No luck this ti either.
I see.
My deepest apologies.
Sieg and Sebas gave their report after they ca back at dawn.
It wasnt their fault. Last night, they searched the place I pointed out. I found a blank area after calculating back the sighting information and ordered them to search it but it seems that the other side was still one step ahead of us.
So we are inferior to them in a battle of brains huh.
As long as they can be the one who makes the first move, we are at a disadvantage after all.
Sebas said that to comfort but I cant help but get depressed with all the failures piling up.
If we havent found her then it ans that our enemies havent found her yet either. Thats the only saving grace here but it is also bad news at the sa ti.
Even if the Imperial Capital is wide, it still has its limit. No matter how well she can escape, she will eventually get cornered. Before that happens, it would be great if Rebecca chooses to contact Leo but the lack of contact so far ans that she cant get close to him.
Hmmshould I terminate the surveillance around Leo?
Nah, thats not realistic. We dont know where she might be lurking and if theres a problem your brothers movent would be hindered in the first place right, Kid?
Exactly. As long as we have difficulty eliminating the other surveillance around him, its not a good plan for us to pull ours out.
I nodded at their opinions.
If he gets caught up in so conflict in the city, depending on how he handles it, Father might step in.
A lot has been happening in the Empire lately and Leo is having great expectations placed on him as the Hero Prince. If sothing were to happen to him then the Empire will definitely be shaken.
Cant help it then. We have to continue as we are.
That seems to be the only way.
.Sebas. I am going out. I will leave processing the information to you.
Do you need an escort?
No. I want to clear my head.
You want to clear your head by strolling in the city? You really are a strange prince alright.
Hearing Sieg, Sebas smiles.
This is sothing like a habit to . Strolling the city like a commoner. I can get to know how people live their lives and a break from all the stiff atmosphere refreshes .
Its troubling that you will be heading out without an escort though.
Is it really okay? Your brother is one of the candidates for the throne right now right?
Nobody would bother to target the Dull Prince. For now, theres no one foolish enough to target either. Leo is still investigating the Southern Nobles. If soone targets it will be considered as an obstruction to his work. If thats the case then Father will be more eager to investigate the Southern matter and those who targeted will be the ones in trouble instead.
Well, alright I guess. Be careful okay?
Sieg doesnt know that Im Silver.
Although he may have acknowledged , in terms of fighting power, he still considers as powerless so his worry about my well-being is sincere.
Really, Sieg is truly a pleasant man to have around huh.
I will keep your feelings in mind.
Saying so, I dismiss them and go out.
Aunty, how much is this?
That one? Its two imperial red copper coins.
Two red copper coins? Isnt it a bit too expensive?
I point at the red fruit and ask. I rembered that it only costs one coin before.
The imperial coin is the currency used throughout the Empire and is the most circulated currency on the entire continent.
The least valuable one is the Imperial Copper Coin. Red Copper Coin is ten tis more valuable than Copper Coin and Silver Coin ten tis more valuable than Red Copper Coin and so on.
From the lowest to highest are Copper Coins, Red Copper Coins, Silver Coins, White Silver Coins, Gold Coins, Platinum Coins, and Rainbow Coins.
There are not many Platinum Coins and Rainbow Coins circulating around. The reason is that it can only be used for large transactions between rchants or nations.
In general, the monthly inco of the people in the Imperial Capital is around 7 to 8 silver coins. At most, the common coins that are circulating among the common citizens are gold coins.
Sorry. There are troubles happening here and there a lot lately right? The goods circulation is stalled because of that.
Is that so. I see. I will take two of these then.
Here you go. That will be four coins.
I took out four red copper coins from my purse that I hung around my waist and handed them to her.
Then I received two fruits from her and kept strolling around the city while eating them.
The city is lively. However, goods prices are rising because of the major incidents like the monster outbreak and the Southern incident.
The cause is the succession war huh.
I exhale and murmur.
Its not sothing for soone who is actively participating in the succession war like can start complaining about. Moreover, I dont have to work in order to live. This is just ridiculous.
The peoples monthly inco is around 7 to 8 silver coins but a prince has at least 3 gold coins provided to him each month as a subsidiary. A normal person cant have that amount even if they save their whole inco up for three months.
For a prince, the more you do, the more you earn and if you get yourself a position, you can get even more salary from it.
The gold coins I gave Lynfia were ten years worth of such a subsidiary. The total worth is around three rainbow coins. That much money was necessary to issue a raid quest. It costs around the sa amount of money to nominate an SS-rank adventurer for a request. That was the reason for Lynfias gratitude.
Silver is fairly cooperative to the guild among the SS-rank adventurers. With accepting the request directly from the guild, there was no need for the nomination fee.
The reason I do that is because I felt strange to accept such a nomination fee despite the fact that I am already receiving a large amount of subsidiary as a prince.
Im still a hypocrite for not doing it for free though
While muttering such a thing, I saw a girl with a troubled expression at a stall a little ahead. Her light purple hair was eye-catching but what stood out to more was a certain characteristic.
