Stefaan did as he usually did after work, he headed right for the bar and grabbed a mug of cheap ale. Going around to each table, he stayed and listened to their conversations before leaving. He looked out for those discussing organizing a trek. Most were rather satisfied with their lives and would rather not brave the trek to new lands, where they have to fight against savage elves. It was a hard task networking.

With no leads, he was about to leave before a group of weary trekkers entered. They had guns on them, and they weren't wearing English uniforms. Scanning their surroundings, they took a seat at the nearest tables and chatted about their hunt.

The dockworker got close, curious about their conversation.

"Sebravleis is regtig heerlik!" (Zebra meat is declicious!")

"Ek weet reg." (I know right.)

Their words only confirmed his assumptions. He straightened his posture and joined them at the table. All eyes were on him as he sat on a seat. A nearby trekker grunted, as his seat was taken by the newcomer.

"Groete here, ek neem aan julle is gewaardeerde trekkers." (Greetings gentlemen, I assume you are esteemed trekkers.)

The reception was cold and no one answered, frowning upon his words.

"Ek is op soek na Natal toe. Is julle here ook op pad daarheen?" (I'm looking to trek to Natal. Are you gentlemen heading there as well?)

"Ja, ons soek spesifiek dokwerkers met 'n bietjie ervaring wat in Port Elizabeth werk." (Yes, we're looking specifically for dockworkers with some experience working in Port Elizabeth.)

A young man spoke up. His skin is pale and he looked more like a scholar than a trekker. Still, with the gun strapped around his shoulder, how could Stefaan say otherwise?

"Hoekom het julle nie so gesê nie? Ek is 'n dokwerker, soek jy mans om in Port Natal te werk?" (Why didn't you say so gentlemen? I'm a dockworker, are you looking for men to work in Port Natal?)

"Nee, dit sal by die nuwe hawe Mpande wees." (No, it will be at the new Port Mpande.)

'What the hell is that?' Stefaan first thought to himself as he slowly processed these words. First of all, who is Mpande? Secondly, perhaps the man in front of him has gone crazy like Don Quixote. Still, there were things important to Stefaan, and that was…

"En ek sal my eie lande kan vestig, reg?" (And I'll be able to settle my lands right?)

"Natuurlik, as jy dit kan beveilig. Jy sal gereedskap kry om met die taak te help. Maar daar sal van jou verwag word om hierdie lande saam met ander te verdedig wanneer die behoefte ontstaan." (Of course, if you can secure it. You'll be given tools to help with the task. But you'll be expected to defend these lands with others when the need arises.)

Most of these men who joined their little trekker group were hopefuls where their dreams were burnt. Before they could even settle new lands, they need wagons to traverse the lands. The funds were enormous, and few wanted to fund such adventurers as investors would receive no return. These men are running away to untouchable lands where debt collectors will have difficulty reaching, how can they guarantee any returns?

Jan took in the conversations around him and had an idea about increasing immigration. Investors were not willing to fund trekker groups to settle farmlands. But if the Natalia Republic could sign an agreement with a couple of companies to allow them to carry out their duties, immigration will likely increase. But the issue would be getting the other Commandos in the Republic to agree to such measures, considering some of the men under them did scam their money through their treks. He slotted it away somewhere in his mind.

Word began spreading about a relatively experienced trekker group taking dockworkers along. No questions asked, the men were heading to new lands ruled by a relatively new Commando. Whoever settled the new lands get to claim them first.

Banks were plenty in the region. Financing purchases of goods and the transfer of money between merchants. Some funded the trek. It was a profitable venture in theory. Claim new lands, and get a cut of the crops grown on these lands for basically infinity. The interests were absurd. Absurd interests make people stop paying eventually though. Investing in these ventures was like investing in high-yield bonds. The returns are high, but there's a reason why the returns are so high.

And here Jan was meeting with the local manager. Everything about the man before him spoke Old Money. They were likely people who profited off the old Dutch East India Company and transitioned over to serve their new masters, the British. And in so, spoke English as well as an Englishman, losing all that made them Dutch.

"The only reason I'm meeting you today is that you said that you had something that could alleviate the risk of the trek."

If Praetorius was here, the banker wouldn't be so hostile. Too bad he had to go even more West to meet with the governor of the Cape Colony. He saw the young man before him as no different from an ignorant farmer, so the banker casually sipped on a glass of wine before talking about other nonsensical matters.

