The Red Lands 1

by ForestRage

Chu chuckled and then switched to a serious face.

  "How long do you have to work in this village?"

  Griz frowned while replying.

  "I have at least a year here. Then I have to serve five years in another two villages like this, before I can even earn the chance to be nominated. It would have been longer, but the profit from the Snow bear that was sent into the town cut my training time in half."

  Chu looked at Griz while the cogs began spinning in his head. He considered the Trading Post as a main company with branches spread throughout the Empire. Unlike those modern day companies, promotions here were more based on contacts than merits. After all, who would want to give up such a lucrative post in any world.

  "Then let's try to cut that time again."

  Chu looked at him in confidence.

  "I need a map to point out some things."

  Griz had one of the attendants bring the rough merchant map of the surrounding villages and town. It was a sketch drawn not to scale but outlining the roads from the villages and surrounding towns.

  The roads had little snippets of information, like how long a journey between the two points. There was even some small notes describing the bandits and other dangers that plagued certain areas.

  "As of now, nobody is willing to travel the roads. The garrison reinforcements will not venture out until the real players arrive. The Military is not stupid so I suspect they will position people here and here."

  Chu pointed to the villages to the north and south on the map.

  "Most likely they are going to try to search around these villages hoping for some sighting as to track it. What is beneficial to us is this."

  He pointed to the route between the town of Karst and the village.

  "For those who want to use the demon, they have no choice but to come here. That's because they need to consider the time from killing the demon to activating the stone. Simon said they have about five days after the death of the demon.”

  Chu placed a finger under his chin in thought before continuing

  “Our village is going to be at the center of all the action. Since most of the people are hurrying here, they are going to need supplies. Food, weapons, armor and ale; the staple of the Military and Adventurers alike."

  Griz nodded his head in agreement. He pitched in his two cents at this point, since the boy apparently did not grasp the situation.

  "I accept your point of using this time to stock up the village to make a profitable killing, but a merchant usually bets all his wealth on a journey to maximise his profit. A sane merchant will never take take this risk, especially when a demon beast is lurking around."

  Chu himself would never take this risk, since this had a high risk of turning a successful merchant into a pauper. The tales of merchant losing their wealth because of a sunken ship dotted written history.

  However, Chu had privy to information that no one else could dream of.

  The wolf pack that tormented the southern farms had met their demise at his hands, thus freeing up the dangers of wild animals for the time being. Griz might know of this since he traded with him, but he would never know the next secret.

  The wolf demon was dead.

  The culprit of this mass movement and upheaval lay wrapped frozen in his barn. At this time, no wild animal in their sane mind would attempt to mark the southern grasslands as their hunting territory.

  A large convoy of goods and supplies would travel unimpeded by danger, landing untold gold into the hands of the brave. When inflation hit this village, only showers of gold would descend.

  Luckily Griz was acting under the Trading Post banner. From what he had experienced, this company would have the resources to sell and profit. All it needed was someone to make a decision.

  "What if I tell you that you can safely travel between here and the next town without facing any danger. If you use this south route, it is doubly safe."

  Chu ran his fingers along the south route from the town of Karst. Although this map only showed the area around this province it was a priceless gem in Chu's eyes.

  Griz stared at him as if he was a madman spouting nonsense.

  "Don't give me that look, it doesn't suit you. To show you how serious I am. I am willing to become your slave for life if you encounter any troubles. I am even willing to throw in all the money I made. This is how sure I am of success."

  Griz swallowed his saliva as he watched the boy. They had only known each other for a short period of time. Although they had struck up a good relationship it wasn't that close where they had to risk their lives.

  Presently it was like meeting a neighbor who helped you for a month and then placed you on the spot by asking for a million dollar loan in return.

  "I am providing the information. It is up to you to make use of the opportunity. All I can say is that this is a sure bet to double your wealth before the roads become saturated with patrols.”

  The burly man stood up and paced around like an agitated beast. A gamble, but this gamble if the boy spoke true, would petter down to a low risk one. He had one nagging question before he committed himself.

  "How can you be so sure?"

  Chu leaned into the counter and dropped his voice to a whisper. Even Ming who was beside him could barely hear what he was saying.

  "I have an acquaintance in the slums who we pay to bring us firewood. Two days ago he overheard a conversation in the slums. The Mong bandits who normally appear in spring for recruitment from the slums had arrived.”

  Chu glanced around while continuing assuming the role of a blackmarketer.

  “The talk was that the bandits had been ambushed by the wolf demon to the north. It seemed that their hideout between the two villages was breached by the demon. The man also said that the demon was currently pursuing some of their comrades who fled into the forest."

  Griz looked at Chu and saw the excited face that occurred when one had just released a big bottled-up secret. Glancing at the side, the boy next to him also showed the same shock and nodded in amazement. If Griz only knew what was really passing through his mind, he would puke blood.

  'OMG Chu is so amazing! When will I ever be able to lie with such a straight face.'

