On the Divine Continent, nearly every kingdom uses gold, silver, and copper to mint their currency. The Mandy Kingdom, where Ron lives, is no exception. They produce three types of coins: Gold Lion Coins, Silver Wolf Coins, and Copper Deer Coins. The exchange rate between them is 1:100, meaning 1 Gold Lion Coin equals 100 Silver Wolf Coins or 10,000 Copper Deer Coins.
Take a typical family of three in Hippo Town as an example: even in a bountiful year, their annual income wouldn't exceed one Gold Lion Coin.
"With this gold coin, I might actually be able to get myself a proper breathing method!" Ron muttered, flipping the shiny coin between his fingers. His eyes sparkled with excitement as ambition began to stir within him. He knew that in this world, only strength could secure everything he wanted.
But after a moment of dreaming, he calmed down, furrowing his brows. "Breathing methods aren't that easy to come by…"
And he wasn't stupid. He knew better than to flaunt wealth, especially now that he was on his own. "Gotta be careful," he murmured, shaking his head to clear the unnecessary thoughts.
Ron took inventory of his wallet. Besides the brilliant gold coin, there were six silver coins and twenty-two copper coins.
"Wait a minute… two of these silver coins are worth five each?" Ron raised an eyebrow. Due to the massive exchange difference between gold, silver, and copper, the Mandy Kingdom had subdivided its coins. Silver coins, for example, came in denominations of 1, 5, 10, and 50.
Thinking about the coins brought a sour look to his face. His sister, Alice, had sold herself for four silver coins, and they too had been worth five each.
"Sis, just hang in there. I swear I'll free you," Ron silently promised, clenching his fists. His desire to acquire a breathing method intensified.
After some quick math, he figured the total value of Barto's wallet was one Gold Lion Coin, fourteen Silver Wolf Coins, and twenty-two Copper Deer Coins. By now, the sky had darkened, and Ron's stomach growled loudly. He realized he'd skipped lunch because he'd been lying in wait for Barto all day.
Quickly, he stashed the wallet and followed yesterday's system directions to pick ripe raspberries and gather five bird eggs from a nearby tree.
Back at his shabby wooden cabin, Ron started a fire with his flint and steel. He tossed the last of his rice and salt into a small iron pot, adding the wild greens he'd foraged earlier. Chewing on tart raspberries, he waited for the vegetable porridge to boil. Once it started bubbling, he cracked all five bird eggs into it.
Since his family had been stripped of their property and Alice had been sold, Ron had been living on scraps. He dared not spend recklessly, only buying a bit of rice and salt from the town. For the past ten days, he'd survived on wild greens and whatever else he could scavenge.
But today's unexpected treasures bird eggs and raspberries felt like a rare feast.
After eating his fill, Ron leaned back, patting his full stomach in satisfaction. He put out the campfire and lay down on his makeshift bed of broken wooden planks. Hands behind his head, he stared through the thatched roof at the rising moon.
"The gold and silver coins can't be touched yet. Tomorrow, I'll use the copper coins to buy more rice and salt…"
"This shack also needs repairs. The weather's getting colder, and there might be rain soon…"
"No, fixing it isn't enough. I need to find a safer place. There've been traces of magical beasts nearby, and this wasteland's way too dangerous…"
As Ron drifted into sleep, his mind suddenly jolted awake when the system's daily intelligence notification sounded.
[Daily Intelligence Update:]
[1. There's an abandoned, secure stone house in the mountains, three kilometers west of your current cabin.]
[2. Farm owner Barto stepped on your trap and hasn't received proper treatment. His wound is infected, and he has a fever.]
[3. Without further treatment, farm owner Barto will die from worsening infection within two weeks.]
[4. Sixty silver coins from your sister's sale were partially pocketed by Lady Mirraf at the exchange.]
[5. Lady Mirraf was flirtatious in her youth and had many lovers, including Barto.]
[6. Lady Mirraf and Barto secretly trade in free citizens. You and your sister were their targets.]
[7. Farm owner Barto is selfish and stingy, keeping most of the family's wealth under his control.]
[8. After turning forty, Barto lost his fertility. His wife, Gracie, had an affair with the butler, Pok, and gave birth to their son, Lola.]
[9. Barto's eldest son, Nem, will get drunk at the tavern tonight and drop a notebook containing the Wild Wolf Breathing Method near the Second Street intersection.]
[10. A shipment of wild rabbits arrived at Hippo Town's slaughterhouse today. One red-tailed rabbit has an undigested low-grade elemental bead in its stomach.]
"Huh? Wait, did I read that right?"
Ron sat bolt upright, his sleepiness instantly gone. He stared hard at the screen, focusing on the ninth and tenth pieces of information.
"A breathing method? And an elemental bead?"
Ron's lips curled into a grin. He'd just been stressing about how to find a breathing method, and now it was practically falling into his lap.
"And the breathing method comes from Barto's son? Seriously?"
Ron chuckled darkly. "The father gave me a wallet, and the son's handing me a breathing method… This family's generosity is almost touching."
He then turned his attention to the elemental bead. This thing was a big deal. On the Divine Continent, elemental beads were energy-packed fruits created by plant-like magical creatures. Not only were they valuable materials for crafting magical potions, but they could also be consumed raw to enhance one's physique.
"Even a low-grade elemental bead like this is worth at least five Gold Lion Coins!"
"The best part? There's a chance this bead could help me condense a life seed and awaken fighting spirit!"
The first step to becoming a knight was to form a life seed in the body. Without it, no matter how strong or skilled you were, you'd only ever be a knight's squire.
"Looks like tomorrow's going to be an adventure…"
Ron's gaze sharpened as he clenched his fists, determination surging through him.