A slow week

"I have good news and bad news Boss."

Old Hodge said while patting the horse. The old man looked at Chu and continued

"Good news is, the horses are not branded, nor do they have any markings. The bad news is, a farm like ours should only own one horse if any."

Chu sat on a three-legged stool deep in thought.

He expected the patriarch to be cunning, but the man acted more like an experienced bandit. They had planned the raid well, even going as far as to use unmarked horses. To have a hundred unmarked horses at your command-- seems like House Prickus had a dark side to them.

"No matter our excuse, a sudden influx of horses is bound to attract attention. Especially with all those adventurers now roaming about. Help Clod pick out sixty of the best horses, with ten suitable for farm work. Focus on the fence around the farm, before finishing the large stable. I'm heading to the village."

Chu said. He was tired of having to hide the horses in the warehouses and farm whenever the patrols or adventurers came roaming. Although the palisade enclosed a large area, he never intended for it to hold over a hundred horses. The smell in winter would become unbearable.

In the kitchen.

"You should have seen it Sue, he was so cool. The way he questioned the guard and then commanded--kill them. Right, Lucy."

Lucy nodded while munching on a meat-filled bun. She had a habit of visiting the kitchen whenever the pangs of hunger assailed her.

"Jim said Chu has turned into a man now since his voice doesn't squeak anymore. How will I know when I turn into a woman?"

Miki asked.

"You will know when I tell you, now stop prancing around and walk with that book on your head."

Mrs. Thomas chimed while knitting.

***

Chu walked over the grasslands, familiarizing himself with a trail he often trod. Since busying himself on the farm, he used the wagon to travel to the village. The cold air, the open unknown, like a drug it seeped into his bones. This different challenging, adventurous lifestyle had him forget the problems from the lack of modern amenities.

Three years had changed him in understanding the difference between want and need. The five of them scanned the surroundings while strolling.

"How come you didn't wear your armband Chu? And why couldn't we ride the horses, I wanted to strut in front of John."

Ming asked while fixing a crude leather band on his arm, colored with yellow pigmentation.

"First we don't need the band since we are not in the forest, and secondly, we have to keep a low profile for the time being. Did you forget half of our family have gone to Karst to purchase grain."

As if to prove his point, a group of people walking in the distance slowly made a beeline towards them. It had been a week since the goblin battle, and the villages along the forest had seen an increase of adventurers and mercenaries seeking fame and fortune.

"Hey kid, what are you doing way out here?

"We're from the Thomas farm running an errand to the village."

Chu answered in a neutral manner.

The large stout man nodded while staring down at them. His muscular tanned forearms bore scars of an adventurer with his long yellow hair dancing in the wind. A thick hardened piece of rawhide offered limited protection to his broad chest and back.

His companions bore similar clothes and protection that had also suffered under numerous suns.

The group kept a reasonable distance from the children, keeping their wooden tipped spears and short bows on their sides and backs. The armor and equipment paled in comparison to the supple leather armor and well-maintained weapons hidden under the children's special cloaks.

"Thomas farm... Thomas, wait is that related to the Thomas food stand in the village? That smoked sausage and fresh bread are so amazing."

The yellow-haired man said, causing his companions to relay their thoughts. The members of this party chattered and interacted as if familiar with each other for a long time.

"That's right leader, the bread is the softest and whitest ever seen. I have also never eaten bread without crunching a few stones. For twenty coppers a meal, the steep price is definitely worth every copper."

"Don't forget the hot soup, the broth is simmered for hours, causing the tough meat and fat to melt in your mouth. The salty vegetable soup perks you up, the heat massaging your entire body..."

A thin and bearded man smacked his lips while praising. Next to him, a short but similar red-headed companion drooled while talking. The two of them had the appearance of brothers.

What are you guys? Are you adventurers or food connoisseurs?

Chu spent some time chatting with these fellow adventurers about the latest gossip and news arriving in the village before bidding them farewell. From his understanding, an equipped party like this would settle for patrolling and hunting on the fringes of the forest. Most adventurers remained wary of the forest and its reputation.

