STRIKING IT RISH... RICH. HAHAHA!

By the time the Elders re-entered the cave, excited chattering drowned the main cavern. Scores of goblins, clustered around, concentrating near one particular passageway. From it, the defeated goblins squeezed out with their faces filled with veneration.

Thud.

With three dull stamps of the staff, the noise ceased while the goblins parted way for the confused Elders.

On stepping into the war room, the wrinkled ones spotted a subpar goblin standing while stroking the bones of the throne. The ordinary goblin noticed them and as if by reflex, wanted to drop to the ground in prostration. Halfway through that action though, he clumsy regained his balance and instead performed a bow.

"This lowly one greets the Elders."

Pug did two things while returning to the cave. He hailed and appeared under the trees choosing the weaker scouts and wounded raiders. Clad in the best armor and bathed in blood from looting the corpses, he acted the part of a valiant conqueror.

With every appearance, he boasted to these goblins who had no power to steal his loot. Soon word spread like wildfire in the forest, of a goblin who defeated the devils through a battle of wits. Chants of a different nature sprouted, with whispers of a word that made Pug tremble in fear and excitement.

On entering the cave with a tail of worshippers, the fatigued goblin weary in mind and body wasted no time in conducting a most important and desperately required ritual.

Pug took a bath.

"You say you tricked the devil who killed Lord Pocong and turned him into a slave. What proof do you have of this matter. Deceit means death."

"Elders, this frail one has no need to lie. My words weigh like iron."

Pug vowed to the Bones. He pointed to the treasured sack.

"This is my first proof. A gift from the devil Chief himself."

Pug shuddered on speaking the words. The witnessing goblins gasped and squealed in fear. The routed goblins understood the courage needed to assail the farm.

Pug removed a large bag from the sack and then handed it over to the Elders. On opening it, the fresh scent of recently harvested corn permeated the cave. The explosive chatter from the passage and outside cemented his heralded position.

"Fresh... but how?"

Pug answered by opening a small wooden cask with a dagger. An unknown aroma mixed into the air. He removed a pickled fruit and handed it to the Elder, not forgetting to take one for himself.

"Eat."

He advised while crunching down on this sumptuous delicacy.

"What devilry is this!"

"By the Bones, how did uncouth Humans discover this?"

"Food of Kings, the food of Kings!"

The old goblins composed themselves after squeezing out any aftertaste in their mouths with their greedy tongues.

"This proves you came from humans, but it could have been stolen. You need more proof."

A loud yell and screams answered from the passageway, cutting Pug's answer in mid-sentence. A goblin scout burst to the front.

"We found it as you described. A human sword in his gut and a sliced neck. The great General-- Slaughtered like a boar and left to rot in the forest."

With bulging eyes, the three Elders stumbled out to view the corpse hauled at the entrance to the cave. Pug waited in silence in the room, his heart trembling in anticipation. The second action while in the forest was modifying the crime scene and having some goblins return for the conquered General.

The thumping noise of the staffs caused him to raise his head. Pug pushed out his flat chest and straightened his back. Along with the proof, he knew the Elders had contemplated and digested his words before being cut off by the returning goblin.

"I can trade for more food..."

The goblin Elders bowed towards Pug in greeting.

With one voice they spoke the haloed word...

"Champion."

***

"You what?!"

Mr. Thomas clutched the edge of the table imagining it to be a certain person's neck.

"As I said, I made a deal with the goblins. By this evening we will know if this business bears fruit."

Chu replied.

He had spent the morning weighing the pros and cons of forming an agreement with the goblins. Unlike Ming who simply made a friend, Chu had to think about the moral, economic and safety concerns of the farm. If this thing became huge, then it would also affect the Empire to a degree.

Would you deal with a group who might have dined on an unlucky adventurer for breakfast?

Could you swallow the entire trade opportunity, or would others have to be involved?

Can the goblins be trusted? Or will they backstab you at first chance?

Would it adversely affect the economy of a budding civilization?

