The Red Lands 1

by ForestRage

  "That can't be all you need right?"

  Chu grinned

  "When you settle down in the town I need you to send for some people. All I ask is that you find some odd jobs that can keep them well off. At least better than this village."

  "Eh? You planning on sending those little girls in your group?"

  "No, I want to send my old man and my family. It's just the three of them. All I ask is that you make sure they have a better life."

  Griz look at him as he sipped his tea. This boy never ceased to surprise him. Instead of grabbing the chance to leave the village, he gave it to his parents.

  'Was he filial or just an idiot?'

  "Very well. As soon as I settle in the position of Master of Karst I will send for them. There are lots of odd jobs that I would need done. It would save me the trouble of finding loyal servants."

  "Good enough, just continue my sisters education. I will need her in a few years to help in some business."

  This was just Chu's little method to try to make sure Griz kept his bargain. For him he considered himself having do more than enough for the previous owner of this body. He was certain that his family was going to have a much better life than before.

  "Good then that's all. If Mr Griz would place a seal and signature on this parchment it would be considered a done deal."

  Griz got a brush and some ink from a table and signed the paper. He then stamped his seal on it.

  "Brat, you seem like I would rob you after all our business together. Tell you what, I will provide your farming equipment and tools for free. Just visit here when you need anything, the next Trading Post Master will be made aware of our agreement."

  Chu chuckled as he rolled up the paper. It was fine if Griz was going to provide some tools for free. His main interest never laid in settling down to farm.

  He was interested in the world.

  Chapter 51

  Outline of a plan

  Griz left the village early in the morning.

  He left without any fanfare or farewell from anyone. To most in the village it was a simple supply run conducted by the Company. The few Military persons who had remained in the village for logistical purposes also left. Apparently their main focus of operation had shifted further south.

  There was two people who stood shivering by the gate, looking on at the departing convoy. Chu waved his fist at the disappearing figure of the large man.

  His teeth chattering, Ming sent a last wave to Simon who was riding a horse at the rear.

  "T-that seemed awfully nice of Mr Griz to wake us up before he departed, huh Chu? We must be part of only a very few people who know the truth."

  Ming rubbed his cold hands and spoke proudly.

  Chu glanced at the tearful idiot.

  "That bastard woke us up for spite. Why do we have to be like some old woman sending off her son to battle? He was well aware we said our goodbyes yesterday."

  Chu was spot on in his deductions. Just before the first crack of dawn, Griz personally came and banged on their door. Hustling the two outside, he made them help load the cargo of pelts and firewood.

  After that he made doubly sure, the two escorted his wagon to the gate. Watching the faces of the two miserable looking boys, he waved his hands as they departed. Simon rode up next to him.

  "This may be the last I see of that brat. I want to make sure I leave with a good heart. Seeing his twisted face knowing I purposely did this to him, is the best send off from the village."

  Chu and Ming returned to the room in the Lodge. Griz had left Overseer Pi in charge, but the assistant called John was the person responsible for all the daily management of the Trading Post.

  His instructions were to let the boy stay because someone would come looking for them after a few weeks. Once the merchants and peddlers started arriving for trade of pelts and lumber, John was free to kick them out to make space for paying tenants.

  Chu spent the first week relaxing in the room or sometimes visiting his home. He continued to encourage the girls to focus on the basic education in counting and reading. He hustled John for some old parchment and ink for them to practice writing.

  He didn't make any trips to the barn. They had enough food to last until the end of winter. He had full faith in the hidden trapdoor. Unless someone was very curious it would remain undiscovered.

  The only people scouring the land were the remaining adventurers. And even they would be leaving soon enough.

  Just over one week after Griz departure the Trading Post canceled the mission and the reward for the wolf demon.

  Without this reward the mass exodus of remaining adventurers started. A few of them began a frenzied rush to secure some wild animals to be sold for meat and pelts. This was to gain some money for their next campaign.

  For the ones in service of those large houses and nobles, the sublime message of pulling the reward was clear as glass.

  The Trading Post was not a large and old entity for nothing. If they removed the reward there was only two reasons.

  The carcass had be found or those in Headquarters deemed it to be a futile matter.

  As the word spread out, those who were traveling to the area were forced to turn back in regret. No money meant no profit.

  As the days rolled on the village slowly became more listless. This was in conforming to how a remote place like this should be in times of Winter.

  The profits from an exciting Winter slowly decreased and affected everyone from the Trading Post to the normal village who was making money one way or another.

  Chu was the least affected. Business always had an up and down cycle. He unlike most of the others had locked in his profits long ago.

  Right now he was huddled in front of the fire with a large map placed before him. It was the same one that Griz had showed him previously.

  Ming was sitting at the side trying to gnaw the last of some meat from a bone.

