Chapter 22: The Gracious Lord Administrator

Chapter 22: The Gracious Lord Administrator

It took Azrug a long time to stop celebrating. The advantages of youth saw him rolling on the floor long after Theo calmed down. The excitement he felt mounting in his chest didnt relent, though. With the first out-of-town trader stopping by, he made absurd headway into paying down his debt. Getting the [Flame Artifices] was just another thing that would make his life easier. Managing the small fires under his stills was tiresome, and the devices would provide 6 hours of steady fire.

Ive never seen that much silver, Azrug said, shaking his head.

Well put it to good use, Theo said. Ill spend most of it paying Miana for my debt.

That sucks. Thought youd buy something nice for yourself.

I got the [Flame Artifices]. Thats good enough for me, Theo said. Anyway, arent you done for the day?

Midday had come in the time they spent celebrating. The sun shone brightly overhead, flooding the small shop with its light. Tresk told Theo about her day out in the swamp, and the improvements the adventurers were making. They might have been making progress, but one of them caught the [Creeping Rot] and would need a potion. She said they were depositing the cores into the town before returning to the shop.

Right, Azrug said. As soon as my taskmaster pays me.

Theo fished five copper from his inventory, placing it in the wide-eyed boys hands. To celebrate a big sale. Dont get used to it.

Thank you, Azrug said, his eyes focused on the coins in his hand. Do you think some of this coin will flow to the rest of the town?

I hope so, Theo said. My goal has never been to be selfish with my alchemy.

Azrug nodded, making his way to the door. He stopped before leaving, casting the alchemist a wide grin. See you tomorrow, boss.

Theo took stock of his potions before moving back to the lab. He had more [Lesser Potions of Purification] than he knew what to do with, but none of the restoration potions left. The merchant didnt end up buying any [Cleansing Scrub], leaving him with 50 of the vials. His [Lesser Barkskin Potion] stock was down to 9 vials. That left him with a mostly empty shop, and no materials to distill new potions with. He climbed the stairs and took stock of the lab, finding a scatter of half-empty essence flasks, but nothing worth making a reaction with.

Tresk arrived with Luras shortly after, jumping with excitement. Lets see it.

Theo produced his 23 silver coins, cupping his hands as they appeared in mid-air. The jangling sound they made when they appeared was incredibly satisfying. He returned them to his inventory after his friends got a good look.

This is the real prize, Theo said, bringing the [Flame Artifices] out of his inventory. The small disc-shaped contraptions were lighter than they appeared, completely flat on the top with a slot on the side for motes. A turn-style dial sat on the side with a small picture of an increasingly larger flame.

You found your fire source, Luras said.

This is good. No more tending the flame for hours on end, Tresk said, letting out a sign. That was my least favorite part.

Mine too, Theo said, nodding. I should have bought more, but they were 5 silver each. Well, I got a deal for the pair, but still.

Luras took the contraption and inspected it, nodding his approval. The hunt went well. Were seeing the same number of wolves, so thats a good sign.

Theo produced a [Lesser Potion of Purification] from his inventory and held it out. You said someone had the rot?

Well, I didnt want to break your excitement Miana is calling for a meeting regarding the rot, Luras said. She told us when we were dumping the [Monster Cores].

Right now?The debut release of this chapter happened at Ñøv€l-B1n.

Right now.

Theo grumbled, stuffing the potion back into his inventory and letting out a heavy sigh. Off we go, then.

It surprised Theo when they arrived at Mianas office and they were the only ones in attendance. He knew this was a special meeting meant for the Newt and Demon specifically, a fact that he wasnt happy about. The Half-Ogre woman sat behind her desk, scowling around the room the way she always did. Luras stood in the back with his arms folded. He was important enough to get the invite, whereas the others on the mercantile board were not.

Weve got an epidemic, Miana said.

The [Creeping Rot]? Theo asked. I have a cure for that.

I know you have a cure, Miana said, scoffing. But as the mayor, I need to provide the cure. Im bound by some nonsense law of the kingdom to provide care for my citizens.

Doesnt sound like a nonsense law to me, Theo said, shrugging. Sounds like your duty to the people of Broken Tusk.

Miana scowled even harder, trying to pierce the alchemist with her gaze. I know youve made more money in a day than the rest of the town has in a year, combined, but try to level with me here.

Theo shrugged. He was feeling bold after his massive sale. The merchant only promised more riches in the future, and he was feeling full of himself. If there was ever a time for him to assert his position as the architect of the towns success, it was now.

Ill donate [Lesser Potions of Purification] to the town, for free, Theo said.

Ah, yes. I can smell the catch in your words, Miana said, groaning.

Im not content with my mercantile seat, Theo said.

What are you doing? Tresk asked. She cast him a concerned look, even if the words were between them.

Trust me.

You want to be the mayor? Miana said, scoffing.

Not yet, Theo said. I want a position in the town that affords me decision-making ability, without the need to run the politics.

Maybe a Lord Administrator? Luras asked, shrugging.

Theo fully rounded the corner, spotting what she was talking about. A bucket sat on the ground, mostly filled with silver coins. He remembered the amount of leather that sat piled in the now-empty warehouse. Perg said it was a years worth of work she planned to sell. By his estimation, it was significantly over double what she would normally work in a year. Since the adventurers were slaying wolves by the score, shed been buying up all their hides. The tannerys small processing area only allowed them to treat a small number of leather at a time.

