Chapter 102: Money Talks

For three days, Ned's routine had been the same. Build his body to match the use of magic and reduce its recoil. Push-ups, pull-ups, and other exercises to improve his growth. Aside from one, running.

"Three hundred!" Ned cried under his breath. Sweat dripped like running water on his forehead. This was his last routine for the day, push-ups. Routine for three days hauled inside a room, the innkeeper thought the best he had.

Ned stood, took a shower, clean his teeth, folded his bed, and wore his casual set of clothes. Glenn insisted that Ned must wear a more freeborn set of clothing. Faded undershirt, piped with an old black tunic, slightly loose dimming white trousers, and black boots laced with leather. He said that Ned looked more innocent with this kind of clothing. Ned agreed, but the clothes the crew given to him were more suitable for long-distance travel and fit accordingly to Ned. While his black and black cloak hung at the wall near the window.

"How long are you gonna make me wait," Ned said with a soft sigh. Ned sat in a stool across his bed. His room was befitting for three silver a month. Tattered curtain, overly used bed covers, wethered table, and an aging stool. But, Glenn insisted to the innkeeper that they were looking for the best room they could offer. And Ned got the shabby one. "Any moment now."

[Yesterday, they were ahead of time by three minutes.]

ICE prompted. Time passed her voice was still the same, soft and ladylike.

"Well," Ned said. Stood and walked at the door not far from him. "Any moment now, she will come."

A knock sounded behind the door. Which Ned has been expecting. Ned welcomed the wife of the innkeeper, grabbed the wooden tray on her hand, and nodded to thank the plump woman.

And the food was still the same. Ned thought. Ned liked the food since it was filled with a chunk of meat, maybe only he could afford at the inn. Stew meat, drizzled with green vegetables.

Ned ate the food without second thoughts, he then placed the wooden tray outside, beside the door. Moved to his bed, stood next to it, and waved his hand.

Silver clanged and different items piled atop the wooden bed. Ned scrambled the pile of silver. Underneath, Ned pulled a rough-edged cube. The record claim was given by Ser Edwin. Ned analyzed the cube, the color variant moved differently every time Ned changes the angle. Sometimes a rough black, sometimes a smooth purple.

Ned shook his head and set aside the cube next to the pile of silver. Ned saw a glint under the shining sun that passed through the window. "Master Will's Token," Ned said softly. He clipped the Token, raised it against the sun, and stared for quite some time. An old silver metal reflected the light. A thin sword stood in the middle, letters engraved but we're too old to be readable. He flicked his wrist, and the token went inside his inventory.

[Small amount of Pure mana detected.]

His system notified.

He pulled another rounded metal, after analyzing the Time to Loot's token, Ned put it back into his inventory. Ned frowned.

"The crew's token doesn't have pure mana," Ned said. "Directing to his system."

[Yes, Ned. It seemed so.]

Another Token appeared beneath the pile of silver coins. Ned pulled the token with a crowned dragon embracing a shield. Ned noticed another glint with the same engraving as the one he had. Ned analyzed the two, both have the same crowned dragon embracing shield design. But, when Ned flipped the two token, he noticed the one his right, was engraved with a giant gryphon with its wing fully opened and underneath his talons was a castle. The Griffith Academy's Token.

The one on his left was the token given by Ser Edwin in the events of O'rriadt. Feathered wings coiling a shield. Inside the shield was a crown. Ned assumed, that the crown symbolizes the reigning king. He flicked his wrist. And again, no notice told him about pure mana. What do you have Master? Ned thought. He waved his hand to dismiss the thought.

Ned waved his hand at the pile of silver, and it went inside his handy inventory.

[50 Silver coins received.]

His system chimed, and Ned reached for a pouch in a table beside him, he tied the remaining silver he had in his belt.

Three silver for the innkeeper, and seven for Glenn: "Seven," Glenn said, raising five-finger and two. For your clothes, for my travels, and another travels for your identity. Before that, do not leave this room, I'll be back in two days."

Glenn said before he left. But it's been three days, and he hasn't arrived yet.

If only he knew my reasons for coming here. He would be cooperating. Ned thought. Eyeing the rough-edged cube on the bed. "Roy," he muttered. "You better be here."

Ned reached for the cube, injected his mana—

And a rapid knock echoed behind the thin door.

He waved his hand and the cube disappeared. The knock kept on ringing. A knock only a stout man could do. And it better be bald. Ned thought.

"Kid," the man behind the door said.

Opening the door, Glenn surprised Ned with his scruffy shirt, scratches, and cut on his vest. Presumably from sharp edges.

"Three days, Glenn sir," Ned said with a hint of mockery.

"You're welcome, kid," Glenn said in response to Ned. "I have my own dealings. Now, show me." He said reaching his hand towards Ned.

