Having departed the upper-tier plague zone, Kino washed his hands clean, then made his way to the bakery to purchase half a dozen cranberry breads. He devoured half of them on the spot, while carefully wrapping the remainder to take back to the barracks.
After dismissing Paladin, Kino exchanged 14 points of respect for 14 Silver Moons.
At present, the strength of the Reincarnation Squad remained unclear, and he had no idea whether, after this invasion, he would be transported elsewhere or remain trapped in this absurd world.
If it were the former, directly using respect points to acquire advanced weaponry and armor would be the wisest course of action.
But should it be the latter, acquiring items foreign to this world would undoubtedly draw unwanted attention, making his journey far more treacherous.
To be cautious, until the rules of the game were clearer, exchanging respect points for the local currency seemed the most prudent option.
Fourteen Silver Moons was not a substantial sum to Kino, and there was no need to bother the one-eyed man for a transaction. He simply placed them in his wallet.
Having earned 54 points of respect from Luca, he had 40 points remaining, which he kept in reserve.
As for his fear points, the current amount was too low to unlock much, though there were still some possibilities for enhancement.
Basic genetics, such as muscle strength, neural reflexes, and cell vitality, could all be augmented.
Compared to the special genes of wasteland creatures, the fear points required for each genetic enhancement were relatively minimal—only 50 points per upgrade. However, the potential for improvement was similarly limited, though even a slight boost was better than none.
With 59 points of fear gained from Ramos, Kino opted to invest them in "Night Vision," allowing him to see more clearly in the dark, a useful precaution against any potential nocturnal ambushes.
After the exchange, a warm sensation spread across the surface of his eyes. He soon realized that the darkness no longer obscured his vision as much; he could see farther and more clearly.
Upon returning to the barracks, Kino showered and changed into fresh clothes. He set a glass of honey water and a cranberry bread on his desk, then picked up his quill and began drafting a letter. In it, he detailed the plight of Ramos and Luca, hoping that the civil officer in Pro would look into the matter.
Once the letter was finished, he instructed Paladin to send it urgently via the post station before returning to his reading about this world.
He was so engrossed in his study that he didn't notice the passage of time until it was 3 AM. Kino slept for only three hours before rising at 6.
He handed 450 Iron Moons to Paladin, then began to attend to his official duties.
As dusk settled, there came a knock on the door.
"Knock, knock, knock."
Paladin's voice followed: "My lord, may I come in?"
"Come in," Kino replied.
Paladin gently pushed the door open. "Today is the 10th of God's Blessing, the day every month when taverns offer discounts. We're heading out for a drink. Would you care to join us?"
Kino had read the day before that, in this world, the concept of "weekdays" did not exist; only "months" were used.
Just like his past life, there were 12 months in a year, each with 30 days, and each month held its own name. From the start of the year to its end, the months were: Drizzle, Floral Language, Grain's Blessing, Misty Rain, Red Lotus, Flowing Fire, God's Blessing, Falling Petals, Frosty Skies, Azure Cold, Bitter Winter, and Returning Snow.
The way people referred to the date was similar to Paladin's manner: month name followed by the date. For instance, today was the 10th of God's Blessing, or God's Blessing Day 10.
Kino, with little time to spare, had originally intended to continue his reading, but a new thought crossed his mind.
Apart from gaining knowledge of this world through books, hearing tales from others was another viable means of understanding.
Compared to the vast expanse of the world, the town of Xilin was but a small speck, hardly leaving a trace in the annals of history. Even if it did, it was but a fleeting mention, with little reference to the local power dynamics or the customs and traditions that defined the place.
With twelve days remaining before the Reincarnation Squad's assault, Kino knew that apart from the triple shackles binding him, it was crucial to make full use of his position as the Civil Officer of Xilin.
As the highest administrative authority of the town, the Civil Officer held the power to muster the town's forces.
With that thought in mind, Kino rose from his seat. "Please wait a moment, I'll change into something more appropriate."
