First Journey to the Continent

Oli, Zion, and the group of men just went back to Leefside village because they had nothing to do. If they try to connect and install the pipes, they will just be wasted, because they will only break. They just left the pipes on the side of the Aras river so that it would not be difficult for them to bring them back.

As long as Oli has not been seen, a dwarf, or anyone knows how to connect and install pipes, his plan for agriculture will be stopped, first and, that is not good with his intent to let the Leefside village become a self-sustain immediately. So, as much as possible, he needs someone who excels in this kind of job.

Oli despises slavery, as a young man who lived and grew up on Earth when everyone had the freedom to do what they wants and lived they liked, Oli totally opposed slave trading but, when Oli thinks about it, having a dwarf as a slave has its own benefit. First, he doesn't need to mind from time to time that his plan and technology will spread throughout the Continent because he can order the slave to keep his plans and method a secret.

And if he hires an ordinary individual, there is a high possibility that his plans and technology will leak, which is incomprehensible and too advanced in today's Era and, there is a possibility to disrupt the balance on the Continent. And worst, the Continent will learn that he is not from here and, Oli can open a portal to Earth.

Second is, the dwarf was known for being the best craftsman and blacksmith. He could also order the dwarf slave to smelt the gold nugget and form it to become a gold bar. Then Oli could sell it at a high price and, Oli was sure that every wealthy man on Earth will fight for themselves just to buy the gold bar and it's not like Oli would treat the slave the way the residents in this Continent treated the slaves.

The only problem with this is how Oli can commercialize the gold. Oli was sure that if he released it to the market out of nowhere, numerous businessmen and influential people in the world would track him down and ask where the gold came from.

His last problem was how to tell the people of Leefside that he would buy or take a slave. Based on what Elder Alfred said, the people of Vedrain Country and its allies are victims and products of slavery. Oli was sure that they would not agree and despise Oli if he purchased a slave. Even if dwarfs and human is from different race, they are both treated as a slave. Worst than an animal.

So, Oli's option is to consult Elder Alfred and conduct a meeting with everyone so that they knew what Oli was planning. So, without wasting time, Oli hurriedly goes to the room where Elder Alfred. When he got to the room, he quickly told Elder Alfred that he was thinking of purchasing a slave. When Elder Alfred heard about this, he quickly agreed to Oli.

Elder Alfred knew Oli even though he had only been here for a month, Elder Alfred knew that Oli would not mistreat the slave he was going to purchase. As proof of that, Oli knows that those living in Wasteland are regarded, as a slave but not Oli. He treated them like normal humans. Not a slave.

They call everyone in the village to let them know that Oli is planning to purchase a slave and, unlike what Oli thought, the people, including Zion's family, is agreed with what Oli wanted to do. They don't know how Oli would purchase and where Oli would get the money to buy though they trusted Oli. All Oli does and shows for them is kindness and goodness.

With that, Oli begins his plan. This is his first journey in this new world so, as much as possible, Oli needed to be ready.

And also, Oli doesn't know that he would meet his future Director in Development Services as well a potentially distinguished and strong ally.

***

It's been three days since Oli and his group left the Leefside village to go to the capital of Lapin Kingdom, Moson where the group will buy seeds, livestock, horses, carriage, and as well a dwarf slave if they are lucky enough.

By far, everything is good and, there's no problem along the way.

And by now, they are in the territory of the Lapin Kingdom, one of its cities, the Sido City. Having no money to rent a more luxurious room, the group is staying in a cheap room. Even if Oli wanted to open the portal back to Earth, he can't or, his companions will become suspicious, so Oli was forced to sleep either outside or in the cheap room, wherein Oli's room back to Earth was much more comfortable to sleep with.

At seven o'clock in the evening, the group decided to rest, and Oli once again recalled what he read in the books and on the internet about trading.

What the people want and need, a location to trade them, people to sell them, people to purchase them, money to pay with.

In trading, one must always know, what the consumers want and need, that's, why Oli brought up only two goods this time, spices and wine glass. For wine glass, due to its elegant and majestic crystal clear appearance, it's targeted the high-class people in this Continent, which is the Nobles.

As for spices, Oli was sure that it will sell well on the masses because the food people eat here is tasteless, it is for all to buy but, due to Oli being too overly cautious, he will only sell one kilo of each condiment and also targeted Nobles for the time being due to the need for money for a slave auction.

When Oli and his group arrive at Moson, Oli will target a wealthy and wise merchant to trade with him. Wise so that the merchant will recognize the money he will receive if he sells the spices and wine glass to the nobles and, due to that Oli, will receive a lot of platinum coins and he will use to buy a slave in the auction.

