Pax quickly discovered that the truth wasn't something you could simply buy.
Money twisted words. It always had. Once cash changed hands, people started tailoring their narratives to please those with the coins.
They embellished, exaggerated, and refined their experiences until reality became obscured by theatrics.
Having lived among the common folk for some time, Pax understood this fundamental truth: desperation made people vocal, but the need to survive made them cautious.
So, his approach did not involve gold at first.
Instead, he opted for food. In the poorest area of Greyvale, food held a significance that money could never replicate. A copper coin might be stolen, lost in a gamble, or squandered on drink.
But food was immediate. Food created trust. It conveyed the message: I'm not asking you to entertain me; I'm asking you to live.
Pax chose a narrow street by the old drainage canals, a spot where beggars gathered as daylight faded and hunger intensified.
