A Living Armour Owns A Tavern - Chapter 30 First Order Of Business

Gus, Nico, and Sarah arrived at Victor’s home. A pretty lady with a ponytail has opened the doors.

“Oh. Ms. Sarah! How may I help you?” asked the girl.

“Good morning Julia, We wish to speak to your father, please. Along with me is my merchant friend Nico from Tenrocks and Gus, a… friend of mine,” said Sarah.

After a while, Julia returned with her father Victor. He gladly invited them inside their home.

“Everyone Please sit. Julia my dear, would you kindly brew us some tea?” asked Victor.

“Yes father,” said Julia as she excused herself from the living room.

“Good Morning Ms. Sarah. and Mr. Nico, I have heard you and your companion has saved us last night. Yellowleaf is in your debt. Who might you be my good sir?” asked Victor.

“Ah yes. I must apologize for covering my face. You see, I have been badly injured since a long time ago. The wars have left me with a face that only a mother can love. So I hope you can understand.” Gus bowed his head immediately to show his sincerity.

“I go by the name of Gusford Redfeather, but you can simply call me Gus. We came to you today to aid the residents of Yellowleaf. I wish to introduce to you a very resilient crop that came from the East.”

Gus took out the potato from his pouch and presented it on the table. “This vegetable is called a Potato. It is a root crop that is cultivated below the soil. I believe by teaching the townspeople how to cultivate such crops, will help aid the town’s food problems.” said Gus.

“Hmm… I see. Then what is it you want from us? I’m afraid we have nothing to offer but the clothes on our back.” said Victor.

“Don’t Worry, All we need is s labor force to cultivate the potatoes. However, our confidant Mr. Nico will hold the rights to sell the vegetable temporarily. Yellowleaf can sell him a portion of the potatoes harvested while keeping the rest of the crop for everyone’s personal consumption. He will only require a reasonable amount of potatoes for every harvest season.” said Gus.

“May I know the reason for Mr. Nico to hold the temporary rights?” asked Victor.

“Mr. Victor, I am a but a man who wishes to end starvation. Sadly, there are people with vile intentions. Once they possess the information where these potatoes are grown, I believe they will send their personal army to pose as bandits and take everything from this town. Here is where our confidant Mr. Nico will step in.” said Gus.

“As a Merchant of Tenrock City’s Merchants Guild, I believe we can help you hide the potatoes where it can be cultivated safely within your town walls,” said Nico.

“But won’t this simply put my people in danger as well?” asked Victor.

This is the question Nico has been worrying about.

“Mr. Victor, Yellowleaf is already suffering. If the Kings and Nobles won’t kill you, then

hunger and diseases will.” said Gus.

“He’s Right Father. I have already witnessed so many deaths in this town. Just last month, Mr. Ralph’s son has died from sickness. He couldn’t work in the city anymore because his leg was severely injured. His wife left him since he cannot provide anymore and blamed him for their son’s death. Mr. Ralph killed himself the night his wife left him. Father, Mr. Ralph is a good man who didn’t deserve such a horrible fate.” said Julia as she pours tea for their guests.

“Hmm… Mr. Gus, please give me three days to decide. I alone cannot make this resolution. I will organize a town meet and let everyone debate on the matter.” answered Victor.

“I understand, Mr. Victor,” said Gus.

“If there is nothing more to discuss Mr. Gus, then I will have to excuse myself. The town elders and I have plans to survey the damages the Goblins have caused last night.”

“There is another matter Mr. Victor, I would like to purchase or lease property inside Yellowleaf.” said Gus.

“Hmm… I do have one in mind. But I’m afraid I cannot answer you at the moment. I would like to make sure that the property is vacant before I can offer it to you.” said Victor.

“Thank you, and have a good day Mr. Victor,” said Gus.

“Mr. Nico, would you like to see our potato farm? I believe Rhoanne and the kids should still be there,” said Gus.

“I would love to Mr. Gus! Let us leave, before my bodyguard adopts one or two of them!” jokingly said, Nico.

