Year 454
Wales Kingdom was a kingdom located on the central continent’s western region. Hence it was considered a coastal kingdom. They possessed one of the strong naval fleets in the world and their army was rapidly expanding the kingdom towards the east, which was easy due to it being occupied by primitive humans who couldn’t contend against weapons of steel such as swords and guns. However, 50 years ago, when King Renard Wales 56thto his name ascended to the throne he suggested a relatively peaceful approach, where the primitives would hold on to their lands, but the said land would be under the jurisdiction of nobles, and by extension the royal family. They would also be required to pay yearly tax, although the amount was almost negligible, as the noble and royals knew that a backward and underdeveloped region would be unable to pay the normal tax rate even if it took them a decade. This was mainly done so because although they were assured of victory it was would take a lot of resources and manpower to continue this war. On top of that develpoing the lands would take even longer and would waste larger chunks of resources, so it was better to let the locals who were familiar with the land develop it themselves, while offering a small portion as tax.
King Renard Wales also approved an urbanization system bought to him by the royal economist where, one by one these village would be developed into cities, and the primitives educated. Although he met with backlash from the nobles and they army, he still pushed through with the plan. Rains village was one of the primitives’ land that had been urbanized at least to some extent. Due to the difficult terrain, major urbanization was halted and over time had been forgotten about. The education system however remained and continued to develop the village over the course of the past five decades.
Westport city was the 2ndmost popular city in the Wales Kingdom. As its name suggests, Westport city was a naval region located near the western boarder of the kingdom. It was a popular city for mainly two reasons. Number one, was that it was the hub for immigrants who wished to enter Wales Kingdom from the sea routes. Number two was that due to it being a coastal region, there were a lot of cargo ships that would dock at Westport City while on long journeys, so making it resting spot for merchants, mercenaries and pirates. Also, the vast amounts of imports and exports conducted through the sea routes made Westport a land of opportunity and relatively easy to find work.
Unlike the capital city of Saint Fare, Westport had very few nobles. Hence most of the wealthy who ruled the city were merchants, and true to their name, they introduced multiple economic policies that greatly boosted the economy.
Adam had relayed his interest of travelling to the village chief, who pulled some strings to get him a job at the dock which was easy as he dock of Westport was always looking to hire anytime of the year.
The horse carriage rode along a beaten path, but gradually the road was getting smoother and the ride became easier. This was because the roads near the city was maintained and taken care of on regular basis as compared to the less travelled roads.
Adam woke up from his nap and looked out the window. “I can see smoke in the air, and a tall wall, I must be getting close.” He was excited to begin this new chapter of his life.
From his youth he had heard about cities and the many wonders they held. Large metal vessels that floated on water. A large metal snake that transports people and moves on its own called trains. He couldn’t wait to go site seeing once he reached.
“I’m going to be working at something called a casino……” Adam scratched his head in confusion. He got a very short explanation as to what his work was from the village chief. Only thing he knew was that it was at some placed called a casino. It was only natural that someone bought up in a primitives’ land would be unaware of the recent developments in happening in the kingdom and the neighboring kingdoms. One of these new developments was naturally casinos and gambiling.
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Adam gently opened the moving carriage’s door and jumped to the driver’s seat next to the coachman.
The coachman asked in annoyance, striking the horse slightly harder. “What are you doing boy?”
“Ah, sorry for the trouble. I was wondering if I could bother you with a few questions about the city? I mean you’ve been coming and going from the city for decades. I don’t think I’ll find anyone more knowledgeable about the city and it’s inner working than you.” Adam asked knowing that he was burdening the coachman. Since the passing of his father or maybe even before that, Adam had only ever been comfortable around Ellen. She was the one person in the world he would open up to. He hated troubling others or doing anything that would make others hate or dislike him. In certain ways he was a textbook people pleaser, rarely ever voicing his own opinions or thoughts for fear of offending others. One of the reasons he decided to travel to the city, was so that he would be able to reinvent himself and stop being a pushover.
Although the coachman was annoyed, he was not above been swooned by a praise or two. Immediately acting like a wise old man, he spoke. “You got that right, boy. There are few who know as many secrets as I do about Westport. Ask away.”
“Alright then. I was wondering if you could tell me what a casino is?” He asked looking at the note he got from the village head. The note only held two lines. The village chief couldn’t be blamed for this, as he barely knew how to read or write. Just the fact that he was able to write two line full of information was a miracle itself.
“Casino, waiter, Jack’s Gold.”
“Ask for Trevor Smith.”
“A casino?” The coachman smirked before continuing. “A casino is a place of wonders. It’s a place where gods are made, and gods are killed. A peasant could turn into a wealthy tycoon, and wealthy tycoon would be reduced to a beggar.”
“Wealth? Ah do you mean bronze notes?” Asked Adam. Back in village most things were divided equally amongst people, a model of social equality. Hence the concept of wealth was almost nonexistent. At the very best the villagers would resort to a barter system. Hence bronze notes, the official currency of the continent, played no role as no one wanted or used them. This in turn lead to the villagers not understanding the concept of wealth or value of money. As backward as they may be when it comes to wealth, the village head did provide Adam with 20 bronze notes to help him get settled in the city.
“Hahahahaha” The coachman suddenly burst out laughing. “You really are a country bumpkin. Boy the entry fee for a small casino is a silver note, that is comparable to 10 bronze notes. Even to make money you need money.”
“Ah yes, I’ve heard of these silver notes. They belong to the rich people of Westport, right?” Adam replied with the minimal knowledge he had from talking to the rare visitors that would stop by the village.
“I mean they aren’t only owned by the rich, but I guess you could say that the rich have a lot of silver notes.” Replied the coachman not knowing how to exactly answer the question. “Well anyway boy, are you interested in trying your luck?”
“Ahaha, I’m not sure. Although I do want to visit a casino.” Adam’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Also have you heard of Jack’s Gold?”
“There isn’t a single gambler that hasn’t heard of Jack’s Gold. It’s the largest casino in Westport, owned and operated by Lord Jack.”
“So, is this Lord Jack a wealthy person?” Asked Adam
“He is the wealthiest person in Westport. Although I don’t know too much about him. Everyone claims that he is blessed by lady luck and that he had never lost a gamble.” The coachman spoke with longing in his eyes.
Adam listened in awe, and asked a few more questions about cities, and the coachman happily replied.
…………………………………
Few hours later.
“Boy we’ve reached the city gates.” Called out the coachman, as Adam had gone back into the carriage. The carriage was stopped on a large metal bridge that connected the land to the city. There were hundreds of wagons and carriages queued up to enter the city. The entrance for people on foot was located elsewhere, so the only people on the bridge were either on horses or in carriages.
Hearing this Adam peeked his head out from the window, and he could see a wall that was extremely tall. The wall was at least 50 meters tall made from grey stone bricks, and in front of him was an equally tall metal gate was open. There were soldiers in black military uniforms holding bayonets, that he learned about in the village schools, stationed in front of the gate.
Adam’s heart was pounding from excitement. ‘All the stories are real. Structures that seem to hold up the sky, guns that can kill people from far. I can wait to see trains and metal ships.’ Adam thought to himself staring at the bayonet in one of the soldier’s arms.