Trapped Inside the Beta Test World for 1000 Years-Chapter 38 – 28 gold and 5 silver

In "Illusory Realm," non-humanoid monsters don't directly drop equipment. After all, killing a football-sized demonized rabbit and having it drop a half-human-sized broadsword would look like magic. So, most wild monsters only drop materials.
Of course, man-eating creatures like the Great Crocodile and Giant Mouth Frog are exceptions.
Most armor is crafted equipment.
The attributes of armor are composed of base values and affixes. The former is determined by the material, while the latter depends on the blacksmith's style, experience, and personality.
A diligent and steady blacksmith often produces armor with "tight" and "solid" affixes, which enhance defense, toughness, and penetration resistance.
A blacksmith with a background as a mage apprentice often creates armor with "magical" and "compatible" affixes, increasing enchantment success rates and power.
Innovative and imaginative blacksmiths may produce random affixes, sometimes creating miraculous ones like "never wears out."
As for sets, they aren't crafted but excavated. They belong to ancient or medieval magical equipment, sometimes even legendary epic items with names.
In Astan City, there are three senior leatherworkers. At this level, they can produce leather armor below level 60; anything higher requires a master craftsman.
The three can provide forty-four affixes, with only three being advanced: "Holy: Special defense against magical creatures," "Aesthetic: Charm +1," and "Camouflage: Reduces detection chance."
Xia Ya was aiming for the third one.
The upcoming journey requires delving into Elvenheim, and Yveline's detection resistance must reach level 7 or higher. Besides the level 30 experience threshold, some items are also needed.
At the Reeves Leather Workshop.
It seemed a dispute was occurring.
Xia Ya couldn't help but be curious. He had been here at least hundreds of times, yet this was the first time triggering a new storyline.
Could it be...
He scanned the area but didn't find any players. However, on a workbench was a freshly skinned hide, not yet tanned, with no assistants around.
He recognized the two NPCs arguing.
"What's going on, Mr. Reeves?" Xia Ya asked.
Gani, the leatherworker at the workshop, was a middle-aged man with a Mediterranean hairstyle from South Sea County.
Xia Ya's reputation in Astan City was currently neutral, and Gani didn't want to bother with him. But seeing him as a customer, he responded:
"A little trouble, sir. I hired a diligent apprentice who was working seriously, but Mr. Simon suddenly appeared, claiming her identity was inappropriate, that she had been punished by the Spirit of Order, and demanded I fire her! Ha, on what grounds!"
"On the grounds that I own 15% of Reeves Workshop, my friend," Simon replied.
His voice was exceptionally magnetic. He was a legal advisor, often shuttling between the Mercenary Association and Astan City's town hall.
Though only a civilian in combat ability, he had Lv7 "Tax Processing," "Law Studies," and Lv6 "Accounting." He was present every year during Astan City's tax calculations, and Felix also had dealings with him, handling some tax-evading goods.
Simon dressed like an upper-class gentleman, wearing a simple suit, elegantly adjusting his cuffs as he spoke.
"I can smell the scent of contract violation on her. The workshop shouldn't employ someone like that."
"Which law did she violate!" Gani retorted angrily. "Which law explicitly states that?"
"None. It's just my personal wish."
"Ha, then my personal wish is to keep her!"
"Oh, really." Simon chuckled, "Your reason for keeping her is nothing more than paying her half an apprentice's salary while getting 1.5 times the efficiency. So, where's the permit? The assistant recruitment procedure? Without it, paying her wages is private employment, yet you're using the workshop's resources. As a shareholder, I suspect you're abusing public resources for private use."
"You..."
"Alright, alright, stop arguing."
Xia Ya roughly guessed the issue and also guessed the player involved.
It was likely Lef.
First, as a newcomer fresh out of the village, her reputation in South Sea County was maxed out. Gani, being from South Sea County, took care of her, opening an apprentice position that shouldn't have been available.
On the other hand, Lef abandoned a task yesterday, causing her reputation with the Mercenary Association to drop below indifferent. Simon, being part of the Mercenary Association, naturally held a grudge against her.
