Spending Money

In the throne room of the goblin cave, three Elder goblins sat on a bench chattering.

"Some goblins returned from the raiding party that Pocong had sent out in the north. Human ambush in forest, only five goblins returned."

"Except for the devil humans, all others are treacherous. The forest has always been our territory, so killing the intruders is our right."

"Correct, because except the devils who wear the bands we made, all other humans will feel our wrath."

Although the goblins had entered into an arrangement with the farm, this did not mean peace between the races. The goblin scouts reported an influx of small parties of humans, entering the forest hellbent on tracking and scouting for goblins.

After some skirmishes in the forest, the goblin Elders sent the Champion to the farm one night, delivering a sack of armbands made of animal hide. The yellow-colored bands when worn would differentiate between friend or foe allowing goblins to unleash their wrath.

The Champion earned some more stripes on completion of this suicidal mission. No goblin knew of the trauma Pug received that night. A lone goblin trekking towards certain doom. Pug cried that night in the forest, before returning with a triumphant face when he finally delivered the bag.

Chu accepted the offer since he had no authority at the moment to make peace between the opposing races.

At least for now, goblin raids into the surrounding farms had ceased.

"Elder the crow brings the message from the mighty Shaman."

A small goblin walked in and bowed.

Since the message of the trade had been sent to the Shaman, things had been quiet with no new instructions. Today the Elders finally received a reply. An Elder unfurled the little parchment filled with doodles while another brought over a torch. The reader frowned before gasping and thumping his wrinkled chest.

"Shaman says raid in south placed on hold. Will arrive near full moon. Bones decide fate for goblins then."

"Why? Did Shaman doubt us? What about tribes?"

"We must hope the Bones agree with this path we follow. Send word to goblins. Have scouts set traps and lure humans in forest towards the north. Let all goblins mine iron and search for shiny stones. We must show Shaman this path has great profit."

"Where is the Champion?"

In another cave located about a day's walk from the goblin's camp, Pug followed a group of goblins into a narrow tunnel. This cave deeper in the forest once belonged to a goblin tribe. The lead goblin with the torch was a member of that tribe. Presently he led the way into this passage, hoping it was actually the one mentioned in his tribal lore.

Since they had been driven to the south, most goblins knew of their old villages and settlements through stories. While the goblins attached to the Shamans moved northwards, the Elders would seek out the landmarks of their old claims. The humans lost lives under the claws of the wolf demon, but the goblins lost their heritage.

Since the devil human coveted useless stones and paid in grain, Pug felt ecstatic. Did he not meet the ultimate fool?

The goblin Champion decided he would strive to milk this trade for all it was worth.

The goblins soon exited the passageway into a cave. A scout held a torch and stepped forward, while four goblins armed with swords and bows, surrounded the Champion. Pug peered into the darkness that seems to swallow even the light from the torch. He stepped forward and touched the wall of the cave.

Scraping the side of the wall with his dagger, he noticed the difference in color between the bedrock. A dark twisted like a large snake along the walls.

Pug sighed. The last passage had a thin vein of Sapphire, a bright stone that might catch the eyes of the humans. This large cave proved of little worth to goblins and humans alike.

Black Opal.

Useless.

***

With half the residents out adventuring for grain in Karst and the surrounding villages, Work ground to a slow pace on the farm. For some reason, the daily groups out patrolling near the forest had ceased. Apparently, word spread of the goblins being active towards the north.

Since he had some free time, and with Dyna and a host of able-bodied defenders present at home, Chu decided to make a quick journey. They had just over a week before the important full moon and start of winter. Before heading out he visited Tye and asked him to use this time to prepare a presentation while informing the man of the desired contents.

"Hey Tye, Mage Disparte told you to offer any assistance to me right? I want to borrow something for the next few days. Don't forget to keep indoors, since those damn wolves have been acting bolder."

Chu packed his supplies and then held a brief meeting. Ignoring the worrisome questions that soon turned to curses from Mr. Thomas and the others, he ventured out with his adventuring party. Cooped up in the farm would only make his skills rusty.

Chu waited at the front of the shop, rubbing his hands to ward of the cold. The main road of Karst did not disappoint him in the least. The hustle and chatter of townsfolk and visitors mingled on the busy streets, while the width of the road allowed two wagons to pass freely with adequate room to park.

Much like the ancient Chinese, Incan, Roman and Persian behemoths of old, this toddler of an Empire realized the importance of roads and basic layouts. They still had lots to learn, but that was what he was here for-- to help them blossom for the right price.

He breathed in the cold air, filled with sweat and the smell of the living.

"Filthy."

The journey on horseback had been uneventful, and the camping out in the wild memorable. On entering Karst, the size and layout of the town behind the stone walls impressed him. Ever since he arrived in this world, Chu felt he had now arrived into civilization.

His entry had been as grand as he could make it, riding on a horse, with his belongings and blankets strapped behind him on the saddle. Cloaked with his sheathed sword at his side, he announced the name of his adventuring party, while paying a first-time entry toll of ten coppers.

As the guard scribbled down their name on a thick ledger for future reference, Chu clipped into the town, with a smile on his face. The feeling was astounding. He rode in among the faces of envy from the hopeful beggars and residents of the nearby slums.

