A Success!

Danish's father, chief Kamal khan, was made part of the plan unanimously. They all agreed on revealing to him their plans, and the identity of Lili and her magical abilities. Once chief Kamal saw Lili demonstrate her ability of growing plants at alarming speed in Leila's garden, he was amazed at what he saw, and became very ecstatic about the situation turning for better.

The friend agreed that with chief Kamal's help and cover, they could produce much better results. Kamal Khan was a very capable man, which everyone had witnessed during the calamity they faced few months back. He had more experience at trading and managing the market. He also had access to gathering information from the market, as well as had the means to provide for the market. No suspicion or any other such matters would arise, if he were to utilize his position and abilities.

Once the supply of corns were loaded on the awaiting carts, Abdul- a new settler how had moved here with his ailing mother and children became very good friends with Kamal Khan, was given the duty to transport the goods to the village. He was an honest and hardworking man. His other members were also by his side, they were all very loyal and hardworking to Kamal Khan and their new home.

The market of Saltmarsh was alive with vibrant energy, bustling with a diverse crowd of people from all walks of life. The air was filled with a symphony of tantalizing aromas, a tantalizing mix of spices, freshly baked goods, sizzling meats, and exotic fruits. Colorful stalls lined the streets, displaying a myriad of goods, from handcrafted jewelry to vibrant fabrics, enticing the passersby with their vibrant colors and intricate designs. The market echoed with the sounds of laughter, negotiations, and the occasional street performance, adding to the lively atmosphere. It was a feast for the senses, a melting pot of cultures and flavors, where people came together to indulge in the richness and diversity of the local traditions.

Abdul and his company also displayed their corns at the market. Corn being the cheapest commodity was scarce in the market, as soon as they put it on display, many people gathered around their shop to purchase the item.

"It is some of the stored corns from our village." declared Abdul, " This is from our people to the Saltmarsh, we will sell at normal market price. So feel free to purchase it."

"Chief Kamal has secured enough of it to last us few weeks. There is no need to get greedy and start storing it away. We will make sure to make corn available in the market at all time and standard price." another man added.

People rushed over in their direction, they began buying as per their needs. Abdul made sure that no large quantity of it be sold to one person, he was instructed to sell only two scoops of the corn to one person. It was to make sure that everyone irrespective of their status gets enough to eat for a day, and also to make that no one takes advantage of transporting it to other villages at higher price or store it to make demand and supply imbalance.

Soon a report was made about the transection at the market to Kamal Khan. Abdul briefed him on every minute detail and also gave his own insight on what was needed to do next. Abdul was a very intelligent trader by profession, and his honesty and loyalty was even more incredible.

Chief Kamal was pondering over the information that was provided to him when his son and his friends made entry into his chamber.

"There you guys are!" Kamal Khan was very happy when he saw the party coming over. " You won't believe what big success it was today. The trade was carried out in a very proficient manner. Everything was under control. We made some fortune from your hard-work." Kamal Khan stood up as he welcomed the esteemed guests.

Danish and his friends responded in the same jolly manner. They too were very happy about the success of their hard-work. They were soon presented with few delicacies, which they enjoyed greatly. Their pleasant conversation soon turned serious as they sorted out the plans ahead.

The first problem that the friends faced was the issue of limited essence, which warned out faster than they had expected.

"To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is how the nature works." Malik was of the opinion.

"Which is why we need to establish a continuous supply of essence to the Lifeflow Matrix." Danish told his father.

They also explained the nature of how the formation worked to Kamal Khan. He was quick witted and understood everything very quickly. They had two things right now at hand that they could utilize; the flora and fauna of the island or they had to catch and hunt at the mainland and then transport it to the island.

The island was already low on supply so if not now then very soon they were going to go for the second option. Chief Kamal thought for a moment and then told everyone that he could come up with a solution but he required some time to do so.

It was then decided that they will utilize what ever was there on the island until chief Kamal sort the issue out for them.

"My lord, my husband has not returned for two days," right then a women came looking for chief Kamal, she looked very depressed and was in a really bad shape. " I am afraid something has happened to him. Please! Help me look for him."

"What is the matter lady, calm down!" Turan came to support her.

"He went out into the woods for a game with his fellow hunters. We had nothing to eat for two days, so he bet on hunting in the woods, although everyone told him that it was not safe, but he insisted on going. It has been two whole days yet he has still not returned." she broke into tears. "Please! Our lord help us!" she spoke in between sobs.

The lady was taken away. They knew that woods were never the option for them. Even they grand armies would not frequently venture into these woods. They knew the fate of the hunting party, and chief Kamal also knew that he could not put more lives on the line for the lost cause.

Kamal Khan called for Abdul, and instructed to help the poor lady and her family, and the families of all those who were in dire state. The problems were piling up on each other, yet there was so little that he as an individual could do to help his subjects. There was now more determination in his than ever before. He knew that he had to do something for his people, and now with this hope that had presented itself, he knew what needed to be done.

Once the meeting between him and his son and his friends came to conclusion, he called the elders and began his plan to a new beginning.

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The political landscape remained complex as the four brothers vied for the throne. Ibrahim Shah's decision to open his region to Zahoor Shah's territory brought some relief to the people, although the trade arrangements were not without challenges. Meanwhile, Nadir Shah opted for a more inclusive approach by opening his region to both Zahoor Shah and Daoud Shah, attempting to maintain a delicate balance. Daoud Shah, focused on his mission to secure aid from Valoria, made significant progress despite the obstacles. However, with no clear resolution in sight, the tensions and uncertainties continued to loom over the empire.

Amidst the ongoing power struggle and the complex web of alliances, Verida intervened by sending a message calling for a resolution of outstanding transactions before proceeding with further trade. This posed a challenge, as the question of who would sign the agreements and assume the responsibility of debt repayment in such uncertain times remained unresolved. The need for clarity and stability in trade negotiations became increasingly apparent as the empire grappled with its internal conflicts.