'This should be it.' He entered the building and was greeted with people. It reminded him of his little brother's office, with the exception the floor and walls were made out of wood and the ceiling filled with oil lamps.
There were five clerks to complete various tasks of customers. People lined up neatly. Shun joined in.
Not long, the person before him finished their business as they get up and walked away. Shun then took a seat.
"Hello, how may I help you?"
"Is it possible to meet Alden?"
"Do you have appointment with Mr. Alden sir?"
"No, but surely you can."
"I'm sorry, sir. If you don't have an appointment with him, you can't meet him. He is a busy man."
"Then make me an appointment with him!"
"Yes, sir, but I must let you know it would take six months for you to meet him."
"That's too long. Is there no other way?"
"I'm sorry, there isn't."
"Alright." Shun said calmly and paused a moment, "I'd like materials to build a temple. Do you know what I need?"
"A temple, sir?" She looked at him in confusion.
"Yes."
"Understood, sir. Please wait a moment."
She then grabbed a piece of paper and closed her eyes. As she did, words appeared one by one on the white sheet.
Shun's eyes widened as he was stunned. Soon enough, the paper was filled with words he couldn't understand.
"Here, take this. This has the materials you need."
Shun stared at the paper before smiling awkwardly, "Can you tell me what it was written? I can't read."
The clerk's expression turned into annoyance. She put the paper in front of him before shouting, "Next!"
Shun could only sigh and walked away with the paper in his hand.
He looked at it, "I need someone to read it for me, someone trustworthy. Can I even find one?"
Growing up in bad neighborhood, he has fair share of betrayals and seen many too.
He walked out of the building and visit the tavern earlier. A few moments later, the same waitress walked to his table.
"Oh, it's you again. How did the errand went?"
"It's not what I expected, but I get something. Could you help me read this?"
She glanced at the paper before shaking her head, "Sorry, I can't read."
"Do you know anyone that can?"
She pinched her chin for a moment. As Shun was waiting for her answer, he caught glimpse of a tortoise hopping to the chair opposite of him.
Intrigued, he focused on the green creature as it leap on the table.
"I can help," said the tortoise with a gentleman hat and a monocle.
The waitress shifted her eyes to the voice, "Oh, Ladev."
"What a cold voice you greeted me, Vili."
"You still haven't paid your tab. Don't expect me to be nice."
"Now, now, calm down. I've paid my previous tab, yes?"
"You did, but that's five years ago. At this point you either work here for the rest of your lives or pay up with your organs." Her eyes grew cold and tense.
"If you kept that look, you might scare off your potential husband."
"Whatcha just say?" She gripped the tortoise's neck tightly. Its body seemed quite flexible as it expanded like a plushie.
"Okay, okay. I'm sorry! You're choking me. I'm going to die!" It tapped her arm with its small limb.
She pressed its neck a few times before putting it on the table. She then walked away with wide strides of annoyance.
It cleared its throat as though nothing just happened and looked at Shun.
"I hope you enjoy the rowdy entrance." The tortoise fixed its monocle and hat.
"No, it's okay. So, you said you want to help me."
"Yes, it is not just this paper, but all your business in the city."
"Oh," Shun frowned a little, "Why is that?".
"It's not everyday you see someone steal from thieves and used the money for something noble."
Shun tensed slightly. He looked at Ladev with wary. He was quite sure he wasn't being followed by anyone, yet...
'Who is this tortoise?'
"Ease, young man. I wish not to cause you trouble. Instead, your actions made me sure you're the right person."
"Right person?"
"Indeed. I'm on a search for treasure, and I believe with your expertise you will be able to assist me."
"Ladev, right? With all respect, I just want to ga–"
[A requirement for a special quest has been met.]
[Special Quest: Fabrication of Immortality.]
Help Ladev find his treasure.
Difficulty: A+
Reward: Heaven's Seed
Accept Y/N?
'A special quest? If I remember it correctly, it's only indigenous people of the Tower that can do this. Furthermore, only a few of them can trigger a special quest.
'However, I don't know what is a Heaven's Seed. Is it something amazing?'
He then shifted his eyes to the tortoise before opening his mouth, "Fine, I'll help you."
[Special Quest: Fabrication of Immortality has been accepted.]
"Excellent!" The tortoise quickly leap to his shoulder, "Now, give me the paper and I will help you go through it."
Shun then showed him.
"It says here's the materials needed to build a temple."
Shun nodded and asked the nearest waitress for a pen and a paper. She kindly bring it to him.
"Oh, I thought you can't read."
"Not in this language."
"Interesting..." The turtle looked at him with interest, but didn't probe him further.
The turtle then mention the materials one by one while Shun was jotting it in his mother tongue. It took them fifteen minutes to complete.
Shun took a look at the new list.
"Ladev, how long do I need to build the temple?"
"Do you have enough money?"
"What's the rough estimation to build it?"
"Around 60 dream coins."
Dream coin stood at the peak in this world. From the information Shun gained from the mages he hired earlier, there were four types of coins. Bronze at the bottom, and following that was silver, gold, and then dream coins.
According to those mages, 10 bronze coins equal to 1 silver coins. 100 silver coins for 1 gold coin. 10 gold coins for 1 dream coin.
For context, 15 silver coins are enough to support a working class family for a month.
"That's a lot of money."
"We're at rough times."
'The clerk lady did mention something about war.'
"Now that you helped me, what do I need to help?"
"For now, it's impossible. I will tell you when the time is high. In the mean time, I will be by your side to help you build a temple."
"Yeah, but I need money. Got any ideas to earn them?"
It fixed its hat, "I do."