Chapter 286- The swap and steal (Patreon)

The swap and steal

The light from the flames of the outer fires traveled over the grassland. Rolling over a knoll, Stevven Gofart knew they would soon arrive at the Military camp. Breathing a sigh of relief, a smile broke on his stiff face. If not for the fear of demon beasts still lurking within the surrounding lands, he would have pitched camp at sunset. His Military escort, however, was adamant they risk the nightly travel to join the main camp.

The caravan passed through the perimeter of arranged bonfires under the watch of the alert sentries. Once inside, the escorting captain and a few of his men departed towards the center of the camp. After a brief meeting with a burly sour-faced man, the familiar soldier returned to his side.

"The Captain wishes you well. He has gone to deliver his report to the Commander. The Quartermaster informed me that there is an open space near the supply wagons. I will guide you there before leaving for our assigned location."

"Thank you, don't forget to visit us later after you settle down. My nephew will surely like to present a cask of ale for your services on the road."

Stevven Gofart smiled while following the soldier to the allotted site. Shortly afterward, he waved his fatty fingers to the departing man.

"Lye, take five water barrels from our supply wagon and water down ten casks of ale. Keep three so my young nephew can gift them to the Commander. Hmph! Not once did that Captain seek us out on the road. Always pretending to be busy ordering his scouts to search for demon beasts. Did he think just because he is a Sersen he stands over me? House Gofart also has a Sersen, you know!"

Scowling, the balding merchant vented his temper onto his servants. After wiping with a rag soaked in hot water, he sat sipping tea near his personal campfire. Hearing his guards chatter and offer greetings, he turned towards the source. A few shadowy figures walked towards him. Even before one of them called out, he had recognized the portly shape.

"Haha! Uncle truly picked a fine time to return from the south. Luckily, heaven blessed our house so we could meet."

Stevven Gofart stood up and laughed at hearing the voice. Chuckling, he embraced his nephew and then held the fat young man at arm's length. The pudgy face had obviously gained a few flabs over the years of his absence.

"Haha, I always told my brother that you might have inherited his shrewd mind but your looks and swagger came from me. I hear you did well to become vice-captain of a troop. No doubt, you used that merchant skill of yours."

"Uncle knows me so well. Let's say Commander Fredijak and a couple of Captains have a soft spot for me after receiving a few gifts. Like you always said, not everyone can ignore the lure of wealth in different forms."

"Pshh! Stop acting smug as if you did it all by yourself. Don't forget who helped you get inside Commander Fredijak."

"By the heavens, Tochus, of all people, did you have to say it that way? Not everyone is keen to share a bed with the old coot like you."

"Hah, you can only say so, Prickus, because you never tried it. Instead of spending your time trying to bed every girl you fancy, you should join me. You should only criticize that which you experienced before."

The balding merchant scanned the two companions of his round nephew. He had interacted with these young men in Frost City before he ventured south. Noblemen who shared the same ideals usually flocked together. The men standing by the campfire possessed qualities and the status to form bonds of brotherhood with his shrewd nephew.

"Haha, young Master Prickus, young Master Tochus, both of you look as lively as ever. Wait until we arrive at Frost City. I have been away on the road for too long, its time to vent on our favorite street."

"Senior Gofart truly holds the reputation as being the ravenous wolf of the bordellos. I can't wait to join you in breaking some ladies."

"Not to mention men. I claim first dibs on any muscle men enforcers of the particular establishments."

"No worries, my lads, we do it like we always do. As for the usual little escapades, I recently gained a fancy for young Healers. I'm hoping to capture one to my liking."

Stevven Gofart lowered his voice to a whisper while thinking of the blue-eyed and the raven-haired healer he secretly desired on the road. If not for the multiparty convoy, he might have enjoyed this latter part of his journey. Bidding the three young men sit, he suddenly recalled something. Cheering among the mugs of distributed ale by his servants, he turned to his nephew.

"What about young Master Rufang? Isn't he in your party?"

"Hah, that troublemaker will join us later. His temper landed him in a skirmish with one of the Captains so he is in reflective isolation. Tochus pulled a favor with the Commander, so his punishment was lenient."

"Can't say I don't blame him for trying to punch the man. Imagine a Captain trying to send me off with a scout into the grassland? What if we met up with a demon beast? Not to mention the man wasn't even from a noble house. Commoners really feel they are all that when they become a Sersen. Most of them still end up working for noble houses in the end."

Tochus spat while downing his mug of ale.

"Now, now, lads. No need to dwell on trifling matters. How about we do it like my brother and Senior Wang? Surely, this Captain must have some family in Frost City? What about we pay them a little visit when he is away?"

