Rewards

The wait was killing me.

Not only did i have to wait for my Expedition reward i also needed to stay unconnected a whole 3 hours on a weekend!

I prepared dinner, ate with Annie, did my laundry, cleaned my room and surfed on the net.

As i was looking at my favourite MMORPG website i saw an article that immediately got my attention.

"Neet.tv and RetroGame have announced the diffusion of a weekly new programme called Travelling on New Roads!.

The first season is about the Punitive Expedition of the starting city Djaden in Braeen Kingdom.

According to the official announcement post it will follow the actions of the Expedition Force top player, Ben Varrand, and feature three more avatars to complete and broaden the adventure comprehension.

Following seasons will also concern long quests.

The first episode is to be diffused in Two weeks time on Neet.tv.

More details are yet to be communicated."

They are already announcing it... Three more players? Maybe for the patrols and clearing battles?

When the time was finally here i went back to New Roads!.

As i was connecting, after the sense checks, instead of taking corporal form in Djaden City, a window formed in front of me.

"The Strange Skill Book magic has taken effect.

The Strange Skill Book has transformed into a Business Owner Skill Book."

Business Owner skill... Sounds good to me.

I closed the window and was brought in Djaden's central plaza, next to the fountain. It was already evening in the game. I immediately opened my backpack and used the book to learn the skill. As i did a set of windows appeared.

"You have learned the skill Business Owner.

Business Owner: Beginner 1: (0%)

You can now buy and manage businesses. This skill is only limited by the players capability as a business man. It does not level up.

Fame+100

Leadership, Respect+5

Intelligence, Luck+3"

"Through your learning of the skill Business Owner and procession of the Trading, Contracting and Market Value Evaluation, high Leadership, Respect and Honour skills and stats you have started on the Path of the Merchant Leader.

You can only set it as your Primary Path. Do you confirm?"

"Yes."

"The Path of the Merchant Leader has been set as your primary Path.

Your stats have all increased by 10 points."

"You have reached level 20 and filled all of your Path slots. You can now choose your Job."

Yes!!

I wanted to go to the Training Hall And go see Kaden to set my Job but group of Guards came to me."

"Are you Ben Varrand?"

"Yes i am. what can i do for you?"

"The Lord wishes to see you. Please follow us."

Accompanied by the six guards i went up the Noble's street, under the eyes of the few players and NPCs presense i passed the heavy iron portal leading to the manor's private gardens.

We passed lush trees, large bushes and flowers, went around a fountain and finally reached the Manor's door.

The guards left me in the care of a severe looking butler.

"You go in, cross the room, kneel before the Lord then you keep silent. only talk when asked to. Understood?"

I nodded and he led me to a large double door. as the door opened i saw a high roofed reception room filled with important looking NPC's, the people parted, creating a corridor, at its end a man, dressed in luxurious closes and a small tiara on his head sat on a wooden the one on an elevated part of the floor. With his short beard, long hair and clothes he looked like the typical middle age good and noble old king from movies.

I stepped into the passage, walking with as much assurance as i could muster.

What does the City's Lord want with me?

The nobles, rich merchants and influent citizens of Djaden all watched me. Among them i saw Serena Miller, Beok Cage and Kaden, looking at me proudly.

I stopped in front of the throne and bowed my head, waiting in silence.

"Ben Varrand, i believe you recently took part in the Punitive Expedition in the Forest?"

The man voice was powerful.

"Yes my Lord."

What was your task in this Expedition?"

"I was the cook, sir"

"Hum... Are you telling me that a cook killed the Bandits chief, devised a strategy to find then conquer the enemies camps and recuperated by belongings while up holding his duties?"

"I wish to say that i was only bringing my own contribution to the Expedition. i cooked and gave a few ideas. that was all. The soldiers and officials made it all happen."

"Considering how the Expedition Captain and the few soldiers i interrogated talk of you, i very much doubt it. in fact from what i hear, the Expedition could have gone much worse if it weren't for your actions and ideas."

