Matthew opened the thick leather-bound booklet. The inner pages were made of thick paper, the handwriting was clear, and the entries were well-organized.
The booklet was systematically classified according to the category, rank, and use of the items. Each category was accompanied by a brief description, with the exchange requirements marked in "noble points and gold coins."
Noble points? It seems the circulation of resources in the inner city is far more complex than just the gold coin transactions on the surface.
Most likely, those treasures are all controlled by the nobility, and these noble points are probably just a means of controlling the people below.
He quickly pondered to himself.
Putting the thought aside for the moment, he continued flipping through the booklet.
I. Weapons
Melee, Ranged, and Special Weapons.
Exchange Requirements: Gold Coins / Noble Points
Black Iron Standard Longsword: Forged from steel, comes with a cowhide scabbard.
Exchange: 5 gold coins.
'Wolf Fang' Battleaxe: Cold iron blended into the axe blade, significant armor penetration effect.
Exchange: 15 gold coins and 10 points.
Damaged Runic Dagger (Scorch Residue): The runes on the blade are worn, effect is unstable, research with caution.
Exchange: 150 points (Point exchange only).
Cold Iron Shortbow...
II. Armor and Shields
Light Armor, Heavy Armor, and Shields
Studded Leather Armor: Reinforced with copper studs in key areas, balancing flexibility and basic protection.
Exchange: 8 gold coins.
'Grey Rock' Chainshirt: Densely woven black iron rings with a soft leather lining, offers good defense against slashing attacks.
Exchange: 22 gold coins and 5 points.
'Fiery Lion' Crest Shoulder Armor (Decorative): Silver-plated steel, engraved with the Fiery Lion family crest, no actual defense bonus.
Exchange: 15 gold coins.
Small Enchanted Round Shield (Impact-Resistant Coating): Can effectively weaken the force of a single heavy blunt strike.
Exchange: 40 gold coins and 25 points.
...
III. Herbs and Materials
Dried Evening Primrose: A common primary ingredient for novice healing salves, easy to preserve.
Exchange: 2 gold coins per portion (Can be purchased directly with gold coins).
Raw Blueglow Ore: Contains weak fluorescent energy, used for illumination.
Exchange: 10 noble points per piece (Point exchange only).
...
IV. Special Items and Miscellaneous
Simplified Map of the Kingdom of Cher: Outlines major roads.
Exchange: 2 gold coins.
Detailed Map of Abilan County and Surrounding Areas: Marks major roads, known dangerous areas, and common resource nodes.
Exchange: 3 gold coins.
'Silent' Dust (Alchemical Product): Once scattered, it reveals footprints for ten seconds.
Exchange: 10 gold coins and 5 points per bottle.
...
Matthew's gaze slowly swept across the materials and equipment on the list that he had never seen before, and an indescribable trace of joy quietly welled up in his heart.
This feeling was like stepping into an unexplored vault of knowledge—behind every unfamiliar entry lay the potential for new things, knowledge, and even the path to a deeper level of power.
To him, this "unknown" itself was already a harvest worth treasuring.
I still need to go to a big city... Just looking at this miscellaneous section, those two maps are definitely not things that could be purchased in Anda Town.
Matthew's gaze lingered on the two map entries in the miscellaneous category, a clear judgment flashing through his mind.
Maps, especially accurate and detailed ones, were of paramount importance in adventure and survival.
They did not just mark roads and terrain; they often implicitly showed resource nodes, dangerous areas, and even the boundaries of different factions.
A good map could save someone from taking detours in unfamiliar territories, help them avoid fatal threats, and perhaps even allow them to decipher hidden opportunities from seemingly ordinary markings.
For someone like him who had just arrived and urgently needed to understand Abilan County and its surrounding environment, its value was far from something that could be measured simply by money.
With these thoughts in mind,
he pointed at the map entries in the booklet and said to Derry, the receptionist behind the window who now had a respectful expression:
“These two maps—the 'Detailed Map of Abilan County and Surrounding Areas' and the 'Sketch Map of the County Seat's Inner City Layout'—I want both of them.”
After speaking, he retrieved the gold coins from his pocket and handed them over.
Derry nodded hastily. “Of course, my lord. I will fetch them for you right away.”
“Wait, are these the only maps available? Are there any more detailed or wider-ranging maps? For example, a complete map of the kingdom, detailed maps of neighboring provinces, or... the distribution of forces outside the kingdom?”
Derry recalled for a moment, an apologetic smile appearing on his face.
“Replying to my lord, these are all the standard maps currently available for exchange in the guild. More detailed maps or those covering larger areas are custom-made or rare items, so they are not kept in the general catalog.”
“If you have specific needs, such as a detailed survey map of the royal capital's surroundings, the northern border, or certain ruins, you might need to issue a commission.”
He paused and added, “Sometimes, squads that have completed special missions will also sell copies of the maps they drew as intelligence.”
Matthew nodded slightly.
This response was within his expectations. Common maps were easy to obtain, but maps that were truly valuable and contained key information were naturally scarce resources.
“I understand.”
He paused briefly, quickly weighing his needs against the risks in his mind, and then spoke clearly:
“The first category: detailed maps of the roads, towns, and resource nodes in the royal capital and neighboring provinces, the newer and more detailed, the better. Focus on marking official post stations, major trade routes, known dangerous areas, and towns where supplies can be replenished.”
“The second category,”
His voice was as steady as usual, but his gaze grew slightly calm and deep.
“The distribution of forces and intelligence outside the kingdom's territory that are independent of the kingdom's jurisdiction.”
Matthew would not, and could not, directly write "wizard factions" in the commission.
After all, he was not sure if wizard factions could be openly mentioned in the Kingdom of Cher, which was why he was being so indirect.
He looked at Derry and added the specific requirements of the commission:
“The maps can be copies, but their basic accuracy must be guaranteed. I will pay the reward based on the level of detail, coverage, information value, and timeliness of the maps.
The base reward will be settled in gold coins. If the quality of the map is extremely high or contains scarce intelligence, the reward can be increased, or we can exchange using some materials or equivalent items in my possession.”
Matthew took out a small pouch of gold coins and placed it on the counter, making a crisp clinking sound.
“This is the deposit. The commission is to be posted anonymously... but the acceptor must have their qualifications verified by the guild.”
“They must be at least of the Brass Rank to report.”
...
...
Rate on N.U.
