Chapter 173 Governor Weisman
Silvervale City, the fifth biggest city in Eldoria, might not be as massive as Shadowwing Citadel, but traversing its entirety would still require several days' worth of travel.
Over in the southwest part of town, near the gates, stood the teleportation hall. The city hall, on the other hand, was smack dab in the middle of Silvershade Plaza, the bustling hub of Silvervale's trade district.
As a major hub, Silvervale City boasted a more sophisticated infrastructure and a thriving economy compared to smaller towns. Serving as the central governing body for hundreds of surrounding settlements, it attracted a constant influx of merchants and traders. Shops of all kinds lined the streets, offering a dazzling array of goods: taverns overflowed with laughter and ale, restaurants tempted passersby with exotic aromas, while fruit vendors, clothiers, leatherworkers, armorers, magic emporiums, alchemists' workshops, and blacksmiths all vied for the attention of potential customers.
Unlike the laissez-faire approach of smaller towns, Silvervale City enforced strict regulations on commerce. Setting up private stalls was strictly prohibited; aspiring merchants had to purchase a shop, a costly endeavor that priced out most ordinary players. Moreover, shop ownership wasn't merely a matter of wealth; it required a certain level of reputation within the city. The higher one's standing, the more desirable the location they could acquire.
However, players seeking to liquidate their assets weren't entirely bereft of options.
The first avenue was the auction house. Renowned for its reach, Silvervale City's auction house was linked to eight neighboring cities, ensuring a vast pool of potential buyers. However, this exposure came at a price. Consignment fees, based on the item's value and the duration of the listing, were steep, and a hefty 8% auction fee was levied on every successful sale.
With commissions totaling around 15%, the auction house wasn't a viable option for most low-value items. Consequently, the remaining goods commanded exorbitant prices, further discouraging casual sellers.
The second option was the grand market, held triennially in Silvervale City's central plaza. For a nominal fee, players could secure a stall and hawk their wares. This bustling bazaar, a haven for free players, had one major drawback: its limited duration. The market opened its doors only once every three days, commencing in the evening and lasting a mere ten hours.
For those who eschewed the thrill of combat and the grind of leveling, establishing a shop in Silvervale City was the ultimate goal in Divine Realms: Legends. Unlike the ephemeral nature of the market, shops offered round-the-clock operation. As the game's popularity soared, so did the potential earnings of shop owners. In time, a well-placed shop in Silvervale City could generate real-world wealth comparable to, if not exceeding, that of a brick-and-mortar business.
Eric had seen many players in his past life give up their quests to focus on getting a shop. Even the shops in the farthest corners made enough money to live comfortably in real life, with plenty left over.
Eric flagged down a carriage and headed to the city hall.
Silvervale City's hall was way bigger than the one in his hometown, showing off the city's grandeur. It was ten stories high and as big as a football field, radiating authority. Over twenty elite level 150 guard knights stood at the entrance, with their captain, a level 160 second-tier knight, strong enough to wipe out a small town on his own.
Plus, cities like Silvervale had the protection of several fourth-tier professionals, making them nearly invincible against powerful monsters and evil forces.
As Eric strolled into the grand hall, a vision of elegance came his way.
"Hello, sir. How can I help you today?" the stunning receptionist asked, her big eyes sparkling with professional charm.
"I need to see Governor Wiseman. I've got a letter from Blackbeard," Eric said, subtly showing off his Demonbane title.
Meeting Governor Wiseman, the top dog in Silvervale City, was a big deal. The governor had both military and political clout, so his time was super valuable. Usually, only nobles in Silvervale City could get a meeting. Eric wasn't there yet, so he had to rely on his Demonbane status.
"Lord Demonbane, of course. Governor Wiseman is busy right now. If you don't mind waiting in the lounge, I'll let him know you're here," the receptionist said, her tone shifting when she saw Eric's title. Nobles, even those tied to the kingdom, were not to be messed with.
"Sure, go ahead," Eric nodded and headed to the lounge.
Settling into the comfy seats of the empty lounge, Eric got bored and turned on his System communicator.
A bunch of beeps and whistles filled the air.
Eric had turned off the communication function to avoid distractions, so he was greeted with hundreds of missed calls and messages. Many were from big shots in Silvervale City's major guilds, including vice presidents and elders.
Thornheart and Isabella were among them, of course. Eric's early arrival in Silvervale City had given him access to crucial info: prime leveling spots, resource-rich areas, lucrative city tasks, and the ins and outs of city regulations. This info, which others couldn't get before entering Silvervale City, was a goldmine for any ambitious guild.
Getting this info early meant a huge advantage: grabbing the best leveling spots, claiming high-level tasks, getting limited items, and monopolizing valuable resources like minerals and herbs. This head start could push a guild to the top, making Eric's knowledge highly sought after.
The guilds, not wanting to miss out, had bombarded Eric with calls and messages. But with his communicator off, they had no choice but to send messages. Thousands of them, filling Eric's inbox and needing at least four to five hours to go through.
With time to kill, Eric decided to figure out which guilds were worth his time. As a free player, he couldn't afford to tick everyone off by hoarding info. That would be a disaster given his current strength and influence. He needed to team up with a few select guilds. Thornheart and Isabella, being his friends, were a given, and he planned to give them a good deal. For the others, he'd decide on a case-by-case basis.
Eric also had to be careful about what info he shared. He knew a ton about Silvervale City, almost like he had a cheat sheet. He couldn't spill everything; he had to figure out which bits of info would get him the best price without messing up his future plans. The info had to be valuable enough to get a good payout but not so game-changing that it would bite him later.
Finding this balance was turning out to be trickier than he thought.
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