[Arcadia's economy is fairly complex, with a multitude of materials both accepted and rejected in various places. This is due to this world's high diversity and the fact that every race has different values. However, there is a central currency system that operates in almost all domains, and here's its breakdown. There are 5 divisions, in the form of coins, that exist:
Copper | Silver (1 Silver coin = 10 Copper coins) | Gold (1 Gold coin = 10 Silver coins) | Palladium (1 Palladium coin = 100 Gold coins) | Platinum (1 Platinum = 100 Palladium coins).
As you can see, platinum coins are the ultimate currency, with large transactions often conducted with them. Their mines are thus hotspots for major conflict across the continent.]
Lloyd's eyes quickly went to the leather pouch resting on the ground, surprised by the system's generosity. A hundred gold coins was nothing to scoff at when looking at the exchange rate. He also realized that the economic system wasn't anything revolutionary. After all, earthlings still fought over precious materials, making this feel quite nostalgic. The only thing that actually surprised him were the elements present, which were identical to Earth's. Was there actually consistency between such different worlds?
[Since User
The engineer was startled. There was more?
[The first feature is
The implications of this feature nearly knocked him off his feet. Wasn't this just an advanced form of direct banking?!
[The second feature is
Lloyd's enthusiasm waned slightly, as he immediately identified this feature's downfalls, with unreported transactions and clandestine exchanges obviously leading the charge. Still, he found it very useful due to the logbook feature. He would also have plenty of time to devise strategies and countermeasures to limit these loopholes.
[The basic course on Arcadia is now over.]
The abrupt conclusion, which came out of nowhere, left him dumbfounded. That's it?! It seemed that the system hadn't lied about its course being rudimentary… His attention then shifted to Alexander to pick his brain, but the latter was still lost in thought, making it clear he had to leave him be for the time being.
With the brunt of the information now gathered, it was finally time to chart their course of action. However, an unsettling realization crept up on him: he didn't know where to begin.
"Shit…"
Lloyd had rarely organized anything in his life, choosing instead to delegate to his numerous aides as he thought it was a waste of his time. Over the years, this had resulted in a lack of vision and initiative, which were at present quite the weaknesses. Still, he couldn't just stop here.
"One step at a time… System, reveal our location on the map."
[Command confirmed.]
The familiar blue prompt materialized before once again unfurling a detailed map of Arcadia in all its glory. A sudden and loud ping then occurred, followed by the emergence of a pulsating red dot, but as his eyes went to its location, what he saw instantly soured his mood.
"This is bad."
They were essentially… Nowhere. They were in a "dead zone", far from any civilization. In fact, they were in a territory that hadn't even been claimed yet. The engineer's sudden change in demeanor also jolted Alexander from his contemplative state.
"What's happening?"
"We're in the middle of nowhere. Literally."
"Really? Show me."
"System, can you show him the map?"
[Since he is your subordinate, it is possible. However, the restrictions are identical to those stated earlier. Would you like to proceed?]
"Yes."
Alexander received the map, with his countenance soon mirroring the engineer's. After a protracted minute of silence, the General finally broke the uneasy stillness.
"What should we do?"
"I figured I could save it, but I have an item that can instantly transport us wherever we want."
"What?! Why didn't you say so earlier?!"
"I wanted to hear your opinion, but it seems we came to the same conclusion."
The former King grumbled in response. While his prowess was undeniable, their collective lack of regional knowledge, and of the whole damn world for that matter, left them vulnerable. Hunger, dehydration, predation – the threats were simply too bountiful.
Whilst deep in thought, Christopher then began to weigh his options. If he were to use the teleportation item, he needed a well-conceived plan to ensure its value, as it was a one-of-a-kind investment. With this in mind, the first order of business was to establish the end goal. What did he want to achieve with it? Was there anything that needed to be prioritized? The answer was obvious: his
"System, is it possible to highlight the human empires practicing slavery?"
[It is possible.]
"Please do so."
Greenish swaths then began to appear across the map, much to his surprise. Slavery was much more prominent than he had anticipated. Nevertheless, he still fully intended on benefitting from it, and though the morality of such a decision remained dubious, introspection placated his conscience. After all, he had no intention of inflicting harm upon his future subjects. The next thing he focused on was the locations of the domains. The crux of his plan was to find one adjacent to unclaimed lands and utilize its resources to mitigate the logistical challenges that his fledgling settlement would face. The travel distance between them thus needed to be minimal for his scheme to succeed. However, one critical condition had to be met: the chosen domain had to be weak, or it would threaten his nascent kingdom's very existence. He therefore dismissed those boasting expansive territories, their neighbors, and those comprising non-human species. The last point was especially important, as he had no desire of engaging with unfamiliar creatures since a single misunderstanding could ignite a war and lead to his undoing. The risks were just far too great, and after careful considerations, only three viable options remained.
The first was Triton, an empire nestled along the northeastern coast, which seemed isolated when compared to its counterparts in Arcadia. However, its territory appeared curiously limited, raising doubts about some underlying issues. Nonetheless, the abundance of surrounding, unclaimed lands made it an alluring prospect. The second option, Gruzia, occupied the heart of the continent and was positioned west of the central mountain range. Its territory also boasted a unique feature, as it followed the mountains' flank. This peculiar arrangement meant that the western unclaimed territories were unlikely candidates for an expansion. Lastly was the empire of Igoba, which stretched along the southwestern coast, its dominion tightly hugging the ocean. This indicated that it heavily relied on fisheries, thus making the situation of its unclaimed lands similar to Gruzia's. Though these overviews provided a glimpse of their possible state, it still wasn't enough. Christopher needed to know more.