The girls ears were slightly pointed, the characteristic of a half-elf. Since her clothes have a hood, she probably normally hides it with that.
However, it seems that she was found out by the shopkeeper and is in an argunt with him.
You said that it was only two silver coins earlier!
Shut up! Its a different story for a half-elf! If you want it then pay two white silver coins!
The girls bag is full of foodstuff so she is probably out to buy groceries today.
It seems that her hood was lowered at the checkout.
The Empire is a country that accepts many demihumans in. Still, that doesnt an that there is no discrimination here. I heard that it is considered lucky for an immigrant to be able to find a rchant who is willing to sell them their wares. Among them, it seems that the half-elves cant even do that. They are that hated.
Neither a human nor an elf, with the exclusive elves hating humans in the first place, they hate the half-elves even more for their mixed blood.
Humans hold the half-elves in disdain because they are different from them and they tend to avoid the Half-elves who are similar to the Elves.
To make the matter more troubleso, it seems that the rchant is not originally from the Empire himself. He probably ca in from sowhere else.
I get that from the peoples whispering around .
And here I am trying to refresh myself..
There are many people who feel sorry for her but no one speaks up.
Its troubleso so theyre just going to pretend not to see it huh.
After a little pondering, the girl gave up and sighs. She then handed the bag containing the foodstuff back to the shopkeeper.
Wait a minute.
It was only on a whim.
I simply dont like what I see and it would feel bad to leave her alone.
I am lacking sleep so it was easy for to do it.
I call out to the shopkeeper and the girl.
Then, I grabbed the bag from the shopkeeper and put two white silver coins in his hand.
Is that enough?
Eh? Ah, Uh..
How much do you want? Do you want at least a gold coin to be more amicable?
Wh, What! Where did you co from! This is my problem alright!
This is the Empire. We accept all demihumans.
That got nothing to do with this! Half-elves are neither demihumans or humans anyway!
Leave it at that. I already paid. We will be leaving now alright?
No! If you really want it then give a gold coin!
The shopkeep shows a disgusting smile.
He probably wants to keep milking because he thought that I am a good person huh.
Idiotic.
The strong prey on the weak, it would be clear for the people with a sense of justice that he is trying to take advantage of .
With a show of clear high-handedness, voices are rising around us but the shopkeeper opens his mouth again.
Quiet down all of you! The food circulation to your empire is currently stagnant! I went out of my way to bring my goods here alright!? It wont even be worth my trouble if I cant even choose who to sell it to!
Saying so the shopkeeper reached his hand out for the girls bag.
I grabbed his hand and glared at the shopkeeper.
I was already irritated by the lack of sleep but this made even more irritated.
I wont let you complain anymore with this much.
Saying so, I take out the gold coin with my free hand.
The shopkeeper smiled and reached for the gold coin.
At that mont, a voice ca from outside.
Hey!? Whats going on here!?
An officer from the city guard said as he made his way here through the crowd.
He is probably on patrol.
No, its nothing, officer. I just closed a deal with him. Everything is alright.
Closed a deal.?
The patrol officer then looked at .
His eyes opened wide as he saluted in a panic.
Y, Your Highness Arnold!?
You know ?
Y, Yes, Your Highness! I, I am supporting His Highness Leonard after all.
Saying so, he corrected his posture.
From the way he says it, it seems he is from Leos faction or sohow related to it. So its impossible to pretend to be Leo here.
Leo is out in the city right now so I guess it is impossible from the start huh.
You arrived at a good ti. Let ask you this, is it okay to raise the price of your goods just because your custor is a half-elf?
T, thats unforgivable! Our Empire accepts all races and the rchants must pledge to not bring prejudice into their transactions to receive their permit to do business in the Imperial Capital, Your Highness!
Then confiscate the permit from this guy. He already raised his price twice now. If you dont arrest him, Leo will be angry you know?
Y, Yes! As you wish!
W, wait a minute! I didnt know he was a prince! Pr, Prince! Please forgive !
Thats not the problem here. You are not being arrested because you offended . It is because you broke the rule. This is the Empire. Keep the gold coin. Consider it a lesson fee.
Saying so, I grab the girls hand and leave.
I cant stand out any more than this.
After walking for a while, a voice called out to from behind.
U, Um.hand
Hm? Ah, sorry.
Saying so, I let go of her hand.
Its rude to hold a hand of a girl I dont even know the na of after all huh.
When I apologized, the girl shook her head and showed a cheerful smile.
No, thank you for helping . Ah, thats wrong. Please accept my sincere gratitude, Your Highness.
I am traveling anonymously right now. It would be good if you can lay off that kind of stuff. What is your na?
Perhaps I was too frank as the girls eyes turned round.
Then she smiled and held out her right hand.
Alright. My na is Sonia. Sonia Laspade. As you can see, I am a half-elf.
I dont mind. Im Arnold. You can call Al.
Un! Then I will call you Al-kun okay!
And that is how I t Sonia.
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