Chapter 48 — Lisa, rich housewife
"Hello! I’m Lisa, what can I do for you?" Lisa said with a professional smile, but behind that smile—
’YES! Finally, a handsome man and not those damn brawny and ugly bastards.’
Lisa silently thought, still keeping her flawless customer-service expression intact.
If only any of her admirers heard that little voice in her head...
"I’m here to ask for some information," Kaden said politely, his expression friendly—but not intimate.
Lisa nodded. "Basic information can be given without any cost, but some questions require payment," she calmly informed him, then fell silent—waiting for his decision.
"There’s no problem. First... can I know what that holographic board is?" Kaden asked as he pointed his delicate finger to the right, where the large glowing board stood. He didn’t actually know what it was, and curiosity was eating at him.
"Oh! That’s actually a mission board," Lisa answered, her voice perking up. "That’s where missions posted by our alchemists, blacksmiths, and rune crafters are displayed. You probably already know that those professions need lots of ingredients and rare materials, but they can’t always gather it all themselves. So they post them as missions. If you complete one, you get a reward." She finished with a sweet smile.
Kaden listened carefully, nodding along the way as it actually made sense. Those professions didn’t usually have enough combat power to gather everything on their own, and even if they did, most of them were too focused on perfecting their craft to bother going out.
He nodded again, appreciative of the clarity. Then asked his next question,
"If I want to buy some artifacts or potions, where do I go?"
"Just behind that blue door," Lisa answered swiftly, precisely. Almost automatic. Like she had repeated these answers a hundred times before.
She looked at Kaden with her earth-brown eyes—eyes that gleamed a little too brightly, urging him to ask more. To stay longer. To keep talking.
Why?
The answer was obvious to her.
’A handsome and seemingly rich man. And the way he carries himself... screams noble background.’
’Hehehe... this is it. I must have him.’ Lisa’s thoughts were running wild.
It had been so long since she wanted to find a man who fit her standards. Not just anyone. No—he had to be handsome, rich, and come from a noble bloodline.
Because she was tired. Tired of this damn job. Tired of smiling when she didn’t want to. Tired of acting nice when all she wanted to do was scream at the idiots coming to her with nonsense.
She’d had enough.
And her goal for a long time now... was simple.
Find a man.
She’d seen some who were rich and handsome, yes, but either their attitude was trash or their background was too complicated.
But Kaden?
Kaden looked calm. Carried himself with quiet dignity. Striking red eyes, gentle presence, calm, composed energy.
’Just perfect.’ Lisa thought, feeling her dream of being a rich housewife crawling closer and closer.
"I have two more questions," Kaden said, cutting her wild fantasy short. "Do you sell Evolution Stones here? And also... do you know where I can find one?"
The questions froze Lisa for a moment.
For the first time since he walked in, she hesitated.
That wasn’t a question a noble usually asked. Evolution Stones were rare. Coveted. Nobles didn’t ask where to find them—they either already had them... or had people who’d get them.
She started to wonder if maybe she had judged Kaden wrong.
But still, she answered with her usual smile, her voice just as professional as before.
"We do sell Evolution Stones, yes. You can buy common and uncommon ones with gold or platinum coins. As for anything above that... no amount of money can get you those, sir."
She paused for a moment, then continued, "As for where to find one... that’s information you’d have to pay for."
"How much?" Kaden asked.
"Fifty gold coins."
"For what rank of Evolution Stone?"
"Common rank, sir."
Kaden paused. Tilted his head a little. His tone shifted slightly, like he couldn’t believe what he just heard.
"Are you serious?"
"That’s how Evolution Stones are, sir. And again, that’s just for the information. If you want to buy one..." Lisa paused for a beat before continuing,
"...then it would’ve cost you four times the price. And the price rises exponentially with each rank."
Kaden sighed under his breath, just softly enough. He nodded.
"Thank you for your service," he said, voice calm as ever.
He didn’t wait for a reply. He turned and walked toward the blue door—intent on buying a few much-needed artifacts... with his sister’s money, of course.
Lisa, meanwhile, kept staring at his back. Pensive.
’Was I wrong?’ she wondered inwardly. She couldn’t really tell.
But she wasn’t done yet.
She decided she would wait and watch. If she was right about him...
’I’ll make my move.’ Lisa thought, forcing another plastic smile onto her face.
"Hello, sir! I’m Lisa, what can I do for you?"
Here we go again.
...
Kaden lay on a small wooden bed that creaked every time he moved a bit too sharply. The room around him was bland—boring—nothing worth describing.
He had rented a room in an inn for the night, but—
"This is crazy. Even a room like this cost me one gold coin?" Kaden muttered under his breath, still shocked.
And if you wanted to understand why he was so shocked, then you needed to understand the currency of Fokay—or, really, both worlds.
The currency went from copper coins... to silver... to gold... and finally, platinum.
Let’s not even talk about platinum. That was a coin most people would never see, let alone touch. Only the richest among the rich had those. Because platinum didn’t just mean money—it meant power, influence, status.
For reference:
1 silver coin = 100 copper coins.
1 gold coin = 100 silver coins.
1 platinum coin?...1,000 gold coins.
To put it even more clearly—an average family could live for months with just one gold coin, without lacking anything at all.
And here he was, paying one whole gold coin just to sleep in a simple inn—not even luxurious. No service. No magic-enhanced comfort. Just wood and dust.
It was maddening.
"Never thought money would be one of my problems after reincarnating into a noble family," Kaden muttered with a dry chuckle.
Now that he knew how expensive Evolution Stones were... he could forget about buying one anytime soon.
All he could do now was take missions, gather money, train, and collect information.
Until he found a way to obtain one himself—or got lucky enough to stumble upon one.
"Meh. With my damn luck, what are the odds of that happening?" Kaden said, voice bitter.
After all, he was the man who got himself killed twice just trying to enter Fokay.
And in the process, he somehow made the Princess of the land he was currently in... his enemy.
And the more he thought about all that...
"Fucking hell."
...the more he felt like cursing.
—End of Chapter 48—