“What is your reason for visiting our humble Country?”

  “Oh, I would like to say for Business, but right now I am first looking around if my wares would be profitable, so more like sightseeing.”

  “Honorable for stating the reason this brazen. Visitation permit is accepted for you and your escort. Please note our Country works differently than our neighbours. You have to keep this document of Visitation on hand at all times, as otherwise the guards might think of you as Vagabonds and might arrest you for it. Also let me give you an advice for later Business; For higher sales over ten Gold in total you would need an approved Merchant Certificate, otherwise all large transactions would be seen as illegal and might either bring seizure of assets or Prison time. Be aware of this, Mister Null.”

  “Oh, good to hear. I forgot to think about how the Rules of your Country might differ from ours. I will remember it and inquire more from my friend I am visiting in a few days. Here is a Silver Coin for hospitality.”

  “I thank you, Mister Null. Please wait for me to finish the stamps on the certificates for you and Miss Snow.”

  Sitting on a comfortable chair in the border crossing, Null and Snow waited patiently for their Certificates of Visitation. Null found it interesting how different the Merchant Country of Ilstin is working. It has even some feeling like the modern times Null was remembering in his first existence on his origin World.

  This feeling faded quickly as he saw how they used feathers to write on the parchments and also branded the seals with some magical stamps, wax and some kind of dust, possibly made out of Monster cores.

  ‘if the Empire is more technologically advanced, maybe the Merchant State of Ilstin is socially advanced? Well we will see.’

  After a bit of time the parchments were ready and given to Null and Snow. With the Documents in hand they could enter the State of Ilstin now without being seen as some kind of fugitive or illegal immigrant. While Null thought about just entering from a side not guarded properly, he thought it would be better to visit more official to make finding Rendlar and Mordred easier.

  “Okay, I would think the next City would have an Information Broker or at least someone who can help us find our old friend. Let’s go Snow.”

  “Okay! But please let us also look for something to eat and shop for unique presents for our Friends at home!”

  “Sure. Glad you are with me, I would only focus on the task and forget we can see what Ilstin has to offer for us also.”

  With this the Travel from the Fort to the next City was already planned. Curiously enough the streets were not only clean but paved. Null wondered about this as Malek was once a City of Ilstin but outside Malek there were no paved roads but here they are.

  ‘Did they rip out the pavement to their former City or did they only recently start to pave the roads?’

  Traveling to the first City of Ilstin many Merchants were seen with their Mercenaries. Traveling to and from different places inside Ilstin the best place to go to a new Kingdom would be the Border right behind Null. Not only does it go directly to Telk but Ulk is just a stone throw away. For a Country which works on commerce this place is the perfect waypoint.

  Strolling around carefree Null and Snow were at the City at dusk which made it convenient to look for a Hotel. Meldrin the City directly behind the Border was a great stagecoach for it had not only many Hotels, it had Restaurants, diverse stalls promoting the different specialities from not only Ilstin but all three Countries to find more Customers for transport of goods.

  “Look! They have Manticore Steak like Magus has! They really have nearly everything!”

  “Yes, Snow. This City is made for marketing all of the different things. At first it was Malek, but then came the battle for Malek and now everything is handled here.”

  “So the Kingdom did not get anything?”

  “Worse, they paid for the war being fought and Telk took the City after a short time for themselves. They did not only get nothing but lost everything afterwards.”

  “Well they deserve it. Those guys are too self centered.”

  “True, those Human Supremacists are not really the best people to hold a merchant City. I do not think they even thought what to do afterwards.”

  Wandering the City Snow and Null were doing casual smalltalk while searching for the best place for them to stay. As they were rather quickly gone to the City without preparation it would be great if the place had a bath and maybe a cleaning service for clothes.

  Entering diverse Hotels they finally chose a small Hotel with possibility of a cleaning service and for extra payment a hot bath. It was nothing exceptional, but it had a homely ambient and friendly Hoteliers. The Room they took was not a common room, where everyone could rest for a bit in a large area but a double Room for more privacy. The speciality is the second room with a metallic Bathtub to bathe. The Water had to be heated before and needed to be brought into the upper floors. No Magic was being used.

  “The hot Bath is ready Madam and Sir. If you want to get the water changed for the next one, please call.”

  Through the Door was heard from the Maid the state of the Bathtub.

  “Ah, Thanks. Please wait a second, we would like to have our clothes properly cleaned, also. Could you take this basket to the cleaners?”

  “Of course. Please be aware I am coming in right now.”

  While Null was wearing a towel, Snow was as she was born and stretching her body as she was not able to with hard leather clothing on herself.

