"John!"
"Huh? Oh, Micheal! Long time no see!" John saw his good friend and fellow merchant, Micheal Jackson walking toward him, with a smile stretching from ear to ear. John walks toward Micheal as well and the two shook hands.
"John, how are things doing on your end? Especially, considering the war that been going on?" Micheal asks. Looking closely, John could see that Micheal look tired and stress, with bags under his eyes, and an untamed beard.
"Not that great, how about you? You don't look so well since we had last met," John asks, referring to Micheal's tired appearance.
Micheal sigh. "Not so good...You know how I make most of my money in the north right? Well, due to the war, most of the routes that I used are blocked, and the only other remaining routes that I can use are far too dangerous to travel, with bandits and monsters everywhere!" Micheal yells. "I took the risk and travel through the remaining routes. but I lost more than I can gain." The man then broke down to tears.
John sympathizes with his fellow merchant. After all, he was experiencing loss as well, though not as much as Micheal had experienced.
Then...John got an idea.
"Hey, Micheal, I got an idea that could help us to recover our losses," John said. "I just you to trust me." This gain Micheal's attention.
"W-What is it? Tell me!" Micheal practically begged for an answer from John as he shook the man.
"Not here, Micheal, with everyone watching us," John said after he was stop was shook around by his friend. People were watching the two as they walk by.
"Ah, sorry." Micheal straightens himself and follows John to a small bar and whispers to the bartender, who had a blank expression. After a few minutes, John nods and puts down some gold coins and silver coins.
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Seeing the coins, The bartender smile, pocket the coins and began escorting John and Micheal to the back of the bar and into a small room.
The bartender opens up a small panel and presses a button, causing handrails to appear into the room and the room itself began to moves down, surprising Micheal.
Suddenly, the elevator stops and opens, revealing a room with tables, chairs, and many decorations. Micheal looks around in awe at the heroes fight monsters, and gods ruling over the people of Gaea.
"So, this is one of the rumored secret rooms, huh?" Micheal said.
"You never been to one of these? It's quite common amongst merchants to uses these rooms to discuss business," John said looking quite surprised as he took a seat.
"Didn't really need to use them since I been doing all of my business all by myself," Micheal answers.
John nods. "True, you have always done all of your business all by yourself, from keeping tracks on your money to loading your wares," He said, he then became serious. "Anyway, let's get down to business."
"Yes, let's get down to it. What is this 'idea' you have?" Micheal asks, making himself comfortable.
"Well, I want us to make a business deal together to go to one place, the East," John revealed.
This confused Micheal. "What do you mean to go to the East? How does that's going to help us recover our losses? " He questions.
"Now, Micheal, remember how due to the war, it became hard for you to sell your wares and you began to lose money. It's happening to me as well, though not as much as you, it's still going to make me go bankrupt due to the South banning many of the stuff I sell, and the unrest that making it too dangerous for me to do business," John said. "Well, the East is gonna help us recover our losses and you ask how? Well, you see, the East is a diamond in the rough that is being ignored by other merchants."
"Due to the East not having much to offer for our wares so not many merchants would do business with them. However, the East has been growing at an alarming rate under everyone's noses and I took one look and realize one thing." John pauses for a moment before continuing his sentence. "Despite growing at a rapid rate, they don't have the same things that the other nation have, potteries, jewelry, weapons, and potions."
Micheal gains a one of realization. "I see...I see...But why not do the same to Rustbrough?" He asks.
John shook his head. "Not a good idea, all the other merchants are starting to do the same thing, making competition high, besides, Rustbrough are starting to find a way to grow more trees, and how to make more areas suitable for farming as well as other things," He said waving his hands. "So, we sign a contract?"
Micheal was deep in thought. After a large number of times, he made his decision. "Alright, I'll do it," He said.
John smiles. "Good, good, do you have any papers on you?"