The truth

Standing in front of the increasingly growing crowd of people, Alex slowly started recounting his version of events from his short stay in the town, starting off with how the guards tried extorting him the first time he entered Monty town, and that he had only managed to get past it due to his own strength being higher than that of the guards.

"With how familiar all the guards seemed with this extortionate process, it's safe to say that they do it pretty often to any newcomers that visit." Alex added, amused by Bertram's frown growing increasingly as he spoke.

"I had no idea about the actions of the guards, I was away for 4 months so how could I have known-" Bertram refuted Alex's words, pushing the blame solely onto the guard's shoulders.