  Seeing how Snow was fully nude the Maid quickly grabbed the Basket and excused herself.

  “Snow, you should be more prude and not show your body like that.”

  “Why not? We are in a safe room and a weak maid is not a danger to us.”

  “It is not because… Well it is of no matter. Do you want to bathe first?”

  “Sure! Hot bath after long travel, here I come!”

  Rushing into the Bath Snow splashed herself into the still hot water while Null lied down to look over the Crater while his Body Nemo stood on standby. After a while a damp Ratgirl came out of the other room and the Water was changed for Nemo to be cleansed. After a meal to the Room the clothes came back clean and dry.

  “Not bad. Even the clothes are still warm and not a bit wet. Here is a silver for you and two for the cleaning crew.”

  “Thank you for your generosity. If you need anything more, we would gratefully try our best.”

  “Oh, there is something. Do you know where I could ask for Information? I am searching for a friend of mine named Rendlar. He is working for the Peddler King in the Magistrate of Telk. He was asked to come here, but do not know where directly and I am rather lost.”

  “If you need to find someone, you should ask hired workers, as they often have the connections to many Information brokers to find someone. But if it is an official Merchant the better way would be to find connections in the Merchant Headquarters.”

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  “It is not a headhunt, so it would be better to try the Headquarters, I see. Yes, it would be great to know where he is going for now. I think he is on his way to Mammon, but I am not sure.”

  “If you are going to Mammon we will write a referral to our Branch. It would be hard to find a place to stay, as it is always busy. With our referral you would be able to get a room easier, but it is not guaranteed.”

  “Thank you, I would love to keep doing business with your Hotel, while I am in Ilstin.”

  ‘Sure we are in the center of the mercantile World. Even the Hotels are selling themselves to make more Money.’

  With the new Information in hand Null took Snow in the newly cleaned clothing directly to the Headquarters in Meldrin to inquire about the whereabouts of Rendlar.

  Inside it was busy as in a beehive. Many people were inquiring about timetables for convoys and others registering their wares for counting and taxes.

  The interesting thing about Ilstin is how all Merchants are rather eager to pay their taxes as this not only shows their wealth but also increases their standing for how much they can use their ‘voice’. The wealthier someone is, the more political power they have. Not only are wealthy Merchants eligible to govern one or even multiple towns or sometimes even Cities, but they get a small part of the taxes these towns made as governing fee. The inquiry of risk and profit is also ascertained in how much taxes are being paid.

  While trust is more exemplar, the main point is derived out of taxes, as it not only shows official commerce but also the ability to handle contracts. If for example someone has a large request for a specific commodity, but has only low tax revenue, the question will come up where the Money comes from. While illegal non taxed commerce exists, it has many demerits and even large Bandit groupings begrudgingly pay those taxes to make them look capable enough to sell their stolen goods and buy food for their people and used weaponry for the next raid.

  “Wow, what chaos!”

  Snow was wondering how the people were running around like busy ants. The whole organized chaos was the first for her. She saw how Information broker were often hard at work, but this was on a whole new level.

  “We need to wait there. The Information Bureau is going around this yellow line.”

  “Yellow, okay. Then let us stand here.”

  While Snow was tireless looking at the running, copying, writing, calculating and what they do else, Null was waiting with staring straight ahead. The Line was rather long, but steady moving. Hearing the noises around the selling of Food to Ulk has risen again, while the stock of Slaves declined as the Fields had a very good harvest. Both were information in more hushed voices, but Null could identify them with his ears and so could Snow, if she were even paying a little attention instead of watching all the people running crisscross.

  “Welcome, how can I help you?”

  “I am searching for an old friend who is sent from the Peddler King for Information about some kind of Mountain named Starfall. I believe he might have been sent with some caravan for an extended period. His Name is Rendlar and he is… I mean, he was vice president of the branch of the Peddler King in Halk.”

  “I am sorry, but we are not working on ways to find the location of persons. We can only give information about some caravans which… Of course we can help you find your friend by some means. Let me see which caravans came from… Peddler King was the Name? Yes, I look right into it, one moment.”

  One Gold coin was enough for the Clerk to directly change his demeanor and find all the necessary Documents which entails the Import by the Peddler King Affiliation.

  “There are some Imports of some high quality produce high in Mana, but are sold at hand inside the City before even leaving a trace… Ah, here is the latest import going directly to Orion Pharmaceuticals. I am sorry, a ‘pharmacy’ is what you call a potion brewer or salve maker.”

  “Oh, no I know what it is. Not only are those working with salves and Potions but powders and also harden them into Pills. They are the ones which work on all medical and nutritional effects, right?”