  Griz motioned to Simon who was sitting at the back to join them. He relayed the news to Simon with Chu filling in some of the pieces.

  The old guard sat down to think for a moment.

  "If true, then this could lead to a golden opportunity. The commander did say the profile of this demon bordered on the fanatical and vindictive. Remember this thing actually wiped out an entire patrol. Most likely the demon will play with its new prey.”

  Simon said.

  Griz restarted his pacing on hearing the advice.

  "Take Simon with you and bring back your friend, I want to hear the story from his own mouth."

  He glanced at the boy only to pause in mid turn. The sight made him feel like a bully.

  Chu's eyes welled up as he fought back the tears.

  "He's dead Griz. Dead! We came today to carry him back with us only to find out he disappeared last night. It seemed that the bandit spies found him.”

  Chu sniffed.

  “To avenge Tom, I will not let his death go in vain. I only hope for you to become rich so my friends and I can receive some of the bread crumbs. Only by becoming stronger will we be able to someday find the person and avenge Tom."

  The rivers rolled down his face as the small boy sniffled and wept. The grown men could only begin to fathom the bonds between these companions forged in hardship. Chu's performance was breathtaking.

  As for Ming, he had broken down and was sobbing at the side.

  'OMG If I could only lie like this. Sue would never know if I stole more meat from the pot. Poor, poor Tom he was such a good friend!'

  Caught up in the height of the moment Griz gritted his teeth. This distraction to the doubts forming in his mind allowed the greed of a merchant to win him over. The weight of the anticipated success final
ly broke his resistance.

  He caved.

  "Simon get our messenger ready. I will get those lazy assistants to draft out the supplies we are going to need to cater for the influx of adventurers. If we are going to do it, we will do it big!"

  Chapter 37

  Conspiring all Around

  In a large room of the Trading post Griz was sitting on a chair sipping some hot tea. Simon copied his actions, savoring the bitter taste while sitting opposite him. A small fire lighting in a brazier providing light and much-needed heat.

  This sort of bourgeois scene was naturally better than what took place in the homes of villagers.

  The room spanned around a twelve by twelve square foot area, the chairs composed of roughly made wood with the added luxury of a seat cushion and the tea was something Chu might have considered as severely diluted.

  This picture would come across as crude in the eyes of nobles and the wealthy, but here at the far end of the Empire it epitomized the word luxury. In all the villages lined across the frontier, not one father would hesitate to sell his daughter for a chance at living this good life.

  Amidst the light and shadows that flickered in the room, Griz placed the wooden cup on the small table between them and sighed. If Chu witnessed this scene, he would immediately think they were hatching some shady deal.

  Griz looked to Simon breaking the silence between them.

  "What do you think?"

  Simon finished his tea and straightened his back.

  "I think we have both been around long enough not to get played by such a trick."

  He laughed as he continued

  "The boy sounded convincing, nearly duping me in his scheme. Any younger and I would have been fooled. The excuse of his dead companion did come across as too much of a coincidence.“

  Griz nodded twisting his lips in a slight sneer.

  "Maybe if I had known him for over a couple of years I would have bought his little show. He acted too naive in his thinking. I have read his character like a book since we first met. Like hell he would leave a loyal companion in the slums to live during winter.

  All those kids that trudge along side him have been getting bigger and fatter.

  The fact of the matter is, he treats his friends very well. He never once called the person in the slums his 'friend'. Then he had the nerve to tell me he was going to pick the guy up. Stupid kid must be thinking I was born yesterday!"

  The burly man gritted his teeth in anger.

  Simon laughed in amusement at Griz expression.

  "He really does know how to act. Give him a couple of years and he would make a terrifying merchant. He might even be able to sell stones to make money."

  Griz snorted in response.

  "Years? Hah! For him, it would only take months."

  Chu had neglected the fact that Griz was also a man of business. Even in a backward Empire like this in comparison to his old world, merchants handed down their stories of experiences.

  When a person's job deals with interacting with all kinds of characters everyday, he is bound to learn how to read a person by their actions.

  This was one of the reasons that Griz was sent to all these places to train. Chu might have only had a couple of years experience, but Griz was learning and interacting among people since the age of ten.

  Coupled with the years of experience listening and watching his father, he had far more experience than Chu.

  The only reason that Chu could compete with his experience was because of one advantage from his old world.

  Technology. More specific the Internet.

  It opened the doors to bring one closer to all the con artist and schemes of the world. Coupled with his first experiences when he moved to the city, Griz could not even begin to fathom how deep his schemes went.

  Technology aside, merchants and tradesmen still had generations of dealing with swindlers, crooks, and gold diggers. Of course some of them even excelled in those fields.

  Griz had kept his eye on the brat ever since they met on day one. It didn't take a blind man to see the way he treated his friends. Every single kid associated with the brat was as well cared as a noble.