Since he returned to the farm, he had engaged in thought. After a brief slumber, Chu gathered his entire team. From then until the sun rose high overhead, the chatter and questioning filled the workshop. Luckily for him, the residents had broadened their minds and not confined to judgment from ageless rumors.

"I lived in the village my whole life. Moving to this farm however, I learned that the terrifying wolf I feared in the slums paled in comparison. When you have to chase a gigantic wolf trying to sneak and steal the meat you butcher, it kinda makes you feel like an idiot. Wolf, Jaga, or Goblin-- why did I really fear them?"

Toll stated.

"Boss, we have no problems, but personally I still don't trust those little devils."

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Doug chimed in. At war or peace, the little Boss would find a way to claim compensation for his once wounded shoulder when she returned.

"I have never heard of any trade or association with goblins. In the tavern they occupied the tales of bards and also old folks to scare children. I shot one last night when it jumped over the fence. Goblin bandit or human bandit, both are the same in my book. If you can tame these little troublemakers, then go for it."

Stavia said. As a previous worker in a tavern, she had a wealth of local information and stories.

Chu stood up from his chair, as silence followed his action.

"Why trade with the vile goblins, since they have proven themselves as dangerous enemies. But why not?"

He asked and continued

"This farm is an exception since we live differently from others. We never bowed under the pressure of the Great Houses, and also fought victorious battles against the goblins. What better way to secure our position near the forest, by engaging in trade."

Chu did not come into this world to become a savior and vie for the Nobel Peace Prize of this era. He remained true to the words spoken in the rickety shack long ago.

He would make money while living the life of an adventurer.

Chu had the means to negotiate with the goblins and earn a cease-fire while profiting. While the rest of the world burns, he made money. In the eyes of others, this seemed despicable, but reality made it different. His present power limited him to this insignificant first contact.

If this drop in the lake created ripples that reached the opposite end, then so be it. If not, then history might mark it down as a loss for the Empire. Peace with goblins could help in securing the western border while opening up a whole new world of trade.

"I agree with Chu, since we have not lost someone in battle. If Ming had fallen, then things might have been different. Better now than later."

Lucy said.

"Good, then it's agreed. I want a small team as insurance, but I need Bon and Pick to join me. Sakura, release some grains from the storehouses for me, and also five casks of pickled vegetables."

Chu said. He drummed his fingers while thinking.

"Jim, I need you to take another wagon and a team over to the village. Purchase as much grain as you possibly can. Check the nearby farms, pay double for stored grain."

Like a contagious disease, the sound of coughing spread through the room.

"Ah Boss, double? As in double the price?"

Jim cleared his throat while thumping his chest.

"Boss, if you can release about four horses it would be better. That way while Jim visited the village, some of us can ride around and find the farmers who are willing to sell. It will cut the time for us."

One of the men who worked the fields with Clod suggested, on seeing the young Boss squinting his eyes around the room.

"Why Pick, he's a miner, not a fighter."

Miki asked. As the default commander of the farm whenever Chu left, she knew the abilities of the residents.

"Don't worry about that, let's focus on accumulating as much grain as possible."

Chu replied.

"Today is a trial run, however, we have to prepare for the future if it succeeds. We have one month before winter, so I want Amanda to open the budget for a new task. By this week we need to secure all the excess grain in the village and create an order at the Trading Post. "

He rapped his fingers.

"For those interested in visiting the town of Karst and the other villages, make arrangements, since I want to grab all the grain from nearby. Inform John to make his purchases in bulk from Limerock City, so he doesn't clash with our buying spree. Dareck, I need you to modify the wagon I will use this evening."

"Hey what about me Chu."

A voice broke his thoughts as Ming appeared at the doorway. The crowd parted in a rush, scrambling to make way for the teen who still had beads of water dripping down his hair. Besides Dyna and Jill, he had been absent from the meeting.

Chu frowned and wrinkled his nose.

"You have a more important task at the moment. Go back and take a bath again... you reek."

***

In the evening, Pug walked out of the forest, south of the farm. This time the scout had about ten jittery goblins accompanying him, along with three Elders. Under the wary eyes of his companions, his heart thumped madly while shuffling his heavy feet.

