Alexander hurriedly returned to the village with the captives.
"Oh, great god of light, it's wonderful to see the esteemed sir return safely," the village chief said with a smile, handing Alexander the 100 dinars.
Now with 140 dinars in hand, Alexander purchased 10 sacks of wheat and 10 salted fish as travel provisions, spending a total of 70 dinars.
"By the way, Chief, how should these captives be handled?" Alexander inquired.
"You can incorporate them into your own ranks, or sell them to slavers or ransom brokers. They might be in the tavern in the city," the village chief suggested, pointing towards Lisbon.
Nodding, Alexander set off with the three captives. Besides selling the captives, he also had some battlefield spoils to sell, such as damaged machetes and worn gloves, which could fetch a bit of money.
With the quest completed, Alexander's panel updated to:
- **Level**: 4
- **Strength**: 8
- **Agility**: 10
- **Intelligence**: 6
- **Charisma**: 5
- **Available Attribute Points**: 0
- **Experience**: 690/800
- **System Coins**: 100
Lisbon was a beautiful large city, constructed of white marble and blue tiles, surrounded by mountains, with its colors matching the sky in blue and white.
Due to its developed transportation, many wandering poets settled here, creating a rich artistic atmosphere over time.
Art is, after all, the craft of creative fabrication.
Wandering poets excel at this.
When Alexander and his men entered the city, they were stopped and searched by city guards. Given that everyone was armed, they didn't look like harmless folks.
However, once Alexander produced a document from the House of Lion, the guards quickly bowed and stepped aside: "Please, esteemed sir."
Alexander walked into the city with his head held high, truly feeling the weight this world placed on noble bloodlines.
"...The dragon fell from the sky, engulfed in flames, brave warriors drew their swords but ended up in ashes. Only the neither-living-nor-dead Achilleus pierced the dragon's throat with a sharp sword, marking the end of an era..."
As they stepped into the streets of Lisbon, wandering poets were singing intriguing tales by the roadside.
As Alexander passed by one such poet, he tossed him 10 dinars. "My name is Alexander Castilla. Remember my name and create an epic tale of heroism about me, one that will be sung across the continent."
"Very glad to be of service, Lord Castilla," the poet said respectfully, taking the dinars with trembling hands.
In this land, one addressed someone with their surname plus "Lord" only in formal situations.
Alexander didn't care much for the respect shown by the wandering poet. His current goal was to head to the tavern in Lisbon. With a bit of luck, he might run into a slaver.
He pushed open the tavern door, revealing a bustling crowd inside. Finding a slaver among them would be challenging; he'd need to ask around.
"I'll shove your head up a donkey's ass!!!"
Suddenly, a commotion erupted in the tavern. A drunken man threw a powerful punch at a scrawny fellow, splitting his face open with a single blow. The crowd around them watched in amusement, with some even cheering.
Alexander saw this as a golden opportunity to make a name for himself. Reputation was crucial on the continent; with it, one could become a true noble.
"Enough!" Alexander's shout drew everyone's attention.
"I, Alexander Castilla, of the noble House of Lion, inheritor of chivalric spirit, will not tolerate bullying. If you are a man, draw your sword and duel me!"
Alexander didn't actually care about the scrawny man's fate, but his actions garnered approval from the crowd. The drunkard glared at Alexander in rage. "You meddling fool, you're asking for death!"
He drunkenly drew his sword and swung it at Alexander. With his agility at a high 10 points, the drunkard's attack seemed slow to Alexander. He easily blocked the incoming sword with his oak shield and, with a swift movement, drove his iron sword through the drunkard's jaw.
The fluidity of his defensive counterattack impressed the onlookers, earning their applause. No one cared about the drunkard who died in the duel; after all, on this continent, killing an opponent in a duel carried no repercussions. By drawing his sword, the drunkard had accepted Alexander's challenge.
In the cheering crowd, a man who observed Alexander's impressive skills quickly left the tavern, heading off somewhere unknown. Meanwhile, others approached Alexander to talk to him.
Alexander himself quickly picked up the drunkard's sword, a [Reinforced Half-Sword], which was a significant upgrade from his iron sword.
Suddenly, the system's voice rang out.
**[Killed a Tavern Drunkard: Experience +10]**
**[Congratulations, Chosen One, for achieving the milestone - "Gaining Notoriety": More than 10 strangers have remembered your name]**
**[Reward: Charisma +1]**
Alexander's status panel now displayed:
**[Level]: 4**
**[Strength]: 8**
**[Agility]: 10**
**[Intelligence]: 6**
**[Charisma]: 6**
**[Available Attribute Points]: 0**
**[Experience]: 700/800**
**[System Coins]: 100**
Alexander didn't notice any immediate effects from the charisma boost, though perhaps he looked a bit more handsome now?
Ignoring this, he engaged in conversation with those around him and soon found the person he was looking for: Ramon the Ransom Broker. Unlike other slavers who priced slaves based on their status, Ramon treated everyone equally, paying 50 denars regardless of whether they were nobles or the lowest slaves. Ironically, equality on this continent was first achieved by a slaver.
Ramon likely valued slaves solely for their labor, which made the uniform price practical. Alexander enjoyed their conversation, selling the three bandits for a total of 150 denars. As they parted, there was a sense of mutual appreciation.
"My friend, perhaps one day you too will be sold to me. I will pay 60 denars for you," Ramon said.
"That would be the highest honor," Alexander replied, amused.
After parting with Ramon, Alexander led his men to the blacksmith's shop, where he could sell off the junk they'd collected from the battlefield. Any city merchant was willing to buy such spoils, as they often switched trades—today a blacksmith, tomorrow a grain merchant, all maintaining flexible business ethics.
Alexander sold all the loot for a total of 50 denars. Now, with 260 denars on hand, he was one step closer to achieving his merchant path goal.