The man took the time to look at me.

"I have thought deeply of how to reward you for your actions. Now that i look at you the answer appears clearly to me.

For your dedication to your cook's position and the soldiers' well-being, the medicinal support, the execution of Smiling Outlaw Jack, the localisation of all four enemies camps, the help in spying on them, planning the offensive, participating in the offensive, gathering information on the last bandit hideout, infiltrating it, securing two of its three entries, locating my stolen belongings and organising the transport of all valuables from the bandit camps back to the city i bestow upon you the right of Noblesse, from now on you are a part of Braeen's Lower Nobles.

Along with it i bestow the Forest Ruins Renovation Project upon you. your starting founds will be constituted off the benefits from the items retrieved from the Bandits, except for all the food related Items recuperated which are now your personal belongings as a reward for your outstanding Cook's work!"

The room exploded under the applause as a set of new windows popped up in front of me.

"You have completed the quest Bandits Camp Punitive Expedition Force Cook's Position.

For completing your cook's duties you have obtained :

23 pigs

31 chickens

15 sheep

418 round cheese

213 bread loaf

634 carrots

579 potatoes

356 beef meat

362 onions

735 flour bags

8 water barrels

3 fine wine barrels

6 wine barrels

12 fresh chicken eggs

13 silver coins, 100 bronze coins

5000 Exp

1000 acknowledgement points in the Braeen Kingdom."

"Position efforts results labelled as Legendary."

"You are now a Lesser Noble of Braeen Kingdom.

Being a noble can open you many doors, special Positions will be available to you.

Fame +150"

"You have received Braenn Lesser Noble's Ring"

"Braeen Lesser Noble's Ring

Durability: 35/35

Value: 1,000

A copper ring with Braeen Kingdom's emblem on it.

As long as you wear it, people will recognise you as a member of Braeen's Lower Nobility.

Leadership, Honour +15

Respect +10"

"You are now the Forest Ruins Renovation Project Manager. This Position allows you access to the Forest Ruins Management Window."

On the top right of my vision i saw the red blinking recording icon disappear. the video was over.

I stayed in the reception hall three more hours, getting to know as much nobles as i could. Then the City Lord left th room, soon followed by the rest of the crowd. I stayed the night in. A guest room. then when the morning came, i left. On my way out of the Manor i made sure to pick anything i could from the garden.

Back at the central plaza i took the time to think about what i should do.

First, i have to get rid of all those animals before the end of this in game week or i will have to pay to have them kept in a farm...

I was planning on selling them when another idea came to me. Leaving the city i walked to the old driver's farm. it was decrepit and would need some help to make it run.

I found the old man in the house, cleaning the dust away.

"Ben! what can i do for you?"

"I was wondering if you were interested in a few farm animals..."

"I am. but i first need to renovate the farm and get at least two workers."

"What if i can get you that?"

"Then i will gladly buy any animals you have in your procession."

I left the farm and went back to the city. I went to find Vreen's cousin, the architect and got him to work on renovating the farm, promising him that if i liked his work i would hire him for the Ruins Renovation Project. i went by all the restaurants i knew, selling my food ingredients at the best price i could. In one of them i met Nathan's relative, the cook and told him that once the Renovation Project was advanced enough i would contact him for a job.

Then i opened the forest Ruins Renovation Project Management Window.

It consisted of an 3D representation of the underground Ruins, its three entries and the back entry camp. A list of all the available improvements for the under and above installation were presented to me, along with the list of men that would be under my commend to protect the site.

Next to it was the list of the looted objects. I started selling those.

The average player would have sold everything in one go at one shop, but i spent the whole day negotiating the prices, selling the items at different shops. at the end i had obtained half more coins than the normal way.

I had kept a few tents and the ten wagons.

The next step would be to hire workers and bring them to the site. To do so i would need men to protect them and material to build and feed them.