Pug followed the arranged agreement and paused at the site he negotiated with the devils. Black smoke rose from over the little incline in the north. Past that mound, a group of humans hustled and cremated the dead goblins, all of them less one ear.

"They come. The devils come as foretold by the Champion."

A shout sounded from within the party on hearing the rumbling of a wagon. Soon a loaded wagon escorted by four horses ambled into view.

Pug stared at the children who jumped valiantly from the horses. His knees wobbled on finding the familiar faces-- the reincarnation of the legend, and the devil commander. He would have fled if not seeing the waving hand from another familiar face.

"Stop the chattering, and show your pride as goblins! Act as warriors when you walk with this Goblin!"

Pug shouted to the excited goblin while calming his own jitters.

"Hey Pug, who are those? Your leaders?"

Ming asked while pointing to three withered goblins. The Elders stared at the rude little human who smelled like...

"Who is that?"

One asked Pug.

"My slave. The one I fooled by wits alone."

Pug answered. The Elder nodded sagely. Their Champion was mightier than they thought.

After both sides sized each other up while locking unblinking eyes, the hand signals filled the air.

Chu signaled for a sack of grain, opening the bag to display the yellow pearls. The gesture sparked an upheaval of chatter from the goblin participants. A smart goblin decided to take the initiative and also inspect the other bags.

"Quiet, show some decorum! Hey... why the heck are you drawing a dagger, you want to have us killed?"

Pug yelled on noticing the stupid goblin. Did this little prick want to kill them all? What if the devil interpreted this as a threat?

Pug grabbed a staff from an Elder and administered a beating, leaving the goblin battered on the grass. He then respectfully handed the staff over to the Elder.

"Stop shaming the face of our Champion. Bring iron."

The Elder said.

Four goblins walked over, huffing and puffing as they placed a large bar of iron on the ground. Excited and motivated on the sight of the corn, the goblins scampered off into the forest. A short time later they reappeared while struggling with another bar of similar size.

Bon stepped up, on realizing why the boy insisted for his presence. Kneeling and inspecting the iron billet, an Elder goblin hobbled up and placed a piece of a cut log at the side. Chu nodded on noticing the measurements seemed up to standard.

Ming held up his hands, pointing at the corn and the iron while raising his fingers.

Two iron billets, for one bag of corn.

Pick placed a small wooden cask on the ground and then opened the cover. This time the Elders voiced their excitement, circling the cask with no fear or discrimination for Pick. A crunching sound and sigh confirmed it passed the quality assurance test. This gift would only serve the palette of the Shaman, Elders, and achievers.

"Bring the iron, hurry and stop sprawling on the ground, you imbeciles!"

"Faster, this pick-pickles is for the Shaman."

Soon two iron bars joined their companions on the ground.

Two bars of iron for one cask of pickled fruit.

Pug walked forward and handed him a small pouch the size of a fist, thus fulfilling the agreement. He peered into it before depositing it into a pocket. The rest of the bartering went on without an incident, while they discussed for future meetings.

When the goblins departed in haste, Chu sat down on the wagon tray, while allowing his tense body to return to normal. In both lives, this had to count as the riskiest transaction ever.

"Hey Chu, how come the cask of pick-pickles cost the same as a bag of grain. We don't have much of those pickles you know. We even gave away five."

Ming asked.

"Same?"

Chu looked at him in a daze, while removing a pouch from his cloak. He handed it to Pick.

"Empty it on the wagon, take your time."

Pick followed his instructions while carefully emptying the contents on the tray. In the setting sun, the glittering on the wagon caused the jaws of Lucy and Miki to drop. Bon and Pick gasped on seeing the unbelievable glittering contents.

Ming had seen John playing with a ring containing a tiny piece of one of these stones. The value for it had cost the man a fortune. On his visit to Karst, his eyes had popped out on hearing the absurd prices. His tongue turned heavy when Chu pulled out four more pouches.

The words slurred out of his mouth.

"Holy crap, we're rish… rich?!"