Chapter 8 - Big Spending

In the Building that serves as the headquarters of 'Dream Deal'. A 5-year-old Calais could be seen walking into a room with his father Miadithis.

"Good evening Miss. Rocco. I trust you haven't been waiting long." Miadithis said.

"No, not at all only a few minutes. I trust this meeting will be quick anyways. Especially so from the messages, you have been sending my family recently." The lithe pumpkin-hair-colored woman replied.

"Great, and yes I am rather anxious and excited about our current ventures in my own family. As you know, we contacted you because of our need for food. Specifically cheese, beef, and potatoes. All of which the Rocco's have and sell at an affordable price."

"Yes, for the aforementioned products. We are currently pricing them at 20 silver per pound of cheese. 40 silver per pound of beef. And 2 silver per pound of potatoes." Miss. Rocco's said with delight in her yellow eyes.

Shaking his head Miadithis responded. "Leontia, our families have known each other a long time. You and I personally for many years. I know as well as you do that these prices are ridiculous."

"Oh, and what would you have me sell them at?" Leontia Rocca's replied.

"5 silver for the cheese, 10 for beef, and 1 for potatoes."

"Hah, you insult me to my face. You certainly have grown more spin than before. I half expected you just to run away, 15 for cheese 30 for beef and don't even bother with the potatoes. You know 2 silvers are the going rate for a pound."

"Fine, 2 silvers for each pound of potatoes, but 30 for beef is too high."

"Then 15 for cheese and 25 for beef." Leontia purposed.

"No, 10 for cheese as is the market price in Dilshad. And 20 for beef."

"Ah, but we are not in Dilshad. The product would have to cross the shallow coast of the Atillin sea. Then dock in Nevada and go by land to Gundahar. Thus 15 for cheese is as low as I can go. But I can sell you 20 silvers per pound of beef if you buy 200 pounds." Leontia purposed again.

Her yellow eyes glanced at Calais briefly wondering what the child was doing here.

"One moment," Miadithis said as he gently guided Calais outside of the room.

"Calais about how much beef goes into these burgers you plan on selling?" Miadithis questioned.

"Each burger can be made from about 4 ounces of beef. But I was planning on using more from 6 to 7."

"Ok, say we sell 7-ounce burgers. That's over 400 burgers if I buy these 200 pounds Leontia is offering. It will go bad in under a month if not used. So do you think we can sell 400 burgers along with everything else at the restaurant?"

Well, people will love the food I have no doubt about that. But the question is if they will buy it consistently. Gundahar definitely has rich people and well-off people. But can the poor people afford a pizza or a burger even fries? Calais thought.

"Yes, I believe we can. The fries and pizza will be cheaper so we will need more cheese, bread, and tomatoes. I also think pizza will be more popular because of the cost. This may affect burger sales actually. Ah but burgers are easier to make! Man, this is a hard decision." Calais said sighing.

"Mhm, I wanted you to understand all this. Which is why I had you come to the meeting. Leontia is actually my friend and won't cut us too bad of a deal. Just rest assured I have already decided." Miadithis said with a smile before heading back in.

Leontia was still seated in her chair drinking tea. When Miadithis and Calais entered, she set her cup down and asked. "Deal is still on I assume?"

"Yes, actually you have a deal. 2 silvers for each pound of potatoes. 15 for cheese and 20 for beef."

"Great!" Leontia said smiling. "Now all that's left is how much will you be ordering?"

"200 pounds of cheese and 200 pounds of beef. Lastly 50 pounds of potatoes."

"Beautiful, that'll cost 71 gold."

"Okay, I'll be sure to contact you again in about a month. I will decide if this will be a recurring order or if there will be adjustments." Miadithis said while standing up and reaching to shake hands.

"Perfect, It was good to see you again MIadithis. Pleasure doing business." Leontia said as she shook Miadithis's hand and exited.

…

"Now that is over Calais. It's time to do something that's needed to be done for a while now." Miadithis said.

Currently, the Father-Son duo was walking down Butcher Street. The street housed various shops from the butcher, carpenter, and even a shoemaker. But currently, they were headed to the Barber.

"When we go in here just let me do all the talking and only talk if you are talked to," Miadithis warned.

"Okay, Father."

Opening the door Calais's first impression was a surprise. This looks like a really high-class barber shop. Weird even though this all looks very expensive and there are even bookshelves full of books. 5 leather chairs and a couple of leather sofas as well.

The bell rang as they entered the door and a shout was heard from somewhere in the back of the shop. "Be there in a moment!"

Then a 6'2 man with an athletic build and salt and pepper hair came out. He wore dark brown loose-fitting pants. A long sleeve white shirt that had its sleeves rolled up to the elbow. His facial hair was neatly trimmed. So was his hair which was styled as a combover.

His red eyes lit up when he saw Miadithis. And slightly narrowed at Calais before saying, "Welcome Miadithis! It's been a while, here for a hair cut a presume?" The man said with a smile.

"Not today Van. I'm here to browse some of your wares."

Pausing briefly Van dropped the smile and said, "The kid coming too?"

"Yes, he will stay with me the whole time. And not say or do anything he shouldn't," Miadithis said putting his hand on Calais's shoulder.

Van didn't respond and just stood there not moving. A minute later he said, "Are you mocking me Miadithis?"

"No I was serious, I intend to buy some help around the house."

Pausing again without moving Van responded a minute later. "Hmm, why bring a kid then?"

"He is coming first to understand more about the happenings of the city. Second to get his opinion on who I purchase."

Pausing for a few seconds again "... You would take advice from a child?" Van said.

"Not advice, just his opinion," Miadithis responded.

".... You will pay extra."

"Fine," Miasdithis said with a sigh. "Just take us to your wares and let's be done."

