“This is a rather large request dear Customer. Such metals are not easy to come by.”
“That is why I ask the Peddler King. Who else would be able to get something inside the Magistrate but your Shops?”
Right now I sold all my Vegetables and using all the Money I got for it for purchasing magical Metals. All the rare and usable Metals which work in mysterious ways. I totally forgot about them until Leafy remembered me of the need of such things.
“We can reserve ingots or scrap metal of that kind if you want, but when we will have them in stock will be questionable.”
The Clerk with the fine mustache explains to me. Well I do not want them right now, but it would be later I get them.
“That is no problem. We will be back in a Month and afterwards I would like you to have the things ready. My direct Budget is right now sixty large Gold as down payment and later I bring another batch for another sixty large Gold. This should help with purchasing some different things, right?”
“Well yes. I understand, this will be a large purchase, so the transaction fee…”
“Is waived. Did you not see my signature on the sign you imbecile?”
Ah Rendlar came right in time. I would have asked anyway why I suddenly need to pay a fee.
“Hello Rendlar. Everything fine with my produce?”
“Vice President!”
Standing straight the Clerk is rather shaken to see him. Well I remember he likes to sleep in, but right now it is evening, which means he should at least be here then.
“Yes, the radishes and that rice makes quite a commotion right now. Some cooks might be in despair to think of a meal from the cattle feed right now for Mages to dine on.”
Laughing at his own joke I remember. Rice is poor mans food and mostly used for cattle otherwise. Well It just needs water and a bit of nourishment to grow, so I can see how they think about it like that.
“I have brought some Wheat also. It is just a testing sample as I told you. Potatoes are also here.”
“Yes, it seems you are crazy enough to grow everything in your magical Farms. If others know you do not grow essential herbs, they will try to kill you with their thoughts.”
“For the herbs to grow there needs to be a phenomenon near it to grow. I just have Mana.”
Some high quality herbs only grow where something strange is happening. Miasma is normally just chaotic, but sometimes they create dangerous areas with strange attributes. Or at least that is what Mercenaries know about rare herbs. If someone found one it would be worth up to a Mithril. Mithril is the one above large Gold, and is in the hundreds afterwards, meaning 100 large Gold equal a Mithril.
I only know about Mithril as the legendary Coin. No low Mercenary even knows about what is upwards that, just that there are always hundred steps, for everyone who handles those coins can count without using their fingers for it.
“Still, they would want to take your Land. That is the reason I came, by the way. The Information Center is hunting for every Information to the source of the plants. Right now they have no lead, as it could come from anywhere, as Malek has three and a half borders near it and is not telling anyone anything.”
Malek the silent City. Well it counts to be profitable in multiple countries which could fight against each other any time to be the most closed lipped City. Rumors say the black market is bigger than the open market, but I do not know anything. Ava never had any connections in that city.
It was a City of Ilstin prior, but was attacked by Ulk and ‘liberated’ by Telk afterwards. Let’s stop with history. I never liked it in school either.
“So I am in danger.”
“Not yet. The President above me is a smart woman, who just keeps everything about this under the covers, as she rather likes the steady stream of Money it makes. Maleks Merchants are all silent too, as the boom makes them famous and they would not know if the next owner of the land would sell them even the dirt under their fingernails afterwards. The integrity holds for now.”
“Sounds like a good reason for me to reinforce my walls.”
“Please do not speak about your land in any way, so I have deniability. It would just make everything complicated.”
‘I buy anything you bring, but do not drag me down with you’ kind of thinking, huh? Well he is a merchant, so it is logical.
…
While I would like to buy Animals, there are none anymore. Suddenly the Mercenaries notice what happens, if you do not help the local Farmers in defending their plots. The Food is getting more bland the colder it gets. Stocks got bought with high prices and maybe later all of the food shacks will have only moldy ingredients.
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It is sad, but they are just reaping what they sowed. Rations get pricier, food gets worse and happiness lowers even further. As food is bland for all of us anyway, we have our own rations made out of high Mana ingredients. I must say, it is the first time eating the vegetables and they are nice. Their flavor is impressive and at the same time it is filling.
No wonder the farmers said the food is better in our Village. Albeit the Animals have also high Mana, they are no Monsters as of now. At least the ones still in the Village. Getting home will be the first experiment with Monster produce.
…
“That… is an Egg, Lord?”
Leafy is wondering about this thing in the kitchen. It is the third Egg of the Cockatrice. They get really angry if you want to take their eggs, but abate with laying unfertilized eggs for food.
I am impressed, they are able to create eggs even without them being fertilized, but seems to be a possibility for them. They even know when there is life in them and when not.
“A Monster Egg. As Ava is now able to eat magical produce I thought of testing out, if those are edible.”
