Daylight robbery
Traveling to the Kingdom's capital city was unlike visiting any other city in the Kingdom. The distance was extensive, the journey treacherous, and the path rife with bandits and formidable beasts that posed a constant threat.
In Kaden's last life, players only managed to reach the Kingdom's capital city when they reached Level 50. In fact, the players were allowed entry only after they met certain requirements.
This was because the Kingdom's capital was a complete game changer. The place was head and shoulders above other cities. The city served as the heart of the Kingdom, radiating power and influence far beyond the borders of its massive walls.
It was a hub of political maneuvering, bustling commerce, and prestigious guilds. The city's architecture showcased the opulence and sophistication of the ruling elite, with majestic palaces, ornate temples, and grand marketplaces that dazzled the senses.
Not only was the capital city a center of political and economic importance, but it also housed renowned training academies and prestigious institutions of learning.
It attracted scholars, mages, and warriors from far and wide, seeking to hone their skills and gain knowledge from the finest mentors and libraries available.
The streets teemed with a diverse array of people, representing various races, classes, and backgrounds. Vibrant market stalls lined the bustling thoroughfares, selling exotic goods and rare artifacts from distant lands.
It was a place where fortunes were made and lost, where dreams were pursued and shattered, and where the ambitious sought to carve their names into the annals of history. More importantly, it was a hot spot for players to boost anything and everything!
There were loads of titles to be claimed, lots of lucrative quests and special quests, not to mention, even a couple of legendary item quests. Kaden remembered the details for many of these quests.
But he did not plan to get into the capital city just yet because first, it took two entire days for the journey and also, he couldn't enter unless he was level 50, well actually level 40 because he knew of a loophole.
Although he had made remarkable progress, approaching Level 20 in just two days, reaching Level 40 would demand a considerable amount of experience points. The higher the level, the more substantial the effort required to ascend.
It would at least take him a week or perhaps two even with the best grinding spots and that too he had two additional mouths to feed. Scrap and Umbra were literally experience point drains but their usefulness far outweighed this small drawback.
Either way, it would be a waste to just focus on leveling and miss out on other important quests and titles that Kaden had in his mind. But now things were different. He had to go to the capital city just to start playing the game.
Luckily, he knew exactly what to do. Just like last time, this would also involve picking out a caravan to hitch a ride but he couldn't just get on any caravan.
He had to wait for a particular group, namely the Auction House Expeditionary Company, which was run by a clan of faes known as the Goldleaf Syndicate.
The Goldleaf Syndicate was an infamous and highly influential group of faes known for their insatiable greed and obsession with wealth.
They had established themselves as the dominant force in the realm of commerce and trade, accumulating vast fortunes through their shrewd business dealings and lucrative auctions.
Their caravans, adorned with golden banners and guarded by skilled mercenaries, were a sight to behold.
These caravans traveled the treacherous routes to the capital city, carrying valuable goods, rare artifacts, and sought-after treasures from all corners of the Kingdom.
They were known to have the best protection and rarely fell victim to bandit attacks. More importantly, they reduced the travel time to a mere 12 hours instead of 48 hours!
However, such luxury and security came at a price. The Goldleaf Syndicate demanded exorbitant fees from anyone wishing to travel with their caravans. Their rates were far beyond what the average traveler could afford.
Kaden knew that hitching a ride with the Goldleaf Syndicate's caravan would ensure his safety and increase his chances of reaching the capital city unscathed. So he had no other choice.
He waited a long while and he finally spotted one of their caravans. Kaden's heart sank as he handed over his meager collection of 200 silver coins to the caravan master.
The caravan master, a stern-looking fae with a calculating gaze, scrutinized the coins in his hand before letting out a dismissive scoff.
"Just 2 gold coins?" The caravan master exclaimed with a derisive tone. "That's barely enough to cover the toll fee for a day's journey, let alone secure a seat on one of our esteemed caravans. You need at least 500 gold coins to gain passage with us."
Kaden bitterly smiled. He already knew this was coming. This was also why he did not want to use this particular shortcut. It was such a money drain.
"Can I take a loan from the Goldleaf Syndicate?"
The caravan master arched an eyebrow, his expression shifting from disdain to curiosity. "A loan, you say?" he mused. "Sure, anything to help a weary traveler."
The man's eyes shone with greed as he quickly wrote a slip and handed it to Kaden.
"This is the proposed loan and the amount to be repaid. You have a month's time to pay back. Otherwise, the terms will automatically change."
Kaden gulped. He opened the slip to see what the damage was. Immediately a system prompt appeared in front of him.
Ding!
Loan Amount: 500 gold coins
Amount to be Repaid: 1000 gold coins
Kaden's eyes went wide. 1000 gold coins? This was daylight robbery! With his heart ready to give out at any time, he clicked the accept button with a constipated face.