Normally the solar panel securely sat atop the carriage with a convoluted array of padding underneath and ropes keeping it in place. At the first sign of inclement weather it was taken down or covered in more blankets and tarps. I needed to keep everything charged up after all, especially while on the road.

With the extended camp setup, the solar panel was placed outside my tent with posts and ropes to keep anyone away from it. The guards would do their duty in keeping people away. Still, mitigating risks would help me prolong the life of all my tech in my new world. Which is why I packed it away every night as well.

Canvas flapping and the sounds of camp life stirred me awake. I wanted to get an early-ish start if we were going to tackle this potential mercantile endeavor in earnest.

After my morning meal with the troops, and a second breakfast with the company of captives, we set out to find the caravan leader I had spoken with. I should have gotten his name, but neglected to last time.

Dorstark was able to narrow down our search from my description. My argenti had spoken with all of them after the incident in Korolm. Thank the gods for small favors.

I groaned at the thought of the gods. To be fair, it might not hurt to continue hedging my bets in that regard. Loathe as that whole topic was for me.

Even with our smaller pool of possible people we were looking for, it took us hours to find the man. As we walked into an area of camp with one of the potentials, he cheered my arrival.

“Fine morning, Lord Sully!”

“Indeed it is. I must admit, it is a bit windy for my liking,” I said, rubbing my hand on my fuzz covered head. At least there wasn’t a bunch of hair being blown around.

“What brings you to our humble camp?”

“Actually, I wanted to speak with you again.”

He bowed his head. “Always at your disposal.”

Knowing how people were actually ‘disposed of’ here, I cringed inside. My face dutifully betrayed nothing. “Firstly, I am afraid that I had not received your name when last we met.”

“My… I… Apologies, my lord. Kup, caravan leader extraordinaire and humble servant of Norvos,” he said with a deep bow.

“Pleasure, Kup. I believe you have met one or both of my argenti, Dorstark and Morslan,” I said, gesturing to each in turn.

“Yes, I have been so fortunate as to meet both. Now, I am certain you are a busy noble. What brings your lordship to grace us this day?”

“I am looking to invest in goods to be traded in Videm.”

“Always a good prospect to grow one’s wealth when opportunities present themselves. What need you have of me then? If you do not mind me asking, my lord,” he said. Kup’s words didn’t quite match up with the knowing grin.

“I would like to hire you to help me in this venture.”

“You certainly have my interest. Would you like me to oversee your wagons for the rest of our journey then?”

“More, actually. I need someone to help advise me on what should be purchased, arrange the deals, and potentially assist in selling it all in Videm.”

“That is quite an ask, Lord Sully. I have numerous wagons to oversee as it is,” he boasted. “I might be able to make some time to help you select some goods however. What would be my payment?”

Well, he was certainly shrewd. I would have to grant him that. Hopefully I could purchase the use of that skill as well.

“In addition to my gratitude?” I joked.

“Begging your pardon, my lord,” Kup said, still smiling. He knew we were dancing to a song of his liking now. “Much as I would like to agree to that, gratitude will not haul my burdens, nor will it feed my family.”

“Of course, that is understandable. I would like to offer you a share of the profits as well as a flat fee before we depart Gorn.”

He thought about it for a moment, or pretended to at least. “How much of an investment would we be working with? And, more importantly, how much would you be so generous as to share with me?”

I had prepared for this negotiation and plan already, discussing it at length with my argenti. Their advice had been great. It had taken some convincing that it would be worth the risk to invest quite a bit. By the end of it, I wasn’t sure who had convinced whom of what.

“Five hundred should be enough.”

Kup looked pleased with the amount. “That much gold will fill some wagons, certainly.”

“Actually, Kup. I was thinking more along the lines of five hundred platinum.”

That almost made him choke. “My lord… Fifteen thousand gold! That is more than enough. I am not sure how we will purchase that many wagons and get them loaded before we leave.”

“I might be able to buy us one more day if needed. Only if it is absolutely necessary however. Think you can manage it?”

His lips moved, silently repeating the number. I could see it rolling around in his head, considering what he had to gain from our deal.

“If anyone can manage it, that would be me. Praise Kuriy!”

