38 Rich in a flawed economy
A whole month had passed ever since the small team left mount triangulum. Throughout this short time-span, a few favorable things have blessed them.
More specifically, each three members have been rewarded with sixty-thousand iron coins! Such treasures were exchanged for sixty topaz gems, just so such a big treasure could be a bit easier to carry.
A sum of that size was convenient. Although the economy in the city of Fik was utterly flawed, the riches which the government has gifted them, could support several families for a lifetime!
To put it into a simpler and clear example, each sum the team received could easily buy three big, luxury houses! Such imbalance could make one uncomfortable, but yet it was convenient!
In one way these friends were rich now, but yet that was a contradiction. Sure they could buy more materialistic things now, but there were specific items which were more expensive than whole houses!
Some powerful swords for example, along with a few rare leathers, broke over the one-hundred topaz gems scale! Surely expensive, and it made one question who was truly rich in this city!
However, apart from the monetary gains, there were other rewards for these heroes. For example, each of them were given brand new houses as a gift! Along with that, they also gained the official title of heroes!
Although that last advantage sounded simple in hindsight, heroes were actually considered quite important!
Specifically, their word weighed value in government affairs, even though their say wasn't exactly unshakeable. Regardless, such a privilege could surely come in handy!
With all of these new perks considered, the main goal to obtain those valued golden fangs, was now far more plausible. Opportunities were evident.
Anyway, apart from such monetary and social achievements, William managed to progress in other ways as well. He was given the opportunity to focus on the most powerful abilities so far, the ones which were intelligence-based!
The boy's neuro-shocks, for example, have progressed more than ever! Since he was given several weeks to relax and practically live like a noble man, it was easier to progress in that field.
He had a grand mental clarity as well, so it was inevitable to figure out just how useful his big IQ was!
In exchange, he now felt sure that not many opponents could resist his neuro-shocks. Yet that belief hasn't been put to the test just yet, there weren't any enemies to battle!
Those conclusions could be put aside for now, as the main focus darted on the new privileges. For example, since the young man attained a valuable title due to his deeds, it became quite easy to leave the military!
He was far more valued now, likewise the city couldn't let him handle simpler tasks. Patrol or simple guard work were a couple lesser examples.
All-and-all the degree of relaxation he had finally felt in this new world, was an adequate reward. The painful and humiliative problems he faced before, felt all worthwhile now!
Anyways, in one of these numerous calm mornings, William heard a knock on his door. He could almost accurately predict who stood on the other side!
"Oh... it still feels weird to see you all dressed up." The young snakezoid mocked after he opened the door.
The one he talked to was none other than Olivia, her warm smile was unmistakable!
"If my clothes bother you so much, why don't you just come and take them off?" The lady lightly teased, and bravely marched in the house.
Without much hesitation, he continued the odd chatter. "I'm scared, you'd probably beat the crap out of me or something."
Jokes about such matters became normal once they got back to the city. What they referred to now, was how the albino snake was mostly naked throughout the past adventures!
Sure that fate wasn't by choice at that time, but at least it was a tireless joke now. Undoubtedly, they've gotten close enough to encourage such banter!
Anyways, they had to walk a bit afterwards. The boy was gifted an admittedly large house from the government, it stretched about thirty meters across and had five big rooms!
Since the houses in this city were designed halfly underground, just to meet simple snakezoid needs, these two had to walk quite a set of stairs in exchange as well.
Once they managed to sit down on some fur-coated chairs, the main conversation was quick to erupt. The brunette did not waste a second.
She boldly demanded, "I need your help with something, but it might sound a little crazy."
"Doubt it, but I'm all ears." William knew that more than a few layers of stupidity were expected from snake-kind.
"I don't wanna make stuff up, but something doesn't look good in the city." She first pitched.
Almost instantly the boy encouraged, "Can you just get to the point? I won't call you stupid or anything like that."
"Okay... don't rush me! Do you remember all those attacks from the blue-spines? I think someone's helping them, someone from our city!" Olivia eventually explained.
"Oh, that's pretty obvious. I figured that brain-dead snakes couldn't get in the city without some help." The young man agreed.
As she grew a bit agitated, the brunette shouted. "You found that out already? It took me two weeks just to get suspicious!"
At this point it was reasonable to only smirk at the other's little anger, it was fun to say at least. Afterwards, he saw it necessary to be more efficient about this matter.
Which was why he pressured, "So what's your plan? Do you wanna figure out who the traitors are?"
"Wow... sounds too important, dunno if I can do all that." The albino-snake worriedly answered.
"Hah, who's gonna stop us? We're heroes, remember?" The other joked.
Since he was reward oriented, he thought that it was smart to use this situation properly. It felt imperative to catch the attention of important people, a few figures simply have to pay attention to this issue.
That was why he pitched, "Let's go tell one of the city governors what we're doing, they'll probably help us too."
Of course his recommendation was sugar-coated, and it seemed like Olivia took the bait. In hindsight, it was obvious that this dilemma could be reaped for more benefits!
William knew that it was useful to impress important snakes, it could help in the long run. As through this one-month stay in this city, he figured out that although the position of a hero was useful, it wasn't exactly heavenly!
In theory he could meet king Kantemos for example. Yet there were months of procedures which, by claim, assured the same figure's safety.
Apparently this king was more than treasured, so any harm towards that same body was avoided to an extreme scale!
Undoubtedly, the boy didn't want to put in all of that work just to meet some snake. He sought shortcuts, and with the privileges he got out of the government, it was easier to swiftly attain an even better position!
Sure this overall fate wasn't what he initially hoped for, but it was better than nothing. Characteristically, William did not want to give up on those precious golden fangs either!
In long-term relation to that goal, these couple of friends eventually got out of the house. They had some cold grapefruit juice before they stepped into the city, as it calmed them down a little bit.
Now they felt ready to figure out that issue which Olivia talked about, it sounded like an easily fixable problem by now. Yet, only elbow-deep explorations could give out proper details about this matter.
However, as they dwelled into the city, the young man thought about something that could prove aidful. Although he avoided it until now, there actually was another magical-ability he could purchase!
So far, he had mostly focused on the neuro-shocks, and had simply refused to lend his attention towards anything else. It was worthwhile to be negligent, but now he could use an even stronger arsenal!
So he requested, "System, can you tell me about that magic thing I didn't buy yet?"
By request, the lady in his head cooperated. [Certainly, it's about time you look into it.]
Sass aside, she began to describe. [The final option you can purchase before you loop back to simpler, primary upgrades, is the tri-arms arcana power!]
