Thanks for reading, everyone!!

Again, words with <> can be searched in the net for more information. I'll compile a short glossary after I write more chapters.

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CHAPTER 6: ENTERING APOLLONIA

Apollonia was one of the wealthiest cities of the Imperium, owing to its geographical position of being the center of sea trade and commerce. Its valuable trade routes were primarily connected to Aegyptus which is the kingdom of the Beastmen, the rival Hellenic League, the Demon King's empire, and other minor city states and empires.

Different kinds of products ranging from incense and silk, carried from the faraway Middle Kingdom, up to the expensive dyes and ink from Aegyptus.

It was also headquarters to the 7th Legion, the Imperium's main police force that rivaled even the elite Praetorians. Being the center of trade, security was so tight that even slum children had to be registered to be able to walk the streets.

 Outside the borders of the walled city, the three gods Tishia, Alter and Gold arrived in a caravan. Hiding their identity, they posed as siblings, while Gold being Alter's slave (which she insisted strongly, not content with being his sister),

"We have arrived, young ones."

The caravan master announced. He was a middle-aged man with lean muscles and leather armor. Anyone can mistake him for an adventurer if he posed as one.

"Thank's boss. We owe you a lot!"

Alter replied. Since Tishia was injured, it would be hard for her to walk long distances, They were lucky that a trade caravan came by and allowed them to join. And so their travel time was shortened. Probably the workings of Clotho, or so he imagined.

"Don't mind it boy! It was me who was supposed to be this thankful to you!"

------------------------------

During their travel, many obstacles hindered them. Bandits had ambushed them to steal their goods, and their huge group can't be stopped by the few caravan guards, who were not even soldiers. Tishia and Alter were deeply sleeping at that time. But before the bandits could even touch the other civilians and traders, a young girl walked in front of them.

"Eiiiyy!! What's this young missy doin' here?"

"She's a cute one!"

"Maybe a child of a senator or something. Her ransom must be high!"

"Come here, lil' one. If you don't, brother will be very angry."

The bandits became interested since Gold's childish features were overlapped by a noble aura. Gold didn't even lend an ear to these 'rubbish' and complained in a childish voice.

"Go away pieces of sh**, you're loud. Master is currently sleeping. If you dare disturb him I'm gonna F** kill you all."

The bandits became dumbfounded and angry as dirty words flowed from the small rosy lips of the girl.

""YOU LITTLE BRAT!!! WE'LL SPANK YOU SENSLESS!!!""

"Too loud."

Alter and Tishia woke up, as they felt Gold's powerful aura coming from a distance.

"Oh master, you're awake? Please sleep more. Its too early."

"Hey brat, what's the commotion?"

"Don't call me brat. Some bandits tried to rob the carriage, but I forced them to leave."

"Really? Thanks a lot Gold."

"Yay! master praised me!!"

"Good job, I guess."

"I don't need your's, blind girl."

"hmph..."

Alter really wondered why these two can't get along each other. As there were no other troubles, both of them continued to sleep, while Gold kept watch.

"Haah.... quiet is the best."

Gold stared at the distance where she faced the bandits, Dismembered and slashed bodies had littered that area, since Gold had really forced them to leave....

To leave the mortal plane.

The guards who saw her one-sided slaughter were too scared to even mention the event and kept it to themselves.

-------------------------------------------

"That was nothing. See you later, Mister!"

The trio had arrived at the borders of the city.

"The city of Apollonia has very tight security. We can only pass inside legally. Don't you have any ID cards or something?"

"I have my adventurer's card with me."

"I also have one, thanks to master."

"I........."

Alter noticed Tishia was hesitating.

"Whats the problem."

"I...... am a wanted woman in the Imperium."

Alter was shocked at her confession. For the goddess of justice to be a wanted person, what did she do?, he thought.

".......and yet you stayed? How did you move about?"

"I have my circumstances. And I used a fake ID. The adventurer's guild may be fooled, but the Identification magic from the Legion who reside there would detect it."

Alter had heard of the 7th Legion, that was described as an elite military police. He once asked why she chose a place that was heavily guarded, but she only said that it was the only direct route from the Imperium to the Oracle. But Alter had a plan.

"Don't worry, just follow me and everything will be fine."

Alter walked towards the guards at the gate, while Gold followed him nonchalantly. Tishia hesitated, before giving up and joined them.

"Halt. Identify yourselves!"

One of the guards that were posted at the gates approached them. Alter and Gold readily handed his ID card, but Tishia thought they will get into trouble if she handed hers.

"Don't worry"

Alter whispered in her ear, so she did as she was told. The guard had used Identification magic at the cards, which checked whether their identities were approved. Tishia expected an alarm would have rang the moment the magic touched hers. But nothing happened. Looking at the side, Alter winked at her.

After when they entered the city, Tishia began interrogating the boy.

"What happened? Did you do something??"

"Magic Mod"

"....That's a total cheat..."

So his spell was strong enough to modify even spells like Identify. Tishia again saw how powerful her companion could be.

"Apollonia."

