4.3 - Returning Kindness

Dourk Tavern, Walluo City.

The lunch was quick and the food was quite delicious as Captain Rumus said. It can be said that the delicacy of each menu is equivalent to a family restaurant on earth. Something that extraordinary because in the Amstell Continent, salt, sugar, and spices are expensive and rare commodities.

Unfortunately, the ginger beer served by Dourk Tavern made the Magwurt City group want to cry and swear non-stop.

"This beer tastes like horse pee mixed with boiled ginger water."

Captain Rumus complained while glancing at the Amur Beer samples that his men brought.

"Maybe we can offer Amur Beer to this tavern owner."

LtC. Slane said casually, and Captain Rumus immediately responded with a half scream.

"Ser Slane, with all due respect, I think Amur Beer deserves a better place."

Still in a pleading tone Captain Rumus continued.

"One of my men can return to Magwurt City to pick up Ser Maine, then we can follow her advice to meet the nobles at Walluo Castle."

LtC. Slane took a bite of the apple in his hand before saying.

"Captain, it doesn't matter where we start, what matters is where we end. After all, the Amur Beer we carry is not an exclusive commodity for nobles."

Captain Rumus fell silent while LtC. Slane cheerfully called out to one of the waitresses.

"I want to thank the cook for this delicious lunch, can I offer him a glass of beer?"

The female waitress who seemed to be 17-18 years old nodded slightly before saying proudly.

"Papa was the head cook at Walluo Castle before opening this tavern. Unfortunately, he was kicked out for the habit of giving leftovers to beggars."

"No wonder."

LtC. Slane nodded slightly, then took a beer glass that will be included in the promotion of Amur Beer. Meanwhile, Captain Rumus grabbed a small barrel containing Amur Beer samples from his men and immediately opened the seal.

As Amur Beer poured into the glass in LtC. Slane's hand, the female waitress amazed at the very clear golden-yellow beer.

Not long after the young waiter brought Amur Beer into the kitchen, an old man in casual clothes and a cream-colored apron came out carrying an empty glass.

All of the man's hair had turned white, his face was also full of wrinkles, but the man's steps were very steady while his eyes were sharp and clear.

The Old Man gave a small bow before the Magwurt City group, then saying,

"Gentlemen, my name is Dourk and I am very honored by your compliments. The beer you have brought is extraordinarily delicious and much better than the beer at Walluo Castle."

Old Man Dourk looked at the empty glass in his hand before continuing in admiration.

"I don't know who made it, but I'm sure it took decades or maybe generations to perfect the recipe."

LtC. Slane immediately rose to his feet before giving a small bow to Old Man Dourk.

"My name is Slane, thanks for your compliment, and is it okay if the Amur Beer you just tasted was sold through this tavern?"

Captain Rumus immediately invited Old Dourk to sit in his chair, or to be precise in front of LtC. Slane, and without hesitation Old Dourk accepted the good intention as he said.

"I don't mind, but I doubt I can buy Amur Beer. This shop's profit is not great. I can't even hire workers, and only rely on my wife to help out in the kitchen while my two daughters are waitresses."

LtC. Slane turned to the boy in the corner of the tavern before saying.

"How about him?"

"While recuperating Sturk is working here, but apart from food and shelter I can't pay him properly. So I don't know how long he will last."

After pondering for a moment, LtC. Slane said.

"Amur Beer is not expensive, only 6 coins/glass. Also, for the first year you only pay 48 liters for each barrel of 50 liters."

Old Dourk looked at LtC. Slane with wide eyes and open mouth before doubtfully asked.

"Are you sure about the offer?"

"Of course."

"How many have you brought?"

"32 barrels, after the seal is opened, each barrel must be consumed within 12 days before the taste becomes softer. For unopened barrels, the taste can last up to 3-4 years as long as it is stored properly."

After making a brief calculation Old Man Dourk said.

 "I'll take 15 barrels then."

 "Can you take them all?"

"Sorry, I have adequate storage, but I still have to use the money to buy vegetables, fruit, eggs, meat, and other foodstuffs."

"Mr. Dourk, right now you just have to pay a down payment and next month I will come to collect the rest. You can also return the unsold beer as long as it is in its original condition, or increase the order."

Old Dourk looked at LtC. Slane deeply before saying.

"Mr. Slane, you have a strange way of trading."

"You could call this a breakthrough in marketing."

Old Man Dourk smiled faintly before saying.

"What about the other bar owners? Most of them are a prick, but they are not idiots who can't see an opportunity. So I'm sure they'll grab your offer without hesitation."

