8 - Chapter 6
Sun Li and Sa Bina spent some time going back and forth on names whilst waiting for Jang Ko to return. They had felt that the name United Kingdom was too generic and may be confused with other kingdoms that had the word united in the name.
Sa Bina still wanted something that represented a blend of her old world and the new one, not that she exposed that particular weakness to Sun Li. After going back and forth on multiple names and combinations, Sa Bina thought about what kind of business she wanted to start first.
The food she had tasted had been ok, a bit bland, but the worst in her opinion were the baked goods. The bread was hard and unappetizing, and only really palatable after soaking it. She hadn't seen much of pastries, but based on the delicacies that were served even at this bank, she wasn't holding out much hope. It looked like she really would end up repeating herself again by opening a bakery as her first business venture.
With that in mind, she started to brainstorm ideas for various names that would be a play on words. They came up with a lot of playful names.
The Doughy Delights,Sweet Kneads,Whisk & Wonder, Butter & Bliss Bakery, Flour Power, Sugar & Spice Oven, Crumbs & Co., Rise & Shine Bakery, The Happy Oven, Sugar Rush Bakery, The Rolling Pin, Slice of Heaven, Kneadful Things, Dreamy Bakes, The Cozy Crust, Bake My Day, The Sprinkle Studio, Treat Street Bakery, Bakehouse Bliss, Honey & Hearth, Whisked Away, Berry & Butter, Cookie Crumble Cafe, Sweet & Savory Nest, The Golden Crust, Bite & Delight, The Flourish, Magic Oven, Morning Dough, Sugar Bloom Bakery.
Then they tried to play around with play on words to make it more mystical, again they came up with a lot of playful names.
Spirit Flour Bakery, Heavenly Knead, Essence & Ember Oven, The Golden Lotus Bakery, Celestial Crusts, Qi Crumbles, Pill & Pastry, Mystic Oven, Immortal Sweets, Elixir & Grain, The Serene Loaf, Bamboo & Butter Bakery, Elder Herb & Honey Bakes, Phoenix Crust, The Alchemy Oven, Spirit Seed Bakery, Soulful Bites, Breeze & Blossom Bakes, Essence of Flour, Dragon Scale Pies, Petal & Pastry, Mountain Mist Bakery, Enlightened Dough, Qi & Quiche, Mystical Mills, Heart of Flour, Celestial Grainworks, The Spirit Loaf, Ethereal Sweets, Ancient Grain Artisan.
The problem was that a lot of the names were great for a bakery, but wouldn’t work for a kingdom in general. Finally they hit on the perfect name. The Rising Dao. It was playful and serious. It was also very easy to remember. After selecting a name both thought would work, Sa Bina spent some time explaining to Sun Li why she wanted to open a bakery.
“I can understand why you want access to better bread and other pastries,” said Sun Li, “I have tasted some when I have visited royals and they were divine, but how would you get a chef who can actually make what you want. Just opening a bakery won't be that easy. The other royals won't be happy if you steal one of their chefs.”
“I don’t know yet.” lied Sa Bina, “But I am going to find a way. If I am stuck here I want good bread. Also if I manage to make it work, I will definitely make some serious money from it, enough to cover my costs.”
Sa Bina was saved from explaining further as Jang Ko returned with a long set of forms.
“My lady, I have looked through the old procedures for how to set up an account for a new kingdom. Since you don’t have land, or an army, the process would be somewhat simpler.” said Jang Ko. “However, we still have to complete several forms. It will take a little time, are you happy to wait here while I have my staff complete the forms, then bring them here for signature? Also we will need Cultivator Sun Li to sign on behalf of the Sect to verify the creation of a new kingdom account. Unless we can get validation from another royal?”
“I have been asked to vouch on behalf of the Sect,” said Sun Li, “So I will be happy to sign the forms. How long will it take?”
“I have already started preparing the forms,” said Jang Ko, “These forms are the standard forms for a kingdom account and individual accounts. If you are happy to start reviewing and signing these, then we can get finished faster. One of my people will bring the other forms when they are ready.”
With that the next hour was spent reading and signing forms. For the most part the forms boiled down to, her name, the kingdom name, the fact she was a royal, the sect verifying she was a royal and her as to unknown address. Why they needed the same information on multiple forms was a mystery, it seemed the bureaucracy was the same in any world.
As for signing, it was rather straightforward, if painful and annoying. As Sa Bina did not have a Qi stamp, or a coat of arms for a Qi stamp, or was a cultivator, she was forced to bind each document with a drop of blood. She swore to herself that she would design a coat of arms, and have a Qi stamp made as soon as possible.
As they finished the first stack, a girl brought in another stack of documents. So they all just buckled down to get through the tedium as quickly as possible. All told it took nearly two bells to go through and finalise all the documents.