Kup ran up and hugged me. I was at a loss from the gesture. It was the most personal thing anyone had done since arriving in my new world. The next closest was when I first met Nespolan.

The embrace was brief and friendly. Can’t say I was at all upset about it. Honestly, hugs are great and I only now realized how much I missed them.

“Dorstark will help you with everything. He has access to my funds and can handle the accounting side of things.”

“Most excellent! With that large of a budget, we must get to work immediately.”

“We will keep you notified, Lord Sully,” Dorstark said.

Morslon and I returned to my tent, intending to get some more digital scriptorium work done. What ended up happening was not even close to my goals for the day.

One messenger after another arrived, each bearing notes and messages from Kup and Dorstark. At least five an hour or so. An endless stream of updates, approval requests, and expense reports. They showed up during both lunches and both dinners too.

For a moment I wondered how much all the mundane communication would have cost, but Dorstark had taken to using some of my soldiers to be runners. He also made a request to use a significant number of them to help guard the gold and goods once deals were made. I approved it, of course.

Annoyingly, this pattern continued until dusk. Perhaps I should have been thankful that it ended at all. They were good problems to have, really. First-fantasy-world problems.

As many had begun to, I looked forward to each evening’s entertainment. Tonight, I debated playing a non-animated movie for the first time. The three of us had decided that playing ‘live action’ movies, of any setting, might be unsettling for some.

As a medium, animation was great for what I was doing. Typically bright colors and more simple graphics by comparison.

Each evening was still different. There could be hundreds of nights with continuous entertainment without repeating, even restricting showings to just that type of content.

Nope. Stay the course. Instead of a kid flick, I selected something a bit more adult for the first time; visceral and violent. That should be a fun change of pace and a shock for the crowd. A supernatural hunter and his cleric sidekick; great series.

Also for the first time, we would use a series rather than a movie. Four episodes in the first season with a total run time of around two hours. A bit on the longer side. Without needing to set up much tonight, or break camp in the morning, six hours total would be fine.

We managed to cram in nearly double the number of people as usual. The section of nobles alone quintupled, which was always the majority of the income anyway. Cha-ching!

More than once I wondered what it was like, watching something without voice dubbing or subtitles in their language. Like a silent film without the text and not actually being silent. Really, nothing at all like a silent film I suppose.

Dorstark arrived during the last showing. We went over the process for the night and I showed him how to queue up all four files, in the proper order.

“We will need to get an early start tomorrow, Sully.”

“Oh?”

“Kup has placed most of the orders already and is arranging the final details. The man is rather remarkable. Excellent choice in hiring him.”

All that sounded like good news, even if they didn’t need my direct help. “Why does it sound like I also need to be up early?”

“You will need to speak with the High Commander to give us another day before leaving Gorn.”

“I said that with the hope we would not need to do it.”

“We will need every last moment of that extra day, I assure you.”

“Alright. Going to bed then. Enjoy the show,” I said, turning away and heading straight to bed.

I wasn’t a late riser, nor was I the first one awake in camp. Ever.

Alarms weren’t a thing I had utilized here, until now. With my headphones in, I drifted off to sleep listening to some of my favorite music.

It was the first time I used my phone while sleeping since leaving Orya. The change was undeniable. My dreams, still nightmarish from what I recalled after waking up to the alarm, were lessened in severity and significance.

I woke in the pre-dawn light more refreshed than I had at any point after faceless gods haunted the halls of my subconscious.

There was the possibility that I was growing accustomed to them. Sure. I’d keep this minor victory as my own and chalk it up to great tunes. Another win for me.

Nespolan was easy to find after my morning routine. She would be in her own command tent, reviewing supply information. I was allowed entry by the guards without needing to announce my presence.

“Pleasant morning Nespolan.”

She looked up from the papers scattered about in front of her. “And a pleasant morning to you as well, my friend. What brings you by to see me so early?”

I sat across from her. “Are we? Friends, that is.”

“I would like to think so. We have shared many more meals and thoughts, as I expected we would while travelling.” She frowned, the lines of age making deep crevices in her face. “Do you believe that not to be the case?”

“Not at all. I was thinking of your earlier words about exactly that and wondered at what point one would know such a thing.”