"Unfortunately we didn't make it to them and I was tired of walking around."

Old Dourk gave a small nod as he wondered, why LtC. Slane didn't wait until he met a mid-range bar owner to get a better price, but in the end he chose not to reveal his heart.

The deal with Old Dourk was closed after the old man happily offered his cart to move Amur Beer.

- - - - -

A farm and ranch area south of Walluo City

Of the hundreds of farming families in the Kandez Region, the Jarac Family were only middle-class players. When the Tuscan Region was at its prime, the Jarac Family only took orders in the form of small crumbs.  

However, when the Tuscan Region was at its lowest point, the Jarac Family was the only Farmer Family in the Kandez Region who did not look away when they asked for a price break.

The Jarac family even sold groceries to the Tuscan Region several times for almost no profit.

With the improving condition of the Tuscan Region, the Tuscan Region higher-ups decided it was time to return the favor to the Jarac Family.

Captain Rumus smoothly parked the M1152 in front of a large house with wooden walls and thatched roof, and as soon as he got off an old man immediately approached him while dozens of children looked at the iron carriages that had just entered their yard.

"You haven't visited in a long time, and now when you come you are riding a strange iron carriage."

"Uncle Jarac, it's nice to see you healthy and fit."

Old Jarac gave a small nod before speaking casually.

"Come on in, we have a lot of excess vegetables that haven't been sold for the past few days."

As usual, Old Man Jarac would say he had a lot of excess vegetables and would sell them cheaply. However, never once did he sell unworthy vegetables or fruit to the Tuscan Region. Because of that, Captain Rumus's heart felt warm while his gaze was fixed on the old farmer in front of him.

"Ummm ... Uncle we'd better talk first, our order this time is bigger than usual."

Old Man Jarac gasped for a moment before speaking.

"It seems news that Tuscan Region is winning the conflict with the Northern Coalition is not a rumor."

"Yeah, and now Tuscan Region's economy has also improved."

Without further ado, Old Jarac then took the entourage from Magwurt City to sit on the terrace, and not long after that several women came out carrying boiled corn, red apples, pears, oranges, and roasted sweet potatoes.

"I hope you are still fond of farmers' food."

"Of course, for me and the entire Tuscan Region, every meal from the Jarac Family fields is a priceless blessing."

Without hesitation, Captain Rumus took a roasted sweet potato and devoured it cheerfully, while LtC. Slane and his bodyguards took various fruits.

As a farmer who cares for every plant in his field like his own son, the stern expression on Old Jarac's face softened as he watched his guests cheerfully enjoy the produce of his field.

After putting a mouthful of roasted sweet potato in his mouth, Captain Rumus then handed a list to Old Man Jarac, who accepted it with wide eyes.

In all his life he had never seen such white paper and such neat writing, so it was only natural that he was stunned for a while, and when he read the list that was written on the paper, Old Man Jarac became even more dumbfounded.

Apart from wheat, barley, soybeans, and cereal crops, he can provide all the vegetables, fruits, and tubers on the list. It's just that the list specifically states that products must be sorted by quality with codes A, B, C while the rest are coded D.

Also, the ripeness level of the fruit is divided into two categories, ⅘ ripe for code A and ⅗ ripe for other codes. As for animal products such as meat, milk, and eggs, the conditions must be as fresh as possible.

"The sorting will be tiring, but I can do it. The problem is the quantity you are asking for is too big. I have to involve the other family, and of course they will not give a discount like me."

Captain Rumus casually nodded.

"We understand and are ready to pay the normal price, it's just that we'll only talk to Uncle Jarac."

As the sole representative, the Jarac Family will receive a 2% commission from other families, but Old Jarac was in no rush to celebrate.

"Are you sure you want to appoint me as the sole representative? Because for orders of this size usually the 6-8 biggest players will be appointed as representatives."

"Sure."

"Fine then, but you must be aware I can't convince other families just by talking."

"Of course."

Captain Rumus then took out 20 banknotes made of sheepskin measuring 30x20 cm, each worth 10,000 coins, complete with a receipt.

Old Jarac looked at the banknote in front of him for a moment before calling out to his wife.

With great care, Old Jarac's wife then examined the banknotes one by one before finally, she took a deep breath.

"All of them are genuine banknotes from Kingdom Makai Central Bank, where did you get them?"

Captain Rumus cheerfully answered.

"From the underground vault at Fort Cambia."

Old Man Jarac and his wife immediately took a deep breath, while inwardly they muttered.

'Looks like the Gods in heaven are back on the side of the Tuscan Region.'

*****

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