"The Cape's wine is good," The banker mumbled.

"I have a plan on reducing Xhosa or completely removing Xhosa threats in the trek."

"Anything else?" The banker waved his hands, shaking his head as if he heard some ridiculous words.

"How about getting men to pay up what is owed?"

"Now, I'm interested," The banker set his glass on the table and clasped his hands together, putting his elbows on the table. He said, "Please continue," and looked into the man's eyes.

"I'm going to be a new Commando soon, I'm sure the Cape of Good Hope bank would be interested in extending its influence over the Natalia Republic. You can do it in my territory by St Lucia Bay. If you're worried, it's near the English town of St Lucia."

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"Colony. It's unrecognised. And last I heard of it, there was barely any government there. Everything is based on the opinion of the mob. And everyone is armed."

"Then in such a lawless place, I'm sure you wouldn't mind having someone on the bank's side."

The banker grinned smelling an opportunity.

"If you're willing to work on my behalf, that is good. But how much do you want? Abd what are these funds meant to be? Protection money?"

"No, no. Think of it as a service fee. The bank is free to collect its debts in the region, but I will not intervene on anyone's behalf. I'm sure there are many debts left uncollected."

"It's an interesting proposition. But you're a no-name Commando. Unless you're someone like Praetorius, I'll be interested."

If any other Boer heard the conversation between the two, Jan was sure he would be lynched on the spot. He was selling men for money, no different from slavery. But he didn't see anything wrong with it. These Boers also practice slavery, guess they will learn the meaning of indentured slavery. These trekkers who run from debts are not good citizens to have anyway. In the face of adversity, they will pack their bags and run, and might as have to face the consequences of their actions. But still, he was no Praetorius, so it seems he was blocked from proceeding in this front.

Before they left ferrying dockworkers, Jan had convened with other trekker groups so they could set off all at the same time. A large wagon group makes the Xhosa unlikely to attack. Sure, they will spit off halfway through the trek. Some Griquas will be heading to Griquatown, some men will be heading to the potential gold mines in Zoutpansberg but most will be heading to the Natal. Safety in numbers.

The trekker leaders were all arguing among themselves, calling out purported moral slights in one another. The rest were boasting about the number of servants they got. About how much they enslaved. Any trekker will tell you it will be hard to enslave many this near the Cape. It was more likely they hired them from the nearby Elfrican tribes. The inexperienced, ignorant men below them still praised their trek leader to the sky.

How these men could even get together was in question, but people can be ultimately pragmatic when the time calls.

It was more of a marketing conference, as the trekker leaders got up and said about the vast amount of land they could give to the people. Such yields could only be obtained with high-risk treks deep into the Elfrican interior, but they will never say it out loud. Plus, the land will be divided by a smaller number of people since the rest will die off from attrition like Malaria.

"Ek is onlangs deur Praetorius as Kommando aangestel. En ek soek mans om die nuwe distrikte in St Luciabaai te vestig, verkieslik mans met ondervinding by die see." (I was recently appointed Commando by Praetorius. And I'm looking for men to settle the new districts in St Lucia Bay, preferably men with experience by the sea.)

Jan said these words and went back to join the men who bothered to accompany him to this ego-boosting meeting. Names are powerful, when he uttered Praetorius, all eyes laid on him. The legendary trekker commander fought off hordes of Elfrican tribes so the Boers could have a place where they were independent of the British. A few men went over and asked the few men by Jan's side about the veracity of his words. Sheepishly they could only confirm it.

Incredulously, the men looked over at the young man with a scholar's physique and their mouths hung right open.

The haul of workers was decent. The servants had to work harder, and they could not complain, for they had no firearms of their own. Speaking of workers, he remembered a very specific good that workers used to relax from their stressful day jobs. It was a special good that kicked off numerous wars in China. Opium. Now he didn't want to get Boers intoxicated on Opium, but exporting Opium could prove profitable. No doubt if the Opium wars go as they did in history, then the British would obtain a treaty port in Hong Kong. And since the Natalia Republic is unrecognized and Boers are seen as British subjects, they could make a killing growing Opium.

Many things needed work as soon as he got back to Port Mpande. He needed to check on the progress of the elves. Then he had to plan out the various administrative and economical affairs. There was too much to do.

The Kingdom of Lesotho, where Praetorius and Jan stopped briefly during the trek. Two men were negotiating.