The so-called scent of contract violation referred to her being penalized with money and reputation loss after abandoning the task, a punishment from the Spirit of Order.
"What's the apprentice's name?" he asked.
Gani frowned slightly.
He didn't like Xia Ya's meddlesome attitude and was about to say, "What's it to you," when he noticed Xia Ya's gaze slightly lowered, focusing on a drawer behind him.
Damn...
Gani shifted half a step, blocking Xia Ya's line of sight.
"Lef. Her name is Lef."
As expected.
"And where is she?" Xia Ya asked again.
"She ran off crying."
I see.
That really sounds like her.
Xia Ya could picture it.
"I'm back..."
Huh?
Turning around, there was a timid Lef at the door, her eyes still red.
"Xia, Xia Ya!!! Waaa..."
Seeing him, Lef burst into tears again, crying like a floodgate had opened, tears streaming down her face.
Wait... what's going on?
"I didn't do anything to her, did I?" Xia Ya.
The Dark Elf nodded, then shook her head.
"I'm... I'm not sure anymore."
"..."
Despite his confusion, Xia Ya still went up to comfort her.
"Go ahead and cry, once the tears are dry, it's all over."
Huh?
Lef blinked and surprisingly, couldn't cry anymore.
Ah, that worked well.
Xia Ya was satisfied.
He had a general understanding of the situation. Despite this little episode with Lef, it didn't affect his plan at all—in fact, because Lef had stalled Simon, he saved the trouble of actively seeking out this lawyer.
He directly said:
"Mr. Simon, regarding the 15% shares you hold in Reeves Workshop, name your price."
Simon was slightly taken aback, adjusting his glasses.
—Why did this suddenly fall on me? Isn't this an illegal immigrant's problem?
"You want to buy?"
"Yes, how about 100 gold coins?"
Hearing this number, Simon's expression froze, then he used the civilized etiquette typical of lawyers to sneer, "Did you sleep too late yesterday and are still sleepwalking?"
"Then 90 gold coins?" Xia Ya asked, "If that doesn't work, I'll have to lower it a bit more."
Simon laughed in exasperation, "How low can you go?"
"This number... might be a bit private." Xia Ya stepped forward half a step, lowered his voice, and said, "How about 28 gold and 5 silver? After all, it's a memorable number for you."
Simon's expression stiffened, cold sweat instantly breaking out on his forehead.
"What do you mean? This price is too low!"
Xia Ya smiled, "The price seems low, but it's enough to change the fate of two people... not cheap, Mr. Simon."
The lawyer's expression changed dramatically, and within a few seconds, he made a decision.
"I'll go write the contract, wait here."
He turned and left.
The Dark Elf leaned close to Xia Ya and asked, "What's the story with 28 gold and 5 silver?"
"Beg me, beg me and I'll tell you."
Yveline was so annoyed by his smug look that she ground her teeth, but unable to resist her curiosity, she lowered her voice and coquettishly said:
"Xia Ya~ Please tell me~"
Ah, that felt good.
Xia Ya then said, "When Simon was young, his family was poor, and he worked in the Stonecutter's Association. Later, he stole some money from a coworker to scrape together enough for tuition to attend a noble academy."
"He stole 28 gold and 5 silver? That shouldn't scare him so much..."
"That unfortunate coworker was Burkeville."
"..."
The Dark Elf was stunned for a few seconds, "The Burkeville we know is a person, right?"
It can be hard to make great work when its stolen from "pawread.com".
"Governor Burkeville of Astan City. He was thirty-five that year, saved for ten years to gather 28 gold and 5 silver, planning to buy land in the countryside to settle down and marry, only to have it stolen by Simon. Although this incident changed his life's trajectory, indirectly leading him to become governor, if he knew the truth of that year, tsk, Simon's fate..."
Yveline nodded in agreement.
"And what about this other person? He seems quite afraid of you too..."
"Him..."
Xia Ya glanced at Gani, whose expression was unnatural, and chuckled lightly.
"I'll tell you later. Hey, Lef, come over here, let me see your skill list."