Entering the City
As the carriage began moving, the training camp slowly disappeared in the distance, growing smaller with each passing moment. The students watched in silence as they left behind the place where they had spent months training.
As they approached the town, the once-empty roads became livelier, filled with people going about their daily routines. The carriage continued onward, passing through the city gates and entering the outer city.
One by one, the students were dropped off at their designated locations, just as they had informed the driver before the journey began. Throughout the ride, the students chatted amongst themselves, but the driver remained silent, focused on navigating the familiar streets with the skill of a seasoned professional.
Eventually, only Ryan remained in the carriage. His drop-off point was the Outer City Housing Administration Office. As they arrived, the driver pulled the carriage to a stop and gestured for Ryan to get off.
Ryan gathered his belongings and stepped down without saying a word. The driver gave him a quick nod before flicking the reins, and the carriage rolled away.
---
Now standing alone, Ryan took a moment to observe his surroundings. The area was relatively calm, with a moderate flow of people walking along the streets. Various buildings lined both sides of the road, their signs indicating different types of businesses.
Thanks to his training at Viscount Andrew's estate, Ryan had learned how to read and write. He quickly spotted a sign for the Housing Administration Office and began walking toward it.
Before entering, he took a short detour, exploring the nearby shops. He visited a clothing store and a bakery selling baked goods. In doing so, he familiarized himself with the local prices.
A decent suit cost around 1 silver coin, while simple clothing started at 10 copper coins. A loaf of bread was priced at 1 copper coin. Through this, he also learned the currency system of the empire:
100 copper coins = 1 silver coin
10 silver coins = 1 gold coin
Each coin was made of copper, silver, or gold and bore the image of the founding emperor.
After gathering this knowledge, Ryan entered the Housing Administration Office.
---
Inside, he found a reception desk where a woman, seemingly in her early thirties, stood wearing glasses. She looked average in appearance but carried herself with an air of professionalism.
As Ryan approached, she glanced at him, subtly observing his appearance. For a moment, he wondered if she would make things difficult for him because of his simple clothing. However, his concern proved unnecessary when she spoke politely.
"Hello, sir. How may I assist you?"
"Hello, I'd like to rent a house. Can you introduce me to some options?"
"Of course. May I ask about your budget? That will help us find a suitable house within your range."
Ryan thought for a moment before answering. "Around 1 silver coin—give or take."
The receptionist nodded. "With that budget, we can arrange a house on the outskirts of the outer city."
"That works for me."
"Alright, please wait a moment. I'll arrange for a real estate agent to show you the available properties. Our service fee is 50 copper coins. If you decide to rent a house we introduce, an additional 50 copper coins will be required, making a total of 1 silver coin."
Ryan was slightly surprised by the fee—it seemed high just for an introduction to a rental property. However, he realized that those who couldn't afford such a fee would likely find housing on their own, making an intermediary unnecessary for them.
---
Soon, a well-dressed man approached with a polite demeanor. He introduced himself with a friendly smile.
"Hello, sir. My name is Jacob, and I'll be assisting you in finding a suitable house. Based on your budget, we have three vacant properties to show you."
Ryan returned the greeting. "Hello, Jacob. My name is Ryan. I appreciate your help."
Jacob exchanged a few words with the receptionist before turning back to Ryan.
"Sir Ryan, since these houses are spread out across different locations, walking would take too long. Instead, we will use a carriage for convenience. The transportation cost is included in our service fee."
Ryan nodded, realizing that the fee wasn't entirely unjustified—they weren't just introducing houses but also providing transportation.
Jacob led Ryan to a designated carriage area, where he climbed into the driver's seat.
Ryan noted this detail—apparently, real estate agents also served as their own drivers. It made sense; keeping multiple drivers on standby for different customers would be an inefficient use of manpower and resources.
---
As they traveled, Jacob struck up a conversation.
"Sir Ryan, are you from outside the city?"
Ryan raised an eyebrow. "No, I grew up here. Why do you ask?"
"You've been observing the city like a foreigner," Jacob remarked with a chuckle.
Ryan decided to go with the backstory he had planned. "I had an accident and lost my memory. That's why I'm trying to familiarize myself with everything again."
Ryan told Jacob that he used to work at Viscount Andrew's estate, but due to a mistake, he was dismissed from his job. Since he had lost his memory, he had very few acquaintances and was now trying to start anew.
Jacob was surprised by Ryan's story
Jacob's expression softened. "That's unfortunate."
"It's not too bad," Ryan said casually. "Actually, since I'm trying to get reacquainted, could you tell me about the city? Specifically, who holds power in the outer city and whom I should be careful around?"
Jacob's face brightened. "That's easy. I've lived in Pearl City all my life, and my job takes me all over, so I know the city like the back of my hand."
He began his explanation.
"The city is divided into four main areas:
1. The Slums – Located outside the outer city walls. It's dangerous, filled with criminals and gangs who have no regard for life. Best to stay away from there.
2. The Outer City – The area we're in now. It's where most middle-class residents live. The environment is relatively stable, and people here don't have to worry much about offending the wrong person.
3. The Inner City – Beyond the second set of walls. This area is home to the wealthy, influential, and powerful individuals. However, they rarely interact with outer city residents, as they view this area as crowded and beneath them.inner city is the heart of Pearl City, where the true elites reside, including nobility and the ruling class. It's completely off-limits to commoners."
Jacob lowered his voice slightly. "If you want to stay out of trouble, remember this—avoid the slum gangs, and don't offend anyone from the inner city. Other than that, you should be fine living in the outer city."
Ryan absorbed the information, committing it to memory.
"So, as long as I stick to the outer city and don't get involved with the wrong people, I should be fine?"
"Exactly," Jacob confirmed. "Now, let's get you to the first house."
With that, the carriage continued down the bustling streets of the outer city, carrying Ryan toward his next step in this new life.