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Thankfully Jang Ko had been mindful, and had used the original details from the sect token to start the creation of the bank token and booklet of promissory notes. These were presented to Sa Bina.
The last thing to do was make the deposit and note the transaction into an official bank pass book.
Sa Bina took out her wealth. She had a total of 60 tier 4 spirit stones, 90 tier 2 spirit stones
7550 gold, 100,000 silver and 10,000,000 copper. Jang Ko was shocked by just how much wealth the young noble was carrying on her person.
“I think I will keep 10 tier 2 spirit stones, 550 gold, 50,000 silver and 2,000,000 copper and bank the rest.” stated Sa Bina. She then proceeded to return that to her storage rings. She left out two additional tier 2 spirit stones. “Can you change these two for 200 tier 1 spirit stones?”
Jang Ko didn't know why she needed to keep that kind of cash on her person, but did not mention it. “Of course, I will get it changed for you straight away.” he said.
“Are you sure Sa Bina, that is a lot of coins for a person to keep.” said Sun Li.
“Fine, also deposit these.” said Sa Bina, as she handed over 5 tier 2 stones.
After finalising the deposit it was a reasonably quick process for the pass book to be ready. Finally they were done with the banking.
“Once you have a residence, please let us know. Also if you want to set up accounts for household bills and staff salaries, we can help with that when you are ready.” said Jang Ko.
“I am taking her to view property close to the preparatory school in the noble district tomorrow.” said Sun Li, “I will ensure you are notified.”
With that they finally left the bank and made their way to an inn run by the sect. It had been a very long day and Sa Bina just wanted to take a bath, enjoy a good meal and crash.
Not long after Sa Bina was fast asleep.
*
The next morning Sa Bina awoke feeling refreshed. It was like her body had dealt with the travelling and long day just in one night. Sa Bina chalked up the feeling to being in a young body, failing to account for the fact that the body had been malnourished and maltreated in the bandit camp.
Thankfully the inn had an attached bathroom, so Sa Bina managed to refresh herself, though with cold water. She dressed in the same dress again, realising that actually she only had one dress and pair of slippers. She needed to go shopping for everything.
As she went downstairs for breakfast, she noticed Sun Li already enjoying her breakfast. Sa Bina joined her as she thought through the list for the day.
“So I was thinking of the things I need to do today, and what parts I will have in your company.” said Sa Bina, she wasn't expecting Sun Li to spend the whole day escorting her. “We have to arrange a residence, I will need staff, clothing, usual amenities. Will I also need a guard?”
“ You will need to have a full complement of staff.” said Sun Li, “The sect will help you recruit everyone you need for your household. You need not worry about mixed loyalties, they will all have to sign binding oaths to you if they wish to join your service, just as they would if they joined the sect or the army.”
“Is that the standard way of doing things when people get a job?” asked Sa Bina, it seemed a little heavy handed to her. “No, but you're not normal. You are a royal, so they are joining a royal house as retainers. The oath also protects them. It stops them from being coerced into revealing private information.”
It finally clicked for Sa Bina, she wasn't just going to be some girl with money, she would be a high noble with all the responsibilities and privileges. She would really need to adjust her thinking. As she was thinking through the full implications of her new position, Han Ji walked into the inn.
“Greetings my lady, greetings cultivator. May I join you, my lady,” he asked.
Sa Bina gestured to a seat, and Han Ji sat down.
“After your show of generosity yesterday, my lady,” continued Han Ji, “we would like to transfer to your service. If you have a need and would like to have us.”
Sa Bina was shocked by the offer, but more so the terminology he used. He didn't want to enter her service, but transfer over.
“What do you mean transfer?” she asked, confused.
Now Han Ji looked confused. “You are a royal, you are entitled to have a personal guard. We would be transferring into your personal army. You are effectively a duchess” he replied, looking at Sun Li, “Have you not explained her role and responsibilities to her ladyship?”
“How am I a duchess? How can I have a personal army? This just makes not sense” responded an exasperated Sa Bina.
“You are the only member of a royal house, you don't have an actual land to rule, so you can't be queen, you are not an heir to an actual kingdom, so you can't be a princess, that makes you a duchess by default.” explained Sun Li, “if you get even a small village that is not inside the borders of an existing kingdom you would automatically become queen. I thought you understood that when we went through the paperwork at the bank. That was not a private bank, they couldn't have opened you an account without a royal name, that was the Imperial Bank. They have certified the existence of The Rising Dao kingdom, absent actual landholding.”
Sa Bina was shocked, she thought she was just opening an account, not setting up a kingdom! She just wanted to have fun in her new life, not end up as the default ruler of a non existent place. Every retainer she hired would be more akin to a subject, rather than an employee. Her businesses would be kingdom assets. Just how had she landed herself in such a predicament!