and interrupting the flow." the guard, holding a clipboard, glanced at the woman.
Although he was captivated by her beauty, he wanted efficiency!
With this woman around it made it challenging to maintain a smooth workflow because of frequent line congestion, which led to slower progress and increased complications.
And so, with a stern look on his face, he stood there with three other guards behind him, their belts adorned with swords.
"In order to not waste your time, sir, my men will now inspect your carriage for any contraband or illegal items. While they do that, please step down so that a female guard and I can inspect you and your wife."
Marius and Ayla complied and stepped down from the carriage, without so much as saying a word, and approached the guard.
Upon seeing this, the guard signaled for his men to proceed, and as a result, they stepped forward and began the inspection of the carriage.
"Please remove your helmet." The guard, eager to speed up the process, gestured to the female guard next to him, showing that she should start inspecting the woman.
"Of course." Marius made sure the coins were showing by holding his helmet upside down before handing it over.
Taking the helmet, the guard's gaze fixated on the gleaming gold coins. His eyes shimmered slightly, and he discreetly cleared his throat before swiftly scanning his surroundings and pocketing the coins.
Since his father's passing during his childhood, he had been working tirelessly throughout his life. With his mother sick and a desire to provide for his children, he felt a strong need for this.
The guard was aware that accepting a bribe was unethical, but he had no other choice but to do so in order to make ends meet, and thus he reluctantly nodded.
"Sir, both you and your wife can enter. Enjoy your time in Aetheria to the fullest!"
The female guard, who hadn't even received the woman's identification yet, was slightly perplexed. However, since her superior allowed them entry, she assumed they must have already been checked in.
"Thank you," Marius spoke, quickly grabbing his helmet and placing it back on his head. He glanced at the goddess before heading back to the carriage, which was done being inspected. "Let's go, Ayla."
Upon hearing her name being called, Ayla expressed her gratitude to the female guard and gathered her belongings before returning to the carriage. Once inside, she took her usual seat at the front.
Using a gentle nudge of the reins, Marius prompted the horse to begin walking and, with a full smirk, thanked the guard once more, baring his teeth.
They ventured into the city of Aetheria. Positioned on a colossal lake, adorned with never-ending brick structures, abundant stores, bustling side stalls, and teeming sidewalks filled with thousands upon thousands of people.
Furthermore, the well-paved roads were crowded with hundreds of carriages.
"Now, all we need to do is find the adventurer's guild." While caught in traffic, Marius cast a quick look around, hoping to catch any signs, all while maintaining his concentration on the road.
"Hero, the adventurer's guild, is located in the heart of the city," Ayla said, having seen a giant map board on display. "Just keep going forward."
"Ah, perfect." Marius felt relieved as things started to move faster, now that he knew where he was supposed to go. Soon, they would be able to register as adventurers.
While he yearned for his map to possess every tiny detail, it was unfortunate that it only represented the significant features of locations, disregarding what lay inside them.
Marius let out a sigh and leaned back slightly.
"Whatever. As long as we arrive safely."