Using it for the first time i opened my Friend Repertoire. there was only one name i. It. Seymour.

I PMed him. His reply was immediate.

-Ben?

-Hey Seymour! what are you doing right now?

-Hunting in the northern mines why?

-I need help accomplishing a mission and i was wondering if you would help.

-That is, i am currently in a party so...

-If they want to come too they can.

-I will ask them.

-Thank you Seymour

There was a few moments of silence then Seymour started messaging me again.

-They want to know what kind of quest this is.

-Protection of a caravan from the city to a construction site in the Forest in the South East and 20 days of guarding said place then the way back.

- So a whole month of work?

-Yes.

-Who is in charge of the Caravan? And what kind is it?

-Me. Ten wagons full of building materiel and workers.

Another break then he was back.

-What about the pay?

I thought about it for a while then decided on it.

-70 bronzes a day. Lodging and Food is provided.

-We are in.

-How many of you are interested?

-We are five.

-If they have friends they can also bring them. I need at least twenty fighters, ten archers and a few magicians and healers.

-Got it. I will tell them.

-See you at the plaza in two in game days? Morning?

-Okay see you.

After that i went to the stables and hired ten wagon drivers, among which Owen and Landell who had gotten a promotion. i then stopped by the Architect guild and posted a Player made quest for any Architect players to apply for and hired 20 builders.

My last stop was at the Barracks. Most of the soldiers that had been part of the Expedition had been promoted. Carl had even decided to stay in Djaden thanks to that. after chatting with my old men i went i chosed my own soldiers. i only took new NPC soldiers. I wanted them to stay at the Ruins for a while.

I told them to gather by the southern gates in three days time and disconnected.

After stretching a bit i took my helmet and went to the RetroGame Building. there i signed the last paperwork and gave them my game cartridge.

They extracted my video while Mr Quelt was talking to me, telling me how they had planned to show my adventure and the other players parts.

"Oh, by the way congratulation for reaching the top of the Wall of Fame."

It took me a while to realise what he had said.

It was true, thanks to my becoming a noble i had earned 150 Fame points and therefor jumped up to the 1rst place.

Sandy came back with my cartridge and i soon went home and went on the Wall of Fame to confirm it.

There i was at the top of the players, i added my Lesser Noble title to my profile and added a small notification

"I am going on a second expedition, looking for 1 healer, 3 far ranged damage dealers, 5 close ranged combatants. level 8-13 preferred.

Meet at the south gates in two in game days.

pay: 70 bronze a day,

food provided,

risks: wild animals, outlaws, red players,

10 in game travel days, 20 in game day guarding a site, 10 in game days travelling back to Djaden.

Probable supplementary travels between Djaden and the protected site.

Then i connected back to New Roads!. i went to the old man's farm, renovations were under way, the walls of the house had already been replaced and a dozen workers were now making new wooden barriers. One of the workers had decided to work on the farm, i found a second man, aimlessly wandering through the surrounding farms fields. i soon as i proposed him to work at the farm i started looking at me like i was his saviour.

I could as well have been as he truly looked like a beggar in his filth covered clothes and his sorrowful expression.

After fulfilling his conditions i brought the topic of the animals back.

"I will buy them, yes. How much do you want for all of them?"

"I don't want to sell them to you for money but a contract."

"Oh? do tell."

"The Renovation Project in the forest, the workers and guards will need food. and after the renovation is finished there will be an inn and tavern too. i will give you the animals in exchange for the Project to always be your top priority client and a5% reduction of your prices this year and a 1% reduction for all those who follow."

"Hum... i think it is fair. fine i accept! where do i sign?"

After that i officially hired the architect and told him the extend of my project. he calculated the amount o material needed for the first phase and i went to buy it, telling the shop clerk to have it ready at the south gate the next day at mid day.

The rest of the day i spent it hunting foxes out in the fields and farms.