Chapter 10

Recalling the various schemes for making a fortune in countless穿越 novels, Lucien sadly realized that he knew too little about this world and had no idea if these methods would work. Moreover, the first pot of gold was particularly important, and he only had seven copper felts.

Therefore, when the nine o'clock sunlight shone on the market area, Lucien was already carrying a heavy bag of goods, heading towards the city gate area, as survival often took precedence.

Sweat uncontrollably slid down his face, trickling into his neck and soaking his linen clothes. The not-so-intense sun shone on Lucien, making his heavy steps even more painful. At the same time, the struggling Lucien had to endure the incessant chatter of the fat man, Goochi:

"Damn it, who hired such a kid? Walk steadily, don't damage my goods!"

Seeing Goochi wiping the sweat from his face with a handkerchief due to his constant movement, Lucien thought to himself, "It's all because you only hired one person."

Of course, as a result, Lucien's pay was increased from three copper felts to four.

After much effort, Lucien finally reached the city gate area and placed the goods steadily on the waiting cargo carriage.

The fat man Goochi reluctantly took out his money bag, took out four copper felts, and handed them to Lucien: "Your pay, young man. I didn't expect you to have such strength. If I need to move goods in the future, I'll come directly to you."

Lucien's strength actually didn't match that of a well-trained young man of the same age, but he was cheap, and one could do the work of two. The stingy Goochi naturally had to praise him, completely forgetting how he had cursed before.

Just as Lucien received the copper felts, he saw two men in linen coats, looking quite fierce, walking over.

"We are under the command of Boss Aaron. You can call me Andre." The brown-haired man introduced himself, with a shallow scar on his face.

Lucien understood why they were here and was prepared. He didn't plan to resist and took out one copper felt to give to the man named Andre.

The other burly man glared at Lucien: "Two copper felts!"

"Wasn't it agreed to give only one?" Lucien, now a penniless man, couldn't help but argue, even though he knew he currently had no power to resist the gangsters.

"If you hadn't shown off, Goochi would have hired two people, and each would have given us one copper felt. We can't bear the loss," Andre smiled like a legitimate businessman.

It was just one copper felt, and it didn't involve Lucien's survival or principles. Therefore, Lucien hesitated for only a second before giving in and took out another copper felt, handing it to the burly man who was walking around Andre, showing off his muscular build.

"Good job, kid. You understand the rules. Some young hotheads used to challenge us, but as you can see, we're still here, and some of them have already sunk to the bottom of the Beren River. Well, Mag, someone is coming over there." Andre gave a few routine threats and then turned to walk away with Mag.

Lucien watched their backs, feeling somewhat frustrated. Although he knew he would be exploited by the gang from the beginning, he couldn't help but feel emotional when it actually happened.

After cursing himself for not being passionate enough, Lucien realized that to get out of this situation, he either needed to be very strong personally or have a certain social status.

Of course, in this world, being very strong often meant having a high social status.

"I wonder if there are any potions in the magic notebook that can increase strength and constitution?" Lucien couldn't help but think about it, even though he knew it was a dangerous sign, a sign of being unable to resist temptation.

...

The Musician's Association near the administrative area's Chanting Hall in Alto is famous for its unique architectural style. Therefore, Lucien, pushing a rented four-wheeled cart, found the building named "Dancing Flame" after asking for directions only once.

The extensive use of vertical lines, small spires, flying buttresses, colored glass, and flame-shaped window frames gave the five-story light-colored building an asymmetrical, exaggerated beauty, making it appear light and complex.

Seeing Lucien approach, a short, scrawny, middle-aged man with a goatee quickly walked down the steps: "Why are you so late? Look at the clock on the Golden Cathedral; it's almost one o'clock!"

After accepting the commission, Lucien, under the arrangement of the dwarf Coen, had already met this middle-aged man once and knew his name was George, who had some connections within the Musician's Association.

"George, there are still ten minutes left," Lucien pointed to the distant noble district, where the towering, majestic, and seemingly city-controlling Golden Cathedral's hour hand was still far from the top.

George complained: "The association's hired servants finished cleaning early. You'd better come in and hand over the goods quickly, or the mountain of garbage behind the association will affect the mood of the musicians coming to do business, and that would be troublesome."

Lucien was curious about Uncle Joel's dream of becoming a musician, so he didn't argue with George. He put the cart aside, let the guard watch it, and climbed the steps, heading towards the entrance.

As soon as he pushed open the door inlaid with colored glass fragments, Lucien saw a bright, grand, and spacious hall.