  "Awagh earh uie thainkin abut knoow?"

  Slap.

  "Don't talk while stuffing yourself, nobody is going to understand you."

  Ming chewed and swallowed whatever he could gnaw of the bone.

  "Sorry Chu, but Sue's cooking is getting better and better. This time she went all out and didn't skimp on the meat. I was asking what are you thinking about doing now?"

  Chu looked at the map before him.

  This was a small map showing the rough locations of the villages around Karst. On earth it was considered a basic map that depicted the location of places relative to the other. The town was a square, villages dots and small drawings of trees, mountains etc depicted notable landmarks.

  "See this line that shows a road? From Karst all roads stretch out like a spiderweb to connect to the villages around it. But to the east of our village is another road. It runs from the north to south passing along all the villages that are located near the forest.

  If my guess is right, that road runs just east of our barn. I think the few farms that we saw smoke coming from the chimneys are located along this road just like ours."

  Chu pointed and moved his finger along the line.

  "If Griz does get this piece of land for us, it would make our commute to and from the village much safer."

  Ming nodded in agreement.

  "But Chu, are we going to remain here? Not that I mind but it's hard to make the kind of money we did for the winter. Sooner or later we are going to have to risk our lives in that forest again."

  Chu understood all to well what Ming was talking about.

  "Hey Ming, would you be happy if we just settled down in this place and started farming?"

  Ming looked at him dubiously. He raised his greasy hands to his chin and thought for a moment.

  "I think that if you had asked me this before winter, I would have done anything to get that chance. It's different now. With what happened to Lucy and talking to Simon and those soldiers from the Military, I want to travel.

  I want to visit that Frost City, I want to
see the Capital, I want to see the legendary fights between those demon hordes and the Military. I want to try my luck in getting a talisman stuck on me. I would even want to see that town Simon and the others moved to. I want to explore the places like Simon did with his friends."

  It seemed like Ming had caught the adventuring bug. This was partly from interacting with those he would never have any reason to associate with in his life.

  Many people have lived a contented life in their own little bubble. Some however, grow restless when they find out their large swath of land is actually a tiny fragment of the wide world. For a kid, this would only pique their interest and curiosity.

  "The first thing we need to do is restore our barn. After it is finished, Clod can begin farming.”

  If Simon pulls through and his friend is helpful, we can secure a place to live and stockpile our food.”

  Ming gave Chu a sharp stare.

  "Hey Chu, did you listen to what I said? You know, like a few breaths ago? All about wanting to leave the village and all."

  Chu just gave him a glance.

  "Tell me something Mr wanna be, little Marco Polo. When you head out skipping along those roads to the cities. Where are you gonna get the money for food? Where are you gonna sleep when it rains?

  And when those same adventurers and soldiers decide to pick on you, how are you gonna fight back? You think that killer move in the forest is gonna help?

  By the time you walk out of this little nook. Your life will already be in someone or something else's hand. If even the wind changes direction your life is gone, snuffed out like a candle."

  Ming had a shocked expression.

  "Wha? But Chu, you promised me you would take me outside this place. You said we would see this world."

  "What the heck! When did I promise you that?"

  Ming grabbed his shoulders with his oily paws.

  "You said so, not in words but I know you looked like you would take me with you."

  Chu knocked the hands grasping onto him.

  "You idiot, don't make up things as you go along. Besides I never said we would remain farming for our entire lives."

  Ming dropped his hands in confusion.

  "Huh?"

  Chu patiently explained.

  "Before we go anywhere we need a place to fall back on. The barn will always be our home base. Next we need a steady income so we will always have gold when we need it. And last but certainly not the least, we need some training so we can protect ourselves when we travel. When all those conditions are met then we should be relatively safe on our trips."

  "You talk like we can get all those things here in this little village."

  Ming mumbled in a depressed manner. His dream of hitting the road was now crushed and delayed until only god knows when.

  Chu grinned.

  "What are you pouting for. If things work out like they should we would get even more that we bargained. Solid help and defense for the farm. Military style training for you.

  Years of traveling experience shoved down our throats and best of all first hand guidance and instruction for Lucy. What more could any slum resident ask for?"

  Ming continued pouting.

  "But I want it now, and who the heck is Marco Polo?!”

  Chapter 52

  End of the story

  The blizzard came cold, heavy and left in a rush.

  This much-anticipated event, confirmed to most of the older villagers that winter would soon pave the way for spring.

  Unlike the previous years, this storm of snow and freezing cold did not cast a shroud of despair on the residents. Firewood remained abundant, to ward off the cold.

  Most villagers, and even those in the slums had enough food. Never had the village spent a strange winter like this.

  Chu used the time to busy himself with learning, and soaking in whatever he could about this world. He tried remembering about those long forgotten business models, and knowledge he once crammed during his schooling days.