"Eugene Casalis, a pleasure to meet you again."

"Jan Boddewijk, how are negotiations on Port Natal?"

"It's good to see that you're considerate of us," Jan said.

"What can I do for you today? If it is accommodations, I cannot do much. Your trekker group should have been well prepared before the trek after all."

"I'm looking to call in a favour for the task we accomplished. The Great Queen Moshoeshoe is known for being a great diplomat. I would like to open negotiations with the Xhosa Kingdom."

"Which one? There are many kingdoms among the Xhosa. The most notable would be AmaXhosa led by Queen Hintsa, but her kingdom perished amidst conflict with the Cape," Casalis remarked.

"Her death… was rather gruesome."

"Dismembered by various British forces. I can buy an ear off the market as a trinket. It helped relations between the two," Casalis sarcastically remarked.

"I can set up a meeting between the two, Give or take a couple of weeks and I'll send a French missionary as a messenger."

The Xhosa people were not united. They were splintered into differing tribes. Most dominant was the AmaXhosa, who subjugated the tribes around them, and became known as the Xhosa Kingdom. With the death of Hintsa, her daughter was left to pick up the pieces of reuniting the kingdom amidst factionalism. Unifying the Xhosa would help stop the random raids on trekkers, increasing immigration. A couple of guns to help them consolidate their rule would not be too bad. Their biggest threat was the British so as the old adage goes, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

But that's on the backlog.

The Great Trek took a couple of months, and it was tough. Back and forth it went on rugged terrain. Progress has been made on the homefront.

Port Mpande was coming along smoothly. A beautiful dirt road stretched from Pietermaritzburg to Port city. And in one district, Zulu huts could be seen. Elves were running about the place shifting supplies while mages were reshaping the environment to build various structures.

Some construction could be seen on the Boer side. Simple cottage homes dotted the outskirts as two to three-storied buildings were erected by the port. Dirt roads were also used. A great pier jutted out from the border of land and sea, constructed on wood. Stress tests were conducted as elves jumped about on it, ensuring its sturdy.

The recently promoted Zulu Chieftess or Veldkornet Nokuthula greeted Jan.

"Yebo," She stretched out her hand.

"Yebo, sawabona," Jan clasped his hands around her thumb.

"Progress has been well. I hope they are to your satisfaction, Commando."

"Thank you for your hard work, Veldkornet."

She giggled and Jan felt awkward. It was strange, Zulus used Boer Military rankings to address one another.

After letting Nokuthula have her laugh, Jan asked, "I don't see any ships?"

"Shouldn't that be accomplished by the Boers? We have little relations with Western merchants."

It looks like a letter or two was needed to the various Commandoes and Veldkornets in the Republic to inform them of the new port.

"From what I can understand, I heard you'll be selling other Elfrican tribes to the Egyptians and the Ottomans?" Nokuthula asked.

"Correct. Port Mpande will be the main hub of all trade in the Republic. And since slavery is not outlawed. It is legal."

"Why?"

"What do you mean why?"

"The British freed all their slaves. Why can't you do it?"

'We're going to need a huge surplus of the population that begins resenting the use of slaves by the landowners. We need an industrial revolution,' Jan thought and shrugged.

"I'm not the one that decides around here. Praetorius is the ultimate authority on this matter."

"Jan." A familiar young man's voice greeted. It was the voice of the man who introduced him to this new world.

"Joren," Jan turned around and greeted the smiling Joren.

"The progress of the port is going well! I'm glad to see that. I've pre-emptively made some contacts in Abyssinia, and a man should be coming by today.

A ship docked by the pier, and the group turned to see a black man climbing down a plank with other black men following behind him.

"Alemayehu Seife Petros, at your pleasure. I heard you have some merchandise that would be of interest."

Jan's mouth dropped. This was a land known as Elfrica, but there is a black man before him! What is wrong with world history?

Alemayehu smirked, and said," What? Thought that everyone on this continent is an elf?"

He hurriedly shook his head, wiping his expression.

The Ethiopian offered Jan his wrist, and Jan awkwardly stretched his hand out, unsure of what to grab.

"My apologies. I fear my hands might be a little dirty, I was ruffling through old dusty books. You can shake my wrist instead."

Jan grabbed his wrist, and they shook on it.

Clasping his hands together, Alemayehu exclaimed," Let's get down to business."