Youre rich, Theo said.

Perg shook her head, digging eight silver coins out of the bucket. And this is your cut.

Theo took it. The thought of refusing never crossed his mind. This was the cycle of money he wanted to create. The constant push and pull against investment and profit that would make everyone in Broken Tusk rich. Perg would have significantly over 200 hides ready to go the next time the merchant stopped by. She wasnt someone who rested while the good times came around. Shed push harder to make even more money.

I appreciate it. This gives you the head seat of the mercantile chairs, Theo said.

Does that offend you? Perg said, flashing a devious grin.

Not at all, Theo said, waving a haughty hand and smiling. Ive taken a higher position in the towns leadership. Youll refer to me as your gracious Lord Administrator from here on out.

Perg burst out laughing, slapping her knees and wheezing before gaining control of herself. Oh, I can think of a few names Id like to call you. You mustve conned Miana to get the title.

Basically, Theo said, shrugging. Congratulations on the riches. Now, Id like to rent your laborers.

Theyre yours, Perg said. How many do you need?

Theo didnt think shed be so quick to offer her peoples services to him. He didnt know how many laborers he needed to accomplish his goals. Perhaps five would do the job. Five, Theo said after a moment. To collect reagents, of course.

Done, Perg said, withdrawing a notebook from her satchel and writing something down. What are they going to collect?

Theo detailed the reagents and where to find them. Perg dutifully scrawled on the pages, nodding as the alchemist gave more detail. Her brow knit tight when he described the [Manashrooms], but shrugged shortly after. He was glad to see that other people hated the vile insectoid creatures in the cave as much as he did.

Theyre hard workers, and theyre getting good at harvesting your ingredients, Perg said. Speaking of, Ill need another run of your potions in a week.

No problem, Theo said. I assume theyll start collecting tomorrow?

They will, Perg said, nodding.

Alright. Ill see you around. Take it easy, Theo said, turning on the spot and waving.

You too.

Theo returned to the shop to find the sign flipped to Open. When he opened the door, Tresk was standing behind the counter, beaming at him. Welcome to the Newt and Demon! Can I interest you in our potions?

The alchemist leaned against the counter and laughed. Giving up the life of adventure to run our shop?

Tresk scoffed. Just filling in for my Tarahek while he runs off doing alchemist stuff.

Sounds like a cool demon to me, Theo said.

Hes an idiot. But hes my idiot, Tresk said.

Theo shook his head, coming behind the counter to look at their plundered stock. He applied some [Cleansing Scrub] to himself before he got too far, adding a few drops on the ground to scour the mud away. The afternoon was fading quickly, his stamina bar going with it. It was too late to go out and pick herbs, but too early to go to bed.

Want to go sit in our fancy new chairs? Theo asked.

Tresk nodded, bounding behind him up the stairs and into the lab. They left the door unlocked for when Luras inevitably came by to steal their soup. The pair took a seat at their fancy new chairs and let out a synchronized sigh, letting the silence between them grow. Itd been a busy day, and Theo was feeling it in his bones. The excitement left him feeling drained, unable to strategize for the day to come.

Lets see your new magical fire, Tresk said.

Theo retrieved one of the [Flame Artifices] and set it down on the table. He inserted an [Earth Mote] into the side and stood back, but nothing happened. The dial on the side was set as far left as it would go. He turned it clockwise, gaining a faint click for his efforts. A small flame danced from the center of the mechanism. He clicked it again, and the flame grew larger. When the dial was set to the highest setting it raged from the artifice, threatening to burn the roof of their lab.

Better not use that setting, Theo said, clicking it to the lowest setting and sitting with his companion.

They watched the flame for a while before they got hungry. Theo produced the hot cauldron of soup from his inventory and dished out a bowl for each of them. Tresk would turn her head toward the door occasionally, waiting for Luras to show up. The fourth time she did so was in response to the tinkling of the bell downstairs. Sure enough, the Half-Ogre came into the room with a sheepish grin.

I smelled the food, Luras said, shrugging.

Theo gestured for the man to take a seat and chuckled. I have a question. Are you just sitting outside, waiting for me to get the soup prepared?

I was passing by, Luras said.

Uh-huh, Tresk mocked.

The group ate their traditional meal together, talking about the events of the day and enjoying each others company. Theo was craving bread with the soup, but he wouldnt complain. On Earth, he was eating the same army rations every day, which was more than a lot of the citizens were getting. Mass starvation was a distant memory by now. This new world had plenty to give, he just had to take it. The alchemist let these thoughts wash out of his mind, enjoying the soup too much to entertain the desolation of his home planet. He didnt even know if the planet he was on was in the same universe, and he didnt care.

Luras excused himself after finishing his soup. Neither Tresk nor Theo would wait for dusk to come before heading to bed and they locked up the shop, turned off the artifice, and settled down in the bedroom.

Now that were rich, Im going to buy you a bed, Theo said.

Thatd be nice.

Sleep came quickly that night. Earth was a distant memory and Broken Tusk was his home. He wouldnt have it any other way.