  He even let them have free reign over money, something Griz would definitely not have allowed. While chatting Griz didn't fail to notice the boys companion busy on the side haggling with his assistants.

  Simon broke his train of thoughts

  "Lies aside, why did you still send out the messenger?"

  Griz drained his warm tea

  "I told you I have read that boy like a book. That part about the companion was all bogus, I am sure of it. The part about the wolf demon and bandits, not that sure either. But the part about making money and the guarantee the route is safe. I am certainly convinced that it is true."

  "Ohh. How can you be so sure?"

  Griz grinned at the guard.

  "I once said that those brats are despicable merchants. No merchant would stake as much as he did on a deal. That alone convinced me that to him at least, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. That kid is far from being an idiot. He only moves when he smells gold."

  "You are right. I get the feeling that he knows exactly what he is doing. That's why I didn't have a problem when you sent for the messenger. But something tell me he is definitely hiding something. Call it my experience from adventuring, but that kid has more secrets to him than half of these villagers combined."

  Griz nearly choked on Simon's statement.

  "You think so to huh? That brat has always been an enigma. But this time he seemed to have forgotten something. No Merchant would agree in his right mind to risk his entire savings on a bet so quickly. Didn't you see his face when I summoned the messenger?"

  "I certainly did, it was a combination of relief and joy. I might have been thinking his friends were captured and held hostage to fool us. But that expression on his face was more like yours when you extort a bargain from someone."

  Griz coughed

  "Yes I was watching him like a hawk. No matter how he got this information, It is as real as can be. I have become this close to success because of him. The Snow bear was one, then those pelts came at a good time for me to forge a solid relationship with Habil and the other merchant families. I am banking on this one to secure my position firmly."

  Since Griz was one of those training to become the Head of the Trading Post company in a town, Simon was the guard captain assigned to him. Because of his old man, Griz was fortunate to have someone who had succeeded in a Talisman Awakening. This was the Trading Post means of compensation to his old man for the years of service.

  This was the reason why in an insignificant village like this, someone like Simon was staying and not simply passing through. Others like him would have been either seeking adventure in the north or living in comfort in the cities.

  "I sent the messenger out to Karst with two guards. If things go well, I am certain that by the end of the year or even sooner I will obtain the head position in Karst."

  Simon nodded in agreement

  "I think that you would be the youngest person to actually sit on such a position. Most of those Heads in the towns are old hands from the cities who never climbed to the top positions."

  Griz laughed

  "Let's hope that it turns out this way. I now have a way to gain extra support."

  In a small room in the same compound, Chu and Ming were sitting unaware that they were the subject of discussion.

  Ming was pouring on the complements nice and thick

  "Wow Chu. You are so awesome, I was even starting to believe we had a friend named Tom. I was so sad that he died. I wish you could teach me to fib with a straight face."

  Chu snorted and gave him a glare

  "Don't try to butter me up. You think I don't know what you are up to. Next time Sue complains about you hogging meat, is the day you return to eating porridge. Now did you do what I asked?"

  Ming moved closer to the boy. Both of them were sit
ting on the ground whispering in secret. Unlike the crime syndicate, boss-meeting scene playing out in the other room between Griz and Simon, they looked like street thugs huddled in an alley while planning a purse snatching.

  "The old man named Bai is still there. He already shacked up with a batch of young men for the winter. Old man Rob always warned me to be wary of the guy before he died. He once said Bai acted as the eyes and ears of the bandits in the village.”

  Ming reported and then continued

  “Anyway, looks like Old Rob was right, the old guy has those ruffians keeping the people in the slums in check. They have put the girls and other children in shacks close to them. I think that the ones kept there are going to be taken by bandits."

  Unlike Ming who still had some attachments to the slums, Chu was relatively free of such sentiments. He was to busy trying to avoid problems of his own, much less taking on new headaches.

  "I don't think that the bandits may come this year either."

  "What?! You mean that the Mong bandits were really killed off by the wolf demon?"

  Chu knocked his head

  "No you idiot, think about it. This place is soon going to be swarming with all different types of power from the Empire. No sane country bandits are going to pop up around this village with the intention to steal and kidnap children. That would be like painting a bullseye on their backs. As for the Mong bandits I simply made the story up when I saw the notes on the map."

  Chu said.

  Would any noble or high-ranking person tolerate someone else snatching away their own playthings. Chu didn't think so. Friction was bound to happen when the high and low class people in society rubbed together.

  "In a short time this place is going to be bustling like a market. It seems like we are not going to be able to make any money off that demon."

  Ming was smart enough to understand the predicament they were in.

  "But what are we going to do Chu. That thing is going to be like a hot bread in the middle of winter. Everybody is going to be fighting for it."

  Chu shot a gaze at him, knowing the boy spoke the truth.

  "All we need is to get as far away from it as possible. The search will begin in the north where they last sighted it. Only we know the truth that it chased the garrison soldiers within the forest to the south. Our best bet is to place it where they can find it before they begin thinking of journeying south.”