Moving through the rough landscapes and tunnel roads they were unsure of, the others couldn't help but feel in awe at their surroundings. It has been a while since they were outside but they could see that humanity continues to strive and survive, something that they always had done for the past millennium of horror and dread.
The busy streets and roads were crowded with people as they passed through. Grey foggy smolders permeate the air as the house chimneys that make everyone warm inside their home continuously puff out smoke, making the already dark skies darker.
Surrounded by protective walls that enclose humans from the inside, at least, everything appeared to be manageable and in control by the humans so far.
Of course, that only appears on the outside. Nobody knew what was going on inside the very core of humanity unless you're a person with a high degree of position from within.
Even Alms and Chin who was below the standards of peering through the deepest secret might've not known anything at all as well.
What they do know however is to do their job very perfectly.
While riding the van through each city, they introduced each one of them with a jolly tone. So far, they had passed two cities so far, marking their next location as their third.
"This is the Harden City, a local point where the exchange of goods is prominent. Literally, almost any goods can be bought or sold here. Though the rarer the item is, the more you'll likely find it either already sold or not here," Alms paused after giving a brief introduction, "We'll stop by here before going to the Langston Bridge. We'll move after half an hour,"
Everyone nodded before the van parked itself on an available lot, a free vehicle parking space meant for these times. It seems the plate card or sticker somewhere in the van makes one distinguish whether they were a visitor to a city or people living in it.
If it were the former, one would've gone through a series of paperwork just to accomplish some sort of citizenship in the city.
Cesar and the rest wouldn't have to be worried upon seeing that their ride had been smooth sailing until the very end when the van finally parked itself.
"Excuse me, sir Alms, sir Chin. Do you perhaps have a map of this city?" Cesar paused, "We're planning on sticking around but we might get ourselves lost because we really didn't have any idea about this… area,"
"Ah, of course!"
Alms happily grabbed something out of the side compartments on the side of the car before giving it to Cesar.
"This is the maps of the cities we'll pass by or we've already passed en route. Harden City is in there." Alms moved closer before pointing his hand at the spot they were in, "This is where we are parked. I think you have enough time to explore the quarter of the city for half an hour so be aware of the time, okay? Also, be mindful of the rules of this city as well,"
Heeding their advice, Cesar and the rest of the squad went outside of the van and had to decide where to stroll which part of the city while being aware of the allotted time given by them.
…
"How come you are the one deciding where for us to go, huh?"
Suddenly as they were in the middle of their strolling and sightseeing around the city, Quentin raised a question that Cesar merely ignored. The others also did the same thing, all except Reyna who let out an annoyed sigh and drew nearer to him.
"Listen here, he's our squad leader and we're a team now. Of course, we're going to stick with each other and let Cesar decide the place we're going to." Reyna took a moment of breath, "Besides, where are you even going?"
Quentin let out a short cough as if he were expecting to be interrogated, "I'm planning on exchanging my contribution points for Vennon Cash."
Cesar cast a glance at him before saying, "Why? Does the contribution points of the academy doesn't work on the outside?"
"Uhm, of course? It's not like we've been trained in the mountains for you not to know it actually," Quentin answered with a slight ridicule and mocking tone before continuing, "For obvious reasons, the currency here works differently inside the academy. In this world, Vennon Cash is wealth,"
Not minding that he was being mocked by him, Cesar contemplated for a moment and said, "Where do these exchanges happen?"
…
Just as humanity was reforming their survivability rate to the harrowing Nightmares, greedy bastards from the history books couldn't contain their gluttony when it comes to money.
Knowing there were different kinds of currencies in the past, these greedy businessmen came up with a solution where they came up with a currency that would benefit them and probably others they are close with as well.
Vennon Cash
These are the bill notes where the face of one of the businessmen, Vennon, is on it. Vennon was the leader of the greedy businessmen from the past and made the world better after accomplishing one global change.
After all, even though he was greedy, his money was what made everyone unite. At least, some part of it. Whether it was in their era, the previous epoch, or the current age, money is what unites most of the people.
"Vennon is not really bad at least for me," Reyna explained what she knew about Vennon's history, "He made us rich after all. His money made gave birth to the Schmitz Bank Company,"
As the six of them went through the tough crowd, following Quentin at the front who was in possession of the map, they finally took a halt once they saw him staring at the building in front.
Harden's Trading Center
They completely ignored sight-seeing or roaming around the place they found interesting and immediately made their way toward the trading center which Quentin recommended.
The trading center is a five-story building with vendors encircled around its area. It is huge and made out of pristine black and white walls. One couldn't even peek inside the place even through the glasses since it was obscured by some sort of special equipment.
"The trading center is the best spot a city could have. In the map, this is the closest trading center we could go."
Quentin tapped his fingers onto the spot they were currently standing on the map before continuing, "Thankfully, this is the biggest trading center we can go to. We're very lucky to be able to land here, knowing we can buy a lot of things, as well as exchange goods if you guys even have one,"
The cohort watched the building with dubious looks before they entered the place altogether. After being checked by the guards at the entrance, their gazes soon landed in a much more bustling crowd, way worse than the outside.
"Ingredients! We have newly acquired ingredients and their uses!"
"A ruin of an infamous heretic! Who's willing to try and see it for themselves?"
"We have two ingredients available for cleansing the irregularities of the potion! We have Clover Leaf and Brown Mushroom!"
The trading center lived up to its name as the city's best spot. Even though the day was already beginning to disappear, the place was as lively as ever.
With continuous exchange happening from all around the place, most buyers or sellers will be able to satisfy themselves with whatever needs they need to take. In that regard, they must've their own pocket money.
They're about to receive one themselves.
"How are you so knowledgeable when we're cooped up inside the academy?"
Cesar couldn't help but raise a question that found Quentin outrageously funny that he couldn't help but chuckle. The others, this time, couldn't help but produce similar feelings as Quentin.
But then again, they didn't know much about Cesar nor did he to them.
"Look, captain. My family loves to roam around, changing from one place to another while having to maintain our family liquor business. In fact, right before entering the academy, we've already moved five times," Quentin paused and looked grimly, "It's because we've always encountered Nightmares and Corrupted Humans. Well, I'm just thankful nobody died on us yet,"
He paused, "So as we moved through cities, I'll get to know the commonalities and preferences one place has. Harden City is something I've only heard since it's near Langston Bridge, and because it is near the interconnected bridge, the trading center will always be there.
"Merchants and traders will always be present in here. After all, that's how economics works. A simple supply and demand. Remove one from another, a city will not strive. If a city doesn't thrive, its neighboring ones will suffer the same thing,"
Quentin finally halted after leading the squad to a place where they could get their contribution points to exchange before looking toward Cesar.
"So Squad Captain, that's how why I'm knowledgeable," Quentin smirked, "Actually, why am I even telling you my backstory? Let's just get onto business!"
Setting their gazes at the store in front, they entered inside where they were welcomed by its owner.
"Welcome~"