Stevven Gofart snickered. The fire seemed to retreat from his devilish grin while leaving his face in a partial shadow. His nephew shook his head in praise.

"We still have a lot to learn from Uncle. Your devious mind places us to shame. Uncle truly has the sharpest mind among all of us. In all of Frost City, only you could have made this impossible journey for grandfather."

"Hehe! Wait until we arrive home, nephew. Soon you will understand how keen your grandfather really is. Enough about this. Young Master Prickus, how are things back home? The escorting guards I hired from your House met some companions in Karst. They said your sharp-witted father has gone missing?"

Prickus nodded as he sighed. Flicking his curly long hair behind his head, he talked.

"The rumors on the road are true. Senior Gofart, my old man left on his own with the best of our trained mercenary guards. Since then, we haven't heard or found out any signs of him. My brother is trying his best in Limerock but then some little wastrels appeared with an amazing invention called glass. With the loss of my father, the other Houses and merchants have all but gobbled the shares of this money-making scheme. Under the eyes of the Governor, Tower, and Alchemist Guild, we can only watch as others leave us in the dust."

"Glass? I heard some rumors in Haven about such a thing. They say it can be formed into mugs, and even windows to keep the cold winter wind at bay. Limerock City, however, is the only place where it can be made, and they say not a merchant or house in that city will part with the secret."

Stevven Gofart mused. He wanted to try his luck after this journey had ended so as to claim a piece of the wealth but after hearing the powers supervising the process, he reluctantly retreated. No amount of wealth could save a man from the reaches of the Tower. He turned to the brown-haired, lean figured, Tochus.

"No matter. House Gofart will always continue to hire mercenaries from House Prickus. Young Master Tochus, didn't your father have relations with that fatty called Boss Jink? You know, the gang leader who always struts around with that Jaga? We can see if he can help us squeeze some merchants from Limerock so as to share in the wealth under the guise as partners."

"Good idea, I can ask my father to set us up with a meeting."

"Thank you, Senior Gofart, brother Tochus. My brother in Limerock will remember this assistance for life."

"Haha, no need, a companion of my nephew deserves this. If we don't help each other in our times of need, then those commoners will soon overtake us. It is our right to wield and keep this power granted to us by our ancestors. Come, let's enjoy the night, Lye, bring out the best cask."

The group merried away and increased the revelry when young Master Rufang joined them later.

***

Ming walked down from the road while following Chu with a torch.

"Dyna said there are no signs of travelers for miles. However, far that is. I don't see why you switched the crates between the merchants if this is what we planned to do. You know I hate working."

Chu paused his steps and then looked over his shoulder.

"We didn't switch crates, only a few covers. If you weren't busy stealing a copper from everyone's' money pouch, you would have known."

"Do you know how easy it is to miss a copper coin, Chu? Or even two? When you borrow them from over two hundred folks, they add up. See, you have never lived a poor life, a copper to me, goes a long way. But back to the question, won't they figure this thing out?"

"Of course they will. But I am hoping the taboo of opening their goods on the road lasts as long as the journey."

Chu replied. He walked down the bank as Miki joined him from the side.

"Switching a few covers on the bottom crates at the front of the wagon means they will go undetected until they are unloaded. Think about it, you slow-poke, when chubby Gofart unveils his box of stones, his mind will be in a daze. Before he can link us to the theft, bam! He sees the cover with another merchant crest on it. What do you think he will do?"

"In that case, I think he will believe he was swindled."

"Correct. Just that as Chu inquired before, the crest on the crate is from a merchant who is heading to the Capital. Poor Gofart will burn his fat in chasing after them. By the time he realizes his mistake, that is if he realizes, we will have long covered our tracks. Who will suspect two weak-looking lads and a couple of traveling Healers who only met on the road."

"Ha, thank the heaven for Lucy's brute strength in unloading the cargo. And don't belittle me, you wasp, you know I'm trying to look good in front of Ishara."

Chu ignored the two as he walked towards the arch. Lucy had already cleared the underbrush, exposing the entrance. Holding his torch, he bent his back to view the stacks of supply crates and barrels hidden within. These were have thought to have been burnt during the night so as to keep the campfire going. No one knew their true purpose of storing rare spices and fragrant mir.

Looking at the pool, he recalled his instructions to Dyna to wash a few stones so as to fill one of the crates. That was the one he showed to merchant Gofart when he wanted to shed any doubts. Luckily the man proved to be a true merchant of the era and not choose to investigate further.

Who knew under this ignored stone bridge lay a treasure surpassing the wealth of most noble Houses.

"We may yet see his face in the near future. Who asked him to be so superstitious on the road. Let's get these home. I think it's high time we travel north..."

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