Placed on the table was a metal weighing around 10 pounds, which an old man was appraising.
"What you're giving me right now is completely different from what the others salvaged from the fallen Grombles!" a merchant exclaimed. "Where did you get this, kid?"
"Maybe I was just lucky to stumble upon it," Reiji explained. "I just saw it shining in one of the fallen monsters."
"Except I purified it myself using my ability," Reiji mused to himself.
"Hmm…" The merchant let out a thoughtful sound.
"This will fetch a high price in Mercantis, but I won't be able to journey there yet." He gestured to the damaged shelves and broken windows of his shop. "As you can see, my own establishment was also affected by the incident."
He paused, collecting his thoughts before continuing, "Furthermore, I have to be wise with my expenses. I am a benefactor of the church and I'm committed to supporting their rebuilding efforts and providing for the community."
The merchant looked at Reiji with a calculating gaze. "I can offer you 1 gold for this, young man."
Reiji thought to himself, "I have no idea what this metal is really worth, and I'm still clueless about the money system in this world. But one thing's for sure - this merchant is lowballing me."
Reiji put on a charming smile and replied, "You're a kind old man, and I appreciate your concern. But if I can get a better price in Mercantis, I'd be willing to take the risk and bring it there myself."
The merchant's expression turned skeptical. "Do you have any idea how far Mercantis is? It's weeks of travel from here. Are you prepared for that? Let me make you a better offer - 1 gold and 500 silvers. Will you accept that?"
Reiji thought to himself, "The old man looks like he's trying to be reasonable, but I'm not buying it. Let me see how much I can really get out of him."
Reiji put on a nonchalant tone and said, "Alright, old man, I've got to go. I'm serious about journeying to Mercantis."
The merchant's expression turned sour. "Kid, come on! I'm offering you a fair price. I'll still have to pay for shipping and other costs. I don't believe you're actually planning to go all the way to Mercantis. Just sell it to me and be done with it."
Reiji took a deep breath and said, "I'll give you one more chance to make a serious offer."
The merchant sighed, rubbing his temples. "Kid, you've got to learn when to stop pushing. You're not building a good relationship with the way you trade."
Reiji's expression remained calm, as he replied, "You tried to lowball me first. How can I trust that you actually give me a fair deal?"
The merchant sighed and offered, "1 gold, 500 silvers, and I'll add 1000 coppers as a token of apology for underestimating you. Take it or leave it."
Reiji smiled, satisfied with the offer. "You've got a deal, old man!"
The merchant let out a small sigh of relief and said, "Before we shake on it, promise me you'll bring any similar finds to me in the future."
Reiji nodded, extending his hand. "As I said, you've got a deal."
The old man reciprocated the handshake and asked, "I'm not familiar with you, what's your name?"
Reiji replied, "I'm Reiji. I came here because my village was destroyed by those Grombles."
Sergei turned skeptical. "Kid, you're clearly human, all human villages are on the north side of the wall. What's your story, really?"
Reiji's expression remained neutral, Sergei gazed at him waiting if he'll admit who he is.
"Alright," Sergei's demeanor shifted, and he offered a warm smile. "If you don't want to share more then let me congratulate you, you've made a fortune. My name is Sergei Selenite, and if you're looking to sell more of these... quality metal, look for the Moonstone Merchant."
Reiji pondered on Sergei's words. "Is that so? I wonder why is that."
Sergei asked, "Is it okay if I just give you 1 gold and 510 silvers instead of the full 1000 coppers?"
"Does this mean 100 coppers are equivalent to 1 silver?" Reiji calculated.
Reiji joked, "Why don't you just give me all gold, then?"
Sergei laughed and replied, "I'm afraid I'm not wealthy enough to break gold in half, my young friend!" With that, he handed over the payment to Reiji.
Then he waved his hand dismissively. "Begone, young barter! Come back when you have more to sell. Shoo!"
Reiji's mind was still on the currency conversion. "So, does that mean 1 gold is equal to 1000 silvers?" he wondered..