He had met similar parties like these, roaming as far south as their lumber camp. These small groups tend to keep to themselves, keen on earning silvers through hunting and scouting. Like most communities, however, the power of wielding weapons fosters a few bullies.

Like this next group...

"Well, well, well... what do we have here. I like..."

"Damn. That girl is one fine looking woman, leader can I have her when you're tired?"

The leader scowled at the thin man who interrupted his opening speech.

Pah!

The short leader turned around to inspect the children. His lanky companion stood on the side rubbing the palm print on his face. Dressed in a suit of the cheapest leather armor, with his hand resting on the hilt of a sword that might shame an apprentice blacksmith, he poised himself like a gallant warrior.

"Boy, hand over your coins and the girl. By the Nord Pass, look there are two more. Brothers, we will warm the beds with action tonight. Boy hand over your pouch in haste, so I can take out six coppers for you. You struck gold meeting me here, hurry and hand over your money so I can pay you."

The short bearded man said smacking his fat lips while his cratered face swept across the girls. He clicked his tongue at Rose and Miki who had just removed their hoods. The lecherous eyes of his companions bored into the girls as if trying to scan the bodies beneath the cloaks.

"We are from the Tho..."

"I don't care if the Emperor himself sent you, leave the girls and slink away with your tails between your scrawny legs."

"You tell em boss, young brats like them just weaned off their mothers' milk and want to play adventurers? They should kneel to us for abiding by the code."

A weathered man holding an iron-tipped spear suggested. His faded leather armor creaked as he moved forward with a menacing face.

"That's right boss. These kids need to learn the rules. A high ranking party can kick your ass, and steal your possessions on the road, so long as they don't kill you. Teach em boss!"

Chu listened to their drawl while sizing them up.

Adventurers moved in groups of around six members in total. Unlike the mercenary parties whose numbers ranged from twenty to over a hundred, their number remained low. This probably had to do with the fact that they had to split low-income loot among themselves.

The party of six in front of him were dressed in leather armor and armed with longbows and iron swords. Their faces and characters betrayed how they earned extra income.

"Hey, you. Yea you, the fat baldly looking one. Strip."

The surprised leader stared at Miki while his face gradually turned the color of beet red. He opened his mouth to ridicule this thorny flower, but the surprise attack stifled his reply.

Rose rushed at the leader, dropping to the ground and sweeping her feet out at the flustered leader. Ming lumbered up to the burly man beside him, locking a leg behind him and tripping the unprepared man. Two men suddenly found themselves on the ground, with the feel of cold steel at their necks.

The clanging of swords chimed out as Chu clashed with the man at the back who had drawn his sword in the melee. The last two men who stood at the back had retreated while removing the large bows from their shoulders. One had only grasped the bow for removal when a small white blade pierced the back of his open hand.

He yelled as he grasped his bleeding hand only to realize the rookie mistake. Looking up, he gazed into the smiling face of the black haired girl standing before him. A well-placed boot backed with unexpected power rammed into his stomach. The front kick sent him tumbling to the ground, spewing his breakfast in the process.

The second archer managed to arm his bow, only to find the string cut. He stared at it stupidly but then stiffened his back as beads of sweat formed on his forehead. The deadly point of a dagger threatened to bury itself into his side, on any signs of movement. During this blitz attack, the blond blue-eyed girl had appeared at his side.

"Brat, I will end you... ouch."

"Damn, do you know who you are beating... ahh."

"Stop, just stop, take what you want... dammit!"

The beer-bellied leader broke down after Rose straddled him and punched his face. At first, the man tried to grip his sword, but the teen threatened him with a dagger before continuing the assault. His companion rolling on the ground had it worse.

Ming had relieved the fighter of his lone weapon-- a spear and kept the man on the ground with some well-placed kicks. The man tried to fight back, but he like his companions soon realized the undeniable force behind the punches and kicks. He cursed out loud as he received a heavy punch that broke his nose.

