Vol 3 Chapter 1: Hermitage's Black Shop

Pen Fun Club EbookFREE.me, the fastest update of the latest chapter of the magician Lane biography!
Three days passed quickly. After Faras used three times the rent, the three coachmen happily sent the team of Lace to Hermida City. And Faras also ended her luxury vacation trip in the eyes of Lane.
Hermida is a city located at the foot of the Hengduan Mountains. It is surrounded by abundant minerals, especially copper mines, and its output is very high, which is almost one tenth of the annual output of the entire empire.
The surroundings of El Mida City seem to be desolate, completely without the prosperity of Alfa City. Its low walls and rough pavement make people feel a bad first impression of it.
The entire city of Elmida is mainly divided into two areas, the business district in the middle of the city and the slum surrounding it. The city is not very large, but it has a population of more than 30,000. This population also includes those miners who work under the mine all day long. Although maybe the next moment, they will die because of the mine accident; but at this moment, they are still alive.
The carriage arrived at the south gate of Hermitage and was stopped by the soldiers guarding the city. Faras, who was sitting in the first carriage, walked down, and she explained the identity and intention of her party to the soldiers who defended the city.
Among the soldiers who defended the city, there was a guy who looked like a leader. He stared at Farass ’s chest wretchedly, but found the junior magician badge worn on Faras ’chest. Seeing this badge, the wretched little boss squeezed a smile out of his face, and he fought desperately to pull up Faraday.
After all, in the entire Eslar continent, magicians are very rare, and even have a special status. A junior magician like Faras, if he severely teaches a civilian, no one will be in charge as long as he is not killed. Even if it really kills people, as long as the dead person is not a powerful guy, at most it will come out by the Magic Guild to reprimand the killing magician, mostly just a few words.
The wretched little boss did not dare to have too many right and wrongs, but just pointed to the decree of the lord of the city next to the gate, and asked Farath to pay the various taxes and fees stipulated.
There are a lot of taxes in the city of Hermita. Just entering the city gate, you have to pay an entrance fee of 10 silver coins per person. A carriage requires 20 silver coins. Even the two wind wolves of Ellendo A pet entry fee of 5 silver coins is paid as a pet.
All this shows that Ryan shook his head on the carriage, and Alfa City, which ranked seventh among the imperial cities, was so prosperous that a large number of people came in and out every day and did not charge any fees in this regard.
Although Ryan is not very familiar with this aspect of business, after all, he stayed in Alfa City for a period of time. He understands a little bit. The owner of Alfa City only issued various orders to give merchants more benefits and promoted through the flow of merchants. In addition to the prosperity of the city, it has also obtained rich returns from the prosperity of the city.
The city in front of you, so squeezing the pedestrians in the past, do not know if anyone will come here?
The carriage slowly drove into the city, slowly moving on the bumpy ground. Ryan looked out of the swaying carriage window, looked at the low houses on both sides, the dirty ground, and smelled an indescribable smell in his nose. It seemed that even the entire sky of the city of Elmida Misty.
The carriage finally drove through the slum area and took Faras and his party to the central business district of Hermitage.
In the middle of the business district is a large square, the ground is paved with huge stones. Compared with the roads of the slums, it is almost one sky above the other. Its area is even similar to that of the Alfa city. Although the total area of ​​Hermitage is less than one tenth of Alfa City.
In the north of the square stands a rather luxurious residence, in stark contrast to the messy streets and low-rise housing just now. There are many soldiers with spears standing guard around the mansion. Lion estimated that this should be the residence of the owner of the city of Hermitage.
There are no particularly striking buildings in the other directions of the square, but just some ordinary shops. Ryan saw a hotel that looks pretty good in the south of the square.
The carriage straight took Faras and his party to the door of the hotel. Three brand-new carriages stopped at the door of the hotel. A very thin old man in his fifties greeted him quickly.
