The journey from the academy square to the city center did not take long. The carriage procession of the Astoria and Flamort Kingdom delegations gradually reduced its speed and finally stopped side by side on a wide cobblestone street.
They stopped right in front of a grand building with marble pillars. A large signboard reading "Victoriaz Central Merchant Guild" was clearly displayed above its main entrance.
Dean Saires and Arvin stepped out of the carriage, walking together up the stairs and entering the immensely spacious and busy guild lobby.
The moment the double doors opened, the clamor of haggling, the clinking of coins, and the chatter of the merchants suddenly subsided.
The presence of a youth wearing a special noble robe with the emblem of three ice crystals on his back successfully became the absolute center of attention for everyone inside the guild. Gazes full of curiosity, respect, and even suppressed fear were immediately directed at the Vedegra descendant.
Trying to ignore the stares from everyone in the lobby, Dean Saires stepped through the crowd toward the reception desk, followed by Arvin beside him.
"Good afternoon, Gentlemen!" a female receptionist greeted with a very friendly yet professional smile, trying to hide her nervousness. "Is there anything I and the guild can help you with for your needs today?"
"Good afternoon." Dean Saires replied in an authoritative tone. "Does the guild have information or management rights over a vacant plot of land that can be rented for us to use as a place to stay in this kingdom until the official tournament ends?"
Hearing that business inquiry, the receptionist quickly flipped through the thick ledger on her desk.
"Yes, we have several vacant plots of land, Sir." the receptionist answered politely after finding the page. "One of them is located not far from the Victoriaz academy complex."
"So, what is the standard rental price per day?" Dean Saires asked straight to the point.
"The daily fee is 41,280 Voza, Sir!"
So, the official currency used in the Victoriaz Kingdom is called Voza, huh? Arvin muttered inwardly. At least, from this brief conversation, I have managed to obtain some basic information about the currency used in this kingdom.
"In that case, we will rent it for four days!" Dean Saires decided without hesitation. "And regarding the cost..."
Dean Saires deliberately paused his sentence and glanced at Arvin, who was standing calmly beside him. The youth understood the cue.
The youth raised his right hand over the desk.
Thud!
A medium-sized magic crystal landed on the stone desk with a quite heavy thudding sound.
The eyes of the receptionist and several merchants standing not far from the desk instantly widened broadly upon seeing the purity level of the crystal on the desk.
"I would like to sell this magic crystal." Arvin said in a flat tone. "And as for the remaining excess money, please just exchange it for jewelry. Because it is impossible for us to use the Victoriaz Kingdom's currency back in the Astoria Kingdom."
That highly reasonable and logical excuse was immediately well-received by the receptionist. The woman then asked the jewelry merchants present in the lobby to prepare and sell the jewelry they had.
However, because the transaction could not be completed in a short amount of time, the process would continue until the next day. And as compensation, the Astoria Kingdom delegation group could use the vacant plot of land in advance, with the rental fee later being deducted from the sale of the magic crystal.
Dean Saires agreed.
....
Accompanied by one of the guild staff, they went to the promised vacant plot of land.
Upon arriving there, the staff member felt very puzzled by the decision of a dean who chose to rent a plot of land that, in his opinion, was absolutely not large enough to accommodate hundreds of people.
"Arvin, please do it..." Dean Saires requested.
The youth nodded in understanding, then walked toward the center of the vacant land they had rented. He crouched down and placed his hands on the ground.
Instantly, Arvin created a house out of ice and earth magic, exactly like the one he had made during their journey to the Victoriaz Kingdom. But this time, the large double doors specifically used for parking the horse carriages were located on the front right side of the house's wall.
The guild staff member took a few steps back. His eyes bulged almost popping out as he saw a sturdy building erected out of nowhere.
"Park all the carriages first so as not to disrupt the activities of the surrounding residents!" Dean Saires ordered in a loud voice to the coachmen.
And then, one by one, the horse carriages began entering the house's yard, before finally disappearing behind the wide-open double doors.
That sight truly left the man who was the guild staff member astounded.
What kind of house did the Vedegra descendant just create? the man's inner voice screamed in shock. All those carriages fit in there?!
"All of you, go inside!" Dean Saires ordered again to the students and teachers. "Please rest for those of you who want to rest immediately."
The teachers and students began walking casually through the house's doors.
The sight of hundreds of people continuously being swallowed into the house made the man even more astounded, to the point his mouth unconsciously gaped wide open.
"Are you curious about the house?" Dean Saires asked, breaking the guild staff member's reverie. "If you are curious, just go inside."
"Am I allowed to see the inside of the house, Mr. Dean?" the man asked to confirm with a hesitant voice.
"It's fine!" Dean Saires answered casually. "Just go in, no one is forbidding you."
Obtaining permission from the Dean, the guild staff member mustered his courage to step forward before finally passing through the single door that was still wide open.
The moment his feet stepped onto the solid floor made of a mixture of ice and earth inside, the man's eyes immediately widened to their maximum limit.
The inside of the house, which looked small from the outside, possessed an immensely spacious area, and had two floors. On the first floor, the space had no dividing wall partitions, and was even fully equipped with many comfortable beds lined up neatly in the giant hall area.
Amazing! the guild staff praised in awe in his heart. Never did I expect that a Vedegra descendant could use spatial magic this masterfully!
The man's eyes looked around him. He continued to feel a sense of awe until his gaze stopped at two doors at the end of the wall.
"Then, what are those two doors, Mr. Dean?" the staff asked curiously.
"Those are the bathrooms!" Dean Saires answered, explaining. "The one on the left is the bathroom specifically for females and the one on the right is specifically for males."
"Isn't it risky if someone sneaks in to peek?"
"That will not happen!" Dean Saires replied, still maintaining his casual demeanor yet sounding terrifying. "None of the students would be willing to enter there only to freeze to death in a ridiculous way."
The guild staff completely understood the meaning behind it, while also feeling horrified by the automatic security level inside the house that felt like it exceeded the security level found in the royal palace. And eventually, he did not want to talk about it anymore.
A few moments later, after Dean Saires signed the land rental form, the man bowed respectfully and returned to the merchant guild.