  “You are really adept, Sir. Are you really from Telk?”

  “No, I am from further, but as my Friend works in curios by the Peddler King, I needed to visit him in Telk as he is more busy than me.”

  “Oh, further huh? As your beautiful companion shows, obviously not from Ulk.”

  Nodding to Snow his Words were clear. Ulk hated demihumans and saw them as at most livestock and at least target practice. While elves had some rights, if it was a Noble of Ulk, there would be nothing wrong with just taking one they see on the street as a slave. While it is not directly legal, who would invoke the ire of Nobility in Ulk?

  “Did you hear Null? He called me beautiful!”

  “Of course he did, because you are.”

  Patting Snows head while she had a delighted face, Null was going back to the topic.

  “Do you have an address or at least the town he is visiting?”

  “It was delivered directly to Mammon. It is curios how it got to that branch, but they have the best customers at the heart of the State.”

  “You would it sent it elsewhere? Why?”

  “Oh, Renningen is their main City. Not only that but their research and development is made there. So it means it was sent out raw without looking for some effects, but are sold as is. Orion has their own Produce label, Orion Foods, so why not work under that label?”

  “Oh, you misunderstood. The food has extremely high Mana infused inside. I had some of it and it packs a punch.”

  “Oh! Of course if it has too much it goes to pharmaceutical while being warded off from non magical aligned people.”

  “What are Magical aligned people named here? I bet they have a different Name than Ulk and Telk.”

  “Oh, they are called Mentalists. Better not call them Mages, they would be offended and Wizards would make you a mockery.”

  “Knew it. Better be careful, this Continent is rather split.”

  “Oh, you are from another Continent? Which of?"

  “Less smalltalk, you just try to find some valuable intel to sell, right?”

  “...sorry, force of habit Sir. The Pharmaceutical Department of Orion in Mammon is in the North-Western part of the City. They were traveling there two weeks ago. The caravan should come back any day now.”

  “I see. Has it a Signet or Insignia I can refer to, if I see them on the street?”

  “I am afraid not. For privacy purpose and security, the caravans are always unmarked.”

  ‘Privacy concerns, even if all commerce is openly taxed and registered? Well, while it is marked and registered the specifics might be hidden in the dark.’

  “If Rendlar is on this caravan, is there a way to give him a letter?”

  “Postal is another division, but I can personally give it to the workers to not bother you standing in another line.”

  Nodding, Null wrote a few words on a piece of paper, put a small metal plate on it, folded the paper over it and used some wax to seal the Letter.

  ‘Come to think of it, I need an insignia of myself. Something that shows who I am, when I am back in Ertralis to wave around and make them quiver. What would be the best thing for a nice fear inducing and awe inspiring marking or picture? huh…’

  “...Sir?”

  “Oh sorry, my bad habit. Sometimes I start to ponder out of the blue. Here is the Letter. Please take care to only let him open it.”

  “That is a matter of course! Thank you for your patronage. I hope to see you and your business rise and profit.”

  With this Null and Snow made their exit. The whole waiting and talking took the whole Evening and now it was already Night. Other Cities might sleep, but a caravan City never slept and had much to do. In the Night the Guards had more leisure time and Stalls with quick but filling food were carted from place to place. Although Alcohol was also seen, rarely one took it as they were still on duty and only put it in a traveling jug or flask.

  “There is still so much open. Do you want to eat something Null?”

  “Sure, we can shop around for snacks and maybe test the cuisine of Ilstin.”

  Null knew Snow was rather asking for herself, but did not point that out. He was happy if she was happy, so he let her indulge on trips with her gluttonous lifestyle. With Snow dragging Null from stall to stall the Night was rather lively while later Null with a rather round bellied Snow were coming back to the Hotel.

  —

  Next day came and both took their belongings before going on their trek to Mammon. Not only were the roads paved, but also wide and signed with destinations written bold and easy to understand. Even Distances were written, while Null did not know if they were estimates or if really someone measured it.

  “While there are multiple Nightposts between here and Mammon, we can cut the travel short if we hurry. Four Days should be fine.”

  “Um, We can make it in two, Null.”

  “Better not, if we run at maximum speed, we might be suspicious and also normal People need to rest.”

  “Oh, well then we take it leisurely while hurrying. The more time we take the more I can see!”

  Snow was already in sightseeing mode, while her bump on her stomach had vanished. Many people saw a curious pair running the street, faster than the caravans were traveling. A beastman girl of the rodent type and a human were running against each other and had incredible endurance. While they were seen as curious and rather strong, many Mercenaries were known to have rather high strength and endurance and those two looked like they had either an urgent delivery to make or en route to meet their Mercenary band.