"You seem to get along well with Priest Louis,"
Ann said with a light chuckle, speaking in a low voice after Louis had left for some time.
He intended to gather as much information about this world as possible before meeting the Mayor.
How the True Gods really existed in this world, what people's attitudes towards the church were, what the relationship between humans and gods was like...
This involved Annan's next course of action.
Since Annan's expression did not change in the slightest, the militiamen couldn't tell if he was pleased or displeased for a moment...
They could only cautiously probe as they said:
"After all... they are actually quite nice to us."
"Even though they ask you for money every day?"
A young militiaman blurted out, "It's the church's rule, and Priest Louis is not a miser. When he hired us to build the church, the price he offered was exceptionally high... and the only elementary school in our town was also invested in by him!"
Seeing that this young fellow's tone was somewhat confrontational, an older militiaman immediately came over to explain, "The Silver Baron taught us that silver coins are like creek water, they come to life when they flow; if they stagnate, they'll rot and breed trouble. Priest Louis has taught us all this.
"Although the church charges for everything, they're not just accumulating wealth for the sake of it, the money they get always ends up being spent again... They're just handling the money."
The old militiaman sighed, "When we can't sell fish, only Lord Louis is willing to buy up all the leftover fish. He can't eat so much himself, and he can't transport it away... but it's lifesaving.
"Priest Louis comes from the Royal Capital. When he first arrived at Frostwater Harbor, he even mentioned offering us loans. We were worried we wouldn't be able to pay it back, so to this day no one has borrowed — maybe some have secretly, but they certainly didn't tell everyone."
"My lord," said a militiaman who was about sixteen or seventeen, curiously asking, "I heard that the priests in the Royal Capital can also help people buy things. As long as you pay them, you can buy delicacies from far away lands without leaving your door?"
"You said it yourself, you have to pay."
Annan glanced at him, giving an ambiguous answer.
Yet the militiamen discussed among themselves as if they had received a positive answer, exclaiming in surprise.
Annan was quite surprised in his heart.
This Silver Baron... is quite trendy.
Providing chargeable services to amass wealth on a large scale from the people, and then finding an excuse to give the money back when the market is bad. Without any loss to himself, he has invigorated the entire economy of Frostwater Harbor.
Could it be because he himself didn't have to give up anything?
Following this train of thought, it's certain that the church in the Royal Capital must provide banking services, not might — definitely.
After all, Louis had mentioned loans, so they must have developed banking services.
I didn't expect the True Gods of this world to be so down-to-earth...
"What services does Priest Louis offer you?"
Annan asked, a bit curious.
If his guess was correct, Louis must be offering some service-oriented industries, zero-capital trades... that's exactly how he collected wealth to ensure this small border town was thriving.
The answer was as Annan expected:
"Mainly medical, yeah. Helping us cure diseases, heal injuries... and also presiding over the burials of the elderly, baptisms when children are born, and naming services for children from better-off families. He also teaches the town's children arithmetic, literacy, instructs some adults on how to build houses better. Or he can repair fishing boats, trade in some especially effective bait. The Mayor even entrusts him to bring back a copy of the monthly newspaper, or help the Mayor bring back some books that are only sold in the Royal Capital."
The old militiaman sighed with some regret, "Of course, there is a charge...
"But after Priest Louis came, our lives did indeed improve."
At this point, the old militiaman hesitated and then added in a low voice, "It's actually a bigger change than after the Mayor came back... just that we can't save money anymore."
Annan nodded his head.
Can't resist spending, can we?
"When Louis first came," Annan continued to inquire, "were there any of you who didn't want to give money?"
Logically, this kind of thing is inevitable.
The old militiaman nodded admiringly, "As expected of the lord, you have divine insight. Even though such actions would be condemned by the Silver Baron... but after all, our history here is special, there had never been a priest of the Silver Baron before, so..."
"So at the very beginning, there were people who thought they could get away without paying. No matter what I said, they wouldn't listen."
A somewhat weary voice carried from ahead, "Right, Nick?"
At this, the previously blustering young militiaman shrank back a bit, his neck reddening with embarrassment.
He was a young man with short brown hair, a handsome face, but heavy bags under his eyes and an expression of utter fatigue.
He wore clothes similar in style to "Tan Juan Geraint" but with far fewer buttons on the front, no pleats around the waist, and devoid of intricate decorations.
Compared to Annan, he appeared much more modest.
The militiamen immediately saluted him.
The young man merely waved his hand with impatience, "You can go back."
"Sir, this person is..."
"Tan Juan Geraint, of course, the third son of Earl Geraint, I'm aware," the young mayor interrupted the older militiaman, yawning, "You may leave now."
The militiamen exchanged glances, hesitating before departing.
The mayor looked at Annan with evident exhaustion, scrutinizing him,
"...Hmm, you seem even more... confident than the rumors suggest, Lord Geraint."
"If you have something to say, just speak plainly," Annan replied coolly, "No need to beat around the bush."
"Then I'll speak plainly, Lord Geraint," the young mayor said without hesitation. "Where is that teacher of yours? The wizard Benjamin Foster from Heath Tower of Black, who always seems to be by your side regardless of the situation?"
"He may not have mentioned it to you... but in fact, he was also my teacher. I studied at the Black Tower for five years and graduated from the School of Transmutation; he was my graduation supervisor."
Saying so, the young mayor lifted the bronze necklace from his collar and pointed to the eye engraved on it, signaling to Annan.
It was the very same insignia that appeared on Benjamin's ring.
The mayor, unapologetically and fearlessly, confronted "Tan Juan Geraint," a man of higher status than himself: "Four days ago, Teacher Benjamin wrote to me saying he would soon arrive at Frostwater Harbor. And if he did not reach safely after a week, I was to write immediately to Earl Geraint... But where is the teacher?
"Why is it that only you have arrived here?"
"—What if I said the teacher had died on the way here, would you believe me?" Annan asked the young mayor after a pause, his voice cold as ice.
The mayor answered without hesitation, "Of course not, not even a Transcendent of the fifth rank or higher could easily stop the teacher."
Annan replied curtly, "Then for now, just assume the teacher died on the way here— and I won't tell you anything else."
Upon hearing this, the previously agitated young mayor quieted down.
He studied Annan for a moment with a hint of skepticism, his tone suddenly much softer, "Did you encounter people who obstructed your way here?"
Annan narrowed his eyes slightly, "It seems you know quite a lot?"
"Don't be like that, my lord. Even though you are the son of an earl, we were both apprenticed to the same teacher, a wizard, and our private exchanges should be that of a senior and junior... or perhaps a sister," the mayor said with a mocking tone while looking at Annan's face.
But Annan was not provoked.
He said blandly, "Then, you should properly introduce yourself to your junior, my senior."
Seeing that Annan wasn't angry, the young mayor looked at him with slight surprise.
Muttering to himself, "Fine then, it seems not all rumors are reliable...
"A brief introduction. Salvatore Hightower, from Frostwater Harbor, top graduate of the Heath Tower of Black's School of Transmutation in the year 1498, this generation's Tower's Child of the Transmutation school, a wandering wizard of the school. As for my rank... well, as soon as I step down as the mayor of Frostwater Harbor, I'm going to advance to silver," the young mayor said, "Your turn, sir."