After leaving the customs office, Oliver immediately set out to find a place to stay.
Without the structure of a Trial to occupy his time, he realized it was better to secure a base of operations—somewhere he could rest, gather information, and most importantly, learn about potential jobs.
His future survival would rely not just on his Meta Essence but also on money.
He had no real idea how much his 100 gold coins were worth compared to Earth money, but the lack of immediate context made him cautious.
A backup plan was crucial. With that in mind, Oliver began checking different inns and comparing prices, conditions, and amenities.
After visiting several establishments, he finally settled on an inn named Purehaven.
It wasn't the most luxurious, nor was it the busiest, but Oliver wasn't looking for fancy decorations or a lively atmosphere.
He just needed a clean, safe room to sleep in. Cleanliness was non-negotiable, and Purehaven passed that test.
The price for a night's stay was ten silver coins, and during his conversations with the innkeepers, Oliver learned how the currency system worked:
100 bronze coins made 1 silver coin. 100 silver coins made 1 gold coin. 1,000 gold coins made 1 platinum coin, the highest denomination.
This revelation shocked Oliver at first—100 gold coins felt like an astronomical fortune, easily making him a millionaire back on Earth.
But after the sheer scale of his Trial performance and his unique SSS-rank class, it made sense that the system rewarded him generously.
That didn't stop him from thinking back to the 3 gold coins he'd paid for the temporary entry pass.
"Three gold coins just to get into the city… what a rip-off,"
he muttered. Still, there wasn't much he could do about it. The system and the city's rules were absolute, and Oliver wasn't interested in causing trouble.
After finalizing the payment at Purehaven, the receptionist, a friendly older man with a bald head and bushy mustache, handed him a key with a simple wooden tag attached, engraved with the number 207.
Oliver took the key, offered a polite nod, and headed upstairs to his room, finally ready to unwind after days of wandering through the wilderness.
****
Upon waking up, Oliver stretched and took a deep breath, savoring the comfort of an actual bed.
The first thing he did was take a bath, and damn, did he miss this simple luxury.
The inn didn't have those convenient magic circles like the village back in his starting area, the ones that instantly cleaned your body.
That, more than anything, told Oliver a lot—magic wasn't as common here.
Engraving a magic circle for something as basic as personal hygiene was probably expensive, an unnecessary luxury when regular baths still existed.
After washing up, he slipped back into his leather armor, which had become his default outfit over the past week.
It wasn't the most comfortable thing, especially the inner linen layer, but it had served its purpose so far.
He took one last look around the room, making sure nothing was out of place.
After all, this was the room he'd respawn in if he somehow died, and that was a very real possibility in this world.
Satisfied that everything was as it should be, he locked the door and headed out.
Oliver decided to skip breakfast—his priority was shopping.
He was tired of wearing the same leather armor every day, and he wanted something sturdier for combat and more comfortable for sleeping.
Plus, his dagger, while reliable, wasn't exactly suited for someone with a warlord class. It was time to get a proper sword.
After asking the receptionist for directions to the local weapon and armor stores, Oliver prepared to do some serious spending.
He was a millionaire, after all—at least by this world's standards.
The first shop he entered was called.
"Aegis & Fang Armory," a high-class establishment with polished wooden floors, glass display cases, and a faint scent of oiled steel and leather in the air.
Rows of finely crafted weapons and armor were displayed like works of art, and the whole place gave off the vibe of somewhere only wealthy adventurers or nobles would shop.
A friendly-looking salesgirl was behind the counter with a professional smile.
She was young, with dark hair tied into a neat ponytail, light makeup enhancing her features, and wearing a form-fitting uniform with the store's logo embroidered on the chest.
Oliver approached the counter, scanning the weapons on display before looking up at the salesgirl. "I'm looking to buy a sword,"
She perked up at his request. "What kind are you looking for?"
The sales girl listened to the description of what he wanted.
She nodded in understanding. Before she disappeared into the back, leaving Oliver to glance around the shop.
A minute later, she returned, carefully holding a longsword with an elegant, polished blade.
She extended it toward him with a proud smile. "This might be exactly what you're looking for,"
"It was forged by a famous artisan using a blend of mithril, obsidian steel, and a rare metal called sky silver."
" The balance is flawless, making it easy to wield even in prolonged combat."
"It also has three enhancement slots with exceptional durability making it practically unbreakable under normal circumstances."
Oliver ran a hand along the hilt, feeling its perfect weight in his grasp. It was an impressive weapon.
Then the salesgirl added, "The price is five platinum coins."
Oliver could have sworn he heard something inside his soul crack.
"Sorry, how much did you say?" he asked, convinced he'd misheard.
The girl repeated, still smiling politely. "5 platinum coins".
He laughed awkwardly, trying to cover his shock, and quickly made up an excuse about needing to withdraw more money before practically fleeing the store.
Outside, Oliver let out a long, frustrated sigh.
"5 platinum coins for a single sword?! I haven't even checked the armor prices yet, and they're already trying to bankrupt me."
He spent the next couple of hours visiting smaller weapon shops and blacksmith stalls, but every sword he found was a disappointment.
Either the metal was subpar, or the balance felt wrong, or the edge was uneven. None of them came close to the quality of the dagger he already had.
Frustrated, he pulled his dagger from his inventory, holding it up to the light.
The blade shimmered faintly, its dark steel surface etched with delicate runes. The hilt was sturdy, wrapped in some kind of dark leather, and it fit his hand perfectly as if made for him.
"If it ain't broken, don't change it," Oliver muttered, sliding the dagger back into his inventory.
With weapons off his list—at least for now—Oliver headed to a clothing store next.
He wasn't looking for anything fancy, just comfortable clothes to sleep in, something to replace the itchy linen underlayer that came with his armor.
After he bought his clothes, Oliver left the store, his next destination a well-populated tavern in the area. It was time to gather some information.