The moment they stepped through the shadow of the massive gates, the sprawling vista of Gaterland unfolded before them. In stark contrast to the silence of the desert outside, the interior of the city was a symphony of bustling crowds unlike anything they had ever seen.
The buildings here were constructed from precisely carved sandstone, adorned with metallic decorations that gleamed brilliantly under the midday sun.
As the five strangers made their entrance, the surrounding activity seemed to slow for a fleeting second. Hundreds of pairs of eyes belonging to the Dwarf race, men, women, and children alike, paused their labors just to stare at the peculiar group that had just arrived.
Noticing the curious gazes, Kazien let out a long sigh. He felt a wave of self-consciousness at being the center of attention.
"It seems that what Alvin used to go through is now happening to all of us." Kazien whispered softly.
Alvin let out a soft chuckle at his fiancé's remark. He remembered vividly how much of a stir the humans of the Azvel Continent would make whenever they saw his unique appearance.
"Hehehe. At least now you can feel for yourself what it's like to be the center of attention, My Dear." Alvin teased playfully.
They continued to walk along the cobbled main streets of Gaterland. Their hearts were a whirlwind of wonder, astonishment, and enthusiasm. They hadn't expected to find a city so densely populated and advanced in the middle of such a barren, scorching desert.
Hudeon, walking beside Kazien while clutching the silver-white-haired man's hand tightly, looked around with his mouth slightly agape. His golden eyes sparkled with excitement.
My goodness... Hudeon murmured to himself. So this is what the Dwarf race is like? This is the first time I've seen a race other than humans in my entire life besides Brother Alvin.
He watched the Dwarves forging metal by the roadside and others carrying complex mechanical devices. Hudeon then stole a glance at Kazien's face.
If I hadn't insisted on coming along with Brother Kazien, I never would have seen something this magnificent in my lifetime!
All along the street, shops displayed a variety of sharp weapons, heavy armor, and magical tools that appeared far more modern than those found on the Azvel Continent. However, there was one thing that made Kazien feel slightly puzzled and even a bit embarrassed as a human.
He recalled how, when humans in Azvel first saw Alvin, they would immediately swarm him and scream hysterically. But these Dwarves were different. Though they stared curiously, they merely watched from a distance with calm composure before returning to their work, as if the arrival of humans and an elf was a common occurrence. They didn't make a scene or intrude upon their privacy.
Alvin decided to take the initiative. He approached a Dwarven man who was tidying up some tools in front of a shop.
"Excuse me, sir. Do you happen to know where the Adventurer Guild is located in this city?" Alvin asked politely.
The Dwarf looked up, stroked his thick beard, and pointed toward the main road. "The large building about two hundred meters from here! You can't miss it." he answered shortly but cordially.
"Thank you very much for the information." Alvin said with a small bow.
They resumed their journey. Sure enough, after walking about two hundred meters, a magnificent building with sturdy, masculine architecture stood tall before them. Above the entrance, a crest of crossed spears and a shield was proudly displayed.
"My love, it looks like we've arrived!" Allen exclaimed with a tone of relief.
"Yes, no mistake about it. This is the Guild building. Let's head inside!" Kazien invited.
Creeak!
The heavy wooden door swung open, and they stepped into a spacious lobby. Inside, the atmosphere was much quieter. Only a few adventurers were seen wandering about, unlike the Guilds on the Azvel Continent which were always packed with people.
However, their presence still triggered a reaction. Several Dwarven adventurers sitting at the bar turned in unison.
"Humans? Is that an Elf too?" one adventurer called out, his deep voice echoing through the lobby.
Ignoring the whispers around them, Kazien led the group toward the reception desk. There, a Dwarven woman with neatly braided hair greeted them with a professional smile.
"Welcome to the Gaterland City Guild! I am Ella, the receptionist who will be assisting you. How may I help you, gentlemen?" she greeted them warmly.
Kazien placed his hand on the reception desk. "Could you explain the currency used here? We are from the Azvel Continent and have just arrived through... an unexpected turn of events."
At the mention of the 'Azvel Continent', Ella froze. Even the adventurers who had been chatting went silent. News of people from across the ocean was an extreme rarity.
"Azvel Continent? Incredible..." Ella muttered in awe before refocusing. "Very well, I shall explain the basics. The currency used in the Kingdom of Dwargon is called Saxth."
Ella reached into a small magic pouch at her side and pulled out several unique coins. Each coin had a meticulously detailed hammer symbol stamped on its surface.
Small Bronze = 1 Saxth
Large Bronze = 10 Saxth
Small Silver = 100 Saxth
Large Silver = 1,000 Saxth
Small Gold = 10,000 Saxth
Large Gold = 100,000 Saxth (The highest denomination)
"To give you an idea," Ella continued, "the price of a loaf of bread is 6 Saxth, and the cheapest inn in the city is around 45 Saxth. The Large Gold coin is the highest value in this kingdom."
Kazien and his three fiancés nodded in understanding. They immediately began calculating the assets they had brought with them to be converted later.
"One more thing!" Kazien said. "Are we, as outsiders from another continent, allowed to take on missions at this Guild?"
"Of course!" Ella replied enthusiastically. "As long as you are registered as official adventurers, you are free to take missions from any Guild in the world. The Guild is a single international entity."
A visible sense of relief washed over the faces of Kazien and his three fiancés.
"May I see your adventurer license cards?" Ella requested. "I will provide an official marker so your cards are registered as operating on the Yovel Continent."
Kazien, Alvin, Allen, and Arken simultaneously pulled their license cards from their dimensional storage spaces and handed them to Ella.
As the cards changed hands, Ella's eyes widened. Her hands trembled slightly when she saw the large letter 'S' engraved upon them. Not just one, but four of them at once.
"V-Very well! I will process them immediately!" Ella hurried toward a large magical device behind her.
She inserted the cards one by one into the machine. A soft mechanical clicking sound followed. Moments later, Ella returned the license cards to the desk. When they looked at their cards again, there were now two stamps displayed.
Azvel Continent Stamp: Shaped like a Sword and Shield.
Yovel Continent Stamp: Shaped like a Spear and Shield.
"Wow!" Alvin exclaimed enthusiastically, his eyes sparkling at the design of the new stamp. "So this is the mark of the Yovel Continent? How cool! Now there are two symbols!"
"You're right, Brother Alvin!" Arken replied, equally excited. He flipped his license card over with pride. "It feels like this card looks much classier now."
Ella smiled at their excitement. Although they were Rank S adventurers, they clearly had a pure side that deeply appreciated the small things, like a new adventure stamp.