Tishia had been to Apollonia when she was younger. As for Alter and Gold, they had never seen such a developed city in Mythologia.

"Is that a temple? Its huge!!"

"Look master!! Is that the rumored Flea Market?"

"What a huge library!!"

"They even have public baths...... ehehe"

"Wow! They already invented ice cream??!! I never had it for more than two years!"

"Is it delicious, master?!"

"Lets buy one!"

Tishia's two companion, who sounded like country hicks, did their best to sight-see at the industrial district of Apollonia.

They also rushed to the large store that sell ice cream. Tishia could only sigh.

"It seemed the Dark Ages is too 'ancient' a time for living."

She said to herself. She wondered if orange juice was already invented during that time.

"Tishia......"

The two who excitedly went in the ice cream parlor, came out dejected.

"What's the problem?"

"What currency do they use here?"

Tishia now only realized that these two were from the past. The currency would have been different. She rummaged for coins inside her pockets to give them reference.

"Geez. You two are hopeless. Look here."

She showed them a gold coin.

"Remember. This is an . Gold coin."

The two nodded. Then Tishia pulled out another coin. It was silver.

". Fifty of these is one Aureus. Though these are seldomly use for trades. Greenish gold colored coins.

Then she continued to take another coin.

", or Sest, the silver coin. This is more commonly used for trades, while is the most basic, a copper coin. Four hundred of these is equal to a single Aureus. The empire standardized it as the world currency more than a hundred years ago."

""Ooooh........""

"What currency do you have, by the way?"

"Master manages the spending"

"Umm.... I'll check in my inventory."

He chanted some words, and the storage magic activated. Alter was troubled before due to him not knowing how to access his Inventory in reality, but fortunately Tishia taught him that on the way to Apollonia.

"It seemed they were called . I never knew since we just call them 'coins' in the game."

"Drachma...... That's a very ancient coin. I believe the Hellenic League still circulate it in their local currency and its equivalent to Aureas there. How much do you have?"

Tishia thought that they should have at least twenty, even if they look poor. If not, these two were going to be straining her coin purse. She hoped it was not so.

"Twenty... million, or so."

"....................................."

Dink. Dink. Dink.

The thirty Aureas made a sound and scattered as Tishia's pouch fell down the street floor.

"Money!!" Gold exclaimed before reaching out for them, returning back afterwards to the ice cream parlor. She ignored the frozen stiff goddess of Justice.

"T-ten... ten...."

Tishia could only repeat what she had heard. She didn't know, but Alter was the one who led the players during the final stages of the death game. It was natural that he hold some of the budget for the expenditures of the guilds he had led. In other words, he was really filthy rich!

"I... can't believe it."

"The ice cream vendor won't accept it."

"...... that's because..... they don't use it here. Only in the Hellenic League...."

She had a hard time breathing due to the shock. Even she, a princess, had only seen a trade of 500 thousand Aureas. That was the largest sum she ever saw in her lifetime, and it involved buying a large area of land. With that money, they could have already found a new city.

So their situation is this..... they were literarily broke in the Imperium, but if they ever reach the Hellenic League, they would become moguls.

"Oh, heavens. Where is justice in this?"

Tishia complained about the unfairness of the world. She gained a new desire to punish cheaters.

"Ice cream, Master!!! Its really delicious!"

Gold trotted joyfully. If Alter didn't know her true form, he would definitely be struck by the cuteness of the golden haired girl. She was holding two cones of ice creams in each of her hands.

After eating leisurely, the three of them decided to go the harbor.

"Oooh. Its my first time seeing a lot of ships."

There were mostly ships that were designed with three rows of oars, and they were going to and from the busy harbor.

"They are called . They serve as trading ships around the Imperium. The few large ones, the , were warships of the Imperial Navy, designed to defend the port against any threats,"

Tishia explained to the two, as she had a lot of background in these things due to her education. For some reason, she enjoyed being a guide.

"Where can we ask for a passenger ship to the Hellenic League?"

"Let's ask the harbor master. I believe he's at the port office at this hour of the day."

Proceeding towards the large building near the docks, they immediately found the harbor master. He was wearing leather armor that was dyed red and blue. He was with some merchants, and it was clear from the shouting that they were arguing over something. Drawing near, the trio heard the contents of the commotion. He was currently arguing with a fat, bearded merchant with brown hair.

"I tell you! Do not ask me for remunerations of your stolen goods. That is the jurisdiction of the 7th Legion!!"

"But this is harbor is YOUR jurisdiction! If you just agreed for more guards which we strongly requested, none of these would have happened!!!"

"Yes!! But-"

'Yet you said this harbor was secured enough!! We'll let the senate hear of this if we don't receive the cargo in a 3 days!!"

The merchants left the troubled harbor master, who was currently holding his head in frustration.

"Hey, that sounded similar to a quest I've already finished."

Alter humorously pointed out, which Gold agreed to. He went in front of the harbor master, and directly asked a question.

"Excuse us, but we need a ship that would be headed for the Hellenic League."

