At the gates of Kuzar City, Gabriel bowed slightly and put on a humble smile.
"Sir, don't be suspicious of me. My name is Imu a lowly merchant from the Sigfried Empire. We were attacked by bandits on the way here. They even took my horse and cart. I barely escaped with my life."
The guard captain frowned, but then nodded. "Bandits, huh? That's not uncommon these days… Still, you can't just walk in. There's a tax."
He held up two fingers.
"One silver coin for a month's pass. Or, if you only want a short stay, two big copper coins will cover a week."
Gab pretended to hesitate before pulling a sword from his back. "I don't have coin right now… but how about this? I'll sell my iron sword. With the silver from that, I can pay your tax and buy my supplies."
The captain's eyes widened the moment the blade caught the light. It was far superior to the crude bronze swords most soldiers carried. He swallowed hard, trying to hide his greed.
"How about this instead," the captain said with a sly grin. "That sword's worth at least thirty silver coins—but selling it in the market would take time. I'll give you twenty-seven silver on the spot. And…" He leaned closer. "…you won't need to pay any entry tax. Deal?"
Gab reached out his hand. "Deal."
They shook. The captain passed him a heavy pouch of silver, and Gabriel handed over the blade.
The other soldiers crowded in, murmuring in awe.
"Captain, that's a fine sword…"
"Yes," the captain smirked, already sliding the iron blade into his belt, replacing his old bronze one.
Then, without hesitation, he paid two coppers at the tax booth, pretending it was for Gabriel.
Gab walked through the gates with a smile tugging at his lips. Smooth. I got in, and with more than two years' worth of an average man's salary in my pocket.
The city was alive with noise and color. Merchants shouted from their stalls, buyers haggled loudly, and the smell of roasting meat and baked bread filled the air. Gabriel didn't feel any hatred toward the Freheart Kingdom. He knew they had only attacked Lundale because the Church had forced their hand.
He headed first to the blacksmith district, where a man was selling bronze nails.
"Bronze, eh? Good choice," Gabriel muttered. "Resistant to erosion."
He bought a bulk order worth five silvers. The blacksmith's eyes widened at the sudden fortune. He bowed low. "Please come again, sir!"
Gab stored the nails in his subspace before moving on.
At the grain market, he purchased twenty sacks of wheat for only two silvers. Then, at a spice stall, he asked for a year's worth of sIro which cost ten large coppers.
As he tucked everything into his subspace, Gabriel mentally reviewed the world's currency:
20 small copper = 1 large copper
20 large copper = 1 silver
30 silver = 1 gold
100 gold = 1 mithril
Iron wasn't used as coinage but as a valuable commodity rare, difficult to process, and extremely durable.
The average laborer earned 18 large coppers a month just under 10 silvers a year. A gold coin yearly meant you were middle class. A mithril coin yearly meant you were wealthy enough to rival nobles.
A mithril coin a year… the salary of a city lord.
Gabriel stopped at a stall selling sacks of grain and seeds. He inspected them carefully, rubbing the grains between his fingers.
"Got rye?" he asked.
The merchant nodded and lifted a half sack.
Gab smiled faintly. Rye… the best choice for the Beast Glades. Resistant to poor soil, low water needs, highly nutritious. Back in college, I studied this exact cereal. It'll grow even where wheat struggles.
He bought half a sack of rye for three large copper coins, then added sacks of wheat seeds, corn seeds, and potato seedlings all together costing him nine large copper coins.
He tucked them neatly into his subspace.
His shopping spree continued:
A cast iron pan, pottery, and wooden kitchen utensils → 6 silvers
Clothes for all sixteen survivors, three pairs each including underwear → 11 silvers
Fertilizers → 2 silvers
That left him with just 13 silvers jingling in his pouch.
Still, he felt satisfied. The survivors would have food, clothing, and the tools to survive.
Gabriel wandered toward the livestock traders, where horses were tied to thick posts. Their sleek bodies and stamping hooves spoke of strength and high demand.
"How much for a horse?" Gabriel asked a grizzled old handler.
The man squinted at him. "Depends. A riding horse's fifteen silvers. Warhorses big, trained, battle-tested twenty to twenty-five. A breeding female ? Eighteen silver."
Gab whistled softly. So expensive. At the Lundale estate, we had over fifty warhorses. I never realized how much wealth that really was…
"Hm," Gabriel muttered. "A female horse might be better in the long run. One horse today, two in a year."
The handler smirked. "Thinking ahead, are ya? Not bad."
Gab waved his hand. "Not yet. First give me a list of livestock prices. I'll be back with a bigger order."
The old man brightened immediately. "Large purchase? Certainly, sir!" He scribbled quickly on parchment and handed it over.
Cow → 8 silver
Bull → 9 silver
Fattened pig → 7 silver (breeding female → 9 silver)
Goat → 3 silver (breeding female → 5 silver)
Chicken → 10 copper each
Gab scanned the list. Two pairs of each would be enough to start. But to afford that, I'll need to sell at least three swords. That's no problem. I still have over a hundred in storage, along with dozens of high-quality knives.
He slipped the parchment into his coat and handed the old man three large coppers as a tip.
"Expect me again soon."
Before leaving, Gabriel bought several loaves of bread for travel.
Then, instead of heading back through the main southern gate, he walked calmly toward the northern exit. No point in drawing suspicion. He still had the bronze plate for a week-long pass if anyone asked.
The moment he was clear of the city walls, he broke into a sprint.
His skill Agility Boost (B-class) activated, his speed soaring until he tore across the landscape like a motorcycle engine roaring at 120 miles per hour.
In just under two and a half hours, the forest swallowed him again. Nearly five hours had passed since he left, and night was closing in.
He needs to got back before the night since it's a bit dangerous at night.