"System, can you tell me more about these empires?"
[Request denied. Only details concerning Arcadia's three strongest empires can be divulged.]
Surprise flickered across his face, but only briefly as he understood why right away. If this restriction didn't exist, the balance of power would be way too skewed in favor of the already powerful, which emphasized the significance of having a robust intelligence network, a component he vowed to keep in mind. But with this approach failing, he found himself back to square one. How could he possibly make an informed decision with such limited information?
"Think, Christopher. THINK."
He was one of the most celebrated and praised geniuses of his time. He knew, deep down, that he could make the best decision, the one that'd give him the highest chance of success. With renewed confidence, he reconsidered the three options and started doing what he knew best: a process of elimination.
The first criterion he tackled was safety with Gruzia emerging victorious out of the trio. Though larger than Igoba, its development closely aligned with the mountain chain, which significantly reduced the likelihood of an outward expansion while suggesting a focus on a specific resource, further increasing the safety of the western unclaimed lands. There was also a lot of natural unpredictability associated with the fisheries, making Igoba lose some of its appeal. Triton, on the other hand, appeared fraught with uncertainties that were simply unsettling. The second factor he considered was the availability of resources that, after some deliberations, highlighted another victory for Gruzia, and by a significant margin this time. It boasted plains, small mountains, forests, lakes, and rivers — an idyllic combination. To establish a settlement under such favorable conditions was an exceptionally rare opportunity. He was convinced, so convinced in fact that he even decided to forgo the other criteria he had in mind since these two were paramount. The fact that Gruzia met both irreversibly tipped the scale in its favor.
"General, I think I've found our home."
Alexander, who had been contemplative since learning of their location, was surprised.
"Really?"
"Yeah. System, show it to him."
After several minutes of silent analysis, the General concurred.
"It's a fantastic emplacement, but why next to an empire?"
Christopher then realized he had omitted to share his plan, an error he quickly rectified. After a quick resume, the former King burst into loud laughter.
"Hahaha, I never expected you to be so ruthless! Resorting to slavery was not something I foresaw, but you're still right. It's the only way to quickly set a foundation. I'm on board."
"It's not like I'll torture the slaves, you know…"
"Yeah, yeah… Anyway, when are we leaving?"
"Right away if we can. We've lingered for long enough, and I assume there's also nighttime in this world. Getting stranded out here wouldn't be great."
"That's true."
However, there was one issue… How were they supposed to transport the remaining items?! On the ground laid a pickaxe, a shovel, an ax, a sickle, a hoe, a pouch carrying 100 gold coins, and a black cube of the utmost importance, which demanded protection and concealment at all times. While the tools and pouch could easily be carried, the cube was simply far too valuable to expose.
"System, is there a way to safely transport these items?"
[I'm sorry, but I cannot answer this question.]
Another non-answer… The system's limitations were truly starting to rear their heads. Nevertheless, Christopher really needed to devise a solution, or they'd be stuck here for the night. To that end, he reopened his status page before meticulously scrutinizing his traits in search of a lifeline — something, anything, that could extricate them from their predicament.
"Strength, endurance, magic…"
And on that word, an epiphany. Of course! Magic! The cornerstone of countless video games, the essence of fantastical tales, and the tool to make the impossible, possible. With a vivid image crystallizing in his mind, he knew precisely what he had to do next. After drawing a deep breath, he then uttered the command he hoped would resolve their dilemma.
"Inventory, open."
In an instant, the blue panel appeared, followed by a triumphant chime.
[Congratulations on acquiring the spell
A rush of euphoria overwhelmed him, as he couldn't help but marvel at the unexpected payoff from his few hours invested in video games. After taking a moment to regain his composure, he then redirected his focus to the screen, where he noticed that the space was currently limited to roughly 2 cubic meters which, although small, was still sufficient to hold all the tools and, most importantly, the cube. Without wasting any time, he took the items one by one before placing them inside, much to the astonishment of Alexander.
"What... What is this?! How are the items disappearing?!"
Christopher simply smiled, his eyes gleaming with newfound assurance.
"I'd tell you, but I don't think you're proficient enough with magic to do this. Plus, it's time to go."
"Tsk."
"System, do I need to specify a precise location for teleportation?"
[Affirmative. You will be transported exactly to the location you indicate.]
"Hmm… Then, we should be careful and go further away from their territory. It'd be suspicious if someone saw us appearing out of thin air."
Lloyd then brought up the map before carefully examining the surroundings of Gruzia where he, after a minute of consideration, chose a small, isolated forest approximately an hour's walk away.
"Are you ready, General?"
At these words, an unexpected tension fluttered across his features, surprising the engineer. It appeared that even war waging monsters had fears…
"Of course. Let's get this over with."
"System, transport us there."
[Command confirmed. Using
Barely had the command gone through did a flurry of blue particles suddenly burst to life, swirling around them in an ethereal dance that widened the General's eyes in surprise.
"What's happe-"
But before he could finish his sentence, both men vanished from the overseeing plateau, leaving behind new devastation and the tranquil silence that had once enveloped the area.