"..... haaaaah... Hellenic League, huh. The 'Python', I believe. But her captain is a stingy one. I think the rate would be around 30 Aureas each head."

"Haaaa?! That's too expensive! Wasn't that supposed to be at most 10 Aureas for a person?!"

Tishia loudly protested. She knew the estimate rate of fare for a voyage, and this harbor master is trying to rip them off their money.

"A lot has been happening recently, young miss."

"For example?"

"Pirates. Their activities had started escalating around the . Also, reports of 'sea monsters' lurking near the territorial borders between the Imperium and the League have circulated around the whole harbor. Also, tensions between the two empires have strained to a point that the Hellenic League already sent a letter of warning to the Senate."

"......tsk. After all the efforts of peace talks."

Tishia swore in her mind, as her mother's efforts are starting to go to waste. Alter on the other hand, inquired on a topic that has no connection to their deal.

"Hey, what was that all about before?"

"That? Some merchant had put all the blame to me for his goods disappearing on the warehouse of the docks."

"Oh..... How much would you have to legally pay up for this?"

"About seven thousand Aureas. That would cost me my whole fortune."

"That's terrible indeed! Was it stolen on a rainy day?"

"Y-yes. How did you know?"

"I believe they used the cover of the rain to steal the goods"

"R-really?!!"

"And, have you met with a red-haired man before?"

"Again, how did you know?"

"He is a notorious smuggler"

"What did you say?!!"

"Man, talk about bad luck. I'm sorry for your loss but..."

Alter sympathized with the harbor master, or so it sounds. Gold saw through the poker face of her master. It was actually smiling.

"I believe we could help."

"R-really?! You're a god-sent!"

"Master is a 'generous' man"

"I'm impressed. You really are a good guy, contrary to the rumors."

Tishia praised his attitude, not noticing the voiceless communication between the two using Telepathy.

{

'Gold, I think we hit a jackpot.'

'I think so too, Master'

'This is really similar to a certain tricky quest that we had before.'

'I agree. We took a long time solving the puzzle and looking for clues but.'

'This time, we know where to find.'

'And the profit is high, if we follow the 'right procedures'

'We can buy all we need in this city'

'Ahahahahah'

'eheheheheh'

}

The most common sin all the gods have is simply 'greed' Alter though that the fate sisters were not doing a proper job at all.

"What day will the ship to the Hellenic Kingdom depart?"

"Around 4 days from now. Hey, can you really find those goods??"

"Leave it to us. We have some clues on the culprit. But, can you pay for the ship in return?"

"I'll pay!! I'll even give you a reward!"

"Thank you....... but we don't have any money right now, we might get kicked out of the city tonight...."

"I'll give you some money and lodgings! Just promise me you'll be able to retrieve the stolen goods."

"Deal."

"T-thank you...."

On their way out of the building, Tishia asked Alter.

"Hey, was that really fair, Alter? I think you're ripping him off!"

"You're too naive in the ways of the world, goddess of justice!!"

"Eh!?"

"To survive in this harsh world, you need to cut corners, the 'legal' way, of course."

"That a bit......"

"This is not in any way illegal. The harbor master just 'sympathized' on our predicament."

".....is that so..."

Alter proudly proclaimed, jingling the Sests in his pockets. Tishia was still not fully convinced, but she let it go for now. It would probably take a while if Alter continued trying to corrupt the goddess of justice.

"So, he gave us lodgings to the Tavern."

"Master, this paper he gave says its only one room"

'EH?!!"

"Really? I should sleep outside then."

"EH? MASTER WHY?!"

"Its improper for a man to sleep with girls so openly."

Alter faced Tishia, who was troubled. Her cheeks were a bit reddish.

"I-I think its fine... I won't be bothered one bit."

"See, the blind girl gave consent!!"

".....alright. Sorry for the trouble, Tishia."

The trio went inside the tavern. All eyes turned to look at them. Numerous stares were directed towards Gold and Alter, as they both gave off a formidable aura. Tishia's presence was not thoroughly noticed, since her white hood covered her face. Many men stared at Gold, mesmerized by her cute yet regal face.

"Wow. The tavern is the same as always. It only turned bigger now."

"I agree, master."

"A lodging up the 3rd floor please.", Tishia said while handing her the letter of recommendation for their lodging.

The one manning the counter was a young lady with silver hair. She looked at Tishia, then at Alter and Gold who were observing the people at the tavern.

"Wow..... I'll be entertained tonight... hehe."

"Pardon?"

"I mean... room 303 please. Its has a slightly larger bet to accommodate you three."

"Eh? Only one bed?!"

"Sorry, our other rooms with multiple beds were already taken"

".......okay."

Tishia could only give up. While that was happening......

{

'Gold, have you seen him?'

'If my memory serves me right, master, he should be arriving by now.'

}

Just on cue, a red haired man entered the tavern, wearing merchant clothing.

{

'So it really was completely similar to the quest we knew.'

'That means this job is as good as done'

}

Tishia's two companions were happily looking at each other with grins plastered on their face.

-Chapter End-