Chapter 5: Suitable Work

Renting a house isn't something you can just casually pick a good place for; you still need to consider the cost-performance ratio.

The reason is simple.

No money.

But it's not that he has none at all.

Luo De calculated that he currently has over two thousand Mora on him.

This is what he earned by killing bandits and looting in the desert recently.

Mora, these gold coins with special patterns are the universal currency on the Tiwatedalu and can be used anywhere.

One good thing about a universal currency is that it avoids the hassle of exchange rates.

However, income and purchasing power of Mora vary across different countries and regions.

For example, in Liyue Harbor, the dock touted as Teyvat's most prosperous, even dock laborers earn at least two to three thousand Mora a day, though they also spend a lot, and even a simple meal costs several hundred Mora.

And in the impoverished desert region, Luo De cleaned out the bandits who lived by robbery, and that's all the money he managed to scrounge up.

Lacking an economic source.

This is also a major problem in the desert region.

The cause of this problem, aside from the desert's own environmental issues, is the suppression from the Sumeru Academy.

Speaking of this matter.

Even outsiders like Luo De can't help but shake their heads repeatedly.

Although they are people of the same nation, one region can enjoy a wealthy material life thanks to abundant resources, receive high-quality education, and freely travel to other countries for tourism or research, while people in another region mostly live hand-to-mouth, where even eating and drinking are problems; under such harsh conditions, not to mention public health and education, even obtaining supplies through normal trade is forbidden.

Even a cornered rabbit will bite.

Let alone these destitute desert folk.

Thus the desert region of Sumeru became infamous across the Tiwatedalu as the most brutal and wicked place.

After wiping out that Tanit bandit gang, Luo De wandered the desert for nearly a month and fully witnessed its cruelty.

The desert region is unsuitable for farming, and oases are scarce.

Those who occupy the oases and possess strong military power still have sufficient means of survival—whether hunting, farming, or raiding—using whatever methods, they can always find a way to keep their tribe going.

But what about the desert folk with weak military strength?

Luo De has personally witnessed how those physically weak desert folk struggle to survive in the desert.

Grass roots, tree bark, insects, corpses—these are their daily food.

Fresh vegetables and meat?

That's food that only exists in dreams!!!

Some people, so hungry they can't bear it, even dare to stuff sand into their stomachs, only to end up bloated to death.

Luo De is a modern youth who has received a good education.

Thus he once felt compassion and shared his hard-earned food with the hungry desert folk.

What he got in return was.

But rather, it was the murderous intent that surged from those desert folk, whose eyes glowed green like starving wolves, after they had eaten and drunk their fill; their reason for killing their benefactor was simply to steal all of Luo De's food and water.

Since then, Luo De's heart has turned completely into a cold stone.

Even if someone later begs him for food, he will no longer feel the slightest sympathy.

Poor mountains and wicked waters produce troublemakers.

This saying describes the desert folk's current situation very aptly.

Although the root cause is the Academy's total blockade and sanctions on the desert, this does not change Luo De's extreme negative stereotype of the desert folk.

Of course.

Dixiya, also a desert folk, is not included in that.

Compared to those desert folk who treat human life as worthless, the kind and enthusiastic Dixiya hardly seems like someone who came out of the desert.

"This place? It's just average; it's a bit far from the village, fetching water requires a long walk, very inconvenient, and there isn't even a pot in the house."

"This place is not bad; it's just right for one person, and there's a well, though the house is a bit run-down and needs some repairs."

"Eh~ this place is great: furniture complete, has a well and a pot, the house is decent, oh, and there's a separate toilet; the only downside is the rent is a bit high. Well, do you have money? If not, I can lend you some first, and you can pay me back after you find a job and get your salary."

Dixiya enthusiastically helped Luo De pick a house; her criteria were simple: a pot for cooking and a well for fetching water—that's the best condition, and having a toilet is an unexpected bonus.

Of course.

This fully furnished house is the most expensive among the vacant ones, costing fifteen hundred Mora per month; Luo De's total money would only cover about one and a half months.

Compared to other houses that only need three to five hundred Mora a month, this house is obviously beyond Luo De's current means.

Seeing his predicament, Dixiya generously offered to lend him some money first.

"What jobs in A Ru Cun pay better? You've been coming here often, you should know."

Luo De didn't directly answer Dixiya; instead he brought up the matter of work.

The Blazing Light Beast Hunters aren't a wealthy mercenary group.

Luo De's relationship with the Blazing Light Beast Hunters' members is decent; from them he roughly learned about the group's current financial situation.

How to put it.

Daily expenses are certainly covered, but if you're asking whether they have ample savings, they really haven't been that well-off.

Knowing he was unwilling to borrow from her, Dixiya gave a helpless smile, thought for a moment, and said: "There are actually many job openings in A Ru Cun, but if you want to earn the most, you should become the village guard."

"Guard?"

Luo De frowned slightly.

Although he doesn't know much about desert tribes, he also knows that in a large village like A Ru Cun, being a guard is certainly not the highest-paying job.

"The guard I'm referring to is currently the most suitable job for you."

Seeing Luo De had some doubts, Dixiya hurriedly explained: "If you're talking about who makes the most money in the village, it's definitely the itinerant merchants, and also those responsible for going out to hunt, the hunters. But such work, given your current status, even if you wanted to do it, Kantisi would probably not agree."

Upon hearing that, Luo De understood.

That's right.

No matter how pure A Ru Cun is, it's still part of the desert.

Although they didn't continue that old, heavily meritocratic tribal system, the most basic exclusivity still exists; for Luo De, who is no different from an outsider, some positions important to the village naturally couldn't be given to him right now.

As for the guards.

Literally, it means the A Ru Cun guards, responsible for protecting A Ru Cun's safety and daily patrols, etc.

Actually, this is also a very important position.

By rights, Luo De wouldn't get a turn either.

But there are always some exceptions.

All the guards of A Ru Cun are directly under Kantisi's command, and she has full authority to appoint and dismiss them.

In other words.

If Luo De wants to apply for a guard position, as long as he passes Kantisi's assessment, he can do it.

Looking at it that way.

Luo De is a Vision bearer; although his development isn't very high and he doesn't know martial arts, he can still be considered quite a capable combatant.

With that advantage plus Dixiya's recommendation, getting a guard job should be fine.

"Alright, then I'll go apply for the guard job."

Having thought it through, Luo De nodded and agreed.

(End of chapter)