Chapter 8: Without Money, Every Step is Hard

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Thus, the journey was smooth sailing.

During the day we'd travel, at night we'd train in the Breathing Skill.

The Moon Disk Breathing Technique successfully broke the limit once, its training effects becoming increasingly apparent. The Knight Attendant's progress also reached 54 points, halfway from advancing to the next level.

Three days later.

Charon was clearly in sight.

Before entering the city, along the way there were numerous estates and orchards, carriages, horses, oxen, sheep, pastures, and farmlands were not unusual to see.

Forts nurture the land, garrisoning troops at the border.

Earl Seth's ambitions were not small.

Though the livelihood of the people couldn't be said to be affluent, it also wasn't as numbly despairing as described in the novels from the first half of my life, as if the world was only filled with darkness.

To survive, these two words, represented the common people's domain during this era, to have this was already rare for a good lord.

Right or wrong, Lin Suo didn't express any opinions.

His situation had just barely escaped danger, he still had to wait until he safely left Charon, to be considered initially free.

Charon's city walls towered, nine ren high (one ren is three meters), built out of massive stones and witchcraft compounds, as Madich said, it was eighty years ago when the first-generation Earl Seth, spent a huge fortune to buy large quantities of witchcraft compounds from Dan Dong Traveling Merchants.

Then, using the power of knights, they transported giant stones, taking nearly five years.

Only then was such a grand city built.

With a resident population of as many as three hundred thousand, besides the Count of the Woods, other merchants all pass through here, making a fortune just from tariffs.

The city housed heavy troops and abundant armaments, and there were also large iron mines nearby. Over the hundred years, it has become one of the five major strongholds of the Magma Kingdom.

The Ironclad Knights, even more so, was a household name for transcendent forces.

Mighty in strength.

And those from the Woods who dare to initiate war, actually do not possess strength equivalent to Earl Seth's side, but "Woods," as the name implies.

The border domain is full of mountains and great trees, also occupied by transcendent demon beasts, people from the Woods move in it like fish in water, like horse bandits, firing a shot and changing location.

They rob whenever they can.

In a battle of strength, they are simply no match for Earl Seth.

That they are so brazen this time, they must have some reliance and confidence.

It's clear to anyone with eyes.

Lin Suo, however, didn't say much, the more he understood, the less he actually spoke.

After all, being weak means having no say.

Watch and learn, getting involved equals seeking death.

With the Mysterious Rubik's Cube, the path of prudent survival, suits him best.

Afterward, heading to the Dan Dong Empire, it would be like treading on thin ice, no better time than now to get used to it in advance, to prevent any mental breakdowns that could harm others and myself.

Madich has a bit of a reputation in the Charon military.

Including Gray's Vanguard, they've been tasked with eliminating bandits within the territory, gaining good reputation among the people.

As Lin Suo entered the city.

According to arrangements, he stayed in the embassy set up by Dan Dong from abroad.

The person in charge here, was a man from Dan Dong, holding an official position.

Lin Suo, as a plundered traveling merchant, naturally fell under his jurisdiction.

This diplomat, with black hair and black eyes, mature and handsome in appearance, a definite East Asian look, very amiable.

Lin Suo looked at him and thought to himself, at last, he had found his organization.

Unfortunately, the name was still Western in style.

Banquet.

Lin Suo received a certain level of treatment, the infamously arrogant people from Dan Dong were actually very polite to him.

"Rhein Lin, your name is really strange, as far as I know there is no Lin family back home."

"Hehe, Carl brother, you jest, I am but a commoner, how could I claim to be from a family."

Lin Suo poured a drink, downing it in one gulp.

His face bore traces of worry.

"Brother Carl, in a foreign land, I wished to earn a meager income in this remote place by relying on the empire's reputation, who knew there would be barbarians like the people from the Woods who are not afraid of the empire…"

"Fortunately, Charon has Lord Carl here, otherwise Earl Seth might not necessarily save me."

Middle-aged Carl smiled amiably, but didn't pick up the conversation, quickly arranging things for him.

"Brother Rhein, you must be tired from the journey, I will have my servants prepare water for you to rest as soon as possible."

"Tomorrow I will arrange for people to escort you back home."

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"Thanks a lot, Carl, old brother."

"No need to thank me, we're family."

"Heh."

As if I'd trust you, you wily old man, very crafty.

Lin Suo left the room, his face turning cold, feeling somewhat unsettled.

He had been too naive just now.

Once he revealed his identity, Carl's attitude changed instantly, but on the surface, he remained excessively polite.

Returning to his room, indeed there was water prepared for him to bathe.

But the water was cold.

"Sigh, being penniless is a real hardship."

"Am I being unreasonable?"

"I don't have the money to give!"

By the light of the moon, Lin Suo practiced his cultivation, heating up his body, and then took a cold bath, which made him feel much more comfortable all over.

Having been followed by Madich for several days, he never had the chance to use his Synthetic Talent.

Now that he's away from him, he can try to work on synthesizing formulas.

To accumulate initial capital, he will have to sell his horse.

Presumably, some folks into oddities would value such a rare breed.

Power of Synthesis.

Lin Suo divided it temporarily into two categories.

Synthesis of similar items doesn't result in much change; the final product only improves in quality and can have its shape slightly manipulated. He calls these "Stacked Synthesis."

Literary works, like books, also fall under this category, possessing the miraculous ability to "consume books," though the principle behind it is unknown.

The other type includes bizarre and unpredictable ventures involving corpses, an uncontrollable process leading to unforeseen results, which he categorizes as "Evil God Synthesis."

For example: Dual-horse Biological War Car.

Next, he needs to develop Synthesis recipes that conform to common sense, like combining beef tendon, hardwood, and rope could logically produce a bow, a whip, or a horse harness.

But it couldn't result in dishes like stewed beef tendon, roasted wood, or hanging rope; that would be nonsensical.

This type of Synthesis requires more experimentation; currently, he has only made progress when synthesizing carriages.

He plans to call it "Common Sense Synthesis."

More is yet to be explored.

In fact, compared to the Power of Synthesis, he favors Skill Level, a system that rewards consistent effort.

You reap what you sow.

This has long been a concept cherished by the people of Huaxia.

Relying on mutations seems too unreliable; best to use it cautiously.

He fell asleep in a daze.

The next day.

As expected, Carl went under the pretext of handling formalities for him but in reality went off to who knows which noble lady's estate.

Not even asking for his household registration and ID, how could he care?

It seems, without squeezing some benefit out of him, Carl won't let him go.

Considering the conflict between the frontlines and the forest people.

Lin Suo is not in any hurry.

If he wants to seek the Wizard's inheritance in Dan Dong Empire, he can't be short on money and should possess something that a Wizard would want; only then will he have the confidence to find a channel to make a purchase.

Staying here is also good; at least he won't be slighted for a meal.

Early in the morning.

Lin Suo sat at the driver's seat of the carriage, heading towards the vehicle trader that Madich had recommended.

Value lies in rarity.

Moreover, in being unique.

Lin Suo, armed with his eloquent tongue and full of confidence, argued his case logically, but it was all in vain.

The last sentence, "This was made by a Wizard."

It can't be sold cheaply.

That's a huge disrespect.

In turn, it jumped from 10 Gold Coins to 100 Gold Coins.

For Wizards, the gold and silver circulated among ordinary people were actually very useful, as many materials required gold dust.

100 Gold Coins would be enough for an ordinary family's living expenses for more than ten years.