In the Continent of Chronos, there is three currency being used. Copper, Silver, and Platinum coins. One hundred copper coins equal to one silver coin, one thousand silver coins equal to one platinum coin. An ordinary peasant's wages typically range from five to thirty copper coins each month but, it depends on what Kingdom and territory they live in.

When Oli felt drowsy, he looked at his wristwatch and, when he saw that it was almost eight o'clock, he decided to go to sleep to rest. It still five days left before they arrive at Lapin's Kingdom capital.

***

"Young master! I see it! We are almost there!" Viron said. One of the men who are companying Oli.

"Ha ha ha. I-is that so?" Oli while breathing heavily.

"I would say you have a body of a standard soldier but your endurance a bit..."Zion didn't finish saying that when Oli glared at him menacingly.

It's been four and half days since the group left Sido City and, by now, they are approaching Moson. Those four days are like hell to Oli. They slept on the rough ground or bed, the food is tasteless, he can't sleep properly at all. Oli already missed his mat in his room.

The Lapin Kingdom is a kingdom consisting of a desert plateau and mountain ridges, so Oli only then understands why Zion ordered to bring a lot of water. Unlike Sido City which is full of vegetation, the following villages and towns are all surrounded by the desert.

'I thought I will enjoy this journey but sigh. I regret accompanying in this journey.' Oli thought while continuing to walk.

While Oli's mind float all around, they arrived at the wall's gate of Mason. They queue in the line so that the guards can check their belongings and surrender their weapons. The Lapin Kingdom is a neutral kingdom and carrying weapons to the capital of the Lapin Kingdom was an insult to its neutrality and was an act that one is willing to wage war in all the Empires and Kingdoms on the Continent.

When Oli's group turns, Zion immediately surrenders his sword and receives a number carved in thin elongated wood, proof that their weapons are already surrendered.

When the group entered, only then did Oli's mind come back to him, and he was in awe of what he saw. It's totally different on Earth.

The capital of Lapin Kingdom, Moson was constructed in the center of a scorching desert and is truthfully architectural awe. The houses are composed of huts and, manors which are made of woods and, logs that are tied together but, they are not crude at all. The same goes for the shops and, in the middle of the capital, is the castle where the Queen of Lapin Kingdom currently resides.

Its walls surrounding the Kingdom are three meters thick and twelve meters tall and, for Oli who doesn't have a piece of knowledge about walls, it is a splendid defense if anyone tries to attack.

"Moson is like a box and divided into four districts. Peasant district, noble and merchant district, trading district, and lastly, the Queen's castle. All the districts are self-explanatory so, it is eas--young master?" Zion is explaining but he sees Oli is not paying attention at all.

"Y-yes? What did you say again?" Oli answered in an awkward expression realizing he was not paying attention.

Zion just sigh and repeated his explanation while their other members followed them at the back.

***

The group continued walking until they arrived at the trading district and, unlike in the wall's gate, a trading district is a crowded place. The merchant shops line up varying the sizes of the shops.

Ordinary merchants set up their shops on the side of the roads, middle-class merchants have their shops built-in straw, logs, and woods, and upper merchants shops are made of half brick and half logs representing their wealth.

"Because of the neutrality of Lapin Kingdom, it is often called the trading center of all." Zion said while looking around as if he was looking for something. "And young master, sorry if I sound rude but, where are the goods you'll use for trading?" Zion asks.

"Don't worry about it. Where is the largest shop here?" Oli while looking around.

Unbeknownst to Oli, Zion is starting to be suspicious of Oli. Starting with his clothes, the delicious food he always brought up, but Oli had no intention of harming his family or the people of Leefside he always pushed the thought of confronting Oli about this.

"Oh! There it was!" Oli started to shout not minding the other people and started to walk to the shop he saw.

He stops at the extravagant shop. From the exterior, the shop looks luxurious. It has been created with spruce lumber and contains red pine wooden adornments mixed with bricks that made it looks like a strong and formidable shop. Short, broad windows allow plenty of sunlight to come through, giving a majestic impression to anyone.

This gives Oli the hint that the one who owns this shop is a wealthy merchant, the one he has looking for. When Oli arrived in front of the shop, he saw a middle age man wearing a princely costume that he had always seen in movies, that man was ordering the workers in his shop.

When the man notices Oli standing at his shop, he smiles and welcomes Oli to his shop.

"Welcome to my humble shop customer. What can I do for you?" The man said but, when he saw Zion arrive, he got a shocked look on his face same goes for Zion.

"Well, if this is not Zion. What can I help you?"