YM778.TV Chapter 46: Credit Card!
Logan, unfamiliar with the term, looked puzzled. "Payment card?"
Sensing Logan\'s confusion, the owner realized this might be their first visit to the canyon. "Yes, the payment card doubles as your access card. Using it gives you a 10% discount at any establishment in the city," he explained patiently.
Logan retrieved his card and asked, "Is this it?"
"That\'s the one," the owner confirmed, "but it looks like you haven\'t loaded any credits onto it yet, so it can\'t be used."
Seeing an opportunity, the restaurant owner quickly added with a friendly grin, "I can add credits for you right here. Would you be interested in that?"
Logan was intrigued. A 10% discount throughout the city sounded much like a membership benefit, and he marveled at the sophistication of the system. "This functions almost like an electronic credit card?"
Eager to experiment with the technology of this world, Logan expressed his interest. "Yes, let\'s do that."
"Very well, but please note there\'s a 1% charge on the amount loaded, which is our standard processing fee," the owner informed him, still smiling.
"A 1% fee?" Logan hesitated, calculating the cost versus benefit. His curiosity ultimately won over. "Alright, let\'s go ahead and load ten gold coins onto it."
Satisfied with his decision, Logan prepared to finalize the transaction, eager to test the capabilities of this novel payment system as they checked out.
In reality, utilizing the payment card was a savvy financial move. The 10% discount on their bill of 547 silver coins easily outweighed the 1% fee on the ten gold coins recharged.
"Alright, guests, please provide the payment upfront," the hotel owner requested.
Logan reached into his space, and ten gold coins materialized in his hand.
The hotel owner\'s eyes widened in surprise. This beastman, seemingly a simple newcomer, possessed a space ring, an item not commonly held by mere wanderers. It suggested that Logan might hail from a notable tribe, making his first foray into the canyon.
Without dwelling on it, the owner quickly pocketed the coins, entered some numbers on his own card, and then tapped it against Logan\'s card.
"All set!" he announced cheerfully. "Your ten gold coins have been converted into 99,000 points. After deducting 49,230 points for your meal, you have a balance of 49,770 points remaining."
He grinned. "You can verify the balance yourself!"
Logan, astounded by the technology, needed a moment to grasp the functionality. "Magical, isn\'t it?"
The owner, noticing Logan\'s bewilderment, instructed, "Just tap the card twice to see your balance."
Following the instructions, Logan tapped the card, and to his amazement, a blood-red number, 49770, flashed upon it.
"Is this some kind of divine power?" Logan wondered aloud, half-joking. In a world where gods were real, such marvels seemed less like technology and more like divine intervention.
He pocketed the card, pondering over the possibilities. Shifting topics, Logan asked, "Boss, do you know if there are any vacant residences available in the city?"
"Looking for a house?" the owner replied, wiping his hands on his apron. "You might want to check at the city hall. They\'ll have records of all properties for sale; sellers must register their listings there."
Logan nodded, appreciating the tip. With his new card in hand and a potential home in mind, his next steps in the canyon city seemed promising.
"City Hall?" Logan echoed, clearly surprised.
"Yes, just follow this avenue straight ahead, and you\'ll reach it in about ten to twenty minutes," the hotel owner explained as he guided Logan to the front of the hotel. Pointing towards a tall, distant structure shrouded in a light haze, he added, "That\'s City Hall, the tallest building you can see from here, though it\'s a bit hard to make out clearly from this distance."
"I understand, thank you!"
...
After navigating through the bustling streets for about twenty minutes, Logan and his companions reached the imposing structure of the City Hall. The trek across the city had given them a real sense of its vast scale.
Standing before the Gothic edifice, which soared nearly twenty meters high and resembled a fortress, Logan was struck by its grandeur. This was the City Hall the hotel owner had described.
As they ascended the steps, a steady stream of people flowed in and out, bustling about their business. Logan, leading Cardia and Tyton, felt as though he had stepped from his tribal life into an ancient Western civilization, reminiscent of those he had read about in tales of old.
The interior of City Hall was even more impressive. Lavish and classically adorned, the floors were draped with animal skin rugs, a stark display of opulence. The setup inside resembled a bank, with rows of counters attended by various clerks.
Approaching a counter, Logan was greeted by a fox beastmen attendant, a beauty standing only half her height, but captivating nonetheless.
"Hello, what can I assist you with today?" the fox tribe beauty inquired with a polite smile.
In fact, among the beastmen, those from the wolf tribe were often considered among the most striking, and Logan, with his imposing stature and distinguished features, certainly drew attention.
"Hello," Logan replied, his voice calm and clear. "I\'d like to know if there are any vacant houses available for sale in the city?"
Logan was acutely aware of the expenses that would accrue from lodging his large group in a hotel. Owning a place would not only be more economical in the long run but would also provide the privacy and space needed for the plans he had in mind.
"Okay, just give me a moment to check the available listings," the fox tribe clerk responded, her voice as smooth as silk. She swiftly left the counter to retrieve the necessary information.
In just a couple of minutes, she returned with what appeared to be a thick register. "Here are the current listings for properties on sale. Please take a look, and if any address catches your eye, jot it down," she said, handing over the document.
Logan thanked her and began flipping through the register. He noticed that most of the initial pages were sealed, indicating expired listings, leaving only three pages of current options.
His eyes quickly settled on a listing for a five-story hotel priced at 280 gold coins. It was more than sufficient for his needs, spacious enough for all ninety members of his group and ideal for implementing his ideas.
"Thank you!" he said earnestly as he scribbled down the address and handed back the register.
...
"Wardell Street, Casa Hotel," Logan read aloud as he led his group to the address. They reached the location in just over ten minutes.
Standing before the Casa Hotel, Logan observed that the building was indeed sizable. It seemed like the establishment was still operational in some capacity.
He asked Tyton and the others to wait outside while he entered alone to inquire further.
"Dear guest, the hotel is no longer in operation, I\'m sorry!" a soft female voice informed him as he stepped inside.
Logan glanced towards the source of the voice, finding it came from behind the cash counter. He approached, curious to learn more about the hotel and its availability.