Novels2Search
Energy Farmer
Chapter 27

Chapter 27

With a new source of "income" - walking back to the merchant's guild and talking/making a deal with the oily receptionist turned exceptionally easy for Jacob to do, he didn't feel the worry of getting scammed down to poverty because well, he now has a source of income. He doesn't know just how much money he's gonna get for the whole affair of him finding a way of cracking the village's Dungeon (which according to what he's heard, is the reason why this place exists,) but he assumes that it wouldn't be small and even then, he thinks he'd be able to keep hiring the construction workers for months on end right as long as he keeps going back to the Dungeon every time it resets.

Which happens every month, making clearing it an actual, viable job.

Is he weirded out at the prospect of everyone just accepting slaughtering entire hives of insects as a normal occurrence every month? Hell- even turning it into a job? Sort of, but also not- A part of him already expected that some of the people here rely on killing monsters for a living and he guessed that a perpetually resetting, seemingly endless Dungeon fits that category somewhat. And what's more, is that it's actually profitable, so there's that for a positive.

And thanks to the Dungeon, Jacob now has a way to earn money, and that fact alone made talking to the merchant's guild receptionist all the more appealing- "Let me get this straight, you guys can also offer to sell me materials for my house?" he asked with crossed arms. His eyes were pointed downward, glued to the parchment on the counter in front of him.

The paper wasn't the one for hiring the construction workers- he already signed that, - but instead, it was to purchase material directly from the source- which in this context, is the merchant's guild themselves. He should've expected that in all honesty, because there's no way in hell that something called a "merchant's guild" is gonna let someone take over the supply industry.

"That should've been expected, no?" The merchant more or less parroted Jacob's thoughts with a confused tone and a raised eyebrow, "We are, after all- called the merchant's guild." He says, further mimicking Jacob's line of thinking, "Us selling products should be in the name."

"Well... yeah- but isn't this place just an office or something?" He asked while looking around, there isn't any sign of it being a shop anywhere. "I thought your whole business ordeal would belong to another station?"

"Eh, it's basically cheaper to do this-" Of course it is- Jacob thought and held back a frown, "- and what's more, we don't actually need to show off our products to our customers in order to convince them to buy from us. I know it probably wouldn't cross your mind sir, but we are trusted in the world of Fanna. We have a reputation to withhold and it is that reputation that keeps people's trust, knowing that we always deliver."

"In fair prices, too." The other receptionist to their left said.

"Sorry..." With that said, Jacob picked up the parchment and started reading. It wasn't bad, per se, the wood, stones, and molding runes were cheap enough that Jacob can repair his house with coins to spare, the glass is a bit expensive but also there's a reason in bold, underlined text written directly next to the price stating- monster proof. - and after a brief thought, Jacob had to begrudgingly agree with the price.

"I think they're acceptable," He said, "So do you just want me to slide in my silver or..." He trailed off, he had an extra 700ish silver sitting in his coin pouch and the damn thing is starting to feel heavy, better to get rid of it now than bother in keeping for later, he deemed that the 4 gold coins that he had should be enough for any spending that he might want.

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The receptionist nodded, "Usually, we do ask for down payments but if you can pay in full and more, then it would be greatly appreciated."

"Is there paperwork fo that too?" Jacob asks with a quill in hand, he managed to finish his signature on the paperwork for the needed materials before the receptionist spoke again.

"Yes. Actually," He said and his hand went down to grab another parchment, Jacob read through it, filled in the blank line for his "deposit" (counted to be 747 silver,) and then had the receptionist stamp the paper before he signed it. "Good," the receptionist clapped and gave out his iconic oily smile, "now that that's done, how about we calculate how much wood, stone, and other stuff we're gonna need for your house?"

Jacob nodded and with permission, Jacob activated his [Haggling] skill they got to work. When all is said and done, Jacob ekked out a good deal with the receptionist that more or less spared an extra 200 silver, which will get used to as a down payment the construction workers he'd be hiring, and with fifteen of them under his name, Jacob thought it was best to at least save an extra gold coin by next month. (Assuming that his house isn't finished by then of course- there is a reason why he wanted to hire 15 workers after all.)

"So I guess that concludes everything?" He asked and stood up but the receptionist stopped him.

"I'm afraid not, we'd want proper paperwork for your identity to make your signatures both valid and real." He said and Jacob frowned, in response, the receptionist raised his hand, "Do not worry, we've heard of your rather strange circumstance and in the extra hour that the mayor's secretary was working on that Dungeon loot-" The receptionist winked and Jacob didn't know if it was because he thought Froan was hot, Dungeon money, or because he wanted to give Jacob information that he's being spied on.

The reason for that wink could be all three, actually.

"-We had the luxury of getting the mayor's signed paperwork for the application for your identity." He finished.

Jacob can only nod numbly, for a fantasy world, this fucking village sure liked to act modern huh?

Regardless he took a seat and it was another 20 minutes of him signing stuff, writing his name, age, birthday, and all the necessary information that the monarchy might need. When he was done, Jacob was given a simple I.D that's meant for those who come from foreign kingdoms, the receptionist hinted that it was more like a Visa and that he needed to work or else he'd get kicked out but he also hinted that Jacob can make his stay permanent if he goes to the capital and talks to the people there.

Who those people were, Jacob didn't want to guess. 'Bureaucracy. Undoubtedly.' He thought with a shiver.

"How do I extend this again?" He turned back to the receptionist and waved his Visa, "You know, maybe I won't be able to-"

"Aren't you an Acolyte of Horos-" The receptionist shook his head when he realized that Jacob is relatively new to this plane, "No- that's not how it works," The receptionist waved him off, "You have boxes there at the back," Jacob flipped the piece of paper and yep, there they were, six total, they took over the entire back end of his rectangular temporary I.D, "and when you do a crime, that gets marked depending on the severity and when all of them are marked- you're gone. You can't come back here."

"Assuming that I don't stay in jail all my life in the first place?" He quizzically replied, eyebrow raised.

"Why would you spend your entire life in prison? You'd be a slave if that's the case." Was the receptionist's reply.

"I... see." That's disturbing and Jacob wondered who was responsible for such a law before shaking his head and walking away. It wouldn't be one of the Gods right?

Horos obviously is the one responsible for all the paperwork he's been forced to deal with and it's not like the influence of the other Gods are subtle either, the way alchemical ingredients for medicine is abundant in the forest and even in the streets speaks of Clarah's influence and even if he hasn't personally confirmed it, Jacob can tell that the people here are more... edged and ready to spring for a fight- that speaks of Mavneck? Magneck? - The God of fighting's influence is basically evident in that edge.

When he got out, he passed by a shop and the god of crying's influence was audible behind the walls- he was barely able to hear it through the brick but he heard it nonetheless: A man crying, being vulnerable and bawling his emotions out to his wife? Daughter? Point is, Jacob wouldn't even see that sort of thing back in his world.