A rock, they had kicked a hard rock.

Chu faced off against the man as the fellow seemed shocked on witnessing the outcome. Within seconds his companions had all been subjugated. When the leader screamed out loud, he knew the fight was lost. He lowered his sword while locking eyes with the teen.

"We surrender, so spare our lives."

He said as the flurry of punches and kicks then paused.

"Why? Why should I spare your life?"

A fricking stone wall. This brat sounded more like a bandit than a farmer. Didn't he know the unwritten code of adventurers? Steal from others but don't kill in vain? Why kill for a bunch of girls?

"Am, brat... Young adventurer, we never intended to kill since we only wanted the girls. We might have even provided them a few extra coppers at the end of their services. Don't forget the code, the code!"

"Strip. I want armor, weapons and all your money. The next time you decide to cross me will be your last."

Following the code of the adventurers, Chu left the party with their clothes and a dagger. This unwritten code might seem pathetic, but adventurers believed that this action brings good karma. Out in the wilds, leaving an adversary alive demonstrated an act of compassion.

This action differed from mercenaries and bandits who killed all to eliminate future threats. His face turned red while walking, as he reveled in this sense of accomplishment. Chu had stepped into the world of an adventurer.

"Wow, Chu this is like deja vu isn't it?"

"Maybe, but those adventurers would have learned their lesson."

He replied to Ming. Unlike Doug's group who started out like bandits, these adventurers, though heartless, still spoke of the code while holding an advantage. In a world in which killing the weak proved the norm, their conduct might be considered acceptable. The laws of this world baffled him.

He soon reached his goal, the home in the village.

The small house remained the same, but a small shed had been constructed, hosting some small tables and benches. The setup resembled a fast food restaurant-- Ms. May and two older women cooked and prepared the piping hot dishes, while the husbands delivered the food to customers.

He had also embarked on a delivery service, with the men taking orders for meals and dropping it off to the garrison and lodges. Specially made wooden boxes, outfitted with a hotplate shelf-- a flat iron plate heated over the fire, ensured the food remained hot. The soups and bread enjoyed instant success, causing Chu to jack up the prices.

This was his way of recouping his tax money. As a miser, he would do anything to reclaim his hard earned wealth. The business also served to expand the experiences of his members in interacting with different characters.

"Boss have a seat while I call for Ms. May. Lunch and supper are the busiest times for us because we get swamped to deliver orders from the Trading Post and Garrison. Even with the high prices, the adventurers keep returning."

The man went into the kitchen and then hurried off with a wooden container. Ms. May joined them at the table.

The woman had regained her complexion and now looked not like a ninety-year-old lady but a healthy woman in her fifties on earth. She wore a clean apron over equally spotless clothes.

"How come you're here Boss, Doug came by this morning with a wagon load of supplies. We have enough to last us until winter."

"I came to drop off these bundles. The guards at the gate might send a group of men in dire need of work. Use them well for the winter, and if they serve you obediently, then give them this bundle as a bonus surprise after the winter. Spin a story on how you bought it because of their sorrowful tale or something."

"Ah, so it's like that. Sure no problem, I need some competent persons to conduct deliveries. This idea is the best, the garrison, Trading Post and even the tavern has been pestering me for the service, everybody like the idea of eating hot food delivered to their rooms."

Ms. May said. She didn't like the idea of sending girls out for delivery. As usual, the Boss always thought a few steps ahead. She looked forward to meeting these unfortunate souls.

Chu conversed with the happy woman before leaving for the Trading Post.

A short time later, Ms. May was called back out from the kitchen. Five men dressed like villagers shivered in the cold while inhaling the appetizing smell. A chubby looking man stepped out, his beard and face covered in tears.

An adventurer trapped in a strange village without food, money, and equipment had a status equivalent to a slum resident.

"Greeting innkeeper. We were ambushed by a group of devils out in the lands-- I forgot their names, but the guards kindly pointed out your fine establishment. We, adventurers, are hoping that maybe, we might work for you for the coming winter because we would die for we have lost everything."