"So what did you want to talk about?" And wasn't that a good question? The mayor had suddenly called him in here and then only to what? To demonstrate a [Sharp-Bolt] spell? If he's so suspicious of him, then it's he deserved to know that he isn't some weak mage and can, in fact, leave this place to go to greener pastures.

Jacob isn't gonna bend down to some two-bit mayor who's not gonna trust him to begin with, better to get things done with and move on, another day of walking didn't sound so bad, after all. 'Or maybe I can go with a wagon of farmers?' Yeah, that didn't sound so bad, he can go with a bunch of people who're traveling somewhere other than here, at least that way he won't be stumbling around like a blind idiot, looking for some human settlement he doesn't even know about.

"Well, sir..?" The mayor trailed off asking for his name and Jacob answered. "Right, sir Jacob- I want to talk about what's your plan for coming to this village?"

Jacob paused, actually, he hadn't considered that yet and was planning on doing some thinking about it today. He didn't really know what to do in this world, be an adventurer? Maybe, but also no, he doesn't think that traveling the medieval world is any different than the modern one; it's gonna involve transportation and a whole lot of boredom in between destinations that may or may not be hit or miss. 'That, or things can end in a fucking bender again.' Jacob still had nightmares about that time in Italy, a wine festival they said, it comes from the feet of cute girls they said.

Well who the fuck woke up half naked with a dick drawn on his face? Him. That's who. Certainly not them. Whoever they were.

Come to think of it... "Actually, I've always wanted to get my hands on making wine." He answered, that did not sound so bad, didn't it? He can make his own business that's more or less independent from and different from the legacy of his father, "Do you know any places where that sort of thing is popular?"

"Here!" The mayor was more than happy to reply, "The lands out here are fertile, great for growing Gal-berries and even regular wheat, perfect for both wine and beer."

Jacob nodded, thinking, "That... does sound nice." he said. Putting more thought into it, Jacob considered the pros and cons of staying in this place and settling down- for Pros, he counted that there's stability here and people seem familiar and even in awe of his [Mage] status, making it easier to interact with them, but not by much, he is still new here, after all. Adding more to said benefits is also the part where he knew some of the local authority's character, that is to say, the mayor in front of him.

All things considered, the guy didn't seem all that bad.

Cons, meanwhile, Jacob mused, isn't really all that much to him- He wouldn't be able to travel the world, which, again, is probably just the typical fantasy world that he's read about a dozen times already, next is... that he wouldn't really get to do what Horos may ask of him, it didn't sound like a big deal until Jacob takes in the fact that the God may want him killing strong monsters and leveling up or something cliche like that.

Also, another thing to consider is what kind of land is available to him but that can easily get dealt with using a simple question. He decided to ask said question now, "What kind of land is out there?" He asked.

"There's an old abandoned farm by the far back." Answers one of the maids quickly, and all eyes turned to her. Jacob crossed his arms and stared at her while the mayor, seeing Jacob's action, decided to shake his head in disapproval while silently commending the quick thinking maid, who's now blushing at the attention being thrown at her, "I-it's just that it's a farm owned by a few people I know, and maybe I can get them to sell it to you for cheap?"

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'Exactly!' Thinks the mayor, 'The people that she knew would be me!' He gave the maid a silent thumbs up and turned to Jacob, "She can, indeed." Says the mayor, "And it won't even take that long."

Jacob wanted to ask just what this farm is but remained casual and activated his [Haggling] skill instead, immediately, something struck him as odd and instinct told him to put pressure against the mayor's offer. So he did, "Okay, so let's say that... this farm is available, how much will it cost?" He says, proceeding to activate his [Financial Management] skill all the while, "assuming that, you know, I can afford it."

The mayor laughed, "It's actually pretty cheap. And, in fact," He says, "It's Harna herself that owns that farm!"

"I- yes." The maid nodded, "I do, my relatives wouldn't really mind that I sell it in their stead."

'Is it yours or does it belong to your relatives?' Jacob thought suspiciously, thinking about those words for only a single second before deciding to nod and go along. If the farm is cheap, then there's nothing wrong with going with their ploy, "And how much is it, miss Harna?"

The maid's face flushed, "You don't need to be so formal with me sir," She said with a bow, "But I guess It'll sell for around 13 Gold?" She says, remembering the original price of the plot of land up on that hill.

"Or 6500 Silver." Says the mayor helpfully.

Jacob did the math and got the proper value for a single gold coin, 'So it's 500 silver for every gold.' That's good to know, because that means he paid 500 silver coins to that Inn yesterday. Jacob assumed that the silver coins in his pouch didn't even reach 500. 'Well, whatever,' He'd use it against them should the need arise. He had no pity for scammers but a family of 4 was something that he was more than willing to "indirectly" help.

"13 Gold?" Jacob asked with a skeptical tone, "I think I want to see this plot of land first."

"Well- actually a buyer is planning on getting it today and-"

"No need, Sir." The mayor cut the maid off and glared at her, "Harna was just so enthusiastic about selling her family's property that she went out of her station and talked between us more than necessary."

Jacob ignored the flowery language in the field of shit that was the mayor's sentence and shot another question, "Why was she enthusiastic about selling the farm?" Jacob stood up, "13 gold is a lot, I think I need to see this place for myself-"

"5 GOLD!" The mayor yelled as if he was in an auction, Jacob turned around and the mayor forced himself to calm down. The portly man sat back down and pulled on the collar of his suit, a distraction that sadly did not work on Jacob or anyone else in the room, "That plot of land and the farm around it actually sells for 5 Gold. It says so in the paperwork."

"Then why is it so expensive, miss Harna?" Jacob questioned.

"Because- the-" The mayor paused for two seconds, "... the place hasn't gotten- given me taxes in all these years."

"You expected an empty plot of land, without people- to give you taxes," Jacob replied dryly and the mayor had the audacity to nod fervently.

"Yep." He answered without missing a beat.

"Five gold it is, then." Jacob took out his pouch, counted out five gold- and left himself with three - then handed it to the mayor. "Here you go. Now, where do I sign?"

The mayor swiped the money from Jacob's hands with calmness and then proceeded to pull on a drawer, a little bit of paper flicking later and he pulled out a sheet from the large stack. He handed it to Jacob and he started reading, the words were written fancily, mostly in thick ink and in a cursive tone, at the sides, a gold frame of two lines coiling to one another was drawn, and up top are balconies of blue ink that ended in a sharpened, tower-shaped porch.

"It says here that whoever signs the paper is under no responsibility of the village," Jacob says after reading through the thing, "What does this mean? Does it describe the plot of land itself or just the individual owner?"

"The individual owner, sir." The mayor, who's already taken the mage's money, knew that the man is gonna sign it simply out of pride. Mages are like that, after all. "And if you read the clause at the bottom-"

Jacob did so, "The plot of land is hereby temporarily handed to the buyer for a duration of their entire life." Jacob raised an eyebrow, 'what?' He thought in confusion, "Are you telling me that I can only have this while I'm still alive?" He asked, offended. Doesn't that mean that he owns it regardless? And what the hell does the maid's "Family" have to say to that clause?

"Yes." Says the mayor, "When you technically become alive again, it will no longer be yours."

Oh, it's reserved for necromancers. That makes a bit of sense, "Won't I get hunted down regardless?"

"Eh, it's only there to please some of them, especially the powerful liches on the north. But you have a point, sir." Heas agreed and watched in glee as Jacob signed the paper.