Chapter 396: Spending Mr. Fool's Gold Coins is Just Delightful

Chapter 396: Spending Mr. Fool's Gold Coins is Just Delightful

In Reinette Tinekerr's black castle, when Hastur visited again, Sharon was chatting with Reinette Tinekerr in the first-floor hall.

"Chirp."

Gregory, who followed Hastur back, curled into a small ball, flew to Sharon's side, and perched on her right shoulder. After glancing at Reinette Tinekerr, she withdrew her gaze.

"For the next part of the journey, He will take us there," Hastur said, sitting on the sofa opposite Sharon. He took a cup of hot tea handed over by Reinette Tinekerr and took a small sip. "He seems to like you quite a bit."

"Chirp."

Gregory responded, extending a wing to gently touch Sharon's head, as if to say, "I've got you covered."

Sharon was used to this, while Reinette Tinekerr's pupils slightly contracted, and she let out a light sigh.

Sharon teased Gregory with her hand and casually asked, "Where did you go just now?"

"To meet an old friend I hadn't seen before."

Sharon didn't ask further. After staying in the castle for a while longer, they followed Gregory out of the spirit world and headed to the Republic of Intis.

To avoid attracting too much attention, Hastur had Gregory stop some distance from the capital, Trier.

With a gentle wave of Gregory's wing, a portal to the spirit world appeared, and Hastur and Sharon emerged a hundred miles from the capital of the Republic of Intis.

They were on the main road leading to Trier. After waiting by the roadside for a while, Hastur rented a carriage from a passing merchant caravan for 10 gold coins, and they traveled together to the capital.

The currency of the Republic of Intis is the Felkin and Kope, and the gold pound from the Kingdom of Ruen is not easily accepted here. However, the value of gold coins remains strong.

These gold coins were given to Sharon by Reinette Tinekerr before they left.

Thinking about how Mr. Fool earned these coins through hard work, Hastur couldn't help but exchange some of them with Sharon. After all, spending the gold coins earned by Mr. Fool is always more enjoyable.

The Crichton caravan is a medium-sized caravan that travels between coastal ports and the capital, Trier, making a profit from the price differences.

Thanks to Emperor Roselle, the infrastructure in the Republic of Intis is excellent. Not only are there steam train tracks all over the country, but the main roads between major cities are also very smooth. Even on rainy days, there are no potholes or muddy conditions.

With this transportation infrastructure, the commercial atmosphere in the Republic of Intis is very strong, and almost every city has many caravans.

People generally classify these caravans into three categories based on their size: small, medium, and large.

A small caravan needs to have at least twenty people, while a medium-sized caravan starts with a hundred people. As for large caravans, they need to go to the capital, Trier, and get royal recognition before they can be established.

It is said that initially, Emperor Roselle wanted to combine caravans with mercenaries and call them mercenary groups.

He planned to rank them from S to F, but this was never implemented.

According to later experts, during Emperor Roselle's time, wars were still frequent. If caravans were given the right to recruit mercenaries, a powerful mercenary group would have both enough money and combat personnel.

For the stability of the country, this was not allowed.

Considering this, Emperor Roselle separated caravans and mercenaries and stipulated that only official institutions could equip caravans with mercenaries, strictly controlling the number of people caravans could recruit privately.

Fortunately, the political situation in the Republic of Intis is generally good, and relevant official institutions have not been too harsh on caravans.

However, in recent years, with changes in the continental situation, some official institutions in cities have taken the opportunity to extort money, forcing many small and medium-sized caravans to disband.

Hastur heard all this information while driving the carriage.

"Our current governor only cares about his reputation. He can't handle big things and doesn't want to deal with small things. He just focuses on superficial charity work, holding at least three to five events a month."

"Today, he calls for donations for the poor people on the northwest border. Tomorrow, he says that life is hard for the neighboring Lumburg. The day after, he is concerned about the grain production in the Kingdom of Fenepot this summer..."

"Recently, he said he wants to go to war with the Feysac Empire, but it doesn't seem very enthusiastic. The entire aristocratic class from top to bottom doesn't seem to care much."

Mr. Byrne, who was riding a horse slowly nearby, was bored and seriously complained to Hastur about various issues in the Republic of Intis.

In the carriage, Sharon also heard the conversation outside but did not comment. She just sat quietly inside, like a real puppet.

Until nightfall, when the Crichton caravan decided to camp nearby, she came out of the carriage at Hastur's invitation.

Many people in the Crichton caravan couldn't help but look over, then enviously glanced at Hastur.

Mr. Byrne, who had chatted a lot with Hastur today, winked at him and mouthed, "You're lucky to have such a lady."

Facing these envious glances and whispers, Hastur smiled broadly, not explaining anything. Instead, he warmly invited them to drink.

Sharon naturally didn't explain anything either. She just sat quietly by the campfire, watching the flames sway in the wind.

The wind tonight wasn't strong, making it very comfortable.

After watching the flames for a while, Sharon's gaze inadvertently swept over Hastur, who was chatting with others.

Away from the Kingdom of Ruen, Hastur seemed more genuine.

Noticing her gaze, Hastur shook a plate of sausages he had just brought and sat down beside Sharon, indicating for her to try them.

"Not bad," Sharon said after tasting a few bites.

"These sausages taste much better than those in Backlund. The smoked beef is also good."

Hastur brought Sharon a portion of potato soup and smoked beef for dinner.

He himself spent some money to get a cup of fruit wine from the caravan leader, supposedly brewed according to a recipe left by Emperor Roselle.

Whether true or not, it tasted good.

Sharon only took a small sip of the potato soup before putting the spoon down and looking calmly at Hastur.

Hastur naturally avoided her gaze and said, "Shall I get you a cup of fruit wine? Or hot tea, coffee?"

"You drink," Sharon said, handing the potato soup to Hastur.

Looking at the thick potato soup with red tomato sauce, Hastur had no appetite.

"Can I not drink it?"

"No."

Hastur sighed. He regretted teasing Sharon with the potato soup earlier and had to drink most of it reluctantly.

When he couldn't drink anymore, he excused himself by saying he was full.

Sharon quietly enjoyed the sausages and ignored Hastur.

After this small episode, Hastur and Sharon sat by the campfire, chatting about the day's experiences. Sharon occasionally responded.

Around eight o'clock, when the caravan members were about to sleep after a long day, a figure emerged from the forest, disturbing the peace.

The newcomer was a young man in a white robe, barefoot, with golden hair tied with a gold ribbon.

He had a warm smile and bright eyes that made people feel like they were moving from night to day.

A priest of the Church of the Eternal Blazing Sun?

That was Hastur's first impression. After a closer look, he felt the man was not simple and avoided staring to prevent drawing attention.

With only twenty or thirty miles left to the capital, Trier, encountering a priest or bishop from the Church of the Eternal Blazing Sun was normal.

The young man spoke with the caravan leader and received a portion of food.

He scanned the area and walked straight towards Hastur and Sharon.

Looking at the empty spot beside Hastur, he smiled and asked, "Mind if I sit here?"

"Yes," Hastur smiled. "Sir, you should know that on such a beautiful night, I only want to spend time with the lovely lady beside me and not be disturbed. If you were ever young, you'd understand this little sentiment."

The young man was momentarily stunned, then apologized, "Sorry, I didn't consider that."

He then sat at another campfire, chatting with nearby people while eating.

Hastur looked back at Sharon, who remained calm, and chuckled, "I wasn't lying. Being alone together is indeed more comfortable."

"Mm."

Sharon nodded, her gaze returning to the flickering flames.

In the red glow, her cheeks seemed to be tinged with a faint blush.