“I fear that I would not be able to mark a specific time or date.” She paused. “Shortly after leaving Korolm perhaps.”

I nodded, “Might have been before that for me, if not the night of the incident. You rushed in and showed true concern for my well being. That is something I will never forget.”

“If I had been there sooner, during your battle, I might have settled the score by saving your life.” Nespolan laughed, reshaping her face to one of happiness.

She wore such opposing visages it seemed. One, an incredible glow of joy that brought my grandfather to mind. The other a seasoned plateau of stoicism, through which one could shield themselves of any soul piercing atrocities.

It was impossible for me to study her face when it changed so drastically. She fascinated me. What has she seen during her many years? Dorstark was older, but he hid himself more often. That may not be true either. Perhaps he was just more reserved.

At any rate, I had been staring at her long enough for an eyebrow to raise as her demeanor changed to one of curiosity.

“Do you fear that you would lose your newfound status as a noble if that had come to pass?”

“What? No. Not at all.” Or did I? Hadn’t really considered it before. “Maybe? I am not sure…”

“Quite the answer.”

Shaking it off, I needed to get to my question and let her get back to work. “Right. Well, I was hoping to ask a favor of you.”

“The horse, right? I saw you had taken a liking to it. The creature suits you. It will be sent to your stablemaster before we leave.” She looked genuinely pleased with herself with the gift.

“Oh. The horse? Thank you Nespolan.” I smiled from ear to ear. It was an awesome steed.

“Think nothing of it. I fear that I must return to these reports however. Once back in Videm I must requisition another whole team of scholars and advisors to join my artegi to replace Dorstark.”

That stung. “I apologize for putting you at a disadvantage…”

“Unnecessary. There are no apologies needed. Dorstark is his own person and made the choice freely. A decision I endorsed happily, though he had not needed my approval.”

“You have others too I thought. I have met some of your artegi and seen many others.”

“I do. About twenty with me. Ten times that in Videm. More scattered across my estates.”

My eyes nearly bulged out of my head. “That many? I had not realized.”

She stood, extending her hand to clasp my wrist - signaling she really did need me to leave. “I am filled with both joy and sorrow in admitting that you have one of the best I have ever had the honor of counting among my artegi.”

Well, damn. That is rather heavy to consider. Nespolan had a small artegi army, and Dorstark was elite among them.

It also put things into perspective a bit more as I considered the implications. She is a royal. Her power in this world was not in slinging spells. She wields a great military, is supported by an array of advisors, and commands the respect of Norvos.

Compared to that, what am I?

Her hand hung between us, awaiting me to respond.

“Oh. That was not actually the favor I came to ask.”

“Please, ask me what you have come to,” she said, still standing. “I must finish preparations for us to leave tomorrow.”

“That is what I came to talk to you about actually. I will need another day in Gorn,” I blurted. “If that is possible.”

That brought her to sitting again, “By the favored gods, thank you. Yes. Granted. We shall leave a day later.”

“Just like that? No questions for me? No explanation required?”

“We are taking in many more nobles, adding hordes more in Gorn than we had in Korolm. All of them have their own accompaniments and supplies for them. Yet, I prepare for the worst and am acquiring more than enough for the entire caravan. This is a great favor to me.”

“You could have made the decision without my request. Right?”

“Yes, that would have been possible. I am not one to delay for my own reasons. Your demand to do so allows me to agree to it.”

“It was not a demand.”

“That is what I must tell the other nobles who will no doubt inquire as to our schedule change.”

“So, the blame is shifted to me?”

She shrugged, “In a way.”

“Sounds like exactly the way it is.”

“You have your additional day, as do I. There was no debate over it and the cost is relatively minor. You do technically outrank everyone in the caravan, save myself.”

“Did that once already.”

A long period of silence passed between us. The stern facade of a general bore into me. If I could melt into a puddle, I would do it right now.

Nespolan barked in laughter, cutting through the tension. “That you did, my friend. That you did.”

Royal or not, she would be on my payback list if I could prank her well enough one day.

“May I ask why you need another day?”

“I decided to make an investment and bring goods back with us to sell in Videm.”

“Clever,” she said with an air of parental pride and approval. “Would have made more of a profit if you had done so back in Orya.”