  Upon frequent attempts at this he gained a marvelous insight.

  'His memory was just as poor and his designs full of holes like swiss cheeze.'

  Like most people who had left the education field to pursue the hardship of work, those things he once cracked his head for exams turned near irretrievable.

  'What did knowing these things, have to do with field work and meeting people?'

  Worse yet his high school knowledge of science was now nearly consigned to oblivion.

  He had at least proven to himself, that he numbered among those not gifted with eidetic memory powers. As for physical skills, a boy who faced near death from starvation possessed a sub par body.

  In terms of strength, he averaged the same as a boy on earth.

  He spent his time trying to scribble down anything he remembered, lest he forget at some time in the future.

  Today the 'acting' Master of the Trading Post had personally come over and delivered two letters. One was from Griz and the other was from Simon.

  Both were sealed with an unbroken blob of wax. John had left in a hurry after a little chat, since more important instructions had arrived for those at the Trading Post.

  Chu sat presently reading those letters and scribbling notes.

  Griz worded his letter like a summary report. Non-specific, and written in a way that only he and Griz could understand the true meanings. A stranger might not know if this came from a salt merchant or a fur trader.

  'The cargo had been delivered to the city and met with joy at the inhabitants. The selling price had actually sky rocketed even before they bargained. He had earned the trust and respect as a man of honesty from all those involved.

  He had gotten overwhelming support in the city and was encouraged to set up a place there. Being a family man he decided to hold off on the offer until he discussed it and reached a decision. He was given the assurance that the city was always open and willing to receive him.

  As a token of this profitable trade, he decided to increase his servants in his household. The new Master in the village would be in charge of sending the rest of his items to his home. He would also manage the assets he purchased with some money for long-term investments.'

  Chu chuckled when he finished.

  Seems like the wolf demon corpse turned out to be much more valuable than he could ever imagine. If he thought about it, this was maybe one of the first rare species the 'scientists' of this world got the chance to examine.

  It was like placing an enticing dish in front of a person who could only savor it in their dreams. One could only imagine the ruckus that went on for those in the Mage Tower to claim this prize.

  Griz had kept true to his words and decided to return to Karst to build his own clan before attempting business in Limerock. He also kept his promise to Chu for settling down his family in Karst.

  Most importantly, he now owned the barn.

  A base of his own in this world belonged to him.

  The contents of Simon's letter was short and to the point.

  He had met up with his friend Mr Thomas in the village that he settled. Mr Thomas was heading into Karst with his family for some personal issues. He would leave them there and journey to the village to meet up with Chu.

  Giving the timing, Simon estimated that the man would arrive about two to four days after the letter reaches the village.

  Chu leaned back on the chair and inhaled some deep breaths.

  Currently his mind was flooded with a euphoria of emotions.

  In both his past and present life, this was the first time he ever bought his very own property. Barring the work to be done, it could be said he was the owner of both a house and land.

  By risking his life, and with the help of some unexpected companions he had achieved something to be proud of in both lives.

  With Simon's friend agreeing to meet with him, he had to try his best to convince this man to work with them. Surmounting this challenge was critical to his future pla
ns. He could not afford to settle in comfort just yet.

  If successful, he would have the equivalent of a house, land and security. That was the first requirement for his foundation. The next most important one was to gather all information and construct a picture of the powers around him.

  His main plan was to find the safest place in the Empire to settle down.

  Last thing he wanted was to be sipping tea in his home not aware that some horde was marching towards him or that this place had some history of being the center of some epic wars.

  Mr Thomas turned into a key he needed badly.

  ***

  Song and his family would be the perfect case study for those interested in economic and social behaviors. They could have said to have experienced all the rise and falls this village had to offer.

  Song had inherited his occupation from his father before him. It could be said that he was born with a silver spoon since that work was one of the few that actually provided a steady income.

  He became an average worker and saved enough to pay the tax on the family home in the village. This alone was proof on how well he was striving. He married a girl from the village named Li. Like most, she had learned enough to manage the everyday activities of a home.

  In time a son was born and the makings of an average family was created.

  Then began the slip from that narrow ledge the family was living. First his next child was a girl. The general consensus was that boys were useful and girls were a burden. Not long after he suffered an accident and became lame.

  No insurance, disability claims or reason to sue the employer. His family was plunged into a crisis. With shortage of money and no savings, they made the harsh decision. It was not an uncommon practice anyway.

  Abandon the small girl to the slums. A fate that would more than likely guarantee death. The belief was that it could not be seen as killing one's child but giving them the chance to grow stronger.

  Unfortunately the son objected against this action. He left the house to fend for his own and provided some coppers everyday to support his sister. His father and mother could still live on the reduced income they generated.