Seeing a lady wearing a robe of a magician walk off the wagon, the thin old man greeted him very enthusiastically, and the language of praise was endless, bringing Faras and his party into the hotel. As for the carriage and driver outside, there are naturally folks entertaining.
Under the arrangement of the thin old man, the members of the Les team sat around a table in the hotel lobby, preparing to dine. The thin old man stood aside respectfully with a smile on his face.
But Ryan always thought the smile on his face was strange. The skinny old man had a striking resemblance to the two wind wolves who smelled the barbecue flavor.
Faras took the menu from the hand of the thin old man. She looked carefully at the beautiful menu and prepared to order. Unexpectedly, spending extravagant faras on the way is still frightened by the price of each food on the menu: a roasted tarun whole lamb for 10 gold coins, a grilled tacri beef for 4 gold coins, even the cheapest cool The juice also costs 20 silver coins.
Angrily Faras's menu was thrown at the skinny old man, and he asked the hotel owner to call it.
The smile of the skinny old man did not diminish. He took the menu and pointed at himself with another finger, saying, "I am the owner of the hotel."
Faras pointed to the menu on the skinny old man and said, "Are you too expensive in this hotel? The Royal Dream Bar has only 10 silver coins for a glass of refreshing juice, which is the most luxurious place in the country."
The skinny hotelier's face immediately changed, and his grinning smile quickly turned into helplessness. This speed left Elendo, who had always had absolute confidence in his own speed, out of reach and sighed.
The thin hotel owner sighed and said: "Ah, this year, business is not easy to do. This distinguished lady, you must have been from aristocratic family and have been accustomed to the world since childhood. I believe many noble people are in your family. Guests. How do you know the suffering of our civilians. "
Speaking of which, the skinny innkeeper seemed to squeeze a tear from his eyes, saying it was a turn, because it only turned around in his eyes, and then went back.
The thin hotel owner changed his proud tone again and said, "Look at my hotel, this decoration is the best in the whole city of El Mida. In addition to the residence of the owner, who dares to talk to me in this whole city ratio?"
Speaking of which, the dry hotel owner's tone changed: "As for the price on this menu, I don't hide it from you. In fact, I can't make any money at all. It is better to take this glass of refreshing juice, although I received 20 of you Most of the silver coins have to be used to pay various taxes of the city owner, and then deduct my cost. After calculating one cup, I earn a few silver coins. "
Reid patted Farath's shoulders, beckoning the latter not to be angry, he said to the thin old man: "Why are your things here so expensive? You are not afraid that others will never come after one visit?"
The face of the thin hotel owner was unpredictable. He quickly squeezed out a helpless look, and said to Reid with a wry smile: "Do you think I think? The taxes here are endless, and you will pay every month after you are born. A head tax, no matter what you do, you have to pay taxes, you have to pay for meals, sleeping, bathing, and thatched cottage. For this hotel, I also have to pay taxes to my buddies. Pay the health tax. All the food sold here is subject to a large tax. In fact, if you calculate it this way, you have spent 1 gold coin. I am afraid that there will be less than 30 silver coins left in my hand. The cost that I already had was nothing more profitable. "
Red asked strangely: "Why does the city owner collect such a heavy tax?"
The thin hotel owner said: "Empire's regulations, cities in various places mainly pay a tax to the emperor. In addition, all the city owners' own territory is determined by themselves, except that the amount of tax collected cannot exceed the payment. The amount of taxes paid to the empire is irrelevant. "
Faras interjected and said: "The empire does have this kind of regulation, but it specifically added the restriction that the amount of tax collected by the city owner cannot exceed the amount of tax paid to the empire. According to your statement, the tax collected by the city owner here is private. , Isn't it far beyond? "
The thin hotel owner shook his head and said, "No. The city owner is not a fool. There is only one occupation in this city that does not collect taxes. That is miners. Any miner who works in the copper mine to which the city owner belongs does not have to pay any taxes. . "
Reid and Faras glanced at each other, surprised by the city's move. The thin old man said: "So the city owner does not have much tax every year, because the city is almost all miners who give him free labor."