"Show what?"

"Time to Loot's token," Glenn whispered. "I needed to be sure, kid. You know. Can't get too trusting during this time, especially to such a kid your age, and, water kid."

Ned scoffed, tilted his head to where the running water would be.

Glenn went inside a tiny room and came back with a bottle made of tiny woods glued together.

Ned pretended to pull something inside the brown pouch on his waist. Glenn turned his head as Ned met his eyes.

"Here," Ned said, handing the ocean blue token to Glenn.

Glenn bit the token with his uneven teeth and nodded with satisfaction.

"Exactly the same," he muttered as he shook his head, and handed the token back to Ned.

Ned put the token back inside the pouch, and deliberately dropped to make a metal clanging sound. Ned sat on the bed while he gestured the stout man to take the stool.

"Do you have it?" Ned said, looking Glenn with stern eyes.

"With me?" Glenn said, shaking his head. "No, but, I asked someone so that you could have it."

"Glenn sir," Ned said. "I'll be trusting you the same as I trust Sisi. So what else are you hiding; and what else do you need?"

"Ha! Kids this day!" Glenn cried. Slapping his knee. "Kid, as long as you have Silver, people will get to follow you. They will tell them whatever information you want. That's how the system works here. Ah! Can't believe I'm saying this to a kid."

Money, in different forms, is still money. It could make or break a man. Ned thought sighing. "I'm sorry," he said. Pulling a silver from his pouch, and put the token back to his inventory with a sleight of hand. "Here."

"You learn fast, kid!" Glenn laughed under his plumped chins. "Wished you belong to my crew. No, I don't need it. Your crew made sure you got everything you wanted. I'm only asking silver for unwanted travels that weren't included with my deal. Anyway, let's go. Grab your cloak, you'll be needing it. Remember, follow me, heads down, silence, and if you see slaves, do not, I repeat, do not look them in the eyes, nor talk to them. A punishment for looking at someone's property is a cut." Running his thumb between his neck. And laughed, seeing the emotionless eyes of Ned.

"I'm playing you, kid," he said, tapping Ned's shoulders. "You'll rarely see slaves here, but if you do, just let them be. Slaves are treated with less severity here in the Region of Bogblot, unlike other Great Houses, ah, don't mind it, kid. Let's go."

The two exited the inn and climbed down the ladder. Ned wore his cloak under the morning sun awkwardly. Why would he wear a cloak in a town, under the sun? He first thought. But seeing the town, it was Glenn who was looking different. People walked the muddy street with eyes under their belt. Some wore cloaks, some wore hoods, others wore a hat that almost covered their faces.

Aside from occasional inns and taverns, shacks were lined on both sides of the muddy road. It was rare to see a house made of bricks or stones. Shacks were made of woods, pillars, and thatched with tiny stems, and fine leaves—which they got from the forest nearby.

Ned saw none of the bustling people, there were some, who either bought food, like fruits and meats. But aside from that, rarely people could be seen walking the road, even if it's morning.

Shacks were lined randomly, but Ned noticed that for every ten or fifteen shacks he passed by, a canal was formed. Some of them were overflowing, and some were dry. And some were big enough to be used as transportation for heavy loads.

"Glenn sir," Ned said.

"I know kid," Glenn said. Treading a small pond of water. "This is Oldgrass town, Aside from occasional Hunters passing by, the Outer Skirts were almost the same as this. These canals were controlled by different Houses, they use it to transport goods, which is way better than using carriages. But, of course, it was also taxed. You follow me, kid? Listen, cause you'll be needing these pieces of information when I leave you."

"Leave where?" Ned said. Following Glenn, as they turn in an empty road, not far from them was carriage halted near a wider road.

"I'm going to enlist you in a house," he said, turning his head to Ned. "But don't worry, real houses have commitments, but the house I'm talking about was for a show. We needed it for you to stay here, legally. After that, we'll be going to a Hunter's Guild branch, and that's where I'm leaving you. There you can ask about Roy of what-who."

The two stopped near a carriage. Old, splinters as big as finger could be seen even from afar. The roof was leather but torn. The man stationed near the carriage waved a hand, handed the strap attached to a brown horse, and gave it to Glenn. The latter pinned a silver in the man's hand, and gesture to leave.

Ned pushed his way inside the carriage. While Glenn tucked his head in a hole, a hole to communicate for the passenger.

"Any more questions, kid?" he said, forcing a smile. "It will be a long ride going to the city. Now is the time to ask if you have any?"

Ned paused and looked the eager man. He pulled a silver coin, "For your service," Ned said. Handing it to Glenn.

The latter nodded and accepted the silver. "Now we're taking," he said smiling. And hit the strap.