Nico, Gus, and Sarah has arrived at the potato farm just beside the river. They witnessed that the children were helping Rhoanne, how to tend to the Potato plant.

“Oh! So this is what the plant looks like!” said Rhoanne.

“Uh-huh! Mr. Gus says, that we can already harvest em’ potatoes after a week!” said Griffin.

For teaching purposes, Gus has transplanted the accelerated plants to the farm, a week before harvest. He already anticipated that he would need to demonstrate in front of Victor and the villagers. Gus also wants the children to experience taking care of the potatoes before it is harvested in a short amount of time.

To make it easier for the children, Gus already made Gardening tools such as wheelbarrows, watering cans, buckets, spades, and shovels using his impart ability. Gretel, Cindy, and Ray were busy watering the potato plants and making the sure the soil is loose enough using their spades. Rhoanne helped the boys draw water from the river, using the wheelbarrow, along with steel buckets onboard. Everyone has their own watering can, to make sure that the soil is moist enough for the potatoes to grow properly.

Little Sage is taking a break as she sits under the tree, taking shelter from the sun. Beside her, is an empty watering can and her Gus Action figure toy. She was snacking on potato chips inside a personalized, reusable steel can that Gus specially packed for each and every one of the children.

“Did I hear that right Mr. Gus?! Harvest is just a week away?!” asked Nico.

“Yes, you heard that right. The regular harvest time for potatoes is roughly a hundred days,” said Gus.

Nico also wondered how Gus can harvest his planted potatoes in such a short amount of time. Maybe it is a story for another time, thought Nico.

“This is the first time I visit the farm. I never imagined it to be this vast!” said Sarah.

Besides her visit, this is also Sarah’s first time seeing the children work so happily.

“I’m impressed with the size of the potato farm, It’s far from the size I was expecting. How many potatoes are we expecting after harvest?” asked Nico.

“Well, The farm’s size is a quarter of a hectare, with roughly 200 potato plants carefully planted. I expect a yield of around 4000 potatoes which is roughly around 900 kilograms,” said Gus.

“By Gods! 900 Kilograms!?” said Nico surprisingly.

“How much Gold would that be?” asked Nico as he brought out his abacus from his pack.

“If we price the potatoes to be right around 1 silver per piece, everything here should be, 4000 silvers. Our answer brings us to 400 gold coins!” Said Gus.

Gus has already answered before Nico could finish fiddling with his wooden abacus. Nico made sure Gus’ calculations were correct and turned out that it really is.

Sigh. You have a talent for mental arithmetic as well, Mr. Gus. I’m really starting to lose confidence being a merchant around you.” said Nico.

Gus simply smiled internally.

“Kitchen Brigade! Line Up!” shouted Gus.

The children immediately stopped what they were doing and rushed to line up in front of Gus. Little Sage who was on her break panicked! She quickly packed away her chips and toys in her backpack. Then, she rushed with her empty watering can, and lined up behind her siblings.

“Everyone! Please teach everything I taught you to your Big sister Sarah, Mr. Nico and Big Sister Rhoanne. If you have any questions, you will find me at forest kitchen number one! See me after you are done with your chores!” Said Gus.
for visiting.

“Yes, Chef!” Shouted the children.

“Everybody, Dismissed!” said Gus.

As soon as Gus end his announcement, the kids lead the adults by their hands and show them the rest of the potato farm.

“This is how we grow the potatoes Mr, Nico.”—–

“Once the plant wilts, then its time to start harvesting!”——

“You can replant them like this, you cut the potatoes with their “eyes” facing upwards.”—–

“Don’t moist the soil too much or the potatoes will rot.”—–

All kinds of questions and answers can be heard as Gus walked toward the nearby campsite which he and the kids called Forest Kitchen Number one. While the children and the others are busy, Gus used his time to try out two things. First, Gus wanted to learn more about his newly acquired skill. Second, he wanted to try out another experiment with his homemade peanut butter.

“System, tell me more about TERRITORIAL IMPERATIVE.,” said Gus.