Reunion

Stepping out of the Adventurer's Guild's grand oak doors and back into Orlando's morning sun, the golden trinket felt heavy, like a searing brand that set Xia Lin's heart ablaze.

Gold coins!

How long had it been since he'd seen one? Ever since the mountain of gold in Toremo's family collapsed, he'd been counting every copper coin.

Now, a genuine gold coin lay in his space bag.

"Heh heh..." Xia Lin couldn't help but grin foolishly, his fingers unconsciously tracing the coin's outline through the bag.

"Wipe your drool, human," Sera's icy voice cut through him like a splash of cold water. "Instead of staring at a piece of metal, I'm more concerned about when we can turn those 'relics' into actual currency. My twenty percent, not a single bit less."

"Got it, got it, what's the rush?" Xia Lin suppressed his momentary glee, regaining a sliver of shrewdness. "There are plenty of markets in the city, we'll just find a place to sell them. But speaking of which, Orlando is much bigger than that small place, Changhe City. Is this your first time here?"

Without waiting for Sera's reply, Xia Lin was already pointing things out, as they walked from the "Upper City" where the guild was located towards the "Lower City" closer to the port.

The paving stones underfoot changed from smooth marble to worn slabs, the delicate incense in the air was replaced by a mixture of fish, leather, and various food smells, and the pedestrians shifted from well-dressed citizens and haughty merchants to sailors, artisans, hawkers, and more adventurers like themselves, dusty and travel-worn.

"See," Xia Lin pointed into the distance, "that's the 'Greyport', the largest inland port in the entire Eastern Province, handling more goods daily than Changhe City does in a year. Follow the river upstream, through the 'Artisan District', and you'll see the golden roofs of the great temples in the 'Temple District'. The God of Light, the Goddess of Wealth, the God of Knowledge, the Goddess of Magic... any god you can think of basically has a home there."

He paused, then pointed to the faint white spire in the city center. "Of course, there's that, the Orlando Mage Tower. It's said to be older than Orlando City itself, holding countless secrets... and, of course, a bunch of old mages with tempers worse than dragons."

"Sounds like either a money pit or a trouble magnet," Sera commented, her tone unwavering.

"Hey, maybe?" Xia Lin shrugged it off.

They passed a newsboy waving a newspaper and shouting, "Horn Herald! Horn Herald! Latest news! The Duke's new favorite griffon had diarrhea yesterday! A mage tower apprentice's experiment went out of control and blew up a toilet! The Dwarf Kingdom and the Underdark Gnomes are engaged in a heated debate over whether 'beard length affects digging efficiency'!"

"One, please." Xia Lin handed over 2 copper coins and took the ink-scented Orlando Horn Herald.

He quickly skimmed through the trivial gossip and couldn't help but laugh, "Ha! Knights from the Mithril Hall 'almost got into a fight in a tavern over a dancer'? Those guys are still the same."

Sera leaned over to look, her gaze falling on an inconspicuous corner on the fourth page.

"Orc activity has intensified on the kingdom's eastern border, multiple merchant caravans attacked, authorities urge vigilance, claiming 'the situation is under control'."

She read the small print, her tone laced with sarcasm. "'Situation under control'? Just like the 'control' we encountered? These lords sitting by their warm fireplaces probably think orcs only steal a few bags of grain, not split people in half."

"Alright, stop complaining," Xia Lin folded the newspaper and put it in his pocket. "Complaining doesn't solve problems, money does. Come on, let's go to the 'Hundred Merchants Market'."

The Hundred Merchants Market was located in a vast open square in the Lower City, near the port.

At the Hundred Merchants Market, most used equipment could only be sold for 40-60% of its value, unless it was a magical item, but it bought everything.

Stalls were packed tightly together, the air filled with the smell of spices, leather, cheap ale, and various unidentifiable excrement.

The cries of vendors, the haggling, the hammering from blacksmiths, and the off-key singing of bards mingled together, forming a vibrant, chaotic symphony.

Xia Lin expertly led Sera through the crowded throng, finding a few reliable-looking weapon shops and pawn shops.

After much bargaining, they sold Gorgash's great axe, Kyle's greatsword, Captain Marcus's standard longsword and kite shield, Pip's dagger, and other miscellaneous equipment.

In the end, Xia Lin's space bag gained ninety-one silver coins and a pile of loose copper coins.

The two found a relatively secluded corner.

Xia Lin counted out eighteen silver coins and about sixty-five copper coins, handing them to Sera. "Here, your twenty percent, count it."

Sera took the money and, without even looking, tucked it into the inner pocket of her robe, her movements as swift as a seasoned pickpocket. "No need to count, I trust your professional ethics as a 'Relic Organizer'." She said with a hint of mockery.

Xia Lin pouted and put away the remaining silver and copper coins.

Adding what he had left and the proceeds from selling the equipment, he now had one gold coin, nearly eighty silver coins, and over four hundred copper coins.

This sum, while not a fortune in Orlando, was enough for him to upgrade some gear and buy necessary scrolls or potions.

"Alright, money and goods exchanged." Xia Lin clapped his hands. "Shall we part ways then? I wish you... well, a fun time in Orlando?"

Sera didn't leave immediately.

Her dark red eyes looked at Xia Lin, and after a moment of silence, she suddenly asked, "Human, what are your plans next?"

"Me?" Xia Lin blinked. "What else? Find a place to stay, have a good meal, and then see what kind of work I can find."

"Orlando is vast and complex," Sera said. "You seem more familiar with it than I am. And I don't want to attract too much attention for now. Perhaps we could team up temporarily?"

She paused and added, "I need a guide who's familiar with the environment here. In return, I can offer some necessary assistance. You know, sometimes a Warlock's 'little tricks' are more useful than swords."

Xia Lin looked at her with some surprise.

Team up?

With this Tiefling, who was full of mysteries and had a venomous tongue?

But on second thought, having a companion wouldn't be so bad.

Although Sera's personality was eccentric, her strength was undeniable. That [Eldritch Blast] was quite powerful.

"Sure." Xia Lin shrugged, putting on an indifferent expression. "Let's stick together for now. But let's be clear, I don't have money to book you into a high-class inn."

"I have no requirements for lodging," Sera said calmly.

"Good." Xia Lin nodded. "Then, 'Guide' Mr. is going to take care of some personal business. Follow me, partner."

He adjusted his collar and started walking towards the towering white spire in the city center.

"Where are we going?" Sera followed his steps.

"The Mage Tower," Xia Lin turned back, a complex expression of anticipation and exasperation on his face. "To find my... cheap sister."