19 The Investor

After sending Naomi off, Jack headed to the building two blocks away from the Adventurer Guild.

He appreciated the view along the way. The breeze was invigorating, albeit with a tingle of animal feces particles. There was no central concentrated animal farm in this era, every house had a few chickens and ducks running around.

But the biggest perpetrators were the horses. It was difficult to spot one in this desolate town, but these sh*tting machines really make you feel close to the essence of nature.

Humans in this world had this form of primitive lavatories called pit latrines. It was just a hole dug into the ground for people to sit on and breed their anally children. Sanitary mindfulness was pratically non-existent.

[Right now, Emma must be working on the plan to get saltpeter. I vaguely remember that dung can be used to get that chemical product. We can also mine and purify it from natural deposits.]

Birds were jumping between branches and wildly chirping, bringing out the atmosphere of a peaceful town in an energetic morning. People were singing songs, hoes and axes on hands, ready to tend their fields outside the town wall or bringing home some freshly cut timber. It was a beautiful picturesque moment that could not be seen anywhere in the modern world.

[And here I walk, can't stop thinking about human waste. This is why I can't have nice things.]

Jack smiled wryly, shook his head and hurried his steps to the Merchant Association building.

Merchants in this world conduct transactions of large sums in buildings of the Merchant Association. The organization was built for maintaining fairness in trades, protecting merchants and collecting taxes.

One needed to pay a small fee to obtain a merchant permit. Coincidentally, Jack had found the ideal person to be his investor and advertise his product.

***

Jack returned to the Adventurer Guildhall after having gotten a merchant permit. He also got some new intriguing information from the Merchant Association.

Saltpeter trade did exist in this world, primarily used for food preservation and ice making purposes. Be that as it may, gunpowder was never invented. This would speed up their production schedule a notch. Saltpeter production is time-consuming, after all.

"Hi, my name is Jack Rutherford. I am a merchant." Jack showed his merchant permit to the receptionist while smiling. The redhead woman smiled back, however Jack seemingly felt a lot less hospitality this time.

"Good afternoon, mister Rutherford. I remember you from this morning. Was your name not Naomi White? Did you not decide to join the Adventurer guild? Is it true that you are a merchant now?"

"Oh no, I have always been a merchant, the one that joined was not me but the girl I brought with me." Jack grinned. "Say, on the off chance that I have an interesting business proposal for the guild master, what would be advisable for me to do?"

The redhead receptionist's expression turned curious. "Please wait a moment, mister Rutherford."

She left the reception desk and went up the stairs next to it. A moment later, she returned. With her creepy perpetual pleasant smile, she waved at Jack.

"Please follow me."

***

"What do you think about my proposal, my lord? If you could invest in just a small amount for us to complete the prototypes, you could enjoy 30% the profit of the weapon sale to every mercenary in this branch!"

Sitting in front of Jack was a big-bellied man with a mustache. He seemed to have been a mercenary, or at least a fighter, judging by the muscles that could barely be seen beneath multiple layers of fat. However, he dressed nothing like a mercenary. Luxuries was oozing out of the man's attire.

The man was reading the trade agreement Jack had paid the bookkeeper at the Merchant Association to write for him beforehand.

"I want 70% profit." The guild master put down the trade agreement and continued nibbling on the half-eaten apple.

Jack sweated. [Who the hell would consent to a 70% commission? People trade like this in this world?]

"That'll be difficult for me, my lord." Jack showed a troubled expression. "I came to you out of respect. The condition you gave me is too unfair."

"40% is the best I can go. Any more than that and I will be compelled to seek another investor."

"There isn't a lack of people who find the necessity for a new long-range weapon, my lord." Jack pretended to reach for the trade agreement and get up. "A few teams in the guild have already expressed their interest."

Just as Jack touched the agreement, another hand slapped on his.

"Wait." The guild master spoke in a hurry. "How much do you need?"

Jack grinned inwards. [Gotcha.]

"2 gold coins, my lord."

The guild master seemed hesitant. 2 gold coins was a large amount, but for an investment, it was reasonable. Quite cheap, even.

100 copper coins equal a silver coin. 100 silver coins make up a gold coin. You can buy a loaf of bread with a copper coin.

"Deal. But I want one free prototype." The guild master replied.

"That's a deal, my lord. Let me go to the Merchant Association to write another trade agreement." Jack stood up and prepared to leave. A trade agreement had to be written by the Merchant Association with their special ink to prevent clauses being added after the fact, so it wasn't anything strange.

Before he left, however, Jack turned his eyes to the bookcase in the room. He exclaimed in an exaggerated manner.

"My lord, what a magnificent collection of books. I have never seen such a large bookcase before. My lord must be a very well-learned person."

The guild master looked pleased with the praise. He proudly bragged.

"Of course. Some of these are written by yours truly. All are great chronicled pieces about my exploits as a famous adventurer."

[The term 'adventurer' was probably coined by this guy.] Jack silently thought.

"Can I take a look at one of your autobiographies? I would love to read about your heroic displays."

"Sure, just don't take it out of this room." The man pointed to a book with red cover on the case. It was one of the thickest books in the collection. Jack was sure it held an innumerable amount of bullcrap. But matter to him it did not.

Jack took the book down and started flipping pages. Slowly, respectfully at first. But when the guild master lost interest in him and concentrated back into snacking on another apple, Jack furiously flipped the book to the end.

[What an unhealthy dedication to writing. My arm is getting tired.] Jack clicked his tongue silently. Pages were slowly piling up on his left lap, while the right side was getting thinner.

After 10 minutes of book flipping, the book was finished. Jack relaxed his arm, put the book back where it was and bowed to the guild master.

"Much obliged to you, my lord. It was fascinating. I'd be taking my leave now."

The man did not turn back from his French-window view, just waved his hand.

As Jack closed the door to the guild master's room behind him, he mumbled.

"Alexa, did you catch all that?"

"Notification, neural data package has finished compiling. It will be applied during user's next sleep cycle."

A robotic female voice answered in his head.

"Good work. I have to find a book for Emma later."

Jack left the Adventurer Guild and once again headed toward the Merchant Association.