Nodding his head Van motioned for them to follow before turning around. He leads the Father-Son duo through a door. To a backroom before approaching a wall-spanning bookshelf. Van pushed a black book at the center of the bookshelf and cause the bookshelf to crack open like a door. Pushing it open and entering a staircase that went to a tunnel. The tunnel was lit sparsely by the same rune lights that lit the streets of Gundahar. These ones are much smaller though still plenty for this tunnel.

I guess this secret entrance isn't very secret if he just shows it to people. Calais thought.

After walking for 3 minutes. They arrived at another door this one being grey, metallic looking.

Van walked up and knocked 3 times. A small slidable hatch opened and a voice said, "who is it?"

Van didn't say anything and knocked 3 more times. This caused the hatch to open again with the same voice slightly annoyed this time saying, "who is it?"

Again Van said nothing and knocked 3 more times. This time though the voice said, "Confirm" before sliding a sort of blackboard out with a small piece of chalk.

Van quickly took it and shielded it from Miadithis and Calais with his body. He wrote something and knocked 3 more times.

The hatch opened and Van gave the voice the blackboard he wrote on. A second later the door opened and a Bald, Buff man with red eyes.

"Evening Van, weren't you done for the day?" The bald man asked.

"Yes, I was. Sven, I have a customer who will be paying slightly extra to view our living wares. Take him to the showroom and take out a few who might suit his preference." Van said and paused turning around and glancing at Miadithis.

"He says he wants some help around the house."

"Help help?" Sven asked.

Glancing at Miadithis in askance, Van waited for a response.

"No no! Nothing like that just help with chores and such. Take care of the kids when we're not there you know." Miadithis said defensively.

"You heard them. Take them to the usual place when they are done," Van said as he left the room through the same metallic door.

"Alright, you 2. I'm going to get some wares for you just head through the door in front of you and go up the stairs. After that go right and head through that door and find a place to sit while I get what you need." Sven said as he went into a room to the right.

"Follow me, Calais," Miadithis told his Son. As he followed Sven's directions taking him to a sort of auditorium. The seats were red and curtains draped a wooden stage at the front.

Calais and his Father found some seats and waited patiently. It was all but a few minutes until Sven came back with 4 people chained and tired looking.

"Here are your options currently. If you don't like what you see you can come back in a few months, we should have others by then.

"This is fine for now," Miadithis said as he and Calais walked up to the stage.

The people in collars were different in appearance but shared the same hopeless eyes. The man on the far left stood about 5'9. He had black hair that was turning gray. Next to him to his right was a woman. She had black skin and light blueish hair.

Oh wow. That is the first person of a different ethnicity I have seen since being reborn. Calais thought.

The 3rd person from the left was a large tan-skinned man. Standing well over his tall father and packed with muscle, the man was the spitting image of a warrior.

Lastly on the far right was a young woman. Around 20 years old but had gray hair, pink eyes, pale white skin, and a stunning figure.

Maybe she was born with gray hair because she certainly isn't old. Calais mussed as he was evaluating the slaves.

These collars also have runic inscriptions on them. They probably punish them for attempting to take them off or escape. Looking at their eyes maybe they get punished for even thinking of escaping.

Miadithis walked up to the man on the far left giving him a look over then asked. "What's your name, high leveled skills, and active ability?"

The partially gray-haired man met his eyes and said. "Anton, (Trading) is my only skill above 10 and it is level 20. My active is [Im not short], it lets me make myself bigger or smaller at will for mana."

Nodding his head Miadithis went to the black girl and asked the same questions. She said, "Lilit, (Tracking) level 20, active [Im drowning] allows me to breathe underwater."

Nodding again before moving to the large muscular man. "And you?"

"Billup, (Axes) level 20, [Knock on wood] I can change my skin to wood."

"Lastly you, what is your name, high-level skills, and active?"

"Paula, (Cooking) level 20, [Im hungry] I can conjure a meal I have eaten in the past for mana."

"Can you eat it without side effects?"

"Yes"

"Can you give it to someone else? Is there a limit on distance?" Miadithis questioned.

"The only limit is having to eat it before and the mana cost. The more food cost more mana with the average loaf of bread only costing 10 mana."

"That is very useful. Anything you have eaten huh?" Miadithis then turned to Sven and asked, "what are their prices?"

"Far left is 20 gold, 30 for the Ormazy to his right, 30 for the brute, and 50 for the bitch."

Definitely see the use in buying Lilit for a level 20 (Tracking). But she only has an okay active. Compared to Anton and Paula who both have useful prestige skills and actives. The choice is pretty clear. Calais thought and met his Fathers eyes, giving him a slight nod.

"I'll take the far right and left ones."

"That'll be 70 gold. Van said I had to charge you extra but didn't say how much so ill just charge 5 extra gold. Good with you?"

"75 gold then," Miadithis said sighing and handing it to Sven.

"Yea that'll do. This is the control stone for their collars." Sven said giving Miadithis a red runic inscribed orb.

"I'm sure you know how it works but just in case. You have to drop the blood of the one who is going to give them commands into it. As well as the slave you wish to command. This is tied to the collars so the commands will reset when switching owners of the control stone. So you can keep the commands which are currently on them or reset owners. Not my problem either way just know if they have no commands on them they are essentially free."

"Got it. Thank you for the reminder, this is all we came for so we will be leaving now." Miadithis said.

"Alright, I'll show you guys the exit."

Calais and Miadithis followed Sven down a couple of hallways before going up a set of stairs. The whole time their new purchases Anton and Paula followed quietly behind them.

The set of stairs lead to a garden hatch door which Sven opened. He instructed them to exit through the gate and they should be able to find their way from there.

"Let's get home. We got some things to test before bed," Miadithis said as he lead the group in the direction of the Ithai home.