Reiji grinned at the old man and said, "Thank you, Sergei! I'll be on the lookout for more and be back for sure!"
With that, Reiji set off into the bustling streets of Bellatoria.
As he walked, he thought to himself, "Now, let's get a sense of the local prices. How much does lodging, food, and clothing cost around here?"
As Reiji traversed the kingdom, he was struck by the rapid pace of rebuilding.
Despite the lingering air of loneliness and grief among some of the inhabitants, the market was already teeming with activity.
To his surprise, caravans were already arriving at the kingdom, bringing with them a sense of vitality and commerce.
Reiji observed the reconstruction efforts with interest, noting that while the kingdom was predominantly human, it was the evacuated Felinial races who were driving the rebuilding process.
"No wonder they cast aside the Felinial Catis," he thought to himself. "There are clearly other, more capable Felinial groups who can work more efficiently."
However, as he watched the construction, Reiji couldn't help but notice a discrepancy. "They seem to lack the architectural expertise of the Felinial Catis from Caitstown though," he mused. "But that's just my opinion."
After a day of exploring and scouring the kingdom, Reiji couldn't help but strike a mischievous smile.
Reiji's grin grew even wider as he thought to himself, "And to top it all off, I just sold a 10-pound metal scrap from the Grombles for a whopping 1 gold and 500 silvers!" He couldn't help but smirk at his own triumph.
But that was only the beginning. A devious glint sparkled in his eye as he recalled the hidden stash. "I've got maybe a ton of that metal hidden away under Ragor's lair... I'm filthy rich in this world too! HAHAHA!" Reiji's laughter echoed with a maniacal edge, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
Reiji's train of thought continued, "I wonder how much the materials I took from the leaders are worth…"
A sly grin spread across his face as he imagined the look on Sergei's face. "If I show it to him, I might just break that old man's mind!" Reiji's laughter trailed off, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
Reiji suddenly became aware that he was drawing attention from passersby, who were casting curious glances his way. He straightened up, smoothing out his expression and regaining his composure.
"Time to put those thoughts on the backburner," he told himself. "I can indulge in daydreams later. And I should also check out the local garments while I'm here."
As he glanced up at the sky, Reiji realized that time was ticking away. "The ceremony for the fallen is supposed to take place before dusk, isn't it? I should head to the square and see what's going on there first."
Reiji made his way to the Central Square, weaving through the crowd of onlookers who had gathered to pay their respects. He blended in seamlessly, his eyes scanning the sea of faces as he waited for the ceremony to begin.
As he stood there, Reiji's thoughts turned to his current predicament. "Cornelius is my only hope now," he mused. "With Lyra and Lyrien locked away in the castle, I'll need to keep a sharp eye out for him."
The wait wasn't long, and soon a herald's booming voice echoed from the balcony of the castle, announcing the commencement of the ceremony. The crowd's murmurs died down, and all eyes turned towards the castle as the herald's words hung in the air.
Reiji's eyes widened in surprise. "Wow, that herald's voice can be heard all over the kingdom."
As if on cue, King Theodorus emerged onto the raised platform in front of the castle doors, resplendent in a black robe embroidered with intricate silver and gold patterns. Wearing his crown and carrying a regalia.
Flanking the king were two imposing figures. On his right stood Aetus, draped in a black cloak with gold patterns. On his left stood Lucas, clad in a black cloak with silver patterns.
Behind the trio, a contingent of knights stood at attention, their silver armor gleaming with a subtle black lining.
Behind the knights, a gathering of elegantly dressed individuals caught Reiji's attention. "Those refined folks appear to be the dukes, earls, and barons of the kingdom," he observed. "And it seems there are royalties from other races present as well. Fascinating."
Just then, a mage positioned at the side began to chant, and a gentle breeze materialized in front of the king, carrying his voice across the entire Central Square.
"Ah, I see," Reiji thought to himself. "They must have used voice amplification magic to augment the herald's announcement earlier too."
With a dignified presence, King Theodorus began his speech, his voice carrying clearly across the square.