A slight increase?
A bit more difficult?
Gallio suppressed the urge to curse and spoke rapidly: "The price of bread has tripled, rice has doubled, tools and ironware have risen fivefold."
"Yes, citizens with a bit of property can still survive, just with more difficulty. But the lower-class people—like us laborers can't even afford a loaf of bread with a day's wages."
Saman sighed lightly: "That's truly a pity. Hopefully, the Church can take on such responsibilities."
With a sincere expression of regret, he said to the obscure Coptic newcomer: "Helping those who can't afford to eat is a duty of the clergy. But that is not mine, I am merely a small merchant from distant Sassan, diligently contributing to the prosperity of this city."
A small merchant...
Gallio clenched his fists.