“But it looks really strange. What Monster did lay this Egg, Lord?”
“Ah, it was from a Nest I came upon. Do not worry about it.”
“This does not lessen my worry, Lord.”
The Egg is huge. I would say about forty centimeter in height on the longest side. The Shell is bumpy and made out of separate black calcine plates looking a bit like scales, held together by a thick, green, leathery substance between them. I can do nothing against their ominous look, but can say it should be able to be boiled.
“You just boil such a big egg in a cauldron, like it is nothing Lord. What about the Parents? They might rampage.”
“No, they are rather chill, as this one is not fertilized.”
“And how do you know that, Lord?”
“...I just know, alright? It is better to not ask too much, as this is more of the kind of thing, I want to not talk about.”
“I, I am sorry. I forgot my standing.”
sigh “It is alright Leafy, but the facts about these Monsters is not yet explainable to you. When I have more Information and am able to tell you about it, I will. Just not now.”
“Yes Lord.”
That was the wrong move it seems. She has gone back to her subservient side. I really thought we were on better terms, but I still forget she distances herself from everyone of us and differentiates between us and her. Nothing I can do, as long as we have no way to bridge that gap. Maybe I should just let her go back to the Forest. She might not even be happy here.
…
Two hours later the egg is cooked. Right now I have it put into cold water to eradicate the heat out of the shell, so I can start peeling it. Waiting next door are four guests. Belk, the two Farmer boys who would like to taste test a Monster and Snow. Belk is a bit hesitant about trying to eat something from a Monster, but came anyways, as I asked and maybe would thought it rude to not come to this invitation.
Snow loves to eat Snakes, so I have no worry about her getting sick. Ava will also eat, as he is the only Creature close to a human Mage. Leafy would never eat any animal products, but does not judge others, so that is at least nice.
Peeling the egg was easier than I thought. The leathery seams can be cut with a sharp knife and after the first scales dropped away the red egg white was seen. What a strange color for the egg. What will be the yolk? Blue? Purple? Rainbow?
Putting the Egg which might weigh around half a dozen Kilo onto the platter I carry it out. The red blob is rather bendable and lies down like a giant pudding.
Looking at me bringing the Food to the table everyone stands up. Snow did not understand but stood up a second afterwards. You do not have to be so formal you all.
“Don’t be so formal. The food is an experiment of myself, so I want to know if it is edible. Potions and antidotes are at the ready. If it is edible, we might have more variety for everyone in the Village.”
“Yes, my Lord!”
Belk I just said… Whatever. Setting it down I take a knife and start cutting some pieces of it. The first cuts show only the red for now, as I want to test this first. The yolk will be cut open later, as I want to see the different textures separate before combining them.
“Hot!”
Well I cooled it down, but not to the core. Obviously it is hot Snow. Tasting it myself I find it rather flavorful. A strong spicy start going over into a rather mellow taste. If the consistency would not be like that of a chicken egg I would even say it is beef. Slightly spicy seasoned beef, but still needs salt. Luckily I had some and gave it around the table to make the taste ideal.
After the sample I ask around and got all positive reviews. Snow just had her third helping, as I was sure she would be okay, if she can stomach acid spitting Snakes.
Finally I was cutting it in half and the yolk shows its color. Yellow. Somehow a bit disappointing but in the red shell it is rather fitting somehow.
Taking some of the Yolk to everyone the first thing was, it was rather solid. It was more like old cheese that has aged a few years, as it was dry and somewhat brittle. The taste was strong. Way stronger than I anticipated and many thought the same. Not that is was horrible, but overwhelmingly intense. Everyone needed a glass of water right afterwards, but made me wonder.
The third experiment was the ones together and with the mix of spicy and intensity, the mellow aftertaste gave off the right flavor to end it. So it can not be eaten alone but together for the best dining experience. Otherwise the Yolk can be used to make soups have more flavor, so a kind of spice.
All the participants have to tell me how they find the food while I was writing down the thoughts. The real reason they are still here are for checking if there is any discomfort or poisonous effect.
Looking into Avas digestive system I see no anomaly and no strange happenings around his body. The most effect I see is the high Mana activity.
“This would be great for my Wife and Kids. It tastes fantastic and fills me up with only this much. The only thing is right now the Scar on my stomach itches like crazy.”
“Mine too.”
The third nods to the explanation.
“I understand. This seems to be as the Egg has a bit too much Mana. Right now it aggravates the scar by pulling it out of your body. Any other discomfort?”
“No discomfort, my Lord.”
“Rather the opposite, I feel great. Like I did not had to haul all the dirt the last few hours.”
Huh, rejuvenating, or maybe just relaxing the muscles. It is nice to know there are such effects. Maybe I can sell it later in Halk.