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Chapter 56 – Mapmaker.

[Me]: What kind of?

[Ricat]: Business with a flavour of adventure.

[Me]: I’m not a mercenary...

[Ricat]: You have extraordinary dagger no you. You have gone through some hardships I reckon. Now, you want to hear my offer?

[Me]: I’m listening!

[Ricat]: In land of beastmen, there is a tree. Not so important to them but very rare and expensive in human lands...

[Me]: ironwood...

[Ricat]: You are very knowledgeable... Yes, I’m talking about Iron Tree. I’m making a group of warriors, adventurers and merchants to go to lands of beastmen and bring me one whole tree. There are already 19 members ready to go, I’m planning to put you into the team. The pay will be 5000 gold coins per person.

[Me]: Heh.. (I sighed with a sarcastic smile on my face)

[Ricat]: That’s more than enough to have a carefree life till the end of time. Think wisely...

[Me]: I’m not interested in gold.

[Ricat]: What you want then?

[Me]: Ironwood is used as a decoration in Kali tribes newly elected elder’s throne. It has always been like that.

[Ricat]: I don’t get you!?

[Me]: A new one.

[Ricat]: I’m not from Kali tribe. I have no idea about Kali tribe’s customs...

[Me]: Halim is. Is King Dar retiring or dying?

[Ricat]: It’s a request from very influential and wealthy family which I will not discuss with anybody. Now do you...

I cut off his words.

[Me]: I don’t care. I just asked you a question. You don’t have to elaborate on who or why hired you for this. Even if somebody hired you or you are doing a favor to someone else...

[Ricat]: So?

[Me]: 2000 gold coins and...

[Ricat]: Weren’t you uninterested in gold?

[Me]: Changed my mind!

[Ricat]: And what?

[Me]: Your friendship and support in future.

Ricat stood still for sometime. I was looking at him but was clueless about what was going through his head.

[Ricat]: We are leaving next week. Monday morning there will be a special balloon ship taking us to Tigran city. I hope you will be there...

[Me]: Goodbye!

I left Ricat in room while going straight to door to exit the manor. Elise was standing by one of the pillars outside the door talking to a servant. I passed by them and ride my horse all the way to “Luna’s bakery” in Nanwei.

Jamelia was surprised by my offer regarding “The Chevalier”, so she asked me to discuss it with her husband that night and give me an answer by morning next day. I asked her to regulate bakery and “The Chevialier” in my absense as manager of both businesses. In the morning, when I approached her in bakery, she told me to wait until cleaning finished. Around 8 o’clock a young man in his early twenties came in to the bakery. Normally, I didn’t allow any men in bakery as husbands of my workers would not let them to work for me if there were men involved in it.

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He intoruced himself as Jamal, told me a little bit about his background. I felt as if it was some kind of job application. His credentials were reliable though. Jamelia brought 3 cups of tea and we sat on to discuss business matters.

[Jamelia]: Mr. Bartholomew, Jamal is my eldest son. I talked to my husband yesterday and we came to decision that it would be much more better if Jamal administered your restaurant. Most probably he has told you before but let me point it out again that he has worked as a waiter in many restaurants. He is a smart kids with good intuition. If you will accept please, let him administer “The Chevalier” while I manage bakery.

[Me]: I’m going to leave next Monday, so he has few days to prove to me what he is capable of.

We drank tea and made few jokes. Jamal was hardworking and smart fella. By the end of his second shift I told him that he is going to be the boss in my absence.

As always, I was training basics daily. Running, push-ups, pull-ups and bench-presses were part of my daily routine. I was trying to stay fit and healthy. On Sunday night I slept early to wake up on Monday morning without getting late.

My backpack was filled with 3 leather pants, 5 long-sleeve shirts, 2 robes and 2 pairs of shoes. I didn’t take any meals or fruits as I thought Ricat would be covering our travel needs including accomodation and meals.

Early morning, I woke up as cocks were already crowing indicating the sun was about to rise. Put on my clothes, got on my horse and rode it to air port. Jamal was coming with me, so that to take my horse back after I left.

Ricat was already there as we reached the balloon port. There were 15 men including me, and 5 women. By looks most of them were either warriors or mages except three.

Ricat introduced me to rest of the crew. Some of them were newbies who were acting like tough big boys, and some were experienced mages and warriors. Most important of all was the man who was introduced last. His name was Ashod. Ricat told that he is an expert craftsman and mapmaker.

Next: Chapter 57 - Plan