The floor was covered with soft, thick carpets, and walking on them made no sound. With very few people coming and going, the entire hall felt quiet and cold.

Under George's lead, Lucien walked to a wooden platform about half a person's height in the center of the hall.

Behind the wooden platform, a brown-haired, blue-eyed beautiful girl sat, with a sweet smile and a clear voice: "Uncle George, have you found the person?"

As she spoke, she took out a jingling money bag and handed it to George. According to Lucien's estimate, there were at least forty copper felts, and he couldn't help but curse silently. After deducting the cost of renting the cart, he would only earn eight copper felts.

George took the money bag, revealing two rows of yellow teeth, and smiled with his eyes squinted: "Alyna, take Lucien to the garden behind. Don't look at his young age and lack of strength; he has a lot of strength."

After saying that, he added to Lucien: "Your money, I'll leave it with Andre at the city gate. You can come and get it when you return."

Lucien nodded, not worried that George would cheat him. The Aaron gang was ruthless in collecting money but very credible in this aspect. According to Coen, someone once tried to avoid paying the hiring fee but ended up paying double.

Alyna was about to call a servant in the hall to take Lucien to the garden to move the garbage when she suddenly saw a middle-aged man in a red, wide coat walk in. She quickly stood up and bowed slightly: "Good afternoon, Mr. Victor."

The middle-aged man was dressed simply but elegantly, with a light mustache and black curly hair. His sea-blue eyes had a melancholy look: "Good afternoon, Alyna. Give me a copy of the 'Music Review.'" His voice was rich and deep.

Seeing Alyna take a new newspaper from under the wooden platform, Lucien couldn't help but be surprised: "Alto already has newspapers? And they are even specialized?"

Thinking of the conditions in the slums, Lucien sighed: "The polarization in this world seems very severe. However, there probably aren't many people who can read. How much do newspapers cost to break even?"

Victor first took the 'Music Review' and casually flipped through it, then gave Alyna ten copper felts, nodded politely to Lucien and George, and turned to walk up the stairs beside the hall.

"Mr. Victor has a very good demeanor," Lucien secretly evaluated in his heart.

After Victor went upstairs, Lucien curiously asked Alyna: "This 'Music Review' only costs ten copper felts?"

Knowing that people like Lucien, like herself in the past, had no chance to come into contact with high society, Alyna couldn't help but show off her recent year's experience working at the Musician's Association: "Although after the invention of a simpler and more universal paper-making method by Cardinal Adelaide in the year 426 of the Holy Calendar, the price of paper has become cheaper, and now a few copper felts can buy a stack, only members of our Musician's Association can buy the 'Music Review' for ten copper felts. Others, even nobles, need to pay one silver naler."

"Because the 'Music Review' and the 'Symphony Guide' are the two most authoritative newspapers in the entire continent's music field, representing the direction of music development. Every piece of sheet music and review article in them is a crystallization of wisdom. This month's 'Music Review' even has comments on the symphony performed at last week's Chanting Hall concert by His Highness the Duke and Princess Natasha."

Lucien had to admit that besides wanting to show off, Alyna's eloquence was also greatly influenced by his black hair, black eyes, and rather handsome appearance.

"One silver naler?" Lucien suddenly wanted to rob these newspapers. Just five copies would solve his problem easily, but considering that even if he succeeded, he wouldn't find a buyer, he reluctantly gave up the idea.

Alyna's boasting, with Lucien's cooperation, made her even happier: "Hehe, don't think one silver naler is expensive. In Tria, Antifelle, Ife, Theres, and Anhadur, these two newspapers are highly sought after and can sell for as much as one gold taler. The nobles of these countries take pride in following the music trends of Alto, even for outdated newspapers."

Lucien glanced at the remaining newspapers in Alyna's cabinet, resisted the impulse to rob them, and deduced some information: "The currency on the entire continent is probably unified. Yes, the church with divine magic is definitely very powerful. Teleportation arrays are likely non-existent, or if they exist, the conditions for use are very strict. Otherwise, with so many nobles needing them, they wouldn't only be able to see outdated newspapers."

Lucien absorbed the knowledge he lacked from Alyna's words like a sponge, until about ten minutes later, Alyna realized and called a servant in the hall to take Lucien to the garden behind.

"Lucien, be quiet, don't speak loudly, and don't make a lot of noise when moving the garbage. Mr. Victor will hold his first symphony concert in the Chanting Hall in three months. He is under a lot of pressure and is, well, more sensitive," Alyna kindly reminded Lucien.

Lucien gratefully nodded to her and then carefully followed the servant to the garden behind.