“Damnit,” I quietly condemned myself. That would have been a great idea. No use in crying over what I could not go back to change. C’est la vie.

“Yes, it would have been a great idea back there.”

“What are you buying up?”

“To be honest, not sure. Hired a caravan leader to lead the charge on that front with Dorstark watching over it all.”

“Again, good call involving your artegi. The man’s mind is like a vault with numbers and money.” She thumbed through the papers a bit, looking over a couple. “How much of your available funds are you utilizing?”

“Fifteen thousand gold.”

“That is a significant amount. It will mean many, many more wagons being added to the march,” she groaned. “I have a proposition for you, and a suggestion.”

“Of course.”

“I would suggest you purchase a great deal of refined ingots, iron and precious metals, as a priority over other goods. My proposition is that you allow me to invest as well.”

“How much do you want to put in? And why metal?”

“I have it on good authority that the king may be interested in purchasing a great deal more metal,” she said. If she were rubbing her hands together, it would complete the image of a plotter. “Your investment will be matched by my own.”

That sounded a lot like insider trading or something. Not quite so illegal here perhaps, and yet it still feels weird. There also probably weren’t investment markets like that in this world. With that thought, I made a mental note to check into it.

If there weren’t such markets, I might want to introduce this world to them. Insurance, banking, and auction houses too. Oh how I wish there were in-game auction houses in this not-at-all gamelike reality. I made tons of money that way when I played online.

“Good authority, eh? Alright. What is the catch?”

“The catch?”

“I meant, what else? Sounds too good to be true.”

“Nothing else. You handle it all and we will share profits from my investment.”

“I handle the work, you make money. Alright, fair enough.”

“You will also have the benefit of my soldiers protecting them all. As with every other wagon, there will be at least one or two riding along.”

Despite all the forces we had with us, I had been considering hiring a mercenary company to do just that. If I could have found one.

“Agreed.”

“Excellent! I will have it brought to your tent. Oh, and you will have two additional days given the extra capital.”

That sounded awesome, at first. It hit me a heartbeat later that I would be blamed for the delay. “Fuck… I’m not going to be making any friends among the nobles anytime soon.”

“Yeah, thanks for that,” I said, rolling my eyes. “Try not to have too much fun with the paperwork.” My parting words earned me a bonus grumble as I left her tent.

I had to update Dorstark and Kup, neither of whom I expected to be overly enthused with the idea of doubling the task in front of them. The elder mage was, as anticipated, not pleased with the addition. I didn’t think he was anyway. He didn’t seem upset, per se. Nor did he jump for joy.

Kup however did dance a little jig. Doubling the total amount would mean more money in his pocket, so I could understand that. Money can be an excellent motivator.

I gave them the update that they were to purchase as many metal ingots as we could find, or however many we could afford. Surely it wouldn’t be illegal for Nespolan to give me some advice like that. Right?

Whatever the case, it wasn’t important right now. This merchant quest of mine was entrusted to them.

They set about their tasks for the day with… Well, Kup had a pep in his step. Dorstark was dutiful.

Morslon and I spent the rest of the day actually getting things done, thankfully. There were not near as many interruptions as yesterday.

I invited the Duke of Gorn, his family, and guests to a private showing that night as well. They adored the novel form of entertainment, singing my praises afterward. Part of me wished I had thought to do the same for the Mors in Orya.

The next couple days flew by. When not being productive, I spent time in Gorn. Perusing the markets and sampling the food. I did manage to pick up a slew of random things, including what I needed for another quest I needed to complete before leaving the city.

Just for the sense of presence and presentation, I rode my new ginormous horse through the city with Morslon at my side on a normal sized mount.

My horse would need a name, as did my sword still. It is said that all the best swords have names. I’m not certain where that was said. Perhaps I had heard it somewhere.

It was immensely entertaining, I had to admit that to myself. The looks and this sense of legend, being larger than life itself, felt incredible. A more key piece of honesty I reminded myself of was that it was all a show.

I am not some great warrior or demon slayer. If there are giants, I am not one of them. I’m a tall, scrawny nerd with some good luck, who also possesses otherworldly tech and knowledge. That’s all.