"Scratch one from the bucket list. Baby steps Chu, baby steps... haha"

If he had attempted this journey while poor, his face might have been among that crowd. If he had survived that is...

They secured their horses at the inn Ming had frequented before. The owner recognized the boy and gave them a discount after chatting with the teen for renting the stables.

Chu walked around, stifling his tourist face while reining in the wild first-timers from breaking free.

"Sometimes I feel I am like a teacher supervising a bunch of curious children."

He muttered while grabbing the scruff of Miki's cloak as she tried to bolt out of the party.

The people on the cobbled main road and side streets could make up the entire population of the village. They soon separated, when Chu found what he needed. He spent some time browsing the stores, while the others scampered around this novel town. He had just arrived and waited at the shop when the others returned.

"Hey Chu, we are finished. Miki found Jim by accident near a Grocer. They ended up with five loaded wagons ready to head home. He is boasting how he bargained for the extra wagons for next to nothing. They will wait for us outside the western gate since most of his group are still window shopping."

Chu nodded as he entered the small shop. A thin old man greeted him on the empty counter.

"How may I help you little ones?"

The jeweler inquired. The old man did not have much hope for business from these little brats, but experience told him their background might not seem simple. The forthright manner, and clothes belonged to the standing of nobles.

"My Master will be passing through Karst come spring and hopes to have some work completed before then. I would like to see some of your designs to choose what he wants."

"I see. This old one has conducted business in advance but I need a letter and stamp from your House, along with a deposit."

Replied the man. Pranks like these were common along the shops on the main road. Most business normally closed for the winter. He looked forward to the usual scampering of feet from the brats bolting out of the shop, but instead, the boy reached into his sleeves and pulled out a token. He then placed it on the deserted counter.

"T, tower, Tower Mage... Please forgive my rudeness, young apprentices, but pranks like this are usually common. Come sit, sit inside while I bring out my best merchandise."

The old man closed the front door and ushered the children behind the counters into his small workshop at the back. Scrambling to find chairs and stools for them, he quickly displayed his original creations along with some purchased ones from the city. Unknowing during the hustle, they found themselves clasping wooden cups of steaming tea.

"Not bad, not bad. My Master will not treat you unfairly. Please ready a list, I want, I mean my Master needs one hundred rings like these, forty necklaces like that one, thirty tiaras like those over there..."

Chu rattled off the numbers to the frightened jeweler, as he pointed and called out the large numbers as if ordering vegetables. He pulled out some new designs and handed them over.

"My Master requires this large batch of order to satisfy his new apprentices. The order must be finished by spring, and he has no problem if you outsource the work from other jewelers. His designs, however, cannot be shared and made for others."

"Definitely, I will definitely complete the task. Have no fear, Young Master, I mean Young Apprentice, I will not fail you. Please wait while I draft up the contract. Am, I must ask for a deposit though, for the materials will cost a fortune."

Chu laughed in reply as he brought out a pouch from his black cloak.

"I have a few gems that need polishing and are perfect. Please check the contents before quoting me the best price. I also ask that you leave the rings without a gemstone. My Master will find suitable ones for those later. These are for the tiaras, bracelets, and pendants. He wants them as polished and glittering as none other in the world."

Chu said. His design for the tiaras if brought to life will certainly rank number one in this world. His bracelet design had numerous sockets to inlay the gems, on thin chain links of gold and silver. As for the rings, Pick would imbue the polished gemstones on those later.

He had once gone shopping with a girl in a mall.

That sentence explained it all.

Good things do come from torturous adventures.

The jeweler gasped at the sight of the large precious stones heaped on his workbench. He carefully calculated the stones, while inquiring from the boy as to the required size. He estimated that about a quarter of the stones would remain to pay for labor.

"The total cost amounts to nine thousand gold coins. This is forgetting..."

"What?! Old crow, are you trying to rob this Boss?"

"Have mercy, great Mage sir, this old one dare not rob from the Tower. It's just that the silver and gold needed, along with the intricate designs require time and effort. I will have to send a request for apprentices to journey from the city to aid in this task. This work when completed will be priceless."

If the boy did not provide the gems, then the cost would have been astronomical. Completing this task would land him among the wealthiest men in Karst.

"Hmph, you try to flatter this young one like he knows not the way of the world. I will pay a thousand more, but I want twenty large rings, ten men sized chains and fifty pairs of these designed earrings. Use some small gems for the earrings and leave the rest unsocketed. Consider the unused gems as a bonus."

The old man dropped his jaw at the shamelessness spewing from the righteous looking face. What the hell brat, you think you are doing me a favor? He shuddered as the boy stroked the token.

"Fine, we have a deal, but you need to allow me until half of spring."

"Deal. Let's have the contract done."

Chu pulled out another pouch of gems to earn some cash. Since he had the token from the Tower, he may as well milk it dry.

With this load lifted from his shoulders, Chu felt relaxed. He spent some time window shopping as Miki pulled him and Lucy along the street. Ming and Rose walked behind, munching on any delicacy that attracted their fancy. By evening Chu joined up with some familiar faces outside the Western Gate.

"Jim share these coins among your party. Escort the girls and women into town and have them splurge for whatever they fancy. We must celebrate this profitable trip. Buy whatever you guys want."

The journey back home became riddled with incessant chatter as everyone shared their experiences during the night over the campfire.

A wonderful first adventure.