Chapter 28: Beast Tide (Part-2)
A servant from the Mitri clan’s caravan suddenly came to the trio as they were sighing in relief.
"Our young lady has reserved rooms at one of the finest inns in the city for the three of you," the servant said respectfully.
"If you don’t mind, please come and rest."
The trio looked at each other and nodded. Max, especially, as he didn’t have money. He was just a peasant before, who couldn’t even afford three meals a day and barely survived.
He didn’t want to mooch off the brothers, as they already bet their lives on the line to help him. Such debt of gratitude wasn’t easy to pay. Now he needed to plan things like earning some money. So, he should also see if he could earn money within Flameheart City.
Since they would be going on the long journey to Sea Trident City, having some money should be good.
The trio followed the servant who led them in front of a spectacular, massive inn. There were a large number of people staying here as the city was on high alert; nobody was coming or going out of the city.
So, many merchants, mercenaries and travellers stayed here. Many were eating or drinking even in such a tense atmosphere. But then again, most mercenaries and soldiers seemed to have embraced the dangers of their shitty lives and enjoyed every moment of it.
Max, Andrew, and Mathew found a table in the corner right beside the window and sat down. Since someone else was paying, they should take full advantage of it.
Besides...
After saving the Mitri family’s caravan, enjoying a decent meal was something they deserved. They ordered some beer and roasted meat.
Their order quickly arrived, and the rich aroma of roasted meat filled the air, making their stomachs growl. They then, like some starved wild animal, started eating.
Max also ate without care, as this was his first meal since his transmigration. From the memories he knew, eating meat was a luxury.
According to the memories, he worked like a slave and was only once fortunate enough to receive a single bone—not even a piece of meat. Most peasants didn’t receive salaries; they at most got a piece of bread for their hard labour. And even that is already considered good and, in fact, no different from slaves.
He was lucky, as after years of hard labour he was able to save five copper coins, but it was practically nothing outside, not enough to have a decent meal. From his memories, he knew the currency of this world was divided into copper, silver, and gold coins.
He had only ever seen copper coins.
Silver and gold coins existed only in stories as far as he was concerned.
As for the large serving of roasted meat in front of him...
It would probably cost around ten to fifteen copper coins, an amount that an ordinary peasant could never hope to afford.
Not to mention he was extra hungry from fighting all day and losing so much blood. He ate like every bite took him to heaven. He even felt that after eating, his injuries seemed to be healing at a faster rate.
He was already well and was able to move his left arm already. Within half an hour, it should be fully healed.
Feeling the strength slowly returning in his left arm made him feel good. And for that he ate more chunks of meat.
After eating meat for seventy or eighty copper coins, which was unbelievable for ordinary people, they finally stopped.
During the meal, Max also took the opportunity to ask Andrew about the currency of this world.
Only then did he fully understand its value.
One thousand copper coins were equal to one silver coin.
And one thousand silver coins were worth a single gold coin.
As Bloodline Awakeners, mercenaries like Andrew and Mathew could earn anywhere from five hundred copper coins to two silver coins for a single mission, depending on its difficulty and danger.
An ordinary soldier or mercenary received about fifty to a hundred copper coins at most, even when they bet their life on the line. That’s just how people without the backing of a noble clan survive.
Max, after this, already decided to work as a mercenary as he cannot do anything else. He wasn’t going to make salt or soap like some protagonists, as business isn’t easy like that in novels, and more importantly, this world isn’t as backwards as he expected.
More importantly, items like soap already exist here. Many conveniences that required advanced technology on Earth had instead been achieved here through mysterious powers such as Spirit Markings.
In some fields... Especially medicine and alchemy, this world was actually more advanced than Earth.
Although almost everything good is monopolised by the powerful and the noble families.
The trio remained sitting at the table and had some drinks and listened to different people’s conversations.
"Damn... Why did it have to happen fucking now?"
"Yeah..."
"So many of my brothers died because of those damned beasts."
The lucky ones who survived were happy, but the ones who lost friends or brothers were just drinking their sorrows.
And at that time, one among them, a drunkard, suddenly shouted, "Hey, could it be a beast tide is coming?"
His voice wasn’t particularly loud.
Yet somehow... Everyone in the inn heard those words.
Instantly... The lively atmosphere froze. Silence spread throughout the room.
"Shut up, drunkard, don’t jinx it!" And then suddenly one among the mercenaries shut him up and pulled him into a corner before he could say anything else.
Only then did the noisy atmosphere slowly return.
However, only Max and the brothers remained silent as they knew what was coming.
***
As the sun slowly disappeared beyond the horizon... A soldier stood atop the outer walls of Flameheart City, carrying out his usual watch.
Suddenly...
His expression froze. The distant mountains were trembling. Then the trees began shaking violently.
Moments later... Even the city walls beneath his feet started vibrating.
"What...?"
His eyes widened. Then he saw it.
He saw a sea of beasts, thousands or tens of thousands trampling everything in their path, shaking the heaven and earth, coming towards the city.
"Beast Tide... Beast Tide!!!!"
His legs seemed to tremble in fear, and his throat seemed to become dry in horror, but he didn’t forget his job.
"It’s a beast tide! Ring the Bell!!!"
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