"Of course," Paladin responded, closing the door behind him.
Once changed, they set out.
Paladin called upon another Centurion, Bessa, who was said to be a close comrade with whom he had served for more than a decade.
Xilin was a small town, with but a single tavern, known as the Nightingale.
The evening had just fallen, and the residents without wealth had already retired early, preparing to rise at dawn for work.
Meanwhile, those with money were eager to indulge in the upcoming night's revelry, turning the Nightingale Tavern into a lively hub of activity.
A wandering minstrel strummed a pearwood guitar on a white bench, his fingers dancing like sprites. The melody from his guitar and his voice blended seamlessly, weaving a beautiful tune that soothed even the most irritable souls, no matter how taxing the day's labor had been.
The flickering candlelight cast tendrils of smoke that curled around the patrons, mingling with the hazy glow of the setting sun, casting an almost ethereal aura over the scene. Laughter and song filled the air, and the clinking of goblets echoed. As the taste of wine lingered on their tongues, a few inebriated customers, faces flushed, slumped over their tables, murmuring incoherent dreams.
As Kino and the others entered, the tavern owner greeted them with a broad smile. "Paladin! My old friend~ You always come around this time. I've saved you a spot. The same drinks as usual?"
Paladin, quick-witted as ever, sidestepped gracefully and spoke in a low tone. "You should be asking the Civil Officer, not me."
Kino, ever aware of the precious seconds slipping away, was still immersed in his reading. He casually replied, "Do as Paladin suggests."
It was evident that, in the past, Kino had neither influence in the military nor respect in civilian circles. The tavern owner, in the presence of the Civil Officer, showed no sign of deference, merely giving a curt "Oh" before turning to walk away.
But before the tavern owner could take two steps, Paladin seized him by the shoulder with a firm grip, the pressure causing the bones to creak in pain.
"Show some respect and greet the Civil Officer properly," Paladin's gaze was cold, his eyes like dark pools of depth.
The tavern owner gasped in pain, though unable to decipher the weight in Paladin's eyes, he nevertheless complied. "Good evening, Civil Officer. Please follow me."
He led the group to a relatively quiet corner, where he quickly placed a jug of wine and some small snacks, such as fried beans and roasted peanuts, before them.
Paladin then pulled out 10 Copper Moons and ordered a pound of dried beef as a side dish.
Kino, who was no stranger to drinking, was fairly tolerant of alcohol, for the artisans often mingled with their targets at feasts and banquets.
However, his constitution was peculiar—lacking aldehyde dehydrogenase, the enzyme responsible for metabolizing alcohol. As a result, the effects of alcohol were slow to process in his body.
Simply put, he would flush red at the slightest sip.
Thus, although Kino could handle his drink, he would never drink unless in social situations that demanded it.
Now, in the midst of the jovial atmosphere, he allowed himself to partake in two cups—though it was well after Paladin and the others had finished their own drinks.
As they continued, Paladin suddenly paused. "My lord, are you feeling well?"
Kino, instinctively touching his warm face, replied indifferently, "I'm fine, don't worry about me. Do you all usually drink this fruit wine? I would have thought you preferred something stronger."
"Stronger?" Paladin chuckled, as though hearing a joke. "I admit, that's quite a funny one. This is already the strongest liquor in the world."
Kino took a sip of his drink, savoring it slowly.
A sweet, fragrant aroma wafted from the cup, and there was no harsh burn going down, only a lingering taste of white peach. The alcohol content was a mere 20 proof.
"Are you certain this is the strongest drink?" Kino asked.
"Absolutely," Paladin replied with a smirk. "I've never heard of anything stronger. There are more exquisite wines, of course, royal wines that we can't even afford, but in terms of strength, this is as potent as it gets."
Kino nodded, quickly realizing that this world likely lacked the distillation techniques necessary to produce stronger spirits. Most of their drinks were fermented from grains or fruits, with alcohol content rarely exceeding a few degrees, and 20 degrees was considered exceptionally strong.